Essentials of Private Practice:
Streamlining Costs, Procedures, and Policies for Less Stress

Holly A. Hunt, Ph.D.

Praise for Essentials of Private Practice:

"A valuable resource for mental health professionals regarding how to optimally establish and maintain their practices."
—Southern California Preferred Physicians Medical Group, Inc.

"Fabulous. . . There are templates in the back to photocopy for intakes, finances and bookkeeping, etc. . . The book is laid out in a very organized, easy to reference way."
—Dawn Dilley, M.S.

"A great batch of material for people starting out in practice or looking to streamline their operation. Very useful and practical."
—Dr. Gerald Koocher, Ph.D., President-elect, American Psychological Association

"This book makes a fine companion, answering the vital questions to which most experienced professional had to find the answers, the hard wayQby trial and error. . . . Demonstrates the importance of creating and maintaining a well organized practice structured in ways that work best for you."
—The Independent Practitioner

"Dr. Hunt's book provides practical, manageable strategies appropriate for all psychologists in private practice, especially focused on lowering overhead expenses, simplifying daily procedures, and implementing efficient client policies. . . There's no doubt that your practice will become more viable when you use some of its strategies."
—The Los Angeles Psychologist

"This book provides the reader with information, ideas, tools and strategies needed to enable the practitioner to evolve and thrive under a variety of circumstances. Hunt communicates to the reader by integrating a heartening and proficient approach to pragmatically developing a practice by focusing on a combination of helpful hints to nurture as well as what latent snares to avoid."
—The National Psychologist

"Essentials of Private Practice is a practical comprehensive guide that should be welcomed and mandatory reading for the newly licensed professional. The seasoned private practitioner will also find tips to cut costs, and reduce the stress of clerical duties, pervasive in the demanding managed care and insurance environment. . . . Dr. Hunt provides a well organized, detailed range of strategies gleaned from her established practice which have helped to streamline costs, procedures and policies, and much more. . . . Hunt provides excellent practical strategies gleaned from her own experience. Highly recommended reading."
—APA Division 42 Independent Practitioner

"A good primer for those contemplating enterint private practice. . . My own experience, as well as that of other psychologists I know who have taken the leap into private practice, is that most of us re-invent the wheel by starting from scratch in developing policies and procedures to address the business side of practice. The advice in Essentials of Private Practice can help shorten this often difficult process."
—The Ohio Psychologist

"A concise, yet rich, portrait of ways to improve your practice and make it the most profitable business it can be."
—The Therapist

Visit the author's website: www.EssentialsofPrivatePractice.com

Hear Holly Hunt discuss her message with Psychjourney! (35 minutes, 27 seconds)

Overview – Table of Contents

Are you in private mental health practice? Are you planning to be soon? Perhaps you are in graduate school and already dreaming about having your own practice? Maybe you are newly-licensed and preparing to be your own boss. Or perhaps you have been working hard in a group practice for several years but are frustrated by not taking home a substantial share of the income. Wherever you are in the early stages of your career, Essentials of Private Practice can help you get started.

Using lessons learned from years of different practice arrangements, Holly Hunt has assembled a collection of effective strategies that will help mental health professionals successfully establish and maintain their private practices. Because graduate school does not typically provide crucial practice management skills, Hunt guides readers through all the fundamental issues ranging from choosing an office in an area whose demographic you want to work with, to covering important first-session policies and paperwork with new clients, to dealing with clients' insurance carriers and getting paid quickly.

Increasing efficiency while reducing costs and stress are the themes central to Hunt's practical suggestions to private practitioners. Dividing the book into three primary strategies-lowering overhead expenses, simplifying daily procedures, and implementing efficient client policies-she advises readers on a wide range of practice issues. From locating a safe and accessible office to navigating the lease/sublease option and deciding on phone, pager, and voicemail systems, all the practice basics are addressed. More complex issues are also covered, including making an initial assessment of income base and expenses before launching a private practice, leaving a group and going solo, establishing an expense-sharing arrangement, verifying client's benefits before beginning treatment and keeping billing procedures organized to facilitate insurance payments. In addition, key strategies are detailed to enhance client treatment and ensure payment for services, ranging from collecting client fees, to implementing a successful cancellation policy, and establishing effective phone practices and policies.

