8 Ways You Can Get Ready to Grow Your Mental Health Practice

It’s no secret that the demand for mental health care is at an all-time high—driven by an increased awareness of mental health issues, the healthy normalization of seeking help for mental and emotional distress, a rise in societal stress, and the lingering effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. 

As a confident and capable mental health practitioner, you can help meet the needs of people all over your community while simultaneously growing your business and increasing your revenue. 

Now is a great time to consider expanding your practice… but where do you begin?

Here are eight ways you can prepare now to grow your practice:

1. Set Clear Growth Goals

It isn’t enough to say “I want to grow my business;” you need to be able to articulate specific goals. This will help guide your expansion efforts and ensure you're moving in the right direction. 

Do you want to increase revenue? Grow your client base? Expand into new services? Or something else entirely?

Once you’ve determined your clear and specific growth goals, break them down into smaller, actionable steps and create timelines for achieving them.

(Tip: Use the SMARTER Framework to map out your goals.)

2. Diversify Your Offerings

One way you can expand your practice is by offering a wider range of services, which increases your marketability and resilience. It allows you to reach different client demographics or meet diverse client needs.

You might consider adding specialties such as couples therapy, trauma work, or group therapy, or integrating new modalities like intensive therapy.

3. Integrate Intensives

My practice used to be exclusively traditional therapy, but then some of my clients mentioned these couples intensives, and I was intrigued. They came back from their 3-day intensive therapy session with glowing reviews and substantial progress in healing and recovery.

Over the last few years, I’ve integrated intensives into my practice and now offer them exclusively, for several different reasons:

• Intensives Maximize Client Outcomes: I’ve found that intensive therapy provides space for deep, concentrated work, often leading to faster and more impactful results.
• Intensives Increase Revenue: By charging for high-value, short-term services, you can elevate your income without relying solely on traditional hourly sessions, and you earn 18 hours of billable time in 3-day increments.
• Intensives Enhance Work-Life Balance: Scheduling intensives strategically can allow you to condense your client hours into fewer days, giving you more flexibility.

Consider running 3-day or weekend intensives to accommodate clients who prefer quick, focused progress over extended weekly sessions. This is a great way to dip your toe into other offerings without disrupting your traditional services too much.

To learn more about The Intensive Method, download The Intensive Method Handbook.

4. Expand Your Client Base

Reaching out to a larger or more diverse group of potential clients ensures sustained growth. Intensives are another way you can attract clients from outside your local area who may be willing to travel for a focused experience.

There are several action steps you can take to expand your client base: develop a referral network, leverage online therapy options, or market intensives to specific niches like executives, couples, or trauma survivors.

5. Focus on Marketing & Brand Building

Your growth will only be as successful as your ability to attract new clients. A strong online presence, clear messaging, and an authentic brand will set you apart.

Invest in your website, social media, and professional branding to consistently communicate your value and unique services.

6. Invest in Professional Development

Staying updated on the latest techniques and best practices ensures you deliver the best possible care to your clients. Intensives, in particular, require specialized skills in pacing and managing complex emotional work. That’s why we’ve developed The Intensive Method online course, an 8-Module video-based course with loads of instruction and deliverables to help people launch their intensive practice with confidence.

Learn more about The Intensive Method online course and live workshop option, which gives you 18 hours of additional virtual live coaching to step boldly into the next phase of your practice’s growth.

7. Leverage Technology

Efficient systems allow you to scale without being overwhelmed. There are loads of different apps and software systems out there that can help you make the most of your time and energy. Streamlining administrative tasks also frees you to focus on client care. 

Part of The Intensive Method online course is designed to help motivated practitioners explore the latest technologies to become more efficient.

8. Consider Hiring or Collaborating

Expansion may require additional help. Collaborating with other clinicians can also allow you to offer specialized services, such as intensive therapy programs, without overwhelming your own schedule.

A large portion of The Intensive Method focuses on the practitioner as practice manager. Lessons guide you through delegation, team management, and the variety of options available to you when it comes to recruiting help. You don’t have to hire a full-time or part-time staff person to make the most of your resources.

Grow Your Practice with Confidence: Consider Offering Intensives

Expanding your practice with options like intensives not only diversifies your income but also helps meet the evolving needs of your clients while optimizing your schedule and career satisfaction. That’s why I developed The Intensive Method course—I want more and more practitioners to benefit from this fantastic delivery model, no matter what area of mental health they serve. The possibilities are truly endless.

Learn more about The Intensive Method by downloading the The Intensive Method Handbook. You are ready to grow—let’s make a plan to grow together.