Setting up an independent practice — points to consider

Fenella Jeffers offers the following—random—thoughts:

• Do I want to work by myself? If not, who with?
• What kind of practice do I want to develop? Do I have to confidence to do it?
• Premises, where? Is it suitable? Do I need them? Or do I contract myself out? What is the expense here and what are my obligations? What are the health and safety issues?
• Costs, especially the start-up costs
• Advertising (my race and blackness)
• Contact details
• What happens in the event of my illness or death
• Furniture and fittings and decoration
• Confidentiality
• Insurance
• Personal and professional development
• Where to get help and how can I help myself?
• The clients – what do I do and who do I want and not want to see?
• What happens if a client doesn’t show up?
• How can I make assessments – does my training equip me to do this?
• How much do I charge? How do I want payment and when by? What happens if client cannot/does not pay? Where do I keep the monies before banking it?
• Arranging appointments
• Safety – how do I protect myself (female) and ensure safety of clients? What if a client is abusive? What if a client dies whilst being counselled?
• Record keeping and administration
• Supervision
• BACP – how can it help or hinder?
• Being self employed, what does this mean regarding earnings, tax, insurance etc?
• Competition – is my practice viable? Does it matter that there are similar practices in the area?
• Time – how much time do I spend on it?
• Monitoring the service
• Professionalism – what does it mean for my practice? Can I be business minded?
• Am I prepared? Or dazed and confused?
• Does my training/approach help or/and hinder my efforts? Do I need more training?
• Where’s the excitement – what happens when it’s not working – where are the clients? Where’s the back-up?
• IT security
• What do I do with my doubts and disorganisation?
• Where does the family come into this?
• How do I look after myself and the other parts of my life?
• How long to keep client records after contact has ceased?
• What to do if clients bring presents?
• How do I handle seeing clients in the street, shop, doctor etc.?
• Legal aspects: do I need to register the business somewhere; confidentiality in case of a court; statutory obligations eg disabled access to premises?
• Contracting with clients
• Contracting service with others eg EAPs – how does this work?
• Winding up the practice
• Complaints from clients and others. What if I want to make a complaint?

This document and its companion—Independent practice in rural areas: points to consider—are intended to be dynamic and will be part of a larger article to be published in a future issue of the AIP journal. Thus, contributions are welcome. Please send in your thoughts, additions to the list, confusions, concerns and clarifications (anonymously, if you prefer) to:

Margaret Akmakjian-Pitz, AIP Editor, Glanrhydw Lodge, Cloigyn, Pontantwn, Cydweli, SA17 5NB
01267 221 534 o2quiver@aol.com

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