Are you a therapist looking to boost your income and expand your skill set? Being a therapist can be a fulfilling career, but it can also be financially challenging. Many seasoned and novice therapists alike supplement their income with a side hustle.

Side hustles can serve as a fantastic opportunity to diversify your income while pursuing your passion for helping others. In this article, we will explore some of the best side hustles for therapists that can provide additional income while also adding depth to your professional skill set.

Why Should You Start a Side Hustle as a Therapist?

While a career as a therapist is rewarding and fulfilling, starting a side hustle can be an effective way to increase your income and take control of your financial future. Whether you’re looking to supplement your current salary or gain more financial freedom, starting a side hustle as a therapist can provide multiple benefits:

• Having an additional source of income can help you increase your savings while making it easier to cover unexpected expenses. 
• A side hustle can also give you freedom and flexibility in your career. You’ll be able to take on new projects or clients that interest you, and you may even be able to start your own business. 
• A side gig can provide an opportunity for personal growth and professional development that might not be available in a traditional job.

20 Best Side Hustles for Therapists

Here are 20 potential side jobs to consider for professional growth and financial stability.

Offer Telehealth Services

Telehealth is a form of healthcare delivery that occurs over the Internet, allowing patients to receive care from the comfort and convenience of their homes. To become a successful telehealth therapist, you must possess excellent communication and organizational skills, as well as the ability to effectively navigate technology. You must also be knowledgeable about HIPAA laws and requirements, as well as have a strong understanding of the mental health needs of your clients.

Become an Adjunct Professor

Becoming an adjunct professor is a great way to build your resume and teach students the valuable skills they need to become successful mental health professionals. You are generally hired on a part-time basis by colleges or universities to teach specific courses. This allows you to maintain your current practice while still getting the opportunity to pass on your knowledge and experience.

Develop Online Courses

Online courses offer an accessible way to share your knowledge with a larger audience than you can reach in person. When creating an online course, it’s important to consider the topic you want to teach, the format of the course, and the target audience. It’s also essential to create a marketing plan prior to launching your course in order to maximize its potential success.

Offer Consulting Services

As a consultant, you use your experience and insights to offer consulting services. You can work with organizations or individuals to provide guidance on topics related to your specialty. This could be anything from training staff on evidence-based practices, developing policies and procedures, providing counseling services, conducting needs assessments or research, and much more.

Start Freelance Writing

Freelance writing allows you to use your therapeutic skills in a creative and flexible way, from the comfort of your home or office. This side hustle offers the opportunity to put your knowledge and experience into words that can help others. You can write articles, blogs, e-books, white papers, and more.  

If you earn $600 as a freelance writer, you can expect to receive a 1099 form. By establishing an LLC, you can deduct expenses such as home office and supplies utilized in conducting business.

Write a Book or E-Book

Writing a book or eBook can help you establish yourself as an expert in your field, build an audience of potential clients, and diversify your income streams. This side hustle requires careful planning and research. You should thoroughly plan out the topic and structure of your book, research sources for writing material, and create a timeline for when you want to have it completed. You may need to hire editors, as well as find a publisher (if you choose to self-publish).

Provide Therapeutic Retreats

When it comes to therapeutic retreats, you can get creative with the type of activities and services offered. You can coordinate yoga classes, meditation sessions, therapeutic art projects, or even outdoor excursions. Retreats provide an excellent opportunity to combine your knowledge and expertise as a therapist with the unique needs of each group or individual.

Become a Public Speaker

Public speaking can be an ideal side gig for you because it allows you to use your skills as a communicator and educator, in addition to your expertise in mental health. You can give lectures, conduct workshops, seminars, and more in order to help spread awareness of mental health issues and share your knowledge with a wide range of audiences.

Become a Virtual Meditation Guide

Many people are turning to meditation in an effort to improve their overall physical and mental well-being, but may not be sure of how to begin or what techniques will provide the best results. That’s where you come in! As a virtual meditation guide, you can create guided meditation sessions that can be accessed online and provide users with the opportunity to experience the calming effects of meditation without having to leave their homes or offices.

Conduct Group Therapy Sessions

Group therapy sessions can provide an excellent side hustle for therapists. Group therapy is a type of counseling where multiple people come together with one or more therapists to discuss their issues and work toward finding solutions to common problems. This type of therapy has been shown to be beneficial for many people, as it provides a sense of support and connection among group members. It also allows the therapist to lead discussions and facilitate

Become an Expert Witness

When you plan to become an expert witness, the most important thing to remember is to be prepared. Make sure you have a thorough understanding of the legal system and the duties expected of an expert witness before taking on any cases. For these types of services, you can charge fees that are commensurate with your qualifications and experience. 

Apply as a Virtual Assistant

As a virtual assistant (VA), you can choose your own hours and work from home, allowing you to maintain a flexible schedule and focus on your therapy practice. You typically provide administrative support services such as scheduling appointments, managing emails, creating spreadsheets, and managing social media accounts. 

If your earnings exceed $600, a 1099 form will be issued to you. By creating an LLC, it is possible to reduce expenses. Consult a tax professional regarding how to proceed on this matter.

