WP115 | How to Start a Private Practice in 2025 - Live Consulting with Derrick Boger, LCMHCA, NCC
Today’s episode is particularly exciting because we’re diving into what it takes to start a private practice in 2025. I’ve brought on a very special guest, Derrick Boger, who I had the pleasure of meeting at the Wise Practice Summit last year. Derrick is one of those rare individuals who exudes courage and faith. Despite not knowing anyone, he attended the summit as he was preparing to launch his own practice. His story is a testament to taking bold steps toward your calling, and I knew immediately that he needed to share his journey on the podcast. Together, we’ll discuss the challenges and opportunities of starting a private practice in today’s world, all through the lens of faith and service.
So grab a cup of coffee, settle in, and get ready for an inspiring conversation. Whether you’re in the early planning stages or looking for ways to refresh your existing practice, you’re going to take away valuable lessons and encouragement from Derrick’s journey. Let’s dive in!
Define Your “Why” and Mission
The cornerstone of any successful practice is a clear sense of purpose. Defining why you started and developing a mission statement will keep your decisions grounded in your values. This clarity helps you navigate challenges and align your practice with your long-term goals. Resist the urge to follow trends that don't resonate with your vision; instead, create a foundation that authentically reflects who you are and what you want to achieve.
Find the Right Support
Running a practice can feel isolating, but it doesn’t have to be. Surround yourself with a supportive community or coach who understands your values and goals. Seek guidance from those who have been where you are, and learn from their experience. Whether through podcasts, blogs, or videos, small weekly changes based on informed advice can make a big difference.
Structure Your Practice with Intention
Your practice’s structure should reflect your mission. Carefully consider your rates, the clients you want to serve, and whether insurance participation aligns with your goals. Instead of trying to accommodate everyone, focus on what works best for you and your ideal client base. An intentional structure will ensure that your practice stays sustainable and aligned with your vision.
Build a Strong Brand and Online Presence
Your brand is your first impression. Choose a name that’s memorable, easy to spell, and optimized for SEO by including relevant terms like “therapy” or “counseling.” A professional website is essential for credibility. Pair it with a custom domain and email to solidify your online presence.
Handle Administrative Essentials
Behind every great practice is a strong administrative foundation. Secure your National Provider Identifier (NPI) and register your business with the state. Set up a separate business checking account and use tools like QuickBooks to keep your finances organized. These small but critical steps will save you time and stress in the long run.
Streamline Your Operations
Simplify your workflow with an Electronic Health Record (EHR) system. From scheduling to billing, an EHR will keep everything running smoothly. Require credit cards on file and enforce a clear cancellation policy to protect your time and ensure accountability.
Foster Connection and Accountability
Private practice doesn’t have to be lonely. Build relationships with other professionals to stay accountable and bounce ideas off each other. Whether it’s clinical challenges or business strategies, having a trusted network can make all the difference.
Start with Prayer and Trust the Process
Faith can play a powerful role in growing your practice. Pray for the clients you’re meant to serve and trust that the right opportunities will come your way. Time and again, business owners have found that faith and persistence can lead to remarkable outcomes.
Respond Quickly to Inquiries
Timely communication can set you apart from other providers. Answer calls promptly, even if you’re on the go, and provide multiple ways for clients to reach you. Whether it’s online scheduling, phone calls, or email, prioritize accessibility to make the process easy for potential clients.
Enforce Clear Policies to Protect Your Time
Setting boundaries is essential for both your clients and your practice. Require credit cards on file and establish a cancellation policy to reduce no-shows and encourage commitment. These policies demonstrate professionalism and ensure your time is respected.
Deliver Excellent Clinical Care
Never underestimate the power of word-of-mouth referrals. Providing exceptional care will naturally lead clients to recommend you to others. Encourage feedback, continuously improve, and let your results speak for themselves.
Build Relationships with Referral Sources
Collaborating with schools, churches, and other organizations can significantly grow your client base. Follow up with referral sources to build trust and demonstrate your commitment to client care. When your referrals see positive outcomes, they’re more likely to send others your way.
Be Your Own Advocate
Don’t shy away from promoting your services. Whether it’s handing out business cards or casually mentioning your practice in conversations, share your expertise whenever opportunities arise. People need to know about the important work you do.
Master SEO and Optimize Your Website
A well-optimized website is one of your most powerful tools. Create dedicated service pages for each specialty to improve search engine rankings. Invest time in learning SEO or seek guidance from resources like Simplified SEO Consulting to ensure your website is working for you.
Utilize Google My Business
A Google My Business profile can greatly enhance your visibility. Keep it updated and encourage satisfied clients to leave reviews. Positive feedback builds trust and helps potential clients choose you with confidence.
