Spiritual Tools for Private Practice Success

End of Year Things To Do...

2011-12-18T22:32:00.000-08:00

Hi folks,

The calendar (and solar) year is ending. Ahhh. It's been a challenging year in my enjoyment of the year, though my little boy is healthy and my businesses continue to be abundant.

I find that the end of the year provides some chances to take care of some "maintenance" in our businesses, that can open up space and energy for the new year that is about to begin. When the space is open, it's a LOT easier to attract and accept new business.

So, to keep this short, here's the things I'll be doing to end the year on a good note:

* finishing all paperwork filing and insurance billing for 2011. Completion is SUCH an energy builder!

* getting my office deep-cleaned. While the maintenance staff of my building does an OK job, I'm hiring someone to come in and polish it up like it hasn't been in a while. This year, I've invested more in continuing to improve the look & feel of my office - I spend a lot of time there!

* tracking results from 2011 & comparing it to goals I set at the beginning of the year. Goals, combined with intentions, are such a huge tool in achieving big things.

* noting both what I did achieve, as well as what I didn't. Adding that to the list of "bad" (from my human standpoint) things that happened. This is all for gratitude and release work. I am a strong proponent of burns at the end of years. I'll be doing one for myself.

Finally, I'll be beginning my 2012 process - intentions and goals - but that is for another post.

I hope you are enjoying the approach of whatever holiday you enjoy!

Namaste, Your Grateful Guy

What to do once you've gotten what you always wanted

2011-03-06T23:03:00.000-08:00

Hi, it's been a while. I've been pretty busy. Two thriving businesses, my first new house, a two-year-old baby boy, well it's a lot. And it's all things that I worked for a long time to manifest. So what's the rub?

Well, what the books might not tell you, is that once you reach what you initially defined as success, you may have a new definition. In other words, you might change your mind about what it is you want.

For the longest time I was focused on business. Business, business, business. I was ambitious and kept wanting to figure out how to grow. This continued through the first months of my new son's life, for more than a few reasons. First of all I was the only breadwinner now, and I wanted my wife to be able to stay home and take care of our child. If you are a parent, you also know that for the first months, the baby is not all that interactive. And finally, we were renting the home we were living in then, getting ready to buy our first house, which is something I've wanted for so long.

But ambition has changed. Or rather, what my ambitions are have changed.

A healthy body. A happy marriage. Enjoying that all-too-fast growth of my son. Some time for learning and friends and relaxation. These are things that felt left behind on the road to business success.

I can write this now, because it all came clear to me at the end of 2010 - that I needed to refocus on a new vision – one that integrated business success, but not at the expense of the rest of my life. And that is where this post finds me tonight, taking step after step toward that balance.

Part of finding that balance, and creating or manifesting a new success, means using the tools I used to get here in the first place. But using them towards a different vision.

So I'm starting with the vision. I'm starting with the intention. I'm starting with spirit in mind, remembering that all things are possible, and remembering all the lessons I've learned thus far.

You know, it got easy to stop doing all of my spiritual practices when I achieved the “successes” that I aimed for initially. Not to say I ever lost my connection to God, but the daily affirmations & use of the tools at hand waned as I grew busier and busier in my businesses. "I don't have time," I would rationalize. I'm too busy working.

I look forward to seeing what I will build on top of the foundation that I've created already. It will be different than the old vision, and that's okay. Ralph Waldo Emerson once said "a foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds." Way to go, Ralph.

I encourage you to always allow yourself to change your mind. The journey itself may change you, and what you want.

I hope this post finds you well, and please know I wish you and your loved ones all the very best. Namaste, Peter

I'm Presenting in October!

2009-08-27T08:22:00.000-07:00

Hi folks,

While it is more on the webby side than the spiritual tools side, I did want to announce I'll be presenting at the 2009 Practice Building Virtual Conference running October 13-17.

It's put on by Casey Truffo's Therapist Leadership Institute. I am a fan of Casey's consciousness about abundance in our profession. But I'll let you check it out and see what you think.

All the best, Peter

Warning: Tooting of My Own Horn

2009-04-15T23:49:00.001-07:00

Hey folks,

This is a self-toot! I am going to be presenting at the Therapist Leadership Institute Virtual Conference this Monday. It's not on the Spiritual Tools part, but it is on growing your business with web marketing.

This is a Casey Truffo thing, and I really respect Casey. She's greatly positive and optimistic and I like working with people like that.

For me, I am envisioning NEXT year doing a web marketing section AND a Spiritual Tools for Private Practice section! I think that's an exciting vision!

Come in you can - no worries if you don't.

My best to you, Your Ever-Grateful Guy

PS - Am re-energizing my own energies with the help of Spiritual Liberation: Fulfilling Your Soul's Potential - a Michael Beckwith DVD, and in my car with the CDs of the book The Four Spiritual Laws of Prosperity: A Simple Guide to Unlimited Abundance by Edwene Gaines. The CDs are great. She's a got a Southern accent and is a hoot!

Consider a Media Blackout

2009-04-07T20:59:00.000-07:00

Ahhhhh, it's quiet here in my brain. Peaceful. Why? Because I am late in Day 3 of a media blackout.

What's a media blackout? It's a practice of fasting from news. For me, it means not watching the TV news, not reading the newspaper or news-magazines, and especially not reading news websites and blogs.

Having worked a presidential campaign in 2004, I am a bit of a political news junkie. And with the economy doing its tricks, it's been hard to turn my head away from the news. But when you look at it closely, you start to see a few things about "news":

1) It's mostly bad

2) It's mostly things out of my control

3) It's mostly things that don't help me to know

4) It mostly makes me anxious, sad, or depressed

So I am off it. Not sure how long I will do it. But I can tell you my head already feels like a much quieter, more peaceful place to be. And I've suddenly got more time on my hands (added benefit) to do things that I can control, that are good and creative, that make me happy.

I am off to go do them now. All the best, Your Grateful Guy

Two Things Remembered on the Raquetball Court

2009-03-31T13:51:00.000-07:00

A quickie for you today, two lessons I remembered on the raquetball court today.

One - as my buddy/playing-partner asked "did you lose weight?" I automatically replied "I can't lose weight." I caught it quickly. I can't? Really? Great self-talk there. Thought and belief definitely manifesting into existence around my midline.

The truth is I have not been losing weight. I haven't. I didn't. And you know what, maybe I won't. Maybe I haven't really tried very hard. But can't????? That's baloney.

If you are self-talking about your private practice this way, STOP! If you say "I can't have 20 clients a week by the end of April" - STOP! It's NOT TRUE!

I mean, maybe you won't have 20 clients then. Perhaps you don't want 20 clients. Heck, maybe you shouldn't have 20 clients then, but I will not sit with you and believe you can't. It's baloney.

Two - I made some great plays today. I stretched for things I wasn't sure I could get. It reminded me of a lesson I learned playing tennis in college (for the Pace University Setters - yes, Pace Setters, ha ha ha). I learned to train my mind to keep my body moving for a ball, even when I thought it was out of my reach.

By doing this, it was amazing how many shots I got to, and how much more success I had. I definitely got to balls I never would have predicted I could get to. It was also very energizing and esteem-building when I reached them.

The lesson is you likely underestimate what you are capable of. You can probably go farther than you think. And for most things, even if you don't make it, it won't be fatal (exception including open-ocean swimming, and hiking through snow - though usually not counseling). So keep reaching, keep reaching, keep going.

All the best, Your Grateful Guy

When You Can't Hold the Vision of What You Want, Intend for What You Need

2009-03-29T20:15:00.000-07:00

Hi folks,

Your Grateful Blogger hasn't really been all that grateful lately. I realize that because I've been getting feedback from the universe that has been ungrateful and anxious (that's the energy I've been getting back at me from more people than I care to number). Usually, this is not how it works for me. But I've felt pretty sapped with the baby. As my time and energy have been more divided, my spiritual practice has gotten lax.

