Social Work & Mental Health Employment Resources
I make no guarantee to the qualifications or competence of those listed below. I do not endorse, approve of, or make any warranties or representations as to accuracy of the information contained in any site to which any user may be linked.
Liberation Healing Seattle is intended to be used for informational purposes only.
Please do not treat Liberation Healing Seattle as a substitute for professional mental health advice. Liberation Healing Seattle will not be held responsible for your use or application of the information you obtain from Liberation Healing Seattle.
employment resources
Employment Resources
Click on each box below to expand and see more employment resources.
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Not sure or ready to open your practice?
There are so many practices hiring associates and licensed clinicians due to the demand in mental health services.
Make sure to read your contract in detail and find out whether out will be a W-2 or IC (Independent Contractor) as this impacts fee split and benefits offered as well as legal rights.
What Is A Group Practice?
A therapy/mental health group practice is a collective of mental health professionals who come together to offer a variety of therapeutic services to individuals in need owned by a lead therapist/director.
Often group practices are created to expand services to serve more clients with a specific value, skillset, and/or training.
Some group practices take on interns/student therapists to offer lower fee services and to mentor/shape/educate/train the next generation of therapists.
These services can include therapy, counseling, psychiatric medication management, and more, all provided by a team of skilled and specialized clinicians.
Some group practices only provide psychotherapy.
What is a W2 Employee?
Considered an employee
W-2 employees are typically eligible for a range of benefits, including health insurance, retirement plans, paid time off, and workers' compensation.
The employer usually withholds income taxes, Social Security, and Medicare taxes from the therapist's paychecks, making tax compliance simpler.
Often greater job security, as they are protected by labor laws, such as minimum wage and overtime regulations.
Employers usually provide a structured work environment, including set working hours and supervision.
May have less autonomy over their practice and patient load, as their employer makes decisions about scheduling and caseload assignments.
Might have less flexibility in choosing their therapeutic methods and approaches (group practice owner can dictate the approach, modality, specialties, etc.).
What is an Independent Contractor?
Independent contractors have more control over their schedules, caseloads, and therapeutic approaches. They can set their own hours and choose their clients.
Freedom to build their own practice and brand.
Responsible for handling their own taxes, including income tax, self-employment tax, and estimated quarterly tax payments.
While they may have more tax-related responsibilities, they can also take advantage of tax deductions for business expenses like office rent, supplies, and continuing education from their taxable income, potentially reducing their tax liability.
Do not receive employee benefits, such as health insurance or retirement plans, and must provide these benefits for themselves if desired.
They are not eligible for workers' compensation, so they need to have their own insurance coverage.
Typical Fee Splits For W-2 Unlicensed
45% employee / 55% employer
Typical Fee Splits For W-2 Licensed
55% employee / 45% employer
Typical Fee Splits For IC Licensed
Ranges from 60%/40% to 80%/20%
Group Practices Hiring in Washington State
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Hospitals
Managed Care/Health Care Systems
Eating Disorder Clinics, Substance Use, IOPs, PHPs, and IPs
Mental Health Agencies & Nonprofits
Refugee Women’s Alliance (ReWA)
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Assess your strengths and areas you thrive/your gifts
Assess your areas of growth, continued challenges, and weaknesses
Working on and refining areas of growth, continued challenges, and weaknesses
Awareness and active exploration and management of scarcity, anxiety, worthiness, shame, guilt, and money mindset issues/core beliefs you hold
Understands and is comfortable with the reality of opening and building a private practice. Takes anywhere from 10-16 months to have a full caseload (depends on what you consider a full weekly caseload is)
Click here to read my post blog titled How Long Does It Take To Get A Full Caseload?
Is okay making limited income in the beginning stages of business (0-9 months)
Comfortable with making variable income based on the seasons of the year (e.g. summer is slower so take vacation then, fall is busier so working more) and/or due to client cancelations
Has a partner/spouse, savings fund, and/or disposable income in the beginning stages or is okay working part-time or per diem to supplement income in the beginning stages when you are building a caseload
Comfortable with consistent and ongoing networking with other colleagues (talking about themselves and reciprocal building relationships)
Comfortable with consistent and ongoing professional marketing with whatever method that they prefer and works for them and their ideal client such as : Google ads, Google My Business, SEO, blogging, social media, networking, a good website, writing a book, presenting workshops, going on podcasts, etc.
The traits and skills needed to be in private practice include, but not are limited to:
Identification of values and goals of your business (Why do you want to open a private practice. Who will you serve? What are your business values? What are your personal values?)
