Marketing, office planning, networking, managed care, legal liability. These are probably not the words that encouraged your decision to pursue a career in the field of mental health. Before practicing the clinical aspects of therapy, most mental health professionals must first deal with the business of therapy. Independent Practice for the Mental Health Professional, co-written by a veteran therapist and a therapist just beginning in her practice, offers the information needed to balance the demands of running a business along with being a therapist. Based on Joan Beigel and Ralph Earle's previous work, Successful Private Practice in the 1990s, this book offers specific tools for building a successful private practice for the next century.

Independent Practice for the Mental Health Professional provides the reader with the experience and time-tested lessons of one author who has been in practice since 1971. At the same time, the co-author, who began her practice in May 1998, addresses the thoughts and concerns of those therapists soon to enter, or thinking about entering, private practice. In this book, readers will learn

· the pros and cons of going solo or joining a group practice

· the legal issues connected to running a private practice

· how to market themselves as well as their practice

· how to arrange physically their office, manage personnel, and collect fees

· how to maintain a thriving practice in the age of managed care

The authors provide worksheets and examples of successful planning for the growth of a practice. When combined with hard work and a business-minded attitude, these techniques can be a recipe for success. As a result, this book is a valuable resource for therapists thinking about entering private practice, and beginning and experienced therapists hoping to improve their own practice.