Takeaway: Starting a private therapy practice can be empowering–and also completely overwhelming. If you’re not sure where to start, our checklist can walk you through the entire process of how to start private practice so you can do so with confidence.
Many therapists dream of opening their own practice one day. The financial freedom, ability to choose your own schedule, and opportunities to connect with your ideal clients are desirable to many clinicians.
With that being said, starting a private practice can also feel intimidating. Most therapists were not provided any training or education around entrepreneurship, so the thought of opening your own business can be daunting.
While it’s completely understandable to feel this way, it is possible to create the thriving private practice you dream of. In this post, we provide step-by-step instructions for how to start a counseling private practice to help you get up and running.
Opening a private practice: pros & cons
If you’ve just begun to entertain the thought of opening a private practice, you’ve come to the right place. There are many different factors to consider when making the decision of whether to start a private practice.
Each therapist has different personal, financial, and professional goals, so only you can decide if opening your own private practice is right for you. Something that might be a benefit for one clinician could actually be a drawback for another.
Becoming a small business owner is a big deal. Considering all the potential pros and cons of starting your own counseling practice will help you feel confident in making the decision that’s right for you.
Potential benefits of starting a private practice in counseling
There are tons of benefits to opening a private practice-that’s why so many clinicians do it! Being your own boss comes with unique freedoms: being able to set your own hours, choosing which clients you see (and how many clients you take on), and setting your own rates. You can customize your practice to meet your needs, and that of your ideal clients.
Many therapists become frustrated with the restrictions and impositions of working at an agency. As you know, working for someone else means that other people make decisions for you.
This can make it harder to do your job effectively and can take a toll on your mental health-even leading to burnout over time. When you’re more in control of your job, you can make decisions that align with your values-both professional and personal.
Potential challenges of starting a private therapy practice
On the other hand, more control also means more responsibility. As your own boss, your entire practice rests on your shoulders and yours alone. You’re in charge of all the marketing efforts and administrative efforts, in addition to the clinical work.
Of course, you always have the option of hiring a virtual assistant or a billing service to offload some of the logistics. That does come at a financial cost, however-on top of the other expenses you have as an entrepreneur like rent for your office space, paying for an electronic health record, and more.
Keep in mind that these financial responsibilities can be offset by the rates you set. As an entrepreneur, you’re fully in control of your business plan. While that can be a little daunting at first, it can also be empowering when used to your advantage.
Step-by-step guide for how to start a private practice
Decided that private practice is for you? Congratulations! Making that decision is step one in the process of making your practice come to life, so check that off your list. As for the rest, we’ve provided a step-by-step guide to help you make your dream practice a reality. Here’s everything you need to know about how to open a private practice.
Making a business plan
Creating a thoughtful, intentional business plan is key to cultivating a successful private practice. Essentially, your business plan is both a roadmap and vision board for your practice. It should include important logistical information (think: name, location, clientele), as well as ideas and values (like your mission statement).
There’s no right or wrong way to make a business plan, but there are some important things to include. We’ll touch on the main ones here, but you can also use the templates on the Small Business Administration website to help you get started.
You’ll use your business plan to make the rest of your business decisions moving forward, so don’t skip this step!
Identify your ideal client
As you may have experienced firsthand, working for an agency means that you have little autonomy over your caseload. While this provides helpful experience, it might not support your long-term professional satisfaction (or even help clients as effectively as you may hope).
If you could see anyone you want, what age range do you want to work with? Is there a specific demographic you connect best with? Are there certain issues you feel confident supporting people with? Honing in on your ideal client can help give you a clear direction for the direction of your private practice, as well as how to market it.
Online therapy practice vs. in person practice
Now that you have honed the type of client you want to work with, you must also decide how and where you want to conduct your sessions. Would a traditional office setting or virtual therapy work best both for you and your clients? You also have the option of creating a hybrid model.
No matter which you choose, you’ll need to determine where you’re running your business. If you want to meet clients in person, you’ll need to decide on your office location and find office space in the area. If you’re providing online therapy, you’ll need to determine which part of your home will work best for your office.
