Identify your core values to guide your practice.
Before I ever filed paperwork, I got clear on what truly matters to me—authenticity, compassion, community, and liberation. These values became my compass and helped shape everything from the clients I serve to the way I structure my time.

Explore your clinical interests and ideal client population.
Give yourself time to figure this out—it took me about two years, and my clients really guided the process. I found myself drawn to:

• Adult children of immigrants

• Professionals navigating grief, burnout, or transition

• Emerging adults finding their voice

• Choosing a niche felt scary at first, but it gave me clarity, confidence, and direction.

·Clarify your therapeutic modalities.
(DBT, ACT, polyvagal theory, trauma-informed care, attachment-focused work, etc.)

 o   Reflect on how your lived experiences influence the space you want to hold 

• Brainstorm and select a business name.
  I chose a name that felt aligned with my mission, then checked availability and registered it with the Texas Secretary of State. Two years later, I changed it, again (not a hard process, but not easy either).

• Form your legal business entity (e.g., PLLC).

• Apply for your EIN (Employer Identification Number) through the IRS.

• Open a business bank account.
  This was essential for separating personal and business finances. It made taxes and tracking income so much easier.

• Secure liability/malpractice insurance.

• Create a business emergency fund.
  Even a small cushion can provide a sense of stability as you grow.

• Choose a HIPAA-compliant EHR.
  (I started with Simple Practice—its Essential Plan came with a basic website, which was a great starting point.)

• Create intake forms, informed consent, and Good Faith Estimates (GFE).
  I used templates from Private Practice Startup because their forms are attorney approved!

• Set up bookkeeping.
  I use QuickBooks to track income and expenses. It also estimates quarterly taxes, which saved me from major surprises.

• Set your fee structure and payment options.

• Define your cancellation and no-show policies.
  I encourage charging a fee. Check in with your values—what feels fair and sustainable? You can always adjust as you grow.

• Set up secure email and phone systems.
  This is a common blind spot. I use:

  • Paubox for encrypted email (integrated with Google Workspace—don’t forget to sign your BAA!)

  • Spruce Health for texting and phone calls (great value, plus a fax line)

• Create systems for onboarding, scheduling, and documentation.
  This is a trial-and-error process. Don’t aim for perfect—just aim for functional.

(Pro tip: your systems will evolve. Don’t aim for perfect—aim for workable.)

Podcasts:

• Private Practice Startup – Kate & Katie: Attorney-approved paperwork & essential business strategies.

• All Things Private Practice – Patrick Casale: Real talk about imposter syndrome, niching down, and business growth.

• Therapy for Your Money – Julie Herres: Deep dive into finances, pricing, and profitability for therapists.

• The Traveling Therapist – Kym Tolson: Running a location-independent private practice ethically & efficiently.

• The Private Practice Pro – Kelley Stevens: Building a thriving practice, marketing, and scaling tips.

• Sh*t You Wish You Learned in Graduate School – Jennifer Agee: Business, clinical skills, and mindset shifts they don’t teach in school.

Book Recommendations:

Profit First for Therapists – Julie Herres: A game-changer for financial management & sustainable business growth.

 Twelve Months to Your Ideal Private Practice: A Workbook – Lynn Grodzki: A structured, step-by-step guide to building a practice that fits your values.