Abundant Practice Podcast – Episode #692: Is Private Practice A Scam

Host: Allison Puryear
Date: October 4, 2025

Overview

In this episode, Allison Puryear tackles a recurring—and emotionally charged—question: Is private practice a scam, or is it truly possible to have a thriving, fulfilling career outside of agency life? Drawing on her years of experience helping therapists start and grow their own practices, Allison breaks down the myths and realities around private practice, addresses the fears that hold clinicians back, and explains why the agency model so often leads to burnout and skepticism.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Possibility (and Reality) of Private Practice

• Short Answer: Private practice does work—it’s real and achievable for therapists everywhere.

  • "Yes, private practice absolutely works. It’s real. It’s possible. Therapists all over the world are doing it and not just surviving, but truly thriving." (03:18, Allison)

• Allison empathizes with the disbelief agency therapists feel, especially when claims of more money, flexibility, and work satisfaction sound “too good to be true.”

2. Comparing Agency Life and Private Practice Realities

• Agency Life: Characterized by burnout, low pay, constant supervision, and inflexibility.

• Private Practice: Offers the potential for higher pay, fewer hours, and better work-life balance.

  • "Most private practice therapists I know see somewhere between 15 and 25 clients a week. And they do it on the days and the times they choose. They take vacations without asking for approval. They pick their kids up from school. They don’t dread Mondays in the same way." (06:51, Allison)

• Most of Allison’s students, once established, “make two to four times what they made at their last full time job. And they do it while working far fewer hours.” (07:40)

3. Why the Agency Model Feels “Normal”—and Why That’s a Problem

• The agency model is described as “broken and too layered.” Therapists are the core profit-generators, but their income also supports:

  • Admin, billers, supervisors, executive leadership, rent, insurance, HR, benefits, etc.

• Agencies are often funded by therapist labor and clinical grants, not designed for therapist well-being.

  • "When someone tells you that private practice doesn’t make sense… what they really mean is, I can’t imagine that working because I’ve only ever seen therapists exploited." (09:04)

• The expectation that private practice is a “scam” exists because poor organizational systems have been normalized.

4. What Actually Stands in the Way

• It’s Not About Business Complexity: Most business skills can be learned quickly; the hardest part is emotional.
  • "The hardest part is the fear. It’s the fear of failing, the fear of putting yourself out there, the fear that you’re not cut out for it. And that’s what stops most people, not the logistics." (14:13)
• Many therapists forgo business training but invest heavily in clinical CE—leaving them unprepared to launch or sustain a business.

5. The Path Forward—Hope & Practicality

• Every therapist can learn the basics of private practice (marketing, financials, systems) without needing an MBA.

  • "Marketing systems, financial basics. Like literally, you can learn these things in just a few hours. You implement what you learned and little by little, you build." (13:50)

• Allison offers ongoing support and education through her Abundance Party program, designed to be affordable and practical ("$69 a month for six months, and you get access to the same tools and support that have helped so many therapists build six-figure practices" (17:08)).

• "If you follow best practices, you can have what you want. In fact, today’s free worksheet is called just that, and it helps you think through what you want for your practice, what you want it to look like." (18:02)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Allison’s Big Picture Reassurance:

  • “Promise. It’s not [a scam]. It’s just a different system, essentially.” (03:30)

• Why It’s Hard to Believe:

  • “Private practice only seems too good to be true because we’ve normalized something that is so bad.” (09:36)

• On the Emotional Hurdle:

  • “The hardest part is the fear… if you can keep showing up and keep taking the next step, even when it’s uncomfortable, then yes, absolutely, you can have the kind of practice that feels ‘too good to be true’ because it’s that different from what you’re used to.” (14:23)

• Call to Action:

  • “If you’re listening, 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.” (20:16)
  • “Let’s help all our colleagues build what they want.” (21:00)

Timestamps for Important Segments

| Time | Segment | |--------|--------------------------------------------------------------| | 02:05 | Main question: “Is private practice possible or too good to be true?” | | 03:18 | Direct answer: “Yes, it works—here’s why...” | | 06:51 | Concrete examples of private practice life | | 09:04 | Why the agency structure leads to skepticism | | 13:50 | The basics required to succeed in private practice | | 14:13 | The real challenge: emotional fears, not logistics | | 17:08 | Details on Abundance Party program support | | 18:02 | Explanation of the free worksheet: “What You Want” | | 20:16 | Clear call to action and encouragement |

Takeaways

• Private practice isn’t a scam; it’s a proven, achievable model for therapists.
• Agency norms have conditioned skepticism and limited beliefs.
• The business side is accessible—fear is a bigger barrier than skills or knowledge.
• Support and resources are available (Abundance Party, worksheets, checklists).
• Building a life and practice you truly want is both possible and sustainable.

For resources, free worksheets, and next steps, visit:
www.abundancepracticebuilding.com