4 Ways To Be In Private Practice as a Clinician | TPOT 183
The Practice of Therapy Podcast with Gordon Brewer
Release Date: 06/21/2021
Private Practice Stress: What’s Filling Your Bucket? | Kristin Oja | TPOT 440
The Practice of Therapy Podcast with Gordon Brewer
Are you burning out in private practice without realizing it? In this episode of The Practice of Therapy Podcast, Gordon talks with Kristin Oja, DNP, founder of STAT Wellness, about optimizing stress resilience and preventing burnout. Kristin shares a functional medicine perspective on why burnout is not always caused by work alone. Often, it is the buildup of stressors outside of work, including sleep, caffeine, exercise, relationships, technology, self-talk, and lack of recovery. Kristin explains the idea of the “stress bucket” and how even good things, like exercise, intermittent...
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How AI Search Is Changing Private Practice Marketing | Natalie Moore | TPOT 439
The Practice of Therapy Podcast with Gordon Brewer
Is SEO dead, or is it just changing? In this episode, I’m joined again by Natalie Moore, a licensed marriage and family therapist and SEO coach for therapists in private practice. Natalie breaks down the difference between SEO and AIO, or artificial intelligence optimization, and explains why therapists don’t need to panic about AI search replacing traditional SEO. We talk about how private practice owners can make their websites easier to find on Google, ChatGPT, Perplexity, and other AI search tools. Natalie shares why specialty pages, Google Business Profiles, clear niche messaging, and...
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How to Protect Your Private Practice From the Unexpected | Jeanine Rousso | TPOT 438
The Practice of Therapy Podcast with Gordon Brewer
What happens when the therapist is the one who needs support? In this episode, I’m talking about the very real challenges therapists face when life disrupts their ability to work. Private practice can offer freedom and flexibility, but it can also leave clinicians vulnerable when illness, grief, natural disasters, burnout, or unexpected emergencies come up. We’ll look at why therapists need a safety net, how financial stress impacts clinicians, and what it means to prepare your practice for the unexpected. From emergency grants and burnout prevention to referral networks and professional...
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Building a Private Practice Right Out of Grad School | Jarrod Hoffman | TPOT 437
The Practice of Therapy Podcast with Gordon Brewer
Can you really build a successful private practice right out of grad school? In this episode of The Practice of Therapy Podcast, I talk with Jarrod Hoffman about building a private practice right out of grad school and the lessons he has learned in those early years of practice ownership. Jarrod shares his experience of stepping into private practice, navigating pricing, working through imposter syndrome, and learning how to communicate the value of the work he does. We also talk about why niching matters, how our own stories often shape the clients we feel called to serve, and why private...
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What I’d Do Differently If I Started Private Practice Today | TPOT 436
The Practice of Therapy Podcast with Gordon Brewer
When I started my private practice nearly 20 years ago, there were not nearly as many resources available for therapists as there are today. I learned a lot by trial and error, and looking back, there are definitely some things I would do differently. In this episode, I’m sharing what I wish I had known when I first started private practice. One of the biggest lessons I learned is that I made things more complicated than they needed to be. From keeping paper records to waiting too long to outsource, I can see now how simpler systems would have made a big difference early on. I talk about the...
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From Imposter Syndrome to Confident Private Practice Owner | Bianca Hughes | TPOT 435
The Practice of Therapy Podcast with Gordon Brewer
Are you charging enough in private practice, or does guilt keep getting in the way? In this episode, Gordon is joined by Bianca Hughes, LPC, therapist, speaker, mentor, and founder of Authentically BU and the Soulful Clinician Collective. Bianca shares how she moved from hospital work into private practice and the mindset shifts that helped her build a career that feels aligned, sustainable, and authentic. Gordon and Bianca talk about money mindset, imposter syndrome, marketing, confidence, and why therapists need to see themselves as both clinicians and business owners. Bianca also shares why...
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How to Make Therapy More Culturally Responsive | Dr. Phebe Brako | TPOT 434
The Practice of Therapy Podcast with Gordon Brewer
In this episode, I’m joined by Dr. Phebe Brako for a really thoughtful conversation about what it means to make therapy more culturally responsive. So many of the clinical theories we learn were developed through a Western lens, and while those theories can be helpful, they don’t always fit every client, every family system, or every cultural background. Dr. Phebe talks about why therapists need to examine their own worldview, stay curious about their clients’ lived experiences, and be willing to adapt the models they use in the therapy room. We talk about culture, family systems, CBT,...
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Why Private Practice Looks So Different Now | Lex E Santí | TPOT 433
The Practice of Therapy Podcast with Gordon Brewer
Private practice has changed a LOT over the last few years… and therapists are still trying to figure out what comes next. In this episode, Gordon talks with Lex E. Santi about the evolution of therapy after telehealth, online platforms, insurance shifts, and changing client expectations. They dive into why more clinicians are entering private practice, why clients still crave in-person connection, and how companies like BetterHelp, Alma, and Headway are reshaping the profession. They also explore the pressure therapists feel to market themselves, build niches, and create an online presence...
