I’m guessing you do your best work when you are face-to-face with your clients. You use your skills — your insight — your best interventions, to give your clients all you’ve got.
Doing all of that is absolutely necessary to build and maintain your reputation in the community. Word travels fast when therapists fall asleep in session, blow off appointments, or “sit and say nothing!” Being the best you can be, face-to-face is critical to your success.
But what else can you do for your clients? What can you do for your clients that will also be beneficial to you?
One thing you can do is offer related products or services as an adjunct to treatment. What’s your population? Are you working with adults with ADD, who might benefit from sending you a quick email each day to check in and check out with their daily goals and accomplishments? Might they benefit even more if you can turn them on to software and other items to help organize their day?
Are you working with clients with panic and anxiety? Might it help them to have a CD of a progressive relaxation exercises in your voice? Would they love it if you provided them with a list of helpful books and workbooks with just a click from your website?
Each of these things might really enhance your clients’ experiences in treatment.
Each of these things will provide you with some passive income. If you know anything about me, I’m all about getting beyond “dollars for hours”. Putting your time and others’ products and resources to work for you can help set you up for a lighter schedule and into retirement!
Be creative!
Please explain “passive income”.
Daphne — Passive income (as seen by the IRS) is comes from activities in which you do no directly participate.
In our business, for example, that could include the rent you collect by renting your office to someone on your “off” days. Or, it can come from sales of an e-book or CD that people continue to purchase.
These are all ways for you to break free from that “dollars for hours” mentality — thinking that your income is limited to the number of hours you sit face-to-face with clients.
I hope that helps!
Deb Legge