Whether you’re newly licensed or rethinking your current role, you might find yourself comparing agency work with private practice. Both paths offer real benefits — and real challenges. What matters most is which model fits you best right now.

This guide will help you get clear on what each option offers — and what might be possible in a group setting like ours.

Private Practice

Pros:

• Flexibility in schedule, caseload, and client focus

• Higher earning potential

• Freedom to shape your clinical approach

• Option for remote work through telehealth

• More autonomy and self-direction

Cons:

• You’re on your own for billing, marketing, and admin

• Unpredictable income — especially in the beginning

• No built-in benefits or support

• Can be isolating or overwhelming without the right structure

• More responsibility for business and risk management

Choosing between agency work and private practice isn’t just a professional decision — it’s also a personal one. The right choice often depends on your current season of life, your energy levels, and your appetite for autonomy.

Here are a few key questions to help guide your thinking:

• What kind of support do I need right now? If you’re early in your career or emerging from burnout, you may need consistent mentorship or a lower-stress entry point. If you’re more seasoned, you might be ready for increased flexibility and independence.

• Do I value flexibility or predictability more right now? Private work tends to offer more freedom, but with that freedom comes a level of uncertainty. Agencies often offer more structure — but sometimes at the cost of your schedule and creativity.

• How much do I want to handle behind the scenes? In solo private practice, you’re not just the therapist — you’re the admin, biller, and marketer. That might be exciting for some, exhausting for others.

• What are my long-term goals — clinically and personally? Are you hoping to specialize? Build a caseload that aligns with your passions? Make room for family or travel? Your setting should support both your professional development and your life beyond work.

Ultimately, this isn’t about one path being better than the other — it’s about fit. The key is to choose a setting that honors your clinical values, your need for sustainability, and your personal bandwidth.

If you’re torn between the autonomy of private work and the support of an agency, there’s a middle path worth considering: employment in a group private practice.

Some group practices offer a hybrid model — full autonomy with back-end support like billing, admin, and referrals. That’s the kind of structure we’ve built. You retain the freedom to shape your schedule, choose your clinical focus, and work at a pace that fits your lifestyle — but with built-in infrastructure and support that you don’t have to manage alone.

Here’s what that can look like at Creative Solutions Behavioral Health:

• Steady referrals, so you’re not constantly worried about how to fill your schedule

• Administrative and billing support, so you can focus on therapy — not chasing insurance claims

• Opportunities for peer consultation and connection — not required, always welcome, so you don’t feel isolated in your decision-making

• Flexible Scheduling — set the hours that work for you and your life

• A culture that respects your expertise, with peer support available when you want it.

We hire W-2 employees because we believe you deserve security and respect. You’ll have the structure of employment, but the clinical freedom and flexibility often associated with private practice.

You get to do the work you trained for, in a setting that respects your autonomy and your wellbeing. It’s not all or nothing — and you don’t have to choose between burnout and being on your own.

No insurance battles. No micromanaging. No impossible productivity goals.
Just the space to do meaningful work — in a way that works for you.

Group practice might not be the first path you considered — but for many therapists, it ends up being the right one.

Choosing the right practice isn’t just about logistics — it’s about finding a place that supports who you are and who you’re becoming as a clinician.

At Creative Solutions Behavioral Health, we offer the flexibility, support, and community you’ve been looking for — without the burnout.

Whether you’re exploring options or ready to make a move, we’d love to connect.