Editorial Staff
Read all about building your private practice from Pollen Magazine's Editorial Staff.
4 Common Mistakes to Avoid When Writing SOAP Notes
Thorough, consistent documentation of your interactions with your clients and their progress are vital parts of treatment. They’re also important … Continued
What We’re Reading – January 2021
Although in-person bookclubs aren’t possible these days, that hasn’t stopped us from reading and discussing the books we’ve loved. Our … Continued
10 Art Therapy Activities for Teenagers
Most people probably wouldn’t describe themselves as creative, but creativity has many different forms. Just because someone doesn’t feel creative … Continued
What We’re Reading – December 2020
As this year comes to a close, it’s clear that the challenges of 2020 won’t simply disappear in the new … Continued
Is It Ethical to Exchange Gifts With Clients?
Can you accept gifts from your clients? Can you give them? To avoid awkward moments in your sessions, you should … Continued
What We’re Reading — November 2020
This year has taken a serious toll for a lot of people. There are plenty of reasons people may be … Continued
What We’re Reading — October 2020
“Normal” is a word we’ve been hearing a lot of in the past few months. Early in the spring, people … Continued
What We’re Reading – September 2020
In just the first six months of 2020, so many tenets of American society have been thrown into question. Now, … Continued
6 Things Every New Therapist Needs to Know
If you’re a therapist who has recently graduated and is still in the very early stages of your career, it … Continued
What We’re Reading – August 2020
Therapy, online dating, discussions about race, class, and gender—everything in the year of a global pandemic is under review and … Continued
How to Build a Client List
As a small business owner, you should always be thinking about how to build your client base. This is essentially … Continued
What We’re Reading – July 2020
Beef wellington, European bans, and the queer countryside… It doesn’t have to be Pride Month to celebrate the vibrancy and … Continued
What We’re Reading – June 2020
This month, we’re amplifying Black and POC voices because the content we read, watch, and listen to is an essential … Continued
What We’re Reading – May 2020
Staying informed can feel like a full-time job as we all settle into our new normal. And if you’re like … Continued
Why Your EHR’s Customer Support Team Matters
As a private practitioner, your time can be consumed by the day-to-day operations that are necessary to keep your business … Continued
20 Essential Telehealth Tips for Your Virtual Practice
Pamela Suraci, MA, LMFT, CIRT is a certified telemental health provider with an office in San Luis Obispo, California. She … Continued
How the Stimulus Package Impacts Your Practice
Jennie Schottmiller, LMFT, CPA is the founder of Simple Profit—an educational resource for small business owners. As a licensed therapist … Continued
The Ultimate Telehealth Insurance Roundup
Are you making the transition to telehealth but finding the insurance side of things to be muddy at best? Instead … Continued
What We’re Reading – April 2020
Even though we’ve all been met with some unique disruptions to our daily lives this month, it’s inspiring to see … Continued
Top Psychotherapy CPT Codes Billed in 2019
Have you ever found yourself wondering if you’re using the correct Current Procedural Terminology (CPT®) codes? Knowing the proper codes … Continued
What We’re Reading – March 2020
From building healthy habits for your practice, to tips for disease prevention — we have you covered this month. Listed … Continued
From Skilled Nursing to Private Practice
Speech-Language Pathologist Private Practice Have you thought about setting up a private practice? If you’re a speech-language pathologist, you’re not … Continued
What We’re Reading – February 2020
2020 is off and running. With so many articles shared daily, it can be hard to keep up—so we’ve rounded … Continued
10 Tips that Will Change How You Feel About Marketing
Meet James Guay, LMFT When James Guay entered the mental health profession as an intern in San Francisco in 1999, … Continued
This Clinician Incorporated Mindfulness into Her Private Practice—with Powerful Results
Meet Nikki Rubin, Psy.D Nikki Rubin realized early on in her career that every mental health practice has two equally … Continued
What We’re Reading – January 2020
At the beginning of the year, it’s easy to stumble upon thousands of different posts on the topic of resolutions … Continued
Top 10 Surprising Facts We Learned in 2019
In 2019, SimplePractice Learning customers have enrolled in more than 14,000 hours of continuing education through our on-demand video platform. … Continued
What We’re Reading – December 2019
Tired of sifting through the endless sources of news articles online? We’ve rounded up a collection of the most interesting … Continued
What We’re Reading – November 2019
Tired of sifting through the endless sources of content online? We rounded up some of the most interesting articles and … Continued
What We’re Reading – October 2019
This month, we read about a poet managing obsessive compulsive disorder, how to organize an overflowing email inbox, the science … Continued
Letter Templates for SLPs
Are there any parts of your job you wish you didn’t have to do? Like putting together an authorization for … Continued
Improve the Financial Health of Your Practice (Part 3 of 3)
In Part 1 and Part 2 of Tips to Improve the Financial Health of Your Practice, we covered insurance and … Continued
What We’re Reading – September 2019