A veteran father told me to just ask for, accept, pray for (and be prayed for) Energy. I think that is smart, so I put in a prayer request today at my spiritual center.

It reminded me that sometimes we aren't feeling strong enough, or faithful enough, or ready enough to envision or manifest that big thing we want (The Full Practice! The New Business! The Great Relationship!) and sometimes that means starting by intending, asking for, focusing on the first step towards that vision - the thing we NEED right now.

For me it is Energy. I think I need Energy so I can actually get back on track on the intentions side of things. (I also requested Time, as they seem quite linked for me right now).

For others, it might be Creativity (the ideas for the article/for the business) - or Wisdom (of what to do *right now*) - or Peace (to center myself in Spirit instead of worrying about the storm outside) - or Love (to feel Loved right now, so you don't feel desperate for it in someone else).

So if you don't feel like you can aim big right now, aim for whatever it is you need to aim big :-)

Happy Sunday everyone. So happy to see the sun staying longer in the sky.

Best, Your Grateful Guy

So, About That Recession...

2009-03-17T00:18:00.000-07:00

So, fellow Spirits, fellow therapists, fellow businessmen and women, fellow Americans (how Presidential it feels to type that) - I want you to know I live in the real world with you. I can see and hear the news. The overall economy is having problems. The average therapist's business is down. But one thing I know is that overall numbers and averages are made up of individual cases, each of these varying WIDELY. You are an individual case.

We could ponder what the overall decline in counseling sessions will be in 2009 vs. 2008. 10%? 20%? More? We could imagine we will experience that same decline, or worse. But I tell you with full faith there will be people who have less of a drop in business than the average. There will be people who will have no drop in business. And there will be people who will actually build their business during this time.

You can believe in the Law of Averages, and it will deliver for you accordingly. Or you can focus on faith, delivering value, communicating value, helping people, gratitude, and finding creative ways to do all of it. We call it the Law of Grace. I'll pick the latter, thank you.

I was going to tackle the issues of fees in a separate post, but why not just do it here - as it seems relevant. Someone asked me my opinion about lowering fees in this economy. I said I thought it depended on the intention behind it. My opinion is that helping people is what we do. And if you want to offer lower-fee or pro-bono services for people who are out-of-work, or underemployed, or in foreclosure, so that they receive the help they need - I think it's a good thing. Fill the more fallow daytime slots with these clients. Run groups. Offer your help and your value to the people around you. Keep the faith that times will get better overall. Do it from an attitude of service, and compassion, and growth, and the future, and Abundance. Know that your referral engine will be running strong when your client's personal economies bounce back.

So yes, I think you truly can offer lower-fee services from an attitude of Abundance. Or, you may not feel moved to do so. That's OK too.

This is my two cents. Opinions may vary. I certainly wish you all the best in your individual journey.

Sincerely, from late-night babyland, your always Grateful Guy

Coming Back & Finding Strength

2009-03-11T01:05:00.001-07:00

Hi folks,

It has been a while. The life of parenting a newborn is as all-encompassing as they say, and as tiring. That it is also happening while the overall economy is in turmoil, and the country's consciousness about what could happen is so shaky, well, that's an added stressor. Because a lack of sleep definitely impacts my psyche, and the lack of time has definitely impacted my spiritual practices.

But I can happily reporting that things are slowly returning to a new normal as my son gets over the 3-month-old mark and starts to sleep more at night - a new homeostasis.

And I had a month or two where I let all the worries and fears, especially about scarcity and separation (that there isn't enough, and that you and I and Spirit and I are disconnected) get to me a bit. Not good times. And when it got bad enough, I reached out to friends to help. And they reminded me of all the good, and they reminded me to turn into what I already knew. And holy moly, has that made the difference.

So, I guess the moral of the story for this post is that when you get scared, get worried, lose faith, or lose your way - turn to a friend. Turn to someone who can remind you of the good. Who will dust you off, and turn you around. I know you have them, I just do. And I bet you've done it for friends and colleagues in your life.

Finally, I have two posts I am working on - one about lowering fees during this time, and the other about scarcity and separation and fear (versus Abundance, Unity, and Faith). But those are for another night.

Until then, I wish you the best. Keep doing all the good you do - it is needed now more than ever.

Best, Your Grateful Guy

PS - and sleep is always the best thing to check when anyone's head is messed up. I was gifted with a full night's sleep on Sunday and I was a new man the next day.

Checking In & DVD Recommendations

2009-02-26T13:24:00.000-08:00

Hello dear readers,

Well time is fleeting these days. A newborn baby is an amazing thing, a spiritual journey in itself. There is a long post I am working on about energy, "matter", and the connectedness of things, but I want to formulate that a little more.

In the meantime, I've been exploring DVD's way past The Secret - wanted to let you in on them:

1) What the Bleep Do We Know - Down the Rabbit Hole edition: with all the extended interviews in it, and the ability to have it show you stuff randomly, this is a fun one to watch over and over again. Interesting to watch the movie that really presaged The Secret, which borrowed greatly from WtB in many, many ways.

2) Introducing Abraham - The Secret Behind the Secret: for many folks, the idea of this (channeling) will cause a dead-stop. That's OK, it did for me for many years. But I've decided to stow away my disbelief and see what I thought. There is interesting stuff here.

3) You Can Heal Your Life (Louise Hay) - Extended edition: what I loved about this was Louise (and the other people featured, especially in the extra interviews on the extended edition), and the learnings they were drawn to, almost as if they couldn't escape them. The learning comes from pain and passion, but in some ways these are ordinary people who just ask "why"? That's how I feel about metaphysics. What about you?

4) Consciousness: this is a multi-disc set of one-on-one interviews, apparently done during a conference on consciousness. The production values are minimal, and some of the interviews (I think there are like 25 or so) annoyed me (some poet blathering on in ryhme, etc.). But others fed me new knowledge, and stoked the fires of curiosity. This stuff is good for therapists in their work too - it touches on existential issues and mental health issues too.

That's all from baby-central. I wish you the best, Your Grateful Guy

Intentions Get Answered - In Big Ways

2009-01-07T11:10:00.000-08:00

Folks, this is a personal one today.

Last night, as my wife got 5 hours sleep, I sat with our newly adopted infant son in my arms. He was fairly fussy but I got him to sleep finally lying on me (he likes warmth).

You may have heard the adoption process can be long. Overall, it was, but our wait once "in the queue" (that's after all the trainings, background checks, interviews, etc etc etc) was really only 4 months.

We were at our spiritual community on Sunday and the talk was about intentions, and setting them. This has been a very intentional process all the way through (basically, each hurldle makes your re-affirm your intention.....hmmmm, sorta like being a private practice therapist). When I got home from service, I listed my intentions for 2009. One of them was about fatherhood. And the call that we were to be parents came the next day.

Back to last night - I had Louis Hay's "You Can Heal Your Life" DVD playing (for me) in the dark while the boy tried to sleep (highly recommended, by the way, especially for those with medical issues - much deeper advice than The Secret, etc) - and I cried as I told him that he was an answer to our prayers, and that I'd always remember that, and that he should always know that.

I know there will be struggles, and times when he is less lovely to be around (2, 13, etc), but I figure we set the firmament now.

I feel quite warm and open and just want to share that love with you all. I truly wish you all the experience of having your intentions manifest wonderfully in your life.

Namaste, Your Grateful Papa

So It's Serious Work - Be Happy Anyway.

2008-12-14T18:34:00.001-08:00

My wonderful spiritual teacher, Kathianne Lewis, was speaking today at our spiritual community. She had a two-part talk, the first part being about Joy and Happiness. I thought it was applicable for us as therapists.

She spoke about figuring out a few years into her career as a minister that she was going to go home for a visit, and then she'd "get to be crazy". And she thought - "I used to have fun all the time, but I haven't been doing that lately."

