You’ve got a therapy license (or you’re working on one), a whole heart, a slightly suspicious relationship with your EHR platform, and a dream of doing meaningful work without crumbling under the weight of it all. But the thought of private practice? Kind of feels like steering a rowboat through a hurricane—solo, without a compass, and maybe wearing sandals. Cute, but impractical.

Enter the group practice. Not just any group practice—one that doesn’t crush your creativity or siphon your soul. One that helps you build your caseload without sacrificing your voice. One that sees you as more than a provider number. One that gets that healing work starts with how you practice, not just what you practice.

There comes a moment in every therapist’s journey where the waves grow steady, the horizon expands—and a lighthouse appears. A place of rest, yes, but also growth. At Storm Haven Counseling & Wellness, we don’t just offer jobs. We offer refuge, restoration, and a chance to anchor into your professional identity while still sailing your own ship.

Welcome to Provider Haven—where therapists are seen as humans first, clinicians second, and community always.

🌊 Why Therapists Consider Group Practice (And Why It’s Not Selling Out)

Let’s talk about the dream for a second.

You imagined late mornings, slow coffee, the smell of eucalyptus in your office, and clients who adore boundary work. You pictured yourself crafting the perfect caseload, sprinkled with autonomy and a touch of sage-scented magic. But then—paperwork. And insurance panels. And, oh yeah, running a whole business while holding space for generational trauma.

That’s where group practice enters.

Not as a compromise. Not as a “Plan B.” But as a container—a structure that lets you do the work without burning out from the work behind the work.

Group practices can offer the soft landing you didn’t know you needed: a place where your time is honored, your energy is preserved, and your clinical identity doesn’t get diluted in the noise of business admin chaos.

⚓ What Group Practices (At Least the Ones Doing It Well) Tend to Offer

Every group practice is different. Some lean boutique. Others feel more collective. And some—well, let’s just say they’re still figuring it out.

But the ones doing it well—the ones that truly support their therapists? They tend to blend structure with soul. Flexibility with community. Autonomy with actual support.

Storm Haven is built with that in mind. Here’s what it looks like when your group practice split actually supports the ecosystem—and when your work feels more sustainable than soul-crushing.

🌿 The “You” Stuff

• Space to grow your niche without having to market like an influencer
• Support in crafting (and refreshing) your bios, profiles, and branding
• A matching system so you’re seeing clients who actually fit your therapeutic style
• Permission to say “no thanks” to misaligned referrals—no guilt trips, no passive-aggressive Slack messages

🧠 The Professional Growth Side

• Peer consultation groups that don’t feel like corporate memos
• Access to supervision (especially for pre-licensed folx)
• Encouragement to pursue CEUs that feed your curiosity
• Mentorship or team meetings that leave you feeling refueled, not drained

🧾 The Admin Support You Didn’t Know You Needed

• Billing (done for you, no 12-hour phone calls with insurance)
• Intake coordination (so you’re not answering voicemails between sessions)
• Marketing support (ad placement, SEO, social presence—without selling your soul)
• Payroll that happens on time (e.g., the 10th and 26th)

❤️‍🔥 The Human Parts

• Community vibes (actual ones, not “team-building” exercises that feel like hostage situations)
• Flexibility in scheduling and caseload
• Cultural humility, neurodiversity-affirming spaces, and queer celebration—not just tolerance
• Seasonal events, optional podcasting, creative projects, supportive Slack threads

💰 Let’s Talk Pay (aka, the “Am I Getting Paid Fairly?” Section)

Ah yes, the money talk. The one that makes therapists sweat slightly more than disclosing their own therapist in consultation.

One of the biggest myths about group practice is that it’s some kind of pyramid scheme where the top keeps the gold and you’re left hunting for coins in the couch cushions. But when a group practice is doing it right? The pay structure is intentional, transparent, and aligned with both clinical values and employment laws.

