Fees vary and are influenced by several factors, including geographical location, fees of other mental health professionals who provide psychotherapy services in the area, and reasonable and customary fees that insurance companies set. There is no legal or professional requirement regarding the amount to be charged. Conduct a survey of psychotherapy fees in your area, and decide on an amount that is fair and reasonable for your practice. Discuss your business plans with a financial or business consultant to decide if incorporation is advantageous for you. Many clinical social workers begin a private practice and decide to incorporate later.
Marketing is one excellent way to obtain referrals.
Consider advertising through a variety of resources such as the telephone yellow pages, local newspapers, and magazines. Develop brochures and flyers, and mail to businesses, hospitals, schools, churches, nursing homes, and so forth, and invest in a Web site. List your name in the NASW Register of Clinical Social Workers, which is a reference for referral services to the general public, agencies, and third-party payers. Contact the Medicare carrier in your state and request an application to become a Medicare provider as a clinical social worker. Write or call the managed care company that you would lik to work with and requrest an application form to become a member of its provider network as a clinical social worker.