She realized that when she entered her new line of work, she put on a "mantle of significance". I loved that phrase. I identified with it. When I became a therapist, it was all so serious. There was so much sadness and pain and wounding and processing and depth. And you know, there still is all that, but I think I hit the same point Kathianne did - she realized that you could work with people at all levels of problem, and still be in Joy yourself. Still be Happy. Still have Fun.

I love it.

Usually, in the few minutes between clients, I walk down the hallway outside my office (it's open to the air, and faces the west, for wondeful sunsets). And when I do this, I sing, I dance, I move my body and have a little fun before it's time to go to work.

So, dear colleagues, please do not forget to be Happy. To experience Joy. To have Fun. Remember, we cannot be unhappy enough to make some else happy. (Think about it).

Best, Your Grateful Guy

Share Your Good Results!

2008-12-09T01:03:00.000-08:00

Hi everyone,

Sometimes, the online world can have lots of sharing of bad results - all the things that are going wrong. It gets us focused on the sense of ubiquity of these bad results (similar to bonding by complaining - something I am working on for myself!). But the truth is, these bad results are not happening to everyone. And there seems to be a prohibition sometimes on sharing the extraordinary good results.

In the teachings I follow, we call them "effects" or "demonstrations". Sharing them is a way to share and build belief, and to expand what we all think is possible. Celebrating another's successes also brings success to you, by the way. :-)

So I want to first share, and then challenge you to share your good results in the comments, whatever they may be.

First of all, I wrote on Thanksgiving about the two "lost clients" who had refused multiple bills for months, and the checks landing in my office in the same week.

Today, I had two different potential clients, one who initially emailed me IN FEBRUARY, and one in October, both come around after a long period of radio silence and set up first appointments.

I feel grateful for these. They feel like more than what I sense from the "mainstream" (which I am comfortably out of, in different ways now).

And you?

Best, Your Grateful Guy

Changing the Title

2008-12-07T22:37:00.001-08:00

Hi folks,

I made a decision - I've changed the title of this blog to Spiritual Tools for Private Practice Success". I realized in the last few months that I am really much more "out" as a spiritual being than I was when I first started blogging here.

I also realized this isn't just about building your practice, it's about success in your practice. It's about enjoying your work, creating change for people, staying sane and centered, making a good living while doing good, keeping positive, and continuing to learn. It's about purpose and meaning. It's about *why* we do this work!

So I'm leading with the Spiritual now, rather than the Private Practice. It feels right.

Namaste, Your Grateful Guy

Scared? Focus on Creating Value

2008-12-03T23:58:00.001-08:00

Greetings fellow travelers. Today, I want to talk about creating value.

I first want to say yes, I notice the economy and what is going on. I see the effects in the world. And no matter what is going on in the economy, I know one thing - people always pay when you can give them something of value.

The economic run-up of the last years included a creation of money (money is actually created from nothing, folks) which in retrospect was not matched with created value. Much of the money created was made on Wall Street by people playing various games and gambles, leveraging movements and changes, but not creating value.

Even in housing, the idea of flipping always turned me off, personally. A house that was worth $250,000 one day, was worth $300,000 6 months later, and $400,000 a year after that. Was the value of the house, or living in it, really any more than before? I just don't think so. There wasn't that much value created.

So now back to our work - therapy, counseling, helping people. Our work does create value in people's lives. And it does it in the way people really experience it - on the level of their emotional state or experiential state.

Ten years ago I learned a concept called "Driving Needs", that taught me that the behaviors and activities we indulge in are really towards the end of experiencing an internal state. It's the feeling or the experience we want, folks! And that's our specialty, isn't it? We help turn depression into feeling more present and joyful and energized. We help turn anxiety into a more peaceful feeling. We turn distance into connection and intimacy and acceptance. We help people feel love!!!!!!

People pay for changes of state. Even in a down economy, what sells? Cigarettes & alcohol & the like! People pay to feel better.

Now it's up to us to really know that we create value, and what that value is. And in a challenging economy, we need to communicate that value clearly. People get stuck on the form, rather than the experience (see the book "Who Moved My Cheese" for more on this).

Value is also helping people avoid more costly or unpleasant things. It is entirely an irrational and illogical argument to say that marriage counseling is too expensive, when you look at the cost of getting divorced. Just the financial cost, of lawyers, and two households (rents, etc) absolutely DWARF the cost of marriage counseling. Feel free to steal this line for an ad: "If you think marriage counseling is expensive, just try divorce!"

So folks, keep your eye on the prize. Keep your Spirit focused on Source. Keep your mind working on creating Good in the world, and creating Value in people's lives. This will keep you in the flow.

As always, I send each one of you my very best. Namaste, Your Grateful Guy

Watching Your Media Intake

2008-11-29T00:15:00.001-08:00

Hi folks,

Well, this post was oddly inspired by watching M. Night Shymalan's movie "The Happening" - which was a good scary movie and freaked my wife and I out a bit. I don't think I'm giving away anything by saying the protagonist happens upon someone who doesn't have TV, radio or internet. The woman has cut herself off from the news of the world, and in doing so, there are pluses and minuses. One of the pluses is the peaceful state she can be in.

I was speaking with my wife's uncle on Thanksgiving. He's from Spokane, and I asked him how the economy was there. His answer: it would be OK if people would stop watching the news. Apparently the local economy is fine, but people are freaking out when they see the national news about the bailout, etc etc.

These lead me to re-consider something I did at the start of the Iraq war - a media diet. For a week, I stopped watching news, surfing news sites on the web, and reading newspapers. Instead, I read books, I gardened, I exercised, I meditated and prayed. And it was really great. My anxiety level went down and my experience of Peace increased greatly.

In these times, where we can't control the national economy ourselves, it might be a good idea to reconsider your media diet. Instead of taking in bad news, keep your head down, keep moving forward in your practice, keep feeding your own soul and doing good in the world. Focus on what you can control and what you can do, and do it.

I sincerely wish you the best!
Your Grateful Guy

For Thanksgiving - Gratitude

2008-11-26T23:57:00.000-08:00

"If the only prayer you ever say in your entire life is thank you, it will be enough." - Meister Eckhart

So early on this Thanksgiving Day, I turn to Gratitude. It's both a wonderful experience and a powerful spiritual tool. I'll keep it short and pithy, as I am sure you want to turn to family, football, and food. :-)

There's never a bad time to turn to gratitude - to list and focus on what is in your life that you are grateful for, and to give thanks for it - to Source, to Spirit, to God (whatever word works for you). On the basis of the idea that we draw to us what is inside us, we should and do draw to us more to be grateful for.

My wife is teaching a class right now, and one of the homework assignments was to track unexpected income, and give thanks for it. I had a strange, wonderful result of that. Two different "lost" clients - people who had no-showed their last appointment, then didn't answer emails, and then ignore multiple mailed bills for the cancellation fee (one 3 months ago, one 6 MONTHS AGO) - both of them sent in checks to me!!! I was quite flabbergasted, but gave thanks. It was unexpected. It can happen, folks!

I've got lots more to be grateful for right now, including:
* two healthy businesses
* many of my year's intentions coming to fruition (this blog being part)
* a continually deepening marriage
* a return to the gym and working out

I welcome comments of your gratitudes too! Happy Thanksgiving! Go Lions! Go Seahawks!

Best, Your Grateful Guy

Got Trouble? Praise and Raise....

2008-10-27T22:23:00.000-07:00

So I saw that a colleague was having troubles with a client (not in therapy, but about financial issues). The colleague was upset, worried, anxious and perhaps angry. I could not blame her - I would be too, and have had situations like this myself.

It reminded me that all of us therapists have these moments, these people, these problems from time to time. And the anxiety and worry they bring is unfortunate. Isn't there something we could do?

Yes.

