How to Start a

Private Practice

Sean Surfas Ph.D. LEP #2346

Starting Out

"I have a dream... "

EducationalPsychologist

Reasons why there are not more LEPs in private practice

1. Many LEPs are sitting on their license

2. Don’t like to market

3. Don’t know how to market

4. Over optimistic about their client base

5. Don’t value their own professional time

6. Charge too little for their services

7. Have difficulty asking to be paid

8. Get trapped in an expensive lease

9. Spend too much on materials, furniture, etc....

10.Struggle in today’s managed care environment

Reasons why you would want to be a LEP!

C. Burned Out C. Independence

B. New Career GoalsA. Financial

How often do you want to work?

D. Up to 65 C. Full Time

B. Part TimeA. Never

Where do you want to work?

D. Learning Center C. School Contractor

B. Private PracticeA. Home

Who do you want to work for?

D. ConsultantC. Employee

B. Ind. ContractorA. Self Employed

The scope of your practice

Generalist or Specialist

Location, location, location!!!

The office may be as impressive as this castle...

But it serves no purpose if your clients can’t get there!

Locate

• Near the area in which your clients live or work (no more than 20 minute drive)

• Close to freeway exits or mass transit

• Have adequate free parking

• Good street lighting at night

Home Office

• Pros– Little Overhead– Tax write off– Best if contracting out

• Cons– Privacy Issues– Not as professional

Maximizing the Home Office

• Have an outside entrance if seeing clients

• Use technology– Answering Service

– Voice Mail– Fax– Internet

Leasing an office

• 5 year contract• Month to month• Sublease office space

• Lease 1 day per week

• Executive suites• You are responsible for the entire overhead

Joining a group practice

• Terms of Contract: employee or contractor• Paycheck: salary, full fee or percentage split

• Office Space: private or shared• Rent: included or charged• Other Expenses: secretary, billing, phone

Church/Private Schools

• Religious Schools

• Academies• Prep Schools• Montessori• Trade/vocational• Job Corp.• Pre-Schools

Agencies

• Governmental Agencies or Contractors– Regional Center: evaluations– County Mental Health– Justice System: court schools, camps, prisons– Head Start– Others?

Industry

• Personnel/Human Resources

• Employee Assistance

• Fed. Employment Education Programs

• Other?

Public/NPS Schools

• Public Schools– Three year re-evals.– Speciality (ie: Autism)

– Behavior Analysts

• Non-public Schools• Non-public Agencies• Colleges/Universities

Scope of the LEP license

a)Educational Evaluation, diagnosis, and test

interpretation limited to assessment of

academic ability, learning patterns,

achievement, motivation, and personality

factors directly related to academic learning

problems.

b)Counseling services for children or adults for

amelioration of academic learning problems.

c)Educational consultation, research, and

direct educational services.

Educational testing

Educational counseling/guidance

Advocacy

What can I do as an EducationalPsychologist???

Expert witness/Independent Evaluations

Gifted testing

Preschool Assessment

Psycho-Educational Evaluations

College testing

Career guidance

ConsultationProgram Development

What can I do as an Educational

Psychologist???

Behavior Analyst

• Functional Assessments

• Hughes Bill• Behavior Plans• Consultation

What can't I do as an EducationalPsychologist???

Activities that are outside of the scope of the license:

Non-Educational

Therapy

Psycho-analysis

Hypnosis

Unless you have another license that covers these areas.

OtherLicenses/Certifications

Licensed Psychologist

MFT

LCSW

Rehab. Counselor

LSH Specialist

It's a business!!!

Marketing

Advertising

Networking

Writing articles

Workshops

Marketing

Networking

Advertising

• Ads• TV/Radio• Brochures• Business Cards

Word of Mouth

Marketing

Network-Network-Network

•Involvement in Organizations

•Phone Calls•Personal Visits

•Letters

Workshops

Parent Organizations

• Support Groups• Women’s Clubs• PTAs & Community Organizations

Fees• By the test: IQ=$425-$500

• By the evaluation: $800 to $2,500+

• By the hour: $60-$100+

• Charge what the market will allow

• Stay in your comfort zone

• Allow for expenses & taxes

Fees/Insurance Reimbursement

LEP License

CASHCharge

Other Licenses

80/20 Policy

PPOs

CHAMPUS

Medi-Cal

Fees/Insurance Reimbursement

Billing

Collecting FeesAsk for fee at the end of every session.Charge it!Payment plan:1/2 when testing done, 1/2 when report done.

Use a collection agency

Liability Insurance

Finding a company

$1,000,000 policy

Writing an arbitration agreement

Liability Insurance

American Professional Agency1 (800) 421-6694 or www.americanprofessional.com

Forrest T. Jones1 (800) 821-7303 or www.ftj.com

National Professional Group or www.npginc.com1 (312) 280-5600

NASPCAMFTAPA

There is currently no group policy for LEPs.

Liability Insurance

• Make sure policy is for “Educational Psychologists”

• Don’t get lost in the red tape of the policy

• Term insurance• Adding a tail

Forms

Intake: Address/PhoneAuthorization for testing, counseling and treatmentFee DisclosureArbitration Agreement

Looking to the Futureof Educational

Psychology• There will always be children in need of help

• More and more specialty areas

• Continued shortage of School Psychologists