Solo, Collective, or Agency? Choosing the Right Practice Model for Sustainable Growth
The Right Tack Podcast, Episode 14
Featuring Amber Priestley, LMFT
Starting or growing a therapy practice comes with one big, unavoidable question: What kind of practice model actually fits the life and career you want to build?
In Episode 14 of The Right Tack, hosts Paul and Jim Jonas sit down with licensed therapist, practice owner, and business coach Amber Priestley to unpack the real-world differences between solo practices, small collectives, and agency or group models—and what those choices mean for autonomy, sustainability, and burnout over the long haul.
With more than 15 years in the behavioral health field, Amber brings both lived experience and a sharp business lens to a conversation many therapists wish they’d had before making growth decisions.
Understanding the Three Practice Models
Amber walks listeners through the core characteristics of each practice structure:
Solo Practice:
Full autonomy, total responsibility. Solo practice offers freedom and flexibility, but it can be isolating. It also requires strong business fundamentals to remain sustainable.Small Collectives:
Independent clinicians sharing space, systems, or resources. Collectives can reduce loneliness and overhead while preserving autonomy, but only work well when values and expectations are aligned.Agency or Group Practices:
More structure, leadership responsibilities, and often mentorship of newer clinicians. While agencies can provide benefits and stability, they also require careful financial planning and intentional culture-building to avoid burnout on both sides.
Autonomy, Burnout, and the Business “Machine”
One of the central themes of the episode is autonomy—why it matters so deeply to therapists, and how certain growth paths can unintentionally strip it away.
Amber and Paul discuss:
Why therapists often feel unprepared for the business side of practice
How revenue can be misleading if overhead, benefits, and taxes aren’t fully understood
The risks of growing too quickly without knowing your numbers
Why hiring before fixing burnout often leads to costly mistakes
They also dive into the necessary, but somewhat uncomfortable idea that while therapy is deeply human, the business behind it still functions like a machine. Learning to run that machine well is key to long-term success.
A Candid Look at Gig Platforms and Venture Capital
The conversation doesn’t shy away from industry realities. Amber offers a clear-eyed perspective on large tech-enabled therapy platforms, the gig-worker model, and venture capital involvement—highlighting how these structures often shift risk onto clinicians while limiting true independence.
For therapists considering these options, this episode offers an important reminder: read the fine print, understand who controls the contracts, and know what you’re trading for convenience.
When Is It Time to Grow?
For solo practitioners wondering if or when it’s time to expand, Amber shares practical guidance:
Hit your own income and caseload goals first
Ensure referrals are consistent and reliable
Know your numbers inside and out
Build a financial cushion before hiring
Growth, she emphasizes, should be intentional rather than reactive.
🎧Listen to Episode 14 of The Right Tack to hear the full conversation with Amber Priestley and gain clarity on how to grow your practice without losing your values, your autonomy, or yourself along the way.
Want to learn more from Amber? You can find her at SkillSpark Therapy and Savvy Therapist, or connect with her on social media via Facebook at SkillSpark Therapy Center and Savvy Therapist Business Coach, and on LinkedIn at Amber Priestley.
