Private Practice Unlocked: Helping Therapists Build Profitable Businesses Without Sacrificing Quality Care for Their Patients

Insurance vs. Private Pay — How to Choose What’s Right for You

Amber Moyo: Mentor for Private Practice Owners Episode 23

Few decisions in private practice bring up as much guilt, anxiety, and second-guessing as choosing between insurance and private pay. Many therapists feel stuck between wanting to be accessible and needing to be sustainable — and often feel judged no matter which path they consider.

In this episode, Amber revisits the insurance versus private pay conversation with more nuance and honesty. Rather than framing it as a moral debate or a one-time decision, she encourages therapists to view payment models through the lens of sustainability, nervous-system capacity, and season of life.

Amber explores the real trade-offs of insurance-based, private-pay, and hybrid practices — and explains why there is no universally “right” answer.

Listeners will learn:

  • The real demands of insurance-based practice beyond reimbursement rates
  • What private pay actually requires emotionally and logistically
  • Why hybrid models are a valid and often overlooked option
  • Better questions to ask instead of relying on pros-and-cons lists
  • How letting go of guilt leads to clearer, more grounded decisions

This episode reminds therapists that choosing sustainability is not selfish — it’s necessary for providing consistent, ethical care long-term.

Struggling to decide what model fits you best right now?
 DM Amber on Instagram @privatepracticeunlocked and tell her what you’re weighing — she’ll help you think it through.

Let’s build the practice — and life — you deserve.

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