The number of clinicians entering private practice is growing each day. This book presents a step-by-step process for prospective entrepreneurs who wish to become a private practitioner. The text is divided into eight sections. Section 1 looks at the rationale for private practice and addresses the personal questions involving clinical skills, supervision, risk taking, emotional investment, and financial stability. Section 2 outlines the business aspects of a private practice, such as accounting, financial, and legal concerns. In Section 3, specific information for setting up a practice is offered, while in Section 4, tips on opening the practice, such as the practice's name and different ways to save money are presented. Section 5 includes a marketing plan and lists the methods and material needed to implement such a plan. How to run the practice is discussed in Section 6, and includes such details as the intake process, fee collection, missed appointments, and third-party reimbursement. Section 7 explores ways to expand a practice and offers insights into developing an expansion plan. The last section gives personal reflections on the process of becoming a private practitioner. Appendixes present 19 business forms, 16 references, and 7 supplemental readings. (RJM)