How to Live Your Life AND Own a Private Practice

Let’s talk about the dream.

You know, the one where you run a thriving private practice, change lives, and still have time to eat dinner with your family before the mashed potatoes congeal into something legally classified as a building material.

If you own a practice, you’ve probably figured out that the dream can feel like a bit of a scam.

No one told you that running a private practice means being a therapist, an accountant, an admin, an insurance negotiator, and a part-time IT specialist because your EHR decided to crash five minutes before a session.

You probably got into this field to help people, not to spend your evenings Googling “how to appeal an insurance denial” while sipping cold coffee you forgot to drink six hours ago.

But good news: running a successful practice and having a life is possible. (And by life, we mean one that includes sleep, hobbies, and maybe even enjoying your kids before they graduate high school.)

4 Steps to Live Your Life AND Own a Private Practice

Step One: Learn What It Takes to Run a Practice

Ever catch yourself saying, 'I'll just do it myself; it's faster'?

It's a common trap, but often, it's a sign that things could be running smoother. While that DIY spirit is admirable, it can lead to a schedule perpetually crammed with tasks, leaving you wishing for more hours in the day.

But imagine this: a private practice where you're not constantly putting out fires.

Picture a practice where you have time to focus on your clients, your growth, and even...yourself.

Imagine feeling energized and supported, rather than overwhelmed and depleted. This isn't a pipe dream; it's the reality of thriving practices built on strong systems and solid support.

The secret?

Successful therapists in private practice aren't lone wolves. They've learned to identify their strengths and to delegate what falls outside of them.

They build teams and implement processes that allow their practice to flourish, freeing them to do what they love most: helping their clients. They have time to breathe, to strategize, and to enjoy the rewards of their hard work.

That feeling of control, of balanced energy, of sustainable success – that's what we want to help you achieve.

That's why we wrote Insurance Billing Basics: Steps for Therapists to Successfully Take Insurance. It's not just about billing; it's a foundational step towards building a practice that supports you, not the other way around.

Think of it as a practical guide to help you move from feeling overwhelmed to feeling empowered, from chaos to clarity.

Take the first step towards building that thriving practice. Read Insurance Billing Basics, and discover the systems that will transform your work and your life.

Step Two: Outsource Like Your Life Depends on It (Because It Does)

We’re not saying you have to hire a full-time team, but we are saying that offloading the right tasks will give you back the time and mental clarity to focus on things you actually enjoy. Like being a therapist. Or sleeping.

Here are some things that are very easy to outsource and will save you an obscene amount of time:

Billing & Insurance Claims: If you enjoy arguing with insurance reps, you might be a rare breed (seriously, are you sure you wouldn't rather join our team?). For the rest of you, battling insurance companies is about as appealing as a root canal. That's where a billing service like Practice Solutions comes in. Our billers are passionate about getting to the root of billing issues. They're willing to fight on behalf of private practices to get you paid. We remove that headache so you're free to focus on what you do best, and get paid for your hard work,
Administrative Work: You became a therapist to help people, not to get bogged down in scheduling, paperwork, and the same questions over and over. While those tasks are necessary, they shouldn't steal your focus from what truly matters: your clients and growing your practice. A virtual assistant can be your secret weapon. There are professionals who thrive on this stuff, believe it or not. Entrust these responsibilities to them, and reclaim your time and energy for direct client care. It's a win-win: you get to be the best therapist you can be, and your clients get a smoother experience.
Bookkeeping: If your idea of financial tracking involves a shoebox of receipts and an Excel file you open once a year, get a bookkeeper before the IRS personally comes knocking on your door. Building a thriving practice means having a clear picture of your finances. Instead of viewing bookkeeping as a chore, imagine it as the foundation for informed decision-making and sustainable growth. While that shoebox of receipts and once-a-year Excel sprint might feel familiar, a professional bookkeeper can transform your financial management from reactive to proactive.

You know who figured this out?

Shannon. A real-life client of ours.

She’s a therapist who runs a good-sized group practice, finally outsourced her billing and administrative tasks, and now she actually sees her kids before bedtime. Her exact words: “I got my life back. My kids got their mom back.” If that’s not a win, I don’t know what is.

Step Three: Be Financially Viable (Read: Get Paid for Your Work)

If you’re running a practice and not making enough money to cover your bills and pay yourself a salary that allows you to take 3 weeks (or more) vacation, something has to change.

Start by evaluating your rates. If you’re charging less than what it costs to provide your services, you are running a very expensive hobby, not a business.

Some quick reality checks:

Are you actually collecting what insurance companies owe you? (Again, Practice Solutions’ billing service.)
Are your rates aligned with your expertise, market, and costs?
Are you charging cancellation fees and enforcing policies that protect your time?

Your practice should support your life, not the other way around. The purpose of building your private practice is to create a fulfilling and sustainable career that enhances your life, not one that consumes it. Your practice should be a vehicle for achieving your professional and personal goals, providing you with the flexibility, autonomy, and financial security to live the life you envision. It should empower you to serve your clients effectively while also allowing you to nurture your own well-being, pursue your passions, and spend time with the people you love. If your practice is constantly demanding more than it gives, it's time to re-evaluate and build systems that prioritize a healthy work-life balance. Remember, a thriving practice is one that supports a thriving you – both inside and outside of the office.

Step Four: The Actual "How To" of Living Your Life

Now that you’ve outsourced, streamlined, and priced your services appropriately, you get to reclaim your time. What do you do with it? Here’s a wild idea: Enjoy it.

See your family. Shannon isn’t an anomaly. You too can be a present, non-exhausted human in your own home. It's about connections. More time to take your dog on a walk, call your mom, prep the charcuterie board for a night with friends
Take care of yourself. Take that workout class, book the cruise, learn to cook a healthy meal that takes more than 5 minutes to prep.
Do something just for fun. What's that one thing you keep saying "When I have the time, I'll do it"? Do that.