On December 5, 2025, Owl Practice Suite sponsored a webinar hosted by the American Psychological Association (APA).
“Power to the Private Practice: Finding Your Best Path to Private Practice” brought together a group of clinicians who each took different routes into private practice. From using platforms like Alma and BetterHelp to working with insurance or going fully private pay, the panelists shared their honest experiences about what worked for them, what didn’t, and what to consider when choosing your own path.
The conversation provided firsthand insights into building a full client load, navigating insurance (or avoiding it altogether), and utilizing platforms and practice management tools like Owl Practice or marketing tools like Zencare to streamline the business side of private practice. Whether attendees were just considering starting their own practice or already running one, the webinar offered valuable lessons and real-life perspectives to help them navigate their journey.
Gain Insights from the Panelists
The panelist’s insights were so valuable and helpful that we have pulled together their advice into six individual resources for you to explore — you can find them all below.
- Part 1: What are three things you wish you could tell yourself in the year before you started your private practice?
- Part 2: Let’s talk about insurance vs. private pay — how did you decide, and what tools or information helped you make that decision?
- Part 3: How did you decide between using platforms like Alma and Headway vs. going completely independent? What are the trade-offs?
- Part 4: How do you…pay taxes? Do market research? Brand yourself? Stay on top of bookkeeping?
- Part 5: How do you continue to stay informed and have a support network to help answer questions and navigate private practice after you are up and running?
- Part 6: Webinar Attendee Submitted Questions, and General Q&A
Watch the Full Webinar
Meet the Clinicians on the Panel
Megan Cornish, LCSW (she/her), Panel Moderator
Megan is a licensed clinical social worker and founder of Fit Check who specializes in combining strategic communication and marketing skills with no-concession clinical messaging precision. She works with companies in the mental health space who want to do well by therapists (not just investors), and believes in a strong mental health ecosystem where everyone thrives. Follow her on LinkedIn.
Sarah Murray, LCSW (she/her)
Sarah Murray is the sole owner and leader at Heart Wild Therapy which is a small group practice based in the Denver area specializing in trauma work, EMDR, and ketamine therapy. She has covered a lot of ground in the mental health field including within school counseling, hospital-based work, long-term care settings, residential settings, graduate school faculty, and the list goes on. She identifies as an entrepreneur, a psychedelic therapist and a retreat leader. Her passions lie in social justice, health equity, and efficient systems. She loves the sunshine, ocean, and coziness and is thrilled to share in the abundance of knowledge amongst colleagues. Find her group practice on Instagram.
Candice Thompson, LMFT (she/her)
Candice Thompson is a licensed marriage and family therapist in CA & OR. She considers herself a well-rounded generalist, with twenty years of experience in the field of mental health; fifteen practicing psychotherapy. She works with young adults and beyond. Candice is a mental health speaker for organizations in the Silicon Valley, a board member, supervisor, adjunct faculty lecturer, and podcast host. She has been in private practice for eleven years. Candice is vocal on LinkedIn about adequate pay for therapists and career sustainability. Find her on LinkedIn.
Macy Dimler, MS, LCPC (she/her)
Macy is a therapist new to private practice within the last year. She got inspired to shift to private practice to have more freedom and control over her schedule and case-load. Her practice is named Westwood Counseling, which provides solely telehealth services for Idaho and Washington residents. Offering a variety of approaches and techniques to therapy, her overarching goal is to provide people an accessible space to grow, while also receiving a down to earth, relational approach from their therapist. While her primary expertise lies with young adults diagnosed with ADHD and Autism, she aims to reach a wide range of clientele with varying challenges. She’s always looking at ways she can grow and expand. If she expects her clients to grow and expand, so will she! Find her on Instagram.
Denise Sandole, PsyD. (she/her)
Denise Sandole, Psy.D is a Licensed Clinical Psychologist in private practice in NY, NJ, PA, and FL via telehealth. Dr. Sandole has been dedicated to caring for trauma and loss survivors since she was a doctoral student, when she traveled to Rwanda and worked with genocidal rape survivors, the findings for which were the recipient of the American Psychological Association’s Outstanding Dissertation in the Field of Trauma Psychology 2011 Award. Dr. Sandole has presented her trauma theory to audiences at the International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies, the American Psychological Association, New York City Hospital physicians, and the New Jersey Department of Education. Her research has also been published in international journals/articles, books, and featured in various NGO reports. Dr. Sandole received her Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology from the University of Pennsylvania, and her Doctorate Degree in Psychology from the Ferkauf Graduate School of Psychology, Yeshiva University. Find her on LinkedIn.
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