| Mental health professionals have a wealth of | | | | accommodations need be arranged; you only |
| valuable, even crucial, information and expertise in | | | | need to rent a telephone bridgeline.Teleseminars |
| which many people are in need.One-on-one | | | | can include people from all over the country, even |
| therapy is only one way we can deliver this | | | | internationally, at the same time.Classes are |
| expertise and help.There are a number of possible | | | | typically 60 minutes long, but can vary. Often |
| ways therapists can create revenue streams | | | | teleseminars are offered in a multi-class |
| while sharing their talents, expertise and skills with | | | | series.Teleseminars are another way to offer |
| people in need.Some of these ways are traditional | | | | your packaged content and introduce people to |
| and common, but others are rather innovative | | | | your services. Teleseminars can be offered for |
| ways therapists are beginning to put their abilities | | | | free to attract prospective clients and let them |
| to good use. In doing so, they are creating | | | | sample your services.See for examples of what |
| revenue streams.Traditional ServicesAlthough its | | | | various professionals are offering. Or, do a search |
| time for therapists to think out of the box and | | | | on Google for teleseminars or teleclasses. There |
| develop new services that creatively meet the | | | | are hundreds to browse and attend.To get a |
| felt needs of niche markets, there is a place for | | | | better feel for how to conduct a teleseminar, |
| the traditional therapeutic services.These include | | | | attend some yourself.ConsultingThe goal of this |
| psychotherapy for the DSM diagnoses, | | | | book is to help mental health practitioners build |
| psychological testing and evaluation, marriage and | | | | thriving managed-care free private practices. |
| family therapy and behavioral health care.And, | | | | One of the themes I hope I have conveyed is |
| yes, people will forgo managed-care | | | | that psychology is not just for DSM diagnoses. |
| reimbursement and pay out of pocket for | | | | While we have discussed ways to market |
| services that are of higher value because they | | | | traditional services, diversification is important, as |
| are higher quality, offer real privacy and are truly | | | | it increases the chances we can generate |
| customized for the individual needs.One of the | | | | sufficient income to operate outside of managed |
| frustrations I hear from mental health care | | | | care. |
| service consumers is that they can't find a | | | | Multiple streams of psychotherapy income can |
| specialized therapist in their managed-care | | | | be developed in one's practice.When I decided to |
| insurance network.It's as if managed care's | | | | build a manage-care free practice, I gave |
| philosophy is, "We'll help you obtain access to | | | | considerable thought to howI could provide |
| psychotherapy, but we don't care whether the | | | | private-pay services. I explored how I could use |
| therapist we connect you with is a specialist. A | | | | my skills in ways that people would readily |
| generalist is fine."Set yourself apart and | | | | pay.Many psychologists and other mental health |
| demonstrate your true value in the marketplace | | | | professionals are successful in consulting in the |
| through specialization. Many people in the market | | | | workplace for the benefit of employees and |
| for therapy value specialization.Getting PublishedA | | | | employers. Business consulting can be a very |
| book is a powerful way to affect lives. It is also a | | | | lucrative income stream.Like many practitioners, I |
| good way to establish credibility, highlight your | | | | found my skills could be applied in the business |
| practice and services and position yourself in your | | | | arena. Today, through a business I started called |
| niche.And, it's easier than you think if you | | | | Leadership Concepts, I offer services in the areas |
| self-publish. It has become very affordable to do | | | | of business consulting, executive, business and |
| so, and it puts you in charge of the content, price | | | | career coaching and seminars and workshops for |
| and reprints.It can actually be more profitable, too. | | | | businesses. This has proven to be a solid and |
| You keep every dollar above your costs. If you | | | | growing income stream for me, and it is work I |
| went through a major publisher who sells a few | | | | really enjoy.Other ways to diversify into consulting |
| thousand books, you would only receive the | | | | include behavioral medicine, forensics and sports |
| author's fee. You can make as much selling a few | | | | psychology.Consulting is a very broad and diverse |
| hundred copies of a self-published book yourself.If | | | | area, so I won't scrape the surface of the |
| your book is successful, you may even attract a | | | | possibilities here. But perhaps I can give you good |
| large publisher to take over your book.Writing a | | | | directions for exploration.If this area is new for |
| book opens doors to speaking engagements, | | | | you, you will be surprised to find out the many |
