Clinical psychologists must complete years of academic and clinical training to earn the required degrees and licensure. Yet, there’s only just so much time to learn. Professors cannot address everything in that span of training. And there’s a limited number of supervised therapy sessions from which to gain experience. So, it may take longer still to gather the insight, information, and skills to be confidently proficient in the practice of clinical psychology.
This book presents tips and observations gathered as a licensed clinical psychologist with decades of research and clinical experience. This knowledge extends beyond what’s often taught in grad school and may be helpful in running a private practice. These are not direct instructions—more like factors of which to be aware. Topics include: Building your practice, financial, office items, scheduling, staff and colleagues, office protocol, testing tips, safety, professional development, therapy tips, therapy misuse, unanticipated consequences, and writing.
Serving people is an honorable humanitarian effort. However, even the most altruistic practices survive only by being organized and financially stable. What grad schools teach about the basic and practical aspects of running a business can be insufficient. Being aware of them is required.
A private practice in clinical psychology is a social enterprise. It offers joys and bonding as well as humorous, exhilarating, informative, and cherished exchanges. Trying aspects of social interactions with patients and coworkers also exist—yet grad schools may not fully discuss their frequency, variety, and impact. The best-prepared psychologists have an accurate, comprehensive perspective. One that includes all the ingredients of human functioning—even those that people may find upsetting and unpalatable. Ignoring them adversely obscures therapists’ view, imperils office procedures, therapeutic relationships, and patient care. So, for this book to be complete, it must be candid. And it is.
This book illuminates the risks, challenges, as well as the positive and negative aspects of clinical psychology practice. It offers a realistic—even if not always pretty—image to avoid annoyances, mistakes, or devastating shocks. While written to help psychologists and psychologists-in-training provide patient care, run their business, and enjoy their careers, it also may be useful for social workers, mental health counselors, nurses, psychiatrists, and other healthcare professionals.