Can Licensed Therapists Expand Into Workshops and Retreats? A 2025 Guide to Staying Legal and Ethical

The wellness industry is booming, and many licensed therapists are eyeing opportunities beyond traditional one-on-one sessions. From mindfulness retreats in Costa Rica to parenting workshops at community centers, the possibilities seem endless. But here's the million-dollar question: Can you legally offer these services outside your therapy license?

The short answer is yes—but only if you navigate the legal and ethical landscape carefully. Cross the wrong line, and you could face licensing board complaints, lose malpractice coverage, or worse, inadvertently harm participants.

The Two Boundaries Every Therapist Must Know

Before you book that retreat venue, understand these critical distinctions:

Scope of Practice refers to what your state licensing law allows you to do—like provide diagnosis and treatment. These rules vary by state and are strictly enforced.

Scope of Competence covers services you're actually qualified to provide based on your education, training, and supervision. Just because you can legally offer something doesn't mean you should without proper preparation.

The golden rule: If your planned workshop falls outside either scope, you have three options: decline the opportunity, get additional training, or reframe it as a non-clinical service with crystal-clear disclaimers.

When Your "Workshop" Becomes Therapy (Whether You Intend It or Not)

State licensing boards typically consider an offering to be clinical—and therefore requiring a license—if you:

• Assess, diagnose, or treat mental health conditions
• Promise therapeutic outcomes like "heal your trauma" or "overcome anxiety"
• Bill insurance or provide superbills for reimbursement
• Use protected terminology like "therapy," "counseling," or "psychological treatment" without clarifying non-clinical intent

Remove these elements, and most states will view your event as education or coaching—which is generally unregulated (though still subject to consumer protection laws).

Five Strategies to Stay on the Right Side of the Law

1. Master the Art of Disclaimers

Your marketing materials, website, and verbal introductions should clearly state: "This workshop is educational and not psychotherapy. No diagnosis or treatment will be provided." Make these disclaimers prominent, not buried in fine print.

2. Separate Your Professional Identities

Consider running non-clinical events under a distinct business name with its own website, consent forms, and privacy policies. This creates clear separation between your therapy practice and educational offerings.

3. Be Strategic with Titles

You can mention your credentials in your bio—"Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist (CA)"—but avoid marketing the event itself as therapy. Professional associations like the ACA and APA specifically warn against misleading advertising.

4. Review Your Insurance Coverage

Some malpractice policies exclude non-therapy services. Contact your carrier to understand your coverage or consider adding a rider for educational activities.

5. Navigate Multi-State Rules for Online Events

If participants join from other states, you must follow each state's definition of unlicensed practice—even for "just education." This can get complex quickly for virtual offerings.

What's Generally Safe vs. What's Risky

✅ Typically Safe with Proper Disclaimers:

• Stress management and mindfulness classes
• General parenting skills workshops
• Workplace wellness presentations
• Life design and career visioning retreats

⚠️ Proceed with Extreme Caution:

• Trauma processing or EMDR intensives
• Groups promising anxiety or depression relief
• Programs using clinical modalities like "DBT therapy"
• Substance use relapse prevention programs

Your Ethical Obligations Don't Disappear

Even in non-clinical settings, professional ethics still apply:

Competence First: Don't teach what you haven't practiced clinically without proper supervision or training.

Transparent Boundaries: Provide participants with resources for individual care and emergency contacts.

Avoid Dual Relationships: Be extremely careful about marketing workshops to your therapy clients—document clear boundaries if you proceed.

Your Pre-Launch Legal Safety Checklist

Before you open registration:

• ☐ Research licensing laws for every state where participants will be located
• ☐ Have legal counsel review your disclaimers and consent forms
• ☐ Confirm insurance coverage in writing
• ☐ Remove clinical promises and protected terms from marketing
• ☐ Establish emergency and referral protocols
• ☐ Ensure any continuing education credits meet proper standards

The Bottom Line

Licensed therapists absolutely can expand into workshops, retreats, and group offerings—when they do it right. The key is staying within both your legal scope of practice and ethical scope of competence while clearly framing these events as education rather than treatment.

With careful planning and proper disclaimers, you can expand your impact and income without triggering licensing board concerns. The wellness world needs more qualified professionals sharing their expertise—just make sure you're doing it safely and legally.

Discover and Share Wellness Opportunities

Find Workshops and Retreats That Inspire

Looking for ideas or wanting to experience what others are offering? ZestLife is your go-to platform for discovering wellness workshops, mindfulness retreats, and educational groups led by qualified professionals. Browse offerings from licensed therapists who are successfully navigating the education-versus-therapy boundary we've discussed.

Search ZestLife for:

• Stress management workshops
• Mindfulness and meditation retreats
• Parenting skills classes
• Career and life visioning intensives
• Wellness education programs

Experiencing these events as a participant can provide valuable insights into effective formats, clear disclaimers, and professional presentation before you create your own offerings.

Ready to Share Your Expertise?

Once you've done your legal homework and developed your workshop or group concept, ZestLife's group work marketplace platform is designed specifically for licensed professionals to post groups that are either therapy groups or workshops.

Why ZestLife for therapists:

• Built-in compliance support - The platform understands the unique legal and ethical considerations therapists face
• Professional credibility - Your licensing credentials are prominently displayed to build trust
• Targeted audience - Reaches people specifically seeking wellness education from qualified professionals
• Clear distinction - Platform design helps maintain the education vs. therapy boundary

Whether you're offering a one-day workshop on mindful parenting or a weekend retreat on stress resilience, ZestLife provides the professional framework you need to share your expertise safely and effectively.

Get started: Create your therapist profile and begin connecting with people ready to learn from your professional experience in a non-clinical, educational setting.

Remember: This article provides general guidance and shouldn't replace consultation with legal counsel familiar with your specific situation and state laws.

Sources

• California Business and Professions Code § 4980.02 – Defines the scope of practice for Licensed Marriage & Family Therapists (LMFTs) in California. (law.justia.com)
• California Board of Behavioral Sciences (BBS). “Advertising Requirements Specific to Marriage and Family Therapists.” Explains what the Board considers false, misleading, or deceptive marketing. (bbs.ca.gov)
• American Psychological Association. Ethical Principles of Psychologists and Code of Conduct (2017), Standard 2: Competence. Sets out psychologists’ duty to practice only within the boundaries of their competence. (apa.org)
• American Counseling Association. 2014 ACA Code of Ethics, Section C.2.a: Boundaries of Competence. Requires counselors to provide services only in areas where they have appropriate education and training. (counseling.org)
• California Board of Behavioral Sciences. “Enforcement Actions.” Illustrates the range of disciplinary measures (letters of reprimand, probation, license revocation) for violations such as unlicensed practice or misleading advertising. (bbs.ca.gov)