There is a spiritual practice to use when you are having trouble with someone - it's called "Praising and Raising". Basically, it's a way to send healing love to the person you are having the trouble with. Usually, the troubling behaviors of others come from their own pain and feelings of separation. We can meet that with our own pain and anger, which usually continues or deepens the problems, or we can raise our state of consciousness of the situation.

It's quite a simple prayer - and is best done as a posture prayer (a prayer with movement). Here's how it goes......

(with hands together in prayer position) I Praise (person's name)

(with hands held upward and open) I Raise (person's name)

(with hands coming folded over your heart) In the name of Love.

Repeat 7 times. Do that for 7 days. I have experienced this working, and heard story after story after story on it.

For a deeper explanation visit this webpage.

I wish you Peace! Best, Your Grateful Guy

Your Clients Are God, Too!

2008-10-21T12:49:00.000-07:00

So let me preface this by saying - Wow! I stirred up a lot of feelings, both positively and negatively, with that last post. I knew it felt daring, and I guess I was right. Some of the biggest energy I stirred up was around tithing. Odd, since that wasn't really the main point of the post. I think it was coming back from that pledge dinner that had me all energized.

Anyway, one reader wrote me, and reminded me of another relationship between God and clients (thank you!). That is this - my clients are God.

What do I mean by this? I mean I believe that we are all imbued with Spirit. No one has less or more of it. No one is better or worse in it.

I think inside each human being there is an unsullied Spirit. An essence of Good. A core of Noble Source. Some call it a Soul.

And so, when I sit with them, when I hear their stories, and learn their beliefs - that they think they are broken, or bad, or unworthy, I know not to believe them. Because I am sitting in a stronger, higher Truth. That there is a perfection in them, and that at the core they are lovable, beautiful, sweet, and peaceful. I greet them from this place. I hold onto this Truth as they try to convince me otherwise. And sometimes they try very hard.

I know they have bodies and brains and personalities and behaviors and actions that are not reflecting this. I am a realist, people! And we'll sort that out. But my respect for them, the honor I give each person who comes in, is knowing they are a Spiritual being.

I believe that about you too, whether you agree with what I believe or not.

The Spirit in me recognizes the Spirit in you. Namaste! Your Grateful Guy

PS - and if you want to know how this relates to practice building, I think holding this makes it easier to sit with people. And they feel the love and respect from you. And they keep coming back and working and healing.

Where Do Your Clients Really Come From?

2008-10-19T22:48:00.000-07:00

So I just got back from the kick-off of our church's annual giving campaign. I pledged a tithe for 2009. This is my third year of tithing, and it was quite easy and unremarkable this time - no hand-wringing or second thoughts at all. Since I've begun tithing, my monthly income has roughly doubled. But I'll stop - this post wasn't meant to be about tithing.

I'm going to go right at this one. Direct and uncensored. So hold onto your hats.

I believe Consciousness is cause. That Spirit is the source of all Good. That the results we see in the world (we'd also call them "effects") start from Intention, and from the field of Possibility. They start in, and are made from the field we call..........God.

God is everywhere, and in everything.

So, guess where your clients come from? They come from God.

Where does your good come from? God.

And your abundance? Your personal economy? Also from God.

I've proven this to myself over and over again - changing nothing in my marketing, changing only my attention and intention and watching the phone ring and ring, or stop ringing.

I know that right now there is a lot of fear in the air. Great anxiety, and belief in scarcity. I know it will be bad for a lot of people. I know it doesn't have to be bad for you. I have faith in this. What should you do?

Turn your attention to Spirit. To Truth. To the Goodness of God. To your connection with Source. Turn inward and focus attention on the ultimate Goodness and Abundance of God. It's infinite. It's all around you. There is no scarcity here. That's just an illusion. Scarcity only comes in the believed separation from God. Instead, envision your thriving practice helping people. Open up to & accept your Good. Open up to this experience - it may be quite different from those around you. Have more faith in Spirit than in the economy.

You see, you might think your clients come from referrers, or from the web, or from your Yellow Pages ad. But I know your clients come from God.

I give great thanks for all the blessings of life. Namaste, Your Grateful Guy

The Zen Horse Story

2008-10-14T23:56:00.000-07:00

There is much hand-wringing going on right now. There is much judging that it is bad, all bad. To remind us that we do not know what all this will be, I remind you of the Zen Horse story (stop me if you've heard this before)....

There was an old farmer in the country. One day, his stallion broke its fence and ran away. His neighbors said "that's so bad!" The old farmer just shrugged and said "Maybe".

The next day, wanting some oats, the stallion returned. And, it brought three wild fillies with it. His neighbors said "that's great luck!" The old farmer just shrugged and said "Maybe".

The farmer's teenage son went out to break one of the new horses. It bucked him, and he broke his leg. His neighbors said "what horrible luck!" The old farmer just shrugged and said "Maybe".

The army then came around, conscripting young men to fight in a war. Because of the broken leg, they didn't take the farmer's teenage son. The neighbors said "what great luck!" The old farmer just shrugged and said "Maybe...."

I present this story because we cannot know what this whole economic change will bring. There will be bad parts. There may be good outcomes too. We cannot know for sure. But be open to the possibility that some gifts will come from this. I certainly wish you those........yours, Your Grateful Guy

In a Changing Economy....

2008-10-14T00:50:00.000-07:00

Folks, one of my teachers spoke on Sunday, and I thought I'd share the gist of it with you, as I thought it was important. It can be easy to get caught up in fear and anxiety right now.

One way of looking at what is going on right now is the collapse of smoke and mirrors - the end of things built on debt, the end of things being rewarded even though they bring no real value, the end of an unsustainable way of being.

What that means is the re-valuing of those things that are important. And what we do as therapists is important. People want peace of mind. They crave a relief from suffering. They need help keeping their marriages going. These are the real centers of people lives - not cars or stuff. And so, if you are a therapist who creates value in people's lives (and health and wholeness is valuable), you will continue to get business.

You may need to re-work how you discuss your business to focus more on results. You may need to help people work with their insurance (whether in or out-of-network). You may need to market more. But do not think this is the end of counseling business. It isn't.

More coming on this very big topic..........best, Your Grateful Guy

Before Success: Spiritual Practice. After Success: Spiritual Practice.

2008-05-14T16:00:00.001-07:00

Hello again folks, it's been a while. This is another one of those "writing so I can hear it" posts. And hopefully some of you can gain from it as well.

I got so busy doing work over the last 2-3 months, that while I did hit a monthly revenue milestone that I was aiming for (and would never have considered 2 years ago), I found myself unhappy. I was burnt out, a bit out of balance, tired and crabby.

Guess what I'd done? In my eagerness to say "Yes" to more and more Abundance, I'd started letting some things slide. Some relaxing here, some sangha there, some of my own meditation and prayer and spiritual study over there. And while the business still came in, Your Grateful Guy wasn't feeling all that grateful.

I know the famous phrase "Before enlightment: chop wood and carry water. After englightenment: chop wood and carry water." I've also heard my spiritual teacher Kathianne Lewis mention that people will often pray and pray and pray when things aren't going well, then when they finally get better they'll figure "hey, I don't need to do that anymore." WRONG! And I am guilty as charged,

So it's been a week or two since I really re-committed to re-balance, self-care, re-integrating spiritual practice into the mix. I already feel better - and of course my phone has started ringing again with new therapy clients. It's just like that.

OK, instead of writing anymore I am going to go hug my wife :-)

Namaste, Your Grateful Guy

PS - be careful what you wish for. You might get it!

Taking Care of Your Favorite Plants

2008-03-30T21:59:00.000-07:00

I'm finishing up my three-part gardening series today with a post about taking care of your favorite plants. We've covered seeds, germinating, and being careful in what you plant. Now let's talk about their care and feeding.

By favorite plants, I mean the ones that provide you with fruit or enjoyment or fulfillment or nourishment in some way. In regards to your private practice, the most important one is of course YOU! You need to take good care of this most important asset, with rest, relaxation, rejuvenation, education, and just plain fun!