Create a Niche Blog

With the help of blogging, you can share your expertise and advice while reaching both potential clients and other professionals in the field. Creating a niche blog requires planning, research, and dedication. First, it’s important to decide on the focus of your blog. Then you can begin to write posts that offer tips, advice, and resources related to that topic. It’s also important to establish yourself as an expert in the field by providing helpful content and engaging with other bloggers.

Offer Clinical Supervision

Your role as a clinical supervisor is to provide guidance and mentorship to newly licensed or emerging clinicians. This can include topics such as ethical and legal considerations, clinical decision-making, best practices, and more. To become a clinical supervisor, it is important to have several years of experience in the field as well as continuing education courses or certifications related to clinical supervision.

Consider Affiliate Marketing

Affiliate marketing involves promoting products or services from other companies and earning a commission for each sale you make. As a therapist, you may choose to promote products and services related to mental health, such as books on self-care or online courses on stress relief. By becoming an affiliate marketer, you will be able to reach a larger audience and potentially make more money than you would by working solely with clients.

Start Vlogging

Vlogging or video blogging involves creating a series of online videos to teach and share information about topics that interest you. As a therapist, you can use vlogging as a way to reach out to potential clients, demonstrate your expertise, and even make some extra money by monetizing the vlogs with advertisements or other income streams.

Record a Podcast

Podcasts provide you with a platform to share your expertise, build an audience, and create an additional revenue stream. The beauty of podcasting is that it can be done from anywhere with relatively little technical know-how. All you need is a computer or smartphone and a microphone, and you can get started. There are also various ways to monetize a podcast, such as setting up a donation page or offering paid sponsorships.

Become a Social Media Influencer

As a social media influencer, you will be responsible for creating content that promotes products or services and encourages others to buy them. You will become an expert in your field and have the ability to share your knowledge with a wide audience. The key to success as a social media influencer is to stay up-to-date with trends and create content that resonates with your audience. It’s also important to keep up with the ever-changing algorithms used by social media platforms in order to ensure your posts are seen by as many people as possible.

Create and Sell Merchandise

Creating and selling merchandise is a great way for therapists to make extra money on the side. By designing products such as t-shirts, mugs, or posters with your logo, brand, printables, or artwork, you can reach a wider audience of potential customers. Additionally, you can have your products printed by an online printing service and sell them through your website or social media accounts.

Become a Mobile Notary

Becoming a mobile notary may be a great way to make some extra money as a therapist. Notaries are responsible for verifying the authenticity of documents and serve as impartial witnesses to validate documents such as contracts, powers of attorney, wills, deeds, loan documents, and more. To become a mobile notary, you must meet certain requirements, including being licensed in the state where you work and passing an exam.

How to Start Your Side Hustle as a Therapist in 5 Steps?

Here are five important steps to begin your side gig journey and ensure a successful start:

1. Decide on a Side Hustle Idea

If you’re a therapist looking to gain some extra income or start a side gig, it can be difficult to decide on an idea. It’s important to have something that you’re passionate about and that you can make money from.

2. Create a Business Plan

Creating a business plan for your side hustle is a critical step in ensuring its success. It outlines the goals you have for the business, the steps needed to achieve them, and the resources available to make it happen. 

A business plan should be comprehensive and include information on how you will finance, promote, distribute, and manage your side job. When creating your business plan, there are certain steps you need to take, including researching the market, setting up financials, and creating a marketing plan.

3. Consider Setting Up a Business Structure

Depending on the type of business you’re running, there are several different options available. The most common form of business structure for a side gig is sole proprietorship. 

However, if you’re earning at least $600, you are eligible to receive a 1099 form. To secure tax advantages and safeguard against liability, establishing a formal business structure, like a Limited Liability Company (LLC), is recommended. Consult with a professional to guide you on the appropriate structure and legal and tax requirements.

4. Determine Your Finances and Tax Obligations

Having a clear understanding of your financial situation will help you develop a realistic plan for starting and managing your side business. The first step is to calculate how much money you have available for startup costs. This includes any savings you may have as well as any lending options you may be eligible for. After determining your startup costs, you should also consider any taxes that will be due on the income generated from your side hustle.

5. Obtain and Maintain Business Licences and Permits

Obtaining and maintaining business licenses and permits is an important part of launching a successful side gig for therapists. Depending on the type of therapy services you provide, you may need to register or obtain specific permits in order to practice legally. Doing this can be intimidating, especially if you are just getting started with your side hustle, but it’s essential that all legal requirements are met before you begin providing services.

Grow Professionally with Your Side Hustles

Having a side hustle as a therapist can not only provide additional income but also enhance your skills, expand your network, and offer a greater sense of purpose and fulfillment outside your main job.

Whether it’s launching a coaching business, writing a book, or providing online therapy, there are countless possibilities for you to explore your passion and skills while helping others improve their lives. With dedication, creativity, and a willingness to take risks, you can find success and satisfaction in your side job and create a more fulfilling career.

It may also be beneficial to consider collaborating with service providers to enhance your chances of success. Doola offers bookkeeping services and can assist you with financial management.

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