Libsyn Directory

Accepting Insurance and Third-Party Payors In Your Private Practice | TPOT 204

The Practice of Therapy Podcast with Gordon Brewer

Release Date: 11/15/2021

Kristin Meador | Building a Profitable Private Practice | TPOT 399

The Practice of Therapy Podcast with Gordon Brewer

Running a private practice is rewarding, but the financial side can feel overwhelming. That is why I am excited to have Kristin Meador, CPA on the show today. Kristin is not only a Certified Public Accountant but also a Profit First Professional who works closely with therapy practice owners across the country. She is here to take the stress out of your numbers and show you how to build a more profitable and sustainable practice. In this episode, you will learn: How to simplify your bookkeeping and actually use your numbers to make decisions Why Profit First works so well for private practice...

Caitlin Rose | New Understandings in Neuroscience For Treating Trauma In Your Practice | TPOT 398

The Practice of Therapy Podcast with Gordon Brewer

Have you ever tried to calm yourself down during a panic attack - only to find that the very tools you’ve been taught suddenly don’t work? That was the turning point for Caitlin Rose, a performance neuroscience coach and founder of Build Resilience. Her own struggle with trauma and anxiety led her to uncover a hidden truth: it’s not just about regulation, it’s about capacity. In this episode of The Practice of Therapy Podcast, Caitlin shares how understanding the difference between nervous system regulation and capacity can transform the way therapists support clients - and the way we...

Aaron Price | Getting The Most From Your Psychology Today Profile | TPOT 397

The Practice of Therapy Podcast with Gordon Brewer

What if the key to filling your private practice isn’t more credentials, certifications, or complicated marketing strategies— but a few simple tweaks to your Psychology Today profile? In this episode of the Practice of Therapy Podcast, Gordon sits down with Aaron Price, founder of , to uncover the hidden power of Psychology Today. With nearly 60% of therapy seekers finding their clinician through this platform, your profile could be the single biggest factor in whether your phone rings—or stays silent. Aaron shares exactly what makes a profile stand out, the common mistakes most...

Dr. Stephanie Thrower | Why Every Private Practice Needs an AI Strategy (Yes, Even Yours) | TPOT 396

The Practice of Therapy Podcast with Gordon Brewer

Have you been wondering how AI fits into the world of therapy and private practice? In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Stephanie Thrower—a psychologist, career coach, and AI educator—who’s using tech to help therapists expand their impact, streamline their work, and step into new possibilities beyond one-on-one sessions. We’re talking practical tools, smart marketing strategies, and how to use AI without losing your voice (or your sanity). Whether you’re just getting curious or already experimenting with AI, you’re going to walk away inspired and equipped. In this episode,...

Linzy Bonham | Private Practice Shame Around Money | TPOT 395

The Practice of Therapy Podcast with Gordon Brewer

Most of us didn’t get into therapy because we dreamed of being business owners. We wanted to help people. We wanted to do meaningful work. But somewhere along the way, we realized that to have the freedom and flexibility we crave, we’d need to go into private practice —and that meant running a business. Which meant dealing with money. Enter: panic. Linzy Bonham, a former trauma therapist turned financial coach and educator, knows this all too well. When she started her own practice, she quickly noticed that no one was talking about how to manage the financial side of things. There was no...

Rachel Bentley | Why Your Inner Critic Might Be Running Your Private Practice | TPOT 394

The Practice of Therapy Podcast with Gordon Brewer

When it comes to leading a private practice, most people focus on strategy, logistics, and profitability. But what if the secret to becoming a better therapist, leader, and human being isn’t outside of you, but inside? In this episode, Gordon Brewer sat down with Rachel Bentley of Next Level Private Practice to explore how Internal Family Systems (IFS)—or "parts work"—has completely transformed the way she leads, supervises, and shows up in the therapy room. Spoiler: it’s not just about helping your clients—it starts with understanding yourself. Resources Mentioned In This...

Dr. Tiana Kelly | Compliance Anxiety: Systems That Strengthen Your Private Practice | TPOT 393

The Practice of Therapy Podcast with Gordon Brewer

Think compliance is just about HIPAA? Think again. In this episode, Gordon sits down with Dr. Tiana Kelly—licensed professional counselor, compliance expert, and co-founder of Private Practice by Design—to unpack what compliance really looks like in a modern private practice. From late notes and misgendering mistakes to the growing use of AI and how to document for maintenance clients, Tiana breaks it all down in a refreshingly honest and approachable way. Whether you're a new therapist still figuring out documentation or a seasoned practice owner ready to level up your systems, this...

Tara Vossenkemper | The Culture Code for Group Practice | TPOT 392

The Practice of Therapy Podcast with Gordon Brewer

Ready to Build a Private Practice People Actually Want to Work In? If you've ever wondered what it really takes to build a group practice with heart, soul, and systems that don’t make your team want to scream into a pillow, this episode is for you. Gordon sits down with the brilliant (and refreshingly honest) Tara Vossenkemper, founder, leadership nerd, and culture whisperer, to talk about the magic behind creating a practice culture where therapists actually feel seen, supported, and inspired. They’re diving into everything from core values that aren’t just fluff, to EOS (aka the...

