About me - Kelley Stevens The Private Practice Pro About - The Private Practice Pro | Kelley Stevens, LMFT

Hi, I’m Kelley…

I help therapists thrive in private practice.

Meet Kelley

I am passionate about empowering therapists with the tools they need to start private practices.

I am an LMFT in Santa Barbara, CA with over a decade of experience in mental health and business development. I began my career as the marketing director of a large outpatient program in Los Angeles. After helping that business grow, I opened my own six-figure private practice.

Life has a way of throwing us curve balls… so after five years in private practice, I moved and opened two more successful practices in new cities! I’m also an adjunct professor at Pepperdine University and Antioch University. Now, I call Santa Barbara home. In my off time, I love playing with my toddler and spending time with my husband.

Meet Kelley

I am passionate about empowering therapists with the tools they need to start private practices.

I am an LMFT in Santa Barbara, CA with over a decade of experience in mental health and business development. I began my career as the marketing director of a large outpatient program in Los Angeles. After helping that business grow, I opened my own six-figure private practice.

Life has a way of throwing us curve balls… so after five years in private practice, I moved and opened two more successful practices in new cities! I’m also an adjunct professor at Pepperdine University and Antioch University. Now, I call Santa Barbara home. In my off time, I love playing with my toddler and spending time with my husband.

Thriving Therapists

Ready to Start Your Own Practice?

Check out Kelley’s
Private Practice Roadmap
to get started today!

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I probably should’ve researched that before goin

I probably should’ve researched that before going to grad school… Anyone else?

SHARE this post! So often I hear therapists say,

SHARE this post!

So often I hear therapists say, “I can’t charge THAT for only 50 minutes.”

But this is your reminder that the value you bring to the therapy is more than just time.

Follow @theprivatepracticepro

❤️Therapists, how many licensing hours do you

❤️Therapists, how many licensing hours do you have left? And while you’re at it, tell me: what’s been the toughesr part of your therapy career so far? ✨

👉For me, the hardest part wasn’t grad school or practicum (although, let’s be honest, that was no walk in the park). It was staying financially afloat while I was trying to make it all work.

🫶Here’s what I did to set myself up for private practice down the road:

✨I said YES to jobs that gave me the maximum number of licensing hours possible, even when it meant working long hours. Treatment centers during the day, private practice clients in the evening—it was a grind. But it meant I finished my hours in about a year and a half after grad school.

💙I made connections everywhere I could. I wasn’t just networking to network—I became known as someone who could connect with others. And that reputation followed me when I opened my practice.

✨I spent a LOT of time LEARNING how to market myself. I even worked as the marketing director for a treatment center during the day while seeing clients at night. I eventually quit that job (long story), but the marketing skills? Those stayed with me and made all the difference when I went out on my own.

💕Here’s the thing no one tells you: you need to spend just as much time learning how to start and fill a private practice as you do learning how to be a good therapist. Because grad school? It didn’t prepare us for this🫣🫣.

❤️If you’re ready to set up and fill a practice that actually works, I’ve got you. Comment ROADMAP below, and I’ll send you the details for my course.

Now, tell me: what’s been the hardest part of your therapy journey so far? I can’t wait to hear your career story.

Comment the word LATE and I’ll DM you my step by

Comment the word LATE and I’ll DM you my step by step process for communicating my late cancellation and no show policy to clients so that you can enter into these tricky dynamics with clinical skill and professional confidence.

👉Can you fill your private practice using free

👉Can you fill your private practice using free advice online? Absolutely you can!

But here’s the thing: piecing together random strategies will take you time—and you’ll still be guessing.

In my Marketing for Therapists Course, I lay out the exact six-month plan I’d follow to go from 0 clients to fully booked. Step by step. No guesswork.

Here’s what you get:
✅ Videos explaining every technique, so you know exactly how to make it work.
✅ The scripts, worksheets, and templates you need for every step—no more guessing what to say or do.
✅ A proven strategy that’s worked for over 2,500 therapists to build thriving practices.
✅ Real-life plans for things like networking with doctors’ offices—I’ll tell you exactly what to say, what to bring, and how to turn a simple meeting into a referral relationship.

This isn’t about “figuring it out as you go.” This is a scaffolding—a clear framework you can trust to build a practice you love.

Could you find some of this advice online for free? Yeah, probably. Could you piece together the general idea from my content? Sure.

But here’s the difference:
You’re getting a strategy that works, one step at a time—without the overwhelm, without the guessing, and without wasted time.

If you’re ready to stop spinning your wheels and start building a practice that fills up, comment “grow” and I’ll send you the link to start filling your caseload!

SAVE THIS!!!! And comment the word PAPERWORK to ge

SAVE THIS!!!! And comment the word PAPERWORK to get 50% off my Ultimate Paperwork Packet this week only 🙌

🙏I always make sure to include this paragraph in my informed consent. This paragraph serves as a small reminder to clients that therapy is work and that we are not miracle workers. Remember this paragraph is written to be included in intake paperwork, so it might not sound as warm as if I said it out loud:

👇👇👇👇

THE THERAPEUTIC PROCESS: You have taken a very positive step by seeking therapy. The outcome depends largely on your willingness to participate and engage in this process, which may sometimes result in discomfort. Remembering unpleasant events and becoming aware of feelings attached to those events can bring on intense feelings of anger, depression, anxiety, etc. There are no miracle cures. I cannot promise that your behavior or circumstances will change. I can promise to support you and do my very best to understand you, repeat patterns in your experience, and help you clarify what you want for yourself.

SAVE this!!!!

Want all your private practice paperwork in one pl

Want all your private practice paperwork in one place?

Comment the word “Paperwork“ and I’ll send you the link to grab all of these documents for 50%!

