Establishing a vision for your private practice
Why Establishing a Vision is Crucial
Whether you're just starting your journey in private practice or have been at it for a while, having a clear vision for your private practice is essential for long-term success. Many mental health therapists aspire to establish their private practices, but they often struggle to articulate why. Have you ever questioned your motivation for venturing into private practice? We recently talked about this in my consultation community.
Understanding the reasons behind this endeavor informs every decision you make about your practice. For instance, if your primary aim in private practice is to attain a better work-life balance, you may not need to heavily invest in marketing, as you don't require a constantly expanding caseload. In this scenario, your vision of achieving work-life balance guides your decision to prioritize marketing investments less. Now, let's delve just a bit deeper into establishing a vision.
WHAT is a Practice Vision
Think of your practice vision as a broad goal to work towards. A vision need not be overly specific. For instance, your vision may revolve around achieving a better work-life balance rather than specifying a precise number of working hours per week, although that specific goal falls under the umbrella of your vision.
A well-defined vision serves as your compass when things become confusing or chaotic. It acts as an anchor, offering clarity when you're feeling overwhelmed and disoriented in the chaos of running your practice. Keep in mind that your vision can evolve and adapt over time. We must be flexible.
How to Establish Your Practice Vision
I encourage individuals to set aside dedicated time for brainstorming and crafting their practice vision. This is not just a one time endeavor, but should be done routinely. Start by asking yourself, "Why did I go into private practice?" Begin jotting down your responses without judgement. Your list may look something like this:
Why do I Want to go into private practice?:
To improve financial situation
To improve my work-life balance
To provide accessible care to my community
To run my own business
As you compile this list, you gain clarity about your purpose for going into private practice. Next, craft a concise summary statement or paragraph encapsulating your vision, which could look like this:
“I am launching my private practice to improve my financial situation, strike a healthier work-life balance, offer accessible and high-quality care to my community, and fulfill my dream of owning a business.”
This statement transforms your list into a truthful statement you can regularly reinforce to yourself. This statement will then be the lens from which you make every other decision such as we discussed above.
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