But let's get back to my original intention of this post - the external plants whose fruit feeds your private practice.

For me, these mainly include my website, web marketing, and referral sources. I've found I need to water, fertilize and sometimes trim these to keep them producing good and plentiful fruit.

In real life, those actions include keeping my website fresh and up-to-date, continuing to find new places on the web to post about my site and practice, and sending regular thank you notes out to people who refer to me.

And a last thought is that you need to harvest the fruit too, to keep it producing more. I have had referrals from time to time (for both my Google biz and counseling biz) that I was too busy to respond to in a timely manner. The fruit rotted, and I assume that referral source probably soured a bit on me. Thus my garden is only as big as I can work it. Interesting stuff.

All the best, Your Grateful Guy

Are You Planting Weeds or Flowers?

2008-03-25T21:05:00.000-07:00

Keeping with the spring/garden theme, my question for today is "are you planting weeds or flowers?"

On a psychological or spiritual level, our thoughts, word and actions are continually influencing our lives, not only for this moment, but in continuing ripples that reverberate over time. As I wrote in my last post, sometimes seeds take a long time to germinate, and then more time to bear fruit.

So, what are you planting? Weeds or flowers?

For me, weed seeds would be ideas, words and actions that reflect judgment, scarcity, criticism, doubt, struggle and other negativity, such as:

Speaking ill of other therapists
Constant complaining about how bad things are
Keeping clients that you aren't a good fit for (because you want the $)
Trying to cheat someone financially, or be cheap with them (not pay their fee, etc)
Being critical of others efforts at growth or expansion

For me, flower seeds would be ideas, words and actions that show gratitude, creativity, abundance, flow, compassion and faith. That would include doing things such as:

Referring out to other therapists when it's right to
Speaking confidently and open-heartedly about your work
Open-heartedly helping others around you
Brain-storming new business ideas
Doing Self-care
Giving back financially to where you are spiritually fed

Remember, if you plant weeds, you're going to need to pull them at some point! And one characteristic of real-life weeds is that if you let them grow and turn to seed, they turn out a prodigious amount of new seed!

Best, Your Grateful Guy

Seeds - Planting and Germinating

2008-03-22T12:36:00.000-07:00

I've been out in the garden today, and combined with this week's new therapy client, a post has developed.

The new client I met with yesterday was such a sad young man, and my heart was open to him and felt his hurt with him. In speaking with him, he worked with a man I knew the first couple of years I was in Seattle (like 1999-2002). I hadn't seen the acquaintance in 5-6 years, but here was someone coming in because I knew him back then. In my seed analogy, a seed planted and forgotten years ago germinated and came to life.

Seeds are interesting things. Some germinate easily, under a variety of conditions. Some can sit dormant for years. Some need external help (such as to go through a bird's digestive track, or in the case of giant sequoias need fire to open the seedcase). A seed planted this month may need the heat of August to begin to turn into a plant. Many seeds never germinate.

What's the point in your private practice? Keep planting seeds, keep planting seeds, keep planting seeds. I could also say "keep the faith, keep the faith, keep the faith," because you will not see the fruits of much of your efforts for a long time, but don't mistake the lack of results today for what will be. Over time, if you keep planting seeds, you will have results come to you.

In short: be a Johnny Appleseed of your Good.

Best, Your Grateful Guy

There Is No Competition For You!

2008-03-07T11:47:00.000-08:00

Moments ago I received a phone call from a man who "wanted to see someone today." I didn't have a full hour open, and anyway am always a little wary of people who feel that desperate, so I wished him well in his quest.

I remember when I was part of the "whoever answers the phone first gets him" contingent. I'd take anyone. I had a general practice and did not know what made me different from any other counselor. I was like the old Generic products, remember those? The ones in the supermarket with the black and white text labels that simply said "Pretzels", or "Peanut Butter"? Low price was the only reason to buy those. And did I mention that when I first started I mainly differentiated myself by my low, low prices?

Five years has taught me this: there is lots of competition for generic counselors. There is no competition for Me.

What do I mean by this? I mean that as I have begun to know who I am, what I'm good at, who I like to work with, believe in my value and learn how to confidently communicate that, I have found that I am unique.

There are so many elements in it. There's my niche, my age, my gender, where I've lived, what I've overcome, what languages I speak, what my trainings have been, and so on. There is literally no one else who has the same combination of attributes as me.

Overall, I use the term "Resonance Niche" to describe it. If you give your potential clients enough information about you (and I know this flies in the face of the psychoanalytic/blank-slate model) it will help the right ones decide on you. Some people come to me because I'm from NY. Some because I have a tech background. Some because of my "Nice Guy" niche. Some probably just because they like my "energy" in the videos on my website.

So for you, this means knowing that everything about you, everything you've been through, everything you have learned, everything you have lived, is an asset, and is part of what makes you a unique therapist. There is no competition for You!

Best, Your Grateful Guy

PS - did I mention that people pay more for a specialty item than the generic? They do.

The Difference Between Information and Experience

2008-03-06T14:37:00.000-08:00

So I have been blessed to get free tickets to see both Eckhart Tolle and Deepak Chopra speak over the last two weeks. Both were wonderful - accomplished people who obviously knew things deeply and were ready to teach. But I have to say, while Dr. Chopra's talk held lots of fascinating information - it was Eckhart Tolle which was profound and affecting for me. Why? I think it goes to getting information vs. an experience.

Chopra, a doctor and lecturer, did just that. He lectured. With a couple short imaginative exercises (a minute or so), which he honestly didn't seem very comfortable with. I came out with some new thoughts and new questions, but was quite ready for it to be over.

Tolle engaged us in trying to *be* a different way for the three hours. To experience presence in a different way. He brought forth experiment after experiment, and experience and experience. I felt challenged and called forth to try to feel, be, think, and *not* think differently with him. It was a "lab class", I guess. And I was moved in a way that hasn't gone back yet.

I think we need to remember the value of the therapy we do. Sure, clients often refer back to something we taught them, or said - a rule, a phrase, a tool. But underlying all that, and where I think the most profound healing comes is when they experience something radically different with us.

It's when we listen, accept, receive, see, understand, love, challenge, hold, stay with, call forth, contain, connect, resonate and be with them in a way they have never experience before that the movement and healing happens. Things that reading a self-help book just can't do.

That is our deep value. That is the intangible, esoteric value we bring. Don't forget it. Don't undervalue it.

Namaste, Your Grateful Guy

Affirmations of Scarcity or Abundance in Time, Money & Energy

2008-02-26T21:34:00.000-08:00

In my therapy marketing business, I interact with a lot of therapists. It's always interesting to see their responses to my fees - especially when I think of these responses as affirmations.

"I can't afford it."
"I don't have the money for that."

While I understand the impulse here, from a spiritual standpoint this is re-affirming the situation as true. So I'd suggest a change of languaging (and thus a different affirmation) to something more along the lines of:

"I choose not to spend my money on that."
"This isn't important enough to spend money on right now."
"I am saving up for this."

This topic is pertinent for me right now because I am running into these same issues around time and energy. I keep affirming that I don't have time for this, or the energy to do that. Or that I am overwhelmed. And so that truth continues, and reinforces itself.

One last reason to highlight this is that I don't think these are just spiritual lies we are telling when we affirm these scarcities, I believe they are literal lies. An old teacher of mine, Kathleen Carie used to say "Honey, you've got all the time, money and energy for that which is most important to you." I've never found that to be wrong.

Until next time, Your Grateful Guy

Facebook Reminds Me That Expansion & Creativity Are The Truth

2008-02-10T22:05:00.000-08:00

It's Sunday, usually time for a post. I'm sitting watching the Grammys and doing some online work.