Overwhelmed by the amount of articles and blogs on the web? We’ve narrowed down some of our current favorites and … Continued
The 4 Features Every Mobile Entrepreneur Needs
For some health and wellness specialties, your office isn’t four walls — it’s wherever your clients need you to be. … Continued
What We’re Reading – August 2019
There are a ton of articles and blogs on the web. We wanted to share some of the most thought-provoking … Continued
Top 20 ICD-10 Codes of 2019 (Year-to-Date)
If you’re interested in examining the top ICD-10 codes used by SimplePractice therapists, psychologists, social workers, and counselors so far … Continued
Therapy Session Rates by CPT Code
Understanding your market To survive in any industry, you need to charge an amount that enables you to stay in … Continued
SimplePractice is the Most Popular Therapist Billing & Practice Management Platform
SimplePractice was recently named the #1 Most Popular Therapist Billing & Practice Management by Zencare, an online service that connects … Continued
Mental and Behavioral Telehealth in Private Practice
As technology continues to improve — from the computers on our desks to the phones in our hands — it … Continued
Fill-in-the-Blank Letter Templates for Your Private Practice
Save Time with Free Letter Templates Trying to write a business letter from scratch can be a challenge, especially when … Continued
Tips to Improve the Financial Health of Your Practice (Part 2 of 3)
Picking up from Tips to Improve the Financial Health of Your Practice (Part 1), here are some more actions you … Continued
Tips to Improve the Financial Health of Your Practice (Part 1 of 3)
‘What’s the financial health of my practice?’ It’s a question that many business owners don’t ask often enough or at … Continued
Preparing Your Practice for Generation Z
A new generation of clients will soon be knocking on your practice’s door (or visiting your practice’s URL). We’re talking … Continued
Getting Started with Telehealth
Are you ready for telehealth? Making the decision to add telehealth services to your practice may seem daunting—why bother? Well, … Continued
Should I get paneled with insurance payers?
Weighing the pros and cons of joining payer panels Will you join one or more payer panels, or will you … Continued
5 Steps for Hiring MFT Associates
Finding the right MFT associate for your practice or agency takes time, but it can be well worth the effort, … Continued
Make What You’re Worth: How to Set Your Psychotherapy Session Rates in Private Practice
NOTE: This research is based on 2017 data. Here is the latest version based on 2018 data. Also, check out … Continued
The Most Frequently Used ICD-10 Codes in Behavioral Health in 2017
Top 25 ICD-10 codes Curious about the top ICD-10 codes being used by your fellow SimplePractice customers in 2017? Great … Continued
Does Meditation at Work…Work?
When I walked into SimplePractice on my first day a few months ago, I instantly felt that this place was … Continued
Creating a Welcome Package for New Clients in Therapy That Keeps Them Coming Back
Increase your efficiency with a template for your welcome package for new clients As part of your practice policies, you … Continued
What They Didn’t Tell You About Starting a Counseling Practice
Starting a counseling practice was always a goal of yours, but understand that there are a lot of unexpected challenges … Continued
Sidewalk Talk: I am heard, therefore I exist
A core component of our business here at SimplePractice are the unique partnerships we form with different organizations. But life … Continued
How to Get Therapy Clients To Keep Coming Back
Build rapport and be supportive to reduce no-shows For the second time this week you had a no-show. Today, you … Continued
A Guide to Tax Deductions for Psychologists
Do you know which tax deductions for psychologists you’d qualify for? It’s tax season. Are you prepared? Even if you’ve … Continued
How to Attend a Psychotherapy Conference and Get the Most Out of It
Getting the most out of a psychotherapy conference involves preparation and organization. It’s time to get your annual CEUs and … Continued
The Best Feng Shui Office Colors for Psychologists
Use feng shui office colors to help your clients feel calm and at ease “The most important thing to understand … Continued
5 Mental Health Performance Indicators Every Practice Should Track
Mental health performance indicators help private practice owners know if they’re growing, and if not, where to focus their time … Continued
How to Write a Voicemail Script for Any Private Practice Office
Use this clinician voicemail script to ensure you’re not missing any important information As you know from working with clients, … Continued
9 Psychology Journals and Magazines for Therapists
If you’re looking to add to your subscription list, try one of these psychology journals. Better yet, try them all! … Continued
How to Create Psychotherapy Business Cards That Leave an Impression
Psychotherapy business cards are one of your biggest marketing tools. Invest in a hard-working design that attracts prospective clients for … Continued
Starting Up: How to Get Counseling Clients For a New Practice
You didn’t learn how to get counseling clients in school, but that doesn’t mean you won’t do so quickly. You … Continued
8 Substance Abuse Group Topics for Addiction Treatment Counselors
Liven up your treatment schedule with these tried-and-true substance abuse group topics. If you’re a certified or licensed substance abuse … Continued
How to Use Social Media in Your Private Practice
Social media, for health & wellness professionals is a great tool to nurture potential clients and network with colleagues. “Don’t … Continued
