Abundant Practice Podcast Episode #653: Networking Efficiently Release Date: May 28, 2025
Introduction & Background
In this episode of the Abundant Practice Podcast, host Allison Puryear engages in a meaningful conversation with her guest, Natalie, who is navigating the challenges of establishing her private practice. Natalie shares her journey over the past four months, highlighting her progress in setting up her niche in grief and loss counseling for young adults, as well as the hurdles she's encountering in attracting clients.
Challenges in Networking
Natalie opens up about her struggle to secure clients despite having her website, a presence on Psychology Today, and implementing SEO strategies with blogging since February.
Notable Quote:
"It's been almost four months since I started and the setup did take at least a couple of months is getting clients. So I, I, I think networking is probably the area that I could use the most help with."
[03:10] Natalie
She expresses frustration over the limited responses from networking efforts, including interactions with psychiatrists and grief counselors, some of whom are either too busy or not inclined to refer clients.
Notable Quote:
"They shared at the end that she's not full and you know, wouldn't be like referring out."
[07:00] Natalie
Strategies Discussed for Effective Networking
Lindsey offers strategic advice to help Natalie refine her networking approach:
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Focused Outreach:
- Targeting Psychiatrists: Lindsey suggests that Natalie concentrate her efforts on psychiatrists she already knows, emphasizing the importance of maintaining and building existing relationships.
Notable Quote:
"I think the psychiatrists that you already have a relationship with, like really, really maintaining and building those relationships since you genuinely like them, like, that's probably the best route to go."
[16:53] Lindsey- Expanding to Universities: Given Natalie's part-time role at NYU, Lindsey recommends reaching out to other universities' counseling centers statewide, where there is a high demand for grief counseling.
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Leveraging Insurance Updates:
- Natalie recently became empaneled with a major insurance plan associated with a prominent hospital. Lindsey advises using this update as a conversation starter to re-engage with previous contacts.
Notable Quote:
"The insurance update feels like concrete enough to creep back in because there are probably so many people in their caseload who have that insurance that are going outside of the in-house people because like, who wants to see the therapist down the hall."
[14:38] Natalie -
Intentional Marketing:
- Emphasizing the need for intentional efforts, Lindsey encourages Natalie to continue her SEO and blogging while being strategic about where she allocates her networking energy.
Notable Quote:
"You need to be intentional because like a huge city like New York, you know, like you've. There were so many people probably who take that insurance, so such a major employer. So I would still need to be intentional with it in terms of staying on top of your marketing, those kinds of things."
[15:20] Lindsey -
Persistence and Patience:
- Lindsey reassures Natalie that slow initial progress is normal and encourages her to remain persistent, sharing her own experience of a slow start that eventually led to success.
Notable Quote:
"Normalize because I think there are people who pop off real quick and that's fantastic. That's what we hope for everyone. And then there's. I mean, my first full time practice in Seattle, I didn't get a single call until I think it was three and a half months in."
[22:29] Lindsey
Insights and Recommendations
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Diversify Networking Channels: While focusing on psychiatrists and university counseling centers, Lindsey suggests that Natalie explore independent primary care practices outside the hospital system to avoid restrictive referral protocols.
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Leverage Existing Roles: Natalie’s position at NYU can be a valuable asset. Despite initial conflicts of interest, exploring alternative pathways within academic institutions could open doors to a broader client base.
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Targeted Marketing Efforts: By aligning her marketing strategies with her niche—grief and loss for young adults—Natalie can create more meaningful connections with potential clients and referral sources.
Notable Quote:
"I think if it is something that you could take on, I think that it could be really beneficial if you were creating content your ideal clients really care about, which you would be uniquely qualified to do based on your own experience, personally and professionally."
[06:12] Lindsey
Conclusion
The episode underscores the importance of strategic and persistent networking in building a successful private practice. Through focused efforts on nurturing existing relationships, exploring new networking avenues, and aligning marketing strategies with niche expertise, therapists like Natalie can overcome initial hurdles and steadily grow their client base. Lindsey’s practical advice serves as a roadmap for therapists seeking to enhance their networking efficiency and, ultimately, their practice’s abundance.
Additional Resources:
- Abundance Practice Building: www.abundancepracticebuilding.com
- Abundance Party Membership Program: www.abundanceparty.com
- Contact Support: help@abundancepracticebuilding.com
Remember: Building a private practice is a journey that requires patience, strategic planning, and consistent effort. Stay connected with the Abundant Practice community for ongoing support and resources.