For this interactive assignment, you will assume the role of a clinical or counseling psychologist who has recently opened a private practice or begun working for a mental health agency. You are eager to begin working with client(s) and need to market your services. One way to attract clients is to develop professional relationships with individuals who may need to refer their clients, patients, students, or congregants to a psychologist. It can be helpful to provide these professionals with informational materials that provide an overview of your services.
For this interactive assignment, it is recommended that you utilize one of the Microsoft Word or PowerPoint brochure templatesLinks to an external site. available at https://templates.office.com/en-us/Search/results?query=brochureLinks to an external site.. If you must use any programs other than Microsoft Word or PowerPoint, save your brochure as a pdf file before attaching it to your discussion post.
Potential Referring Professionals: First, identify the target audience for your informational brochure (see common examples in the list below). You will utilize the brochure to market your services to the audience you identify in order to obtain client referrals from them. You may select as many audiences as you desire as long as the content in your brochure is relevant to the reasons these individuals would refer their clients, patients, or students to a psychologist.
Attorneys
Clergy/religious leaders
Employee Assistance Program personnel
Life/wellness coaches
Physicians, physician assistants, and nurse practitioners including family practice specialists and psychiatrists
Teachers and school counselors who may refer patients to you
Other mental health professionals (e.g., nutritionists, physical therapists, occupational therapists, recreational therapists)
Other mental health professionals (e.g., counselors, social workers, behavioral technicians, art therapists)
Your brochure must include the following information:
Disclaimer: Include the following statement in your brochure: “This informational brochure was developed for a class assignment. I am not holding myself out to be a mental health provider in any manner.”
Name, Photo/Image, and Credentials: Be sure to include your name degree, type of license, and any professional membership organizations appropriate to your assumed role. You may also list any appropriate division memberships and certifications applicable to your specialty. Include a personal professional headshot or other image appropriate to your brochure’s content.
Personal Statement: Create a 50-100-word personal statement in which you describe attributes that make your practice or agency unique.
Specialties: Identify at least three areas of specialization (e.g., child and adolescent psychology, behavioral disorders, learning disorders, trauma, family and relationships issues, anxiety, depression, eating disorders, neuropsychology, personality disorders, substance disorders). Access the APA’s Recognized Specialties and Proficiencies in Professional PsychologyLinks to an external site. page for more information on this topic.
Treatment Proficiencies: Compare the possible theoretical orientations appropriate to your assumed role and identify your treatment orientation(s). Identify which modalities (e.g., individual, couples, family, and/or group) you use with clients. For further assistance with creating this portion of your brochure, review the Heatherington, et al. (2012) article titled “The Narrowing of Theoretical Orientations in Clinical Psychology Doctoral Training.”
Client Focus: Describe the populations that you would primarily serve. Include information regarding age, gender, religious orientations, ethnicities, and/or special populations. List all languages you speak fluently and provide any additional information on cultural specialization you may have.
Confidentiality and Limitations: Explain what information will remain confidential in your sessions as well as the limitations of confidentiality. Keep in mind the age of your target population and the reasons for referral.
Initial Post Requirements
At the top of your post identify (1) the level of professional training you based your role on (e.g., PhD in clinical psychology; PsyD in clinical psychology, PhD in counseling psychology, EdD in counseling psychology), and (2) the target audience(s) for your brochure from the list of potential referring professionals above.