Engage in Community Outreach
Free workshops can be an excellent way to build credibility and connect with your community. Partner with local organizations like churches or first responders to offer solutions tailored to their needs. These relationships can lead to referrals and solidify your reputation as a trusted resource.
Let Your Personality Shine
Your authenticity is one of your greatest assets. Engage genuinely with clients and colleagues alike, and let your likability create lasting connections. A personal touch can leave a lasting impression, encouraging others to choose your services over the competition.
Starting and growing a private practice is a journey that requires intention, strategy, and faith. By following these steps, you’ll not only attract clients but also create a practice that reflects your mission and serves your community with purpose.
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Derrick Boger’s Resources
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[00:00:00] Whitney Owens: What if you could save 10 hours a week and still have perfectly written clinical notes? With Berries, that's not just a dream, it is your new reality. Berries is a HIPAA compliant AI scribe trusted by thousands of therapists. It writes your clinical notes in your unique style, generates detailed treatment plans, drafts client summary emails with key takeaways, and even creates a prep summary to help you start sessions with confidence.
And it works well with any EHR, like therapy notes and many more. It takes the stress out of note taking so that you can focus on what really matters. Whether you're working solo or part of a group practice, Berries adapts to your needs and works seamlessly in any setting. In person, telehealth, virtual sessions with headphones.
It frees up your time to see more clients or simply do what you love. Getting started is easy. It only takes 30 seconds to create your first note. Ready to give it a try? Head to berries. icu and sign up for 20 free sessions. Plus, use the code WISE50, W I S E 5 0, to get 50 percent off your first month. Hi, I'm Whitney Owens.
I'm a group practice owner and faith based practice consultant, and I'm here to tell you that you can have it all. Want to grow your practice? Want to grow your faith? Want to enjoy your life outside of work? You've come to the right place. Each week on the WISE Practice Podcast, I will give you the action steps to help you to have a successful faith based practice while also having a good time.
Now let's get started.
[00:01:34] Jingle: Where she grows your practice, she don't play. She does business with a twist of faith. It's Whitney Owens and the Wise Practice Podcast. Whitney Owens and Wise Practice Podcast.
[00:01:52] Whitney Owens: Welcome to the Wise Practice Podcast and Happy New Year to all of you. Thank you for being a loyal listener and for those of you that are new, welcome to the show. Here we help faith based practice owners start, grow, and scale their private practice and it's awesome. So glad to have you joining us. It's an exciting time when we get into a new year.
I know you probably came up with all your resolutions or maybe you decided not to do that this year. I still need to Kind of sit down and think about what I'm looking forward to in the coming year, but I am recording this year at the end of 2024, but as I think about this next month, I know a lot of us start to kind of make our plans for our practice ways that we want to grow.
We've set our goals and intentions for the year. And I want you to consider being a part of the WISePractice community if you're not already. If you're looking to make big changes in your practice, you're wanting a guide along the way, or maybe you're just looking for extra community while you grow your practice, being able to connect with other Christian therapists, WISePractice.
It's got, got it for you. We have a lot of different opportunities for you in whatever phase of practice that you're growing. And during the month of January on the podcast, I'm going to be doing some live consulting. I absolutely love doing live consulting, but it's going to give you an opportunity to kind of see what consulting is like to learn more about the people that are in the Last Practice membership community and to hear what that is.
You've probably heard me talk about it for a while. We open the doors to that twice a year. And so we're going to be doing that at the end of January. You're going to be hearing about that on the podcast. So I'm looking forward to all the new therapists that are going to join that group this year and how we're going to grow our practices together.
And again, you're going to hear more about that as we go into the episode. And if you're looking to take your practice to the next level, maybe join a mastermind group, or maybe do some individual consulting. Head to the WISePractice podcast, what WISePractice consulting website, and you can learn more about that.
Or just shoot me an email, Whitney at WISePracticeConsulting. com. Tell me what's going on in your practice. Would love to just chat with you about what your needs are. And look, I know that WISePractice is not the answer for everybody. And I'll tell you that. I'll tell you what I think you need for your practice.
So shoot me an email. Let me know how I can help you. I know that 2025 is going to be a big year. When it comes to consulting, it is about, I mean, we're a business, right? We've got to run a business. We've got to make money, but y'all, this is really about helping you find Christ in the work you do. It's about helping you help other Christians within the country.
It's about helping you wherever you're located, growing your practice that we can reach more people in healing and hope. Which is really what people need. That is what WISe Practice is all about. So I appreciate you being with me today, and I'm excited for y'all to learn from Derek, and I actually met Derek at the WISe Practice Summit this past year.
