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The essential skills for setting up a counselling and psychotherapy practice / Gladeana McMahon, Stephen Palmer and Christine Wilding.

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LIBRA BF637.C6 M3797 2005
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Format:
Book
Author/Creator:
McMahon, Gladeana, 1954-
Contributor:
Palmer, Stephen, 1955-
Wilding, Christine (Christine M.)
Language:
English
Subjects (All):
Counseling.
Psychotherapy.
Physical Description:
x, 149 pages : illustrations ; 24 cm
Place of Publication:
London ; New York : Routledge, 2005.
Summary:
Many practitioners consider setting up in private practice at some point in their career, whether full-time or alongside other employment. The Essential Skills for Setting up a Counselling and Psychotherapy Practice provides comprehensive yet accessible coverage of all the major skills needed to succeed.
Based on the authors' extensive experience, this book provides a valuable insight into how to minimise the risks associated with working privately, offering practical advice on how to keep a balance between self-development, personal health and meeting the needs of clients, whilst maintaining high standards and making a reasonable living.
Acknowledging the fact that being a good therapist may not, in itself, be sufficient to be successful in self-employment, the authors discuss the need for sound business skills, professional development, self-knowledge and motivation. Divided into three parts, the book covers all the essential business, professional and personal skills and includes discussion of subjects such as insurance, finance, legal issues, marketing, stress management, security and retirement planning.
The focus on skills and how to acquire and develop them makes this book an invaluable reference for all mental health professionals who are considering setting up their own private practice.
Contents:
Who is the book for? 1
Emphasis on skills and practice 1
Conflicts involved in private practice 2
The need for preparation to avoid disappointment and bankruptcy 2
1 The business skills 5
What makes some businesses successful and others fail? 5
Why practices fail 5
The personal characteristics of a successful business person 9
Starting your business 12
Who can help? 12
A Business Plan 15
The type of practice 30
The alternatives 30
Finance 33
Systems and administrative principles 37
Systems and administration - some detail 40
Marketing 46
Market research 46
Advertising and publicity 49
Image 52
How to get clients 54
Fees 55
Security and confidentiality 56
Premises 56
Working from home 56
Renting premises 57
Basic equipment needs 58
Insurance 59
Retirement planning 61
Pension provision for self-employed people 62
2 The professional skills 67
Legal requirements 67
Confidentiality and the law 68
Fees 69
Contracts 71
Right to practise - professional expectations 74
Using the Small Claims Court 77
Producing reports and attending court 78
Additional record-keeping (e.g. storage, letters, ethical systems) 80
Competency 83
Minimum training requirements 83
The role of personal therapy 84
Evaluation and auditing of the practice 84
The role of experience 88
The European dimension 89
Professional bodies 89
Why join a professional body? 89
Accreditation 90
Professional administration 92
Note-taking 92
Supporting documentation (e.g. Client Information Sheet) 93
Written communications (e.g. how to write a referral letter) 93
Supervision 94
The special needs of those in private practice 94
Types of supervision 95
Networking 96
How and why? 96
Medical/psychiatric back-up 98
Knowing where to refer a client on to 98
Personal security 99
Client security 100
The suicidal client 100
3 Personal self-management skills 103
Why do I want to run a private practice? 103
Do I have enough stamina? 107
The stresses of private practice 107
Are you working at your optimum or experiencing burnout or rustout? 109
Cognitive thinking skills for positive action, motivation and stress management 110
Thinking errors and thinking skills 110
Imagery exercises 125
Time management 126
Relaxation 129
Benson relaxation technique 129
Relaxation imagery 130
Multimodal relaxation technique 130
Retirement 134.
Notes:
Includes bibliographical references (pages [137]-140) and index.
ISBN:
0415197759
0415197767
OCLC:
56799078

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