I can’t say if you’re legally required, as it depends on where you want to practice, but for the good of your clients yes, if you’re going to practice professional counseling you should be licensed.

LRH

Hi Gary,
Thanks for the background. It really helps to get a full picture. I can see why you’re stuck. $45 a session is very good pay in most areas, and you don’t have to deal with billing and a number of other admin tasks. However, since you can get your own clients, you might be leaving some money on the table. How much is the question. I think the only way you’ll truly know what financial choice is right for you is to calculate all the expenses you’ll endure going it alone (rent, reception, insurance, marketing, etc), your volume in the first year or two, and the amount of work you’ll need to do when you no longer have any admin support. You might find that you’re likely to make a little more money gross, but the time and effort to get there is too much. For example, it’s amazing how many hours can be spent on the phone with potential client each week alone. You might be better off seeing more clients at your current place of employment, or seeing if there is anything you can do to get a bump in pay if that’s what you’re really seeking. If you can drive even more volume to the practice through your reputation and work, would your employer be willing to pay some bonuses or increase your per session fee?

I am trying to determine whether or not to stay at my “agency” or start a private practice in my city with a SMSA of 125,00. I’m 62-years-old and have had a private practice before — in the late 1980’s and early 1990’s in the Dallas-Ft. Worth area. So I have a fairly good idea as to the amount of work, financial investment and stress, as well as the personal and professional satisfaction that comes with such a business.

Anyway, I am a W2 employee with an agency which primarily provides Behavioral Health Intervention Services (BHIS) to children and adolescents covered by Medicaid and their families. Part of my job is to supervise a group of eight bachelor’s-level workers who provide remedial services to the clients in their homes. I see 13 – 23 therapy clients a week. They include self-pay sliding fee clients ($55 – $125 an hour); Medicaid ($102.64 for 907901 and $69.82 for 90834); BC/BS ($141.00 for 907901 and $95.00 for 90834); various EAPs ($65.00); and other insurance providers.

I believe I receive fair pay per therapy hour ($45), which is the highest therapist pay in the agency, and as long as I average 20 clients a week I get vacation, sick leave and holiday pay. I started with zero clients and had to develop my own referrals as the agency’s partners do very little marketing. It took me over 18 months to reach a 20 clients/week average. A 401K is offered but there is no employer match. The agency provides the office, but the furniture they had was pretty shabby, so I’ve provided my own except for a desk. The agency also does the billing, provides wireless internet and the business phone as well as pays me for the use of my cell phone and provides a parking garage space.

Not a bad deal, right? Maybe. But maybe not. When I started here two years ago, I found that the agency was known primarily as a BHIS provider, not as a therapy practice. And most of the marketing contacts I’ve made, with the exception of DHS and Juvenile Corrections and a few pediatricians, had never heard of the agency. So I’ve really had to sell myself. I have done play therapy with children aged 3 to 10 since 1986, but now want to phase out of seeing kids and focus on adult survivors of dysfunctional, abusive or substance abusing families. I have started my own website and have a Psychology Today listing, both targeting adults from dysfunctional families. I am also independently providing supervision for post-master’s counselors for their permanent LMHC’s.

It is difficult to position myself separately from the agency, especially now that more than half of my client load are adults. Hence my dilemma: should I stay with the agency, which is in many ways like a protected private practice, and work harder to differentiate myself by writing, speaking, consulting and individual marketing contacts? I’d like to increase my weekly client sessions to a steady 25 per week. Or do I embrace the risks and potential rewards (including higher income) and head out on my own in private practice?

I don’t want you to tell me what to do, I just would appreciate some feedback on the pros and cons of each direction.

I am wondering what can I do & what is need educational wise to run such a business like Thrivewirks? I am currently an LPN but I am continuing my education in Hygienic Physician & a Ph.d In Natural Health and Healing, I am so in the process of completing a BS in Psychology , I also have multiple credits for biology /pre- med , do you have any suggestions to help get me started with Thriveworks, I would not mind beginning with a life coach there is no license required in pa to be a life coach if you have any great suggestions please let me

Shamika

I have a Masters degree in Professional Counseling and currently working toward a PhD in Counselor Education. At some point I would like to become a licensed therapist in VA, however, until I reach that point I am interested in Life and Career Coaching. Is this something that is possible to start either on my own or through Thriveworks?
Thanks!

Hi Sylvia, call us at 1-855-4-THRIVE, and we can discuss!

Hi Judith,
Thanks for the inquiry. The short answer is yes, it is possible to own a Thriveworks franchise and not be a therapist yourself. It helps, to be sure, to have lots of industry knowledge, but the model is as you guessed; an owners/managers role is to hire excellent therapists, build the team, and make sure clients receive excellent clinical care and customer service. I hope this helps! –Sincerely, Dr. Anthony

Due to our economy it is really hard to be a high paying agency employee even with a licenese. Many agencies run off of grants. Some agencies only pay you on point-of-service. You can probably pay yourself higher if you had your own practice since that is all about point-of-service.

To be a high paying employee means that you most likely would have to take a middle managment or higher position, which means that you would not be a counselor.

Starting your own business is hardwork but the pay off is great. It may take more than a year or two before you can make a profit but it is the same if you start off as an entry level counselor or case worker. I think at the end you have to ask yourself what do you value? what are you willing to sacrifice?

Hi Nichole,
I hope that you find the motivation that you need! In my experience, I am able to help burgeoning clinicians in a number of ways–but motivation is something you need to bring to the table. It sounds like you’re getting there!! I like the phrase “I’m sick and tired of being sick and tired!” About online counseling, I wrote an article a while back on the topic, and you can view it on the American Counseling Association’s blog here: http://my.counseling.org/2011/01/13/the-online-counseling-myth-what-online-therapy-wont-do-for-your-practice/

I hope this helps!!

–Anthony