Go getter, self motivated and proactive
Active learner
Problem solver
Financial literacy
Strong clinical skills and judgement
Evidence based practice
Strong foundation of basic counseling skills
Customer service
Marketing and advertising
Adaptable
Okay with taking risks
Patience
Organized
Communication skills
Self awareness and insight
Okay with taking risks
Self confidence
Assessing your comfort with being a business owner and everything related to owning a business.
This can include: marketing, advertising, having your income directly related to bringing in new clients consistently, paying for your own health insurance, paying your own and taking out your own federal taxes.
Assessing your comfort working with clients long term vs. short-term (e.g. crisis work)
Finding a good fit supervisor who can help you with both clinical and business related issues and meeting with them weekly
Continually learning, researching, studying, etc. due to being isolated in a private practice setting vs. working for an agency which has support and training embedded already in it such as grand rounds, case consult, group supervision, etc.
Referring clients out if supervision, consultation, studying, researching, and ongoing learning is not helping you
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Those Who Tend To Thrive & Be Attracted To Private Practice
Valuing freedom and autonomy to make their own choices such as setting your fee, scheduling, time off, etc.
Valuing flexibility of working for yourself such as modifying your schedule, modifying your fee, taking as much time off as you want, working overseas, being 100% telehealth, being 100% in person, hybrid scheduling, etc.
Wants to work less and see less clients per week
Wants to make a desired income that is not offered in group practice or agency (e.g. six figures)
Does not like working for others
Embraces the challenges of being a small business owner
Enjoy the nitty gritty parts of business such as taxes, renewing licenses, etc.
Are confident in who they are
Are congruent (inside matches the outside)
Are authentic to who they are
Practice assertive communication vs. passive, passive aggressive, or aggressive communication
Have a beginner’s mind vs. believing they know everything and are an expert
Are comfortable making mistakes
Are comfortable taking risks
Can repair and negotiate relationships after disagreements/ruptures/conflicts
And more
Click here to read my blog post titled Private Practice Is Not For Everyone.
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From RCW 18.225.145:
Associates may not provide independent social work, mental health counseling, or marriage and family therapy for a fee, monetary or otherwise.
Associates must work under the supervision of an approved supervisor.
Beginning October 1, 2025, an applicant for an associate license under this section may practice without a license under the direct supervision of an approved supervisor for 120 days after the department receives the applicant's completed application or the applicant's license is issued or denied, whichever is sooner.
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National Associate of Social Workers (NASW) recommends a minimum of two years of post-master's experience in a supervised clinical setting.
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Group practices are a good option for those who:
Want to have greater ability to make more money than in an agency setting
Want traditional benefits offered such as health insurance, time off, etc.
Want to provide therapy, but not deal with the administrative and marketing aspects of therapy such as returning emails and phone calls, marketing, advertising, etc.
Do not want to be business owners
Want to have a team of other people to work with and consult with (rather than working alone)
Who need more business, supervision, clinical, administrative, and ethical support
Who are more anxious, fearful, apprehensive about going into private practice
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Agencies such as hospitals, schools, colleges, and community mental health clinics are a good fit for those who:
Want traditional benefits offered such as health insurance, time off, retirement fund, pension, etc.
Want to know exactly how much they will make annually
Want to work for a certain agency due to their history, value, reputation, etc.
Want to serve a particular population or presenting symptom
Want to work with the public and those underserved
Want to have a team of other people to work with and consult with (rather than working alone)
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Fees/prices vary and are influenced by several factors, including geographical location, fees of other mental health professionals who provide psychotherapy services in the area, and reasonable and customary fees that insurance companies set.
There is no legal or professional requirement regarding the amount to be charged.
Conduct a survey of psychotherapy fees in your area, and decide on an amount that is fair and reasonable for your practice and the context of your life (e.g. student loans, cost of living, supporting other family members, solo parenting, etc.).
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Consider if you want to panel with insurance as an associate
Consider if you want to operate solely as cash/private pay
Consider if you want a hybrid model of insurance and cash/private pay
Consider if you want to offer a reduced or adjusted fee
Consider if you want to offer pro bono slots
As an associate, you can operating your own private practice under the supervision of a licensed therapist to accept insurance through contracting with a third party or company like:
If this is too overwhelming, you can work for a group practice that will panel you with insurance under the independent therapist’s license.
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Regulations of executive branch agencies are issued by authority of statutes. Like legislation and the Constitution, regulations are a source of primary law in Washington State. The Washington Administrative Code (WAC) codifies the regulations and arranges them by subject or agency.
The Revised Code of Washington (RCW) is the compilation of all permanent laws now in force. It is a collection of Session Laws (enacted by the Legislature, and signed by the Governor, or enacted via the initiative process), arranged by topic, with amendments added and repealed laws removed.
