Disclosure: Fiverr is a FreelanceMile partner, and that partnership affects where it appears in this guide. Some links are affiliate links, so I may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. The pros, cons and fees for every platform, including Fiverr, are my honest take.
The best side hustles for therapists use the license you already have: contract telehealth, clinical supervision, CE workshops, EAP work, expert witness cases and freelance mental health writing.
If you want something closer to passive income, books, worksheets and recorded courses are the realistic options. Check your employer, your board and your insurer before you start any of them.
Key takeaways
- Your license is the asset. Supervision, CE teaching and expert work pay for training you already have.
- Telehealth side work depends on where the client is. Compacts help, but only in member states.
- Passive income is slower than it sounds. Books and courses take months to build and still need marketing.
- Ethics come first. Never sell side products to current clients, and keep client details out of every project.
- Writing is the easiest start. Mental health writing and content review can run on Fiverr with fixed packages.
Why therapists look for side income
Pay is one reason. The BLS puts the median wage for mental health counselors at $59,350 in May 2025. For marriage and family therapists it was $66,940 in May 2025.
Demand is the other reason. In APA’s 2025 Practitioner Pulse Survey, 46% of psychologists said they had no openings for new clients, and 40% had a waitlist.
That means your skills are in demand outside your main job too. See the APA 2025 Practitioner Pulse Survey and its topline data tables.
10 side hustles for therapists
Here’s the list, starting with the easiest to start and moving toward options that need more setup.
1. Freelance mental health writing and content review
Health sites, apps and publishers need writers who understand mental health. Clinicians can write articles, review drafts for accuracy, or edit course material.
Fiverr is the simplest place to start, because you sell fixed packages like “1,000-word mental health article” or “clinical accuracy review.” Sell writing and review only, not therapy sessions.
Fees matter: Fiverr Help says freelancers receive 80% of the client’s cleared payment, with a 14-day clearing period for most sellers.
One therapist on Reddit described the same idea outside Fiverr:
“I do freelance editing for a medical publishing company. Great little side gig and I get to decide how much work I take on.”
u/cje1220 on Reddit, January 2024
2. Contract telehealth sessions
Many therapists see a few clients a week through a group practice or telehealth platform. It’s the closest side hustle to your day job, so check your employer contract first.
“I signed up for Rula, through the recommendation of a colleague. I see about 2 clients a week, and get reimbursed about $90, pretax, per session.”
u/paprika_life on Reddit, November 2025
Licensing follows the client’s location. The Counseling Compact says it’s live for licensees in 11 states, after Missouri went live on October 19, 2026. Psychologists can check the PSYPACT map.
3. Clinical supervision
New counselors need supervised hours before full licensure. The BLS notes that licensure requires supervised clinical work under a licensed counselor.
If your state board lets you supervise, you can offer individual or group supervision. Boards set their own supervisor rules, so read yours before you advertise.
4. Continuing education workshops and peer groups
Licensed clinicians need CE every year, so specialists can teach. Counselors can start with NBCC continuing education provider applications; other professions have their own CE approval bodies.
Smaller formats work too. One counselor on Reddit runs paid book discussion groups for other therapists:
“I am certified in IFS and started leading “Book Huddles” for therapists where we read No Bad Parts by Dick Schwartz together couple chapters at a time.”
u/CherieGustafsonLCPC on Reddit, November 2025
5. EAP, crisis response and workplace training
Employee assistance programs (EAPs) contract therapists for short-term counseling and critical incident response after events at work. Some mobile crisis teams hire part-time staff too.
“I see 10-15 clients (self-pay) per week and also do as-needed critical incident response for Employee Assistance programs. It’s an important service and sometimes stressful”
u/publictvisbust on Reddit, January 2024
Another user in the same Reddit thread suggested getting a facilitator certificate to teach mental health first aid, which suits therapists who like teaching groups.
6. Expert witness and forensic evaluation work
Attorneys hire mental health experts to review records, write evaluations or testify. Expert Institute says joining its Expert iQ network is free and experts keep 100% of their fees once retained.
Forensic work has its own ethics. The APA Ethics Code (Standard 3.05c) says psychologists in legal proceedings must clarify their role and the limits of confidentiality at the outset.
7. Adjunct teaching
Colleges and graduate programs hire part-time instructors for counseling, psychology and social work courses. Evening and online sections fit around a clinical schedule.
Pay is usually per course, so ask the department for its current rate before you commit.
8. Non-clinical coaching
Coaching can be a separate business. The International Coaching Federation defines coaching as “partnering with clients in a thought-provoking and creative process that inspires them to maximize their personal and professional potential.”
Keep it clearly non-clinical. If you diagnose or treat, your board may see it as therapy, and that brings in your license and the client’s state.
