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

Hi, I’m Kelly…

I help therapists thrive in private practice.

Meet Kelly

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 Kelly

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

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Ready to Start Your Own Practice?

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

Follow Along on Instagram

True story 🙃 Tag a friend who gets it 😉 and

True story 🙃 Tag a friend who gets it 😉 and follow @theprivatepracticepro

SAVE this script!!!! And comment the word SCRIPTS

SAVE this script!!!! And comment the word SCRIPTS and I’ll DM you the link to my 27 best private practice scripts ☺️

Here is the script again for easier reading 👇👇👇

“Hi _______. I’m so glad we connected. You mentioned on the phone that you are looking for a therapist for ________. When I do these calls I find it works well if you tell me a bit more about what brings you to therapy and what you are hoping to get out of therapy. Then, I’ll tell you a bit about my practice and answer any questions you have. If for some reason, I’m not the right fit, or you are looking for something different than what I provide, I’m happy to help you work through the process of finding someone who is the perfect fit for you.”

Make sure to SAVE!!!

Share this ❤️ And take a moment to appreciate

Share this ❤️ And take a moment to appreciate the hard work YOU put in to becoming a therapist! This journey isn’t easy 💗 Follow @theprivatepracticepro

🌟Comment the work PAPERWORK and I’ll send you

🌟Comment the work PAPERWORK and I’ll send you the link to purchase my essential paperwork packet! Here is the exact list you need 👇👇👇👇👇👇

Practice Policies
Notice of Privacy Practices
Informed Consent
Consent for Telehealth
Intake Questionnaires
Release of Information
Responsibility to pay for sessions
Credit Card Authorization Form
Super Bill
Estimate of Benefits
Good Faith Estimate
Insurance Opt-Out Form
Termination Summary Form

🔥These are the exact documents that you need in order to start a private practice, and they are fully customizable word documents that you can adapt to the changing needs of your practice! Completely done for you!

✌️NOTE: If you are currently using a documents templates and are happy with their contents you likely won’t need my packet. Practice documentation is standardized. Therefore if you have already received copies of these documents from somewhere else you might find these redundant. These include the customizations that I use for my Private Practice, but meet standardization requirements as well!

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Therapists, make sure to SAVE this 🚨script 🚨

Therapists, make sure to SAVE this 🚨script 🚨Here is the script you need to leave your agency job:
– If you want to stay at the agency part-time: Thank you so much for the opportunities and training you provide me. I’ve learned so much from your continued mentorship. I’ve decided that my next right step is part-time private practice. I’m hoping to stay in my current role part-time. Can we discuss whether this is an option in my current role?
– If you plan to leave completely: Thank you so much for the opportunities and training you’ve provided me. I’ve learned so much from your mentorship. I’ve decided that my next right step is private practice. I’m planning to stay in my current role for (enter the number of weeks here) and wanted to discuss a transition plan for my clients and my current responsibilities within my role.

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!!

First, SAVE this post to reference later! It has t

First, SAVE this post to reference later! It has the exact script I use!

I give step-by-step tutorials like this one in my Markwting for Therapists course. Comment the word GROW and I will send you the link.

Step 1: Make a list of doctors in your community who work with similar types of clients as you. This is a numbers game, and only about half of the doctors will actually want to meet with you. So, you need a long list.

Step 2: Use this exact script to call the receptionist: “I’m a therapist with an office down the street from your office. I refer a lot of my clients to women’s health doctors, and I’ve heard great things about Dr. _____. Would it be possible for me to bring in lunch for the whole office and meet with Dr. _____ for fifteen minutes or so?”

Step 3: When you go in, make sure to bring lunch for the entire office. If you don’t have the resources or funds to do this right now, consider only doing it once a quarter and saving up. A doctor’s office can yield a lot of referrals, and it’s worth it to bring lunch. Unfortunately, you are competing for time with drug reps who also bring in lunch, so typically, doctors’ offices won’t book a meeting unless lunch is involved.

Step 4: When you introduce yourself to the doctor, focus on discussing the types of clients you plan to refer to them. This helps the doctor understand how your practices can complement each other and build a stronger referral relationship.

Step 5: Keep the meeting short and brief. Doctors have very busy schedules, so respecting their time shows professionalism and makes it more likely they will agree to future meetings.

Step 6: Before leaving, make sure to get the doctor’s direct email address from the receptionist. This will allow you to consult on cases and maintain open communication, which is crucial for effective referrals and collaboration.

