How many clients do most therapists have?
How many sessions you can fit into a “full time” practice depends on several important factors, including your own capacity and your clients’ needs.
Starting a practice
The right path to rewarding work: How to decide between part-time vs. full-time private practice
Learn the potential downsides of each, according to private practice therapists, before making a decision.
If you’re venturing into private practice for the first time, or you’re wondering whether it’s time to scale back on your full-time caseload, you have a lot to think about and plan.
Both part-time and full-time clinical work can be rewarding in their own ways, but it’s also important to know about the potential downsides of each before making a decision. Not only will your work feel more rewarding when you set up your business in a way that makes sense for you — you’ll also be able to better support the clients you’re serving.
Need some guidance about the ins and outs of part-time and full-time private practice? Below, a few insights about both from therapists who have done it before.
Part-time practice: 3 pros and cons
1. It could be less lucrative, but you’ll have more time.
If you bill fewer client sessions, you’ll likely make less money than if you were working full-time. Before committing to a part-time caseload, be sure you can afford to live on your projected income. One way to bolster your income is to get another part-time or full-time related job, says Natalia Tague, Headway’s clinical engagement lead and a part-time therapist in private practice. For example, you could develop courses for therapists, do clinical supervision, or teach.
“Along with increasing your income, you can grow your clinical skills in other ways and help prevent burnout by breaking up your tasks a little bit,” says Tague.
2. You may work more than you think you will.
When you decide to work part-time as a therapist, you’ll definitely work fewer hours than in full-time practice — but you might end up working more than you anticipate.
“Even seeing just five clients a week, you may not realize how much energy you need to put into that,” says Tague.
That’s because part-time isn’t just the hour you spend with your client each week. You’ll also be working on their treatment plan and planning future sessions (not to mention all the logistical tasks, like billing insurance and scheduling). And if one of your five clients has an emergency, you’re still their therapist, whether you’re part-time or not.
3. Self-care is just as important if you see fewer clients.
Working full-time as a mental health clinician can be draining, and creating a part-time caseload is a great way to avoid potential burnout. But Tague says seeing fewer clients doesn’t exempt you from needing to take care of yourself. Sitting with people’s pain can take a toll, and it’s important to prioritize self-care so you can show up as your best self in your personal and professional lives.
Boundaries are especially important if you’re working another job outside of your practice. You may be tempted to put in extra hours at your other job, but remember doing so could compromise your ability to do well in either setting.
“Don’t take on too much, and organize your work and time in a way that helps you maintain clinical excellence with clients,” says Tague.
Full-time practice: 3 pros and cons
1. It’s more lucrative, but uncertainty is still a factor.
Billing more sessions generally includes the potential of earning more money. But keep in mind working full-time in private practice doesn’t guarantee a certain income — and it’ll take time to build your caseload.
“Most therapists will be in a better place financially when they make the leap to private practice, but it will never have the complete certainty of a ‘regular’ job,” says Tyler Willis, a full-time private practice therapist. “This is also why it's crucial to start a part-time practice and grow it before you leave your existing job, unless you're already financially independent.”
2. A full-time practice is a big clinical commitment.
If you’re considering a full-time caseload, ask yourself if you’re in a place to commit to seeing clients long-term.
“By entering into a therapeutic relationship with a client, you could be committing to work with that client for a period of months to years,” says Willis. “This includes clinical considerations like making sure the work is within your scope of competence, as well as practical considerations like planning vacations accordingly. It's a rewarding undertaking when you're ready, but shouldn't be taken lightly.”
If you’re nervous about the commitment but want to try out full-time work, Willis recommends aiming for a gradual approach. Begin by taking on just one client in your private practice, and then continue to expand until managing your other job and your part-time practice gets challenging. At that point, consider transitioning to full time based on your capacity and client demand.
3. You’ll need to build a supportive community.
Even though it entails talking to people all day, private practice can be isolating. Plus, you’ll have less time to do other things professionally and personally. If you're transitioning from an agency job to private practice, be sure you have a plan for maintaining fulfilling social connection. Do you have appropriate avenues for seeking clinical consultation if necessary? Do you know where to turn for help on the entrepreneurship side, like with accounting and marketing? Assess your own level of independence, and plan around it.
Headway is a free service that makes it easier and more profitable for therapists and psychiatrists to accept insurance.
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