One major decision newly-graduated counselors need to make is the venue for their services. Private practice or an agency? In this post, I will discuss the pros and cons of each.
Although there are some professionals that believe it is too difficult to achieve, it is possible to opt for private practice directly after graduation. However, be sure to check the laws in your state to make sure you can practice independently (although, of course, you are under supervision as a registered intern). For example, in my home state of Florida, if you are a registered intern you are allowed to have a private practice as long as a licensed individual is on site at all times.
There are some cons, however, to opting for private practice right after graduation:
- Client load. It may take you longer to accumulate your hours, as it takes time to build up a client load. As one colleague on ACA Connect shared: “I worked at a clinic and finished my hours years ahead of a couple people in my supervision group who were doing a private practice. They were limited because they were only able to see cash paying clients and ended up only seeing a couple of clients a week. One girl in fact gave it up and ended up going to a clinic.”
- Isolation. Private practice is very isolating, and until you establish a network of colleagues you may find private practice too lonely.
- Business skills. Students generally do not graduate with the required business skills, unless they have experience in entrepreneurship or have taken some business classes or training. It might be too overwhelming to try to establish a business at the same time you are accumulating business skills.
- Money. It could be several months, if not a year or two, before you earn sufficient income. You might find it isn’t economically feasible to jump into full-time practice.
On the other hand, there are some pros:
- You may not like the agency dynamics or atmosphere. Different organizations have different cultures, which usually originate from the top and then percolate downward. (If you had your own practice you control the culture.)
- Less paperwork. Way less paperwork.
- You get to be your own boss. Of course, keep in mind that if you are not working you are not making money. Along with great flexibility is great responsibility.
Lastly, I’m not the only one who thinks private practice is a possibility: “It is very possible to be successful in private practice right out of school.”
Yours in the Joy of Knowledge,
Dr. Barbara LoFrisco
