Hi guys we are in a time of world change with widespread implications for health practitioners. I guarantee there are many clients who need your assistance now more than ever.
Here are some ideas for keeping your therapy business alive and well in these uncertain times.
- If you haven’t already, head online and offer internet or phone counseling sessions. Now is the time to get yourself tech-savvy and offer face to face sessions in safety over the internet. There are many options – Facetime, Skype, Whatsapp and Zoom are available. Check your necessary security requirements, as per your professional association recommendations. I am using Zoom which offers one on one online therapy sessions as part of their free account.
- Offer session package deals to celebrate your new online provision. Say three sessions for the investment of two when paid upfront in advance.
- Provide Covid discounts. It’s better to support and see a client who most needs you through job loss or other stresses by offering a sliding scale. Psychologists can bulk bill financially challenged people.
- Create free resources – it’s a perfect opportunity in quieter times to get your creative parts out. Make postcards, info sheets with your special touch to send out to your clients via text or email. You can build a series of useful tools for clients. Be imaginative – ie your essential emotional survival kit for the Coronavirus in uncertain times. Actually I’d recommend good old snail mail to send your info kits out. Reaching out in this way will be so touching.
- Touch base with your past clients with a hello and letting them know about your new safety service provisions, that you’re there for them and your best regards. You might want to send them your new resources too.
- Time to file and sort out your office. In this downtime it’s a chance to catch up on the admin side of our businesses. My filing cabinets definitely need clearing and cleansing. Marie Kondo office cleaning here we come.
We are in this together and we will get through this. I am loving the increased kindness and community support.
I would love to hear your thoughts, please drop a comment in the box below. Perhaps you can offer your tips on how your therapy business is adapting to help others?
Great advice! Thanks for sharing. Just one thing about Zoom people may want to check. It’s an ideal face to face portal but the free account, as far as I can tell, only allows 40-minute sessions with up 3 attendees. I think it’s well worth going ‘pro’ with Zoom for around $21 per month (cheaper if you pay upfront per annum) and get yourself unlimited time access with every meeting and invite up to 100 attendees. Of course most of us won’t need to see more than 1 to 3 people at a time, but at least the option is there. Who knows, you may decide to run a webinar or group therapy 🙂 Cheers, and thank you again for sharing such great tips, Philipa!
Thanks, Anna,
You’re truly welcome, thanks for your comments.
I appreciate you letting us know about Zoom pricing.
It’s perfect for those in private practice doing one on ones for the therapy hour. For group supervision or larger meetings, it would be worth the $21 and that’s in Aussie dollars too. I love the idea of group therapy online…wow!
Good to know the option is there to upgrade. I will be soon and do it annually. Zoom also have a webinar option that may be worthwhile getting for training purposes.