When you are in private practice you want to seem as broad as possible and yet I'm asking you to niche. So how do you do both? It is possible to write a bio without excluding potential clients. What we want to focus on is how do we get the right client enquiries so you have the ideal clients booking with you.
The client comes in wanting to know what you can do for them. They want you to hit their sweet spot (whilst they may not be aware of what that is, they are searching for you to address their needs.)
Think about this example of an ideal client:
Ages: 18- 85
Gender: Any/all
Presenting Issues: Relationships (people seeking interconnectedness, happiness and purpose)
Type of therapy: Medium to long term
Ideally we want to ensure we focus on aspects that the client may not be aware that we can address.
- Withdrawing from relationships
- using distractions as coping mechanisms ie drinking, drugs, gambling, binging
- doing things / behaviours that aren't consistent with themselves
- hiding the truth of oneself
- making choices they don't recognise
- feeling decisions are pointless / things they are trying to do is not effective
Sample Bio:
I enjoy working with clients who have addictive styles, such as gambling or substance abuse use. Many of my clients present with depression or anxiety and have relationship issues.
My main areas of work are around crisis in your life, relationship difficulties (with a partner, family member or employer). Clients sometimes present with physical difficulties or even physical pain. If you've had trauma or loss in your life, then I work with your strengths to explore avenues toward happiness again.
My therapeutic style is to provide a mindfulness approach and work with you to become acquainted with patterns in your life. I like to explore your past and present relationships and uncover patterns, behaviours, and your reactions to situations. My style of therapy is rarely short-term as we explore your past and present to have effective change for your future.
I see clients who have:
- Physical alignments and/or pain
- Trauma
-Substance use/abuse
-Relationship difficulties
I use a variety of therapeutic techniques such as: CBT, Mindfulness, ACT, DBT, Person Centred therapy, EFT, EMDR, and Solution Focussed Therapy.
In our bio above we've created a variety of presenting issues that clients would have without excluding anyone. If anything, by really understanding the symptomatology of our ideal client, we've broadened the prospect of other client enquiries.
When we speak about niching, we don't mean that you will never see a variety of clients again. It just means that you will become known in your area as a clinician who works very well with specific clientele.