How to start a private therapy practice
Going out on your own can come with a learning curve, especially if you’re not familiar with the business aspects involved in a private practice.
Provider Resource Center
Guides to start, grow, and run your practice
Starting a practice
View all resourcesHow to start a private therapy practice
3 things you need to start your own practice (and 3 things you don’t)
Here’s your starter kit for private practice, according to providers who’ve been there before.
How to write a great bio for your therapy practice
As a therapist, your superpower is helping other people. So it may feel a little weird to turn the tables and talk about yourself and your accomplishments as you’re building your website, creating social media profiles, and signing up for therapist directories.
How to plan and shoot therapist headshots
Getting a great therapist photo requires a bit of strategy — but don’t stress. You won’t need any fancy tools, and you don’t even have to hire a pro if it’s not in the budget.
How to market your practice and get more therapy clients
Growing your clientele can be a lot less complicated than you think. All you’ll need is a simple mindset shift and a couple basic strategies that help potential clients find and connect with you.
How to market your practice on Psychology Today
Psychology Today is one of the most prominent players in the directory game — and strategically using it as a marketing tool can help you grow your practice.
How to get credentialed with insurance companies
Here’s what goes on behind the scenes — and how Headway’s relationships with insurance plans help us get you credentialed faster.
A guide to malpractice insurance
As you step into the realm of private practice, you can protect your career and reputation by understanding the essentials of malpractice insurance.
The Headway guide to registering with CAQH
Here are the documents you’ll need to have on hand, and how to troubleshoot some common mistakes.
EHR vs. EMR: What’s better for your practice?
Electronic medical records and electronic health records may sound the same, but there are key differences in how they function.
How to network in mental healthcare
Professional relationships can benefit you and your mental healthcare practice. Here are some practical tips for expanding your network.
What 3 therapists wish they knew before starting their own practice
To set yourself up for success, why not learn from people who have gone through the process before you?
5 elements of the best therapist websites
You don’t have to be a web design expert. Just make sure your website is an accurate representation of you and your work, and that you make it easy for potential clients to connect with you.
The art of the voicemail script
Your voicemail should extend the same warmth and professionalism you convey in person — while ensuring the same privacy and confidentiality someone expects from a therapy session. copy block
How to start a private practice in California
The state has unique requirements for therapists when it comes to running a practice.
Running a practice
Tips for conducting successful intake sessions
Be strategic and ensure you and your potential client have the information you need to start therapy on the right foot.
Clean up your caseload
Taking the steps to keep your caseload current can be tedious — but it’s important.
Annual refresh checklist for therapists
Here are 7 of the most important housekeeping tasks to keep on your to-do list as a therapist in private practice.
Life as a provider
7 tiny ways to build self-care into your day
Some of the most effective ways of taking care of yourself in a caring profession are small, affordable, and can be built into your work day.
7 ways to restore your social fuel when you talk all day, every day
Here’s how you can ensure you bring your best self to your friends and family and your clients.
A provider's take on battling your own burnout
If you’re feeling empowered to take your burnout head-on, read on for advice on five ways you can battle burnout as a therapist.
Student loan forgiveness for mental healthcare providers
Becoming a licensed therapist involves a lot of work, and a lot of education.
Compliance and documentation
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Compliance — a Headway Guide
Navigating compliance can be time-consuming and stressful. We’re committed to changing that.
What are therapy intake assessments?
The intake assessment is your chance to get a deep understanding of your patient — and maybe connect some elements from their journey that they wouldn’t connect themselves.
How to write a mental health treatment plan
Whenever you want to change the goal of your therapy care, or the path you want to take with the client to reach that goal, you’ll want to document a treatment plan.
How to write progress notes
Progress notes are the core piece of documentation a mental health care provider should write after each session with a client, but it’s more than just a record of what happened in the session.
The golden thread of therapy documentation
The “golden thread” helps connect the dots between your clinical and administrative work.
How to write SOAP notes
Here’s how SOAP notes can help you write better, faster notes — and effectively document your work as a clinician.
How to write DAP notes
We’ll demystify how to write and structure them — plus how they compare to SOAP notes.
How to write BIRP notes
The BIRP note template focuses on how the client appears to think and feel before and after your therapeutic intervention.
10 insurer requirements commonly missing from notes
Based on our conversations with insurers, here are 10 of the items most commonly missing from charting documentation, including examples of what it takes to meet the requirements for each.
How to use the PHQ-9 to assess depression
The Patient Health Questionnaire-9 helps screen for, diagnose, and track progress with depression.
How to use the GAD-7 for anxiety assessment
The GAD-7 can help you narrow down a diagnosis if your client is experiencing anxiety symptoms, along with allowing you to track their progress over time.
Billing and coding
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The 10 most common CPT codes (and how to use them)
Understand the ins and outs of CPT codes to help make documentation and billing more efficient — and give you more time to focus on other areas of your practice.
How to use CPT code 90837
The 90837 CPT code is often understood to be the standard of a therapy session among providers. However, insurers have a tendency to flag 90837 more frequently than other codes.
How to use CPT Code 90834
The “45 minute” session is a core element of mental health care, so it’s vital that every provider knows how to apply the 90834 code to their work.
How to use CPT Code 90791
Code 90791 is officially deemed a “diagnostic evaluation,” but you might know it better as an initial assessment. It typically happens in your first session with a client.
How to use CPT Code 90792
Because 90792 can only be billed by psychiatrists and nurse practitioners, it’s a less commonly used code for intake assessments, but has many of the same expectations.
How to use CPT Code 90832
If your client demonstrates a clinical need for shorter therapy sessions — or you need to end a session earlier than planned — 90832 might be the right way to bill.
How to use CPT Code 90846
Family therapy can be a covered benefit for many care-seeking couples and households, but you should understand how to leverage code 90846 effectively for clinically-focused sessions.
How to use CPT Code 90847
Code 90847 represents a session where the identified patient actively participates, giving the provider important visibility into the ways family interactions can contribute to or alleviate a patient’s condition.
How to use CPT code 90785
CPT code 90785 is an add-on code used to reflect communication difficulties during a psychiatric procedure, such as a psychotherapy session.
How to use CPT codes 90839 and 90840
CPT codes 90839 and 90840 both reflect treatment for a crisis, but represent different time frames.
ICD-10 codes for ADHD
A client presenting the symptoms of ADHD will most commonly be diagnosed with a specifier code that provides detail about how their symptoms present.
ICD-10 codes for depression
Here are some of the most common ICD-10 codes associated with depressive symptoms, with different criteria for frequency, severity, and other features.
ICD-10 codes for anxiety
There are many ICD-10 codes associated with anxiety disorders. Generalized Anxiety Disorder is most common, but there may be a more precise code that documents your diagnosis more effectively.
ICD-10 codes for PTSD
The ICD-10 includes one general code for PTSD, along with specifier codes that include a greater level of detail.
What is the difference between CPT codes and ICD-10 codes?
The two most important coding systems in medical billing are CPT codes and ICD-10 codes. Both have their own distinct purpose, and you’ll need to understand each of them if you’re working with insurance.
How to use Z codes in mental healthcare
Z codes are an important tool for identifying the social needs of a patient population. Here’s how to leverage them effectively and compliantly.
About Headway
Meet Headway's clinical leadership team
Headway’s clinical team helps to build systems and processes that empower clinicians and their practices while offering high-quality clinical guidance.
Getting started with Headway in 30 days
If the journey of one thousand miles begins with a single step, then the journey to starting or streamlining your insurance practice begins with a single call.
