Episode #600: Bringing Clients When You Leave A Group

Summary

Abundant Practice Podcast

Episode #600: Bringing Clients When You Leave A Group

Release Date: December 7, 2024
Host: Allison Puryear

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Overview

In Episode #600 of the Abundant Practice Podcast, host Allison Puryear delves into the intricate process of transitioning from a group practice or agency to establishing a private practice, specifically focusing on the critical aspect of bringing clients along during this move. This episode serves as a comprehensive guide for therapists contemplating this significant career shift, addressing legalities, ethical considerations, and practical strategies to ensure a smooth and professional transition.

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Key Discussions and Insights

1. Navigating Legal and Ethical Landscapes

Allison begins by addressing the common concern among therapists about the legality of taking clients when leaving a group practice. She emphasizes the importance of understanding contractual obligations, particularly non-compete clauses, which many agencies incorporate to prevent therapists from taking clients upon departure.

• Non-Compete Clauses: These clauses are designed to restrict therapists from poaching clients from their former employers. However, Allison points out that "these clauses don't usually hold up in court, especially in the therapy industry, because clients have the right to see whomever they want" (02:00).

• Client Rights: She reinforces the ethical standpoint that clients should have the autonomy to choose their therapist, underscoring that their well-being should take precedence over contractual loopholes.

2. Ethical Strategies for Client Transition

Moving forward, Allison shares practical strategies for ethically informing clients about the transition without violating any contractual terms.

• Transparent Communication: She advises therapists to have an open and respectful conversation with their current practice owners. "Have a conversation with your current agency or practice owner, explain your plan, and ask how they'd like you to inform clients." (02:08)

• Creative Messaging: For those bound by restrictive clauses, Allison suggests a tactful approach to client communication: "I'll be working somewhere else, but I can't legally tell you where, but Google can." (02:05) This allows clients to independently seek out the therapist's new practice without directly violating agreements.

3. Understanding and Managing Transfer Fees

Allison brings attention to another potential hurdle: transfer fees. Some contracts may stipulate that therapists pay a fee for each session a client attends at the new practice.

• Financial Implications: She highlights the unexpected financial burdens these fees can impose, especially for those just starting their private practice.

• Due Diligence: Karen recommends thoroughly reviewing contractual agreements and, if necessary, consulting with an employment attorney to fully grasp the implications and explore possible exemptions or negotiations.

4. Practical Transition Checklist

To aid therapists in the transition process, Allison provides a succinct checklist:

1. Review Contracts: "Review any contracts or agreements that you signed when you started with your current or past employer." (02:23)

2. Understand Clauses: Determine the presence of non-compete clauses or transfer fees and understand their implications.

3. Communicate with Employers: Engage in open dialogue with current practice owners about your intentions.

4. Prioritize Client Needs: Ensure that clients feel supported throughout the transition, regardless of whether they choose to follow you.

5. Seek Legal Advice: If contractual language is unclear, consulting with an employment attorney is advisable.

5. Allison’s Philosophy on Client-Therapist Relationships

Drawing from her experience as a group practice owner, Allison shares her perspective on valuing client relationships over strict business policies.

• Sacred Bonds: "The relationship between the therapist and the client, that's sacred. That bond needs to come before any business considerations on my end." (04:00)

• Client Continuity: She prioritizes the client’s comfort and continuity of care over potential revenue shortfalls caused by therapists moving their client base.

6. Resources and Support

Allison promotes her membership program, Abundance Party, which offers step-by-step guidance for therapists transitioning to private practice. She highlights the community support, individual consultations, and comprehensive courses designed to accelerate practice growth.

• Free Worksheet: Listeners are encouraged to access the free worksheet titled "Working in Group Practice versus Going Out on Your Own" by emailing her team or visiting AbundancePracticeBuilding.com.

• Further Support: For more personalized assistance, Allison invites listeners to reach out via email at [e-mail].

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Notable Quotes with Timestamps

• "These clauses don't usually hold up in court, especially in the therapy industry, because clients have the right to see whomever they want." — Allison Puryear (02:00)

• "I'll be working somewhere else, but I can't legally tell you where, but Google can." — Allison Puryear (02:05)

• "Have a conversation with your current agency or practice owner, explain your plan, and ask how they'd like you to inform clients." — Allison Puryear (02:08)

• "The relationship between the therapist and the client, that's sacred. That bond needs to come before any business considerations on my end." — Allison Puryear (04:00)

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Conclusion

Episode #600 of the Abundant Practice Podcast offers invaluable insights for therapists aiming to transition from group practices to private ventures. Allison Puryear meticulously navigates the legal and ethical considerations, providing actionable strategies to ensure therapists can maintain their client relationships respectfully and professionally. With a blend of legal advice, ethical guidelines, and practical tips, this episode serves as an essential resource for any therapist contemplating the shift to private practice.

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Additional Resources

• Membership Program: Abundance Party – Step-by-step guidance to build a thriving private practice.
• Free Worksheet and Tools: AbundancePracticeBuilding.com – Access checklists, worksheets, and free trainings.
• Contact for Support: [e-mail]

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Note: This summary excludes promotional segments unrelated to the episode's core content, focusing solely on delivering the valuable insights shared by Allison Puryear.

Transcript

[Alison]

Welcome to Ask Alison.

[Therapy Notes]

Y'all ask the questions about having a fun and thriving practice and I answer them. We have a worksheet for you today so you can bring this answer into your life. You can Access [e-mail] links where you'll also be able to ask any questions you have for Ask Alison. If you want more support, we've got some free trainings in there too. If you can't get enough Ask Alison, check out our YouTube channel for our entire Ask Alison library.

