SimplePractice, the leading platform powering independent mental health practices, today released its “Annual State of Private Practice Report (2025 in Review).” This first-of-its-kind report establishes a baseline for better understanding the health, impact, and significance of the independent mental health practice landscape in the United States. Its findings are drawn from survey insights from over 2,200 clinicians and pulls aggregated data from more than 245,000 practitioners using SimplePractice.
Independent practitioners deliver a substantial portion of outpatient mental healthcare nationwide; but, their collective impact has been difficult to quantify due to the lack of a unified data source. By pairing aggregated data from SimplePractice with insights from a large-scale survey, this report offers a uniquely comprehensive view into how independent practitioners operate, deliver care, and sustain their practices.
“As both a clinician and author of this report, I wanted to better understand and help quantify the role independent practitioners play in today’s mental health landscape,” said Lindsay Oberleitner, PhD, LP, Head of Clinical Strategy at SimplePractice. “Independent clinicians are often at the front lines of care, and this report reinforces just how strong and impactful the private practice community is. At SimplePractice, we’re dedicated to supporting that work by reducing administrative burden so clinicians can focus on their clients.”
In addition to the report, complementary research conducted by Dynata on behalf of SimplePractice captured the perspectives of 1,000 consumers on mental healthcare. Together, these clinician and consumer insights provide a holistic view of the state of independent practice, with the findings centered on several notable themes, including the strength of independent practice, the impact of AI on care, access to care, and affordability.
Independent Practice Remains Strong and Resilient
Drawing from one of the largest datasets of independent clinicians available today, the data analyzed shows that independent clinicians using SimplePractice delivered over 113.6 million sessions in 2025 alone. The independent practice landscape is largely composed of solo practitioners, who represent nearly half of clinicians using SimplePractice (49.8%) and the vast majority of practices using SimplePractice (85.3%).
Among clinicians surveyed, the majority report high overall satisfaction with independent practice and a strong intent (87.9%) to remain in the field through 2026. Notably, more than half of all sessions (58.8%) are insurance-based, highlighting the central role independent clinicians play in delivering accessible care.
Consumer preferences reinforce this momentum. When asked to choose between independent clinicians or large hospitals and online platforms, half of respondents selected independent clinicians, primarily due to the personal connection it offers. This preference was more prevalent among women (56%), the Baby Boomer Generation (54%), and Generation X (54%).
Together, strong performance and patient preference signal that independent practices are well positioned to hold steady in the face of industry consolidation.
AI Skepticism Warrants Deeper Education
As AI adoption expands across industries, its role in mental health remains measured. While interest is growing, 53% of the clinicians surveyed reported not yet incorporating AI into their practices. Among those who have adopted it, reported usage includes marketing, email writing, and other non-clinical practice management tasks. However, for those who have adopted AI for clinical tasks, tools like SimplePractice’s Note Taker are delivering tangible results, saving clinicians up to five hours per week.
Consumer sentiment remains mixed. While 49% express they are somewhat or extremely open to clinicians using AI during sessions, many still express caution (45%) and skepticism (38%), highlighting a need for greater transparency and education around AI’s role in care.
Independent Clinicians Are Expanding Access to Care
According to consumers, the most frustrating part of seeking mental healthcare is navigating the first steps (23%), including knowing search terms to use and which resources to trust. The second highest ranked frustration was finding a provider with availability (19%).
Independent clinicians are helping address these challenges. SimplePractice’s survey determined more than 60% of clinicians report appointment availability within the next seven days and tools like SimplePractice’s Therapy Finder are making it easier for patients to connect to clinicians with availability.
Access is also improving across rural areas. SimplePractice data shows over 16,000 clinicians are practicing in areas with a population under 49,000, and nearly 6,000 are in areas with a population under 10,000. Clinicians in rural areas delivered nearly 7.8 million sessions in 2025 alone, reinforcing the essential role independent practitioners play in expanding care to under-served communities.
Affordability Pressures Continue to Impact Mental Healthcare
Per a March 2026 Gallup poll, the availability and affordability of healthcare is the top concern of more than 61% of Americans. In SimplePractice’s consumer survey, 49% of respondents reported they would or do currently pay for mental health services through private insurance. However, from the clinician perspective, financial pressures remain significant.
The average self-pay rate is $40 higher than the average insurance reimbursement rate, creating a meaningful tradeoff between accessibility for patients and financial stability for clinicians. This gap is compounded by administrative burden, as clinicians report constant struggles with insurance documentation, tracking down payments, dealing with claim denials, and feeling frustrated by the perceived lack of clarity with insurance companies. With 43% of clinicians reporting no formal business training at the onset of establishing their practice, running and sustaining an independent practice remains a significant operational challenge.
Setting the Standard for Ongoing Industry Insight
The “Annual State of Private Practice Report (2025 in Review)” also explores patient characteristics, the practice environment, burnout, and more, establishing a benchmark for the industry. As future editions track year-over-year trends, SimplePractice will continue to bring forward data-driven insights that will help clinicians make informed business decisions, support policymakers in addressing workforce and access challenges, and enable payers to better understand and support this critical sector of the mental health system.
To read the full report, please click here.
About SimplePractice
SimplePractice is the industry-leading platform that empowers more than 250,000 solo and group practitioners to thrive and retain their independence. By simplifying the business of running a private practice, our premium practice management and EHR provides tools and technology that enable mental health professionals to focus on delivering quality care, while patients can seamlessly manage their care journey. In 2025, SimplePractice helped independent practitioners deliver over 125 million sessions of care to more than 10 million individuals.
To learn more, visit SimplePractice.com, or join the conversation on LinkedIn, Instagram, and Facebook.
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