The Private Practice Colloquium began in Salem, MA in the mid-1980s as a response to the isolation of private practice and the growing concern regarding the effects of managed care on mental health services. PPC initially started from a peer supervision group but grew to include other clinicians in private practice in the nearby areas. Monthly meetings were held and as the numbers grew, area clinicians were brought in to speak and meetings began to be held in more public community venues. This continued for many years and membership grew by word of mouth. As with many things, the advent of the digital world and list serves resulted in the very large growth of PPC and the shift occurred that clinicians became members also for the virtual connection and sharing of information on-line. PPC continued to offer monthly meetings and held their first CE meeting in October of 2009. At that time, PPC had 100 members. Application was made for incorporation in 2011 and PPC became PPC, Inc. This required creation of a Board of Directors and a more formal manner of operation in many ways. Shortly thereafter, application was made and granted for 501C 3 status as a non-profit, charitable organization. Discussion began on funding and creating a website in 2014 and it was launched in September 2016. This coincided with the hiring of the first employee as the Executive Director. Presently, PPC has over 550 members who work throughout Massachusetts and other states as well.
As members of the PPC, we gather online and in person to assist each other in case consultation, networking, sharing referrals, finding resources and in obtaining professional development. In general, we support and celebrate each other’s challenges and accomplishments. Our extensive searchable database of members is available to other health care organizations and allows them to quickly find a match for the client they wish to refer. Our CE training opportunities are kept affordable for members, but also are now offered to non-members at a reasonable rate. With over 550 dedicated members, we have the largest private clinician community in the Greater Boston area and our regional foot print is growing.