Fall 1999 - IP; From the Editor

President’s Message/Carol Goodheart

From the Editor/Michael Brickey

Perhaps you have fantasized about telling insurance companies to “take their forms and shove it.” An increasing number of independent psychologists are doing just that–and prospering. This issue focuses on psychologists who have “kicked the insurance habit.” They have been doing this in a lot of different ways.
Dana Ackley describes how to explain the benefits of private pay to clients. Kal Heller describes how the Business of Practice Network (BORN) is helping to develop markets in the business world. Joseph Czekala shares how a regional chapter of the New York Psychological Association formed a support group to develop alternatives to insurance. Ben Dean describes the logistics of producing E-mail newsletters for virtual practices. John Fleer explores forensic opportunities for psychologists. Sondra Goldstein describes Division 42’s February 2000 Practice Development conference which focuses on collaboration with dentists. Many of these services will be paid out-of-pocket. Robert Resnick and Kal Heller’s relate how to market ADHD services with the Divisions 42 and 29’s ADHD brochure. Most of these services are out-of-pocket. Patrick Williams describes resources for personal and business coaching. Lou Perrott discusses how to market consulting services to business. Ofer Zur, who has been insurance free for over ten years, spells out how to make the transition. Jeffrey Zimmerman and Elizabeth Thayer describe the transition process in moving a large group private practice to increasing independence from insurance.

There are many paths for psychologists in independent practice. Diversified approaches and role models give all of us more options and help private practice psychology become more resilient and adaptable. Division 42’s projects–the PICK 42 niche guides, the Brochure Project, and the advertising campaign all have increased our adaptability. Now is a time for sharing and mentoring with each other and especially with our new student/young professional affiliate members.

Three or four years ago the resentment of managed care felt like a bitter divorce. Now it feels like we are dusting ourselves off, doing what we can to get a fair deal from managed care, and figuring out how to get on with our practices. Managed care is forcing us to develop new markets. We have often seen people blossom after emerging from a divorce. New flowers are blooming in independent practice. When the dust is settled, we will probably have an even bigger impact than we had before managed care. Marty Seilgman encourages us to pursue positive psychology as well as remediating pathology. Hopefully this issue will help elucidate how.

Michael Brickey, Ph.D., ABPP

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	President’s Message/Carol Goodheart
	From the Editor/Michael Brickey

		Perhaps you have fantasized about telling insurance companies to “take their forms and shove it.” An increasing number of independent psychologists are doing just that–and prospering. This issue focuses on psychologists who have “kicked the insurance habit.” They have been doing this in a lot of different ways. Dana Ackley describes how to explain the benefits of private pay to clients. Kal Heller describes how the Business of Practice Network (BORN) is helping to develop markets in the business world. Joseph Czekala shares how a regional chapter of the New York Psychological Association formed a support group to develop alternatives to insurance. Ben Dean describes the logistics of producing E-mail newsletters for virtual practices. John Fleer explores forensic opportunities for psychologists. Sondra Goldstein describes Division 42’s February 2000 Practice Development conference which focuses on collaboration with dentists. Many of these services will be paid out-of-pocket. Robert Resnick and Kal Heller’s relate how to market ADHD services with the Divisions 42 and 29’s ADHD brochure. Most of these services are out-of-pocket. Patrick Williams describes resources for personal and business coaching. Lou Perrott discusses how to market consulting services to business. Ofer Zur, who has been insurance free for over ten years, spells out how to make the transition. Jeffrey Zimmerman and Elizabeth Thayer describe the transition process in moving a large group private practice to increasing independence from insurance. There are many paths for psychologists in independent practice. Diversified approaches and role models give all of us more options and help private practice psychology become more resilient and adaptable. Division 42’s projects–the PICK 42 niche guides, the Brochure Project, and the advertising campaign all have increased our adaptability. Now is a time for sharing and mentoring with each other and especially with our new student/young professional affiliate members. Three or four years ago the resentment of managed care felt like a bitter divorce. Now it feels like we are dusting ourselves off, doing what we can to get a fair deal from managed care, and figuring out how to get on with our practices. Managed care is forcing us to develop new markets. We have often seen people blossom after emerging from a divorce. New flowers are blooming in independent practice. When the dust is settled, we will probably have an even bigger impact than we had before managed care. Marty Seilgman encourages us to pursue positive psychology as well as remediating pathology. Hopefully this issue will help elucidate how.
Michael Brickey, Ph.D., ABPP
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