Mental health therapists and other medical professionals are well versed in the rules of confidentiality and HIPPA while in the workplace. But what happens when you run into a client in public?

The world we live in holds women and minority groups at a higher standard for looking presentable than it does men. I hate to say it, but there are negative repercussions for your career if you do not look the part.

Early in my career if I shared my dream of starting a private therapy practice, naysayers would often point out that my overhead would be too high. Here are some common fears around private practice overhead costs and what to realistically expect.

Hiring a tax preparer is very important if you are a new business owner. Here you will find a list of things to consider and important documents to gather as you prepare to do your taxes this year.

The first time you consider tax write offs and deductions, it can be overwhelming. Here you will find a comprehensive list of all possible deductions as a private practice therapist.

When you work for yourself as a private practice therapist you have to wear all the hats; you are now the billing department. This is your guide for navigating the confusing world of deductibles, copays and coinsurance.

Therapists experience burnout at alarming rates due to the emotional hazards of our work. But is that the real reason we are unable to thrive in this profession?

As a self employed individual, you will need to arrange for disability insurance on your own. Here is all you need to know about disability insurance and how to protect yourself.

Your therapist went to school and learned many theories and techniques, but that knowledge does not replace the importance of human connection — and it doesn’t omit the therapist from their own emotional and psychological wounds.

I am not talking about social media networking — I’m talking about gaining a general knowledge of the people in your community and building a rapport.

Why do you need Continuing Education Credits, and what affordable options are out there?

Making arrangements for an unlikely event is about respecting your clients and the therapeutic relationship you have built.

Why should you clean your room before taking an exam? Read on.

If you are newly graduated from your Masters program and are looking ahead at licensure, you likely are mentally preparing for the The National Clinical Mental Health Counseling Examination (NCMHCE).

Understanding health insurance is extremely important if you plan to run your own private practice. It’s two fold: you will be working with health insurance companies to get paid; and you need to be sure that you personally are covered with health insurance.

You may have a client that you have worked with in the past, that would like to rekindle the therapeutic relationship. But what can be done if you don’t have a contract with their insurance company? Three words: Single Case Agreement.

One cannot live off of copays alone. To get paid by insurance companies, you will need to apply for a credentialing contact.

Getting credentialed within an insurance company is necessary if you plan to see patients who plan to pay with their health insurance. It is important to be aware that not all credentialing is the same, and how you get credentialed will matter in the long run. 

Once you have completed the necessary first steps of starting your business, the next step is creating your CAQH profile.

You have made it this far! This is fun right? Yes, it is a lot of work and logistically complicated. But I promise you can do it. This is the third of a three part series on the initial steps to set up your own private therapy practice: malpractice insurance and your W9.

Everything will begin to feel real when you set up your contact information and find an office space that reflects you as a clinician.