I love when someone's brave enough to just purchase a ticket not knowing anyone. That's exactly what he did. He hadn't even started his practice yet. And he just has such a presence about him. I've really enjoyed getting to know him. And I was like, you've got to come on the podcast. So in this episode, we're going to talk all about having a private practice in 2025, because I'm going to be honest.
I started my practice in 2014. And yeah, I'm a consultant. I know some things. But I need a refresher and what it's like to start your practice in 2025. And that's what we're going to do today. So thank you for being with me. You're in for a treat today with Derek. And today we're going to talk about starting a private practice in the year 2025.
Welcome back to the WISe Practice Podcast. I have my friend Derek Boger here. He is a licensed clinical mental health counselor associate located in Greensboro, North Carolina. He's the founder of Transformation Christian Counseling. A new solo practice launching in 2025 with a growing waitlist. He specializes in Christian counseling, counseling for men, and marriage counseling.
Derek's background includes eight years in the military, 10 years as a firefighter, and over 20 years of ministry experience. While his master's degree equipped him with clinical skills, Derek attributes the compassion he brings into each session to his faith and relationship with God. Thank you for coming on the show.
[00:06:10] Derrick Boger: Hey, thanks for having me, Whitney. I really appreciate it.
[00:06:13] Whitney Owens: You're welcome. You're welcome. Now we're recording this here in November, because I like to kind of chill out on the holidays, but this will air and likely in January. So hopefully you'll be up and running at that point. So we're excited that we're here talking on the show.
[00:06:27] Derrick Boger: Super excited about that. Yep. Looking forward to January launching. Yep.
[00:06:30] Whitney Owens: That's right. That's right. Well, why don't you just share a little bit more about kind of, kind of you and why you started your practice. And then we can kind of start getting into what your question is today, just so people can get to know you a little better.
[00:06:42] Derrick Boger: Okay. Yeah. So I'm actually a PK, a preacher's kid. My parents started a church at the age of, I was the age of seven. So I had three siblings and so grew up in church my whole life and went on to college and kind of had my fun and pulled away from the church, came back and worked in church after that, rededicated my life in junior year of college.
And I have kind of been on fire for God ever since. One of the things I think makes me unique is just that I have a heart for people. I mean, at the end of the day, I never feel like my life is about myself. It's to service to others. So, you know, again, with my platform from military to firefighting, it's about giving back in any way I can.
So I had a heart condition that I found out about. Two, two and a half years ago, and it pulled me off from the fire department due to a heart condition I had. So with that, it was like, Lord, what is next? And I had been unofficially counseling and sitting with people for years. And it was what God led to my heart to say, go get the clinical, make it licensed, be official.
So I just followed what God called me to do and went to it. And I could tell, I always follow peace, you know, when you don't know what he's saying to you, just where's the peace? What is God opening the doors for? So, uh, he made it easy for me in that sense. So again, here I am years later, and yeah, I'm a proud husband and for 19 years coming up.
Congratulations. Yeah. Thank you. Two teenage kids. So again, just a wealth of life I've lived. So it really helps in the clinical space as well to relate to a lot of people. I don't just see Christian Christians. I love seeing those who have been hurt by the church as well, because I've seen it all. In my year, so it's not just focused only on this or that.
It's just a wide range of those who need it. I love to address that.
[00:08:25] Whitney Owens: Yeah, well, thank you for that introduction. And I enjoyed, even though we met at the summit, just hearing more about you and your life and your passion is a joy for me. So thank you for that. All right. So let's jump into your question for today.
[00:08:39] Derrick Boger: All right, well, again, me starting, so I've just finished my, my grad program, graduated, internship was great, year and a half of that, um, saw clients from age nine to 79. So, but now I kind of see, yeah, I like to see where I'm, my niche is more focused on Christian counseling, like you said, counseling for men and also marriage counseling.
So Whitney, the way I want to approach this question is simply, if you were starting off in my shoes. Just starting off brand new in 2025, what things would you be willing to do and seeing over the years, what you've been experiencing, but what's the best way to start off?
[00:09:15] Whitney Owens: This is such a good question, Derek.
And I think a lot of people can relate to this and I can tell you got your pen ready to go. So I love
[00:09:21] Derrick Boger: it.
[00:09:22] Whitney Owens: All right. So I would first really write down your why, because. You will have difficulties along the way, just like you do in life and your practice. It's going to go up and down and things will happen and you need to always remember why you're doing what you're doing.
Right? So having a really solid mission statement about what your practice is about. This will also dictate all the decisions that you make in your business. We need some kind of foundation for that because if we don't, we're just going to, you know, grab at things. And I especially think that that's the case with practice owners, which we don't know about business.
Then we go listen to what everybody else says about business and then we're in fear because we have to make money and then we start doing what everybody tells us to do without actually looking at, does this align with who I am and what this is about? So that would be my 1st part. And actually, this is kind of giving you a little bit of information here.
