STP 16 | Building Bridges: Creating Strong Referral Networks in Therapy
Mar 31, 2023
Finding Referrals for Your Therapy Practice is not a Competition
In this podcast episode, James Marland and Dr. David Hall discuss the benefits of referral relationships with other therapists for those who own their own practices. Dr. Hall says initially, some therapists may believe that they are in competition with one another for clients. The main question new therapists might ask is "Why would somebody even wanna make referral relationships with other therapists? Aren't you all competitors and competing to find clients? That's a mindset that a lot of people have." However, Dr. Hall emphasizes that building referral relationships can benefit all parties involved.
Use Persistence to Build Your Referral Network
James and Dr. Hall go on to discuss the challenges of managing a full caseload of clients and the importance of having a steady stream of referrals. The host emphasizes the importance of being persistent in reaching out to potential referral partners and highlights the value of following up consistently. "One of the most important things that I learned in business and it's been helpful in therapy is that you, you need to be able to ask for what you want." They suggest that therapists should not assume that a lack of response from potential referral partners is a sign of competition, but rather a result of ignorance or neglect. It is important to remember that helping clients find the right therapist is more important than any competitive tension between therapists.
Ways to Build Up Your Client Referral Sources
Dr. Hall also highlights the benefits of creating a referral network and ways to establish strong referral relationships. This includes asking other therapists for their ideal client, being clear about what kind of clients you are looking for, and reciprocating referrals when possible. Dr. Hall also suggests that therapists should explore community groups and referral networks in their area to find potential partners. A tip from Dr. Hall is "I always encourage therapists to have two or three different referral streams coming in. Because if one dries up, you don't want to have all your eggs in one basket."
Create Relationships with Other Therapists
Overall, this episode emphasizes the value of creating strong referral relationships with other therapists. Dr. Hall Says "Networking is a, is a long game. And so you're not necessarily gonna get an immediate return on investment. But over time, it pays off." The key takeaways include the importance of persistence in reaching out to potential partners, not assuming that a lack of response is due to competition, and the benefits of creating a referral network that reciprocates referrals. By building strong referral relationships, therapists can help more clients find the help they need while growing their own practices.
Links and Resources For Growing Therapy Practices
- Get Descript
- Free Resource - 8 Questions to ask when adding a revenue stream to your therapy office
- Email James to talk about questions or problems about scaling: [email protected]
- 6 Steps of Launching a Profitable Online Course - download and webinar
- PsychMaven - Find more resources here
- Builder Type Assessment - grow without the grind
- 9 Tasks AI can help you with right now
Course Creation Planning Worksheet Download
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