“How could I engage with him as a therapist, there was a dead plant in the hall — if he can’t even keep a plant alive, how could he possibly help me?” This practical, accessible guide, written by a therapist with 25 years of experience in thriving practice, is an invaluable resource for counselors, therapists and psychologists embarking on the daunting task of setting up in private practice. Those experienced practitioners keen to run their practice more effectively, grow it or even phase it out before retiring, will also find a wealth of useful advice. From creating a comfortable consulting room, to grappling with the thorny question of money; from finding clients, to accessing insurance cover and dealing with confidentiality, this book will help you tackle the psychological and practical issues that need to be addressed before we open our doors for business. Once the practice is established, it will be important for you to anticipate and think about situations that impinge on the work, such as illness, holidays, building work, pets and children. These vicissitudes of life have no place the sanctity of the consulting room. But if you don’t pay attention to them, they can destroy the safe working environment necessary for good and sensitive work to take place. Pauline Hodson shows you how to manage problems with ease and run a successful private practice.