Creating your business
After reflecting on the bread and butter of your private practice, it’s time to move into logistics. It’s not the most fun part, but it’s an essential part of creating a functional (and legal) business.
Name your business
You’ll need to register your business, and you need a business name in order to do so. Many private practitioners incorporate their own name into that of their business (think: John Doe Counseling).
However, you can also get totally creative with the title. Think about what resonates with you, as well as what could speak to the clients you want to attract. You can make sure that your business name is available by searching your state registry.
Look into state laws
In addition to checking out your state’s registry of business names, you’ll also need to look into local laws around registering your business itself. Different states have different laws around business structures and tax filing, so it’s important to be aware of the rules in your state. Consulting with a local lawyer can help.
By registering your business, you’ll also get an employee identification number (EIN). This is the number that the IRS associates with your business, much like how your social security number is associated with you as an individual.
Get insured
Having the proper insurance helps protect private counseling practices, as well as private practitioners themselves. Professional liability insurance and general liability insurance are both essentials for starting a private practice.
You can get coverage through a local or national insurance company. You may also be able to get coverage through professional organizations. For example, the National Association of Social Workers (NASW) provides insurance to clinical social workers.
Financial considerations
On top of logistics, there are also several financial considerations to starting private practice. Setting up solid money management systems ahead of time can help you stay organized as your practice grows.
Create a business bank account
Making a business bank account will help keep your personal expenses separate from the business side of your finances, which will make things easier when it’s time to pay taxes. Make sure to have your business income deposited into this account, and use it when you buy office supplies or pay rent on your office space.
Find a system to manage your business expenses
While it’s easy to just swipe your card whenever you have a business expense, it’s helpful to stay on top of your finances. Plus, being aware of your income and expenses can help you see where adjustments need to be made in order to reach your financial goals.
There are many different ways of managing your books. Our team at Wellness Fi offers bookkeeping solutions for the modern mental health professional. Together, we can support your financial wellness.
Set your rates
You may have already considered your rates during your planning process. However, now that your business is nearly up and running, it’s time to decide exactly what your rates will be. Choose a rate that offsets your expenses and takes your financial well being into consideration. Check out this private practice fee calculator if you need help.
This is also the time to decide whether you want to panel with insurance providers or stick to private pay. You will need to get a National Provider Identifier (NPI) number to join insurance panels. Some private practices accept insurance and self pay clients, so the decision is entirely up to you.
Business considerations
You’ve handled all the behind the scenes work-now it’s time to start thinking about your day-to-day as a private practice therapist. This means deciding your schedule, setting up systems to support your clinical work, and getting your name out there to attract new clients. You’ll be in full swing before you know it!
Choose your electronic health record system
Every therapist needs a record keeping system for their counseling practice. A robust practice management software can help you manage your caseload, send intake paperwork to new clients, send insurance claims (if you’re accepting insurance), send appointment reminders, manage treatment plans, and more.
Simple Practice, TherapyNotes, and TheraNest are a few popular choices, but there are a ton of different options. Find the one that works best for you.
Set working hours
Private practitioners have full reign over their own schedule, which can be both a blessing and a curse. On one hand, setting your own schedule gives you freedom, but it can also be more difficult to maintain boundaries around your time.
It might take time to figure out a schedule that feels good. You’ll want to think about the scheduling needs of potential clients, but it’s also important to prioritize your own mental health when making decisions around your availability.
Marketing yourself
It’s finally time to start connecting with prospective clients! There are many different ways to market yourself, including having your own website.When building your website, search engine optimization (SEO) is a great way to help you reach more clients.
Directories, professional organizations, local medical providers, and even social media are other useful referral sources as well.
Our team can help you stay on track with your financial goals as a private practice owner
Starting a private practice in counseling is a big step, and we’re here to help. While you focus on the clinical side of your business, we can help you manage your finances and grow the business of your dreams. Reach out today for a free consultation.