Frequently Asked Questions
About Private Pay Practice
How long will it take for my private pay practice to be successful?
It depends on where you're starting from, how clear your niche is, and how consistently you implement. Some therapists fill their caseload within a few months. Others take a year. The therapists who move fastest are the ones who get clear on who they serve, price appropriately, and network consistently. There's no magic timeline, but there is a proven process.
Can this really be done?
Yes. I did it. Thousands of therapists in the Private Pay Practitioners community have done it. It's not a fantasy - it's a decision followed by consistent action. The therapists who succeed aren't necessarily the most experienced or credentialed. They're the ones who commit to the process and keep showing up.
What about judgment from other professionals?
Some colleagues will have opinions. That's their business, not yours. Most of the judgment comes from therapists who are burned out, underpaid, and stuck in a system that isn't working for them. Once you build a sustainable practice and remember why you became a therapist in the first place, their opinions matter a lot less. And honestly? Many of them will eventually ask how you did it.
Won't that limit my referral base if I'm private pay and everyone else takes insurance?
Actually, the opposite often happens. When you're known for something specific and you're not competing with every other therapist on insurance panels, you become the go-to person for your niche. Other therapists refer to specialists - not generalists who take the same insurance they do. Your referral base changes, but it doesn't shrink.
Will clients actually pay out of pocket?
Yes. People pay for what they value. They pay for personal trainers, coaches, wellness programs, and expensive coffee every day. The question isn't whether people have money - it's whether they see the value in what you're offering. When you're clear about who you help and how you help them, the right clients will pay.
Do I have to interact with insurance if I give a superbill?
No. A superbill is just a detailed receipt your client can submit to their insurance company for possible reimbursement. You're not billing insurance. You're not bound by their rules. You're not subject to audits or clawbacks. The client handles the submission - you just provide the documentation.
How do I establish my private pay fee?
Forget "charge what you're worth" - that ties your rate to your self-esteem, which is a recipe for undercharging. Instead, charge what you need. Calculate your actual monthly expenses (business and personal), factor in taxes, determine how many client hours you want to work, and do the math. Your rate should sustain your life, not just cover your overhead. In the workshop and coaching, we walk through this calculation together so you leave with a number that makes sense for your life - not a number you pulled from thin air or copied from someone else.
How do I transition my therapy practice from insurance-based to private pay?
It doesn't have to be all-or-nothing. Many therapists go hybrid first - reducing panel participation while building their private pay caseload. Key steps: get clear on your niche, set sustainable rates, build referral sources outside insurance directories, and communicate changes to existing clients. The Niche Positioning Report helps with positioning. The Strategy Call is ideal for creating a transition plan based on your specific timeline and risk tolerance.
What are effective strategies for marketing a private pay mental health practice?
You're not competing on insurance panels - you're building trust with people willing to invest in themselves. The most effective strategies: get clear on your niche so your messaging resonates, optimize your Psychology Today and Google Business profiles, build referral relationships through genuine networking, and create content that positions you as the expert. The Niche Positioning Report helps clarify your messaging, and the Crash Course includes live practice with networking scripts.
About the Crash Course Workshop
What if I don't get everything I need in the workshop?
The workshop covers the essentials: money mindset, niche clarity, pricing, networking, and action planning. If you want ongoing support after the workshop, you can book a consultation, join the 6-Week Intensive, or become a Patreon member for continued access to resources and live calls. The workshop is a starting point, not the only option.
What's included in the 3.5-hour workshop?
You'll work through money mindset exercises, clarify your ideal client and niche statement, calculate your sustainable rate, practice networking conversations through live role-play, and leave with a 30-day action plan. Cameras are required - this is participatory, not a lecture.
About Coaching & Consultations
Where can I find coaching programs for therapists looking to establish private pay practices?
Right here. Private Pay Practitioners offers several options depending on where you are. The Crash Course Workshop is a 3.5-hour intensive covering money mindset, niche clarity, pricing, and networking. The Strategy Call is a 60-minute consultation for specific questions. For ongoing support, the Patreon membership includes weekly live calls and direct access to me.
What happens once I'm full?
