Welcome therapists and group practice owners! I’m Nicole McCance, a psychologist turned business coach for therapists. A therapist recently asked me a question I hear constantly: “I’ve never worked in a group practice before. How do I lead therapists when I’ve never experienced being on a team myself?”
This hit home because I was in the same position. I went straight from solo practitioner to group practice owner without ever working for anyone else. And most entrepreneurial therapists follow this exact path.
These are the three leadership strategies that will help you confidently lead your team, even if you’ve never been on one.
P.S. Not a huge fan of reading blogs? (I’m more of a podcast girl myself) You can listen to my podcast episode all about this topic by clicking here!
Strategy 1: Make Time to Connect With Your Therapists
The best leaders connect and ask directly instead of trying to guess what their team needs.
When I was running my 55-therapist group practice, at every check-in I would ask, “I want this to be your dream job. Tell me how I can make that happen.”
This approach takes the pressure off you to have all the answers and creates a collaborative environment where your team feels valued.
How to Connect with Your Team
Walk the floor: Check in with therapists when you’re at the office. Even a quick “How are things going?” can make a big difference.
Schedule regular check-ins: Quarterly one-on-ones to discuss goals, challenges, and support needs.
Ask the magic question: “What would make this your dream job?” Then actually implement what you can.
Be collaborative: Instead of dictating, say “Let’s work together on this. What are your thoughts?”
When you lead this way, you’re linking arms with your team rather than standing above them.
Strategy 2: Use Your Experience With Bad Leaders to Know What NOT to Do
I always ask therapists to tell me about a boss they hated. Why? Because that’s where we learn what not to do!
When I asked this therapist, she described a leader who wasn’t collaborative, ruled from the top down, and used liaisons between him and staff. Nobody’s voice mattered.
That’s a dictatorship, and nobody wants to work there.
Turn Bad Experiences into Good Leadership
Think about your worst boss. What did they do that made you want to leave? Now do the opposite.
- If they were rigid, you be flexible and understanding
- If they ignored input, you actively seek feedback
- If they created hierarchy, you level the playing field
- If they micromanaged, you give autonomy and trust
As therapists, we’re naturally empathetic. That’s why we chose this profession. You already have an edge over other leaders just by understanding people, knowing how to listen, and creating safe spaces.
Strategy 3: Get Clear on What You Can Offer Therapists
When this therapist told me she was nervous about competing with other practices offering 401(k) matching and healthcare benefits, I had her flip the script. Instead of focusing on what she couldn’t offer, I asked her to tell me why someone would want to work with her.
Here’s what came out:
- newly renovated office space in a growing area
- full marketing support
- Psychology Today profile paid for
- professional headshots
- billing and collections handled
- insurance credentialing
- practice management software
- supervision included
- peer consultation
- complete training
In other words, all a therapist has to do is show up and do therapy. Everything else is handled.
Hot Tip: Click here to read my blog article all about why therapists want to work for your group practice and how to become the group practice that clinicians never want to leave!
What You're Really Offering
Most group practices are a mess. They don’t have systems, they’ve never had a business coach, they definitely don’t have an operations manual, and they know nothing about marketing.
If you’re in a business coaching program for therapists, you’re already 90 leaps ahead of most clinics. You have automation, streamlined onboarding, and systems that make therapists feel safe and supported.
That matters so much more than you think.
I’ve had therapists thank me years after I sold my practice, telling me how much they appreciated the seamless onboarding and clear systems. It made them feel secure and allowed them to focus on building relationships with clients instead of figuring out how things work.
Here’s what you can offer that many practices can’t:
- Automated systems that make everything run smoothly
- Clear onboarding that reduces anxiety and confusion
- Marketing support so therapists can focus on therapy, not finding clients
- Operations handled including billing, scheduling, and admin work
- A culture of collaboration where voices matter
- Professional development through supervision and peer support
You don’t need to match every benefit package out there. Sometimes people will work with you just because they like you, they vibe with your culture, and they feel like it would be fun to be part of your team.
The Confidence You Need to Lead Your Group Practice
I promise, you don’t need to have worked in a group practice to successfully lead one. Most high-achieving group practice owners haven’t.
What you do need is a willingness to connect with your team, learn from bad leadership examples, and get clear on the unique value you bring.
Leading can feel lonely when the buck stops with you. That’s why community matters. You need people who understand what it’s like to handle the tough decisions.
But here’s the beautiful part: once you have your foundation (systems, manual, onboarding), you never have to build it again. Your team will maintain and improve it while you focus on being the collaborative, empathetic leader your therapists need.
Want even more strategies for scaling your group practice with confidence, sustainability, and ease? Follow me on Instagram or listen to my podcast, The Business Savvy Therapist!
Your Business Bestie,
Nicole