| media opportunities and a reputation in your niche | | | | valuable ways our psychology and mental health |
| market.It also helps you to crystallize your | | | | expertise can be of benefit to people in the |
| thinking and enhances your effectiveness as a | | | | workplace. |
| practitioner; it's a great exercise in that sense. | | | | Our background makes us capable of assisting |
| You will learn a lot both in breadth and depth.Take | | | | businesses with many different barriers to |
| the opportunity now to brainstorm ideas for a | | | | productivity.To familiarize yourself with this terrain, |
| book that's inside you.It doesn't have to be long. | | | | I suggest you do a Google search using the |
| One hundred pages is plenty.TeachingTeaching | | | | keywords "business," "consulting" and |
| courses part-time at a local college or university | | | | "psychologist" and browse the web sites that |
| can be an attractive stream of income.I have | | | | come up.Forensic ConsultingAnother specific type |
| been teaching as adjunct faculty in the Doctor of | | | | of consulting is worth considering |
| Psychology (Psy.D.) program at Widener | | | | separately.Forensic consulting has to do with |
| University outside Philadelphia for several years | | | | psychological or mental health service specifically |
| and find it both rewarding and enjoyable.Think | | | | related to the court system.Often times, a court |
| about areas of special interest on which you could | | | | has to deal with issues that impinge on mental |
| teach a course. Courses that adjunct faculty | | | | health issues.Some of these include:Criminal |
| teach can be core curriculum in a graduate | | | | casesCompetency to stand trialMental status at |
| program, an undergraduate course or an elective.I | | | | time of offenseMitigating factors in offensesRisk |
| find that part-time professors who are | | | | assessments, violenceCivil casesEmotional |
| practioners have a lot to offer because they are | | | | damages in personal injuriesAssessments for |
| immersed in what they teach. Students seem to | | | | malingeringFamily cases and otherChild custody |
| appreciate this as well.E-booksE-books are another | | | | evaluationsCourt-ordered psychological |
| medium in which you can package and share | | | | evaluationsIn addition, attorneys often need help |
| specialized information.And e-book is a written | | | | sorting out the issues when questions of a |
| piece of information that is distributed via the | | | | psychological nature occur in their cases. They |
| internet electronically. It is offered free or for a | | | | retain psychologists and other experts to review |
| cost (typically $10 to $30) on a web site.You can | | | | files and help them prepare for depositions or |
| also submit an e-book to web sites that list | | | | cross-examination of experts.Psychologists and |
| hundreds of e-books to make them available to | | | | other professionals can inform the court on |
| the public.Tens of thousands of e-books are | | | | issues, perform assessments and testify as |
| downloaded each year, and are changing lives for | | | | experts.Consultants in this area testifying as |
| the better.Perhaps you can make yours one of | | | | experts typically receive $1,000 to $2,000 for |
| them.Do you have a solution to a specific problem | | | | their testimony.I find that this niche is an |
| or can you research the answers?The best | | | | attractive one for several reasons:It is completely |
| e-books share answers to a specific | | | | managed-care freeIt is interesting workIt makes |
| problem.E-book topics I have heard of recently | | | | good use of our backgroundIt is lucrativeIt is a |
| include: how to write a eulogy, how to cope with | | | | specialized area that many professionals find |
| a hysterectomy and the topic of recovering from | | | | intimidating,which means less competitionIf you |
| fibromyalgia.These are e-books written by | | | | find this an interesting prospect as a part of your |
| non-mental health professionals. Imagine what | | | | practice, then I encourage you to begin taking |
| information psychotherapists can offer in this | | | | some training workshops to familiarize yourself |
| just-in-time format.E-books cost very little to | | | | with the terrain.Web sitesRevenue streams can |
| produce and nothing to distribute. You can attach | | | | be active or passive. Therapy sessions, therapy |
| the file for an e-book to an email or make it | | | | groups, workshops and consulting services are all |
| downloadable from a web site.A great e-book is | | | | active forms of revenue streams. You exchange |
| not long. Many of the best are 10 to 35 pages | | | | your time and skills for a fee.Passive revenue is |
| long.E-books offer short answers to problems | | | | revenue from streams that do not involve |
| readers want to solve, and are available to people | | | | service delivery, but once set up, occur |
| quickly.Good e-books are specific and do not | | | | automatically 24/7. A common form of passive |
| contain general information. The key to | | | | revenue is income from products sold on a web |