And compensation isn’t just about your per-session rate—it’s about the full package. Think: medical and dental benefits, retirement contributions, admin pay, and a team that’s not asking you to work unpaid overtime just to keep up.

💸 Common Pay Models in Group Practice

Most group practices offer one of the following structures—or a combination—to support different needs and career stages:

1. Flat Rate Per Session

You’re paid a fixed dollar amount per completed session (e.g., $XX.XX / session). It’s straightforward, predictable, and works well for therapists who prefer consistency over complexity.

2. Percentage-Based Model

This model pays you a percentage of the total collected revenue per session. Common splits might look like:

• % for pre-licensed
• % for licensed

The percentage may vary depending on client type (insurance vs. private pay), and your role within the practice.

3. Hybrid Models

The best of both worlds: flat rate for insurance clients, and percentage-based pay for private pay. It’s a flexible approach for navigating the often-inconsistent landscape of reimbursement.

💬 Some practices may also offer alternative models such as hourly rates or $XX.XX for non-clinical contributions. The key is transparency and making sure you know what to expect—and what to ask for.

🧘‍♀️ What About the Rest of the Time?

Therapy isn’t just what happens in the room. Many group practices (especially those doing it well) understand that your job doesn’t end when the session does.

Here’s how non-session work is often compensated:

• Admin Pay / Paid Non-Productive Time: A rate (e.g., $XX.XX / hour) for required meetings, and even rest and recovery time—because burnout doesn’t wait for you to catch up on notes.
• Rate for Required Training & Mandatory Meetings: Paid based on the estimated time to complete mandatory meetings and required trainings. If the training takes 1.5 hours, you’re paid for 1.5 hours. Wild, right? 
• Capped Non-Session Time: Many practices cap admin/rest/training pay to something like X hours per week, unless otherwise pre-approved. This helps balance sustainability for both the therapist and the practice.

🧾 Where Does the Other 50–60% Go?

Let’s clear something up: no, your group practice leaders are not backstroking through your client copays like Scrooge McDuck.
And while the “split” might look a little mysterious from the outside, when it’s done right—it’s not about skimming. It’s about sustaining the ecosystem that makes quality therapy possible.

So where does that “other half” actually go?

It nourishes the ecosystem that holds you, your clients, and the work itself. From the infrastructure that keeps sessions running smoothly to the human support that helps you avoid burnout, this portion of the split is doing more than just existing—it’s actively working in your favor.

💻 Admin & Operations

Therapists didn’t go to grad school to chase down insurance claims. That’s why a good portion of the split supports the admin backbone:

• Billing & claims teams who file, follow up, and occasionally go to war with insurance so you don’t have to
• Client care coordinators who handle intake, screening, and matchmaking—getting the right folx on your calendar without the chaos
• Scheduling systems that send reminders and avoid double-booking nightmares

📣 Marketing & Visibility

Because even the best therapists need help being found:

• Professional bios and profile updates (yes, someone’s cropping your photo and rewriting that one cringey line)
• SEO, Google Ads, and niche marketing that puts you in front of your ideal clients—without requiring a TikTok presence
• Website and social media management that lets your work be visible without selling your soul to the algorithm gods

📋 Compliance & Legal Coverage

The not-so-glamorous stuff that becomes very important when you need it:

• Liability and malpractice insurance for peace of mind
• Employer payroll taxes and contributions (because W-2 life comes with protections)
• HIPAA-compliant systems like secure EHRs, encrypted messaging, and telehealth tools
• Legal support and documentation compliance so you’re covered without needing to memorize all 42 pages of the BBS code

🪴 Physical & Digital Infrastructure

The things that make therapy feel like therapy—not tech support:

• Office space with rent, utilities, furniture, tissues, and a curated tea stash
• HIPAA-secure platforms like SimplePractice, Gusto, and Slack that make your day flow
• Tech tools for documentation, payroll, secure messaging, and session stability

