PhD/PsyD Paying for consultation

[LadyHalcyon]

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Has anyone ever done this? How did you go about doing this? Where would I find someone?

Basically, I am looking for someone who I could meet with, when necessary, to consult on some of my cases etc. Unfortunately this is not going to happen with the owners of the private practice where I work. My mentor from graduate school is currently on sabbatical and is too busy. Should I just start making cold calls to psychologists I respect in the community? Should I contact our local/state APA branch? Also, what is reasonable to expect in terms of fees?

 

[foreverbull]

This will really depend on the reason for consultation. If you need consultation for specific reasons relating to a specialty/niche, it will be more expensive. For example, I was looking for consultation regarding working with a specific population and providing a very specific service for that population, and the psychologists in my area who offered this were charging a package rate (~$1000-$2000) to do individual consultation or group consultation. Some folks will charge their therapy rate for consultation and not do a package, but charge the rate for as long as consultation is needed. Some may offer a slight discount on their hourly rate. Cost will vary by psychologist. One psychologist offered me a single consultation phone call for free just to pay it forward.

If it’s nonspecific and you just want ongoing, generic consultation, you can form your own group to meet for free. If you belong to a county or state psychological association, a listserv request is an easy way to start a free consultation group on your own. Or you could cold contact psychologists.

Are you wanting more focused/specific consultation individually? If so, perhaps you also might reach out to your local psychological association listserv as well and make a request. If your county association or state association is active, you might find what you’re looking for that way. I see requests like this on my county psych association listserv from time to time.

 

[LadyHalcyon]

Thank you so much. This information is very helpful!

This will really depend on the reason for consultation. If you need consultation for specific reasons relating to a specialty/niche, it will be more expensive. For example, I was looking for consultation regarding working with a specific population and providing a very specific service for that population, and the psychologists in my area who offered this were charging a package rate (~$1000-$2000) to do individual consultation or group consultation. Some folks will charge their therapy rate for consultation and not do a package, but charge the rate for as long as consultation is needed. Some may offer a slight discount on their hourly rate. Cost will vary by psychologist. One psychologist offered me a single consultation phone call for free just to pay it forward.

If it’s nonspecific and you just want ongoing, generic consultation, you can form your own group to meet for free. If you belong to a county or state psychological association, a listserv request is an easy way to start a free consultation group on your own. Or you could cold contact psychologists.

Are you wanting more focused/specific consultation individually? If so, perhaps you also might reach out to your local psychological association listserv as well and make a request. If your county association or state association is active, you might find what you’re looking for that way. I see requests like this on my county psych association listserv from time to time.

 

[LadyHalcyon]

Also, I realized I didn't answer your question. I am wanting both, essentially. I need someone with forensic experience and I also need someone to consult with for family therapy. More specifically, family therapy with families who have concealed sexual/emotional abuse, have family members with signicant trauma histories and/or Cluster B personality disorders etc. These are for adolescent cases that involve family work to repair the family system (e.g. A structural based family approach, I-BAFT.. etc).

 

[Therapist4Chnge]

Consultation groups can be really helpful just for day to day stuff. I recommend to all clinicians to find/form others for consultation, particularly if you are in private practice.

That said, forensic consultation can vary greatly bc there are a few inches within the area. Given the other area you asked about is children/abuse...i’d *strongly* recommend if you want to do child custody, family reunification, or anything in those areas that you join whatever APA group(s) work in those areas.

You’ll also want to do CEs/training seminars (at least 1-2 that are state specific bc state laws vary), AND find someone to show you the ropes. Besides inappropriate patient relationships, clinicians who do child custody work have some of the highest risks for board complaints. I’m not writing this to scare ppl away, but it’s important to go into the work with both eyes open.

 

[AbnormalPsych]

psychologists in my area who offered this were charging a package rate (~$1000-$2000) to do individual consultation or group consultation.

What was involved in the package? Like a set number of consults, etc? I have only heard of hourly or groups that meet together for free, so I'm curious.

 

[AbnormalPsych]

I just got connected through colleagues who have done this for their PP work. I asked for some names from several people and made some intial calls until I found someone.

 

[foreverbull]

What was involved in the package? Like a set number of consults, etc? I have only heard of hourly or groups that meet together for free, so I'm curious.

If I recall correctly, yes, it was a set number of consult sessions in which they provide in-depth consultation. One was a group that met via Skype for like 8-10 sessions total (once per month and you had to be accepting clients you wanted the consultation for as a condition), one was one-on-one, maybe 4-6 consultations in the package. This was for a VERY specific interest/niche.

 

[PsyDr]

FYI: some very senior psychologists have given me supervision over the years. Zero have accepted my repeated offers to pay for their time.

Might want to throw that into one’s averaging.

 

[AbnormalPsych]

FYI: some very senior psychologists have given me supervision over the years. Zero have accepted my repeated offers to pay for their time.

Might want to throw that into one’s averaging.

That's wonderful.

 

[LadyHalcyon]

I am staying far away from custody evals. FAR away

Consultation groups can be really helpful just for day to day stuff. I recommend to all clinicians to find/form others for consultation, particularly if you are in private practice.

That said, forensic consultation can vary greatly bc there are a few inches within the area. Given the other area you asked about is children/abuse...i’d *strongly* recommend if you want to do child custody, family reunification, or anything in those areas that you join whatever APA group(s) work in those areas.

You’ll also want to do CEs/training seminars (at least 1-2 that are state specific bc state laws vary), AND find someone to show you the ropes. Besides inappropriate patient relationships, clinicians who do child custody work have some of the highest risks for board complaints. I’m not writing this to scare ppl away, but it’s important to go into the work with both eyes open.