Providing therapists practical solutions to managed care's erosion of their freedom to practice, this book presents a working blueprint for a private- pay psychotherapy practice. Dana C. Ackley casts out the distortions that have crept into many clinicians' thinking as a result of reliance on third- party reimbursement. Based on his own experience, he shows how therapists can better serve clients--and themselves--by developing real alternatives to the pressures and bureaucracy of managed care. In clear step-by-step detail, including practical exercises and checklists, sample marketing materials, and payment plans, the volume shows readers how to: *Rediscover the economic and clinical value of therapeutic work
*Learn about the needs of potential clients
*Market and sell private-pay services effectively
*Develop ethical, reasonable business-of-practice skills
*Diversify into the rewarding area of psychological consultation to businesses Table of Contents
I. Looking Beyond Managed Care
1. Descent, Recovery, and Our Future
2. Restoring Professional Self-Esteem, Rediscovering Our Value
3. The Business of Practice
4. Conceptual Changes We Must Make
II. How to Build a Private Pay Therapy Practice
5. The Fundamental Strategy
6. How to Learn from Your Market and Where That May Lead
7. Planning the Business of Your Practice
8. How to Market Traditional Services
III. Diversifying Your Services: Taking Your Skills to the Workplace
9. New Applications for Your Skills: People- Consulting in the Workplace
10. Learning from Those in the Workplace and Where That Can Lead
11. Making a Business Plan for People-Consulting in the Workplace
12. Marketing and Selling to Business
Afterword
Appendix: Resources "Ackley provides creative solutions to difficult situations, and does so as any good therapist should--in a nonthreatening yet challenging way."
-Psychotherapy "I converted a heavily managed care- dependent practice to one that is 90% managed care-free in one year, using principles from Dr. Ackley's book."
-Robin Sesan, PhD, Wilmington, Delaware "Enlightening, energizing, and redeeming."
-The Pennsylvania Psychology Quarterly from the publisher's website | 
