The short answer
Yes, in private practice and many contractor arrangements. Most agency, hospital, and W-2 group jobs set your hours or require certain shifts. Even with full control, continuity of care limits how much you can change once clients depend on a regular time slot.
Which therapy jobs let you set your own hours?
It mostly comes down to employment type:
| Setting | Who sets your hours |
|---|---|
| Hospital, agency, or clinic (W-2) | Usually the employer, often with required evening or on-call shifts |
| Group practice (W-2) | Often the practice, sometimes with flexibility |
| Group practice or platform (1099) | Varies; some set minimum hours or required blocks |
| Contractor network | Often you, within the network's systems |
| Private practice | You |
There's a legal reason contractor roles tend to be more flexible. The IRS looks at whether a business controls what a worker does and how. A business that dictates a contractor's hours is acting more like an employer.
What limits flexibility even when you're in control?
Your clients. Once someone counts on Tuesdays at 6, moving them around has a cost. Flexibility works best when you:
- Decide your regular availability up front.
- Change it for new clients rather than existing ones.
- Give notice before major changes, like dropping evenings.
- Plan for coverage when you're away.
What else should you think about?
- Demand. Evenings and weekends are popular with clients. Fewer of those hours can mean fewer referrals.
- Documentation time. A full schedule of sessions leaves no room for notes unless you block it.
- Income. In per-session models, fewer hours means less income.
How ValorWell handles this
ValorWell therapists set their own availability in ValorWell's EHR: mornings, afternoons, evenings, specific days, small or large schedules, around other jobs or family. You also choose whether clients can book themselves or must contact you to schedule, and you can switch between accepting and not accepting new clients at any time.
There's no standard full-time schedule imposed.
Important limits
- Continuity of care still applies. Existing clients and authorizations shape how quickly you can change your schedule.
- Flexible hours don't guarantee referrals. Volume depends on demand, eligibility, and fit.
- Contractor flexibility comes without benefits. That's the tradeoff for control.