We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Bruce Cameron Lpc-s Lsotp-s a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Bruce, thanks for joining us today. It’s easy to look at a business or industry as an outsider and assume it’s super profitable – but we’ve seen over and over again in our conversation with folks that most industries have factors that make profitability a challenge. What’s biggest challenge to profitability in your industry?
Traditional counseling can be challenging in terms of profitability. I am not on any insurance panels, and in the beginning, it was a time-consuming process to acquire cash-paying clients. Life Coaching, counseling and consulting clients are fee-for-service, and there are no other third-party hoops to jump through. Initially, I spent what I could on advertising: print and digital. I joined some networking groups and made speaking appearances as frequently as possible. In about one year, the client base picked up. Finally, having core clients who were exactly paying my rate made the work more productive and satisfying.
Bruce, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?
In high school, I taught piano at my mom’s piano studio, where I was assigned to students with developmental disabilities. I then studied Clinical Psychology in college and graduate school. The Federal Bureau of Prisons recruited me from the University of Wyoming graduate school of Clinical Psychology. My assignment was to help open a Drug Treatment Unit and a Sex Offender Treatment Unit at the Federal Correctional Institution Butner, NC. After promoting to various positions within the United States Justice Department, I retired after nearly 24 years of civil service. This was a fantastic foundation for my private practice that continues today. I help clients navigate through very challenging times, be it legal or more centered on mental health concerns. For those not in distress, I am a Certified Life Coach and maintain a small client cadre for these cases.
Have you ever had to pivot?
The Covid-19 era was a time of challenge and pivoting. Regulations on telehealth relaxed, and I began offering more telehealth appointments. Along with telehealth came the electronic collection of fees via Venmo and Zelle. I also focused on my LA Talk Radio Podcast: The Concierge Coaches Show. Initially, I only had coaching guests on the Podcast. Today, I have a variety of guests, spanning from entrepreneurs to offenders who have recently been released from Federal Prison. The Podcast is now on iHeart Radio, Amazon Audible, Apple Podcast, and other streaming platforms. The podcast, along with its social media, was a complete game-changer. Although I am in the Dallas area, my decision to host the podcast out of Los Angeles was wise. Google algorithms seemed to support this contention as well.
Any stories or insights that might help us understand how you’ve built such a strong reputation?
Honesty and consistency are essential. I try to provide my clients with current and accurate information based on facts, not feelings. I usually respond to new/current client calls on the same day. I am surprised how many of my peers may take days or weeks to return calls. Prompt responses have made me quite prosperous. Having this as part of your work ethic is key. However, my career in the DOJ/Federal Prison system has made me rough around the edges. To this day, I work on being less blunt. I hear from clients that they appreciate the honesty despite my sometimes rough delivery.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.cameronlpc.com
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/firststepact
- Linkedin: www.linked.com/in/cameronlpc
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@FirstStepActBOP
- Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/federalcrimeconsultant
- Other: www.federalprisonauthority.com. www.conciergecoach.net
Image Credits
Fox 4 Dallas