6 Reasons Why Therapists Choose to Fly Solo in Private Practice

For many therapists, starting a private practice is an attractive career move. With the right amount of hard work and planning, opening a private practice can be a lucrative and rewarding experience that provides greater flexibility and independence than working in an established agency or clinic.

I know this was the case for me. In two week after diving full time into my private practice, I was able to see half the clients for nearly double the income that I was making in my hospital based agency job. My only regret was not starting sooner.

Though my dreams came true when I opened my practice, business ownership might not be for everyone. There is work involved outside of seeing clients, such as billing, marketing, accounting, and of course networking.

If you plan on diving into the world of self employment, it is important to understand your personal why for opening your own private practice so you can be sure sure it is the right choice for you. This article will explore 6 common reasons why therapists choose to open up a private practice of their own as well as questions to ask yourself to explore your “why.”

Freedom to Create Own Treatment Plan

When I was working at my agency jobs, often times I didn’t have control of who I worked with or even what we worked on. As a part of a team, I would be “suggested” various issues to address in order for the client to receive optimal results in their interdisciplinary care.

When it comes to starting a private practice, one of the biggest reasons that therapists decide to take this step is the freedom it provides. The ability to create their own treatment plans and have control over how they work (or don’t work) with clients is incredibly appealing for many therapists. This level of autonomy can be difficult to achieve in other work settings, such as clinics or hospitals.

In a private practice setting, therapists are able to personalize their approach and tailor treatment based on individual client needs. In a private setting, you can potentially spend more time with each patient, and develop personalized treatment plans based on their unique circumstances.

SIDE NOTE: if you are billing insurance there will be some restrictions on time, and for every clinician they should be using evidence based practices. And if they are not to be sure to get strong informed consent from the client.

Moreover, as the sole decision-maker in your business, you have the freedom to integrate innovative therapies and techniques into your practice as well as collaborate with other specialists in related fields.

Therapists in private practice (who are out-of-network providers) are not limited by rigid protocols or insurance requirements and can choose which therapeutic modalities they want to use. This allows you to prioritize your clients’ needs without being restricted by external factors such as workplace policies or management decisions. This level of flexibility allows practitioners the opportunity to provide the best possible care for each client that they see.

Ability to Set Fees and Hours

Starting a private practice can be an intimidating process, but it also comes with the freedom to set your own fees and hours which is essential for creating a lifestyle centered around YOUR PERSONAL NEEDS AND VALUES. For many therapists, this is an appealing reason to take the leap into entrepreneurship. By setting their own rates and working schedules, they gain control over their income and work-life balance.

I know for myself that living off of a $27/hr salary 40+hours a week was unsustainable for the life I wanted to live with my family. My choices were negotiate a hire salary or leave. Ultimately I chose to leave once I did the math and learned how I could work less while making more AND have energy to participate in my hobbies after work.

One of the major benefits of setting your own fees as a private practice owner is that you can determine what your time is worth. When working for someone else or in a group practice, you may not have control over how much you earn per session. However, by starting your own business, you have the ability to set rates that align with your level of expertise and value as a therapist. This flexibility allows you the opportunity to maximize your skillsets in a way that not only helps clients but can provide financial security.

In addition to setting fees, having control over your schedule is another appealing aspect of starting a private practice. By tailoring your schedule to fit your needs, you can prioritize what is most important to you in life outside of the therapy room.

Have young kids and want to be home with them? Set your hours around their school schedule?Want to be able to travel more frequently? Set up your practice to include telehealth so you can continue to provide care as you travel.

Setting your own schedule and picking your caseload number additionally allows therapist to manage burnout and maintaining self-care. Not only is this good clinical practice and essential for providing quality care to clients, but it is necessary for our own physical and mental health. For more information on burnout and compassion fatigue, read “I Thought I Could Handle It”: How Therapists Manage Their Own Mental Health

Potential for Increased Income

Starting a private practice can be a lucrative decision for therapists looking to increase their income potential. One of the main reasons that therapists decide to start their own private practice is because it allows them to set their own rates and control their earnings. With a successful practice, therapists have the ability to earn significantly more than they would in traditional employment settings.

Another reason why starting a private practice can lead to increased income potential is due to the ability to offer additional services beyond individual therapy sessions. Many practices offer group therapy, workshops, and other specialty services that can bring in additional revenue streams. Additionally, owning a private practice means having more control over expenses, such as rent and equipment costs, which can further increase profitability. Looking for ideas on how to diversity your income, check out my course entitled: Diversify Your Income With Content Marketing.

