So You Want to Start a Private Practice? Here’s the Roadmap (2 of 2)

Beginning your private practice, step-by-step...

A step-by-step guide for therapists ready to go independent.

If the first part of this series was about why private practice can be so fulfilling, this part is about the how.

Starting a private practice sounds intimidating, but step by step, it’s doable. In fact, you don’t need much more than liability insurance, a way to accept payment, and a place (physical or virtual) to meet clients. Everything else builds from there.

1. Get Liability Insurance

The basics: you need professional liability insurance (malpractice coverage). Most clinicians I know use CPH & Associates. It runs about $300/year and even gives you a free Psychology Today profile for the first year (which is one of the most reliable referral pipelines out there). There are lots of options

2. Register with CAQH (Credentialing)

This is the not-so-fun part, but essential if you ever plan to take insurance. CAQH ProView is a free database where insurance companies verify your credentials. You’ll need your degree, license info, insurance certificate, resume, and NPI number. It’s clunky, but once you’re in, you’re in.

It's been 6 years since I started my private practice and I love it.

3. Pick a Practice Management Platform

This is where you’ll chart notes, handle billing, and run telehealth sessions. My favorite is SimplePractice. If you sign up with my link and stick with it for three months, we both get $200 in credit (yes, it helps keep my lights on — thanks in advance).

Other options:

• Headway (link): Free, fast, and handles insurance credentialing and billing for you. Took me about 5 days to get cleared.

• Alma: Another good insurance-focused option.

• TherapyNotes, TheraNest, etc.: Solid alternatives to SimplePractice.

I use SimplePractice for everything and Headway just for insurance. You could do the reverse if you want, or just use Headway alone.

4. Decide on Business Structure

You don’t need to form an LLC. You can run your practice as a sole proprietor. But an LLC adds protection and makes bookkeeping cleaner. Either way, it’s worth opening a separate bank account for your practice.

5. Build Your Online Presence

Again, you don’t need a website — but it helps. A simple landing page gives clients a place to learn more about you and reach out. Squarespace, Wix, or WordPress can get you set up quickly. Psychology Today often works as your first “website” until you’re ready.

6. Telehealth Is Here to Stay

The pandemic didn’t just normalize telehealth, it made it essential. That’s good news and bad news. Good news: your client pool is now national. Bad news: your competition is too. Being clear about who you are and what makes you different has never been more important.

Final Thoughts

There’s a real liberation in private practice. You get to decide how many clients you want, what kind of clients you want, and how you want to run things. You can keep it small — just a handful of clients alongside another job — or you can scale it into your full-time livelihood.

Either way, it’s yours.

Disclosure: Some of the links here are referral links. They help keep this site running (and yes, occasionally help me buy coffee). If you use them, I appreciate it — but you’re welcome to find your own route.