I'm going to be doing the wise practice teaching in December on mission and values. So I'm looking forward to that because this is something I've been thinking a good bit about lately and over time it changes as your practice grows. So that'd be the 1st thing I would tell you to do right there. Make sure that you have either a coach or a sense of community or really both.
And I say that because 1st of all, there's a lot of bad advice out there. We all know this in all areas of life. And there are a lot of coaches out there in private practice when you see it, it was kind of happening when I started 10 years ago, but now it's exploded. And so the same way, I'd be like, there's a different therapist for every, every client is going to relate differently to a different therapist, find a coach that you can relate to that has the same values and vision similar that you do.
And follow that person and learn as much as you can. So that might mean that you're paying for consulting. It might just mean you're listening to a podcast, you're reading the blogs, whatever that is, make sure that you're following some people that are legitimate. Get testimonies from people that have followed and worked with that person.
When I started out, I probably took down three or four podcasts a week on private practice. And then I told myself every week, find one thing that you can implement each week from that podcast. And that's how, that's how a group of practice.
[00:11:50] Derrick Boger: That's, that's good. Even hearing you say that I am big on podcasts as well.
You know, YouTube university, I call it. I'm always getting information to learn. So that's great. Oh, great advice.
[00:12:02] Whitney Owens: Yeah. And then having that community as well, if you can have both in the same place, even better, but being a therapist, especially like this idea of private practice, if you don't have a group and it's just you, that's lonely, that extra accountability, someone to even bounce back.
Maybe it's business ideas, but also clinical ideas by super important.
[00:12:23] Derrick Boger: Yeah.
[00:12:23] Whitney Owens: Yeah. And then you could go into some of your, I would really start looking at your structure of your practice. And again, going back to your values, like what is it that I value? That's my mission and what I do and how do these things line up?
So it would be some of those big, important questions that maybe you've already thought through some of, of what's my rate going to be?
[00:12:45] Derrick Boger: What kind
[00:12:46] Whitney Owens: of clients do I want to see? Do I want to take insurance? If so, what insurances and I would recommend don't take every insurance. You'll get overwhelmed. Take the ones that help you meet the needs of the people that you want to serve.
So, for example, if you wanted to serve firefighters, whatever insurance they're on in your area, that's the panel we get on. Right, but I think looking at kind of some of those bigger structure things within your business. is also really going to help you. Now, you might be surprised that we didn't jump right into marketing.
And I think too, I think that marketing is important, but if you miss some of these things, these are the things that are going to influence the way you run your business and the way you market. All right. So then we can kind of go into some more nuts and bolts. Okay. These are things that I wish I'd had a checklist when I started.
So make sure that you have a name that reflects that mission, right? The name of your practice. Your name needs to be easy to say, understandable, spell, and your domain needs to match.
[00:13:57] Derrick Boger: I'm feeling good. So far what you're saying, I have a lot of that in place. So that's good.
[00:14:02] Whitney Owens: Another important thing with your practice name is that your SEO is working with it, so search engine optimization.
So I would encourage you to have therapy or counseling or something in your name that reflects what you do. Now, you've already done all this. I see it.
[00:14:19] Derrick Boger: Yes.
[00:14:19] Whitney Owens: Yeah. Yeah. You have a great name. It's easy to say. It matches your domain. You have an email
[00:14:25] Derrick Boger: that
[00:14:25] Whitney Owens: goes with your domain. All those things. You have those things in place.
So I think that's really important. I see so many businesses that have weird names. I don't know how to spell it or I don't know what they do. You need to know what someone does by their name.
[00:14:35] Derrick Boger: Okay.
[00:14:37] Whitney Owens: I also, just because we're already on talking a little bit about domains, have a website. You've got to have a website this day and age.
[00:14:46] Derrick Boger: Yes. Yes.
[00:14:47] Whitney Owens: Your people are going to look you up. And if you don't have a website, they're going to be like, are you legit? It's almost like not having a phone number.
[00:14:54] Derrick Boger: Gotcha. Yep.
[00:14:55] Whitney Owens: Okay, so make sure you have that. All right, and then going back to some of those other basics would be that you go ahead and you get your NPI.
Okay, if you're familiar, you're
[00:15:06] Derrick Boger: saying yeah, okay. So that's something that I plan to get this, this upcoming week, yes.
[00:15:11] Whitney Owens: Excellent, your national provider identification number. And you might not have to use that all that often, but it's a good thing to have if you end up taking insurance, you use it a lot.
So, but it's something that you want to have. In fact, if you ever start a group practice,
[00:15:24] Derrick Boger: Because you
[00:15:25] Whitney Owens: might do that one day. You got to have an NPI too as well. That's your group NPI. Okay. And then with your, when you get your name, you need to get your, your name registered with your state. You've probably done this already.
