How to set up a successful counselling practice: A practical guide to creating the therapy business you have always wanted

by Anna E Honeysett

‘An incredibly helpful and well pitched overview of both the practical and conceptual issues. A text which would be well placed on the reading list for qualifying second years.’ - Dr Suzannah Hill (MBACP, MBPsS, Dip.P. Dip, BSc, PHD) ‘It is an extremely readable, accessible and informative book and I wish I had been able to find something as informative when I was setting up myself!’- Shirley Hinson MBACP (accred) counsellor and supervisor in private practice and founder of the Affordable Counselling Group Kent. ‘Lots great content covered that could only be written by someone who has been through the process.’ Simon Coulson Founder of The Internet Business School and Amazon Best Selling author of ‘Interpreneur’ Are you a newly qualified counsellor looking to earn a living from your profession or a counsellor who has been working for many years but wants to take the leap into private practice? Are you anxious about where to start and feeling overwhelmed by the process? If so this book is for you! Written by someone who has been through the process and now runs a highly successful therapy business, this book shows you how to achieve the same whatever your experience. ‘How to Set Up a Successful Counselling Practice’ covers every possible area needed to establish your practice. In addition, this book has gone one step further than others on the market and addressed the emotional impact of being in private practice and how to take care of not only your business but you as an individual. This book has paid particular attention to how practitioners can create a positive work/life balance in private practice whilst maintaining a vision for future goals in business. Chapters include; Getting inspired and doing your research Building foundations Finding yourself a great space/creating a warm and inviting space Branding and marketing Administration and documents Business and therapeutic contracts Support and healthy boundaries Maintaining success and keeping your drive Each chapter is bursting with subheadings answering every question you could possibly ask for ‘How to register with the HMRC.’ ‘How to choose a excellent company name.’ ‘How to assess a client well.’ ‘Bumping into clients unexpectedly.’ ‘Creating a structured week.’ ‘Room agreements.’ ‘How to decorate your room well.’ ‘Successful marketing routes.’ ‘Maintaining healthy boundaries at work and home.’ And many many more. The author has also included brief round ups of each chapter and checklists to keep you on track with your tasks. At the end of each section there is a deliberate notes page where you can journal any specific thoughts about each stage you are going through. The author is real and honest but most of all encouraging. She has clearly done her best to steer clear of therapy jargon, keeping it simple and easy to digest. Written from her personal experience she is candid about what has worked for her and what hasn’t in all areas of setting up her practice, in the hope of saving you some valuable time and money. Reviewed by both therapists in private practice and successful business coaches, this really does deliver on every front. This book is available/accessible for all counsellors, psychologists, psychotherapists and art therapists but please note it is written from a U.K perspective so some of the information may not apply to practitioners outside of the UK.

124 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 22, 2018

Reviews

[Caroline]

An informative, practical, guide to setting up your own private counselling practice from someone who has been there and done it. Anna gives an honest appraisal of what it takes and shares some of her own experiences. If you are thinking about taking the leap to pp from agency work, or just curious for the future, this is a great place to start.

[Lauren]

I found this book incredibly useful as a way to “idiot check” myself while launching my own counselling practice (Speak To Lauren). The format is great — easy to dip in and out of, which really helps when tackling something as potentially overwhelming as starting a business. It’s been my constant companion alongside my notepad for the past few weeks, and I know I’ll be referring back to it again and again.

It’s thought-provoking and reassuring, striking a nice balance between guidance and encouragement. While it could have gone a little deeper in some areas, I appreciate that it’s not trying to be a comprehensive textbook on the more complex aspects — instead, it offers a solid starting point for self-directed learning. Comforting, practical, and well worth keeping close at hand.

[Amanda]

I used it as a checklist for everything I had done so far in setting up my Private Practice. It was useful to see anything outstanding still to do. I liked the way it was an easy read in a few hours and divided into sections with practical instruction and tips. A good ready reckoner tool for those new and already in the field.

[Emmy]

Very helpful book & easy to understand. It was useful to use as a sounding board & check that I had covered all bases when planning setting up my business. I shall definitely use it as a reference point moving forward.

[Craig]

A must if you’re setting up private practice

This is a great book for anyone - at any level - who is setting up private practice. Definitely recommend.

[Heather Wooding]

A must read if you are going into counselling private practice! So informative and so helpful!