Building a Big Practice with Dr. Larry Beer | GP 165

Building a Big Practice with Dr. Larry Beer | GP 165

How can you successfully maintain a culture of teamwork and cohesion in a large group practice? What does it take to set your practice up for success in the long run? What are the foundations of successful marketing strategies for big group practices?

In this podcast episode, LaToya Smith speaks about building a big practice with Dr. Larry Beer.

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Meet Dr. Larry Beer

A photo of Dr. Larry Beer is captured.
He is the founder and president of Child and Family Psychological Services. Dr. Beer is featured on the Practice of the Practice.

Dr. Larry Beer is the founder and president of Child and Family Psychological Services. He is a licensed psychologist and licensed professional counselor who sees approximately 25 clients a week.

Dr. Larry is also an adjunct assistant professor in the CECP program at WMU and a fellow of 2 divisions of APA and a former president of Division 51 (Men and masculinities)

Visit the Child and Family Psychological Services and find out more about Dr. Larry on LinkedInTwitter, and Facebook.

In This Podcast

  • Set up your practice for success
  • Lay the foundation
  • How to maintain teamwork and culture
  • Dr. Beer’s advice to new group practice owners

Set up your practice for success

One of the things that really helped me get going in practice was [that] I found a niche … it helped me get my foot in the door, and then, you know, once I had that niche I started getting involved in other areas [and] doing other types of therapy.

Dr. Beer

One of the key aspects that you need to figure out to set up your group practice for success is to find your niche and dig down into it.

You need to know who you serve, what it is that you do, why it is important for you to do it, and what your vision is. Your mission, vision, and values will connect you to your niche, and vice versa.

Your niche is the starting point as well as the focal point of your success in group practice.

Lay the foundation

Once you have identified your position, you need to take action. If your budget allows it – or perhaps if it doesn’t, even more reason to do it! – get out into the community and spread your name.

  • Take speaking gigs that are unpaid so that people learn who you are, especially if you are new to the community and the world of private practice.
  • Network and set up meetings with people both within and around your niche to build referral systems.
  • Hire clinicians that you connect with authentically and vet them accordingly because when you hire a therapist, you’re also hiring their network, and that can be a great thing!

I focused more on the person than I did on a particular niche at first … I would [ask] myself, “How would it feel to me to go to therapy with this person?”

Dr. Beer

How to maintain teamwork and culture

Depending on the culture that you are building in your group practice, focus on looking for community-oriented people.

You can find loads of great therapists but if they prefer to work solo or to have their privacy, then they may not be the best-fit candidates for a group practice work setting, especially if you are striving to build a community-centered practice.

I wanted people who were collaborative in nature because that really helped me a lot … brainstorming with some of the associates who joined me. They brought up things that I might not have thought about and I really tried to use their ideas whenever I happened to agree with them.

Dr. Beer

Dr. Beer’s advice to new group practice owners

Always keep in mind that things need to be fair to all parties.

Sometimes, you will have to let clinicians go when they move on and let them. Don’t hold anyone back and encourage them on their journeys.

Personally, I’m not a big believer in non-compete clauses … you don’t want people there who don’t want to be there [because] it’s just not good for the practice.

Dr. Beer

Useful links mentioned in this episode:

Check out these additional resources:

Meet LaToya Smith

An image of LaToya Smith is captured. She is a consultant with Practice of the Practice and the owner of LCS Counseling. LaToya is featured on the Practice of the Practice, a therapist podcast.

LaToya is a consultant with Practice of the Practice and the owner of LCS Counseling and Consulting Agency in Fortworth Texas. She firmly believes that people don’t have to remain stuck in their pain or the place they became wounded. In addition to this, LaToya encourages her clients to be active in their treatment and work towards their desired outcomes.

She has also launched Strong Witness which is a platform designed to connect, transform, and heal communities through the power of storytelling.

Visit LaToya’s website. Connect with her on FacebookInstagramStrong Witness Instagram, and Twitter.

Apply to work with LaToya.

Email her at [email protected]

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