MHM#37 Taking the ick out of networking

You're a couples therapist. Imagine that tomorrow, you receive an email from a solo therapist who specialises in working with individuals.

She introduces herself, tells you a bit about her work, shares what she really loved about your approach after reading your website, and lets you know that she's looking for a couples therapist she can refer to.

She often works with individuals who would benefit from couples therapy and was wondering if you'd like to catch up so she could learn more about you and the types of clients and couples you enjoy working with, so she can ensure she refers you the right type of clients. 

You'd be pretty chuffed, right? 

You'd probably think, "Yes, of course I'll meet you; you sound lovely." She's taken the time to read your website, and it's clear there's potential value in meeting with her because there could be new clients coming your way.

Just the thought of "networking" can make most people cringe. I remember attending networking events in my twenties. I'd drag myself there thinking I'd be somehow sabotaging my career if I didn't, and after a few awkward, forced conversations, I'd slip off to the loo, never to return.

But networking shouldn't feel forced or awkward if you're networking with the right people.

It should feel easy and enjoyable, topping up your energy, not depleting it. Like an effortless first date.

Referrers are an important part of growing your therapy practice, and referrers are only going to refer to you if they know and trust you.

To develop referrer relationships, there is no alternative but to contact other therapists and proactively develop relationships with them. But instead of calling this networking, I like to reframe it as developing professional friendships. 

These are therapists who you're not just clinically aligned with, and you can see a clear referral pathway back and forth to each other, but they're also people you enjoy hanging out with and chatting to. You won't connect with everyone you meet, and that's okay; just continue contacting other therapists until you find around 5-8 who you're looking forward to developing long-term professional friendships. 

As a solo therapist, connecting and getting to know other solo therapists isn't just important for referrals and filling your caseload; it also provides support from someone who gets it. They know what it's like to be a solo therapist, they understand the challenges, and you can share and learn from each other. 

3 steps to finding and connecting with other therapists

1. Search for complementary solo therapists 

Start by using Google, Psychology Today, or other directories to find solo therapists who specialise in something complementary to you. For example, if you're a child therapist, look for family therapists. If you only see individuals, search for couples therapists. If you specialise in neurodiversity but don't do testing, find a therapist who does. 

If you see clients in person, look for therapists who also provide in-person therapy in your local area.

If you only provide teletherapy, look for therapists who also provide teletherapy in the same location. 

2. Email them inviting them for an initial meeting

Once you've identified potential therapists, email them and invite them for an initial meeting to discuss how you can support each other. Let them know that you read their website and love what they're doing. Express that you are looking to build relationships with therapists who specialise in their area, so you can refer clients to them. This is very important, as we want to ensure they know that it will be a valuable use of their time. 

3. Have the initial meeting

Unless your practice's are very close to each other, an initial Zoom chat is normally a better use of time while you're determining if they're a good fit and worth investing time in developing a relationship.

The initial meeting is really like a first date. Ask lots of questions and be curious to see if you're the right fit for each other. Consider:

• Is there potential for cross-referrals?
• Did you enjoy the chat?
• Can you see yourself forming a long-term professional friendship with them?

If your answer is yes to these, then start proactively nurturing the relationship. Schedule the next time you'll touch base with them. That could be to invite them to lunch, share an article, invite them to write a joint blog article with you or see if they'd like to join you at a training event.

This week, start searching and reaching out to 5 solo therapists.