🙌Trust me; you want to save this list🙌 Thera

🙌Trust me; you want to save this list🙌 Therapists often ask me who they should reach out to for networking.

The answer is that you should reach out to the other professionals that have contact with your ideal client. The goal is to form professional friendships that help build a web of support around your ideal client. Tell me in the comments who your best referral sources are!

Make sure to comment the word GROW you want to snag in my marketing for therapist course!
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#Counselor #LCSW #TherapistsConnect #counselorshelp #LPC #therapistsofinstagram #mftofinstagram #therapy #LMFT #psychologist #counselor #psychotherapist #counselorsofig #coachlife #therapistlife #psychotherapy #MFT #privatepractice #cbt #clinicalpsychology #psychologistsofinstagram #smallbusiness #lmft #therapyisfun #therapistsofig #therapist #clinicalpsychologist #therapistsofinstgram #lifecoach #counselorsofinstagram

Comment the 🚀 to snag my free guide on promotin

Comment the 🚀 to snag my free guide on promoting your therapy practice without social media!

SAVE THIS TIP! And comment the word GROW to fill y

SAVE THIS TIP! And comment the word GROW to fill your caseload with my Marketing for Therapists course!

❤️In the meantime, lets brainstorm this together! Tell me, in the comments, who your ideal client is. Then let me know what type of therapists might be turning away your ideal clients! I want to know!

Therapists, I want to know your favorite way to ge

Therapists, I want to know your favorite way to get out of an awkward conversation at a family gathering! Tell me in the comments!

I’m super interested to know what you think. As

I’m super interested to know what you think. As a therapist, do you share your political beliefs with clients? Do you wait until they bring it up? As a client, do you want to know what your therapist's political beliefs are? Has this changed through the years? There are So many questions to unpack here. Let us know your thoughts.

Anyone else struggling to show up authentically, h

Anyone else struggling to show up authentically, hold space for a variety of viewpoints, and honor your own feelings at the same time. Being a therapist during an election is always tricky, being a therapist during this particular election feels….wild.

How many beverages do you consume per day? Because

How many beverages do you consume per day? Because there is a graveyard of sparkling water cans on my desk. 🫧🥤☕️

Please share this message with your story 😊

💕I’ve said for a long time that my superpower is the other therapists in my corner.

❤️The therapy industry has changed A LOT in the last few years. Tech companies have come in and undercut the market. Insurance reimbursement continues to be less than satisfactory.

👋But often, as therapists, we forget that we have power in our numbers. We forget that supporting EACH OTHER is the key.

🫶🏻So what should we do when a new therapist opens a private practice (AKA A SMALL BUSINESS)? We should take them to coffee and ask about their business. We should send them clients and offer to introduce them to other colleagues.

✨When a new tech company recruits therapists for $40/hour, what should we do? We should warn our friends about how these tech companies undervalue therapy and hurt the industry(think UBER of the taxi industry).

💯We can make a difference simply by supporting the small businesses of our colleagues, refusing to work for less than we are worth, and building each other up!

Therapists, tell me your IDEAL schedule 👇 Here

Therapists, tell me your IDEAL schedule 👇 Here is mine:

When my older son went to preschool (2022) I had childcare from 9-3. My ideal schedule was a 10, 11, 12, and 1pm client each day. The problem was…I saw teenagers.

So here is what I did:

1. I SLOWLY pivoted my focus to older teens and college students who had more flexible schedules.

2. I had to tell the parents of my younger clients that my availability was set in stone and had to allow them to figure out what that meant for them.

3. During that time, I also started building online courses, teaching online graduate school classes, writing a chijdrens book, and expanding beyond 1-1 therapy.

👍 I was shocked by how quickly about 80% of my clients figured out a way to adapt to the new schedule. Some transitioned to new therapists, and new clients also came. And I continued to EVOLVE my business and TRUST in my ability to change.

When my second son was born (this year) I put even more intentionality around my schedule, fee, going full time into building multiple income streams (consukting for companies, writing a children book, online courses, etc.

The thing that has SHOCKED me through two long maternity leaves and transitions back to work…is how my business was able to flex with the needs of my family.

I realized that in order for me to have the schedule that I want I have to constantly be willing to set boundaries,develop multiple streams of income, and trust that I can evolve professionally. With my first son that meant being intentional with my therapy schdule and with my second son it meant building @theprivatepracticepro

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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.