When my practice first opened, as we all do, I wanted clients. Lots of them! I was very driven and determined to make my practice succeed, as I’d been told by supervisors at my past jobs that “no one makes it in private practice, especially if they’re out of network for insurance.” I made the error of not screening prospective clients to be certain they were the best possible fit for my work. I was able to recognize this problem rather quickly and developed a thorough screening process which mostly included trusting my intuition and having strong referral sources for clients who would be more effectively served by another clinician.

First of all, congratulations! Getting licensed is a really big deal as you’ve paid your dues and now have many doors opening for you. I provide business coaching services for newly licensed practitioners who are looking to enter private practice. I wish that I had a mentor or coach who could have helped me understand the business principles and clinical implications inherent in private work. It really is very different than agency work and getting used to the solitude of the work can feel uncomfortable. A private practice is a business, and many mental health practitioners have not been trained in, nor are they comfortable with the business aspect of the work. It’s my job to educate them on this piece as well as support their growth as therapists. Seeing a new practice succeed and far surpass expectations, as my practice has, is one of the greatest joys.

I see the industry tranistioning to distance therapy via video chat almost entirely in the near future. I think there are privacy concerns inherent in this trend. However, having worked via Skype myself with Life Coaching clients for sometime I think it’s very exciting. Online work allows for more flexibility and provides a more removed experience for clients who might not feel as comfortable disclosing in person. I’ve gotten terrific feedback from clients who I work with via video chat. Creating an even more in depth screening process for this work is vital.

I do practice development mentoring and life coaching globally and I’m located in a beautiful sunny office suite in downtown New Haven, CT. As my space is complete with a yoga and meditation studio, my clients are able to have access to a myriad of mindfulness support services between sessions. I can be reached directly at (203) 615-3825 or at Haley@HaleyNeidich.Com.
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I’m a highly trained clinician who takes a coaching approach in the office. Although exploring a client’s past experiences are important, I tend to focus on helping clients solve issues now so that they can let go of the past and be the most effective in their lives. From the very first session, my clients walk out the door with a handful of skills to practice. A bulk of the work takes place between the sessions and it’s my job to arm each client with tools to help them move forward.