Growing Caseloads by Networking with Schools in 2024
Every year my practice networks with local schools. Networking with school counselors as a private practice is great for several reasons. For one, it's a symbiotic relationship that benefits both parties. School counselors are pivotal in identifying students who may require specialized therapeutic support, thereby acting as a vital source of referrals for private practitioners. Secondly, collaborating with school counselors enhances your professional reputation within the educational community, establishing your practice as a reliable and credible resource for addressing students' emotional needs.
Creating Your Own Networking Opportunities
So now that we have discussed why it’s beneficial to network with schools, let's talk about how we do it at Water's Edge Counseling. We start by making a list of both the private and public school counselors in the area. Then we order a gift for each one. When presenting the gifts, we always include information about the practice as well as a QR code they can scan to make an appointment. This year we delivered to a little over 20 schools. Notably, we don’t deliver to every single school. Since my practice is established and has waitlists, we now only deliver to the schools that refer to us.
How do we know who is referring to us? Because we track calls. If you don’t know how to track your calls please reach out for help here.
Once we have the materials in hand (gifts + information on the practice + an invite to an in-person gathering). We were ready to go there in-person and make our introductions. For the get-together this year we invited counselors to a free breakfast workshop at Water’s Edge Counseling on Adolescent Substance Abuse. In addition to inviting these community helpers to the workshop, we also gave them a cooler bag to use for their lunches throughout the school year.
Again, we do this every year. Last year it was a risk assessment worksheet along with an umbrella and custom business card. You can read about how we networked with local schools in 2023 here.
Think about what you and your practice can offer them
On September 20, 2024, we hosted a free workshop at Water's Edge Counseling focused on adolescent substance abuse. Attendees enjoyed breakfast and coffee while engaging in valuable discussions.
The workshop was open to anyone who works with children or adolescents, including school counselors, physicians, coaches, and teachers. Our very own Hunter Bickers, LPC, CMAC, M.Ed, spearheaded the event and did a fantastic job.
Grow your practice today!
Implementing new methods into your practice can be overwhelming, especially if you are unsure of what is the best route to take. This is why I offer a range of personalized business coaching services to help you make a plan, execute it and track the results. I offer 3-month and 6-month business consulting packages, Enneagram Training, and a Wise Practice Community Membership. Implement tracking methods for your practice today and reach out to Wise Practice Consulting if you need help getting started! Get in touch today to learn more.
Looking for Likeminded Individuals?
The Wise Practice Summit is a conference for faith-based practice owners looking to connect with one another and grow their business. This October we are meeting in beautiful Greenville, SC. Every year the summit is pack with amazing speakers, sponsors, and a tight knit community you too could belong to—learn more.
