The LEAP Method: Your Roadmap to a Thriving Independent School Psychology Practice
By Juliana Ramirez, EdS NCSP
Owner and Founder of PERA Services®
Independent School Psychology
LEAP Method
Career Transformation
Building a Successful Practice
Marketing and Branding for Psychologists
If you’ve been feeling overwhelmed, undervalued, and ready to break free from the public school system, you’re in the right place. Imagine transforming your career and reclaiming your professional joy by launching a successful independent practice. Sounds dreamy, right? Well, it’s not just a dream—it’s entirely possible with the LEAP Method.
What is the LEAP Method?
The LEAP Method was developed by Juliana Ramirez, EdS NCSP School Psychologist. Juliana mentors and coaches fellow school psychologists that want to establish their independent businesses.
Image description: The image features a clean and modern design with a central circular logo representing the LEAP Method. Surrounding the logo are four colorful arrows, each pointing outward in a different direction, symbolizing the four key components of the LEAP Method. Each arrow has a distinct color and label:
First Arrow (light green): Labeled "Legitimize" - This arrow signifies the first step of setting up a solid legal and business foundation for your practice.
Second Arrow (Blue): Labeled "Examine" - This arrow represents the process of defining and refining your services to stand out in the market.
Third Arrow (Green): Labeled "Advertise" - This arrow indicates the strategies for effectively marketing and promoting your services to attract clients.
Fourth Arrow (Navy Blue): Labeled "Perform" - This arrow highlights the importance of delivering excellent service and maintaining high standards in your practice.
The central logo features the text "The LEAP Method" in a bold, professional font, creating a focal point that ties the four arrows together. The overall layout is visually balanced and easy to understand, effectively conveying the structured approach of the LEAP Method.
The LEAP Method is your personal blueprint to a rejuvenated, flourishing career in school psychology. Designed by someone who has been in your shoes, this method is a structured, step-by-step approach to help you transition smoothly from public sector frustrations to the euphoria of independent practice. And trust me, it’s a game-changer.
But what exactly does LEAP stand for? Let’s break it down:
L: Legitimize
E: Examine
A: Advertise
P: Perform
Each of these components is crucial in building a successful independent school psych business or traditional practice, and here’s how they work.
1. Legitimize: Setting Up Your Business Foundation
Before diving into the exciting world of independent practice, you need to lay a solid foundation. This step involves all the nitty-gritty legal aspects of setting up your business—everything from choosing the right business structure to understanding contracts and protecting your practice legally.
2. Examine: Defining Your Services
Next, it’s time to examine what you’re offering. This step is all about identifying your unique strengths and determining the services you want to provide. Do you want to focus on evaluations, consultations, or advocacy? This is where you clarify your niche and ensure your services stand out.
3. Advertise: Getting the Word Out
Now that you have a solid foundation and a clear set of services, it’s time to get the word out. This step focuses on marketing strategies to attract and retain clients. From creating a compelling online presence to mastering social media marketing, this is where you’ll learn to shine.
4. Perform: Delivering Excellence
Finally, it’s all about performing and delivering outstanding service. This step ensures that you’re not just launching your practice but thriving in it. You’ll learn how to manage your time effectively, keep your clients happy, and continuously improve your services.
Ready to LEAP into Success as a school psychologist?
The LEAP Method isn’t just a theoretical framework—it’s a proven roadmap that has helped many school psychologists transition successfully to independent practice. By following this structured approach, you can avoid common pitfalls, build a solid foundation, and create a practice that truly reflects your passions and skills.
Shortcuts don’t work in the long run when it comes to starting your school psych business. Here’s why:
-If your business isn't legitimate, it can cost you hundreds of dollars and it will be harder to secure contracts and future clients
-If you don’t know your business, you won’t be able to sell your business and pitch your services to districts or future clients
-In order to grow and expand your business, you need to treat it like one, which means you need to strategically market and promote your services.