Marissa Wells | Private Practice Meets Caregiving | TPOT 391

The Practice of Therapy Podcast with Gordon Brewer

Ever feel like you're stuck between a full caseload and a full calendar of doctor’s appointments - for your parents? You're not alone. In this episode of The Practice of Therapy Podcast, Marissa Wells joins Gordon to talk about what it really looks like to juggle private practice while caring for aging family members. She’s not here to preach “perfect balance”—because let’s face it, that doesn’t exist. Instead, Marissa shares her wisdom on finding harmony, navigating proactive grief, setting real boundaries, and reconnecting with joy in the midst of it all. Whether...

Andrea Rotondo | Private Practice Finances Don’t Have to Suck | TPOT 390

The Practice of Therapy Podcast with Gordon Brewer

Ever feel like you're crushing it in session but completely lost when it comes to your practice’s finances? You’re not alone—and you're definitely not broken. In this episode of The Practice of Therapy, Andrea Rotondo is here to pull back the curtain on the real reason so many therapists avoid their numbers (spoiler: it’s not laziness), and how to stop letting fear and overwhelm run the show. If QuickBooks makes you want to cry, if you’ve ever Googled “what is a P&L?” at midnight, or if you just want to feel a little more confident talking to your accountant, this...

More Episodes

In this episode, I talk about some of the myths and misperceptions people have about being on insurance panels. I delve into this topic and let you know what I've learned about it from my insurance-based practice. First, I speak about the stigma around accepting insurance in private practice. If you accept insurance, you are just as valid and can be just as successful as private practice owners who are cash-based. Tune in as talk about the pros and cons of insurance panels, why I chose to be insurance-based, and where to start when you decide to accept insurance.

The Stigma Around Accepting Insurance In Private Practice

Many people are curious about accepting insurance and if they should or not. There is no correct answer. If you start to delve into your mindset and think about it all, it might just be something that you should consider doing. When you look at all that is out there, there are so many great resources around building a private practice. It seems like most people are encouraging cash-pay. There seems to be a little bit of a stigma against having an insurance-based practice. Many people say that you don't want to be controlled by insurance companies. If therapists don't have a cash-based practice, they're second-class citizens for being an insurance-based practice. I don't agree with that at all! In fact, my success comes from being insurance-based.

The Pros and Cons of Being An Insurance-Based Practice

There are a lot of pros and cons to being on insurance panels. Certainly, one of the cons of being insurance-based is that you've got to have more systems and processes in place. You've got to do more work on the front end to get prepared for insurance. You need specific systems when you start accepting third-party payors and being reimbursed by insurance companies for your services. The biggest con is that there is some work on the front end of being insurance-based.

The pros for being insurance-based are that you've got a built-in referral source by being on insurance panels. I would say at least half the people that we find are from their insurance. In other words, they checked with their insurance provider first to see who would accept their insurance in the area. When making an appointment with us, people ask, how much does it cost? Plus, they ask if we accept insurance. That's why I wanted to be an insurance-based practice. People depend on their insurance, and I want to help those people.

Ready To Accept Insurance? What To Do First

Where do you start? Research your area to find out which are which insurance panels are the most prevalent. In my area, most people have Blue Cross Blue Shield health insurance. Another thing to research is looking at significant employers in the area. Then, check which insurance those companies use. Next, use that data to decide which insurance companies you want to be paneled with. Another thing to note is that when an insurance company offers you a contract, that's negotiable! Make sure to negotiate what rate you will accept.

Systems and Processes Around Filing Insurance Claims

Figure out your systems and your processes around filing insurance claims. If you're on insurance panels, you need a traditional way to send claims off. The best way I know to do that is through an electronic health record system. TherapyNotes helps my practice with this. It's a few clicks of a button to get your insurance claims sent to the insurance companies to be reimbursed. For the most part, insurance companies have a pretty quick turnaround for electronic health claim submissions. Within a week of sending off the claim, we are getting paid. There's a myth that you have to wait a long time to get paid from insurance companies – that's not true! So, make sure you have a way to submit claims and make it as automated as possible.

Cash-Based and Insurance-Based Private Practices

If you're not ready to be entirely reliant on insurance, there's a hybrid option! You can have a mix of cash-paying clients and clients that use insurance. Give people a choice on whether or not they want to pay for therapy through a third-party payor. Remember to set your full fee at a reasonable place; your fee needs to be your FULL fee. The insurance company will pay you what they pay you. Then, you write off the difference between the full fee and the contract rate. If they choose not to use insurance, you can offer a sliding scale based on family income. We don't go and check their income; instead, we go on the honor system. Ensure that the lowest rate on your sliding scale fee schedule is in the ballpark of your average reimbursement rate from insurance companies. If you want more tips about deciding to panel with 3rd-party payors, check out this FREE webinar coming up: https://practiceoftherapy.com/insurancepractice.

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