Looking for other ways to build wealth in mental health? Read 5 Wealthy Secrets of Therapists Uncovered

More Control Over Clientele

Starting a private practice is a big decision for any therapist. While it may seem daunting at first, there are many benefits to going solo. One of the biggest advantages for therapists starting their own private practice is having more control over their clientele.

Do you excel at helping a specific age group such as kids or teens? Niche down!

Want to work only with couples? Or do EMDR exclusively? Market directly to your people.

In a traditional agency or group practice setting, clients are often assigned based on availability and need rather than compatibility with the therapist’s style or approach. However, in a solo private practice, therapists have complete control over who they work with and can choose clients that align with their values and therapeutic methods.

By handpicking clients, therapists can ensure that they are providing high-quality care to individuals who will benefit the most from their expertise. This specialization allows them to build stronger relationships with each client and tailor treatment plans specific to their needs.

Things to consider when picking your ideal client population:

• What are your skillsets as a therapist?
• Where is there a need for service?
• Who do you enjoy working with?

Professional Satisfaction & Autonomy

Starting a private practice may seem like a daunting task, but for many therapists, it is the ultimate goal. Among the reasons why therapists decide to start their own private practice are professional satisfaction and autonomy. These two factors play significant roles in determining whether clinicians will remain employed by others or take the bold step of going solo.

Professional satisfaction is one of the most critical drivers that motivate therapists to start their own practices. When you work for someone else, there are often limits on how much creativity and innovation you can bring into your work. Starting your private practice allows you to have full control of how you deliver care to your clients. As a result, many clinicians find that they can better tailor their services and develop deep connections with clients when they run their clinics.

Autonomy is another reason why many practitioners opt to establish a private practice. With more autonomy comes increased job satisfaction and fulfillment as therapists see positive changes in their clients’ lives due to personalized care. Autonomy allows you to create a schedule that works for you. This can be determined by case load, days worked or even number of vacation days.

Increased Patient Confidentiality

Starting a private practice is a big decision for any therapist. There are many factors to consider, including increased patient confidentiality. In recent years, privacy concerns have become more pressing for therapists who work in group practices or within larger healthcare organizations.

When I worked at a hospital, the electronic medical record was universal to all treatment team members in the department. This was great for interdisciplinary care, but not ideal for psychotherapy therefore I paid a keen eye to documentation knowing that others would be reading these notes. [Worried about your documentation? Click here for help and templates.]

One reason why patient confidentiality is so important to therapists is because it helps build trust between them and their patients. When patients know that their information is being kept confidential, they are more likely to open up and share personal details about their lives. This allows the therapist to provide better care by understanding the root causes of the patient’s problems and developing more effective treatment strategies.

By starting their own private practices, therapists can ensure that they have full control over the confidentiality of their patients’ information.

Finding YOUR why

At the end of the day, knowing why YOU want to start a private practice is going to be the fuel that keeps your fire going during the entrepreneurial rollercoaster (great book by the way: The Entrepreneurial Rollercoaster by Darren Hardy). The perks are great such as free time, higher pay, and autonomy in your caseload. But the lows can be tough too: slow seasons, finding clients, start up fees. Knowing your “why” is going to be the ultimate motivator. Here are some things to ask yourself when finding your why:

• What does your dream life look like? Be as detailed as possible. Include aspects of both your personal and professional life. Consider your relationships, hobbies, spirituality, needs, etc.
• How do you define success?
• What are you willing to give up to have this dream life and success?
• How will opening a private practice help you to achieve your dream life and success?

Other things to consider before opening a private practice?

• What do you want to achieve professionally?
• Who Are Your Customers?
• How Will You Differentiate Yourself?
• What Resources Do You Have Access To?
• What Challenges Will You Face?
• What Support Systems Do You Have in Place?

Conclusion

In conclusion, starting a private practice is an exciting venture for any therapist. It allows therapists to have greater autonomy and control over the services they offer, their fees, and the types of clients they serve. Private practice also allows therapists to develop a closer relationship with their clients and to better tailor their treatments to individuals’ needs. It also offers more flexibility when it comes to juggling personal and professional commitments.

If you are overwhelmed with the idea of starting your practice and have more questions then answers, check out my digital course on how to start a private practice all things private practice. Click here for more details.