The packet includes everything you need to run your private practice smoothly, from client onboarding forms to clinical templates.

Here’s what’s included:

Client Onboarding Forms
• Welcome Letter
• Practice Policies
• Informed Consent
• Guardian Consent
• No Secrets Couples Policy
• Consent for Telehealth
• Release of Information (ROI)
• Email Confidentiality Form
• Financial Responsibility Form
• Credit Card Authorization Form

Financial and Insurance Forms
• Collection Letter
• Superbill
• Estimate of Benefits
• Good Faith Estimate Evaluation
• Insurance Opt-In Form
• Sliding Scale Agreement
• Good Faith Estimate Template

Legal and Privacy Forms
• HIPAA Business Agreement
• Email Confidentiality Form

Communication and Referral Forms
• Referral Letter
• Termination Letter

Clinical Forms and Templates
• Private Practice Clinical Forms & Templates
• 20 Examples of Risk Assessment Questions
• Intake Form (Adult, Couples, Minors)
• Substance Abuse Intake Form
• Mental Status Exam
• Letter of Progress
• Client Communication Tracking
• Animal-Assisted Therapy Letter

Don’t miss this chance to get all the forms you need to save time and focus on what really matters—helping your clients.

Use promo code WANTIT to grab your paperwork at 50% off.

Comment “Paperwork ” below, and I’ll send you the link!

Make sure to SHARE this post with a friend who is

Make sure to SHARE this post with a friend who is feeling discouraged in their therapy career! And comment ROADMAP and I’ll DM you the link to my Private Practice Roadmap Course!

Story continued…

I was paid $16 per session when I started working as a therapist. I had student loans and worked two jobs just to pay my rent in LA. During those early years, I wondered if I would have to give up my career as a therapist to financially afford to have children.

I was afraid. I knew I wanted to be a mom. I knew I couldn’t continue to work 2 full-time jobs. I knew that if I was going to have the life I wanted, I had to find a different way.

Even though I was afraid, I chose to believe in my ability to help others while still making a good living.

I opened a cash-pay private practice and committed to always keeping 4 spots for individuals making at or below minimum wage in my practice.

I held my boundaries. I hit six figures in year one of my business. I built a schedule that allowed me to have the life I wanted. I worked weekends and evenings for the first year and slowly shifted my schedule to morning clients in year two. I committed to taking time off. I refused to settle for less than I knew I was worth.

Nowadays, I am constantly trying to find the “perfect” balance between career, motherhood, marriage, and personal growth.

And I’m incredibly grateful for the hard work that my partner puts into our shared goals. Although we never seem to have the balance quite right, we are both committed our little family.

If you are in the beginning of your therapy career and wondering if it will ever work out, I hope this message gives you a little bit of hope!

If you want someone to walk you step by step through opening your own practice, comment the word ROADMAP and I’ll DM you the link to my Private Practice Roadmap Course!!

Therapists, we all have those one-liners that keep

Therapists, we all have those one-liners that keep us grounded 🫶

The ones we lean on when we’re overwhelmed, doubting ourselves, or just need a reminder that we’re human, too.💓

Which one resonates with you today? Or drop your own go-to phrase that keeps you steady in private practice. Let’s build a list we can all come back to when we need it.

I’ll go first in the comments. 👇

♥️ Kelley

❤️Double tap if you’ve been called “family

❤️Double tap if you’ve been called “family” and treated poorly at an agency or treatment center job.

🙄 One widespread tactic that bosses use to keep therapists stuck in jobs where they’re overworked and underpaid is to callin them, “Family”.

🔥Building a sense of camaraderie is super important in a job, but doing that as a way to manipulate people into staying in roles that they’ve grown out of is simply manipulation.

Comment the word PAPERWORK, if you need a complete

Comment the word PAPERWORK, if you need a complete copy of private practice paperwork and make sure to SAVE this telelphone / text policy to add to your paperwork 👇👇👇👇👇👇

TELEPHONE ACCESSIBILITY POLICY:

“ If you need to contact me between sessions, please leave a voicemail message. My voicemail cannot be used as an emergency service. If I am not immediately available, I will attempt to return your call within [insert amount of time, add days if applicable ] If a true emergency situation arises, please call 911 or any local emergency room. I return text messages between the hours [insert hour range, add days if applicable]. Please note, if you text me, please do not assume I have received it and text me again or give me a call if you have not heard back from me within [insert amount of time and weekdays if applicable].

🎉 Exciting news, everyone! 🎉 Drop the word “GIFT” in the comments, and I’ll share my free holiday Instagram templates designed just for therapists! It’s the perfect time to spread a little joy, and I can’t wait for you to enjoy these freebies! Let’s celebrate the season together—comment “GIFT” now, and let’s brighten up your social media! 🌟✨♥️, Kelley

SAVE this script! I'm genuinely interested in lear

SAVE this script! I'm genuinely interested in learning about how you manage sliding scale spots in your practice. I understand there’s no single correct approach, and I’d love to hear your thoughts on how you navigate this important aspect of your work. Your insights would mean a lot!

Therapists, I want to know your favorite office es

Therapists, I want to know your favorite office essentials 👇👇👇

Comment YOUTUBE and I’ll DM you the link to tons

Comment YOUTUBE and I’ll DM you the link to tons of free videos all about opening a private practice! This was my year of making this content mire accessible to other therapists, and it would mean the world to me if you took 1 minute to subscribe to my channel!

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FREE Download!

Do you long for the freedom of private practice? Wondering how much it costs to start? Download my FREE Private Practice Start-Up Cost Worksheet.

FREE Download!

Do you long for the freedom of private practice? Wondering how much it costs to start? Download my FREE Private Practice Start-Up Cost Worksheet.