Opening a Private Therapy Practice Part 2: Office Location and Creating a Therapeutic Space

This article is number two in a three-part series. As exciting as this part of the process might sound, you really do need to do these things in the right order. With that in mind, after you have finished the steps in Part 1, it’s time to do some of the fun work. Everything will begin to feel real when you find an office space that reflects you as a clinician.

What is the best place to have a therapy office

If you plan to see clients in person, this is a very important step. Your office represents you as a therapist. I personally prefer a space that is relaxed with plenty of character; my office is in a local historical building. Others prefer a clinical ambiance, something that resembles a physician’s office. Whatever you choose, make sure it fits your style and communicates who you are as a professional. 

Remember: location, location, location. Keep in mind that you want to feel safe and in network with other people, don’t set up in the basement of a warehouse in an abandoned lot. It goes without saying that you are working alone now, and working alone comes with an element of risk. Make sure your office is centrally located in a place with people nearby— whether that be other clinicians or an office park with many professionals. I don’t recommend a home office unless you are providing services via telehealth. Some clinicians choose to do this because they have the space, and it removes rent from the overhead costs. My gut instinct is that it is unsafe for you as a clinician; both in regards to your physical safety and in your communication of personal boundaries.

You also want your clients to feel that the office is safe and accessible. Consider parking options, well lit areas, and handicap accessible buildings. My office partner made a point to look at the restrooms of each place we toured. There were times when the office seemed perfect, but no restrooms were available, or they were in disrepair — this is a no-go.

Share an office with another therapist or sublet!

If you are starting off slowly and only planning to work one or two days a week, I advise that you check your local advertisements to see if another therapist is renting out a portion of their office. Some people sublet their own office space on days that they are not working. This will keep your overhead low (you won’t need to furnish the place or worry about overpaying for days that you are not there). It will also give you the opportunity to network, and possibly gain client referrals from another therapist.   

When I started out, a friend and I decided to lease an office space together. We split the rent, the furnishing, and the upkeep. We worked opposite schedules that fit for our clientele. This was a way to go all in and create a therapy space that fit our needs and styles, but also reduced the risk of starting all on our own.  If you are confident that you want to work the entire week, and can fill your schedule, your own space might be the best bet. I have to admit, I did feel limited not having more office hours to add to my caseload.

Office furnishing and decor for a therapist’s office

Full disclosure, I am not a designer. But I do appreciate creating spaces that are clean, comfortable and conducive to the job at hand. A therapist’s office just feels better with a clean and comfortable couch, some throw pillows, natural lighting and some plants (Can you really have too many plants?)

Your clients are coming to your office in a vulnerable spot; they need comfort and security. Create a space that resembles you, and communicates safety. Invest in a vacuum or regular cleaners, provide water, coffee and reading material for clients that are waiting to see you.

I always get a kick out of Hollywood’s depiction of a therapist’s office (and therapists for that matter). But think about what you see in those shows. There might be some art on the wall, lighting that suggests it is morning all day long, maybe some candles and a box of tissues. Go with it.

The importance of a clean therapy office: cautionary tale

A few years back I visited another therapist’s office locally. Her office was on the top floor of her home, and her waiting room was the entryway to the whole house. This was a little awkward, but what really made it uncomfortable was how messy her house was. As a working mom myself, I know how hard it is to maintain a clean house, but my clients have never been privy to that side of me!

Her children also came in and out and were often watching tv in the front room; this is their house after all, so why wouldn’t they? I experienced uncertainty while I was waiting; I didn’t know whether to look at my phone, look at my feet, or watch television with the kids.

The office itself had potential, but it also wasn’t kept not very clean, and it smelled distinctly like cat urine. These factors made it hard to concentrate on the session, and kept me feeling uncomfortable the whole time. I had a deep fear that the smell was coming from the couch I was on, and that it would get on me.

What I learned from this experience is that being a therapist with a home office presents lots of potential for an odd environment, and can communicate some strange boundaries. But it also made me realize that the space in general needs to be comfortable for all people, especially those who prefer dogs or no pets at all (maybe a cat person wouldn’t have noticed).  

Give yourself time for these steps

Finding office space and setting it up to your liking might take longer than you think, and that’s ok —dig into the process. Once you have these details set up, you can move on to Step 3.

TL;DR

Your office space and decor matter! It communicates who you are as a professional and as a clinician.

Make sure the space is in a safe location, has easy access for potential clients. Chose a location that has other working professionals nearby, whether that is in an office park or historic building fitted for working professionals.

Keep your space clean! Please invest in a vacuum and furniture that does not smell like cat urine.

Take this part of process seriously, and have some fun with it!