🏥 Medical & Retirement Benefits

The essentials that help you take care of your future—because therapists deserve that too:

• Access to medical and dental insurance (no scrambling for your own plan)
• Retirement contributions so you’re supported beyond your last session note
• Infrastructure that supports you as a whole human—not just a productivity machine

🫶 Therapist Culture & Care

This isn’t just about productivity—it’s about sustainability:

• Paid admin time and legally required rest breaks so you’re not giving unpaid labor to a field already known for burnout
• CEU access, team consults, and clinical supervision that support both skill and soul
• Celebrations, retreats, and care packages that remind you that being a therapist doesn’t mean being invisible
• Community time—podcast invites, creative projects, group consults—that bring the heart back into the work

In Short:

That “other half” of the split? It’s not vanishing—it’s feeding the ecosystem you rely on every single day.
And when it’s working right, that system supports your growth, protects your peace, and makes the practice of therapy something you can actually sustain.

What You Actually Get When You Join a Solid Private Group Practice

(Especially the ones doing it right—and yes, they do exist.)

Whether you’re a wide-eyed pre-licensed therapist or a seasoned clinician ready to stop answering billing emails at 11:47 PM, this guide breaks down the tangible, human, and professional-level support a well-run group practice can offer. Spoiler: it’s more than just a paycheck and a platform.

❓ Quick FAQ: Therapist Edition

Because if you’ve ever spiraled after reading a contract or whispered “Is this normal?” into the void—this one’s for you.

🌀 “Am I giving up my autonomy by joining a group?”

Nope. A solid group practice amplifies your voice—it doesn’t mute it. You still choose your schedule, clients, niche, and approach. The right group won’t just allow autonomy—they’ll celebrate it.

💸 “Isn’t 50% low?”

It feels that way—until you see what it covers. That percentage fuels billing, insurance wrangling, marketing, admin support, tech platforms, compliance, payroll taxes, and more. It’s not about the number—it’s about what it frees you up to do.

📅 “What if I want to change my hours or caseload?”

In most well-run practices? Totally doable. Whether you’re in a slow season, leveling up, or just need more bandwidth to live your life—flexibility is key.

📣 “Do I have to market myself?”

Not in the traditional influencer-on-Instagram sense. A good group practice handles most marketing for you—bio, photos, ads, SEO—so you can just show up, be real, and do your work.

😬 “I’m introverted and allergic to ‘networking’… will I have to schmooze?”

Hard no. (Also: relatable.) The best practices offer connection without the forced fun. Think thoughtful community over loud team-building games. Meme-forward Slack, optional events, and meaningful support with zero small talk pressure.

👀 “How will I know if it’s a good fit?”

Vibe-check it. Ask questions. Trust your gut. A good group practice should feel spacious, supportive, and aligned. You should feel more you in that space—not less.

And when that’s the case, you’ll often find benefits you didn’t even know you were craving. Let’s talk about the ones that don’t fit neatly into a compensation package—but make all the difference in how it feels to show up for this work.

🩺 “Are there actual benefits, or is it just session pay?”

Yep—Storm Haven isn’t just handing you a caseload and hoping for the best. We offer medical and dental benefits and retirement contributions. Because your well-being matters too—and benefits should reflect that.

More Than Just a Split: The Surprising Perks of Group Practice

So maybe you’ve heard the basics—billing’s covered, someone else calls Blue Shield, you get paid on time (imagine that). But the truth is, a solid group practice is more than a paperwork escape hatch. It’s a living, breathing ecosystem that offers support in ways you might not even realize you needed—until you exhale and think, Oh… so this is what not drowning feels like.

Let’s talk about the often-overlooked benefits—the behind-the-scenes magic that makes group practice more than just a clinical paycheck.

Built-In Professional Community (aka, You Don’t Have to Therapist Alone)

Solo practice can feel like shouting into the clinical void. You’re holding space all day and then… what? Debrief with your plant?