I was on Facebook earlier tonight, and found that now you can add pages for your businesses. I added one for Your Google Guy and my counseling practice. I noticed they are selling PPC (pay-per-click) ads too now, and set up one for counseling in Seattle. It'll be interesting to see how this goes, but one thing I can tell you is that Facebook seems to really be rocking the online world. Much more than MySpace did.

How does this relate to the spiritual? Ah, Grasshopper, this is how. I've been wondering, what will be next for my therapy marketing business? Will things slow down? Will people not need my services anymore? Facebook reminds me that the Truth of Spirit is Expansion, Creativity, and Creation. I need not worry. I can count on new things showing up. New opportunities. All I need do is keep open to them - be aligned with the truth.

The same thing is true for all you therapists out there. Life is expanding and changing, and since I think the core of our work is helping people understand what it means to be human, as possible human experience expands, so does our work.

For instance, right now, I could see counselors working in these relatively new niches:

Dealing with online bullies (teens, adolescents)
Balancing online and offline relationships & time
Helping couples deal with financial stress (housing bubble, recession, etc)
Helping men & couples deal with internet porn
Online dating coaching

So, stay open to the expansion, the creativity, the creation. It is going on.....right now!

Best, Your Grateful Guy

Community Support: Taking Refuge in the Sangha

2008-01-31T12:53:00.000-08:00

Buddhists talk about taking refuge in 3 things: the Buddha, the Dharma (teachings), and the Sangha (spiritual community). I wanted to chat for a moment about Sangha.

There are times when all of us are stressed, or have some loss of faith. One of the most effective things I've found in those times is Sangha, my spiritual community. This can be any group of like-minded people, who support one another. It can be through any medium (in-person, email, phone, online forum).

Sanghas I have been in have usually been clear in their intention - as a place to voice both faith and doubt; as a place to be supported and give support; as a place to lend and to borrow faith; as a place to remind and be reminded of Truth.

I think it can be easy to "go it alone" when you're in private practice. After all, we therapists sit in a room with our clients, with no backup in the moment. And we usually have no one else to be accountable to about our business results. We even have quite strict policies about discussing our cases (and from our inherent role we may develop strict policies about talking about our own pains and weaknesses).

I want to encourage anyone reading this to find spiritual support in community. In Sangha.

Peace, Your Grateful Guy

PS - I wanted to come back and add a quick thought: the concept of spiritual community certainly isn't limited to Buddhist thought. In Christian thought, fellowship and "where two or more are gathered" are well known ideas. While I am not as conversant in Islam or Judaism, I would imagine there are similar ideas there too.

On "Making" It Happen

2008-01-20T13:29:00.000-08:00

I often write based on something I need to be reminded of, and today is another example of that.

I am working on planning an annual meeting for my spiritual community's men's group, of which I am the brand new leader. I have been stressed about it, feeling the tightness and tension in my chest as I try to do everything I can think of, and try to think of everything I should do. In short, I am trying to make it happen. Lots of effort and struggle.

Today, I was reminded that the place to start is with consciousness, with visioning, with intention. And to include the easy unfolding as part of the vision. So I am calling in prayer support, and have set aside some time to really sit in the visualization of what I want this meeting to be.

This is a reminder of the first year or two of my private practice, when I tried to make success happen, make clients call me, make a niche or specialty that would bring in dollars. It all turned when I started with intention first.

I Am Not "Lucky"!

2008-01-14T23:37:00.000-08:00

It's funny, I began this post as just a title some 2 months ago. Now I return to finish it on absolutely the other side of things.

Sometimes I wonder if my readers think I'm always doing well, and that only good stuff flows to me (like unicorns and rainbows, as I sometimes say to my clients). Well, I begin this post with a blockage that is quite apparent, but which at the same time deepens my faith (odd, yes, but stay with me).

So in the last two weeks I've had an average of about a potential client contact a day. Some couples, some individuals. Some phone, some email. Some with questions, most seeming quite ready to go. But get this, not one has turned into an intake yet. I am like 0-for-10. This is way out of the ordinary for me.

It is clear to me that something is going on - so I look at my life. Hmmmmm. Had to write and deliver a class on the Four-Fold Way last weekend. Was supposed to help organize a sweat lodge that fell through at the last minute. My wife's been fighting pneumonia for over a month. And did I mention that tomorrow our adoption social worker is coming over for our "Home Study" (this is licensing our house, not us) - which has required a ton of cleaning, fixing things, and installing baby-proofing long before we'll get a baby. That's a lot of energy and attention there. Not a lot of room for anything new, like new clients.

So, you see, I don't believe this string is bad luck, just as I don't believe when I've gone 5-for-5 in a week it's been good luck. I am fairly through believing in luck. I believe in manifestation. And I know all I need to do to change the current situation. Clear up what needs to be finished, get rested, and really want and be ready for more clients. Welcome them. And then they will come. It ain't luck. Good or bad, it ain't luck.

Until next time. Yours truly, the Grateful Guy

Are New Clients Welcome? Is There Space For Them?

2008-01-14T22:59:00.001-08:00

One of the most clear esoteric lessons I've learned in my own private practice is that my results can be affected by own energy. If I am tired, feel overwhelmed, am getting behind, or am burnt out, my phone stops ringing, and cancellations start coming in.

Conversely, one of the best things you can do on an energetic level is to open up space for new clients, by making sure they are welcome. How do you do this? I've found different ways over the years:

- investing in my health (self-care: massage, sleep, exercise, etc.)
- adding new education; taking a continuing ed class
- cleaning my office, desk and email
- filing back paperwork; getting caught up on all billing
- figuring out where else my energy is going (family, other worries)
- getting supervision, or my own therapy
- connecting to Spirit (meditating, prayer, etc)
- taking days off; going on a retreat
- outsourcing & streamlining your business

Here's the part that seemed spooky at first - you don't need to tell anyone you are doing this to see results. I remember the first continuing ed class I took after I opened my practice. It was a David Burns workshop on CBT for Anxiety (he's a really smart and sweet guy). During the 2-day class I received three potential clients calls. I hadn't had more than one call in any given week before that.

Don't take my word for this. Try it. I help people all the time with their websites and their Internet marketing, but if they aren't open, if there isn't the space and energy to welcome the new clients, the clicks don't turn into calls.

So try it. Post your results. Let me know.

Namaste, Yout Grateful Guy

Building Capacity Through Spiritual Practice

2008-01-06T12:59:00.000-08:00

It's been my experience that one of the gating factors for how many clients I have is how many I am capable of seeing: time-wise, energetically, emotionally, physically. My capacity is reflected in my results. If I am energetically drained, I get cancellations, and my phone doesn't ring. When I am filled and replenished, my people all show, and the phone rings.

I have been taught, and experienced more and more, that a way to increase my capacity to see clients is through spiritual practice. While there are many, let me focus on just two for the moment.

Opening to Wisdom - remember that Wisdom comes from Spirit. Open to a greater wisdom than your mind. That you don't need to know everything, and in fact cannot know everything. But in being open to Spirit, things will come out of your mouth that you could not have planned or known. This will usually only come out if you trust it, though. I find more and more that I follow the intuitive flow, and Wisdom comes with greater and greater ease. I remember the opposite - planning sessions, planning interventions & homeworks, self-censoring, thinking a lot in session.

Releasing Clients to Spirit - while we all have to do our due diligence when a client is in crisis, I know sometimes I hold on to responsibility once a client has left the session. I think about them, worry about them, wish I could do more. That can drain me. When I notice this (and I would say this would be good to do every day) I say a prayer recognizing the infinite Love of Spirit, and then releasing my clients into that Love. Knowing that they are held by something bigger than me allows me to let go, and replenish myself. I have my own life to live after all :-)

That's it for this Sunday. Namaste! Your Grateful Guy

Abundance, Scarcity and Group Consciousness

2008-01-02T21:29:00.000-08:00

Before I was a therapist, I worked in high-tech, and I made pretty good money. In fact, I was a bit of a Yuppie.

