What Makes a Great Fractional Practice Manager?
Not all practice managers are the same — and that’s a good thing. You deserve someone who fits your practice, your values, and your specific needs.
A classic, “I’m not like a regular ____, I’m a cool one.” situation (I just know y’all are saying this about your job too).
So what does make someone a great fractional PM? Here’s what I believe matters most — especially in therapy-adjacent, values-driven spaces:
1. Values alignment.
A strong PM understands that your work isn’t just about productivity — it’s about people. Whether you’re providing client care or trying to make the world a better place, you need support that honors your commitments to trauma-informed care, equity, access, and sustainability. A great PM doesn’t just tolerate these values — they’re steeped in them. Marinated, even.
My top values — both when I was deep in clinical eating disorder care work, and now — have always been rooted in social justice, anti-oppressive care, and authenticity (and, ok, humor — because laughing always feels good). “Less harm, more good” has been one of my catchphrases in the other part of my business for years.
2. Emotional intelligence.
Operational expertise is important, obviously. But so is navigating hard conversations, naming tensions, and supporting a team through change. Your PM should be someone who understands the emotional labor of care work — and shows up with empathy, not ego.
As a former clinician who literally doesn’t shut up about counseling skills and the importance of the therapeutic relationship — I get it. Truly. I care enough about repairing ruptures and being a better listener that I created a whole course on it. And I bring this emotional intelligence and skill to our work too. I can’t be your new therapist (seriously, I’m not trained in that), but I can be your warm collaborator. I value you and the working relationship we’ll build.
3. Clarity and communication.
No one wants to guess what their support person is working on or if they’ve been doing what they said they would. A great PM brings clarity, updates proactively, and communicates decisions and deadlines in a way that helps everyone feel grounded and informed.
One thing about me — I’m going to do the task in the most nervous-system tending way possible. I do my best to schedule things with plenty of wiggle room, share updates and feedback regularly, and communicate clearly each step of the way.
4. Experience with adjacent spaces.
AKA, knows what the f they’re doing. There’s a big difference between running a therapy-adjacent practice and, say, a tech startup. A PM with adjacent experience (clinical admin, private practice, care-focused work) will understand the nuance of your world — your licensure needs, your client flow, your seasonality — and help you plan accordingly.
Have I mentioned I worked as an outpatient clinician in private practice for 7 years? Aside from fractional PM services, I still regularly meet with clinicians and interns for supervision and other educational offerings, so I know what it’s like to run a business while keeping a pulse on others’ businesses too.
5. Follow-through.
Vision is great — but someone needs to click the buttons, track the tasks, and make sure the plan doesn’t fall apart in week two. A great PM balances strategy with action. They get things done, and they make it easier for you to get your work done too.
Ultimately, the best PM for you is someone who complements your leadership style, brings order to your chaos, and treats your practice with the same care you give your clients and team.
Feel like we could be a match? Let’s connect and see if it’s a fit.
Hey! I’m Charlie — Your Practice Partner.
I help human-centered group practices thrive. More about me.
