My Book
The Private Practice Field Guide
When I started thinking about making the leap from working for someone else to owning my own private practice several years ago, I was terrified. I was worried I would never make enough money, afraid to give up the “security” of a “stable” income, and anxiety ridden at the thought of having to find my own clients and convince them that I was the therapist for them.
I needed a guide – a nuts and bolts “How To” manual to give me the step-by-step path from where I was to where I wanted to be.
Unfortunately, I couldn’t find one. Don’t get me wrong, I found tons of information, and a few really great books that told me I could do, that they had faith in me, and to think positive. But I needed more. I wasn’t able to find everything I needed to get started in one convenient, handy-dandy location, so I struggled to pick it up along the way. I made plenty of mistakes, some fairly expensive, some pretty embarrassing.
That’s why I wrote this book.
To help you avoid all that and to have an easier time along your journey from where you are to where you want to be.
- Are you ready to leave your current position as employee-therapist and start your own practice?
- Have you been thinking about leaving the “safety” and “security” of corporate community mental health to strike out on your own, but can’t get past the fear, anxiety, and stress of making the move?
- Do you want to take the practice you currently have and increase your caseload through more effective marketing?
- Is it time to take a good honest look at our business practices and streamline them in order to give yourself more time and income?
If you answered “YES!” to any of these questions, I wrote this book for you.
In it, I start right off with questions and answers and “how-to’s”. I share a little bit about my story, and what lead me from being a stressed out corporate mental health manager to a private practitioner and successful independent business owner – I also talk about the mistakes I made along the way, especially the $1 million dollar mistake that almost ended it all!
From there, it’s all about the business – the nuts and bolts – the daily activities that will lead you to where you want to be. I talk about successful business operations, marketing your practice versus advertising, how to utilize your website (or start your website) most effectively, and how to take care of the #1 single most important aspect of your business – YOU!
Finally, if you are worried about the forms, paperwork, and documents needed to get started – take mine! That’s why I included them!
I wanted you to have it all. Everything I searched for an incorporated, or failed at, over the past several years. Take it and use to avoid the pitfalls I fell in to, and to guide you to your own successful and authentic practice.
I GUARANTEE it will answer your questions and get you on course to your successful and authentic private practice. If it doesn’t, then email me directly!
You can get a copy of the book several ways:
PDF Download directly from this site for $10 (receive my weekly practice article, updates, and any future revisions to the book free!) Just click the image below.
Would you rather have your own copy to highlight, reference, or to put on your desk or bookshelf? Pick up your paperback copy at
Or, if you’re like me, you will want the Amazon Kindle version.
Or…. if you like, I would be honored to sign a copy and send it to you direct from the small little stack in my office, I can do that. Just send me an email, I’ll send you a Paypal for $20 - just a little more than PDF price to cover shipping – and I will send it off to you from my little post office here in town just as soon as possible! (within a few days)
You don’t have to hear from just me – here are a few thoughts from other professionals I have worked with:
It is my honor and my personal privilege to recommend Dan Franz as a supervisor, mentor, counselor, and expert in the Private Practice field. This man is a genuine human being who cares well for his family, his clients and his fellow clinicians.
During the last semester of my MA Counseling Program at Grace College I had the privilege and the opportunity to intern with Licensed Mental Health Counselor & Licensed Clinical Addictions Counselor Dan Franz at A New Direction Counseling in Plymouth, IN.
During this time, I was given insights to different styles in counseling, but also, the different methods of business such as private practices versus non-profit and other counseling organizations.
I was given the extreme opportunity to see first hand as I was allowed to observe, participate and process these details in such a manner that it allowed both personal and professional growth in my goals for my career.
His passion to teach counselors how to achieve not only their desired goal of serving others well while maintaining a healthy balance for yourself is electrifying because it includes methods of obtaining and promoting a suitable income for yourself, that is often left unaddressed or at best just making ends meet.
His eagerness to mentor fellow clinicians allows us the opportunity to grow in our field based upon another’s known experiences and knowledge learned, and that is a gift that he has chosen to pass on to all who will take advantage of such an opportunity.
Thank you Dan!
Debi Eberstein, MA
Daniel Franz lives up to his title of “Therapist Sherpa”. As a new counselor I have found his articles to be informative and encouraging. I have found helpful Dan’s method of asking challenging questions for us to ponder followed by a call to action. This summer we were challenged to do something that would build our practices and help our clients. Through this I have decided to pursue a couple of projects that will benefit my community in the future. Dan is personable and his writing shows clearly the path that he has walked and encourages others to join him. I believe that I have what it takes to pursue a private practice through the offerings Dan has made available and from his professional cheerleading.
-Sean Stanek, MA, PLMHP
www.theneophytecounselor.wordpress.comIf you look long enough you’ll notice a sea of resources, sales pitches, and just about everything else under the sun. Dan Franz’s book, much like himself, is a breath of fresh air. He is a true original because, above all else, he is genuine. Many people believe they are genuine but few live it with the grace Dan does. His book is no different, and I found it to be a true gift for those thinking about private practice. It is honest, to the point, and packed with step-by-step “to-do’s” from billing procedures to necessary documentation to important policies to straight talk about marketing. The Private Practice Field Guide will fill you with energy and excitement while you turn the pages. It is one of the few books about this topic I have enjoyed and believe!
- David P. Diana
Author of “Marketing for the Mental Health Professional”
www.davidpdiana.com
@davidpdianaWho needs a Sherpa? We’ll if you are a therapist in private practice and your goal is to be of service and help more people, then yes, YOU need the Therapist’s Sherpa, Daniel Franz! Now being a true trailblazer Dan has cut the path for you and created The Private Practice Field Guide to make the journey simple. Dan’s straight forward writing style breaks down even he most complex tasks in building a private practice and makes it easy to implement so you can easily expand your therapy practice. Enjoy the journey with a humorous and compassionate guide who is also in private practice and understands our desires as therapists to help more people AND make a thriving living doing what we love. The Private Practice Field Guide is sure to be the compass every therapist in private practice reaches for!
-Dr. Laura JJ Dessauer, ATR-BC
www.thecreativityqueen.comDan is an awesome man and stands out for being a serious clinician, funny guy, and motivated to help his peers succeed in this somewhat downer profession. He has “lived it all”, felt all the mindset blocks, lack of knowledge, and overcame it all to create a thriving practice. What better mentor could one ask for? You simply can not go wrong learning from Dan as he walks you through all the stumbling blocks to building your ideal private practice. He is the real deal. You won’t find smoke and mirrors anywhere in his advice.
-Elizabeth Doherty Thomas
www.ElizabethDohertyThomas.com