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What to Say to Someone Grieving (Most People Get This Wrong) | Shelby Forsythia | TPOT 432
The Practice of Therapy Podcast with Gordon Brewer
Grief is something every one of us will face at some point, and yet most of us have no idea what to say when someone is hurting. In this episode, I’m joined by Shelby Forsythia, a grief coach, author, and host of the Grief Grower podcast. Shelby shares her own story of profound loss and how it shaped the work she does today, helping people navigate grief in a way that actually honors what they are going through. We talk about why so many common phrases miss the mark, what grieving people are really experiencing beneath the surface, and how grief doesn’t just affect your emotions, it...
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What It Really Takes to Run a Profitable Private Practice | Brandy Mabra | TPOT 431
The Practice of Therapy Podcast with Gordon Brewer
Thinking about starting a private practice in 2026? There’s a lot to consider… and it’s not as simple as it used to be. In this episode of The Practice of Therapy Podcast, I’m joined by Brandy Mabra, who brings nearly two decades of experience across private practice, corporate healthcare, and entrepreneurship. We dig into what’s really happening in the industry right now—from AI and changing business models to profitability and long-term sustainability. If you’re wondering whether now is the right time to start (or grow) a practice, this conversation will help you think more...
info_outlineIs the traditional private practice a good fit for you? This episode is all about the different ways you can be in private practice and why it may or may not be suitable. First, Gordon explains what type of clinician would excel at private practice and how it can be a great challenge for most people. Then, Gordon dives into the four different ways to be in private practice as a clinician. Tune in for tips and tricks on how to start, grow, and expand your practice.
Is Private Practice Right For You?
Private practice isn't necessarily for everyone. It takes a certain kind of person to be in private practice. The number one reason people want to go into private practice is because of the autonomy that it gives them. Being your own boss and just working for yourself is appealing because it gives you a lot of flexibility in your time. However, it's not for everyone. Many people want to work for someone else because they get benefits, they're an employee, their income is predictable, and they may have a retirement plan and health insurance already ready to go.
People that are in private practice need to have an entrepreneurial spirit about them. Private practice owners need to like the challenge of entrepreneurship. However, many people do not like the challenge and the risk that is involved with private practice. If you are interested in private practice but you're not interested in growing something big, then you don't have to. You can have a very successful private practice as a solo practitioner. Since Covid, it's possible to build just completely online practice. That's one model of private practice.
Get the FREE PDF download- 4 Ways To Be In Private Practice. This will help you compare the 4 different models.
Working As An Independent Contractor
Another model of private practice is putting yourself out there as an independent contractor. One way you can do this is through popular online platforms like BetterHelp, Talkspace, etc. When you sign up to be a therapist on platforms like these, you are signing up as an independent contractor. They will provide you with a platform, and they will provide you with clients. For some people, that might be very appealing. Even if you are an independent contractor, you are still self-employed. This is one thing that many people will get in trouble with because you still have to pay your self-employment taxes.
Find An Accountant And An Attorney
For people who are still going the full contractor route, form a separate entity for yourself like an LLC. Talk to an accountant and an attorney about your options. That way, you will have more protection. If you're contracting yourself out, you're just contracting out your LLC. There are different ways you can be taxed as an LLC, so it will be critical to get an accountant's opinion. Depending on how much you are making is how you should set up your entity.
Growing A Group Practice
Another thing you should think about is going into a group practice. Maybe you're already a solo practice. If you love the entrepreneurial sides of things, leading people, the excitement of growing a company, and bringing on more and more people, then start a group practice. Whether you are thinking about a part-time contractor or bringing on full-time employees, there are some factors that help you know when the situation and timing are right. Check out the Solo to Group Practice: Adding More Therapists to Grow Your Time & Income Webinar to learn more about growing group practice.
Being transparent… Some of the resources below use affiliate links which simply means we receive a commission if you purchase using the links, at no extra cost to you. Thanks for using the links!
Resources
Use the promo code "GORDON" to get 2 months of Therapy Notes free.
Ethical Business Practice for Psychotherapists (1 CE hour)
Using Google Workspace in Private Practice Webinar
Solo to Group Practice: Adding More Therapists to Grow Your Time & Income
Money Matters In Private Practice | The Course
Get your FREE Financial Analysis Guide...
Google Workspace for Therapists | The E-Course
Purchase The Full Focus Planner™
Join my Focus Groups
Session Note Helper 3.0
Join the Google Workspace for Therapists Users Group
Cool Resources
Follow @PracticeofTherapy on Instagram
Meet Gordon Brewer, MEd, LMFT
Gordon is the person behind The Practice of Therapy Podcast & Blog. He is also President and Founder of Kingsport Counseling Associates, PLLC. He is a therapist, consultant, business mentor, trainer, and writer. PLEASE Subscribe to The Practice of Therapy Podcast wherever you listen to it. Follow us on Twitter @therapistlearn, and Pinterest, “Like” us on Facebook.