Podcast Summary: Private Practice Startup Podcast

Episode 95: How to Successfully Relocate Your Private Practice

Date: July 21, 2018
Hosts: Dr. Kate Campbell & Katie Lemieux
Guests: Alison Puryear (Abundance Practice Building), John Clark (Therapist, Business Coach, Unconditional Media)

Main Theme & Purpose

This episode addresses the complex process of relocating a private therapy practice — whether moving across town or to a different state. Guests Alison Puryear and John Clark, both therapists and successful practice builders who have personally moved their practices between multiple cities, share in-depth strategies, actionable steps, and candid stories. The discussion covers digital marketing, networking, licensing, legalities, emotional impacts, online counseling, and other critical nuts and bolts to help practitioners ensure a smooth transition.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Relocation Stories & Backgrounds ([04:01]–[07:39])

• John's Journey:

  • Built initial private practice in San Francisco, focusing heavily on online marketing due to a competitive, tech-savvy market.
  • Relocated to Charlotte, NC: “I built my first practice in San Francisco...I resented being in such a saturated area...then I realized, once I left, it’s probably never going to be as hard as it was there.” ([05:28])
  • Successfully rebuilt and scaled a group practice in Charlotte using primarily digital marketing.

• Alison's Journey:

  • From part-time practice in Athens, GA, to full-time launch in Seattle (a city where she knew no one), then later to Asheville, NC.
  • Built each new practice primarily through aggressive networking: “When I moved to Seattle...I met 90 people in 90 days, which is not something I recommend for people to do. But I was in a new city and really lonely and I’m super extroverted.” ([09:16])
  • Emphasizes playing to personal strengths: “There’s a lot of ways to market a practice...the opportunity for therapists right now is that there’s a lot of ways to market a practice, you know.” ([07:47])

Personal Strategies: Digital vs. Networking ([08:33]–[12:39])

• Networking (Alison):

  • Prioritized relationship-building over tech.
  • Sought partnership with organizations aligned with her target clientele.
  • Focused on “networking with the right people” for effective, efficient results. ([12:39])

• Digital Marketing (John):

  • Built Charlotte practice almost entirely online; networked with only one person in two years.
  • Defined “networking” as including online outreach, not just face-to-face.

Market Research & Local Nuances ([09:56]–[12:02])

• Conduct Pre-Move Market Research:
  • “Start doing your market research as soon as you can.”
  • Key questions to local therapists:
    • What’s working for your practice now?
    • How are clients finding you?
    • How much can I charge here?
  • Recognize market differences (e.g., insurance vs. private pay dominance).

Digital Preparation & SEO Timeline ([13:16]–[16:59])

• Start Your Website Early:

  • Begin building/launching a site 3–6 months prior to moving, even without a physical address.
  • Early launch is crucial: “If you know anything about SEO, you know that it takes time...it’s going to take a number of months.” ([13:27])

• Best Practices:

  • Build with region-specific keywords, but don’t feel locked into geographic names for your practice.
  • Begin content strategy and blogging in advance.

• Indexing with Google:

  • Critical step: “It’s kind of like raising your hand saying ‘hey Google, I’ve got some new pages over here and I want you to come take a look at them.’” ([16:06])
  • Follow Google’s process (search “how to index pages with Google”).

Business Name, Incorporation, and Local Legalities ([16:59]–[20:38])

• Licensing & Incorporation Laws Vary by State:

  • Some states (e.g. NC) require coordination with licensing boards for PLLC setup.
  • May need to close your previous state’s corporation and open a new one.
  • Always check for unique taxes or business licenses when moving.

• Business Name Considerations:

  • If it includes a city/region, you might have to abandon or sell it.
  • Using a personal name may limit future sale options.
  • Verify name availability in your new locale.

Relocation Steps: Physical and Digital ([20:52]–[23:06])

• Office Setup:
  • Don’t overcommit: “Renting a whole office...is not a good idea. Start small, sublease...” ([20:52])
  • Once physical location is secured, update your website, Psychology Today, and set up Google My Business (GMB) listing.
  • GMB setup tips: Fill out every section, use professional photos, post regularly (new Google feature).

