Effective Networking: Using Your Passions to Build Your Dream Private Practice

When it comes to building a private practice, let’s be real… we can’t do it alone. You need friends, mentors, and other private practice therapists to have your back and push you to do the uncomfortable (but necessary) things. Today’s guest has essentially been Kelley’s right-hand woman through her entire entrepreneurial journey. Tune in to this episode as we welcome JuliAnn Crommelin MA, AAC, an executive functioning and ADHD coach. JuliAnn joins Kelley to help her reflect on how she started her private practice, as well as Private Practice Pro, and the most effective tips and therapist-approved marketing strategies they’ve learned for networking, marketing, referrals, and more.

In my most recent episode of The Private Practice Pro Podcast, I invited a very special guest, JuliAnn Crommelin MA, AAC, to help me tell the story of how I built my private practice and why I created Private Practice Pro. Starting and growing a private practice might be the most challenging mission you’ll ever accomplish in your career, so it’s important to have friends, mentors, and other therapists around you to support you through it. I couldn’t have built my private practice without JuliAnn’s support, encouragement, and advice. So, I wanted to bring her on to reflect on it all (and to share her best advice along the way). The hurdles I’ve jumped over, the fears I’ve faced, and the rewards I’ve received – we’re diving deep!

By the end of this episode, we think you’ll be ready to face your fears and break down your personal barriers to starting a private practice.

Let’s not forget: The beauty of private practice is that you get to decide your schedule, prioritize your values, and create the dream career you’ve always wanted. It just takes a bit of learning, getting out of your comfort zone, and believing in yourself. Remember, fear is not fact.

JuliAnn Crommelin is an executive functioning and ADHD coach in Los Angeles, California and has worked in the mental health industry since 2006. JuliAnn is certified Drug and Alcohol Counselor, certified ADHD coach, has a master’s degree in clinical psychology and is currently working toward her doctorate in psychology.

Website: www.julianncrommelin.com
Email: crommelin.juliann@gmail.com

How Networking Helps Build a Thriving Private Practice

Starting a private therapy practice is both exciting and terrifying. Between figuring out how to price your therapy fees, registering your business, and learning the ropes of online marketing for therapists, the process can feel overwhelming. But here’s one thing many successful private practice therapists agree on: effective networking is a game-changer.

Whether you're just beginning your solo therapy practice or looking to grow your therapy office into a group therapy practice, cultivating genuine professional relationships is key.

In this post, I’ll walk you through real-life insights from therapists who’ve been there, including how one therapist used networking to leave a high-pressure treatment center and build a successful cash-pay therapy practice.

From Burnout to Building a Private Practice

If you're currently working 60-hour weeks in a treatment center or agency job, dreaming of your own therapy office where you can set your schedule and fees, you're not alone. Many therapists start their journey this way, exhausted, underpaid, and overwhelmed.

One therapist shared how she made the leap: after years of juggling marketing duties, client sessions, and administrative tasks at a large group practice, she hit a wall. Despite offers for high-paying marketing roles in treatment centers, she realized her long-term happiness wasn’t in building someone else’s business; it was in starting a private practice of her own.

Her friend and colleague, also a therapist, was the push she needed. "You’re ready. Just start your own private practice," she said. And that’s exactly what she did.

Why Networking Matters (More Than You Think)

If you think you can’t grow your private practice without insurance panels or expensive ads, think again. Networking is still the most effective way to grow your private pay therapy practice, especially when starting out.

So, how do you do it right?

1. Build Real Relationships

Networking isn’t just handing out business cards at a conference or cold emailing therapists. It's about building real, authentic connections with people who care about the same things you do: helping clients thrive.

Start with a simple list: who do you already know in your professional world? That might include former coworkers, grad school friends, or people you've met at trainings. Reach out for coffee or lunch, not to pitch yourself, but to ask questions about their work, what excites them, and how you can support each other.

As one therapist put it: “Ask them who their favorite psychiatrists or therapists are. Then reach out to those folks. That’s how you grow your circle.”

2. Show Up With Value, Not Desperation

Saying, “I need clients, can you send me referrals?” can turn people off. Instead, say, “I’m building my private therapy practice and looking to collaborate with other providers who care deeply about their clients.” That simple reframing shows confidence, collaboration, and competence.

If you're launching your solo therapy practice, this mindset is especially important. It sends the message: I’m ready, capable, and committed.

3. Collaborate Across Disciplines

Don't just network with therapists. Psychiatric nurse practitioners, family doctors, school counselors, and social workers can all be valuable members of your referral network. Especially if you’re working in out-of-network therapy or building a cash-pay therapy practice, these connections are gold.

Make it easy for others to refer to you by keeping your elevator pitch short and clear. Something like: “I help teens with executive functioning and ADHD develop structure, confidence, and life skills through virtual coaching.”

And when you get a referral? Follow up. Ask for a release of information and call their provider. It shows you're a team player and a competent clinician.

How Marketing and Therapy Go Hand-in-Hand

Therapists often shy away from marketing, worrying it feels “salesy.” But marketing for therapists isn't about gimmicks, it’s about storytelling, clarity, and connection. You’re simply helping people understand who you serve and how you help.

If you’re struggling with where to start, consider these therapist-approved marketing strategies:

• Build a basic website with essential info: who you are, who you help, and how to contact you.

• Create a free Google Business Profile for your therapy practice.

• Post helpful, relevant content on Instagram or LinkedIn once a week.

• Write a blog post about common issues your ideal clients face (e.g., sliding scale therapy fees, navigating high-functioning anxiety, or how to talk to your teen about therapy).

• Use private practice tools for therapists like SimplePractice or TherapyNotes to manage scheduling and documentation efficiently.

Marketing doesn’t have to be complicated; it just needs to be consistent and honest.

Growing Your Practice: From Solo to Group

Once you’ve gotten comfortable in your solo therapy practice, you might start dreaming of a group therapy practice. That’s where your networking skills really pay off.

Start by identifying clinicians you trust. These are the people you’d refer your own family to. If you share similar values and work styles, consider inviting them to join your group or rent office space together.

One therapist shared how her referral circle of 10–12 clinicians became the foundation of her practice. “If I have one good referral source, I can have six,” she said. “It’s not about asking for more, it’s about offering excellent care, following up, and staying in touch.”

The Mindset Shift That Changes Everything

Here's what it boils down to: don’t wait until you’re ready. Just start. Your website doesn’t have to be perfect. Your Instagram posts don’t have to be professionally designed. You don’t need every system in place.

As one therapist-turned-entrepreneur said: “When you build your dream, you get to set your hours, your rates, your values. You don’t have to burn out building someone else’s.”

So start your private practice scared. Launch your out-of-network therapy practice without knowing all the answers. Open your doors even if you’re not sure who will walk in.

The first step? Text a fellow therapist today. Invite them to coffee. Ask how you can support them. That’s where it all begins.

Final Thoughts

There’s no one-size-fits-all roadmap to private practice. Some therapists thrive seeing 8 clients back-to-back two days a week. Others prefer four clients per day across five days. Some love virtual sessions, while others want a cozy, in-person therapy office.

The beauty of private practice is that you get to decide.

Whether you’re figuring out how to set therapy fees, considering sliding scale therapy options, or exploring online marketing for therapists, remember: community is everything. Build relationships, share your passion, and stay curious.

And when in doubt? Take the advice of someone who's been there:

"You're going to be fine. You're going to be successful. Just start."