If you’ve been following my “Newbie” columns, you know that I’ve written about the basics of launching a practice and have provided lots of suggestions for promoting your business once you get going. Please forgive me, but this article is going to be a departure from those themes.

Okay, so you’ve hung out your shingle, you’re dutifully marketing and advertising and networking, and your practice is coming along swimmingly. Bravo! But then school’s out for the summer, families go on vacation, the weather turns hot and sunny. It’s July, then August, and BLAMMO! Those referrals that had been trickling in steadily just suddenly and inexplicably dry up. You find yourself shrugging off the worry at first, but then a nagging doubt morphs into mounting dread which in turn leads to the kind of catastrophic thinking you’d help your clients (if you had any) learn to overcome: What if I never have another new patient? My business has failed already! This is so humiliating! In several of your more frantic moments, you hop online to check the stagnant balance in your business checking account. Oh geez, am I gonna be able to pay my rent next month?

This, my friends, isn’t something they teach you about in grad school. Nor is it widely discussed elsewhere. Yet the dreaded Summer Slump is a relatively common phenomenon in the world of psychotherapy. To be sure, you won’t find droves of therapists trumpeting the fact that it happens to them, but if you ask around, you’ll discover, as I did, that it is NOT unheard of for your practice to experience a significant slow-down in the summer. In fact, tradition among psychoanalysts holds that one takes off the month of August for vacation. There’s even a novel about therapy, titled – are you getting the picture? – August.

In my case, I’ve been in practice for about a year. I’d been watching patients spread their wings to fly solo and had proudly just seen off a half-dozen or so new graduates as summer’s heat took hold. But then I realized that those slots that had opened up weren’t being filled by newcomers. Was it something I’d done, or had failed to do? Luckily for my battered ego, I noticed that my suitemate didn’t seem to be as busy as she had been either. One day I just came right out and asked her about it. A 25-year veteran, she smiled and hugged me and said that The Slump had been hitting her, too, virtually every year, like clockwork. Then someone on the Division 42 e-list posted about her experience of finding herself with too much free time, and others wrote to admit that they too were in the midst of a dry spell.

Okay, so I’d found some sense of relief and reassurance, but that still left me wondering about being able to break even. Careful calculations told me I’d make it, albeit limping, as long as things picked up again by September (I did, and they have). So, the big question was, how would I spend the hours that I had been putting into working with patients? Of course I could easily have frittered away the time with either worry or play, but I reminded myself that I’d established a solid reputation among the MDs and other therapists who refer to me, so that helped to nix the heavy-duty worrying. And although I certainly did allow myself some fun, I channeled my energy into volunteer work.

As you may recall, I’ve recommended that you get involved in community service, both because your community needs you and you’ll find it deeply gratifying, and because it will help you forge more connections, be seen as a “good guy,” and – say it with me, class – generate more referrals. In addition to my local volunteering, I took a new plunge and dove head first into (drum roll, please) playing an active role in our own Division 42!

I mentioned at the end of my previous column that our illustrious and crafty past president, Lillian-the-Arm-Twister Comas-Diaz, had “persuaded” me to step in as chair of 42’s Student/Early Career Psychologist (SECP) committee. By virtue of that position, I became a voting member on our board of directors. Guess what, all you students and early career folks? Not only do we have an official voice, but our voice truly is heard and respected. I also dipped a toe into the waters of 42’s membership committee, ably and graciously chaired by Jo Johnson.

So what does this “getting involved” stuff really mean? What’s it like to work on a Division 42 committee or task force? Are you hinting that I should get involved? If I do, what’s in it for me? Good questions, as always, my astute readers.

Let me tackle the no-brainers first. Yes! I’m absolutely urging you to lend your talents, ideas, perspectives, and time to any aspect of 42’s work that interests you. [Check out the list of committees and task forces on the inside front cover of the IP. Many will be looking for new members for 2008. Some brand-new groups (e.g., a technology working group) will also be established by dynamic incoming president Jana Martin.] What’s in it for anyone who chooses to play a leadership or volunteer role is that you get to help shape what we do and where we’re headed as an organization. And since 42 is the largest division of APA, there’s tremendous potential to accomplish a lot of good for independent practitioners. More tangibly, I can attest that you’ll also have the privilege of working and forming friendships with some of the nicest, brightest, most dedicated people in our profession. And if you’re in a major metropolitan area, a bonus is that you’ll likely develop some new referral sources as you network with fellow 42ers.

Among many others, two things impressed me enormously during my first Division 42 board meeting, held during the APA Convention in San Francisco in August. First, the caring, hard work, and concern of the entire board were plainly evident. These are people who give selflessly, work tirelessly, and act responsibly to steer our ship on its course. Second, our leaders are willing to devote both human and financial resources toward building an even better, even stronger, and even more responsive organization in the near future. Want proof? The board unanimously approved a deficit budget for 2008, on the strong recommendation of the finance committee, because the many exciting new projects, products, and services proposed represent a sound investment in our future.

As the newbie/wannabe committee chair, I wrote my first budget proposal. In it, I requested increased funding to provide cash awards for students to do poster presentations at the next APA Convention; new scholarship funding for students or early career psychologists to present workshops or symposia at the convention; and money for advertising 42 to students and ECPs so we can dramatically increase our numbers and hence our influence. In concert with the membership committee (which I will co-chair with the fabulous Nancy Molitor in 2008), I also proposed a variety of new offerings, such as a series of “toolkits” prepared by experts on specific topics related to the business aspects of practice. We believe these and many other new resources (think podcasts!) will tremendously enhance the benefits and value that 42 offers to members.
As to your earlier question about what my involvement in 42 means, I’ll admit candidly that I didn’t necessarily expect the warm reception I’ve received. I’m now convinced, without a doubt, that we newbies and wannabes are being heard. Our interests and needs are being addressed. Our suggestions and contributions are valued. Our engine has roared to life and we’re building a head of steam. For the first time in our history, Division 42 has elected a newbie president for 2009: Tammy Martin-Causey, a highly entrepreneurial psychologist who has many innovative ideas for success in independent practice. The SECP committee, 10 members strong, is eager to get down to the business of bringing our goals and projects to fruition.

By the way, nearly 30 grad students and ECPs attended a reception and informal Q&A session on how to get started in private practice, hosted by 42 at the APA Convention. Their hunger for information and guidance was palpable. Others came to 42’s 25th anniversary party the following day, where they also asked questions and made connections. Many wanted to add their energy and enthusiasm to the division by volunteering. Now it’s your turn!

Contact me if you want to help, and I’ll try to point you in the right direction. If you can’t volunteer at this time, you can still make your voice heard. Participate actively on our e-list; it’s there waiting for you to muscle your way in. Through our online community, you can ask for what you want, get answers to your questions, share your concerns or uncertainties. Others are or have been where you are, and they can help. Buddy up with a seasoned pro through our one-on-one mentoring program [contact Frank Froman at frankf@adams.net].

You’ve noted, I hope, that I overcame my fears about my practice drying up during the dreaded Summer Slump. I found reassurance from my online colleagues in 42 and turned what could have been energy wasted on worry into doing some productive work. As I write this in early September, folks in my neck of the woods are gearing up for fall, and my schedule is filling up once again. I’ll have to keep a few slots open, of course, so I continue to have time for 42!

As a newbie, a rural practitioner, and an active Division 42 volunteer, Deb Klingender would be delighted to try to answer your practice-related questions and to entertain your suggestions for how the division can better serve the needs and interests of newbies, wannabes, and members at all points in their career trajectory. Contact her at drdeb@wellspringpsych.com.