That's a good problem to have. Once your caseload is full, we can talk about raising your rates, creating a waitlist, adding group offerings, or building additional revenue streams. The goal isn't just to fill your practice - it's to build something sustainable that grows with you.
Do you offer a reduced rate or packages?
I offer a limited number of reduced-rate spots for therapists experiencing genuine financial hardship. Email djprivatepay@gmail.com to inquire. For packages, the 6-Week Intensive provides ongoing support at a better value than booking multiple single sessions.
It's costly. What if I can't afford to go private pay and push hard with marketing?
Private pay doesn't require a huge marketing budget. Most of my strategies are free - networking, referral relationships, and clear messaging. The investment in coaching pays for itself when you land even one or two full-fee clients. If money is tight, start with the book, join the free Facebook community, and implement what you can on your own.
About Support & Additional Services
Do I have to figure this out all on my own?
No. That's the whole point. You have the book, the free Facebook community with 15,000+ therapists, the Patreon community with weekly resources and live calls, the workshop, and one-on-one coaching options. You get to choose your level of support.
Are there any comprehensive guides or playbooks for building a successful private pay therapy practice?
Yes. The Private Pay Practitioners Playbook covers everything from mindset to pricing to marketing and growth. It hit #1 in Practice Management on Amazon. For implementation support, pair it with the Workbook or Crash Course Workshop.
I don't know SEO. Can you teach me?
I cover the basics of visibility and getting found in the workshop and coaching, but I'm not an SEO specialist. What I can teach you is how to talk about what you do in a way that attracts the right clients - and that matters more than keywords.
Do you do website design too?
No. I focus on strategy, messaging, and mindset - not technical implementation. But I can help you get clear on what your website needs to say, and you can hire someone else to build it.
About the Communities
What's the difference between the free Facebook group and Patreon?
The free Facebook group (Private Pay Practitioners) is a peer community of 15,000+ therapists sharing questions, wins, and support. Patreon (Private Pay Practitioners Premium) gives you direct access to me - weekly live calls, downloadable resources, and deeper content. The Facebook group is community. Patreon is coaching and tools.
What's the difference between Private Pay Practitioners and Black Private Pay Practitioners?
Same mission, culturally specific support. Black Private Pay Practitioners is a dedicated space for Black therapists navigating the unique challenges of building private pay practices. Both groups are free. Join whichever fits - or both.
What are the benefits of joining online communities for private pay mental health practitioners?
Building a private pay practice can feel isolating - most colleagues are on insurance panels and don't get it. The Private Pay Practitioners Facebook group (15,000+ therapists) gives you access to peers navigating the same decisions. Members share referrals, ask questions without judgment, and get real-world feedback from people in the trenches. For deeper support, Patreon adds weekly calls and direct coaching.
About Patreon Membership
Which Patreon tier is right for me?
It depends on how much direct access and coaching you need — not the resources. All paid tiers get the same content (weekly Zooms, Mindset Mondays, Truth Drops, monthly vault drops). The difference is coaching time with me.
What's included in the Podcast tier ($7/month)?
You get access to the Private Pay Practitioners podcast only. This tier is for practitioners who are curious but not ready to commit. Listen, learn, and decide when you're ready for more.
What's included in the Essential tier ($10/month)?
You get the full resource library — weekly Zooms, Mindset Mondays, Truth Drops, monthly vault drops with templates and worksheets. Everything except group coaching. This tier is for self-directed practitioners who want all the resources but prefer to work on their own timeline.
What's included in the Community tier ($20/month)?
You get everything in Essential plus 30 minutes of group coaching with me each month. This is where you bring questions, get feedback, and hear what other practitioners are working through. The resources tell you what to do — the coaching helps you figure out why you're stuck.
What's included in the Founders tier ($45/month)?
You get everything in Community plus a full hour of group coaching each month and unlimited email access to me. When something comes up between calls — a referral situation, a pricing question, a decision you're unsure about — you reach out directly. I know my Founders by name.
Can I upgrade my tier later?
Yes. You can change your tier at any time through Patreon. If you start at Essential and realize you want the coaching component, you can upgrade to Community or Founders whenever you're ready.
Have a question that's not answered here? Email djprivatepay@gmail.com