Virtual Marketing Consultation Group for Mental Health Professionals

Graduate school probably didn't prepare you to run your business. Yes—like it or not, a psychotherapy practice is a business. Certainly, you know that building and maintaining a private practice these days involves more than setting up a phone, printing business cards, and waiting for that phone to ring. It involves MARKETING. Unfortunately, small businesses fail at a phenomenal rate. Today's mental health professional faces the challenges of a competitive marketplace and changes in the health care landscape. Plus, the isolation of practice can feed inertia about growing a profitable business. In response, Jim De Santis, Ph.D., offers his successful virtual marketing consultation group for mental health professionals this Spring. Licensed psychologist Dr. Jim De Santis has been teaching ethical business development and effective marketing methods to mental health professionals for 20 years. Psychotherapist, author, publisher, network developer, he has been in full-time private practice for 30 years. He wrote the book, "The Business of Private Practice." If you need guidance and support to get your private practice where you want it, reply today. The 60-Second Self-Test Take just 60 seconds right now to evaluate yourself. Our consultation group is appropriate for those who are: Pre-licensed and under supervision. Recently licensed and wanting to enter practice. Relocating to a new geographic area. Re-entering private practice after time away. Shifting from the public sector to private practice. Want to expand from part-time to full-time. Want to increase net practice income. Want to change the mix of clients. Want to reduce dependence on insurance. Potential Benefits The hardest part of marketing is not know-how; the hardest part is persistence over time.  It is easy to start a project; it is often hard to build and maintain momentum. The best way to persist is through the scaffolding offered by peer support and social accountability---people around us engaged in the same endeavor make a task easier. And, this should be a fun way to keep up the pace. Approach This consultation group will offer practical action-oriented guidance, sharing of information and insights, and peer support to help you set customized goals, identify target markets, design coherent and ethical marketing strategies, and track results. Sample Content Past participants have addressed the following topics: Social media, websites, SEO, video content. and blogging Networking for shy people Do's and don't's of marketing brochures and fliers Insurance panels, online referral services, and directories Converting inquiries into initial appointments Setting fees, negotiating sliding scales, and our sensitivities about money Sales contact management software and databased marketing Defining an optimal practice schedule and establishing quality of life Effectively transitioning from full-time employment to part-time employment Selecting action items, prioritizing tasks, evaluating return on investment Format This is an open-ended discussion group; it is neither a time-limited group nor a structured workshop and does not provide sequential content. You can start any time after the first date as long as there is space. Schedule The first session of this group will be Tuesday, April 2, 2024, 7-8:30 p.m. The group will convene over Zoom on the first and third Tuesday of each month, 7-8:30 p.m. Session dates are: Apr 2, 16 May 7, 21 Jun 4, 18 Jul 2, 16 Aug 6, 20 Sept 3, 17 Registration Once you have paid and submitted a consent to participate, we will e-mail you the Zoom login and will mail you Dr. De Santis's easy-read book, The Business of Practice. Fees The cost is $55 per session, payable at the beginning of each month. You may pay by PayPal, Venmo, Zelle, or paper check. Payment will reserve your space. Payment Options __ Standard Option: The fee for each session is $55, payable at the beginning of each month. __ Discount Option: When all 12 sessions are pre-paid before the first session, fees are discounted to $600 complete. Payment Methods PayPal    JJDeSantis@aol.com Zelle        JJDeSantis@aol.com or (818) 635-5376 Venmo     @James-DeSantis-PhD Check      James De Santis, Ph.D., P.O. Box 894, Glendora, CA 91740-0894 If you have a PayPal account, you can pay using my e-mail address, JJDeSantis@aol.com.  You can also pay through my website at www.JJDeSantis.com on the "Services" page. Commitment The maximum size of the group is eight. You are asked to make an initial commitment of twelve sessions because this is about the amount of time most participants see the benefits of their work in the group. When you commit to this group, you agree to pay for all sessions, whether you attend, miss, or cancel. Sessions with insufficient enrollment will be cancelled at the discretion of the consultant, with prior notice and with a full refund. Continuing Education California licensing boards do not permit continuing education credit for business courses. Facilitator Credentials Licensed psychologist Jim De Santis, Ph.D., has been teaching ethical business development and effective marketing methods to mental health professionals for 20 years. Psychotherapist, author, publisher, network developer, he has been in full-time private practice for 30 years. He wrote the book, "The Business of Private Practice." Jim earned his bachelors degree in psychology from the University of Southern California, magna cum laude, Phi Beta Kappa, and his masters and doctoral degrees in psychology from the Alliant International University, California School of Professional Psychology, in Los Angeles. Dr. De Santis is president of the Glendale Area Mental Health Professionals Association and the East San Gabriel Valley Mental Health Professionals Association. He is publisher of The Group List and The Assessment List, two directories of specialized services in the Los Angeles area. He has authored two books on the subject of marketing. What Participants Have Said About Dr. De Santis "Thought-provoking." "Expanded my horizons." "Helped me think more flexibly and playfully about business." "I enjoyed the balance of practical information and philosophy-centered discussion." "His suggestions are awesome." "Directly applicable and just all-around fabulous!" "Kept me focused, challenged, and inspired." "I always leave uplifted." "I enjoyed his personality and presentation style, too." "Humor, upbeat, personal good vibe." "This was very helpful in developing my identity as a business woman. I feel much more confident about running and managing my practice as a result." "It is the kick in the pants I have been needing!" "I really enjoyed this, would recommend it to others, and have done so." "For those of us who were never aware, we now hear the opportunity when it arises, and it arises everywhere." Why A Marketing Consultation Group Now? Historically, professionals were prohibited by the traditional canon of ethics from advertising and other forms of self-promotion available to most other business ventures. Many methods of business development are available to the professional that are not only effective but also adhere to the highest ethical principles, cultivate collegial respect, preserve clinical autonomy, and increase patient access to quality care. The enlightened entrepreneur seeks to satisfy real human needs by offering products and services of genuine value. So does the enlightened therapist. The best business agenda maximizes not only profit and financial security but also professional fulfillment and a sense of well-being. And, it's probably fairly easy to do better at marketing than most of your colleagues. Why just guess? Your business can thrive when built upon proven principles, innovation, and persistent goal-directed activity. Success requires formulating business goals, identifying profit centers and target markets, assessing competitors, articulating your unique message, and designing ethical, effective promotional strategy. Individualized Business Consultation If you are a self-starter, already have experience in business and marketing, or when affordability is a concern, the most flexible approach is individual coaching on a per-session, as-needed basis. After an initial in-person meeting, intermittent or periodic consultation can be arranged by appointment via telephone, video conference, or e-mail. Feedback from your consultant helps you refine your marketing strategy and move toward your business goals. To arrange a private customized individual or small group consultation, contact Dr. De Santis at (818) 551-1714 or JJDeSantis@aol.com.