In a group, you’ve got:

💬 Colleagues to consult with (without needing to calendar-stalk them first)

🧵 A Slack thread that doubles as a digital break room

🫂 People who get what it means when you say, “I’m holding a lot today” and mean it

It’s not just support—it’s clinical companionship.

Protection from Scope Creep (Your Caseload Doesn’t Have to Spiral)

When you’re solo, it’s easy to slowly drift outside your lane—especially when scarcity mindset whispers things like “just take the referral.”

But in a group that knows better?

🧭 You get clarity on your niche

✋ You can say “no” without panic

✅ You’re encouraged to work within your actual wheelhouse (and refer out the rest, guilt-free)

You’re not here to be everyone’s everything. A good practice honors that.

Shared Risk = Shared Safety

When a clinical gray zone shows up—ethics questions, licensing hiccups, a client in crisis—you’re not Googling at midnight.

You have:

🛡️ Leadership that can step in with guidance

📋 Built-in legal coverage and documentation policies

🤝 A team that shares the load when things get hard

It’s not just a safety net. It’s a collective.

More Freedom, Not Less

Weird myth: group practice = handcuffs.

Reality: group practice = freedom from all the stuff you didn’t sign up for when you became a therapist.

No marketing funnels, no late-night billing, no stressing over estimated taxes.

That’s energy you can pour into:

🧠 Your craft

🎯 Your niche

🧪 That weirdly specific CEU course you’ve been eyeing

Because autonomy isn’t just about doing it all—it’s about doing what matters most.

Learning in Community (Not in Isolation)

Sure, you can watch a CEU webinar solo at 10pm in pajama pants. But it hits different when you:

👂 Debrief what you’re learning with peers

❓ Ask real-time questions

⚡ Apply insights with support

Professional development doesn’t have to be a lonely mountain. In group practice, it can feel more like a nerdy book club for clinicians.

Sustainable Pace & Seasonal Flow

The right practice gets that you’re not a robot. You’re a human with seasons—of life, energy, grief, ambition, and everything in between.

⏳ Need a lighter caseload this season? Cool.

🌱 Ready to grow next quarter? Let’s build it together.

It’s not about output. It’s about alignment with your actual life.

Celebrating Wins Together (Because Joy is Contagious)

One of the best parts?

You’re not alone when something hard hits—but you’re also not alone when something good happens.

✨ Licensure celebrations

✅ First full caseloads

🌊 Client breakthroughs

You get to share those moments with people who actually understand what it took to get there.

And that? That kind of community is the thing no split percentage can quantify.

🎒 The Storm Haven Starter Pack

So… you’re therapist-curious about this whole group practice thing. Maybe you’ve been burned before. Maybe you’re brand new. Maybe you just want a job that doesn’t make you question your life choices every Sunday evening.

Whatever brought you here—here’s what you’d actually find in the Storm Haven Starter Pack. No weird branding pens. No tote bags with someone else’s inspirational quote. Just the real stuff that keeps you steady, seen, and supported.

🗺️ Clinical Autonomy

You get to be you.
No clinical scripts. No forced modalities. No being “therapist number seven.”
You choose your caseload, your pace, your people—and you’re trusted to do your work well.

🧵 Admin + Billing = Done for You

Insurance monsters? Tamed.
Intake calls? Handled.
Paychecks? On time. Twice a month. Without mystery math.
Behind the scenes, the system’s humming—so you can focus on actual therapy, not inbox triage.

💼 Benefits That Actually Benefit You

We cover medical and dental, contribute to retirement, and pay you for non-clinical work—because your future shouldn’t hinge on unpaid labor and late-night Googling.

✨ Niche Marketing Magic

You bring the clinical skill—we help you get found.
From copywriting to SEO to matching clients with your unique voice, we make sure the right people show up in your (digital or physical) office.
It’s marketing support that actually feels aligned, not algorithm-driven.

