Thriveworks
✓ Clinician-founded W2 employer with 340+ locations, no-show protection, and benefits. 2.3/5 compensation rating—PTO limited to 8 hrs/month.
Cost to join
W2 Employment
Pricing model
per provider month
Founded
2008
Overview
Thriveworks is a clinician-founded mental health company with over 16 years of experience operating 340+ locations across the United States. The company offers both W2 employee and 1099 contractor positions for licensed therapists, psychologists, counselors, and psychiatric providers. Key benefits include no-show protection (clinicians get paid when insured clients no-show or late cancel), health insurance through Anthem (50% subsidized for employees), paid liability insurance, and retirement savings plans. PTO accrues at 8 hours per month with up to 80 hours carryover. Average salaries range from $75,000-$140,000 for counselors and therapists, with PMHNPs earning up to $150,000. Thriveworks supports hybrid care models with flexibility for early morning, evening, and weekend scheduling. The company handles insurance billing, credentialing, marketing, and client scheduling, allowing clinicians to focus on patient care.
Best for
- ✓Licensed therapists wanting W2 employment with benefits
- ✓Clinicians seeking no-show protection and guaranteed pay
- ✓Mental health professionals wanting flexible hybrid schedules
- ✓Early-career therapists building experience with support
Not ideal for
- !Therapists seeking competitive compensation (2.3/5 rating on Comparably)
- !Clinicians wanting substantial PTO (8 hrs/month = ~12 days/year, industry average is 15-20)
- !Those wanting to build their own private practice brand
- !Therapists seeking higher earnings (private practice can pay 30-50% more)
- !Clinicians wanting full autonomy over caseload and client selection
Pricing details
Counselor salaries average $100k with range from $75k-$140k. PMHNPs can earn up to $150k. Benefits include health insurance (50% subsidized), no-show protection, paid liability insurance, retirement. PTO accrues 8 hrs/month with 80 hr carryover cap.
HeyPsych Fairness Rating
56/100
Overall fairness score
pay fairness
2.3/5 compensation on Comparably, 2.1/5 on Glassdoor (below average)
credential portability
Clients belong to Thriveworks. Cannot take them when you leave
compensation transparency
W2 salary ranges ($75k-$140k) clearly stated upfront. Know your base before accepting
rate stability
W2 employment provides income stability; less exposure to rate cuts
clinician founded
Founded by Dr. Anthony Centore (LPC, PhD)—a licensed clinician
payment speed
Regular W2 payroll (bi-weekly or semi-monthly)
benefits protections
Health insurance, 401k, malpractice, no-show protection, PTO (limited)
HeyPsych Fairness Rating v1.0: Weighted score across pay fairness (30%), credential portability (20%), compensation transparency (15%), rate stability (15%), clinician-founded (10%), payment speed (5%), and benefits (5%). Scale: A (80-100), B (65-79), C (50-64), D (35-49), F (<35).
What to watch out for
compensation concerns
Issue: 2.3/5 compensation rating on Comparably (below average)
W2 employment trades higher private practice earnings for stability and benefits
limited pto
Issue: PTO accrues at only 8 hours per month (12 days/year)
Impact: Limited flexibility for vacations, sick time, and mental health days
productivity expectations
Issue: W2 status comes with session quotas and productivity targets
Impact: Less control over your schedule than independent practice
no practice building
Issue: Clients belong to Thriveworks, not you
Impact: Cannot take clients with you if you leave
w2 vs private practice
location requirements
340+ locations but not all areas have openings
insurance dependent
Issue: Heavy reliance on insurance reimbursements
Impact: If insurers cut rates (like Optum 2024), company may adjust compensation or caseload expectations
No-show protection only applies to insured and self-pay clients
Frequently asked questions
How much do Thriveworks therapists make?
Thriveworks advertises counselor salaries of $75,000-$140,000, but compensation ratings are low (2.3/5 on Comparably, 2.1/5 on Glassdoor). Many therapists report effective salaries closer to $65,000-$85,000. PMHNPs can earn up to $150,000. The W2 model trades potentially higher private practice earnings for stability and benefits.
What is Thriveworks' compensation rating?
Thriveworks has a 2.3/5 compensation rating on Comparably and 2.1/5 from counselors on Glassdoor. This is below average for the mental health industry. Many therapists cite pay as a primary concern, though the W2 benefits package (health insurance, no-show protection) adds ~$10-15k in value.
Does Thriveworks offer W2 or 1099 positions?
Thriveworks offers both W2 employee positions with benefits and 1099 contractor arrangements. W2 employees receive health insurance (50% subsidized through Anthem), no-show protection, paid liability insurance, and 401k. The tradeoff is less autonomy and potentially lower earnings than private practice.
How much PTO does Thriveworks offer?
Thriveworks PTO accrues at 8 hours per month (about 12 days per year) with an 80-hour carryover cap. This is below the industry average of 15-20 PTO days. The limited PTO is a common complaint among employees.
What is Thriveworks no-show protection?
Thriveworks pays clinicians when private insured and self-pay clients no-show or late cancel. This provides income stability that independent practice doesn't offer. Note: this only applies to certain client types, not all appointments.
How does Thriveworks compare to private practice?
Private practice therapists often earn 30-50% more per session but lack benefits, face income volatility, and handle their own billing. Thriveworks provides W2 stability, benefits valued at ~$10-15k/year, and no-show protection. Calculate your personal breakeven to decide which model fits.
Company info
- Headquarters
- Lynchburg, Virginia, USA
- Employees
- 1,000+
- Funding status
- Private (bootstrapped + PE)
- Valuation
- Undisclosed (private company)
- Clinician-founded
- Yes ✓
Founders
Dr. Anthony Centore(PhD, LPC)
Founder & CEO
Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC), PhD in Counselor Education
Unlike VC-backed competitors, Thriveworks was bootstrapped by its clinician founder. W2 employment model means therapists are employees, not contractors generating platform revenue.