What are the benefits of running a group practice?
Running a group practice can be beneficial to you (and the people you’re helping) for several reasons. “As a solo therapist, you may have to turn away clients,” says Evans. “In a group practice, you can keep referrals in-house as you bring clinicians on.”
Community is another major perk of working with other clinicians. Solo practice can be lonely, and you may miss opportunities to mentor other therapists, get advice on your cases, and build relationships with people who can empathize with the highs and lows of the mental health profession.
“Sharing expertise also helps you and your clinicians build new skills as providers,” says Evans. “Someone who is brand new in the industry can learn from someone with much more experience.”
Lastly, a group practice can also be financially beneficial (but Evans notes this part can take time). Business models for group therapy practices vary, but your earning potential can eventually grow if you’re earning money from more therapy sessions than just your own.
What are the responsibilities of a group practice owner?
As the owner of a group therapy practice, you’ll inevitably have more responsibility than if you’re working in a practice by yourself. Rather than working on your own and managing only your caseload, you’ll be tasked with managing a team of people who ultimately represent your practice.
Your exact responsibilities ultimately depend on the model of your practice, explains Evans.
If you hire clinicians as W2 employees, then you’ll be responsible for all the components of hiring and managing employees, such as human resources, payroll, and benefits. These are important decisions that you should discuss with your legal and accounting advisors.
You’ll also need to decide whether you’ll be responsible for marketing and finding clients, or if that responsibility will fall on your therapists.
Evans adopted a model in which he handles marketing, filling and managing his therapists’ caseloads through Headway. “We take away the administrative burden so therapists can focus on being therapists,” he says.
As an owner, you’ll also want to ensure that your providers are operating compliantly, and billing and documenting their care appropriately: If a group’s employees or contractors commit fraud, waste, and abuse violations, the owner could be held liable.
How much does a group therapy practice owner make?
As a group therapy practice owner, there is the potential for you to eventually make more money. Evans says the first year or two of a group practice is usually less financially stable, but as you hire clinicians, you may be able to draw in an extra $30,000 to $40,000 (for example) in additional income each year.
Exactly how much you earn will depend on factors such as the number of therapists in the practice and the structure of your business — and, of course, how well you manage said business.
Earning potential is also dependent on whether you continue seeing your own clients, but Evans emphasizes there are pros and cons to this setup. You can possibly make more money if you continue therapeutic work, but you may also lose sight of important business practices essential for stable passive income.
Where can group practice leaders find community and get advice?
There are a wealth of resources available for group practice leaders — here are the ones you should know about. Additionally, Joe Sanok, a former private practice therapist, runs a business built on helping other clinicians manage the administration of mental health care and find community. His brand Practice of the Practice, offers webinars, conferences, e-courses, a podcast, and more. Those in search of community can also head to The Group Practice Exchange, which helps social service professionals sharpen their business and practice management skills. For advice, AuDHD clinician Patrick Casale offers coaching services for mental health professionals trying to build out their own practices, with specialized offerings for neurodivergent business owners.
