Creative Strategies in Developing an Ethical and Profitable Private Practice

Creative Strategies in Developing an Ethical and Profitable Private Practice

Melissa Riesgo, LMHC

Owner of Full Circle Therapy LLC

Description: Mental Health Counselors are not trained in business planning or marketing techniques in graduate school. It is both difficult and intimidating for some of us to take the leap into private practice. Fortunately for me, I was raised by entrepreneurs. From a young age I knew that I wanted to be a business owner and in May of 2020 I was at a crossroad in my career as a Licensed Mental Health Counselor. I could have gone with the safe choice of a steady salary and stay with the company I had been with for 5 years but instead I opened a group practice with my sister in the middle of a pandemic. Soon, I realized that there was a big need for face to face therapy and I needed to create a solid and ethical business plan for ourselves because I had big dreams. In the process of learning to build an ethical practice, I’ve been able to: 

• Grow our group practice from 2 mental health counselors to 15 therapists.  
• Open a second office location 
• Add an occupational therapy and equine assisted psychotherapy program 
• Become a  mental health counseling and occupational therapy student practicum/internship site 
• Start a non profit organization, The Full Circle Therapy Foundation, where we provide little to no cost mental health counseling treatment. 

Are you worried about creating a winning strategy to build and grow an ethical private practice? It’s time to change the course of your private practice. By learning to start and grow your private practice, you will be able to… 

• Increase your revenue by increasing your pricing and the services you provide.
• Work with your ideal client and offer them high-quality therapy and counseling.
• Create a schedule that fits into your lifestyle, such as taking more vacations, not working on the weekends, or cutting down on your evening appointments.
• Follow ethics related to social media, marketing, and providing services to clients.

Learning Objectives:

3.0 Ethics CEU Hours

About the Presenter: Melissa Riesgo, LMHC 

Melissa is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor who specializes in Couples Therapy, specifically issues related to infidelity and divorce. Melissa is  passionate about helping you and your partner regain a loving connection and have the fulfilling relationship you both want and deserve. Melissa is also bilingual in English and Spanish and a Qualified Supervisor for Mental Health Counseling Interns.