​

PARTNERS AND SPONSORS

Today's email is brought to you by Simple Practice — trusted by over 225,000 practitioners. For a limited time, get 50% off your first four months. Activate your exclusive trial today​

NOTES FROM THE EDITOR

How not to fail

Private practices fail for entirely different reasons than other small businesses.

The most cited strategic reason for small business failure is "a bad fit to market's needs". In other words, they offer things that people neither need nor want.

So most businesses that fail, do so because they misread the demand. Therapists don’t. The demand is already there.

So what are the main business reasons for a therapy practice failure? There are four:

• Lack of business planning. Not enough business knowledge or skills.
• Underestimating costs. No financial cushion for startup costs, and expenses.
• Administrative burden. Lack of organization.
• Insufficient marketing. No consistent influx of clients.

Of all the things on this list, organization is the easiest fix because it comes down to systems, not personality. Because once your systems are organized, every other part of your practice becomes easier: scheduling, billing, documentation, and even marketing.

That's why picking the right operation system for your practice, your EHR, is more important for your success than just scheduling and billing. If you choose the right system, you can not only solve the problem of administrative burnout, but will be able to safeguard your practice from costly future mistakes and the operational chaos that causes many new practices to fail.

To help you make the right choice, I recently wrote an article that lays out what sets Simple Practice apart as the best option for solving the organization challenge.

Of course that's not the only EHR out there, and you can decide what works best for you. But it's important to keep in mind that your practice is like an ecosystem in which every part needs to work well with the other. So you don't fail.

And now to the news!

NOTEWORTHY

“Shrinks On Tap” launches

Two clinical psychologists in Del Ray have launched a new mental-health podcast covering ketamine-assisted therapy, trauma work, and tapping your “inner healer.”

Why it matters: This is the content your clients are consuming. It shapes expectations before they walk into your office.

BUSINESS AND PRIVATE PRACTICE

Trends shaping therapy in 2026

A recent review highlights six emerging trends: practice-management AI, therapy content, intensives, VR/AR tools, hybrid care, and body-based modalities.

Why it matters: These trends signal where private practice is heading, and where opportunities to stand out will come from.

​

INDUSTRY NEWS

FDA to review AI-enabled mental-health devices

The FDA’s advisory panel will evaluate regulation for AI tools like chatbots, virtual therapists, and digital diagnostics.

Why it matters: Regulation will shape which tools therapists can safely rely on going forward.

FINAL THOUGHTS

I'm convinced that most private practice failures are preventable.

If you create efficient systems that allow you to manage your practice, communicate with clients, and attract new leads smoothly, you're bound to succeed.

See you next week,

Avivit