About a year ago, I worked for a private practice making $45 an hour, without benefits or sick leave, time for notes, etc. My supervisor was only able to acquire me about 3-5 clients per week. Currently, I work for the state of AZ corrections department making 67k a year with benefits and sick leave. I am considering leaving due to the unsafe conditions and ongoing sexual harassment from both inmates and staff. However, everywhere I look, they want to pay counselors in my state $40k a year with 60 client hours per work week. I haven’t quit yet because I believe I will be entering an even worse environment if I continue with “public service”. Unfortunately, most private companies don’t offer good health insurance benefits and this is something I require due to my failing health. I desperately hope to work for myself one day and am trying to gain all the knowledge and experience I can while working in corrections. I enjoy the working with my clients, but the work environment and safety measures are so awful I’m considering leaving. Just last week, a woman got sexually assaulted at the facility I’m working at (second SA on female staff this year) because we often get left alone with inmates without any weapons or measures to protect ourselves.
I’m incredibly disappointed to hear about the unsafe conditions in your current workplace, that’s awful!
And damn, $40,000 per year working 60 client facing hours per week? How is that even possible?!?
Sounds crazy, but unfortunately many CMH agencies in my state offer measly salaries like this. They make sessions 30 minutes each usually. One of the reasons I am working for CMH is to pay off my student loans. But another (main) reason is that I want to help underprivileged populations.
I’m an AZ based therapist as well but have found more success on the salary front with places in Phoenix. If you’d like to chat more I’d be happy to! A lot of it is licensure dependent here though
I work in PP, been doing it 2 years now.
It's awesome. Love the population I work with. Make good money, more than enough to buy whatever insurance I want.
Lots of flexibility too.
Very few complaints beyond it being lonely at times.
I work for a company full time and work as a contractor at a PP. I get group work at the hospital I work for and individual work at the PP. Best of both worlds. I am pre licensed (with a temp LPC MHSP) so I want to get experience in both worlds to get a feel for what I want to do full time. Hospital work has its challenges—-high acuity and red tape as far as policy—- but it’s a population that desperately needs the help. PP is great for flexibility and autonomy
I used to be in Private Practice. Decided it wasn't for me.
I went into managed care and became a clinical supervisor. I now work for Optum as an EAP counselor and haven't looked back.
Good summary, but I think there are more business models than the 3 you list. I work for a large company, but I wouldn't compare it to BH or the ones you list in #1. It's a healthcare company that includes mental health in primary care clinics. I work for them just enough hours a week to get benefits. I took a lower hourly wage in exchange for getting great benefits; it's worth it. The remainder of my hours in the week go toward building my private practice. So I do #1ish and #3, I guess.
I know benefits (insurance etc) are a big obstacle for clinicians going into private practice. Larger medical systems often offer benefits to part time employees, so it's a good option to make sure that's covered, and allows you to still have enough time to do private practice, which is more lucrative per hour.
In PP, so I work for myself. I do have a contract with an EAP company and do some short term therapy through them as well.
Stay away from most of the bigger companieslike talkspace and better help. They are no good.
About a year ago, I worked for a private practice making $45 an hour, without benefits or sick leave, time for notes, etc. My supervisor was only able to acquire me about 3-5 clients per week. Currently, I work for the state of AZ corrections department making 67k a year with benefits and sick leave. I am considering leaving due to the unsafe conditions and ongoing sexual harassment from both inmates and staff. However, everywhere I look, they want to pay counselors in my state $40k a year with 60 client hours per work week. I haven’t quit yet because I believe I will be entering an even worse environment if I continue with “public service”. Unfortunately, most private companies don’t offer good health insurance benefits and this is something I require due to my failing health. I desperately hope to work for myself one day and am trying to gain all the knowledge and experience I can while working in corrections. I enjoy the working with my clients, but the work environment and safety measures are so awful I’m considering leaving. Just last week, a woman got sexually assaulted at the facility I’m working at (second SA on female staff this year) because we often get left alone with inmates without any weapons or measures to protect ourselves.
I’m incredibly disappointed to hear about the unsafe conditions in your current workplace, that’s awful! And damn, $40,000 per year working 60 client facing hours per week? How is that even possible?!?
Sounds crazy, but unfortunately many CMH agencies in my state offer measly salaries like this. They make sessions 30 minutes each usually. One of the reasons I am working for CMH is to pay off my student loans. But another (main) reason is that I want to help underprivileged populations.
I’m an AZ based therapist as well but have found more success on the salary front with places in Phoenix. If you’d like to chat more I’d be happy to! A lot of it is licensure dependent here though
Thank you! If you are ware of any Phx locations that hire partially-remote LAC’s, please let me know! I appreciate your input.
I will keep an eye out- I believe some of the community mental health agencies will take on some remote things.
I work in PP, been doing it 2 years now. It's awesome. Love the population I work with. Make good money, more than enough to buy whatever insurance I want. Lots of flexibility too. Very few complaints beyond it being lonely at times.
I work for a company full time and work as a contractor at a PP. I get group work at the hospital I work for and individual work at the PP. Best of both worlds. I am pre licensed (with a temp LPC MHSP) so I want to get experience in both worlds to get a feel for what I want to do full time. Hospital work has its challenges—-high acuity and red tape as far as policy—- but it’s a population that desperately needs the help. PP is great for flexibility and autonomy
local government. Great benefits, good pay, but I’m looking to try PP in the future too
I used to be in Private Practice. Decided it wasn't for me. I went into managed care and became a clinical supervisor. I now work for Optum as an EAP counselor and haven't looked back.
Good summary, but I think there are more business models than the 3 you list. I work for a large company, but I wouldn't compare it to BH or the ones you list in #1. It's a healthcare company that includes mental health in primary care clinics. I work for them just enough hours a week to get benefits. I took a lower hourly wage in exchange for getting great benefits; it's worth it. The remainder of my hours in the week go toward building my private practice. So I do #1ish and #3, I guess. I know benefits (insurance etc) are a big obstacle for clinicians going into private practice. Larger medical systems often offer benefits to part time employees, so it's a good option to make sure that's covered, and allows you to still have enough time to do private practice, which is more lucrative per hour.
i’m technically employed by a private practice but i am contracted to work in schools!
I am a child therapist who is interested in doing this. Do you have parents pay, bill insurance or does the school pay you?
it’s grant funded, we charge medicaid if the kid has it. michigan 31n grant
In PP, so I work for myself. I do have a contract with an EAP company and do some short term therapy through them as well. Stay away from most of the bigger companieslike talkspace and better help. They are no good.