Recently, I was about to attend a one-day practice management and marketing seminar. The board of directors of the National Advisory Association said that she was uncomfortable with "advertising" my books and my "self-promotional attitude." If I made "advertising" and "self-promotion", then that's it. I am not ashamed.

The mentality of many mental health service providers is that we are very good at "advertising", "self-promotion" or "marketing". Somehow, these activities are under us – even unprofessional. For example, until recently, the American Psychological Association has not sponsored continuing education credits for specialized seminars on “practical development”. I use a sentence to describe this negative marketing point of the clinician: "Poor!"

I eagerly challenge this negative attitude. The old adage "Build a better mouse trap, the world will come to your doorstep", which is simply not true. You can design a new and better mouse trap, but if no one knows your invention, you won't be able to distribute it.

You can't help customers you can't see. You may be an excellent clinician. However, if only a few people know about you and your skills, you will not be successful and many potential customers will not benefit from your service.

PhD, Psy.D., EDD. , MD. , NP. , MA. , MED, MC, MSW, MFT, LPC, LCSW, etc. Psychologists, psychiatrists, therapists, psychotherapists, psychoanalysts, analysts, clinicians, counselors, marriage and family therapists, family therapists, social workers, coaches, etc. Treatment, counseling, psychotherapy, CBT, DBT, psychoanalysis, analysis, EMDR, home-based work, solution-centric treatment, drug management, life coaching, and is a certificate and title for professionals who provide private mental health services And the types of services available. Obviously, the average client/patient cannot distinguish all of these providers or understand various forms of treatment. They are likely to be lost in the "letter soup" and cannot appreciate one provider rather than another provider.

Unless you improve yourself, it is worthwhile for customers to find you in the confusion of initials, titles and services. Mental health service providers must promote themselves beyond the “letter soup”. We need to let potential customers know about our training, experience and expertise. Why do any customers choose a therapist unless the client believes that the professional is somewhat unique and specific?

To stand out from the crowd, mental health service providers can and should do what they “will” brand into “experts” – such as writing articles, speaking on radio and/or television, speaking professionally or writing books. By participating in such events, you will be advertising and self-promoting in a professional and ethical manner. If you don't sell yourself, who will?

Mental health's negative attitude towards marketing was originally published on Spring