Counseling Collective. Solo private practice vs Group Practice
I love people! Why I chose the solo path anyway
Solo practitioner vs Group Practice.
Why I am now excited to provide the choice for others.
When I decided to move into private practice mental health counseling, a world of possibilities opened up. It was liberating to realize I could shape my next career step. I began gathering information and meeting with practicing professionals to gain insights into what my transition to private practice might look like. Through Zoom calls, coffee dates, and lunches, I connected with solo practitioners, group practice owners, and group practice therapists. I even had a few sessions with a therapist who specializes in working with other therapists. My biggest takeaway? Professional therapists genuinely want to help fellow counselors. Everyone I spoke with was kind, helpful, and knowledgeable. My role was to collect this information and make decisions about what was best for me.
Arthur Brooks recently wrote about the factors to consider when seeking new employment opportunities. He stated, “The one (feeling) that should never be absent when you’re considering a job is excitement. Another way of defining this sort of excitement is prospective happiness or joy about having a better future in sight. If you don’t feel that excitement when you hear about an opportunity, your subconscious is telling you something important—that this opportunity is unlikely to provide enjoyment, a sense of accomplishment, and especially meaning.” What about moving to private practice excites me? Which pathway offers the most meaning? How can I capitalize on that excitement and keep it central in my decision-making?
In making my decisions, I considered the following factors. The solo route is not the best fit for everyone; some individuals thrive in group practice settings. The following reflections are true only for MY journey.
Exciting: Serving a client population that best benefits from my skills, experience, and interests. The term “ideal client” is frequently used in our field. For me, it refers to the client population I am excited to work with, where I can provide the most effective support based on my experience. I can confidently say that my current client caseload, although everyone is struggling in some way, brings meaning and purpose to my days. Being a solo practitioner allows me to decide who my clients are.
Less exciting: Having someone else fill my caseload or dictate my schedule. I know friends who thrive on this—they enjoy arriving at work with their schedules already decided. They are excellent clinicians who choose group practices. This does not excite me, and I’m grateful I recognized that early on.
Exciting: Retaining all my client fees and having control over my expenses. I understand I will work hard to make it easy for clients to find me, and I’m committed to providing excellent clinical care. I want to retain as much of my fee as possible.
Less exciting: Sharing a percentage of my client fees with a group practice (35%, 40%, or 50%) regardless of my expenses. If I see 20 clients per week with insurance reimbursement of $110 per session or a self-pay rate of $150 per session, the group practice I contract with would retain $3,520 to $4,800. I believe I can keep my expenses lower than this and save that additional money to spend time with my family without worry. While some group practices offer valuable incentives, they haven't excited me in the way I was looking for.
Exciting: Clients I have built relationships with will be able to see me as long as they wish. Remaining client-centered, I did not want to start in a group practice and then leave for a solo practice if there was any chance solo practice was in my future.
Less exciting: Non-compete agreements. The group practice owners I know, who are friends, do not use non-competes; they retain counselors by providing a supportive environment. While I understand that group practice owners implement non-compete agreements to protect their businesses, the requirement to sign one is a dealbreaker for me. I also never want to feel like I am “taking” someone else’s clients, even without a non-compete.
Exciting: Creating the space I work in and establishing the “brand” I want to project. While some dislike this aspect, I find joy in presenting a calm, clean, professional environment to my clients. If I enjoy spending time here, my clients likely will too. Every time I walk into The Collective, I instinctively take a deep breath and smile. This variety adds excitement to my workday, which also includes marketing, branding, and networking.
Less exciting: Working in a space someone else likes, with limited freedom to present myself as a professional.
Exciting: Fostering a collaborative environment with a great vibe where clinicians can develop their practices. The scariest part of transitioning to private practice was the fear of not having coworkers. I thrive on the energy of passionate people. I wanted to continue working alongside hard-working, dedicated professionals, which is why I opted for enough space to rent to other counselors. Finding suitable rental spaces wasn’t easy, and I was surprised to learn that clean, single-office rentals are hard to come by. I aimed to make that a reality.
Less exciting: Working alone without collaboration in an environment I do not want to spend time in. I wanted to be selective about my workspace.
Through this exploration, I discovered a new passion: helping others navigate their transition to private practice. I’ve found that becoming a solo practitioner is not as complicated as it once seemed, with numerous tools available to assist us. Tasks that once intimidated me (scheduling, paperwork, billing) are manageable with today’s software options. Some individuals still feel daunted by parts of the process, and I love discussing what holds them back from making the leap. I have two office spaces left to rent to other therapists, so there is a self-serving motivation, but above all, I want to work with and learn from great people who are excited about what they do, the populations they serve, and the lives they lead.
Contact me for a chat about your next step.
www.carinocounselingcolletive.com/team
Why You Should Trust Your Gut. Arthur Brooks, The Atlantic. Shared with a temporary gift link.
