The first mental health professional that I ever saw effectively using videos on her website was Pam Dyson, LPC, RPT. Since that initial sighting, other therapists have also caught my attention on videos but none are as prolific and effective as Pam’s.When I started getting an influx of requests for info about the use of videos for marketing purposes, I asked Pam if she would write a guest post sharing how she got started using videos and she graciously agreed!
(If you are interested in writing a guest post, check out the guidelines here.)
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First Impressions Count
As a therapist in private practice I recognize the importance of making a good first impression on a potential client. As a child play therapist that impression begins with the parents.
The majority of parents who contact me to schedule a consultation find me via my web site. By the time they call they’ve spent time perusing my site and learning more about me and the services I offer. One of the things I consistently hear them say is that they watched the video tour below of my office and feel I am someone they and their child would feel comfortable working with.
Building a Therapeutic Alliance from the Start
Once I’ve met with parents for a consultation and they’re ready to schedule an appointment for their child I encourage them to share my video tour with their child prior to their first play therapy session. Children are very visual and the video tour helps them understand what to expect when they come to my office and meet me for the first time.I’ve also found that it alleviates some of the anxiety they may feel. They’re rarely reluctant to leave the waiting room and go with me to the play room. It gives me the opportunity to begin establishing a therapeutic alliance with the child before they ever step foot in my office. It’s not uncommon to have a child enter the play therapy room for the first time and say, “I know what I want to play with. I saw this on my computer!”
Simple Tools
I could have hired a video crew to film and produce my office tour but it was not something that fit into my budget. Instead, I used a simple Flip Video Camera. The quality is great and it’s easy to use. Uploading the videos to my web site is not complicated. Unfortunately the Flip is no longer being produced but there are a variety of video cameras on the market that are affordably priced under a hundred dollars. You could also use a smart phone that has a video function.
Still Refining
It recently came to my attention that I didn’t include the restroom on my video. When you work with children the location of the restroom is very important. I’m planning on remaking my video office tour this spring and it will include the location of the restroom. One benefit of not using a professional videographer is that you can remake your video whenever you feel the need rather than when it fits into your budget.
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Pam Dyson is a child development expert, parenting coach, licensed professional counselor and registered play therapist in Ballwin, Missouri. She specializes in helping parents find practical solutions to child behavior problems. Her website is http://www.PamDyson.com.
Hi Tamara,
This was great! I am planning on putting a video on my website and did not have any examples. I am wondering if you know how she added the “slide” at the end with her contact information? Maybe this is done via a video editing software program. I have one on my MAC. Thanks for sharing this information with us. Hope to meet you some day!
Hi Linda,
The slide at the end with my contact information was created using Windows Live Movie Maker. http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows7/products/features/movie-maker
Thank you so much Pam! I am going to try this.
OK, so does anyone know what is comparable on a Mac to Windows Live Movie Maker?
Thanks, Pam, for dropping back in to keep up with this thread and for sharing your thoughts on using videos, too! As you can see . . . lots of us are interested and learning from you!
I believe the Mac version is called iMovie.
Thanks, Pam!
Hi, Linda! I’m so glad that you found this useful! Pam’s videos (plural!) are excellent examples of what a therapist can do if she is willing to think outside of the box. (Thanks, Pam, for responding to Linda’s inquiry. I didn’t have a clue!)
Linda, I hope when you get your video up, you’ll drop backin to let us know so we can all check it out and learn fromyou, too! (I’m on a Mac and am curious what video editing software you are using.)
I will Tamara! I “think” this may be easier than we might think. If I figure it out Ill let you know and I’ll post my video as soon as I get it done.
Ahhh, Linda! I do believe you are a “gadget girl” and like the techie things! You go, girl! Looking forward to learning from you!
FABULOUS! Someone just suggested to me that I do a video to chronicle the growth of the business, but this idea is what I am going to implement 1st!
Carla, thanks for taking time to say you liked the topic of this post. I so appreciate the feedback.
I think that an introduction to you and your office would definitely be of interest to your new and potential clients! Of course, once you’ve been in practice for a good while . . . and maybe you already have been . . . then the history might turn out to be more interesting, too!
I just have to figure out how to document that, I have pics of my first office but no video.
Hey, Carla – how about just driving by and shooting video from the outside of the building?
Great idea!
