I have two quick questions if you don’t mind:

One, do you have any opinion on The Ohio State University’s MSW program? Maybe you know someone who went there or have some knowledge of the curriculum. Being the closest school it’s the only one I’ve looked into yet, but I want to make sure it will adequately prepare me for clinical work.

Two, I’m also considering going for a PsyD. It was what I wanted at first, but the overwhelming majority of people online seem to think that going that route will only entail spending a couple hundred thousand dollars more just to have similar career options as a MSW and not make a whole lot more money. Do you have an opinion on this issue?

Thanks a lot!

I am so happy to have found this site by accident. There’s a wealth of inforamtion here. Thank you for doing this.

I do have a question, however. I am wondering if it is worth it to get on the insurance panels? I am currently doing research on starting my own private practice in MD and from the few folks I’ve talked to in addition to working at several agencies, the insurance billing sounds like a nightmare. My current supervisor even advises me against it/and private pay too. She thinks contracting with another agency seeing medicaid client is better(I of course disagree). So, all this talk about private pay vs insurance panels got me wondering which one is better for someone first starting out in private practice. I want to do it full time, but looking at my current phase in life, i’m opting to ease into it slowly. So what are your thoughts on the best way to get started, panels or private pay(which I prefer). Thanks!

Thanks for the comment Raffi! Emma has done an impressive job to be sure! Many counselors struggle to get out of pocket clients, which is why we highly recommend getting on insurance panels (and we even offer that service at http://www.medicalcredentialing.org It’s funny that when we write about getting on panels, some people will comment that “you can’t make any money with insurance,” which isn’t true. Then, when we write about running a cash practice, some people will comment that “building a cash-pay caseload is impossible.” Also not true! LOL. 🙂 Raffi, I don’t know what else to say but Emma’s story is true. I did a similar thing in 2008, before Thriveworks started accepting insurance. Raffi, if you’re starting a practice, maybe we can help. We have a new suite of services called “Thriveworks Total Support”–you can see some information on it (the presentation is still a bit under construction) at http://wwwthriveworks.com/private-practice . Alternatively, a lot of people have found our book “How to Thrive in Counseling Private Practice” helpful. Raffi, I’m not sure if you’re asking for help, or just venting. Either is okay by me! Be well, Anthony

I have been thinking about this article for a couple of days, and my feeling at this point is – I don’t believe it.

Therapists everywhere – even those who are not stuck in an office-clients catch-22 or some such quagmire – are having trouble getting private clients. So far the only way I’ve heard that my colleagues are getting consistent referrals is from insurance companies. These are people who DO have websites, blogs, etc.

I have spoken to many potential clients who opted to go with someone who accepts their insurance rather than pay out of pocket. And here you tell me that this person not only recruited (what does that even mean, practically?) six people who wanted her services – in another city altogether! – and were willing not only to wait, but to pay out of pocket? Even if the story is true, it’s not terribly helpful to hold that up as a model for the rest of us. It simply does not strike me as the kind of thing that could happen to anyone.

How about getting an office? Not so easy to find one necessarily. And maybe you don’t even have the money to put up for it! Who can afford to put up $650 in the hopes that they will make it back before they drain their bank account? Of course, you HAVE to – but how CAN you?

So while I am all for CFM – and am trying to do it myself – I don’t see how it solves the problem. Please enlighten me!

Raffi

Thanks for your comment Michael!