| marketability is communicating your precise | | | | site.Can you see the advantages of passive |
| answer to a specific problem.E-CoursesE-Courses | | | | revenue? Can therapists develop passive revenue |
| are similar to e-books, but they may be lengthier | | | | streams? You bet!Therapists can productize their |
| and delivered to readers one segment at a time. | | | | most useful expertise and offer information |
| As the name implies, these can be formatted as | | | | products to benefit others.Some of these we |
| guided self-study programs.E-courses allow for the | | | | already looked at, like books, e-books and |
| content to be integrated over a specific period of | | | | e-courses. These can all be offered on a web site |
| time. Each lesson can be a simple article or more | | | | for web seekers to obtain and utilize to fill their |
| in-depth with guided self-study. Write between | | | | needs.There are other possibilities as well, such as |
| five and 10 lessons, and you have a good | | | | licensing programs.As an example of a passive |
| e-course.Written by a professional, a good | | | | revenue web site effectively offering information |
| e-course can bridge the gap between a reader | | | | products to a specific niche, see Passive income |
| learning new information and the reader applying | | | | streams utilizing the internet via web sites are a |
| that information to his/her life and making a | | | | burgeoning area for many service professionals, |
| behavioral change.Personal CoachingIn sports, | | | | but few mental health professionals are taking |
| coaching is important to help an athlete develop a | | | | advantage of the potential so far.This will be |
| winning strategy, develop skills and execute the | | | | changing soon.Active income streams can also be |
| plan. The coach knows how the athlete can | | | | marketed on the internet.Web sites can also be |
| progress and move forward. He/she urges the | | | | effectively used as a marketing tool for your |
| athlete to set high goals and provides motivation, | | | | fee-for-service practice. More and more therapists |
| support, focus and encouragement.Over the past | | | | are putting up web sites and for good reasons.A |
| 10 years, the field of professional coaching in | | | | web site is your practice brochure, available any |
| personal development and business arenas has | | | | time, day or night, to seekers on the internet. |
| grown tremendously.What is coaching? Personal | | | | People you meet, people who hear you give a |
| coaching is a one-on-one professional relationship in | | | | presentation and people referred to you by |
| which a client is assisted in achieving a personal, | | | | another professional, can be directed to view |
| business or career goal.What is the difference | | | | your web site, find out more about you and, |
| between coaching and therapy? Although coaches | | | | hopefully, be stimulated to contact you.A simple, |
| sometimes assist people with challenges and | | | | attractive, intriguing postcard sent to a mailing list |
| problems of various kinds, they do not try to help | | | | can direct your niche market to your web site. |
| people overcome problems related to diagnosable | | | | Or, your yellow page ad in the phone book can |
| conditions as found in the DSM.Rather, coaches | | | | include your web address.A web site is much |
| assist well-functioning people to attain greater | | | | more than a brochure. It is also a potentially |
| levels of achievement and satisfaction in their | | | | powerful marketing vehicle, when combined with |
| personal lives, businesses or careers.While therapy | | | | internet marketing strategies.If you decide to |
| is remedial and restorative, coaching is | | | | have a web site for your practice, or for a |
| developmental and growth-oriented.Therapy heals | | | | particular niche service, make it full of resources |
| mental and emotional infirmities, while coaching | | | | (articles and free information) that will attract |
| helps healthy individuals achieve more or reach | | | | people to it and make them want to spread the |
| important goals.Personal coaches work with clients | | | | word.Although beyond the scope of this article, |
| on a wide range of issues, such as coping with a | | | | internet marketing strategies can be developed to |
| problem or crisis, focusing their efforts on | | | | drive people to your web site.Increasingly, people |
| achievement, making career transitions, living | | | | are beginning their search for products and |
| more fulfilled lives, achieving life goals and building | | | | services on the internet.The yellow pages are not |
| better relationships.Other coaches assist people | | | | the first choice for many.Are you effectively |
| with business development or managerial or | | | | represented on the Internet?Licensing |
| leadership development. These coaches are called | | | | ProgramsAfter you have developed effective |
| business coaches or executive coaches.While | | | | structured programs for your niches, you can |
| coaching is not always based on psychology, it | | | | license the use of these programs to other |
| often is. And many of the skills a coach uses are | | | | professionals.Other therapists have been doing this |
