How to Start a

1. How to Start a Private Practice Sean Surfas Ph.D. LEP #2346

4. 1. Many LEPs are sitting on their license 2. Don’t like to market 3. Don’t know how to market 4. Over optimistic about their client base 5. Don’t value their own professional time 6. Charge too little for their services 7. Have difficulty asking to be paid 8. Get trapped in an expensive lease 9. Spend too much on materials, furniture, etc.... 10.Struggle in today’s managed care environment Reasons why there are not more LEPs in private practice

5. who wants to be a LEP?

6. who wants to be a LEP? Reasons why you would want to be a LEP! A. Financial B. New Career Goals C. Independence C. Burned Out

7. who wants to be a LEP? How often do you want to work? A. Never B. Part Time C. Full Time D. Up to 65

8. who wants to be a LEP? Where do you want to work? A. Home B. Private Practice C. School Contractor D. Learning Center

9. who wants to be a LEP? Who do you want to work for? A. Self Employed B. Ind. Contractor C. Employee D. Consultant

10. The scope of your practice Generalist or Specialist

11. Location, location, location!!! The office may be as impressive as this castle... But it serves no purpose if your clients can’t get there!

12. Locate • Near the area in which your clients live or work (no more than 20 minute drive) • Close to freeway exits or mass transit • Have adequate free parking • Good street lighting at night

13. Home Office • Pros • Little Overhead • Tax write off • Best if contracting out • Cons • Privacy Issues • Not as professional

14. Maximizing the Home Office • Have an outside entrance if seeing clients • Use technology • Answering Service • Voice Mail • Fax • Internet

15. Leasing an office • 5 year contract • Month to month • Sublease office space • Lease 1 day per week • Executive suites • You are responsible for the entire overhead

16. Joining a group practice • Terms of Contract: employee or contractor • Paycheck: salary, full fee or percentage split • Office Space: private or shared • Rent: included or charged • Other Expenses: secretary, billing, phone

17. Church/Private Schools • Religious Schools • Academies • Prep Schools • Montessori • Trade/vocational • Job Corp. • Pre-Schools

18. Agencies • Governmental Agencies or Contractors • Regional Center: evaluations • County Mental Health • Justice System: court schools, camps, prisons • Head Start • Others?

19. Industry • Personnel/Human Resources • Employee Assistance • Fed. Employment Education Programs • Other?

20. Public/NPS Schools • Public Schools • Three year re-evals. • Speciality (ie: Autism) • Behavior Analysts • Non-public Schools • Non-public Agencies • Colleges/Universities

21. Scope of the LEP license a) Educational Evaluation, diagnosis, and test interpretation limited to assessment of academic ability, learning patterns, achievement, motivation, and personality factors directly related to academic learning problems. b) Counseling services for children or adults for amelioration of academic learning problems. c) Educational consultation, research, and direct educational services.

22. What can I do as an Educational Psychologist??? Educational testing Educational counseling/guidance Advocacy

23. What can I do as an Educational Psychologist??? Expert witness/Independent Evaluations Gifted testing Preschool Assessment Psycho-Educational Evaluations College testing Career guidance Consultation Program Development

24. Behavior Analyst • Functional Assessments • Hughes Bill • Behavior Plans • Consultation

25. What can't I do as an Educational Psychologist??? Activities that are outside of the scope of the license: Non-Educational Therapy Psycho-analysis Hypnosis Unless you have another license that covers these areas.

26. Other Licenses/Certifications Licensed Psychologist MFT LCSW Rehab. Counselor LSH Specialist

29. Advertising • Ads • TV/Radio • Brochures • Business Cards

31. Network-Network-Network • Involvement in Organizations • Phone Calls • Personal Visits • Letters

32. Workshops

33. Parent Organizations • Support Groups • Women’s Clubs • PTAs & Community Organizations

34. Fees • By the test: IQ=$425-$500 • By the evaluation: $800 to $2,500+ • By the hour: $60-$100+ • Charge what the market will allow • Stay in your comfort zone • Allow for expenses & taxes

36. Fees/Insurance Reimbursement Other Licenses 80/20 Policy PPOs CHAMPUS Medi-Cal

38. Liability Insurance Finding a company $1,000,000 policy Writing an arbitration agreement

39. Liability Insurance American Professional Agency 1 (800) 421-6694 or www.americanprofessional.com Forrest T. Jones 1 (800) 821-7303 or www.ftj.com National Professional Group or www.npginc.com 1 (312) 280-5600 NASP CAMFT APA There is currently no group policy for LEPs.

40. Liability Insurance • Make sure policy is for “Educational Psychologists” • Don’t get lost in the red tape of the policy • Term insurance • Adding a tail

41. Forms Intake: Address/Phone Authorization for testing, counseling and treatment Fee Disclosure Arbitration Agreement

42. Looking to the Futureof Educational Psychology • There will always be children in need of help • More and more specialty areas • Continued shortage of School Psychologists