During my psychology training, one of my professors announced to the class it was unlikely that any one of us would be able to have a private practice in psychology.  This was a crushing message to us bright second year undergraduate students.  Unfortunately, that negative tone has continued throughout academia.  I am saddened to hear that a local professor of doctoral candidates is still making that claim to graduate school students.  Private practice isn’t impossible. It is a very realistic goal and dream.  There is hope.  When you are licensed to provide psychotherapy independently, you can start thinking about your own practice.

It is helpful to have support during the process of starting this venture.  Family and friends may provide various levels of enthusiasm and helpfulness.  Getting a coach or a mentor can provide ideas that are new to us.  One helpful resource is the US Small Business Association (SBA) which provides a connection with SCORE, “the nation’s largest network of volunteer, expert business mentors, is dedicated to helping small businesses plan, launch, manage and grow.” My first mentor through the SBA was a retired dentist.  He had built a large dental office with several providers at several locations.  Psychotherapists and dentists have more in common than I’d realized from a structural perspective.  Dentists manage insurance contracts, need to be credentialed, have EHR, similar scheduling systems, and need to identify billing systems.  He talked to me about the financial concepts of revenue models, expenses, and profit. Finding a mentor with administrative experience is helpful in the early stages of planning.

Later in my structural progression, I sought help from another mentor.  Minnesota Women in Psychology (MWP) has a matching liaison who was quick to provide me an advisor.  This group practice owner helped me identify local resources and was always swift to answer questions when setting up a website, applying for insurance contracts, and marketing. Another helpful resource later in the process was a business coach with experience in psychotherapy. She is helpful to maintain an established organization. This person can give guidance in confidence building, encouragement to seek feedback from interested individuals, and assistance to grow through change.

Identifying areas of support are substantial first steps in starting a private psychotherapy practice. Family members, friends, mentors, and coaches can all provide compassionate assistance. Those relationships can bloom throughout a career and sustain us as we encounter obstacles. The Small Business Association and Minnesota Women in Psychology have mentor programs. Additionally, contracting with Grander Peace Counseling is a great steppingstone to a private practice. Click the “Ask Us” link to learn more.

https://www.sba.gov/offices/district/mn/minneapolis

https://www.sba.gov/local-assistance/resource-partners/womens-business-centers

https://www.sba.gov/local-assistance/resource-partners/score-business-mentoring

https://mnwomeninpsychology.org/