Careers FAQs
Online Therapy Careers Frequently Asked Questions
Thank you for your interest in online therapy career opportunities at Houston CBT. Here you can find answers to most common frequently asked questions about our remote therapy positions.
Are your therapists independent contractors (1099) or employees (W2) ?
Therapists at Houston CBT are considered independent consultants (or contractors, as it is often referred to), because this online therapy role is more autonomous than your typical therapist position in an institutional setting. Houston CBT therapists work independently, with optional opportunities for case consultation and professional development among the team, work from home with their own equipment, and control their own approach to their therapy work, while being guided by the values of evidence-based practice. Our remote therapists also have the freedom to set their own hours and flexibility to work as much or as little as they want. These aspects of our therapist roles makes them more consistent with an independent contractor, or 1099 position, versus an employee (W2) position, in which you typically have set hours, a set location and equipment, and your employer has a larger say on how you perform your work.
What are the benefits of being an independent contractor?
Freedom to control your schedule, your caseload, and your own work-life balance are among the top benefits of working as an independent contractor/consultant. The flexibility that you have while working remotely for Houston CBT frees you up to spend more time doing the things you love–time with family, friends, or in hobbies. Another unique aspect of this position is that it allows you to do clinical work alongside another position, if you choose, such as an academic appointment or research position.
Can you make a living as an online therapist?
Our therapists set their own hours and caseload goals. Some might choose to work part-time, perhaps in addition to another role they have, and others choose to work full-time. Therefore, our therapists have substantial control over their income from Houston CBT. For therapists deciding to work full-time with us (around 20-25 sessions per week), you could expect an income well over six figures. Our commission-based compensation structure is designed for the therapist to take home the vast majority of their billings.
What are the perks of being an online or virtual therapist?
Since the pandemic began, most therapists have had to adapt to working online in some form. Research has shown great promise in the effectiveness of therapy online versus in person, and anecdotally, we have seen most people engaging in therapy adapting quite well to telepsychology, or online therapy. For therapists and clients alike, reduced travel time or commutes and increased access to therapy services for people in more rural areas are appreciated aspects of online therapy. Our remote therapist position offers a unique benefit to psychologists and other licensed professionals whose primary job is in teaching, research, or clinical work within a large institution by allowing them to see a smaller amount of private practice clients within their week without the added burden of travel. Additionally, our work from home therapists enjoy more time spent doing what they love when their commute has been reduced from a car ride to walking into a private room in their home.
Why should I consider being an online therapist through a private practice versus a large-scale online platform, like BetterHelp or Talkspace?
Although the big, popular virtual therapy programs have allowed more people to access therapy (and in some cases, allowed more constant access to a therapist through texting), the consistency or the quality of therapy on these sites have remained in question. Perhaps related to this, therapists are severely underpaid on these platforms (e.g., $20-30 per session), in our opinion. For comparison, our compensation would range from $100-$155 per session, depending on the therapist’s fee.
Are you able to fill therapists’ caseloads? Will there be enough clients for me?
Houston CBT will only fill a select number of therapist positions that meet the needs of our referral streams. Our therapists do not have any responsibilities associated with marketing themselves or recruiting clients; the practice has multiple referral streams and can quickly fill a caseload according to the clinician’s preferences for number of sessions per week.