Tools & Guides
Building Your Dream Caseload
What keeps licensed clinicians from building the private practice of their dreams? For many, the answer is simple: finding clients.
Last updated: August 2024
Leaving the security of a 9-5, designated PTO, and employer provided health insurance is nerve-wracking enough without having to generate your own client leads.
- How will you pay your bills if you can't immediately grow your client base?
- How do you figure out how to run a new business while marketing yourself at the same time?
- And how do you avoid ending up with a random assortment of clients because you’re just looking to fill your calendar?
The stress of starting a business can lead many clinicians to delay for years before building the private practice they’ve always wanted.
Starting a private practice was unexpectedly challenging, and I often felt lost and alone. However, the time and energy invested paid off in the long run, as it meant I could build a practice that allowed me to focus on treating the kinds of clients I was most capable of helping, and one in which I had complete control over the structure of my professional life.
—Elisabeth Morray, Psychotherapy, PhD, VP of Clinical Operations at Alma
Building a caseload full of people you're genuinely passionate about helping isn't just possible—it might be the best professional strategy. Building a sustainable and impactful career starts by connecting with clients within your niche population, diagnosis, or experience.
- Research shows that professionals who follow their sense of calling are more likely to avoid burnout.
- The power of long experience increases your clinical effectiveness when you specialize in one issue or population over your career.
With this resource, you'll learn how to:
Identify your niche
Build an Alma profile that stands out
Reach clients that are compatible with your interests
Alma not only simplifies the claims process and provides ongoing business support, but they can also help you increase your overall take home pay. My business benefited from accepting insurance and now I'm able to support a wider range of clients, including those who can't afford to pay for therapy out of pocket.
— Pam Skop, LMHC