When I graduated with my Masters degree in counseling and began to launch my practice, I noted that there was a very common belief that you cannot make money as a counselor. It seemed pretty pervasive. They backed it up with facts - I'm sure you know the ones, about insurance, sliding scales, competition, saturation, the hourly wage at agencies, the statistics.

I tried hard to not buy this rhetoric. This group consciousness, a scarcity consciousness, was something that I think does have an impact - unless you work to screen it out.

Instead I tried hard to surround myself with people who had an abundance consciousness - who were pro-business, and believed they could make a living as a therapist, in fact many of them *had* to. This was a good help, but I will always remember the day I was at my marriage counselor. My wife was a couple of minutes late, and he knew well I was starting out in practice so he'd give me little tips (turned me on to Office Ally - thanks Ed!). One day I asked him - can I make good money? Can I make $100,000 a year? He looked me square in the eye and said "of course you can". I cannot tell you how much this helped me.

So let me tell you - YOU can make $100,000 a year as a therapist. You CAN. It might not be your first year, or your second. But let's do some math for a second:

Assumptions:

$100/session
25 sessions/week
work 50 weeks/year
$100*25*50=$125,000!

Now I know, this is revenue, it's pre-expense, and pre-tax. But there it is in front of you. Play with some of those numbers. Move your fee down to $80 and you're at $100,000 revenue. Keep the fee at $100 and move the sessions down to 20/week and you're still at $100,000 revenue.

It can be done. And there is a quote from a movie that feels applicable to close this post - "What one man can do, another can do."

'Til next time, Your Grateful Guy

Setting Intentions for 2008

2007-12-29T20:31:00.000-08:00

A new year is about to begin! Time to set new intentions. I've been a believer in setting intentions because several years of experience has shown me that they work!

For me, an intention is a direction I set in my mind. It is the vision of the creation. It includes the destination but is not limited by it, nor does it necessarily show the path I will take to get there. If need be, I will include concrete goals to help measure my manifestation, taking good care to not let them limit me (for instance, I intend to earn $100,000 or more in revenues in 2008 - and I may revise that upward in the next few days). But the goals reflect a feeling, an experience, the financial goals representing Abundance, and Success.

A goal feels like something I "try to do". Just as a resolution is something I "try to keep". It smacks of work. It reeks of effort. It sounds difficult. My experience with intentions has been that when I set them I usually have no idea how I will create them, but I figure it will be exciting to do so. And often afterwards I find that I enjoyed the manifestation process, and I grew and was enriched by it.

Your intentions can simply be written, like a list or a word-story. Or they can be done via collage, especially if you are a more visual thinker. I strongly suggest keeping them somewhere where you will see them on a daily basis (mine go in the front page of my schedule book).

I'll share with you my intentions that intersect with this blog:
- I express and share my spiritual side
- I create and write whatever I am passionate about
- I experience Abundance by being of service to others

There are more, but I'm going to keep those for myself and my support network.

Happy New Year! Your Grateful Guy

New Year - Reviewing the Year

2007-12-29T20:06:00.000-08:00

It's almost New Year's Eve! I'm in NY enjoying time away from being a therapist (in fact I am watching the Giants-Patriots game).

I've pulled together a bundle of things to do at the change of year that I'd like to share with you.

First of all is the Year End Review. Whether you had set goals or intentions for the past year or not, you can still do this. For this, I want you to create two lists. The first is Celebration List - this is the goals you've set and achieved (or surpassed); the intentions that were manifested; and the unplanned successes. Take a long minute and drink this list in. Look at what you've done! Toast yourself! Do a victory dance. Plan a nice reward (I always think self-care like a massage, or a nice meal out is a good reward). But definitely feed this back into your mind - YOU DID THESE THINGS. You achieved them.

Now for the next list. What goals didn't you achieve? What intentions didn't manifest? What unplanned issues or problems cropped up over the last year? Write these down. Reflect for a minute. Don't hang your head down, but take an honest assessment. There are probably good reasons for the items on this list. Learn from them. Feed that back into your mind - you can improve so much by learning from where you underperformed.

For the next step, you'll need to be someplace where you can burn something. Yes, you are going to burn both lists. You are going to release them, quite vividly, and leave them where they belong. For they are now in the past. The year is done. Both the good and the bad. It's a clean slate ahead of you. And that clean slate allows you freedom in visioning for 2008. But let's wait for tomorrow for that....

Until then, Your Grateful Guy

Holiday Greetings To All

2007-12-24T23:54:00.000-08:00

{Note: I emailed this a bunch of friends. More than a few thought I should post it, so here it is.......YGG}

I was sitting in service at my spiritual community on Sunday, thinking about how I've really wanted to say "Merry Christmas" to people this year, even though I know everyone does not celebrate Christmas. Some of my friends are Jewish, Muslim, Pagan, Agnostic, even Atheist. Heck, even *I* wouldn't consider myself a Christian anymore (I'm more of a straight God guy now)

But still, saying "Happy Holidays" hasn't had much feeling for me though. Today I realized why. I was brought up in my family with Christmas, and I was quite blessed - Christmas was a wonderful time for me for many years. Good stories, good anticipations, good memories. When I think of Christmas I feel such as good emotions. Not everyone can say that, either due to being of a different faith, or having *not* had such good times on Christmas.

So, I want to send you a holiday wish, based not on which holiday you or I choose to celebrate, or what has come before, but instead based on the things that can make such a celebration wonderful:

I wish you restful time away from work and the everyday.
I wish you time with people you love, and who love you.
I wish you that you receive what you want and need.
I wish you the joy of giving.
I wish you the experience of the sacred and divine.
I wish you the deep resonance of music.
I wish you plentiful and delicious food.
I wish you the felt sense of tradition and history.
And I wish you to know you have been thought of by me today, with fondness and good wishes.

:-) Peace, Peter

Living With The Energy of The Season

2007-12-22T17:49:00.000-08:00

While we have reached the solstice once again, there lies in front of us a week or two of downtime for holidays and New Year, and continued short days and cold and/or wet weather (to live in Miami, *sigh*).

My thought for today is that resting, retreating, cocooning - these are natural things to do at this time of year - and quite often provide the inspiration, replenishment and perspective needed to manifest amazing things over the next year.

I have a nice garden here in Seattle, and the fields (like the real farmers) are fallow right now. The asparagus and grapes have stopped growing above the ground. They are recharging their roots, for fuller growth next year. In fact, I will go out in January and cut them, cull them if you will.

Perhaps this is a good time to reflect on what you want to grow next year? For that, I will return in the next couple of days with a post on intentions for the New Year.

Until then, I wish you the best. Sincerely, Your Grateful Guy

Figuring Out Your 'Yeah, But's

2007-12-18T22:44:00.000-08:00

If our consciousness is cause, then the only things between us and what we want are ideas and beliefs in that same consciousness. I've been introduced to an exercise to figure out what those blocks are - it's called the "Yeah, But" exercise.

First, you need to choose that thing you want to have, to achieve, to be. This should be big thing (the juicier, the better). Perhaps "I can have a full private practice", or "I will be happily married with kids!". We'll call that your affirmation.

The next step is simple. Start with a piece of paper (OK, you'll most likely need 2, 3 or 4 pieces for most tries at this). Draw a vertical line down the middle of the paper. In the left hand column, write your affirmation once. Now wait. Your mind will come up with a reason, worry, excuse, 'truth', belief or opinion that is contrary to that affirmation. Perhaps "You're too young", or "you're too old", or "that will take too much school."

Skip to the next line on the paper. Write your affirmation again. Wait just a moment. Your mind should come up with it's next objection. Write that objection down.

Continue this until your mind has exhausted it's well of Yeah, Buts. You now have a list of the things between you and manifesting the thing you affirmed. Now how to get past those objections? That's for another day.

