Did you know you can use networking to fill your therapy practice? Yes, networking!
Let me clarify. I’m not referring to those stuffy, awkward meet and greet events.
They often sound a little like this: “So, um, I work with all kinds of clients. Anxiety, depression, substance use, couples, individuals, kids, etc. I have lots of experience. I worked in schools, the criminal justice system, hospitals, and I’m taking new clients. Here’s my card if you have any referrals you think might be a good fit for my specialty!”
Honestly, I can’t stand those types of networking meetings. Or mixers. Nothing against the meetings themselves or the people there. But for me, I immediately become a version of myself I don’t love.
And I know that I’m not the only one who feels this way. So many of us are allergic to networking. Personally, I don’t think I’ve ever received a referral from a meeting like that.
Partly, because I’m showing up in such an awkward state. And I think that, often, others are doing the same. So we’re all in this awkward state together, and not able to see each other for who we really are.
But, just because all of that might be true, it doesn’t mean we have to throw networking out the window. We just need a better approach to networking!
Prefer to watch instead? Check out the video version of this article below:
Do’s and don’ts of networking
Today I want to share some of my own takes on the do’s and don’ts of using networking to fill your therapy practice. And how to make meaningful connections with others.
Before I dive in, I’ll preface by saying that technically there isn’t a wrong way to network with therapists.
Maybe you love going to those mixer meetings. Or putting out a post in a facebook group asking if any other therapists need a friend. Or maybe you send out cold emails. If so, more power to you!
But, I think in some cases you might end up expending a lot of energy doing that with very few results. So I’m going to offer some tools to help your networking efforts be more successful with less work.
know what you bring to the table
- Saying: “Hi, I’m a therapist looking for other therapists” isn’t specific enough.
- Even if you’re not clear on your speciality, you should have a clear sense of who you are as a person.
- What are your passions? What are the things that you get really excited about? What are some key pieces of your story that have shaped your experience?
- And if you can, fill in the blanks related to your therapy practice. What is your niche? Who are you passionate about serving? If it’s still forming, that’s okay, just fill in the blanks of what you already know so far.
know what you’re looking for
- If your singular goal is to just get people to refer to you, you’re going to face an uphill battle.
- “Here’s my specialty, send me clients please” is not particularly memorable, compelling, or trust-building.
- We refer to therapists we trust. So a genuine connection is incredibly important.
- Even if you have a goal of marketing your practice through networking, you need to see the referrals as a byproduct of a genuine relationship.
- The good news is: we all need relationships. I keep talking about therapist isolation and burnout because it’s such a massive problem.
- And so my encouragement is to shift your approach. Rather than networking to fill your therapy practice, find the people who you want to be your supporters. Pursue those who will be cheerleaders and friends.
- Know that a natural by-product of building trust with fellow therapists is that folks will also refer to you. Especially if they have a clear sense of who you work with.
identify people to connect with
- Based on who you are, and what connection you want to make, you can now be specific on what types of folks you want to network with. It may be fellow therapists with a similar specialty, or it could be other types of professionals.
- Make a list of people you might be interested in connecting with.
- You might find people by searching online, from social media (hashtags) or through finding more specific facebook groups (based on niche).
- Asking around in your existing networks to see if they know of people who fit the bill of what you’re looking for could also prove helpful.
consider a brief and authentic elevator pitch
- Not all forms of reaching out are created equal! The way that you reach out to someone you are trying to network with is so important.
- I know this sounds salesy. But, think of the elevator pitch as a streamlined gateway to meaningful connections.
- You need a relatively brief yet accurate way of presenting yourself so the right people make a quick connection with you.
- Most people, when they present themselves in a networking context, will have a rather massive pitch. I receive many of these emails which are multiple paragraphs long. And, respectfully, I just don’t have the time.
- Many times these long emails/instagram DM’s are very self-focused. They explain their passions, their background, etc. But, they don’t usually take the time to explain how our experiences/niches overlap.
- The networking messages that I do respond to tend to just be a few sentences long. They are very specific and to the point. The message emphasizes who they are, why they are reaching out, and why they think it makes sense to consider connecting together.
craft your effective elevator pitch
- How do you make an effective elevator pitch? First, name something specific that is personal to you. Then, name something specific about the person/organization you are reaching out to. Finally, be specific about the kind of connection you are wanting to make together.
- Here’s a non-specific example of what NOT to do: “Hi! I’m a fellow therapist in San Diego specializing in depression. I’d love to connect!” Though it is brief, I’m not really clear on what to connect on aside from being in the same city as this therapist. And I don’t really know what they want from me.
- Given my niche, I might draft an email to a therapist with overlapping specialties saying something like: “Hello, I’m a fellow progressive christian therapist in San Diego. I was so excited to see that you specialize in working with LGBTQ Christian couples because I often have trouble finding folks with similar specialties as me. If you’re available, I’d love to connect over coffee or zoom so that I can hear more about what you do. And also to connect in general.”
Results of networking
I hope I’m conveying that it’s not just about networking to fill your therapy practice. Although, it can be an effective strategy! I really think that our profession would benefit from stronger connections and therapists being more interconnected in general. Not being so lonely and isolated. Let’s be friends!
Is it a byproduct that you get more referrals through networking? Absolutely! Is it still possible to fill your practice through networking alone? Yes!
But, I also want you to be a healthy person in this ecosystem of our profession.
Need some help getting started?
Are you someone who needs some tips to help find colleagues you connect with? Check out my article about how to find fellow therapists you get along with.
Connecting in person with folks can be really helpful as you network. One of my videos goes over some quick reminders of how to make those in person connections meaningful.
And until next time, from one therapist to another: I wish you well!
-Marie
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