Prelicensure Chronicles: Insights and Inspiration from a Therapist in the Trenches
Does the world of prelicensure have you feeling overwhelmed? In this episode, host Kelley Stevens sits down with therapist Angelie Wallace to discuss the challenges and triumphs of prelicensure. Discover valuable insights on managing your schedule and setting boundaries, the power of networking to advance your career, and navigating the financial obstacles of prelicensure. Angelie’s story will inspire you to embrace vulnerability and manage impostor syndrome, preparing you for the next steps of your journey as a successful therapist in private practice.
Are you an aspiring therapist feeling overwhelmed by the prelicensure phase? Listen up!
In the latest episode of The Private Practice Pro Podcast, I sat down with my good friend Angelie Wallace to discuss the triumphs and challenges she has faced during her own prelicensure journey. Angelie understands the struggle of balancing responsibilities and maintaining healthy boundaries during this often-challenging time. But she gives us a peek into her own strategies and practical tips for managing her schedule effectively, ensuring self-care remains a priority, a vital step before launching into your private therapy practice.
Networking can be a game-changer for your career, and Angelie’s story proves it. Not only will you be inspired by her experiences, but you’ll learn how you can leverage professional connections to find a private practice associateship that aligns with your goals. Angelie also opens up about how she has managed the financial difficulties of prelicensure – something vitally important to address but not often discussed.
If you’re looking for empowering tips and heartfelt advice on navigating the world of prelicensure, this episode is for you! Whether you are in the midst of prelicensure or preparing to embark on your journey, Angelie’s story will inspire you to move forward with confidence and determination toward building a fulfilling therapy practice.
Angelie Wallace is an Associate Marriage and Family Therapist, fire wife, and soon-to-be mama. She earned her Masters in Clinical Psychology from Antioch University in Santa Barbara, CA which is where she currently works in private practice under the supervision of Cara Behan, LMFT. Angelie has a deep passion for holistic wellness and the outdoors which informs her work with clients. She loves supporting individuals and couples in times of transition, specializing in Perinatal Mental Health.
Website: www.angeliewallace.com
Instagram: @holdingspaceforhumans
Email: angelie@angeliewallace.com
Your Prelicensure Roadmap: Building a Private Therapy Practice with Intention
Starting a private practice as a therapist is exciting, but it can also feel overwhelming. For many, the prelicensure phase is filled with unknowns, long commutes, juggling multiple responsibilities, and navigating the emotional challenges of launching a career. Whether you're looking to grow your therapy practice, build a private pay therapy model, or explore group therapy practice, the early stages are about much more than setting fees or choosing a therapy office.
In a recent interview on the Private Practice Pro podcast, host Kelley Stevens spoke with associate therapist Angelie Wallace about her journey. Angelie’s story is a relatable look at how a solo therapy practice can evolve in real time, especially when therapists stay true to their values, priorities, and energy.
Starting a Private Therapy Practice That Fits Your Life
Six months into her associate journey in California, Angelie works with the perinatal population and provides therapy entirely through Telehealth. She lives in Ojai with her husband and balances her client work with another job. Instead of trying to work full time at an agency or in a community clinic, she chose a hybrid approach that allows her to remain steady and avoid burnout.
Many therapists think private practice success means seeing forty clients a week or working nonstop to reach licensing hours as fast as possible. While that works for some, Angelie took a different route. She sees clients three days per week in her private therapy practice, keeping her caseload at around ten to twelve clients. This allows her to maintain energy for her marriage, personal wellness, and other career interests like social media marketing for therapists.
This balance has helped her stay grounded and present, both in sessions and in daily life. For therapists in prelicensure, her story is a reminder that you can grow your private practice on your own terms. You do not have to follow a one-size-fits-all roadmap.
Building Boundaries and Avoiding Burnout
One of the biggest challenges new therapists face is learning how to schedule wisely. Whether you work in a group therapy practice or a solo therapy office, protecting your time is essential.
Angelie shared that when she first started out, she felt tempted to squeeze in extra client sessions on Thursdays or Fridays. But over time, she realized that honoring her boundaries and sticking to her preferred three-day client week helped her show up fully and consistently for both her clients and herself.
Therapists often deal with comparison during prelicensure. You may notice peers working five days a week, logging hours quickly, or finishing ahead of you. It is easy to feel like you're behind. But as Angelie pointed out, staying in your own lane is key. Fast does not always mean better. Your therapy practice needs to reflect your pace, energy, and values.
Financial Realities in Prelicensure
A major concern during prelicensure is money. Many therapists are trying to figure out how to grow a therapy practice while managing living expenses and student debt. Angelie openly shared how she leaned on her partner’s income during grad school and the early stages of licensure. While this financial support was a privilege, it was also emotionally challenging.
Learning to receive help, especially when you're used to being independent or a caretaker, can bring up a lot of self-worth questions. But it is part of the journey. Whether you use student loans, pick up side jobs, or navigate sliding scale therapy fees, remember that financial stability in private practice can grow over time.
There are now tools for therapists that can help ease this part of the process. Platforms that support billing, scheduling, and out-of-network claims can reduce admin stress and help you build a more profitable cash-pay therapy practice. Investing in systems early on can also free up time to focus on what matters most—your clients and your life.
Marketing for Therapists: From Word-of-Mouth to Online Growth
Marketing is one area that often overwhelms therapists, especially those starting a private practice. Fortunately, Angelie had experience in branding and marketing from a previous career. She now uses those skills to support other therapists and contribute to Kelley’s online marketing for therapists.
If you are not sure how to begin, start with small steps. Create a professional website for your private practice. Explore marketing ideas for therapists such as blogging, local networking, podcast interviews, or social media. Use SEO tools and a strong therapist guide to ensure your website ranks well for keywords like mental health, private practice therapists, or therapy in your area.
For those offering out-of-network therapy or private pay therapy, effective marketing is even more essential. You want to attract clients who understand your value and are willing to invest in your services. The more clearly you communicate who you help and how you help them, the more your ideal clients will find you.
Growing with Community and Support
Even in solo practice, community matters. Angelie emphasized that one of the best things she did was to connect with fellow therapists from grad school and seek out supervisors who matched her values. Being part of a community helps reduce isolation, especially in fully remote practices.
Therapist-approved marketing strategies, consultation groups, and mentorship relationships can provide both accountability and support. These connections also remind you that you are not alone, especially during moments of self-doubt or imposter syndrome.
Prelicensure can bring up questions like “Do I really know what I’m doing?” or “Am I ready to charge full fees?” The answer often lies in your ability to pause, reflect, and reconnect with your purpose. Doing your own therapy, building peer support, and setting healthy boundaries all make a big difference in helping you grow your therapy practice with confidence.
Your Therapy Practice, Your Rules
Angelie’s story shows that there are many paths to building private practice success. You can grow your therapy practice at your own pace. You can choose a part-time schedule or full caseload. You can offer cash-pay therapy or explore insurance options. You can focus on a niche like success in teen therapy or build a generalist roadmap over time.
There is no perfect formula. What matters is building a private therapy practice that fits your values, energy, and lifestyle. Use the tools for therapists that help you stay organized and grounded. Find your people. Stay curious. And most of all, trust that you are allowed to take up space, charge your worth, and grow into the therapist you are becoming.
If you are just starting a private practice or still figuring out your next move, know that you are not alone. There is a community of therapists walking the same path, navigating SOAP notes, therapy fees, marketing guides, and client care just like you. Keep showing up. Keep learning. Keep building the practice that reflects the life you want.