Side Quests for Therapists: Ways to Earn Additional Income as a Counselor

“Money money money- must be funny, in a rich mans world.”

We have all come to this point, the point where you need a creative outlet outside of talk therapy. It is natural to want some diversity in work, even the work we do. Many of us who are in the field of psychology have a creative side. So how can we harness that creativity- into cash? 👀

Here is a crash course of ideas to think about-

The Teacher

Teaching is a common side quest for therapists. We have Masters and Doctorate level degrees, which tends to translate well into educating others. Whether you look into adjunct teaching positions, or building a CE course- there are many ways to get involved with teaching when you have a background in counseling.

If you are interested in teaching, consider doing some detective work into what is required for the positions you are passionate about. You might be surprised to see you already qualify for some or might need additional schooling for others. This can help you create a goal plan on what type of teaching works for your lifestyle.

The Social Guru - Social Media Packages

Not a lot of us like to use social media. It must be part of the culture of therapists, but it tends to be last on our list of things we want to do. If you have a passion for social media strategy, branding, SEO strategy, etc- you may be able to market these services to other therapists.

Many people sell premade templates for other therapists who want to make social media posting as easy as possible- I know because I sell mine on this website & it has helped many therapists streamline their social media for a full year of content.

The Brains of the Operation- Administrative Support

Additionally, many therapists in private practice would like to outsource administrative work but don’t due to the lack of needing someone full or even part time. If you are willing to do hourly rate administrative work, you may be able to market this service to other therapists. I have seen everything from email managers to full administrative assistants for private and group practices. There is a need out there for clerical support. Or if you want a more consistent side quest, you can look for part time employee positions are clinics, groups, PP, or hospitals. Similarly, some people may look for administrative work in a similar field of work but not therapy specifically such as yoga studios, daycares, school/after school programs, nonprofits, dance studios, etc.

The Better Tony- Speaking Engagements

Public speaking is also a well known option in the therapist world for additional income. Many of us have life stories, education and experiences that can help others. So if you are comfortable creating presentations, giving lectures and/or discussion groups, public speaking may be a great option for additional income.

The big push with this is marketing yourself well. Many therapists are successful in creating speaking packages for businesses and organizations to hire them for events. If you are interested in this, finding someone who offers public speaking already & has a history of events may be a great asset in learning how & if you want to pursue public speaking.

The Influencer

This one is not one I personally endorse, but it is growing in popularity. If you become an influencer, become educated in what adheres to your ethical and license codes of conduct. Do your research and understanding of what is legally required of you as a mental health clinician representing yourself online.

If you are successful, you may be able to make passive income from social media influencing. Obviously my lack of passion for this as a side quest is pretty blunt- I think a lot of influencing can get slippery overtime, when it comes to professionals with certain standings providing “general advice” or marketing their “fave sunscreen” for commission when they are in a healthcare line of work… but again that is just my own opinion not everyones. I follow a therapist who dresses up like an elf & plays video games on TikTok… so be brave if you want to!

The Author

Whether it is a book or journal (insert shameless plug of Grief Sucks here) writing is also a lateral side quest to many clinicians. We write every day… so if there are clinical topics or creative writing projects you are passionate about, writing can be a great side quest for extra income. There are even people who get hired to write blogs, and blog membership platforms- so if you have a way to monetize your writing this side quest may be for you!

The Dual Business Owner

This is where the creative colleagues can really shine! I know personally, I wanted to create a side quest business that fed my passion for gothic mental health apparel- which led to Whimsigoth Wellness on Etsy.

Many therapists build creative hobbies that can lead to monetization. Some of my colleagues second businesses include- stickers, tarot decks, worksheets, apparel, paintings, and more!

My Personal Advice- From Someone with 1000 hobbies-

As someone who implemented SEVERAL side quests early on in my career, I would suggest reflecting that whatever side quest you pick- be passionate about it. I love educating others on private practice tips & tricks- which is why my ebook is so successful. I love drawing & creating art on apparel and stickers- which is why Whimsigoth Wellness is still around on Etsy. I want people who are navigating grief to get asked the questions I think everyone deserves space to answer, which is why I worked for over a year to create and publish Grief Sucks. These are side quests I will continue to nurture, review and develop over time. If you select projects that are not aligned with your passions, they are more likely to fall into the pit of half-done ideas over time.

I wish you the best in your quests & hope you can check out some of my own side quests via my Shop page!