Dr. Jane StorrieDr. Diana Velikonja

Thinking Outside the Box: Multidisciplinary & Niche

Practices

PRACTICE OF PSYCHOLOGY

Clinical PsychologyCounselling PsychologySchool PsychologyForensic/Correctional PsychologyClinical NeuropsychologyHealth PsychologyRehabilitation PsychologyIndustrial/Organizational

Psychology

SPECIALTY VS NICHE PRACTICE

Specialty PracticeProviding specific services or treating specific populations under an area of competence is known as a “specialty practice”.  Niche PracticeSpecializing even further by identifying specific unmet needs and marketing accordingly. 

NICHE PRACTICE

CONSIDERATIONS

Demand Population Market research Marketing/Advertising Skill set

EXAMPLES OF NICHE PRACTICES

Couples dealing with infertility Parents of children with ADHD Helping executives increase productivity Assisting post-secondary students to get

better grades Custody and access/Parenting evaluations Psychoeducational Assessments Medical-Legal Assessments Telepsychology Sports Psychology

BENEFITS

Competitive advantageDoing what you loveHelps referral sources find you

Easier to become respected expert which assures referrals

CHALLENGES

BurnoutAutopilotLack of peer supportDemandTiming Affordability for target populations

SVA CLINICS

FINDING THE SVA NICHE

Looked at areas of need Wanted to offer one-stop shopping

Developed multidisciplinary rosters

Developed menu of servicesTargeted marketingFees

RETIRING FROM PRACTICE

RETIREMENT OPTIONS

Close practiceSell practiceTransition through partnership(s)

NOTIFYING PATIENTS

Plan for appropriate termination of treatment Notice of termination Transferring patient care (get informed consent) Consider: A patients’ need for, and interest in, continued

psychotherapy The specific nature of a patient’s problems,

including his or her diagnosis (issues with abandonment or loss)

Availability of appropriate treatment resources Patient’s ability to access resources

OTHER CONSIDERATIONS

Notifying referral sources, colleagues and supervisees

Rental/Lease agreements Timing issues Professional liability insurance College registration Business name/Master Business

Licence Professional corporations 

PATIENT RECORDS

9.4 Retention of Records Unless otherwise required by law:

(1) The individual client record shall be retained for at least:a) ten years following the client's last contact; orb) if the client was less than eighteen years of age at the time of his/her last contact, ten years following the day the client became or would have become eighteen. (2) The corporate client record shall be retained for at least ten years following the corporate client's last contact. If the corporate client has been receiving service for more than ten years, information that is more than ten years old may be destroyed if the information is not relevant to services currently being provided to the client.

SECURITY OF RECORDS

9.8.1 In Private Practice Settings (1) A member who plans to or ceases to provide

psychological services shall:

a) take ongoing responsibility for the maintenance and security of client records or makearrangements, preferably with another member, for the security and maintenance of client records;b) ensure that former clients have access to the client record for the prescribed retention period; and,c) inform the College of these arrangements prior to ceasing to provide psychological services or at the earliest reasonable opportunity.

SECURITY OF RECORDS

9.8.2 In Employment Settings (1) A member who plans to or ceases to provide psychological services shall:a) take reasonable steps to ensure the maintenance and security of client records;b) take reasonable steps to ensure that former clients have access to the client record for the prescribed retention period.

SELLING A PRACTICE

Relatively new optionPhysicians sell practices for

patient list/equipmentPsychologists sell “goodwill”Don’t sell after slowing downProfessional appraisalTax consequences 

PREPARING TO RETIRE

Ensure Will and Business Power of Attorney are up to date

Excitement of starting new chapter More time for hobbies, families and

friends Loss of your career identity Replace support networks you had

through work

PREPARING TO RETIRE

Spending more time than ever before with your spouse

Finding new and engaging ways to stay active

Not unusual to feel anxiety, depression and loss

Retirement is a process that should be started well before the doors are closed

CPA SECTION

The Section provides a forum for psychologists who are currently retired from their professional employment in the field of psychology and/ or those who are interested in the area of retirement as a life stage, to discuss the impact of retirement on post-work quality of life and the opportunities it affords those who are open to change.