Launch Your Therapy Practice With Confidence — and Protection
Created by an attorney who's helped therapists build thriving, legally compliant practices.
Starting your own therapy practice shouldn’t mean drowning in paperwork and uncertainty. Unlock the freedom to focus on your clients by mastering the legal and compliance essentials of private practice. Our attorney-created curriculum provides a step-by-step roadmap for therapists and mental health professionals to launch their private practice with confidence and the right tools—with a solid legal and compliant foundation—all while minimizing paperwork headaches.
You are trained to help people,
not navigate legal paperwork
Starting a private practice is exciting — until you hit the legal and compliance maze.
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Business Structure
What business structure do I need?
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Agreements and Disclosures
Do I have the right forms?
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HIPAA Compliance
How do I handle HIPAA requirements?
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Office Leases
Does my lease protect me (or trap me)?
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Insurance Credentialing
Where do I start?
You're not alone. Most therapists feel completely lost when it comes to the setup for their practice. And it can hold them back for months (or even years).
The Confusion Ends Here
Embark on your journey to independence with our exclusive course designed for therapists and mental health professionals (LMFT, PsyD, LMC, LMHC, LCPC, and others).
Practice Protected™ guides you through 10 essential Action Steps to launch your practice. From registering a legal entity, negotiating your office lease or virtual arrangement, to HIPAA compliance and client agreements and disclosures, you'll gain the clarity and confidence needed to build a solid foundation.
Created by an attorney with firsthand insight into the challenges faced by clinicians, this course cuts through complexity and simplifies the process into 10 specific, actionable steps. Learn how to establish your practice, protect your business, and ensure compliance—so you can focus on what matters most: serving your clients.
Focus on clients.
Not the paperwork.
Your clients are your passion. Let us guide you through the necessary paperwork.
10 Action Steps
Starting a journey is the hardest part. Our 10 Action Steps help you build momentum to create your dream practice.
Templates and Forms
Take the guesswork out of your practice forms. We offer attorney-created customizable templates and forms to get you started.
Learn from an Expert
Brian Christiansen is an attorney who has spent years representing therapists and mental health professionals as they built and grew their private practices. Through his work, he saw a common theme — incredibly skilled clinicians held back by confusion and uncertainty around legal and compliance requirements of running a private practice. This includes his mother-in-law, who regularly encountered confusing and overwhelming paperwork for her practice.
That’s why he created Practice Protected™: to make the paperwork side of launching a private practice simple, clear, and with less uncertainty. Brian brings a lawyer’s precision and a teacher’s heart, breaking down complex concepts into practical, actionable steps that help therapists move from “I’m not sure where to start” to “My doors are open and I’m ready for clients.”
Brian Christiansen
Attorney-turned-educator on a mission to help therapists launch their dream practices with confidence.
Course Breakdown
Here's what you'll get inside Practice Protected™
Our course has 10 Modules to start your own practice and 10 Action Steps to help you take action right away. Below are a few examples.
MODULE #1
Register a Legal Entity
A legal entity is essential to protect yourself from liability. It also projects a professional image to potential clients.
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Importance of limited liability protection
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Risks of not having a legal entity
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Choosing the right legal entity structure
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Action Step #1 - Register your legal entity with the state, IRS, and local government agencies
MODULE #4
Finding Your Space
Meet clients where they are. Understand the important factors to start your practice in the right place.
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Physical vs. virtual office arrangements
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Finding the right location for you and your clients
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Important lease and contract terms
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Action Step #4 - Negotiate lease or virtual contract terms
MODULE #6
HIPAA Compliance
Sound policies and procedures to safeguard your client's protected health information.
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Legal obligations to protect clients' privacy
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Important HIPAA definitions and concepts
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Notice of Privacy Practices
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Action Step #6 - Adopting HIPAA-compliant policies and procedures
MODULE #7
Client Agreements and Disclosures
A standard client agreement and disclosure forms promotes transparency, builds trust, and protects your business.
