Earning a living outside of managed mental health care : 50 ways to expand your practice

Psychologists are increasingly dissatisfied with managed care companies. While many practitioners would prefer to develop a fee-for-service practice to improve clinical care and income, there is limited available information on how to establish one. This book illustrates 50 strategies for growing a practice that is not managed care or insurance dependent. Contributors describe how they successfully carved out a niche in areas as varied as family and divorce counseling, teaching and supervision, healthcare, product development, and organizational consulting. In each vignette, the author describes his or her practice arrangements, training experiences, primary activities, pros and cons of this career path, effective business approaches, and also recommends professional resources, including books, journals, web sites, and societies. This book provides plenty of ideas for early career psychologists and graduate students interested in starting a private practice as well as seasoned practitioners who want to develop alternative income sources to minimize dependence on insurance companies. Contents Introduction: Practice Possibilities Outside of Managed Care Seven Keys to Building Your Dream Non–Managed Care Practice I Family Psychology 1 Premarital Counseling 2 Teaching Marriage Skills 3 Conducting Family Interventions With Substance Abusers 4 Roles for Psychologists in Collaborative Divorce Practice 5 Assessing Those Seeking to Adopt and Working With the Adoption Triad 6 CBT Stands for Canine Behavior Therapy: Helping Dog Owners Become Better Parents II Psychoeducational Psychology 7 Conducting Academic Readiness Evaluations 8 Psychoeducational Testing 9 Coaching for Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder 10 Vocational Counseling 11 Improving Interviewing Skills III Health Psychology 12 A Fledgling Private Practice in Reproductive Medicine 13 Smoking Cessation: Cognitive Behavioral Strategies With Hypnosis 14 Cognitive Therapy Groups for Weight Management 15 Neurotherapy IV Business Psychology 16 Executive Leadership Coaching 17 Responding to Trauma in the Workplace 18 Employee Assistance Programs 19 Stress Management For Corporations 20 Consulting to Family-Owned Businesses V Services to Government 21 Vocational Rehabilitation Assessments 22 Completing Social Security Disability Assessments 23 Evaluating Pilots and Air Traffic Controllers: Psychologists and the Federal Aviation Administration 24 Public Safety Services 25 Psychological Evaluations for State Agencies VI Services to Organizations 26 Working With Developmentally Disabled Adults 27 Assessment of Men and Women Entering Religious Life 28 Consulting With Health Care Organizations VII Finance 29 Coaching Traders and Investors 30 Consulting With Financial Planners VIII Teaching and Supervision 31 Supervision of Psychotherapy Providers 32 Integrating University Teaching into Independent Clinical Practice 33 Teaching Online 34 Conducting Workshops for Teachers and Educators 35 Combining Treatment and Professional Training Within a Private Practice Model IX Specialty Groups 36 Pregnancy Support Groups 37 Assertiveness Skills Training Groups 38 Mind–Body Skills Training Groups X Forensic Psychology 39 Serving as a Guardian Ad Litem 40 High-Conflict Divorce 41 Assessment of Competency 42 Serving as an Expert Witness 43 The Role of the Assessment Psychologist in Immigration Evaluations 44 Evaluations of Professionals and Professional Practice XI Products 45 Developing Software for Social Service Programs 46 Developing a Brand Around a Theme: One's Own Enchanted Self XII Positive Psychology 47 Assessing and Counseling Gifted Children and Adults 48 Developing a Sport Psychology Practice 49 Retreats for Personal Growth 50 Tantric Sexuality Education Epilogue Index About the Contributors About the Editor "Most mental health professionals (MHPs) would prefer to have a fee-for-service practice in which they see a client for assessment or psychotherapy and are then paid by check or credit card at the time of service. However, most practitioners, especially graduate students and early-career professionals, are unsure of how to develop a practice that is not dependent on managed care and insurance. This book highlights the work of 50 creative and skilled psychologists. They represent the "everyday psychologist" practicing in all parts of the country. The purpose of this book is to demonstrate how the skill sets of MHPs, developed through graduate training, continuing education, clinical practice, and recognizing needs in the community, can translate into income-generating services or products. Most of the practice activities described are not eligible for insurance reimbursement. Readers are encouraged to see whether they can replicate the activities of these MHPs in their own practices. Readers may find that an exact practice activity will not work for them; nonetheless, portions of a given activity may apply or help generate other ideas"--Introduction. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved) This fascinating book is a cornucopia of useful stories from practitioners who took action to free their practices from the reins of managed care. By tapping into their natural interests, talents, and passions, these 50 entrepreneurial practitioners demonstrate ways you can reinvigorate your practice and achieve greater financial success at the same time. I loved this book!ùNancy E. bloater, PhD, President-Elect, American Psychological Association Division of independent Practice and Clinical Psychologist, independent practice