9. Books, workbooks and digital products
This is the closest thing to passive income for therapists. On Amazon KDP, authors choose a 35% or 70% eBook royalty option, and the 70% option applies only in eligible territories.
“I’ve published two books. I also do social media and offer coaching.”
u/DrScottE on Reddit, May 2026
Worksheets, journals and recorded trainings work the same way. Build once, then sell through your site or a marketplace.
10. A non-clinical side gig that gives your brain a break
Not every side hustle has to use your degree. Some therapists choose low-stress work on purpose to avoid burnout.
“I’ve been doing Rover (dog sitting) for the last 6 months. I love dogs and people book me to watch their pets for a couple nights every few weeks.”
u/Go_on_git24 on Reddit, November 2025
For more ideas outside your field, see our side hustles guide and remote side jobs.
Passive income for therapists: what is realistic?
Most therapist side hustles are active income. You get paid when you show up for a session, a supervision hour or a deposition.
The more passive options are books, workbooks, templates and recorded CE courses. They take months to create, and they still need an email list, a website or a marketplace to sell.
Start with one product for one audience, like a workbook for new supervisees. Then add a second product only after the first one sells.
Quick comparison
Scroll sideways to see the full table.
| Side hustle | Uses your license? | Who pays you | Check before you start |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mental health writing | No (expertise only) | Publishers, brands, Fiverr clients | No client details in content |
| Contract telehealth | Yes | Group practice or platform | Employer contract, client state |
| Clinical supervision | Yes | Supervisees or agencies | Board supervisor rules |
| CE workshops | Usually | Clinicians | CE approval body, such as NBCC |
| EAP and crisis work | Yes | EAP vendors, agencies | Insurance and on-call terms |
| Expert witness | Yes | Attorneys | Role clarity, APA 3.05(c) |
| Adjunct teaching | Degree | Colleges | Course load and pay per course |
| Coaching | No | Individuals, companies | Keep it non-clinical |
| Books and products | No | Readers, clinicians | KDP royalty option, privacy |
Before you start: license and ethics checks
Read your employer contract
Many agencies and group practices have outside-work or non-compete clauses. Ask HR in writing if you’re unsure, and keep the answer.
Check board rules and your client’s state
You can usually only see clients located in a state where you’re licensed, unless a compact like the Counseling Compact covers both states. Check your state licensing board’s rules on telehealth and side work before you start.
Avoid multiple relationships
The APA Ethics Code (Standard 3.05) says psychologists avoid multiple relationships that could impair objectivity or risk exploitation or harm. Counselors and social workers have similar rules in their own codes.
In practice: don’t sell your course, book or coaching to current clients, and don’t recruit clients from your side business.
Check your malpractice coverage
A policy that covers therapy may not cover coaching, expert witness work or teaching. Call your insurer before you sign the first contract.
Protect client privacy
Never use client stories in books, posts or courses, even with names changed, unless you have a clear written release. Write from general clinical knowledge instead.
FAQ
Can therapists have a side hustle?
Yes, as long as it doesn’t break your employment contract, your board’s rules or your ethics code. Non-clinical work is usually simpler than extra clinical work.
What is the best passive income for therapists?
Books, workbooks and recorded CE courses. They’re slower to build than a telehealth shift, but they don’t need you in the room every time they earn.
Can I see clients in another state as a side hustle?
Only if you’re allowed to practice where the client is. The Counseling Compact and PSYPACT help in member states; otherwise you need a license there.
How much do therapists earn from side hustles?
It depends on the hustle and your hours. Reddit users report anything from a few hundred dollars a week for contract sessions to occasional extra cash from dog sitting.
Should social workers and psychologists use this list?
Yes. Most options work for counselors, MFTs, social workers and psychologists. If you’re new to freelancing in general, start with how to start freelancing.
Sources (checked 20 October 2026)
- BLS: Substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors (May 2025 pay)
- BLS: Marriage and family therapists (May 2025 pay)
- APA: 2025 Practitioner Pulse Survey and topline data tables
- APA: Ethical Principles of Psychologists and Code of Conduct (Standards 3.05, 3.06)
- Counseling Compact (live states as of October 19, 2026)
- PSYPACT map
- Expert Institute: Get hired
- NBCC: CE provider applicants
- International Coaching Federation: About
- Amazon KDP: eBook royalties
- Fiverr Help: How Fiverr works for freelancers
- Reddit r/therapists threads: extra money, extra income, side hustles
What to do next
Pick one option that uses a skill you already have. Check your contract, board and insurer, then set up one offer: a supervision slot, a CE workshop, or a writing package on Fiverr.
Comparing platforms first? Read our guides to the best freelance websites and easy Fiverr gigs.