Insurance, Online Counseling, and Licensing ([23:06]–[25:57])

• Insurance Considerations:

  • Check whether insurers in the new state cover online sessions.
  • Online sessions with prior-state clients can cushion your income: “I had a lot of clients who I did private pay online sessions with. So that actually covered more than my rent.” ([23:19])
  • Ensure all telehealth is legal in both states.

• Licensing Reciprocity & Preparation:

  • Begin licensure process ASAP: “The second you know you’re moving, get that process going. It took me the better part of a year.” ([25:57])
  • Some states (e.g. FL, NY, CA, NC) are notoriously slow or strict.

Financial Planning & Emotional Realities ([25:57]–[29:35])

• Buffer Your Finances:

  • Part-time work or clinical jobs are acceptable strategies for transition.
  • Avoid working “from a deficit” — desperation can negatively impact consults and marketing.

• Personal & Emotional Impact:

  • Build both personal and professional communities in your new city.
  • Allow space for the emotional toll of transition: “Make sure you’re leaving space and time to actually feel those feelings.” ([28:05])
  • Support system is crucial — “Have a trusted friend or partner you can have your temper tantrums with.” ([29:35])

Key Obstacles and Takeaways ([29:41]–[36:05])

• Expect the Unexpected:

  • “So much of it has to do with persistence...our ability to be okay with the unknown and recover from setbacks.” ([30:05])
  • Each market has its own “private practice culture” — be ready to adapt.

• Importance of Messaging:

  • John: “You have between six and nine seconds statistically to convince someone to keep reading on your website...focus on getting the words right...the more therapist websites that are out there, the more noise there is.” ([35:09])

• Growth Pace Is Flexible:

  • Some practice builders will want to grow fast and spend more, while others may prefer a slower pace.
  • Google AdWords can help regulate client acquisition: “It gave me the control in starting this business...to get clients right away.” ([32:37])

• Impact of Market Size and Competition:

  • Bigger cities = more competition (stronger SEO required); smaller cities = quicker results from basic strategies.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “When I moved to Seattle...I met 90 people in 90 days, which is not something I recommend...but I was in a new city and really lonely and I’m super extroverted.” – Alison ([09:16])
• “Start doing your market research as soon as you can...what’s working for your practice right now?” – John ([09:56])
• “If you know anything about SEO, you know that it takes time...” – John ([13:27])
• “Indexing your pages...is kind of like raising your hand saying ‘hey Google, I’ve got some new pages over here and I want you to come take a look at them.’” – John ([16:06])
• “The second you know you’re moving, get that process going. It took me the better part of a year, which seems ridiculous, to get something transferred...” – John ([25:57])
• “Make sure you’re leaving space and time to actually feel those feelings...do the things you need to do to build your personal community, not just your business community...” – Alison ([28:05])
• “So much of [success] has to do with persistence and our ability to be okay with the unknown and recover from setbacks.” – John ([30:05])
• “It’s doable. Like, it’s a lot to pack up your life and move to a different place and then unpack your life and start a business. I mean, it’s a lot and it’s doable.” – Alison ([34:46])
• “Focus on getting the words right...the more therapist websites that are out there, the more noise there is...” – John ([35:09])

Timestamps of Important Segments

• [04:39] Guests share their multi-city private practice stories
• [08:33] Alison and John describe their divergent relocation strategies
• [09:56] Key market research to do pre-move
• [13:16] Setting up your website and SEO months in advance
• [16:06] Indexing website pages with Google explained
• [16:59] Incorporation/legal changes when moving states
• [20:52] Step-by-step online and local setup (GMB, Psychology Today)
• [23:06] Working with insurance, online counseling during and after move
• [25:57] Licensing transfer headaches and early action
• [28:05] Emotional impact and building new support systems
• [30:05] Expect the unexpected/persistence is key
• [32:33] Setting financial expectations and using Google AdWords to grow at your own pace
• [34:46] Final actionable takeaways from Alison and John

Closing Takeaways

• It’s a lot, but it’s doable. (Alison)
  Take what worked before and apply those strengths, but be ready for each locale’s unique twists.
• Preparation and clarity matter. (John)
  Clarify your message and start your digital groundwork early; know that persistence and adaptability are essential traits.

For resources, links, and more, visit www.privatepracticestartup.com