5 Self-Care Activities for Groups That Promote Overall Wellness
Self-care activities for groups will keep participants engaged and teach them how to be kind to themselves. Your groups are … Continued
4 Keys to Balancing Life and Work as a Therapist or Counselor
Balancing life and work may seem impossible for a therapist, but it’s easier than you think “Never permit a dichotomy … Continued
How to Use Outcome Measurement Tools in Mental Health
Outcome measurement tools, in mental health therapy, empower you—and your clients—to set goals and determine the treatment’s effectiveness. “Our goals … Continued
9 Great Websites for Therapists to Find Ideas, Resources, and Support
These websites for therapists will help you stay in the know and work with clients Do you find yourself searching … Continued
How to Improve Your Private Practice Therapy Business in 10 Steps
Are you ready for a thriving private practice therapy business? “I’m convinced that about half of what separates the successful … Continued
5 Tips for Dealing with Difficult Employees in a Group Practice
If dealing with difficult employees stresses you out, these five strategies will ease your struggles. Ah! The joys of managing … Continued
Must-Have Telephone Manners for a Mental Health Practice
When was the last time you thought about telephone manners? Make sure yours are up to par before picking up … Continued
5 Stress-Reducing Activities for Families
Keep a list of stress-reducing activities for your clients to use with their entire family, regardless of whether you treat … Continued
How to Use Psychology Workshops as a New Revenue Stream
You can market psychology workshops to clients or other counseling professionals. Who will you target? It doesn’t matter if you’re … Continued
5 Group Therapy Activities for Adults
There are many group therapy activities for adults. Be innovative with your counseling approach. “Alone we can do so little, … Continued
How to Create a Self-Care Journal: 4 Ideas for Journaling Paths to Improvement
Dedicating time to a self-care journal helps counselors fight burnout. “Writing, to me, is simply thinking through my fingers.” —Isaac … Continued
When Does a Therapist Have to Break Confidentiality?
Ah, confidentiality. One of the primary reasons clients choose to enter into a counseling relationship. They want to know they can share their inner fears, secrets, and desires with a neutral party, and that individual will not, and cannot, share that information with anyone else.
Why is Self Care Important for Mental Health Practitioners?
Why is self-care important when you’re the counselor, not the client? Your clients may ask you, “Why is self-care important?” … Continued
10 Group Activities for Kids Who Are Acting Out
10 group activities for kids to practice and play outside of their counseling appointments Whether they’re having tantrums at school, … Continued
Why Wait? The Psychological Origins of Procrastination
We’ve all been there. We sit, we stare, we even start to clean as long as it means that we … Continued
Rebuilding a Practice in a New City: SimpleSpotlight on Lara Hanson
Lara Hanson, LCSW is a recent San Diego to Los Angeles transplant, who has been re-building her private practice over … Continued
When Risk Taking Pays Off in Private Practice: A SimpleSpotlight on Kristin O’Rourke
Kristin O’Rourke, LCSW, has a unique practice in the New York area, in which she sees her clients entirely in … Continued
How to Build an Abundance Mindset in Private Practice
At SimplePractice, we love the idea of therapists building efficient and successful practices — so last week, when I read … Continued
Do the Work and the Clients Will Come: A SimpleSpotlight on Lindsay McGrath
Even in a therapist-heavy city like Portland Lindsay McGrath, LMFT has built a consistently thriving private practice working primarily with … Continued
10 Simple Self Care Strategies in 10 Minutes or Less
At SimplePractice, I have spent hundreds of hours interacting with and helping our therapists. And a recurring theme that I … Continued
Are You a Self-Compassionate Private Practice Owner?
Have you ever had moments of struggle as an entrepreneur and private practice owner? Of course you have! … Continued
Ideal Practices DO Exist: A SimpleSpotlight on Tracy Tanner, LMFT
It is hard not to be moved by the passion of a therapist who loves her work. And even via … Continued
SimpleSpotlight: Alicia Taverner on Building a Practice with Baby
Alicia Taverner is an LMFT in private practice in Rancho Cucamonga, growing her practice during her 18-month-old son’s naptimes. We … Continued
Embracing Insurance: A Spotlight Interview with Danielle Kepler, LCPC
Since venturing out from her group practice 9 months ago, Danielle Kepler, LCPC already has a full and profitable practice. … Continued
Can I Deduct That?
A quick guide to the common and not-so-common write-offs for private practice clinicians. For private-practice clinicians, tax deductions are critical to … Continued
Weathering the Ups and Downs of Private Practice
Uriah Guilford on the Tears, Fears and Playing to your Strengths in Entrepreneurship For this SimpleSpotlight post, we’re talking with Uriah … Continued
Entrepreneurship as Self-Care: SimpleSpotlight on Kama Hiner, LCPC
Some therapists dive headfirst into the risks and rewards of private practice right out of school and never look back. … Continued
The ICD: What Therapists Need to Know
Earlier this week, Congress passed a measure to delay the implementation of ICD-10 from October 1, 2014 until at least … Continued
1 simple HIPAA step you may be forgetting
In the September rush up to the HIPAA compliance deadline, you were probably focused on the big items on your … Continued