In this episode, Patrick is joined by special guest Julie Herres, CEO of GreenOak Accounting, specifically designed for therapists and counselors in private practice. They talk about some of the big questions and concerns that private practice owners face with taxes, finances, and ensuring that they see a profit at the end of the year.
You may have been told you don’t become a therapist to make money, but setting up your business to earn it is an important part of sustaining yourself so that you can help others.
Some Key Takeaways:
- Financial Insecurity in Private Practice: Many therapists and counselors struggle with feeling guilty about making money in the mental health field, which can lead to undercharging for services and not paying themselves a fair wage. This episode addresses the importance of therapists being able to make a good living and feel comfortable with their finances, offering practical tips and advice on aligning business revenue with personal financial needs.
- Lack of Financial Knowledge: Private practice owners may feel overwhelmed by the complexities of managing their finances, including filing taxes and making important financial decisions for their practice. The podcast episode discusses the significance of working with a professional team, such as a tax professional, to prevent costly mistakes and ensure the sustainability of the business.
- Pricing and Fee Setting Challenges: Many practice owners may struggle with determining their rates and setting fees for services due to comparing themselves to others or feeling pressured to conform to standard market rates. This episode advocates for setting rates based on individual financial needs and lifestyle goals, emphasizing the importance of staying true to oneself and making business decisions that align with personal goals.
More about Julie:
Julie Herres is the founder and CEO of GreenOak Accounting, a firm that exclusively serves therapists, psychologists, and counselors in private practice across the United States. Over the years, Julie and her team have worked with hundreds of private practice owners and developed serious knowledge about what makes a practice financially successful. GreenOak’s goal is to help practice owners feel comfortable with the financial side of their businesses and have profitable practices. Some of the firm’s biggest success stories were achieved through implementing Profit First.
Julie is an accountant and an enrolled agent (EA). She is also a speaker, author of Profit First for Therapists, and the host of the Therapy for Your Money podcast.
Julie, an accountant and enrolled agent, is the author of "Profit First For Therapists" greenoakaccounting.com/compensation-strategies
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✨ The Receptionist for iPad:
I want to thank The Receptionist for iPad for sponsoring this episode.
The Receptionist offers an iPad list check-in option where clients can scan a QR code to check in, which negates the need for you to buy an iPad and stand. Go to thereceptionist.com/privatepractice and sign up for a free 14-day trial. When you do, you'll get your first month free. And don't forget to ask about our iPad list check-in option.
Mentioned in this episode:
Resilient Mind Counseling
It's Patrick. Some of you may know that I own a group therapy practice in North Carolina, Resilient Mind Counseling. We specialize in supporting the Neurodivergent, LGBTQIA+, and Black, Brown, and Asian communities online and across North Carolina. We also have limited in-person openings at our offices in Asheville and Cary. We really love working with clients who are coming to terms with both Autism and ADHD discoveries later in life or questioning, as well as the intersections of race, gender, identity, and orientation. All of our therapists have lived experience and identify as AuDHD, Autistic, or ADHD. Our team of affirming therapists offers a safe, anti-racist, anti-oppressive, inclusive, and accessible space where you can show up exactly as you are—no masking, no judgment, and no need to make eye contact, just real connection and healing. We accept most commercial insurances like Blue Cross Blue Shield, United, Aetna, and Med Cost, as well as self-pay options. We currently have openings for new clients. Visit our website at resilientmindcounseling.com. You can also text or call our HIPAA-compliant phone line at (828) 515-1246, or email us at scheduling@resilientmindcounseling.com.
The Receptionist for iPad
I want to thank The Receptionist for iPad for sponsoring this episode.
From new patients faced with an empty lobby and no idea where to find their therapist to clinicians with a session running over time and the doorbell ringing, some of the most anxiety-ridden moments of a therapy appointment happen before a session even starts. The Receptionist for iPad, helps you tackle some of that pre-appointment apprehension and anxiety. The Receptionist for iPad is an easy-to-use digital client check-in system that helps your visitors check in securely to their appointments and notify their practitioners of their arrival via SMS, email, or your preferred channel. No more confusion, and less lobby checking or having clients sign in on paper logbooks. It can even help you upgrade and update your demographic information for your clients as well and even validate parking.
Start a 14-day free trial of the Receptionist for iPad by going to thereceptionist.com/privatepractice. Make sure to start your trial with that link and you'll also get your first month free if you decide to sign up.