💬 Slack with Substance

Yes, we meme.
But also—yes, we debrief, consult, crowdsource insight, and send each other “we got you” gifs on hard days.
It’s community, not corporate. Clinical support, not surveillance.

🔄 Meeting of the Haven (MOTH)

A weekly gathering for peer connection, case consults, collective wisdom, and the occasional existential therapist rant.
Come as you are. PJs welcome. Blankets encouraged.

📚 Paid Time for Growth (and Rest)

Your time matters—on and off the clock.
That means admin pay for: 

• Mandatory meetings
• Required trainings
• Legally protected rest breaks
  Because being a good therapist shouldn’t require unpaid overtime or caffeine-fueled martyrdom.

🎙️ Creative Expression Encouraged

Have something to say?
Whether it’s a blog post, a podcast episode, or an idea for a new project—we make space for the therapist parts of you that want to create, collaborate, or disrupt respectfully.

🍂 Seasonal Energy, Spooky Vibes & Community Feels

Storm Haven doesn’t do forced fun.
We do cozy gatherings, surprise care packages, and a culture that actually sees the human behind the therapist.
Fall witches, spring bloomers, summer introverts—we build space for all of it.

Ready to trade burnout for something that actually feels sustainable?
This isn’t a utopia. But it is a place where therapists can be therapists—without losing their soul (or their Sundays).

Docking the Ship: What You Actually Get from a Group Practice

An inside look at Storm Haven Counseling & Wellness

Choosing where—and how—you practice as a therapist is a big decision. And while private practice can look dreamy on paper (plants! autonomy! snacks!), it often comes with burnout, billing headaches, and the sneaky feeling that you’re doing it all alone.

This handout is your no-fluff, no-nonsense breakdown of what it actually looks like to join a group practice that’s done right. We’re talking real support, not just lip service. Transparent pay. Administrative backup. A community that vibes with your weirdness, honors your humanness, and gives your clinical identity room to grow.

If you’re therapist-curious about group practice—or just wondering what else might be out there—this is your peek behind the curtain.

Welcome aboard. Let’s dock the ship together.

🧭 You Steer the Ship. We’re the Lighthouse.

There’s something sacred about the therapist’s journey—the way we hold space for others while quietly navigating our own tides. The way we gather tools—books, theories, TikTok inspo, lived experience—and try to make meaning out of them all.

And yet… no one tells you how lonely it can feel behind the scenes. How much time is spent not in session, but emailing, documenting, marketing, and wondering if you’re doing it right.

That’s where a group practice—when it’s done well—can be more than just a workplace. It can be a haven.

Not to tame your fire.
But to shield it while it burns.
Not to hand you a script.
But to hold the mic while you speak in your own voice.
Not to steer your ship.
But to be the lighthouse in the distance, keeping you grounded when the waves roll in.

If your therapist heart is craving less admin, more authenticity, and a space that doesn’t require you to sacrifice your humanity for productivity—maybe it’s time to wander toward the lighthouse.

Whether you’re fresh from licensure or ten years deep into the work, whether you’re curious, burnt out, or somewhere in between—this is your permission to explore.

Check out the vibe. Stalk the site. Send a message that simply says, “Hey, I’m thinking about this.”
No pressure. No elevator pitch required.

We’re not here to recruit—we’re here to connect.
And if it turns out we’re your people?

Well… you’ve got a ship to sail and a safe harbor to return to.
And when you’re ready?

We’ll keep the light on.

Written by Jen Hyatt, The Nerdie Therapist, a licensed psychotherapist at Storm Haven Counseling & Wellness in Temecula, California.

Disclaimer

This blog post is intended for informational and educational purposes only and reflects the author’s perspectives and experiences as a mental health professional. It is not a substitute for formal training, supervision, or individualized clinical guidance. Therapists are encouraged to consult their own professional resources, supervisors, or peers when applying concepts to their practice.