| the skills in which therapists are trained. So, there | | | | for years. Psychologist Dr. Daniel Dana, a conflict |
| is considerable overlap between coaching and | | | | resolution specialist, certifies mediators and |
| therapy.This is why many psychologists, | | | | licenses his program at Another example can be |
| counselors and therapists have found coaching | | | | found at DifficultChild.com, as we mentioned |
| attractive and transitioned into coaching either | | | | previously. Howard Glasser, M.A. offers a |
| entirely or as a part of their practice mix. I am | | | | parenting approach and program, as well as other |
| one of them. | | | | materials, for ADHD children. His program involves |
| In many ways, therapists have an ideal | | | | a book, a training program for parents and a |
| background to be coaches. But the differences | | | | training and certification program for therapists.His |
| between coaching and therapy are significant and | | | | program is called "Transforming the Difficult Child: |
| important to keep in mind.Therapists can make | | | | The Nurtured Heart Approach."One of my |
| great coaches because of their insights into | | | | coaching clients is certified in this program and |
| human motivation and behavior, their | | | | speaks highly of it.Howard Glasser's web site |
| understanding of human development and life | | | | actually models several streams of income, |
| transitions, their communication and relationship | | | | including a book, workshops, training other |
| skill and their sense of professional ethics, | | | | professionals, licensing or certification and internet |
| knowledge base and experience in helping | | | | marketing for all the above including his |
| people.Live Workshops, Retreats, | | | | practice.These "programs in a box" are typically |
| TrainingsPresenting live events such as seminars, | | | | complete turnkey therapy, counseling or consulting |
| workshops, retreats and training programs can be | | | | programs that therapists can purchase. They are |
| a very lucrative stream of income.And, it can be | | | | usually complete, including the structured program |
| a powerful way to affect peoples' lives.The group | | | | itself, instructor materials, workbooks and also |
| setting allows learners to engage with your | | | | include marketing pieces you can use to generate |
| material and benefit from the collective knowledge | | | | business.For those of you who want to do niche |
| and experience of the group.Live programs can | | | | marketing but prefer not to do the creating part, |
| also be an introduction to your other services. | | | | you may want to find out whether someone has |
| Brief programs, such as a "lunch and learn," can | | | | developed a program you can utilize to serve |
| be delivered for free as a solid marketing vehicle | | | | your niche.Someone may have done the work |
| for your practice.As a therapist, if you have | | | | for you.If you can find a program suitable for |
| developed and packaged your message into a | | | | your niche market, you could be a few days |
| program as recommended earlier, you have the | | | | away from having a marketable service in your |
| makings of a great seminar or workshop.Why not | | | | repertoire.Training Other ProfessionalsWhen you |
| kill two birds with one stone?Promoting a | | | | have developed an effective program, you can |
| workshop or retreat is promoting your practice at | | | | leverage it by training others in your approach and |
| the same time - and may be psychologically | | | | methods.Innovators in therapy have been training |
| easier to do.Consider adding a post-training | | | | others for years. If you develop a specialization, |
| element to your program. It could be a follow-up | | | | program or niche service in a growing area, you |
| mini-workshop, a series of workshops or | | | | may find many other therapists would like to |
| one-on-one work.You can leverage the energy of | | | | learn from you.Sometimes the innovation is mainly |
| a live event in many ways for additional revenue | | | | in how a service is packaged.You can train other |
| streams.And, it is likely that some participants will | | | | professionals via live workshops, self-study |
| choose to work with you after the event is | | | | program packages and teleseminars.Diversification |
| over.You will want to casually present your other | | | | by developing a number of streams of |
| offerings at the event. You may make it easier | | | | psychotherapy income increases the chances you |
| for them by having a sign-up sheet.TeleseminarsA | | | | can create sustainable income and can be |
| teleseminar (also called a teleclass) is a seminar | | | | rewarding in other ways too.William D. Morgan is a |
| held over the telephone, like a conference call.The | | | | psychologist, author, and private practice business |
| advantage of a teleseminar is the convenience. No | | | | coach. He coaches human service professionals |
| one has to commute and the consumers dial to a | | | | and others who want to build thriving practices. |
| bridge line at the specified time. No physical | | | | |