And then make sure you have a tax ID in place. Because your tax ID is kind of like your social security number for your business. It's important. And you can have somebody walk you through those steps or you can just look them up in your state. It's not all that difficult to do all that. Another really important part is have a, have your business checking account separate from your personal.
Okay. You're going to pay yourself from your business account into your personal. An accountant can explain a little bit more of that, but I would definitely get an accountant as well that understands business. Okay. And when you do all that, you're going to get QuickBooks. Quick books already.
[00:16:20] Derrick Boger: Not yet.
[00:16:22] Whitney Owens: This was one of my biggest mistakes when I started.
[00:16:24] Derrick Boger: Okay.
[00:16:25] Whitney Owens: I Literally had a checkbook ledger that I wrote everything in.
[00:16:29] Derrick Boger: Okay.
[00:16:30] Whitney Owens: QuickBooks is so cheap and it integrates with your bank and Everything runs through it and you can share it with your accountant and you'll be so glad you have it and it's not very expensive at all.
[00:16:40] Derrick Boger: Okay.
[00:16:42] Whitney Owens: I Always laugh thinking about all that. Okay You're going to have an EHR, right?
[00:16:48] Derrick Boger: Yes.
[00:16:49] Whitney Owens: And your EHR, so important, takes credit cards and you put credit cards on file when you schedule new clients. You really need to write out your intake process. It'll be another thing. Okay. So these are all kind of more business structured things, right?
But I think if you get a lot of that in place and you have space, obviously, you kind of know what types of clients you want to work with. If you've got all that stuff I just said, you're doing great. Yeah, you got your intake. You got to have your intake paperwork. I think it kind of goes with your EHR part.
But get your EHR all set up with your intake paperwork and then your, your liability insurance. Make sure you have that. Most people already have that, but it's important. And you can talk to your liability insurance about this, but I would get it set up based on your, on your business name, because that's your LLC that you're practicing through.
And right now it's just you. So it can be like kind of your business and your name, like get them both insured basically.
[00:17:46] Derrick Boger: Okay,
[00:17:48] Whitney Owens: great. Now what you're wanting to know is how do I get clients, right?
[00:17:54] Derrick Boger: Always that's right.
[00:17:55] Whitney Owens: How do we get clients? Well, the first thing I'm going to tell you is to pray. Because. God always comes through, always.
And I remember being so scared at the beginning because I needed clients. Yeah. I'd moved to Savannah and I had tried to get a job at an agency, couldn't get one, started a private practice. It's like, I got to have clients. It just seemed like every time I would sit down and say, God, I need a client. They call.
Yeah. So. Prayer can do a lot of things. Praying for the types of clients that God wants you to see, if the right people would call, they'd be drawn to you online. Whatever that, whatever it is that you feel like you should be praying for, pray for those things. And make sure you follow up with people. So often therapists are busy or maybe they don't have the administrative skills or whatever the case may be.
So people will reach out and they'll wait a few hours to call them back. If you're trying to grow your business, do whatever you can to get clients. Especially in a, you know, you're, you're getting your name out in town because the more clients you see, those people are gonna start telling other people about you and you're gonna start getting more clients.
So someone reaches out to you, get back in touch with them ASAP or answer the call when they call. I remember walking with my kids in a wagon down to the park and I was answering calls from client
[00:19:25] Derrick Boger: schedules
[00:19:26] Whitney Owens: because I was at a point that I just really needed clients, but I'm not going to go sit in my office all day.
I want to be, I'm with my kids. And so I just was always really casual about it. I was like, Hey, sir, I'm working from home today. You know, and people don't really care. They're just glad you answered the phone because they called seven other places before they called you. So I'm a huge component, proponent of the phone.
Want to call, they want to talk to somebody, but on your website, provide multiple options for people to reach out to you, and then I want you to really watch your numbers and track what's working and what's not, and push people to reach out the best way possible. So if you're noticing that, Hey, I have a better conversion rate when people schedule online, that they're actually going to show up and attend the appointment, I Push everyone online to schedule online.
If you notice that when people call my office, they're a lot more likely to keep their appointment than do that, but do not let people schedule without getting their credit cards and maintaining a 24, at least a 24 hour cancellation policy. People are scared about that at the very beginning. They don't want to talk to, it's hard to talk about money to clients.
It's hard to take their cards. But you're actually serving them by doing this. They're a lot more likely to show up for their appointment because they want to come with every excuse not to come. They're scared. They need there. So by getting their card in advance and creating a policy around it, you're ensuring that and you're taking care of yourself.
