Inspirational Private practice toolkit
BACP Private Practice blogs

I’m a therapist and clinical supervisor, working full time in private practice. I'm co-lead at the large therapy networking platform, #TherapistsConnect, and founder of its student wing #traineetalk.

Passionately believing in working for, and representing the therapist on the ground, I was host at the National Counsellors’ Day conference 2020, and this year, co-chaired the two-day BACP student conference (where I also delivered a workshop on private practice). Having previously written and run courses in the area, I specialise in working with those new to private practice, and am proud to be divisional executive lead on the BACP Private practice toolkit.

The purpose of the new resources developed for the Private practice toolkit, is to provide up-to-date considerations on crucial areas any new private practitioner setting up would need. The quick guide format, enables specialists in the field to give an introduction to the topic; providing both knowledge, and space for individual reflection and learning. For more information on the toolkit, please see my previous blog- Announcing the private practice toolkit. 

I’ve also written the following resources, some are already available and some will be released over the coming months:

1. New to private practice checklist: want to know where to start? Check out this guide, which provides a comprehensive list to help you on your way
2. Student to private practice: are you a latter-stage student curious about entering into the world of private practice, once qualified (and registered)? This guide will help you begin to consider this route, and what actions you might wish to start by way of preparation
3. *The buck stops with you!: this guide looks at the different ways in which, ‘the buck stops with you’ as a private practitioner. It breaks down some of the different elements of lone working, including making the best use of supervision; pivotal to creating both an ethical and thriving practice – and setting up the business side of your practice
4. Location and place of work: questions around this will be top of the list for many a private practitioner when starting out! This guide provides thoughts on the varying options, allowing space for the reader to consider realistically what might work best for them
5. *Growing your practice – The uniqueness of you: this guide focuses on branding, specifically considering how you stand out uniquely, and how to use this to your best advantage to grow your practice
6. *Negotiation of the business with ethical, therapeutic practice: an essential guide for the full-time private practitioner, which considers the intricacies of creating, growing and maintaining a thriving business, rooted in ethical practice
7. Contracting resource (template, with notes): a contract template (compiled by David Lloyd-Brown), with notes written by me. The notes accompany the content of the template, and focus on the individual decisions each practitioner may make for their contracts or client agreements
8. GDPR resource (video and accompanying notes): a video interview between me as a working therapist and Data Protection Lead at BACP, Dan Gibson. An opportunity to ‘ask the expert’ the basic questions that members want to know, on what can often feel like a complex subject. My accompanying notes, highlight the main points discussed

We invite private practitioners to join our friendly division. Part of our mission includes providing a sense of belonging and community, and we offer an array of benefits, such as member-only resources and information.

I hope these guides (and others) help to provide knowledge and inspiration to empower you in your journey of setting up, growing and running a thriving private practice.

*Although in general, the majority of the resources within the toolkit are free to all BACP members, a small number are accessible only to private practice divisional members.