At Chicago Minds, we believe that when clinicians are supported and given the flexibility to choose how they want to work, they’re able to devote more time and energy to hone their practice and become the most efficient clinician possible.

Lessening administrative burdens:

Clinicians in private practice often have to juggle a plethora of administrative and logistical tasks; these range from acquiring, managing, and maintaining an office space, to scheduling numerous appointments and keeping track of insurance. These tasks are not only time-consuming, but they can also be unfamiliar and intimidating; some clinicians in private practice have stated that they were not prepared for this kind of administrative work and that they found themselves “wearing many hats” in addition to being a therapist.  Our staff ensures that instead of spending time cleaning an office, changing lightbulbs, or stocking refreshments, clinicians can focus on therapy while also maintaining the autonomy that is often cherished by those in private practice and reaping the benefits of a fully furnished, clean, and professional office space.

Aiding new therapists

Chicago Minds is also committed to supporting clinicians who are at the start of their careers and are interested in private practice. As these clinicians shift from the academic to the professional sphere, they encounter challenges that many of us are familiar with: they must go from learning to doing and decide how to employ what they studied in the classroom to everyday life. Furthermore, clinicians—like anyone who is starting a new job—must learn how to do that job well.

Such a transition can be quite difficult on its own–and is further complicated by the aforementioned administrative burdens–but therapists at this stage are also presented with the difficult task of establishing where they want to work. Choosing a location to practice can be an incredibly consequential decision as it can entail doing extensive research on an area, hiring an agent and a lawyer, signing a lease, setting up a space, and even moving long distances. Some clinicians understandably feel hesitant to make such a commitment so early in their career while they are still establishing themselves, but may feel compelled to do so in order to have a physical space to conduct sessions. The availability of the Chicago Minds space however, provides therapists with flexibility during this period; clinicians can use the Chicago Minds space as a venue for in-person appointments, as a business address to receive mail, and as an office to do their work. Clinicians, therefore, can hold off on committing to a space for as long as they want and use the Chicago Minds office instead, allowing them to still work as therapists without having to sink large amounts of money and time into renting and setting up a space of their own.

Perfect for Hybrid Work

In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, virtual appointments have become increasingly popular among clinicians and patients. Many clinicians work hybrid, seeing the majority of their patients virtually, and meeting with a few in person. In contrast, others transition between virtual and in-person work depending on what method best suits their needs at the time. These workstyles, however, can present clinicians with dilemmas; while virtual therapy can be done in the comfort of one’s home, clinicians still might need an office space to do work, host those occasional in-person appointments, and require a business address listing. As mentioned earlier though, acquiring office space can be expensive in terms of both time and money; furthermore, a designated office can limit clinicians’ flexibility by tying them to a location and discouraging them from hosting their appointments virtually to avoid ‘wasting’ the office space they have invested in. The Chicago Minds model is designed to provide clinicians in these situations with the flexibility to work the way that they want. 

All of our members have unlimited access to the Chicago Minds co-working space during business hours to get work done or simply unwind, while our virtual business address feature allows members to list the Chicago Minds office as a business, mailing, and forwarding address. Resident members at Chicago Minds can always reserve therapy rooms for whichever type of appointment they plan on hosting with no change in price between virtual or in-person appointments. Therapists should be able to reserve a room to support their patients in whatever way they see fit. Lastly, membership is managed on a monthly basis, enabling those therapists in transitional phases to use our services on demand, without forcing them into a long-term commitment. 

We believe that these features allow us to provide flexibility to therapists so that not only can their unique style of therapy be supported, but that our support is not affected by the various changes and transitions that can occur in life and in one’s career. We are here to support you!

By Teddy Neer (he/him), Office Coordinator at Chicago Minds