How to Start a

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How to Start a
Private Practice CASP Convention 2003
Presented by
Ross Zatlin Peter Ruthenbeck
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Reasons why there are not more LEPs in private
practice

• 1. Many LEPs are sitting on their license
• 2. Dont like to market
• 3. Dont know how to market
• 4. Over optimistic about their client base
• 5. Dont 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 todays managed care environment

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who wants to
be a LEP?
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who wants to
be a LEP?
Reasons why you would want to be a LEP!
B. New Career Goals
A. Financial
C. Burned Out
C. Independence
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who wants to
be a LEP?
How often do you want to work?
B. Part Time
A. Never
D. Up to 65
C. Full Time
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who wants to
be a LEP?
Where do you want to work?
B. Private Practice
A. Home
D. Learning Center
C. School Contractor
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who wants to
be a LEP?
Who do you want to work for?
B. Ind. Contractor
A. Self Employed
D. Consultant
C. Employee
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The scope of your practice
Generalist or Specialist
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Location, location, location!!!

• The office may be as impressive as this
  castle...

But it serves no purpose if your clients cant
get there!
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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

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Home Office

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

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Maximizing the Home Office

• Have an outside entrance if seeing clients
• Use technology
• Answering Service
• Voice Mail
• Fax
• Internet

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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

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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

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Church/Private Schools

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

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Agencies

• Governmental Agencies or Contractors
• Regional Center evaluations
• County Mental Health AB 27.26
• Justice System court schools, camps, prisons
• Head Start
• Others?

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Industry

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

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Public/NPS Schools

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

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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.
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What can I do as an Educational
Psychologist???
Educational testing
Educational counseling/guidance
Advocacy
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What can I do as an Educational
Psychologist???
Expert witness/Independent Evaluations
Gifted testing
Preschool Assessment
Psycho-Educational Evaluations
College testing
Career guidance
EEG/Biofeedback
Consultation Program Development
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Behavior Analyst

• Hughes Bill
• Behavior Plans
• Consultation

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

• Ads
• TV/Radio
• Brochures
• Business Cards

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Network-Network-Network

• Involvement in Organizations
• Phone Calls
• Personal Visits
• Letters

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Workshops
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Parent Organizations

• Support Groups
• Womens clubs
• PTAs Booster clubs

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Fees

• By the test IQ125
• By the evaluation 300 to 1,000
• By the hour 40-100
• Charge what the market will allow
• Stay in your comfort zone
• Allow for expenses taxes

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Fees/Insurance Reimbursement
Other Licenses
80/20 Policy
PPOs
CHAMPUS
Medi-Cal
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Liability Insurance
Finding a company
1,000,000 policy
Writing an arbitration agreement
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Liability Insurance
American Professional Agency
1 [phone] or www.americanprofessional.com
Forrest T. Jones
1 [phone] or www.ftj.com
National Professional Group or www.npginc.com
1 [phone]
NASP
CAMFT
APA
There is currently no group policy for LEPs.
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Liability Insurance

• Make sure policy is for Educational
  Psychologists
• Dont get lost in the red tape of the policy
• Term insurance
• Adding a tail

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