Filled with highly useful, streamlining steps from a seasoned practitioner, Essentials of Private Practice is a crucial resource for all those in or seeking to create a private practice, teaching professionals how to retain more income, preserve time and energy, and minimize stress in their day-to-day practice.

About the Author

Holly A. Hunt, Ph.D., is a psychologist in private practice in Southern California, where she first established her practice in 1990. She provides presentations on establishing and maintaining a streamlined private practice. For more information, please visit: www.EssentialsOfPrivatePractice.com

Praise for Essentials of Private Practice:

"I fully, and without hesitation, recommend this book to anyone who is currently practicing psychology or considering private practice in the future. This is an invaluable tool for any practitioner and will save you time, money, and personal frustration if you implement the sound policies and advice Holly Hunt outlines."

—Psymposium

"Holly Hunt has written a highly informative and useful guide to the nuts and bolts of private practice, with an eye to keeping costs low and procedures efficient, thereby maximizing income. It is so full of hints and information that I imagine almost any practitioner will find food for thought and enough useful ideas to justify a reading. It provides ample, practical, on-target information delivered with a friendly attitude. And, speaking of keeping costs low, it’s a good value at a list price of under twenty dollars."
—Norman Zukowsky, Ph.D., The San Francisco Psychologist


"Dr. Hunt provides methods of organizing the day-to-day aspects of a clinical practice which prevents therapist stress and allows for greater utilization of time and energy. Reflecting on this part of her book, I found extremely useful tips and suggestions that I only wish I had known from the beginning of establishing a private practice. Streamlining, making it simple, organization, getting paid, and doing good business as a therapist with less stress is the focus of Dr. Hunt’s book. This book is highly recommended for beginning and experienced therapists alike."
—Douglas O. Brady, Ph.D., The Oklahoma Psychologist


"This well organized and detailed book is a practical resource with a range of strategies for dealing with the business of private practice."
—California Society for Clinical Social Work Clinical Update

Advance Acclaim

"Essentials of Private Practice is an extremely well written, practically oriented 'how-to' blueprint for establishing oneself in private practice. Hunt provides information that will be definitely useful for recent graduates of all mental health disciplines but will also serve as a valuable refresher for more senior colleagues. As the mental health market place of the 21st century gradually evolves, sound business practices are the key to survival and flourishing. Hunt's enthusiasm for providing quality care in a cost-effective fashion is refreshing. Her helpful hints for avoiding potential problems are insightful and well worth learning."

—Pat De Leon, Ph.D., MPH, former President of the American Psychological Association

"Dr. Hunt's work is an outstanding guide for running a successful private practice. Expertly combining business savvy with sound clinical common sense, Hunt draws from her rich repertoire of professional experience in order to show how sound clinical principles lead to an efficient private practice. Essentials of Private Practice is an essential resource and should have a place in every practitioner's library."

—Concepcion Barrio, Ph.D., Associate Professor, San Diego State University School of Social Work

"Dr. Hunt offers much needed practical information on how to run the business side of a mental health practice in order to maximize profit and reduce stress. This highly useful material is not usually provided in graduate courses. The new as well as the seasoned private practitioner will find this a helpful guide."

—Sandra Levy Ceren, Ph.D., Diplomate, American Board of Family Psychology

"Dr. Hunt's book is an indispensable resource for beginning independent practitioners. Having Essentials of Private Practice on your bookshelf is like having a professional consultant on call! Established practitioners will also benefit from studying and implementing Dr. Hunt's excellent ideas for reducing costs and stress while enhancing income."

—Jana N. Martin, Ph.D., Licensed Psychologist and Past President of the California Psychological Association

ISBN: 0-393-70448-3
Winter 2005
Paperback; 256 pages