[00:21:01] Derrick Boger: I'm hearing a lot Whitney. So I'm hearing even tracking from the very beginning. Yes, something that's been tracked. Okay, seeing what's best working With the different avenues that they're, they're able to connect, um, following that and making sure you, you follow up with people immediately and have a credit card on file immediately once they do it.
Okay.
[00:21:23] Whitney Owens: Yep. Yes. Cause you've got to make money in your business. So if people don't show up for their appointments, you got to be able to charge them for that.
[00:21:29] Derrick Boger: Yeah. Yeah.
[00:21:32] Whitney Owens: And, and so we talked about the website hire. If you're going to put money into something, coaching and hiring someone for your website.
Because that website's very important. If you can get it right the first time, that'll save you a lot of headache down the road. Like, I started, I made my own website at the beginning. It went very good.
[00:21:49] Derrick Boger: Mm hmm.
[00:21:50] Whitney Owens: And then I had someone else make my website and it was better.
[00:21:53] Derrick Boger: Gotcha.
[00:21:55] Whitney Owens: Yeah. So yes, I am flooding you with a bunch of information there.
[00:21:59] Derrick Boger: I'm getting it. I feel good, though, because a lot of it I do have in place so that it makes me feel really good starting off. Mm hmm. And the things that I'm not. Quite to that point, I'm getting a lot of good notes, so it's good.
[00:22:11] Whitney Owens: Good, good. Well, don't undervalue the importance of good clinical care to give you more clients because those people tell people.
I would encourage you to get releases of information for anyone that refers somebody and follow up with that referral source personally. So, for example, if you were to get a referral from a school with a 15 year old boy who's struggling with behavior at school, I would ask the parents to send the release of information.
They want to follow up with the school to let them know you came in to see how I can partner with them in helping your child. Parents will like that. The school will get a call from Derek and they'll be like, wow, that therapist knows what they're doing because the client's getting better.
[00:23:01] Derrick Boger: Yeah, but
[00:23:01] Whitney Owens: now you've introduced yourself because when the client comes into the office, the counselors are going to go, who's your therapist?
Everything got better. I don't know. I don't know his name now. You've introduced yourself. You went above and beyond. And the next time a troubled teenager goes into that counselor's office, whose number are they going to give?
[00:23:19] Derrick Boger: Yeah, mine. Yours, yours. Yeah.
[00:23:23] Whitney Owens: So do that for all the referrals. That could be churches that refer.
Don't be ashamed to talk about yourself all the time. In fact, I was, I was out for Halloween last night and this gal, I was asking her some questions about volleyball because my daughter's starting volleyball. I was like, tell me about this. And she's a volleyball coach for a high school. So she's chat chat.
And then at the end of the conversation, she walked away and the friend beside me was like, by the way, she does personal lessons. And I was like, what? She could personally work with my daughter. Why didn't she say that?
[00:23:58] Derrick Boger: Right.
[00:23:59] Whitney Owens: And she was, I went up to her after I said, why didn't you tell me that she's like, no, you know, but like, that's just such a perfect example of, of if you're with people, you know, saying, Hey, I do therapy, here's my card, contact me because people need to hear about you because you offer an important service.
[00:24:19] Derrick Boger: And everybody needs it. I mean, they don't need it personally. They know someone who, who may need it. So that's great. It's so important. Yeah.
[00:24:27] Whitney Owens: So what kind of questions are coming up for you?
[00:24:31] Derrick Boger: Oh, you're hitting it all. I mean, it's a lot what I'm, I'm really getting encouraged though, because I have a lot of these done.
So you mentioned the NPI. That was one that I'm a backup a little bit too. You said if I was to do a group practice, I would need a second one. Is that correct? Okay, I did not know that. That was something I hadn't heard.
[00:24:52] Whitney Owens: Yeah, and I mean, it's not, again, if you're a cash pay practice, you're not going to hear about that as often, but it is good to have.
[00:25:00] Derrick Boger: Okay.
[00:25:01] Whitney Owens: I can't remember the last time I used mine.
[00:25:04] Derrick Boger: Gotcha. And that tax ID number, that is your EIN, right? For the business? Mm hmm. Okay.
[00:25:09] Whitney Owens: Same thing.
[00:25:10] Derrick Boger: Okay, you mentioned the SEO and just the importance of that. Again, I know it's helpful that in my name, the title Transformation Christian Counseling, it flows in that a lot of what I speak on speaks to that in my content.
Is there any tips you kind of have with that of how to kind of keep that focused on other than my regular communication, it kind of highlights the niches in the areas that I like to work with.
[00:25:35] Whitney Owens: Like how to improve your SEO.
[00:25:37] Derrick Boger: Yes.
[00:25:38] Whitney Owens: Yeah. Yeah. So I would have service pages on your website.
[00:25:42] Derrick Boger: Okay.
