Build the Vision for your Practice
“If you limit your choices only to what seems possible or reasonable,
you disconnect yourself from what you truly want, and all that is left is a compromise.”
~ Robert Fritz
Before you start building the actual systems and structures of your practice, you need a sense of where you want to go.
You need to create your roadmap!
The answers to the below questions are the beginning of what will become your business plan. Start with what you think you want, and as we go through this process (and beyond), you investigate if it’s possible and adjust as necessary.
Start with where you would like to see your practice at the end of your first year.
Keep in mind that you will probably adjust your choices as we go through the program. Nothing is set in stone, this is just a starting point.
Answer the following questions to the best of your knowledge today in your journal or in the worksheets
At the end of my first year of practice, my business will look like this:
- How many days per week do you want to work?
- How many clients per day?
- How long will your sessions be?
- How long do you need between clients?
- What rate do you want to charge?
- Will you have a sliding scale? What are your criteria?
- What style of office do you want? Highly clinical? Relaxed and cozy?
- What types of services will you offer? Individuals, couples, groups, workshops, etc…
- Will your sessions be face-to-face, online, telephone, email?
- How much money are you hoping to make per month/year?
- How much time off will you take?
Next spend some time considering what you want your practice to grow into in the future. Dream big! If you could craft a practice that allowed you to do anything you wanted, what would it look like? What type of lifestyle would you have?
- Do you want to have associates?
- Do you want to open an agency?
- Do you want to do media work?
- Do you want to do public speaking?
- Do you want to write books?
- Do you want to offer training programs?
- Do you want to travel for extended periods?
- Do you want to work more / less?
- Where do you want to live?
- How do you want to be providing services?
Now with your big picture future goals in mind, answer the same questions as above, but consider what you would want for your practice in the future. Think about your business in five to ten years. What do you want it to look like?
- How many days’ per week do you want to work?
- How many clients per day?
- How long will your sessions be?
- How long do you need between clients?
- What rate do you want to charge?
- Will you have a sliding scale? What are your criteria?
- What style of office do you want? Highly clinical? Relaxed and cozy?
- What types of services will you offer? Individuals, couples, groups, workshops, etc…
- Will your sessions be face-to-face, online, telephone, email?
- How much money are you expecting per month/year?
- How much time off will you have?
In your journal or in the worksheets, spend some time exploring your dream private practice, now and in the future.
What is your wildest dreams scenario?
Consider your answers to the above questions and write out your vision in the first person and as if it is happening in the present.
For example: I own my own home and I am living on the coast with my partner and my two dogs. I rent office space three days per week in the city and on those days I see five clients per day face-to-face. I offer psycho-educational workshops four times per year. I make $8000 / month and take nine weeks vacation per year. Etc, etc