[Alison]

Welcome back to Ask Allison. Here's today's question. Can you take clients with you when you leave an agency or group practice to start your own practice? Okay, so I know for many of us, knowing that you're not starting from scratch would feel like a huge relief, but there are some legal and ethical aspects that we're going to keep in mind. I'm going to walk us through in a second, but first I'd like to thank TherapyNotes. They sponsor Ask Alison and they are the number one rated electronic health record system available today with live telephone support seven days a week. It's clear why they are rated 4.9 out of 5 stars on Trustpilot and have a 5 star rating on Google. Therapy Notes makes billing, scheduling, note taking and telehealth incredibly easy. And for all you prescribers out there, yes they offer e prescribe if you're coming from another EHR. TherapyNotes makes the transition incredibly easy, importing your demographic data free of charge so you can get going right away. Find out what more than a hundred thousand mental health professionals already know. Use promo code abundant at TherapyNotes and you can try it out for two free months.

[Unknown]

You really wish grad school had covered how to fill a private practice. In grad school you had a professor.

[Therapy Notes]

You could ask questions, someone who could.

[Alison]

Tell you what you were doing wrong.

[Unknown]

And how to fix it. You had classmates working towards the same goal. Think of Party plus like that grad school class you wish you had. You get individual consultation about your specific practice with clear feedback and guidance.

[Alison]

You get group calls with other people.

[Unknown]

Building their practices who have your back. We cover everything from marketing to mindset and you have access to everything in the abundance party all the courses and trainings that have filled thousands of therapists practices. Thanks to the feedback, the support and.

[Alison]

The clear step by step people in.

[Unknown]

Party get full faster. The majority of party members fill their practice in three months. Check out Party in the link in the show notes and join the interest list if you're ready to build what you've been dreaming of.

[Alison]

All right, so the first step I want you to check any contracts or agreements that you signed when you started with your either current or past employer, depending on where you are in this process. Many agencies and group practices have non compete clauses which in theory restrict you from taking clients with you if you leave. But here's the thing, these clauses don't usually hold up in court, especially in the therapy industry, because clients have the right to see whomever they want. Now that said, it's essential to approach this ethically, even if the clause is likely unenforceable. So let's say you reviewed your contract. There is a non compete clause. Does that mean you can't tell your clients that you're leaving and where you're going? Not necessarily. Some therapists get creative by saying things like I'll be working somewhere else, but I can't legally tell you where, but Google can. And that's a way to honor the agreement while also giving your clients the tools to find you if they wish. However, the very best route is to have a conversation with your current agency or practice owner, explain your plan, and ask how they'd like you to inform clients. Often owners appreciate the courtesy and it can lead to a smoother transition. Not all of them are abundance minded though, so keep that in mind. Another tricky part to watch out for in contracts is a potential like transfer fee. And I've seen some clauses where therapists are allowed to take clients, but only if they pay a fee for each session those clients have at their new practice, and they pay that to the group practice that they're leaving. The fee can create unexpected costs, especially if you're starting out. So again, always read the fine print carefully and know what you're agreeing to. If the legal language feels overwhelming, overwhelming, or maybe just a CYA in the best possible way, consider bringing it to an employment attorney for clarity. It's worth it to understand the full picture of what you can and can't do. As a group practice owner myself, I do not use non compete clauses in my practice. For me, the relationship between the therapist and the client, that's sacred. That bond needs to come before any business considerations on my end. So yes, it costs money to onboard new clinicians, and yes, there might be a temporary dip in revenue for the group practice if someone leaves and they take their clients. But to me, a client's comfort and continuity of care that matters way more. I would rather they be with a therapist that they know and they trust and that's a philosophy that helps us all keep the focus where it belongs, which is on helping people. So those of you who are considering starting a group practice or already in one, I I put that up to you. I promise this is a good thing that you can do. It's just not mess with non compete. Okay, so let's say you are ready to make the transition. Here is a quick checklist to review. Review your contract is number one. Know exactly what it says. If you didn't sign anything, you should generally be clear to tell clients where you're headed and let them know that they are welcome to book with you or stay with another provider. We always want to give options. Second, you can have a grounded conversation with the owner or the manager of your practice. Be open and respectful. It can really make a huge difference. And finally, put your clients needs first. Even if you're excited to move, make sure they feel supported whether they follow you or not. So navigating this transition can be challenging, but with a bit of preparation you can do it with integrity and professionalism. And if you need more support on that journey, I would absolutely love to help you. So today's free worksheet is working in group practice versus going out on your own. You can DM me the word sheets to get this week's worksheet and a link to all the previous free worksheets in the series. I hope that you'll have a great day. If you have a question for me for Ask Alison, hit the link in my bio and you will find a place to submit it. All right, have a really great day.

[Therapy Notes]

If you're ready for a much easier practice, Therapy Notes is the way to go. Go to therapynotes.com and use the promo code abundant for two months free. I hope that helped. If you have questions for Ask Alison or you want to get your hands on the worksheet for this episode, go to abundancepracticebuilding.com link.

[Alison]

If you're listening.

[Therapy Notes]

You probably need some support building your practice. If you're a super newbie, grab our free checklist using the link in the show notes. I'd love for you to follow rate and review, but I really want you to share this episode with a therapist friend. Let's help all our colleagues build what they want.