Determining If You Should Hire A Partner For Your Behavioral Health Practice

If you have successfully opened your own private behavioral health counseling practice, you should be more than proud of your hard work and dedication to your field. For many behavioral health professionals who work for themselves, the question arises of if and when to start thinking about hiring a partner or two. Many independent therapists and counselors participate in group practices, an idea that may be right for you to consider. Consider these points as you determine if hiring a partner for your private behavioral health practice is the right decision for you.

Establish Your Goal

Establishing your goal for your practice and yourself is an essential first step in thinking of whether hiring a partner is suitable for your needs. Clarifying to yourself why you may want a partner and what goals this would help you achieve will help define your intentions.

Possible goals of hiring a partner may include the ability to serve more clients while reducing your hours, improving client satisfaction, adding services you may not currently provide, or serving new demographics.

Evaluate Your Personal Interests

Once you have clarified your goals, consider the impact that hiring a second therapist may have on your practice and your interests. Question how this new counselor will be integrated into your behavioral health practice. You may want to consult your financial advisor to discuss aspects such as hiring an independent contractor, co-owner, or employee that may affect your interests.

Consider if any additional burdens may be created by bringing another person into your business and if these potential burdens are manageable from your perspective. Your practice’s infrastructure is also something to keep in mind; you will need to have adequate space to expand your business and justification that expansion is financially viable.

Be Honest With Yourself

Brining another person onboard in your behavioral health practice will create change. Change that you may or may not be willing to accept. Be honest with yourself about how managing an employee, delegating decisions, sharing responsibilities, and giving up some justified control will affect your ability to thrive in your practice.

Consider Options

There may be options to expanding your behavioral health practice that does not include hiring a partner or employee. For example, if reaching a different demographic is your goal, you can consider offering online web counseling services in your practice. This type of service would meet the needs of clients and allow for expansion of your services without necessarily hiring a partner in your practice.

Before you make any decisions regarding hiring a partner for your behavioral health practice, consult with your legal and financial advisors to ensure you are fully aware of your options and the implications of your choices.