New Mentorship Program Encourages Connection Among Practitioners

Running a private practice can feel incredibly lonely and overwhelming. 

Mental health practitioners who responded to the February 2023 SimplePractice survey shared  a resounding wish for connection, support, and mentorship. 

Even though 77 percent of female practitioners agreed that mentors are critical to career success, only 26 percent of practitioners currently have a mentor. 

The survey—with 900 respondents from SimplePractice’s community of over 160,000 practitioners—uncovered a significant mentorship gap and revealed a deep need for this service in the mental health industry. 

Inspired by the survey results, SimplePractice launched a first-of-its-kind mentorship program during Women’s History Month to connect mentors in the health and wellness field with fellow practitioners looking for mentorship. 

This pilot program aims to bring practitioners together to create deeper connections with peers. 

Now, more than ever, the mental health industry has reached a tipping point. 

There is a massive shortage of practitioners to meet the growing mental health services demand for mental health services driven by increases in anxiety and depression and PTSD following months of the COVID-19 pandemic. 

This shortage in the field has led to increased burnout, among mental health practitioners. 

SimplePractice’s February 2021 State of the Profession study found burnout among therapists had increased significantly from 14 percent to 20 percent in a little over a year. 

And, in 2022 nearly half of psychologists agreed or strongly agreed they felt burned out, according to an American Psychological Association (APA) survey. 

There is a critical need for resources that connect practitioners with one another to reduce feelings of isolation and burnout. 

In support of the mentorship pilot program, all month long we’re sharing helpful content on SimplePractice’s Pollen blog—stories about inspiring practitioner mentor partnerships, guidance on what makes a great mentor, common mentor pitfalls, and topics to discuss with your mentor during your initial conversations.

The SimplePractice mentor program is available free to practitioners and those currently in school to become practitioners. Simply fill out the form, tell us a little bit about yourself, your clinical practice, and what you hope to get out of this partnership.

The program is first available in California where SimplePractice is committed to making the first 50 mentor matches. Those who live outside of California are encouraged to fill out the form, and we’ll notify you if the program launches in your state. 

SimplePractice will also be hosting an in-person mentorship event in Los Angeles, as well as virtual online community events, to help practitioners nationwide connect. 

About SimplePractice

More than 200,000 private practice and small-group practitioners trust SimplePractice to build their businesses through industry leading software, ongoing education and powerful tools.

SimplePractice is HIPAA-compliant practice management software that makes it easy for practitioners to streamline and automate administrative work, so you have more free time to do the things you want to do.

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Legal Information:
SimplePractice cannot guarantee a match. SimplePractice does not take steps to verify that mentors or mentees hold active licenses, certifications, or registrations as required by law, or are in the process of actively seeking the same. SimplePractice does not recommend or endorse any mentors or mentees, and does not make any representations or warranties with respect to these mentors or mentees. SimplePractice does not moderate any communication between mentors and mentees. 

SimplePractice may share any information that you provide with a potential mentor or mentee. You release SimplePractice (and its officers, directors, shareholders, agents, parents, subsidiaries, and employees) from claims, demands, losses, liabilities and damages (actual and consequential) of every kind and nature, known and unknown, arising out of or in any way connected with SimplePractice’s sharing of said information.