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Comply with legal and ethical requirements
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Important elements of client agreements
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Intake process for new clients
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Action Step #7 - Build your Client Agreement and disclosures
Why Choose the Course
Launching your own practice doesn't have to be overwhelming. In just 10 Action Steps, you can build a practice on a strong legal and compliant foundation and turn your love for serving clients into a thriving practice. With our proven roadmap, you'll move beyond paperwork obstacles to focus on what matters most.
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Expert-Led Curriculum
Starting a therapy practice is complex. With all the legal and compliance paperwork, it can be difficult to know how to start. Our attorney Course Instructor will empower you with the knowledge and confidence as you embark on your journey.
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Flexible Online Learning
A self-paced course of 10 Modules. Learn at your own pace. Grow at your own pace.
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One-Time Investment
No subscriptions. No recurring charges. Get unlimited access to the course materials and customizable templates and forms.
Your Before and After Journey
Imagine where you'll be 30 days from now
Trusted by Therapists Who've Been There
Before creating this course, Brian spent years representing therapists as an attorney — helping them navigate the legal and compliance challenges of private practice. Here’s what they had to say about working with him.
Brian has a gift for turning complicated legal jargon into simple, actionable steps. He made what felt overwhelming completely manageable.
Melanie Vinton, MA, LMFT
Founder and Co-Owner
Invigorate Life Counseling, pllc
Brian genuinely cares about helping therapists succeed and grow in their practices. He makes me feel supported, understood, and empowered.
Kathleen Bischel, MA, LMFT
Founder and Owner
Open Circle Therapy, pllc
Brian's understanding of the legal and compliance side of therapy practices is unmatched. He guided our practice with clarity and confidence.
Katie Mohr, MA, LMFT, LPC
Co-Owner
Invigorate Life Counseling, pllc
Protect Your Practice. Serve With Confidence.
You've worked hard to become the clinician your clients need—don't let confusion and uncertainty slow you down. Practice Protected™ gives you the roadmap, templates, and peace of mind to open your doors and focus on your clients without the guesswork.
Think your practice is ready?
Make sure.
Get our free 10 Action Steps Private Practice Checklist - the 10 must-haves every therapist should have in place before opening their doors.
Frequently Asked Questions
Find answers to common questions about our course. If you can't find the answer you're looking for, please don't hesitate to contact us.
What topics does Practice Protected™ cover?
The course is structured in 10 action-oriented Modules, including:
- Register a Legal Entity
- Corporate Governance (manage your legal entity)
- Open a Business Bank Account
- Finding Your Space (Leasing an Office or Virtual Practice)
- Business Insurance
- HIPAA Compliance
- Build Your Client Agreements and Disclosures
- Insurance Credentialing
- Build a Referral Network
- Trademark your business name and/or logo
What professionals can benefit from this course?
The course is designed for aspiring and licensed mental health professionals providing therapy or counseling services, including Licensed Marriage and Family Therapists (LMFT), Psychologists (PsyD), Licensed Professional Counselors (LMC), Licensed Mental Health Counselors (LMHC), Licensed Clinical Professional Counselors (LCPC), and similar professional designations.
What support is available during the course?
The Course Instructor is available via e-mail during normal business hours to answer questions about course curriculum. For additional support, we offer a +Live Support package that includes 1:1 virtual sessions to help you implement one or more Action Steps.
How long will I have access to the course materials?
You will have unlimited access to the course materials, including the customizable forms and templates. There are no subscription or recurring fees.
Can I preview a sample lesson before enrolling?
The best way to get a sample is to sign-up for our e-mail list and get your free 10 Action Steps checklist. If you still have more questions about the curriculum, please e-mail us at info@startingmypractice.com.
Do I get a certification after completing the course?
No. The primary objective is to provide actionable steps to start your therapy practice and focus on your clients.
Is this course legal advice or a substitute for hiring other professionals?
No. Practice Protected™ is an educational program, not a substitute for individualized legal, accounting, or tax advice. It’s designed to empower you with foundational knowledge and tools to make informed decisions — and to know when to consult a local attorney, accountant, or tax professional for customized guidance.
Can I get a refund if I'm not satisfied?
No. Due to the informational nature of our courses, all sales are final. If you are dissatisfied with the course, we would like to meet with you to address your concerns, help with your journey, and use your feedback to improve the course for future students.
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