[00:25:43] Whitney Owens: One big mistake I see is it'll say services and on bullets.
Of I do, you know, ADHD, depression, anxiety. That's not good for your SEO. You need a service page for everything that you offer in your practice.
[00:25:57] Derrick Boger: And
[00:25:59] Whitney Owens: you don't have to be an expert to put something on your website.
[00:26:05] Derrick Boger: So,
[00:26:05] Whitney Owens: yeah, so, like, my website probably has like. 17 different service pages. It's, it's to get people in.
Yeah. I, if I could go back and be where you are, I probably would purchase a course on SEO, which I always encourage people to purchase from simplified SEO consulting. If you go to my practice resources page on my website, you'll see a lot of discounts for a lot of these things I'm talking about. So why practice consulting the very top it's his practice resources.
You get a discount on the courses that are pre made with Simplified. You can take those on your own and then do the work on your website. So if I could go back, I would do that because I would learn a whole lot about SEO if I did that. I mean, now I have someone that does it for me. But, and as you grow, you can just start paying people to do some of this stuff.
But where you're at, you're going to have to do the hard work yourself. But I think knowing SEO would be so game changer.
[00:27:05] Derrick Boger: That's good. Okay.
[00:27:06] Whitney Owens: Yeah, the other thing I think really is helpful for getting clients in the door is having a Google my business account like Google. Yeah, my business page account
[00:27:15] Derrick Boger: thing.
Yeah, I think we'll get this now. Yeah, I have that. Okay. Great.
[00:27:20] Whitney Owens: Yeah. Okay. Make sure you have that and that you're optimizing it. And again, if you go into the last practice membership community, I have a whole hour course on this.
[00:27:28] Derrick Boger: Okay, you
[00:27:28] Whitney Owens: can watch him walk through, but it will make a big difference and it will especially make a big difference because one day, someone's not going to give you a 5 star review and you're gonna be really glad you have lots of faster reviews to out balance that.
[00:27:42] Derrick Boger: Gotcha.
[00:27:43] Whitney Owens: Um, people call us all the time and say, Hey, I saw that you had five stars. That's why I called. So get in there and optimize it. Cause Google speaks to Google. So Google, my business speaks to the regular Google that people are searching and vice versa. So if you have good SEO in one, it helps with the other.
But don't take that course and get that optimized. I think that'll be helpful for you.
[00:28:06] Derrick Boger: Sounds good. That sounds good. It's been very helpful.
[00:28:11] Whitney Owens: Yeah. Yeah. Well, you are going to rock it. Yeah. Tell me, do you have a specific niche that you want to work with?
[00:28:19] Derrick Boger: So obviously the umbrella is Christian counseling, but definitely counseling for men.
Um, there are people right now that are listening and you may deal with a lot of individuals, but you recognize that there may be women that you see that they have a father, a husband, a son who wants a man sitting across from him to feel safe. I believe a woman can do just as good a job, but there's some men.
In my internship, there was one thing that consistently kept coming up. There were especially African American men. They would say, you know how hard it was for me to find someone who looks like me. That I'm sitting in front of. So just even that pool that men have a reservation of having counseling. So that there were a military firefighter background, the toughest thing that we see in that is even with myself, the hardest part of that is I can't unsee what I've seen.
And I myself knows what that feels like firsthand of just facing life and you're exposed to things and you're trying to work through it. I'm a therapist with a therapist and I'm, I'm very big on that. And I love to talk about it because I feel like if you have a pulse. You should have someone you can talk to if you're, if you're here, anyone listening right now, like you need someone that you can sit in a safe room, not being judged, and to just get some things off of your chest process work through.
So again, I do my own work so that I can be as healthy as possible as I sit with other people. So, so I would say my niche again, continues to be Christian counseling itself, also counseling for men, but individual therapy and married couples. So,
[00:29:52] Whitney Owens: yeah,
[00:29:52] Derrick Boger: so.
[00:29:54] Whitney Owens: So, I would find where your niche is, find those people and go to where they are and educate them, provide value at no cost.
[00:30:04] Derrick Boger: Okay.
[00:30:04] Whitney Owens: So, that could be something like you go to the local, like a local police department firefighter station and ask if you can do a one hour presentation on What to do when you've seen trauma and you can't answer it all in an hour, but maybe you can give two or three ways to like deescalate or mindfulness.
So, for you, this is in your back pocket for them. They have no idea then that's going to get you in front of people. So, maybe you go to a local church. And offer to do something there. Yeah. We were talking before we got on how I have that four tips for marketing networking worksheet. That's on my website.
Yeah. So when you look at that worksheet, it's about going to the pastors and just hearing first what's going on in their church. So set up meetings with local pastors, listen to what's going on in their church, and then provide a solution for that. So if they say. You know, Derek, I'm having a hard time because couple white couples are getting divorced.