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Other relevant RCWs are:
Chapter 19.68 RCW - Rebating By Practitioners of Healing Professions
Chapter 18.130 RCW - Regulation of Health Professions – Uniform Disciplinary Act
RCW 26.44.030 - Abuse of Children and Adult Dependent Persons
Chapter 34.05 RCW - Administrative Procedures Act
Chapter 42.56 RCW - Public Records Act
Chapter 70.02 RCW - Medical Records-Health Care Information Access and Disclosure
RCW 70.225.020 - Prescription Monitoring Program
Chapter 74.34 RCW - Abuse of Vulnerable Adults
Chapter 71.05 RCW - Mental Illness
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Other relevant WACs are:
WAC 246-12 - Administrative Procedures and Requirements for Credentialed Health Care Providers
WAC 246-15 - Whistleblower Complaints in Health Care Settings
WAC 246-16 - Standards of professional conduct
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This is not an exhaustive list of resources (there are many, many more available).
I created this list because most therapists can DIY their own private practice with the assistance of an accountant and/or lawyer during the initial formation stage.
I thought it would be helpful for newer therapists to have a page of resources to refer to as I wish I had this resource when I started my own private practice.
I recommend signing up for trials and testing out each service/product to see which program you want to use based on your specific business needs and preferences.
Note:I make no guarantee to the qualifications or competence of those listed below.
I do not endorse, approve of, or make any warranties or representations as to accuracy of the information contained in any site to which any user may be linked.
I do not receive compensation for listing the companies and individuals below.
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Business Resources
Washington State & City of Seattle
Washington State Laws
WAC. Regulations of executive branch agencies are issued by authority of statutes. Like legislation and the Constitution, regulations are a source of primary law in Washington State. The Washington Administrative Code (WAC) codifies the regulations and arranges them by subject or agency.
RCW. The Revised Code of Washington (RCW) is the compilation of all permanent laws now in force. It is a collection of Session Laws (enacted by the Legislature, and signed by the Governor, or enacted via the initiative process), arranged by topic, with amendments added and repealed laws removed.
Nationwide
Electronic Health Records (EHRs)
Video Platforms (For Telehealth)
Phone
Accounting & Expense Trackers
Excel sheet
Make your own
Payment
Banks
Look for banks with no fees for transferring limits, hidden charges, minimum income amounts, etc.
Local Credit Union
Your current banking institution (easy to transfer and manage accounts)
Mail & Virtual Business Address
Subletting an office one day a week (more expensive option)
Renting a physical mailbox/address from a practice owner/renter
Inquire local group practice owners if you can use their address for a fee
See office space resources below
Look on Craigslist for sublet options/virtual mailboxes
Look at coworking spaces (e.g. We Work)
Office Space
Email
Insurance Billing
Insurance Paneling
Alma (licensed clinicians only)
Headway (licensed clinicians only)
Shelterwood Collective (associates can be in-network with certain insurances through being group paneled; you are not individually paneled)
Lemon Squeezy (associates can be in-network with certain insurances through being group paneled; you are not individually paneled)
Coworking
Office Space
Registered AgentsFind an address/mail service that also offers being a registered agent such as:
Health Insurance
FMLA & PFMLA
Paid Leave Washington (medical leave/health condition, birth of a child (including adoption/foster care), spending time with military family member before or after deployment)
Liability & Professional Insurance
The Trust (For Psychologists Only)
Accountants & Financial Advisors
Lawyers
Legal consultation through your liability insurance
Washington State Business Resources
Washington State Small Business Liason Team (SBLT)
Offers free webinars (Start Your business in WA, Grow your business in WA)
Step-by-step resources (8 Steps to forming a business in Washington State
Offers many resources such as workshops, asking a business question, one-on-one appointments with librarians who are experts in business research
Resources such as LinkedIn Learning
Free with Public Library Card
SCORE mentoring is a free service offered to any citizen or permanent resident that owns or wants to start a business. Partnering with you one-on-one, SCORE mentors support your success through offering experienced advice, consulting on best practices, and educating on small business topics.
US Small Business Administration
Offers many resources to plan, launch, manage, and grow your business
Business Impact NW works together with you, providing the coaching, classes and capital you need to successfully launch and grow your business.
A free learning platform for women entrepreneurs
Women own or co-own 45% of all businesses in the United States. These businesses represent all types of industries and are owned by all types of women. The majority are small, with great potential for growth in both revenues and job creation. That’s why we created Ascent and packed it with in-depth information to help you grow your business.
Washington State Office of Minority & Women’s Business Enterprises
There are free resources, and services are available to small businesses in Washington State. Each one has specific requirements and many are for specific types of businesses or industries.
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Click here for a list of private practice marketing resources.
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Click here for a list of Post MSW Fellowships.