Private Practice vs. Working for a Group Practice: Which Is Actually Right for You?

Written by Hannah Ciampini, LCSW | Private Practice Consultant & Owner of Blueprint & Bloom

At some point, almost every therapist asks this question: should I stay in a group practice, or go out on my own?

There's no universally right answer, and honestly, anyone who tells you there is hasn't sat with how personal this decision actually is. But there are real trade-offs on both sides worth thinking through clearly, instead of deciding out of frustration on a hard week.

Group practice offers structure, referrals, and built-in support, while private practice offers autonomy, income potential, and control, at the cost of having to build all of that structure yourself.

I've lived both sides of this.

My own path started in a group practice, juggling a heavy caseload, before I made the move to build something of my own.

Key Takeaways

•  Group practice offers built-in referrals, admin support, and community, often at the cost of income share and schedule control

•  Private practice offers full autonomy and income potential, but you own every part of running the business

•  Burnout shows up in both settings, just from different sources: caseload and admin burden in group practice, isolation and business overwhelm in private practice

•  There's no universally “right” choice, it depends on your risk tolerance, business interest, and stage of career

•  You don't have to decide forever, many therapists transition gradually rather than all at once

What You Gain in a Group Practice

• A steady stream of referrals: without having to market yourself

• Administrative support: for scheduling, billing, and sometimes even insurance credentialing

• Built-in community: and case consultation with other clinicians

• Lower financial risk: since you're not carrying the overhead of running a business

• A more predictable income: in many cases, at least early on

For newer therapists, or anyone who doesn't want to think about business operations at all, this structure can be genuinely valuable.

What You Give Up in a Group Practice

• A cut of every session: goes to the practice, often 40–60%

• Limited control: over your schedule, caseload size, and sometimes even your specialties

• Less flexibility: to offer non-traditional formats like intensives or premium packages

• A ceiling on income: that's largely out of your hands

A 2023 industry survey found that over half of therapists had experienced burnout in the past year, with administrative burden and low pay among the top contributors, according to SimplePractice's State of Therapist Well-Being Report. Group practice doesn't automatically solve for this, it just relocates where the pressure comes from.

What You Gain in Private Practice

• Full control: over your schedule, caseload, pricing, and specialties

• Higher income potential: since you're not splitting revenue with a practice owner

• Freedom to build the model you actually want: weekly sessions, intensives, hybrid, private pay, or a mix

• The ability to shape your practice around your life, not the other way around

What You Give Up in Private Practice

• You own all the business tasks: marketing, admin, systems, taxes, insurance

• No built-in referral pipeline; you have to build one yourself

• More financial risk, especially in the early months

• Potential isolation without a built-in team around you

None of this means private practice is a mistake. It means going in with your eyes open about what you're taking on, not just what you're gaining.

Questions to Ask Yourself Before Deciding

• Do I want to spend time and energy on business tasks, or only on clinical work?

• How much financial risk am I comfortable taking on right now?

• Do I already have a niche and referral relationships, or would I be starting from zero?

• Is my current burnout coming from caseload volume, lack of autonomy, or something else entirely?

• Would I rather have income predictability now, or income potential later?

You Don't Have to Choose Forever

This isn't necessarily a permanent, all-or-nothing decision. Some therapists stay in a group practice while building a small private caseload on the side. Others leave a group practice, then bring on associates of their own years later.

If you're leaning toward going out on your own, this step-by-step guide to starting a private practice walks through what actually needs to happen first.

Frequently Asked Questions About Private Practice vs. Group Practice

Is private practice more profitable than working for a group practice?

It can be, since you're not splitting revenue with a practice owner, but it also comes with overhead, business expenses, and the time cost of running your own operations.

What percentage do group practices typically take?

This varies by practice and region, but many group practices retain roughly 40–60% of session fees to cover overhead, admin support, and referrals.

Is it risky to leave a group practice for private practice?

There's inherent financial risk in building a caseload from scratch, but many therapists manage this by transitioning gradually rather than leaving all at once.

Can I do both private practice and group practice work?

Yes. Many therapists build a private caseload part-time while maintaining group practice work, then transition fully once their private caseload is established.

What's the biggest reason therapists choose to leave group practice?

Commonly cited reasons include income caps, lack of schedule control, and wanting to offer services (like intensives or premium packages) that don't fit a traditional group practice model.

Not Sure Which Path Is Right for You?

This is exactly the kind of decision I help therapists work through, not by telling you what to do, but by helping you get honest about what you actually want your practice, and your life, to look like.

I'm Hannah Ciampini, LCSW, a private practice owner, EMDR intensive therapist, and business coach for therapists who are ready to build something that actually fits their life.

About the Author

Hannah Ciampini, LCSW, is a private practice owner, EMDR intensive therapist, and business coach for therapists who are ready to build something that actually fits their life.

Through her coaching brand, Blueprint & Bloom, she helps therapists move away from burnout-heavy, high-volume models and into boutique private practices built around intentional offers like therapy intensives, private pay services, and high-impact work. Her approach focuses on structure first, helping therapists create sustainable income, clearer schedules, and deeper client outcomes without needing more and more clients to get there.