-The most important thing: deliver exceptional services and support your students, families, and clients. When you take shortcuts, your customers notice and suffer, which can be extremely costly in the long run.
The ultimate goal of a starting, running, scaling, and growing a school psych business is to go back to loving the field. Get back to loving what you do and enjoying your work. Be the school psychologist you want to be, and do school psychology your way!
Success Stories:
Let’s talk about the amazing success stories of school psychologists who have embraced the LEAP Method. Lucia, Chelsea, Tori, Edna, Solangie, Liz, Julie, Jennifer, Allison, Irfat, Sandra, Sarahi, and so many others have followed the steps inside my course to start, scale, and grow their businesses and practices. They’ve gone from feeling overwhelmed and undervalued to thriving independent practitioners. It's incredible to see their transformations and successes. They have followed the LEAP method and seen the results first hand.
WHERE IN THE WORLD ARE MY STUDENTS?
From Hawaii to New York, school psychs have made the Big LEAP and purchased the course. More than 100+ school psychologists across the country have started to see results, and more are joining our course community every month. Wondering if anyone from YOUR state has made the BIG LEAP? Check below and see!
School Psychs from the following states have purchased:
ARIZONA, CALIFORNIA, COLORADO, CONNECTICUT, FLORIDA, MINNESOTA, MISSISSIPPI, NEBRASKA, NEW JERSEY, NEW YORK, HAWAII, ILLINOIS, LOUISIANA, MASSACHUSETTS, MICHIGAN, NORTH CAROLINA, OHIO, RHODE ISLAND, TEXAS, WASHINGTON.
Get Your Free Guidebook: Your First Step to Independence
Want to dive deeper into the LEAP Method and see how it can transform your career? Download my free guidebook, The Guidebook: Action Steps to Starting Your Independent Business in School Psychology, which provides a step-by-step plan to help you begin your journey. This comprehensive resource will walk you through each step of the LEAP Method, providing actionable insights and practical tips to get you started on your journey to independence.
Conclusion
The LEAP Method is your roadmap to success. Whether you’re just starting to think about independent practice or you’re ready to take the plunge, this method provides the structure and support you need. With the right guidance, you can transform your career and achieve the professional freedom and fulfillment you deserve.
Are you ready to leap into a brighter future? Download The Guidebook: Becoming an Independent School Psychologist, Action Steps to start your school psych business today!
Join the Conversation
I’d love to hear from you! Which step of the LEAP Method do you need support in?
Stay in the know with future topics related to independent school psychology
Don’t miss out on this opportunity to take control of your career and find the professional joy you’ve been searching for.
Bonus Resources:
To make your journey even smoother, here are three essential resources that I highly recommend:
Contracts for School Psych Business Owners: Having solid contracts is crucial for protecting your practice and ensuring smooth operations. Check out this affiliate link for reliable, customizable DIY Lawyer drafted contracts used by school psych business owners all over the country.
Websites for School Psych Business Owners: A professional website is key to attracting and retaining clients. This affiliate link offers expert website templates and brand guides made specifically for school psych business owners, helping you create a compelling online presence.
Increasing Your Independence: making the big LEAP from public to independent school psychologist [Course]: If you're ready to dive deep into the LEAP Method and gain all the tools and knowledge needed to thrive in independent practice, this course is your ultimate guide. Learn more and join the growing community of successful school psychologists here.
Take advantage of these resources to streamline your path to success and make the most of your independent practice!
**This post contains affiliate links 🔗. If the link is clicked and a purchase is made, an affiliate commission is received.**
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About Juliana
Juliana is a bilingual school psychologist in Independent Practice and the owner and founder of PERA Services Inc. Her business supports school districts in the state of Ohio with the evaluation of bilingual learners for Special Education. She also coaches and mentors school psychologists wanting to become independent and start a business. To learn more about her business and Juliana visit www.peraserivcesinc.com
