This book begins where courses, workshops, training seminars, and textbooks leave off, providing a candid, behind-the-scenes look at the fields of therapy, counseling and human services. In a friendly and accessible style, Dr. Howard Rosenthal offers his readers 55 practical suggestions for opening, improving, and expanding their mental health practice. Each of the 55 concise chapters provides vital information on topics such as opening a risk-free private practice, maximizing one's salary, building a resume, the ethical issues of advertising and marketing, managed care, billing, confidentiality, and malpractice policy rates. These stand-alone chapters, which allow a reader to find the topics of particular interest to him or her, provide both a quick overview of the issue and numerous worthwhile tips and advice. Based on best-selling author and clinician Howard Rosenthal's many years of experience, Before You See Your First Client is an invaluable guide for mental health professionals at all stages of their careers.