Okay, well, what is it that's leading to that divorce? It's communication problems. Well, hey, can I come in and do a one hour workshop? No cost to you on communicating in a marriage. And that could be something as simple as I statements that you teach them. They don't know what I statements are, you know, like the simple stuff.
And so go, going into places and teaching them, developing that trusting relationship. And I'll tell you as a group practice center, these are the things that have been the catalyst for so many other things, you know, within my business.
[00:31:36] Derrick Boger: That's good. All those are really good. Yep. Great.
[00:31:41] Whitney Owens: Wonderful. Well, I, I'm thrilled for you and I think you have a lot to offer and I'm excited for your business and what's to come.
Also, you have a genuine likability. I'm sure you've heard this before.
[00:31:54] Derrick Boger: Thank you.
[00:31:55] Whitney Owens: And so I think that for you to be getting in front of people and public speaking will go very far for you. Like not everyone's gifted in that and therapists get up and do it and they're like, Ooh, this is awkward. But I could see that that would be a real strength of yours.
[00:32:09] Derrick Boger: That sounds great. Thank you for saying it.
[00:32:12] Whitney Owens: Yeah, you're welcome. I think we all kind of have to find what are our strengths and pressing into them. Right?
[00:32:16] Derrick Boger: Sure. Yeah.
[00:32:17] Whitney Owens: Well,
[00:32:18] Derrick Boger: do
[00:32:19] Whitney Owens: you feel like we covered your question today?
[00:32:21] Derrick Boger: I do. I am elated to get all the information I got. So it's great. Wonderful.
[00:32:26] Whitney Owens: Perfect. Yeah.
So before we wrap up here, you are a member of the WISe Practice community. Could you talk for a few minutes about why you joined the community and what you find so valuable?
[00:32:36] Derrick Boger: Oh, great question, Whitney. So look, I'm, I joined, it was less than a month ago, right at a month now, I believe, accountability groups.
Uh, learning sessions, the quality training and connections that happen with key leaders and products in the industry. Just, just what you expose us to in that area, the working sessions, the times for professional Q and A, like the list goes on and on. It's a great community. But the three areas I would say one is accountability and encouragement.
That's what I get. I have every other week, there's an accountability group. Shout out to my guy, Brian, and my team. So it's great. And even after I get off session, sometimes I've had sessions with some people in the group. So like, we'll, we'll talk offline and just connecting further and asking questions.
And it's been really great. The second thing is a strong sense of community. I don't feel alone. I think the biggest thing I heard when I started was, Derrick, you can get lonely. Really, make sure you're with other people. So I love that about this community. It really helps me feel like I'm not alone and have a support around me.
And thirdly, is the personal and professional growth. That I see again, I have peers that I, that are relatable. We could be in the same situation and state of business. And then I have those that are group practice owners and you know, like yourself, Wendy Whitney with 15 people, you know, all that with you.
So I have like mentors. I have those in my peer level and it's just, it's just great. Community has brought a lot of things for me, so I just really appreciate. You haven't.
[00:34:07] Whitney Owens: Thank you. Well, I'm so glad that you're a part of it. And I'm going to laugh because you were the third person this week who's accidentally called me Wendy that knew I was Whitney.
I mean, I've had people that I'm really close to do that this week. It's kind of weird. I'm like, what is that about? I
[00:34:21] Derrick Boger: was with the W and I don't know, it just, it just flows out wrong. I don't know.
[00:34:26] Whitney Owens: It sure does. Well, don't be embarrassed. You're the third one. I don't know what that's about.
[00:34:30] Derrick Boger: Oh, sorry. So sorry, Whitney.
[00:34:31] Whitney Owens: No problem. Well, you, you're a pleasure and I'm excited for you and looking forward to watching your practice grow and just, you know, personally getting to invest in your life and have that friendship. So I appreciate that.
[00:34:43] Derrick Boger: Awesome. Thank you for having me, Wayne. I appreciate it.
[00:34:48] Jingle: So click on, follow and leave a review and keep on loving this work we do with Whitney Owens and the Wise Practice Podcast, Whitney Owens and the Wise Practice Podcast.
[00:35:06] Whitney Owens: Special thanks to Marty Altman for the music in this podcast. The Wise Practice Podcast is part of the Site Craft Podcast Network. A collaboration of independent podcasters focused on helping people live more meaningful and productive lives.
To learn more about the other amazing podcasts in the network, head on over to site craft network.com. The Wise Practice podcast represents the opinions of Whitney Owens and her guests. This podcast is for educational purposes only, and the content should not be taken as legal advice. If you have legal questions, please consult an attorney.
