PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT FOR YOUR GROUP PRACTICE | EP 67

You have an established group practice and are now able to focus on some other needs of your community. How do you build a group program that answers their needs? How will you market it? How will you hire therapists that have clinical skills and know how to facilitate the group? How will you support your therapist so they do not get burnout? How can you get your team on board to share in your vision?

Meet Shannon Heers, LPC, LMHC, CAS, ACS. Group Practice Owner Approved Clinical Supervisor | Therapist | Visionary

Shannon Heers is a therapist, Approved Clinical Supervisor, and the founder of Firelight Supervision. Firelight Supervision provides clinical supervision to counselors and social workers pursuing licensure, as well as clinical consultation for post-licensure professional growth and development.

Shannon is also the owner of Catalyss Counseling, a private-pay group private practice located in Colorado. Shannon is passionate about burnout prevention in the counseling field and ensuring that all therapists and supervisors get the clinical support they deserve.

Visit Firelight Supervision and connect on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.

 

IN THIS PODCAST:

  • Preventing burnout
  • Identifying the needs
  • Getting the right people
  • Things to consider about program development

Preventing burnout

Shannon is passionate about burnout prevention in the counseling field and she ensures that all therapists and supervisors get the clinical support they deserve.

So I’m really passionate about burnout prevention… Another protective factor of preventing burnout is getting kind of really good clinical support

You can’t expect to build a group if you don’t make an effort to get to know your people. Improving your connection with your staff can reduce stress  and can heighten job satisfaction.

Identifying the needs

The number one rule of any business when starting is that it requires an assessment of what the majority needed.

Because there’s a need… (I) create a system and a program around to meet the needs

Getting the right people

No matter how good your means are, if the people that surround you don’t have the same vision as yours you can’t implement it effectively.

I’ve lost some therapists over the years that just cannot get on board with my vision

 

I now need to figure out how to hire people…people who do share same vision

 

The most important thing you do as a leader is to have the right people work for you. Right employees fosters business growth.

Things to consider about program development

  1. Balance short term and long term plans…

It’s a lot of work for a supervisor to practice an intern… Interns offer discounted therapy sessions, but most times you may make $1,000 throughout the course of their internship. That is what our short-term plan

 

I started noticing, it’s really hard to hire therapists when they can literally have their pick and choose of jobs. Having interns is a great training ground…  if they take the learning and supervision we give them,consider hiring an intern. That’s the long term plan

Short-term goals should get your project done while long term plans should move your business forward.

2. Learn how to market and have the clinical skills to facilitate the groups well

You need both because you can be a great group facilitator but not have anyone join your group or you are not a great facilitator then you just have people dropping out consistently.

Connect with me

Resources Mentioned And Useful Links: