Where Do Referrals Come From?

You can’t have a practice without clients.  You can’t have clients without referrals.  So…where to go for referrals?

A few past and future WCTI contributors weighed in on the question.  Their answers below.  Your answers:  Waiting to be written and posted to comments.

Will Meek, PhD (willmeekphd.com)

Where did your first referrals come from?
My first referrals came from therapist directory websites (Psychology Today and Network Therapy).

Where do most of your referrals come from now?
My referrals continue to come from sources online. Those include online therapist directories and my website, which appears high in search engine rankings. Additionally, I have started getting people from insurance websites as well as from colleagues and friends of previous clients who had positive experiences with me.

Catherine Auman, MFT (catherineauman.com)

I started my private practice by getting on as many managed care panels as I could. This eventually turned into an average of two new referrals a week.During that time I was also building my cash business in any way I could, primarily on the Internet and through advertising. Now my practice is 2/3’s cash patients and 1/3 managed care. I love it!

Buck Black, LCSW (buckblack.com & truckertherapy.com)

Where did your first referrals come from?
In my office:  My first referrals came from people calling the group practice (which I am part of) and the secretary scheduled them with me.
Online/phone:  Google searches that directed them to my website.  I spent a lot of time increasing my Google rankings so this would happen!

Where do most of your referrals come from now?
50% from my website and my online Psychology Today ad.  Approximately 30% from face-to-face networking in my community and the remainder from referrals from the group practice and my ad on the back of the city bus.

Susan Giurleo, PhD (childdevelopmentpartners.com & susangiurleo.com)

First referrals came from colleagues–other psychotherapists, neuropsychologists.

Now: physicians, neuropsychologists, school adminstrators/guidance counselors, current or past client word-of-mouth referrals, my website/blog.

That’s them.  How about you?

• Where did your first referral come from?
• Where do most of your referrals come from now?
• What referral sources are you trying to develop for the future?

Take a second to comment–you’ll likely be helping out a rookie; you may even find yourself inspired to do some extra outreach.