Explore The Course
Ariadne's Thread: Private Practice Set up Guide for Clinicians
Private practice offers therapists and mental health clinicians a path toward greater autonomy, flexible scheduling, and a more sustainable way of working. Many clinicians are drawn to private practice after experiencing burnout, rigid productivity expectations, or misalignment within group practice settings, including environments that feel limiting or exploitative.
For clinicians balancing caregiving responsibilities, chronic health conditions, or the need for a more humane pace of work, private practice can create the flexibility to structure a career that supports—not depletes—your well-being. This matters clinically as well: when therapists are regulated, resourced, and able to work within their capacity, it strengthens the therapeutic relationship, which is one of the strongest predictors of positive client outcomes.
While starting a private practice is often assumed to be complicated, the process is more straightforward than most clinicians expect when it’s broken into clear, practical steps.
This private practice startup guide for therapists and clinicians walks you through building a private therapy practice from the ground up—including setup, insurance credentialing, systems, and launching your caseload—so you can move forward with clarity and confidence.
Ethical practice is woven throughout the guide, with special attention to decision-making grounded in the NASW Code of Ethics. The goal is to help you build not only a functional private practice, but one that feels ethically aligned, clinically sound, and sustainable over time.
What sets it apart.
Real-World Guidance
This step-by-step guide is rooted in real, practical solutions to starting your own private practice. It is filled with check lists, detailed step-by-step instructions, and helpful spreadsheets. I know it works because it is exactly the path I followed to start my practice before even graduating from my MSW program. This knowledge was accumulated through in depth research, strong mentorship, and deep community involvment.
Rooted in Ethics
A big reason why I wrote this guide was in response to the overwhelming number of predatory group practices I’ve run into. Not only were these practices harmful to clinicians, but I’ve seen the harm they’ve done to clients as well. In response, this guide goes in depth into ethical reasoning for practice choices and standards. Throughout the guide, the NASW Code of Ethics is referenced in detail to justify best practices.
Full Access and Use of Spreadsheets and Checklists for Personal Use
After purchase, you will have full access to all the checklists, spreadsheets, and how-tos included in the course. Free digital downloads are available of all materials once the course has been purchased. While the materials are protected by copywrite, they are yours to use as needed for personal clinical and business practices*.
*Redistribution, resale, or sharing of materials outside your personal use is not permitted. This guide and all associated materials are protected by copyright.
Our Offerings
*
Our Offerings *
Dive into a dynamic curriculum crafted by an industry professional, offering practical insights and real-world applications.
Get the same quality course content, plus the opportunity to utiize a leading industry tool: the Licensure and CEU tracker. The software allows you to track requirements and your own progress no matter what state or license you are working towards. Fully licensed clinicins will also enjoy the CEU tracker, which shows you your states requirments and allows you to keep track of any training and CEU hours accumulated.
The same lifetime access to quality professional training on how to open your private practice, access to the 50 State License and CEU tracker, plus one 1:1 coaching session lasting an hour and a half where you can ask any questions and go over business plans with the creator of the course, Rachel Gosselin MSW, LSWAIC.
Gain access to others going through the course and course graduates. Ask questions, network, and build community as you begin the process of opening your private therapy practice.
What You’ll Learn
This step-by-step guide is rooted in real, practical solutions to starting your own private practice. It is filled with check lists, detailed step-by-step instructions, and helpful spreadsheets. I know it works because it is exactly the path I followed to start my practice before even graduating from my MSW program. This knowledge was accumulated through in depth research, strong mentorship, and deep community involvment.
Practical Steps
A big reason why I wrote this guide was in response to the overwhelming number of predatory group practices I’ve run into. Not only were these practices harmful to clinicians, but I’ve seen the harm they’ve done to clients as well. In response, this guide goes in depth into ethical reasoning for practice choices and standards. Throughout the guide, the NASW Code of Ethics is referenced in detail to justify best practices.
Ethical Reasoning
What is included?
After purchase, you will have full access to all the checklists, spreadsheets, and how-tos included in the course. Free digital downloads are available of all materials once the course has been purchased. While the materials are protected by copywrite, they are yours to use as needed for personal clinical and business practices*.
*Redistribution, resale, or sharing of materials outside your personal use is not permitted. This guide and all associated materials are protected by copyright.
Meet Your Instructor
Rachel Gosselin MSW, LSWAIC
I've walked this path. Starting in community mental health as a peer, working all the way to social work licnsure and a private practice business owner. I've seen first hand the burnout and exploitation that is rampant in our field. It's a dirty secret we don't talk about as a field. School and textbooks don't preparae you for the reality of what that looks like. As an Associate Clinical Social Worker, not only do I want to empower my clients to live the lives they want to, I want to empower our field to challenge and grow out of these exploitative patterns.Currently, the easiest way out is to work for yourself. And that's why I created this course. I wanted to build something that bridges the gap between clinical expertise and practical business skills that allows us to move on from meeting productivity goals and falling into burnout.
I built my practice from the ground up—learning the hard way what works and what doesn't. I struggled with pricing, marketing, and systems until I finally cracked the code with thorough research, trial and error, and the loving guidance of elders in our field showing me the way. Now my practice runs smoothly, my clients get better outcomes, and I actually enjoy my work-life balance. I hope to capture this knowledge and share it with you so you can experience the same.
My mission? Help you move out of burnout by building the life and practice you deserve. Whether you're scaling your therapy business or just starting out, I'm here to guide you every step of the way.
Choose Your Plan
✦
Choose Your Plan ✦
Dive into a dynamic curriculum crafted by an industry professional, offering practical insights and real-world applications.
Get the same quality course content, plus the opportunity to utiize a leading industry tool: the Licensure and CEU tracker. The software allows you to track requirements and your own progress no matter what state or license you are working towards. Fully licensed clinicins will also enjoy the CEU tracker, which shows you your states requirments and allows you to keep track of any training and CEU hours accumulated.
The same lifetime access to quality professional training on how to open your private practice, access to the 50 State License and CEU tracker, plus one 1:1 coaching session lasting an hour and a half where you can ask any questions and go over business plans with the creator of the course, Rachel Gosselin MSW, LSWAIC.
Gain access to others going through the course and course graduates. Ask questions, network, and build community as you begin the process of opening your private therapy practice.
Additional a la Carte:
Your Questions, Answered
-
Membership typically includes access to our full library of digital content—videos, courses, resources, and any new material we release while you're subscribed.
-
Definitely. You can switch plans, upgrade, or make changes to your membership anytime.
-
Yes! We’re always expanding the library with fresh content, tools, and updates to keep your learning and inspiration going strong.
-
Memberships are flexible and can be canceled at any time from your account. You’ll retain access through the end of your current billing cycle.