Best, Your Grateful Guy

Why Therapy Is A Growth Industry: Presence vs Technology

2007-12-16T15:11:00.000-08:00

(This is one of a continuing series on why therapy is a growth industry)

Worried about making a living in the future as a therapist? Don't. We are going to be more and more in need. Why? One word - Presence.

As the world becomes more complex, and specifically as we allow technology to be an intermediary in more and more of our personal dealings, people are going to both thirst for, and meanwhile have a harder time with presence.

To me, presence is the very basic human act of being with someone. Listening. Hearing. Witnessing. Undivided. On all levels - physical, mental, emotional. It's something we all need. It's the core of good parenting, good friendship, and especially of good therapy.

But I experience in my own life, and witness all around me, the fracturing of presence (by multitasking, by busy-ness, by too much sensory input) and the lessening of being present with one another (by iPods, laptops, HDTV screens, Blackberrys, etc.).

While there have always been people who have intimacy problems, I am finding many couples (especially) are finding it "weird", "odd" or "awkward" to just be together (I'll call it anxiety-producing).

You will be a success by giving people what they need and thirst for:
Be the Presence of Love.
Be the Presence of Acceptance.
Be the Presence of Peace.
Be the Presence of Wisdom.
Be the Presence of Spirit.

Namaste! Your ever-grateful guy.

My Favorite Practice Coaches

2007-12-14T00:37:00.000-08:00

I am a big fan of some of the other Private Practice marketing coaches out there. I've learned a lot from them, and they've got a lot to teach. So I wanted to just take a second and give a shout-out to

Lynn Grodzki LCSW MCC - www.privatepracticesuccess.com - Lynn's books have been helping people get established for years. I was lucky enough to do a one-day workshop with her the year I started my practice, and her teachings on business affirmations and "Yeah, buts" were a big part of my growth. I'll cover these in a later post.

Casey Truffo LMFT - beawealthytherapist.com - I came upon Casey in 2006 and she helped me carve out my true niche - working with "Nice Guys". Very good resources on her site, helpful coaches and conference calls.

If I had to compare the two, I'd say that Lynn does amazing private practice nuts and bolts work, including the nuts and bolts in your mind. Casey works the marketing side much more directly and audaciously. You can't go wrong with either.

Until next time, your Grateful Guy reporting.

Feeling Good About Your Fee Through The Concept of Tithing

2007-11-27T00:05:00.000-08:00

Tithing is the practice of giving 10% of your income to where you are spiritually fed. For most who tithe that means their church, temple, mosque or religious community. I believe in this practice and follow it, and have found it a wonderful too, but this post is not about being pro-tithing, it's about you charging your full fee.

Here in Seattle, the most un-churched big city in the U.S., most of my clients do not belong to a church or religious community. And yet, so much of the work done in the therapy room has a spiritual essence. For me, the basis of my work, where it begins, is sitting in the knowing of the perfection of my client's soul. They may have problems with their brains, their thoughts, their moods, their families, their history. But I know with them and for them what is possible. That they are ultimately loveable and loved, despite whatever symptoms or defenses they are showing me.

It has helped me feel confident about charging my full fee to realize that for these clients, I am where they are being spiritually fed. And in that analogy, I am certainly not charging 10% of their wages :-)

Namaste, Your Grateful Guy

One of Many Reasons I Know You Can Make a Living At Psychotherapy: Look at the Mall

2007-11-24T00:00:00.000-08:00

So I have long fought the scarcity mentality that seems to be alive in the mental health field. That attitude that we can't make a good living being a therapist, or that it's getting worse, etc. etc. Phooey. That's a crock.

One way I know this is by going to the mall. Have you been to a mall lately? It's amazing how much stuff there is for sale. Stuff that no one really needs. Malls are not about needs, they are about wants and about stuff, and when I see blue jeans that cost more than a session with me, I know there is money out there to be spent. If I can provide value, there is money out there to be made.

The other side of the mall issue for me is this: being consumers - being shallow, stuff-minded, appearance-oriented, instant-gratification people - will at some point wear off for each human. At some point they will realize this is a dead-end that does not make them happy. At some point, they will realize that they want and need help in understanding what it means to be human and how to live a fulfilling life. And therapists will be there to help.

I've got other reasons why therapy is a growth industry, but that's for another day.

Best, A Grateful Man.

Gratitude - the spiritual tool for this Thanksgiving weekend

2007-11-23T19:11:00.000-08:00

Meister Eckhart said "If the only prayer you said in your whole life was, 'thank you,' that would suffice." For reasons both spiritual and psychological, focusing on gratitude makes sense in experiencing a fuller life.

For a private practice, this can mean actively giving thanks each time a new client contact happens, each time you make a deposit, each time you connect with a possible referral source.

It can also mean starting each day by making a gratitude list, of things currently in your life that you are grateful for.

I am grateful for this career which allows me to do what I was really born to do, and be financially supported for doing it.

Yours, Peter

Welcome Fellow Private Practice Owners!

2007-11-17T15:47:00.000-08:00

Welcome to this new blog. I'm a psychotherapist in my fifth year of practice. I've built it using tools both technological (see http://www.yourgoogleguy.com/ where I do PPC Adwords consulting for other professionals) and esoteric. This blog is about those esoteric tools.

These tools are various and known by different names - intention, Spirit, Law of Attraction, visualization, affirmation, prayer, belief, and I will often use the G-word. Yes, God.

I know I may lose some of you here, but in this Blog I'll be telling you what I've experienced as true. And this is what I've found - my clients come from God. I work for God. I used to think they come from Google or the Internet or my business card, but now I know they come from God. Feel free to think "Higher Power", "Spirit", or "The Universe" if you'd like instead. God is shorter to type. Also, these are not meant to favor *or* exclude Christians, Buddhists, Agnostics, New Thought followers or anyone else.

Along with knowing my clients come from God I also then know this:
- there are enough clients for me
- I don't have to struggle to get these clients

There are things you can do - and I'll get into these in later posts. This may be enough of a shock for you for now.

Namaste! Your Grateful Guy

Spiritual Tools for Private Practice Success

End of Year Things To Do...

What to do once you've gotten what you always wanted

I'm Presenting in October!

Warning: Tooting of My Own Horn

Consider a Media Blackout

Two Things Remembered on the Raquetball Court

When You Can't Hold the Vision of What You Want, Intend for What You Need

So, About That Recession...

Coming Back & Finding Strength

Checking In & DVD Recommendations

Intentions Get Answered - In Big Ways

So It's Serious Work - Be Happy Anyway.

Share Your Good Results!

Changing the Title

Scared? Focus on Creating Value

Watching Your Media Intake

For Thanksgiving - Gratitude

Got Trouble? Praise and Raise....

Your Clients *Are* God, Too!

Where Do Your Clients Really Come From?

The Zen Horse Story

In a Changing Economy....

Before Success: Spiritual Practice. After Success: Spiritual Practice.

Taking Care of Your Favorite Plants

Are You Planting Weeds or Flowers?

Seeds - Planting and Germinating

There Is No Competition For You!

The Difference Between Information and Experience

Affirmations of Scarcity or Abundance in Time, Money & Energy

Facebook Reminds Me That Expansion & Creativity Are The Truth

Community Support: Taking Refuge in the Sangha

On "Making" It Happen

I Am Not "Lucky"!

Are New Clients Welcome? Is There Space For Them?

Building Capacity Through Spiritual Practice

Abundance, Scarcity and Group Consciousness

Setting Intentions for 2008

New Year - Reviewing the Year

Holiday Greetings To All

Living With The Energy of The Season

Figuring Out Your 'Yeah, But's

Why Therapy Is A Growth Industry: Presence vs Technology

My Favorite Practice Coaches

Feeling Good About Your Fee Through The Concept of Tithing

One of Many Reasons I Know You Can Make a Living At Psychotherapy: Look at the Mall

Gratitude - the spiritual tool for this Thanksgiving weekend

Welcome Fellow Private Practice Owners!

Your Clients Are God, Too!