Chapter 12
Professional Relationships, Private Practice, and Health Care Plans
Focus Questions
1. What types of interactions and relationships do counselors have to other mental
health professionals who practice in their community?
Points instructors may want to make:
• To treat them with respect, even if they do not subscribe to one’s own approach to
2. What kind of help does a counselor need in order to set up a private practice?
Points instructors may want to make:
• Private practice is a business and involves all the promises and pitfalls of starting any
3 How would you respond if you were a provider of counseling services for a managed
care organization and you believed your client needed additional counseling sessions,
but the case manager told you that no more counseling sessions would be provided?
Points instructors may want to make:
In-Class Activities
Title: Opening a Private Practice
Learning
Goal: To learn the basic requirements and pros and cons of opening a private practice.
Procedures: Students will divide into groups of three or four to discuss and draw up a
Discussion
Questions: What are some of the important considerations in opening a private practice?
What did you learn that would encourage or discourage you to open a private
practice?
What might restrict you from opening a private practice?
Title: Ideal Mental Health Care Benefits
Learning
Goal: To explore the issues of mental health care plans.
Point/Counterpoint (Debate) Topic
Title: Going into Private Practice
Learning
Goal: To consider the benefits and risks of establishing a solo private practice versus
joining or establishing a group practice.
Procedures: Assign (or allow students to volunteer) 2 groups of students (preferably 3-5
Outside Class Activities
Title: Professional Development Interviews
Learning
Goal: To participate in a hands-on activity to acquaint students with actual counseling clinicians and other
professionals to discover what it’s really like to practice counseling.
Procedures: Students will interview someone about what is involved in opening a new
Title: Interviews with Counselors who Accept Third Party Payments
Learning
Goal: To learn about the challenges of dealing with health care plans.
Procedures: Ask students to interview a counselor who works in an environment in which
third party payers reimburse clients for their mental health care services. Such
Topic for Self-Reflection/Journaling
Topic: Imagine that you are a professional counselor working in a school, community
agency, hospital,
employee assistance program, the court system, or some other organization. Assume
that you are
aware that some individuals in the organization – not fellow counselors, but
administrators or other
Case Study
Jim has just been hired as a school counselor. Mary, a five-year old female student, is
referred to Jim by her teacher because of recent behavior problems. Mary reveals to Jim after a
couple of play therapy sessions that her stepfather has been touching her in private places. Jim
Case Study Discussion
Jim is not violating any ethical principles by referring to his good friend, especially since
Short Paper or Oral Class Presentation Topics
1. Current Information Regarding Managed Care and its Impact on Counseling
2. A Paper or Suggestions for Establishing and Maintaining Appropriate Relationships with
3. A Business Plan for Opening a Private Practice