How Taylor Moss built her referral network
The topic of this week’s newsletter is networking. Wait, don’t stop reading. I hate forced social events as much as the next person, but according to this week’s interview guest, “The best marketing we can do as therapists is to network with other therapists."
Taylor Moss, LMFT is a Seattle-based therapist who specializes in premarital counseling. She estimates that 70% of her clients come from referrals from her professional network.
I spoke to Taylor about how she’s used networking to fill her private practice and what advice she has for other therapists. Enjoy!
Where did you learn networking skills?
As therapists, we come into this profession because we’re interested in stories and we want to help people. Not a lot of us come in thinking about making money or running a business. There’s also a misunderstanding about what networking really means. It’s not about using people—it’s about building community and supporting one another. I call it "making friends for therapists."
Luckily, I had a prior profession that was adjacent to being a therapist. As a sign language interpreter, I was told “you don’t want to do this work alone” because so much of interpreting was about the community and the culture.
Before I even got into my MFT program, I was already networking with therapists to see if it was something that I wanted to do. I’m an extrovert and heard it can be really isolating. I found that people were happy to meet with me and I’ve continued those relationships. Now, people know me as the “premartial therapist” and send clients my way.
What are some of your favorite ways to network with other therapists?
I created a consultation group with six other therapists after graduate school, which was a great way to continue my network. I’m on the board of the Washington Association for Marriage and Family Therapy (WAMFT) and meet therapists at events. The more you are at events and participating, the more people will remember your face and your name, the more top of mind you’ll be.
I would also recommend going along a theoretical path. For me, that’s been training in Gottman Method Couples Therapy. I’ve built my own little Gottman community and even got a job at the Gottman Institute after graduate school because of someone in my network that I had a coffee date with.
How has the pandemic changed how you network?
Networking happens now over the phone or Zoom, and I’d much rather be in a coffee shop. So it’s harder for me. I did attend the WAMFT conference online this year and I was surprised by how much it still felt like a conference. We had a virtual networking breakout session and I connected with new people.
What networking tips can you share?
First, identify who you want to network with in your field, in similar fields, or in referral source fields (20% of my clients are referred from my church). See if you have a mutual connection who can make an introduction. Then seek advice and ask them about their experience—and always send a follow up thank you email!