Product Description

Practical suggestions for reducing paperwork and stress while increasing profit. This practical, strategy-filled book provides readers with information on the basics of private practice: how to cut overhead costs, simplify insurance paperwork, manage appointments, handle billing, and implement client policies. Essential reading for new and seasoned therapists alike, no practitioner in private practice should be without the advice offered here.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #59069 in Books
• Published on: 2005-01-01
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 256 pages

Features

• ISBN13: 9780393704488
• Condition: NEW
• Notes: Brand New from Publisher. No Remainder Mark.
• Click here to view our Condition Guide and Shipping Prices

Review
...concise, yet rich, portrait of ways to improve your practice and make it the most profitable business it can be. -- Seth Krauss, LCSW, BCD, California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists, The Therapist

An extremely well written, practically-oriented, 'how-to' blueprint for establishing oneself in private practice...a valuable refresher for more senior colleagues. -- Pat De Leon, Ph.D. MPH, Former President, American Psychological Association

An outstanding guide for running a successful practice. . . an essential resource that should have a place in every practitioner's library. -- Concepcion Barrio, Ph.D., Associate Professor, San Diego State University School of Social Work

Having Essentials of Private Practice on your bookshelf is like having a professional consultant on call. -- Jana N. Martin, Ph.D., Past President, The California Psychological Association

I found extremely useful tips that I only wish I had known. . .highly recommended for beginning and experienced therapists alike. -- The Oklahoma Psychologist, Douglas O. Brady, Ph.D., Winter 2005

Provides information, ideas, tools and strategies to enable the practitioner to thrive under a variety of circumstances. -- The National Psychologist, Stuart W. Bassman, Ed.D.

This is an invaluable tool for any practitioner and will save you time, money, and personal frustration. -- Sean Barford, Psymposium

About the Author
Holly A. Hunt, Ph.D., is a psychologist in private practice in Southern California, where she first established her practice in 1990.

Customer Reviews

Excellent guide to starting a practice
Forget the fact that the author is a psychologist. Do not let that dissuade you from purchasing this book if you are not in the mental health care field. Perhaps 98% of the information is applicable to any health care provider wanting to establish a private practice.

The book is filled with treasure. The first sections elaborate on where to look for a potential office/clinic, what questions to ask the prospective building manager (and when to ask them), and how to get an effective phone/voicemail system established. The section on cancellation policies alone is worth the price of the book, as are Dr. Hunt's examples of how to diplomatically pursue outstanding payments. She also devotes a sizable portion of the book to navigating the difficult realm of insurance. To put a human face to the book, Dr. Hunt showcases her past successes and failures (and those of her colleagues) in her first attempts at establishing a private practice.

This book is excellent -- very engaging and seldom boring, concise and pithy. It provokes a proactive spirit. It should be required reading for any health care worker fresh out of school, about to begin a private practice, and with little to no business experience.

Practical help, step-by-step process.
This book takes you through all the details, big and small of setting up your own practice. Dr. Hunt explains her points concisely, with helpful anecdotes from personal experience. The book is very easy to read with easy to reference chapters and section highlights. There are useful templates in the back for finances, intaking, and forcasting future needs. I found this book to be one of the most useful books in getting started. Even if you are a seasoned private practictioner, this book can help you streamline and cut costs even more, or simply be a fresh reminder.

Important Contribution
I agee with the other reviewers completely. This book was engaging to read, clear, and the charts were practical. I enjoyed the authors use of her own experiences as well as the experiences of other practitioners. The narrative format created an interesting way to address sensitive issues and potentially difficult areas involved in practice. I found the book to address the delicate aspects of the relationship shared between clients and therapists and the issues that are the hardest with which to deal because they highlight that mental health work is about helping people and business, and how business, treatment and ethics are intertwined.