As a good clinician, you know all the rules. You use evidence based treatments, you are confidential, you are empathetic, you are understanding. You play by the rules and yet, your clients don't come back. Well, in your case, "most" do, you just don't realize that most aren't.
When a quality clinician takes a look at their business numbers they can actually find out where they have room as a clinician to improve. But here are a few secrets:
Client Expectations
If you haven't taken the time from your first three sessions to understand your clients unconscious and conscious expectations, then your client may not return to your consulting room. Your clients don't always understand what they are expecting. As the professional, you should take some time to explore this with them. A great example of a standard client expectation: "How are you going to fix me?" This expectation that your client has of you "fixing" them is an obvious one, and an easy expectation to minimize; however, this is one of many.
Not talking about money
This is a tough one for clinicians, more then for clients! If you have a receptionist, good on you. Most of the time, your receptionist is going to briefly mention fees and furthermore, they are probably sending out intake paperwork that includes your fees. However, where most clinicians fail to talk about money is the cancellation fee, or the 'fail to attend' fee. Most clients will drop out when a clinician tries to enforce this fee. This is because boundaries are not set from the beginning of the relationship to discuss the importance of the fee. Why do you have it in place? Is it really just so you can be paid for that hour? If you answer yes, then I'm afraid you have a lot to learn about quality of service.
Conversations of what treatment looks like
Have you ever walked into a mechanics and thought, "I just need a $40 oil change." Three hours later, you walk out with four new tires, a set of wiper blades, a new exhaust pipe and a lovely bill of $1200. Then you drive home and feel like you've been ripped off? Some of your clients are going to feel the same about you and your services. You are the professional, you know they need the sessions, so you sign them up and yet, they only wanted an oil change! They didn't want to talk about their childhood, or their mother. They had no idea that their presenting issue of anxiety attacks at work would uncover childhood trauma. And now they have a massive therapy bill with no end of treatment in sight! A frank and honest conversation- "this might take longer then you think" and your reasons as to why. With a promise to re-evaluate every 4 months to make sure you're both on the same page. Transparency in treatment will get you a long way.
When you work through the little things (which by the way is a massively long list!) you will find that your clients will return and they will complete treatment, thus you chalking up great clinical outcomes. I'd love to hear some of the things you do to ensure clients complete treatment.
If you'd like to talk about the other things on this long list, please feel free to contact me on 04 77 867 943 and we'll meet up for a coffee!
Apply knowledge liberally #outsidetheboxthinking