I agree with Tamara that a video tour of your office would be a good starting point. Based on my experience potential clients are more interested in how I can help them solve their problems than the history of my business. I often get emails and voice mails in the middle of the night from parents who cannot sleep due to being worried about their child. They were Googling for solutions and when they came upon my web site. The messages they leave tell me that after watching the video(s) they knew I was someone they would feel comfortable working with.
WOW, Pam! That speaks volumes, doesn’t it?! Good for you!
Actually the history part was for archiving the growth of the practice. It was not really for client consumption. That is why I said I wanted to do the video for the clients 1st, because that was more important.
Ah, got it!
Hi Tamara,
Thanks for having this guest blog post. Slowly but surely I’m getting in to the zone of filming something for my practice but nothing has clicked so far. Between “video blogging” or just introducing myself, I still haven’t come up with the “eureka” idea. I like this post because it shows a whole other way of creating video content. Thanks for sharing!
You are so welcome, Christine! I’ll keep an eye out for therapists using videos effectively. Perhaps you guys can help me find those, too. Then I can share them in a post later on.
Great advice! I am just starting out and this has inspired me to do a video for my website. Thanks!
Hi, Kim! Welcome to Private Practice from the Inside Out! It’s good to have your voice here! I do hope that you will let us know once you get your video complete so that we can all check it out and learn from you, too!
Hey, on a different note – I had a colleague ask for a referral to a therapist in Houston last week. I can’t remember – been away too long – how close is Humble to Houston?
I’m thrilled to know my video tour has inspired all of you to do something similar. Keep me posted on when your videos are up and running so I can check it out. One thing I’ve learned over the course of making my own videos is to not over-think the process. It doesn’t have to be perfect. Strive for being genuine.
Hey, Pam. Thanks for saying this! I learned a long time ago that “perfection is the enemy of good.” Can’t remember who I took that quote from but it’s exactly why your videos always look so warm, friendly, and matter-of-fact. It makes you seem approachable and human – two things that I think every client wants to see.
Thank you Pam for saying that! I had started to get a little overwhelmed trying to figure out how to put this together. I was even thinking about hiring someone to do it because I wasn’t sure if my Flip would work. Plus I was concerned about editing and pulling it all together. Thanks for setting me at ease
Hi all,
I noticed someone clicked into my blog from here yesterday and thought I should explain something. I have a memoir blog under the pseudonym Linda Lochridge. That was my mother’s maiden name and I always loved it and wished it was mine! My blog is an ongoing story of my life, and will culminate on the experience of healing and how I ended up becoming a therapist. I am in process as we speak of having Beth Hayden (from http://www.bloggingwithbeth.com) build my private practice website. I am very excited about it, and it will be linked to this site when it’s done. Hope I did not cause anyone confusion.
” I noticed someone clicked into my blog from here yesterday and . . . .” Yep – that’s exactly why commenting on other people’s blogs can be good for building your search engine optimization for your own website!
Thanks for the clarification! And, as you already know if you are working with Beth, then you are in great hands!
I just wanted to say I love Pam’s video tour and that she has some great videos on play therapy on Youtube. I hope to make some similar myself, and plan to try it for my blog.
Hi, Jill! Let us know when you get yours up and running! The more examples that we can actually see, the better! There are lots of ways to do videos right.
Jill, I’m glad you like my videos and I look forward to seeing your video efforts in the not too distant future.
Jill, can’t remember if I’ve mentioned it but here’s how you can get a “little me” picture added to your comments so we can all see your smiling face! http://www.allthingsprivatepractice.com/how-a-tiny-picture-of-you-can-help-drive-traffic-to-your-website-or-blog/
I just stumbled upon this. What a great idea!
One of the things new clients comment on is how much they love my office. It’s in the large living room of an old house, and they immediately feel comfortable and at home there. Thanks for the idea for communicating that asset with a video.
Hi, Peggy! Welcome to Private Practice from the Inside Out! Thanks for stopping in today. I think you’re definitely on the right track. If your clients repeatedly talk about the fabulous space you work in or the great snacks you have available in your office or how “safe” you make them feel – those are exactly the things you want to leverage in your marketing. And, those are excellent things to focus on in your videos!
Where are you, Peggy, and what is it you do?
(Here’s a really simple tutorial to help you set up a gravatar – that tiny little picture of you – that accompanies your comments here and elsewhere online.