The issue of mental health in society is one that never fails to get people talking. It is one which motivates a lot of people to take actions: seek therapy for themselves, raise awareness of an issue, and seek better provision for mental health care. If this is an area of interest for you, you may well have considered the option of beginning a psychology practice. Whether you are a qualified practitioner yourself, or would like to unlock the potential of those who are, it is certainly a field that could always do with more experts.
Building a psychology practice is not simple, though, and to do it successfully is demanding on those seeking to make a difference. So it is important to look at the challenges you can be faced with, and have some idea of how to move through them.
Managing a practice as a business
While most people who start a psychology practice will themselves be practitioners, the running of the business is hard to fit in with helping patients, so you will need to decide whether you are hiring a practice manager or doing it yourself. Managing finances, keeping track of a diary, and marketing the practice all take time and effort. You’ll need to hire staff in the long run, as this is one kind of business that can’t afford to be ad hoc and chaotic. Start by finding the right software for psychologists looking to run their business. Your next step should be hiring a dedicated person to run things, and with them you can discuss how to build out from there.
Regulatory and licensing questions
Naturally, a psychology business will need to be up with the times when it comes to regulations and licensing. There is a duty of care and safeguarding that you simply cannot afford to take your eye off. This has to be your first focus when looking to set up the business. Your own licence needs to be up to date and compliant with the jurisdiction in which you are working, and the same goes for any practitioner working under your banner. Check with your regional health board whether there is anything you need to do to meet regulatory requirements, and schedule your official opening for a time after everything has been ratified.
Building a client base
Not only is a psychology practice quite unlike other businesses; it’s quite unlike most healthcare businesses too. Psychologists can work as therapists, but the role of a psychologist is larger than that, and often means treating people who aren’t in a position to refer themselves. Reaching out to, and potentially partnering with, other healthcare providers is a key element of building your client base. Consider whether your business will offer standard therapy as well as deeper psychological treatment and, if so, whether the practice needs to be split – it may be difficult to accommodate regular therapy patients with more acute cases in the same waiting room, among other challenges.
Truly, a town, city or nation can never have enough mental health professionals, and creating the chance for patients to see an expert who can help them is a job worth doing. Consider the challenges of this process before you begin, and you’ll be much better positioned to provide that help.
