In times of economic uncertainty, diverse income streams are an asset. When your therapy practice relies exclusively on one source of income, it’s more vulnerable to outside pressures like changing demand, competition, and regulatory issues.

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Here’s a short primer on diversifying your income streams, plus some of the most popular options for self-employed therapists.

Why diversify income streams?

When you first start your private practice, it’s common to rely on a single income stream: one-on-one sessions with clients.

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But as your practice develops, adding more sources of income helps to protect you from economic pressures.

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For instance, if you exclusively treat clients in person, 100% of your income relies on having a suitable office to work from and clients who are able to attend sessions.

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If there’s an issue with your office space—an accident or a natural disaster, a power outage, or trouble with your landlord—your only source of revenue will be affected.

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On the other hand, if 50% of your sessions are in-person and 50% are via telehealth, then only half of your revenue is exposed to office space issues.

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Similarly, if you only treat clients through one-on-one sessions, you’re 100% exposed to changes in demand for traditional therapy. For instance, during an economic downturn, clients may be forced to tighten their budgets and give up their weekly sessions. 

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But if you also provide more affordable options—like group therapy or online workshops—then you are still able to attract clients who are unable or unwilling to invest in traditional, recurring sessions. And you can focus your time and energy on expanding that income stream to offset other lost revenue.

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There are any number of scenarios where having diverse income streams may benefit your practice. The important thing is to start diversifying now so you’re prepared when the time comes.

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How to explore new income streams

To investigate new income streams:

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1. Designate time each week for researching potential sources of income. The Complete List of Income Streams for Therapists is a great place to start.
2. Create a list of income streams that suit you. For instance, you may not feel up to writing and marketing a therapy ebook, but an online workshop is right up your alley.
3. Identify successful examples. Seek out other therapists who have had success with the income streams that interest you. If they’re already part of your professional network, they may be willing to sit down for coffee and discuss their experiences.
4. Budget time and money. You may need to make an upfront investment to get a particular income stream off the ground. Even if you don’t need to spend money, plan to invest time—and schedule for it as needed.
5. Start with the easiest income stream to launch. For instance, launching your career as a public speaker could take months or years of complex work. Recording a series of videos for online subscribers could take a weekend. 
6. Learn, iterate, and keep building. Record your experiences as you go, tracking what works and what doesn’t. Reach out to your professional network for support. And make developing your alternative income streams part of your weekly work schedule—it’s an ongoing process, but if you invest the time and effort, it will pay off in the end. 

The top income streams for therapists in 2026 (and beyond)

Some of the most popular alternative income streams for therapists in 2026 include:

Supervising

The number of years you must practice as a therapist and the training you need to undergo before you start supervising vary from state to state. But once you’ve met these requirements, supervising can open up a new, steady source of income.

Clinical assessment, evaluation, and testing

Diagnostic assessments (DAs) serve as one-off sessions that can help fill out your weekly work hours. For certain types of assessments—like those for ADHD—you need to obtain the right credentials. Factor the cost of continuing education and operating expenses—office rent, score reports—when setting your fees. 

Consulting

If you have a particular niche specialty or area of interest, you may be able to build a consulting practice around it. Start by reaching out to therapists in your professional network, potentially offering discount rates as you get your practice off the ground.

Info products

Online courses, workshops, webinars, ebooks, worksheets, subscriber-only podcasts—there is a wealth of options when it comes to creating and marketing your own informational products for therapist clients or other therapists. This may be the income stream with the easiest point of entry, but it takes research to find opportunities for providing a unique product.

Retreats

Simply planning a day-retreat for some of your colleagues could be the first step to exploring this income stream. Retreats give therapists the chance to connect with other professionals and further develop their expertise. More in-depth, multi-day retreats can become a significant source of income. Best of all, the cost of travel is a tax deductible.

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For an in-depth guide to protecting your therapy practice against financial ups and downs—including diversifying income streams—check out Managing a Therapy Practice During Economic Uncertainty.

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This post is to be used for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal, business, or tax advice. Each person should consult their own attorney, business advisor, or tax advisor with respect to matters referenced in this post.

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Bryce Warnes is a West Coast writer specializing in small business finances.

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