Our Story
Hi, I’m Jackie Dunagan, a licensed Marriage & Family Counselor. I created Practice Elements + Co. for a simple reason: I wanted to make the business of private practice easier so aspiring clinicians could focus on what they love, the science and art of clinical care.
If you’re anything like me, you love the clinical work. It’s meaningful, challenging, and deeply fulfilling. It feels like a calling. But like most professions, it comes with administrative and operational demands that must be managed. This behind-the-scenes work is rarely visible, often underappreciated, and ranges from mildly tedious to downright draining. It’s part of the job—but rarely the part anyone looks forward to.
For many clinicians, the idea of handling all of it alone feels overwhelming. I remember thinking there had to be a better way—a structure that allowed clinicians to build independent practices without getting buried in the how-tos.
Why Practice Elements + Co. Exists
The Evolution of Practice
I became the clinician I am today because of the support, structure, and sense of belonging I found in a strong group practice. I will always be grateful for that experience. The systems were in place. Compliance was handled. Marketing was shared. And there was always someone to consult with. At that stage of my career, it was exactly what I needed—the right place at the right time.
In a group practice, fee splits aren’t a limitation; they’re the cost of belonging to a professional community. They support infrastructure, supervision, and collaboration—elements that help newer clinicians build confidence, competence, and sound clinical judgment. For me, that structure was invaluable.
As my experience grew, I eventually felt ready to step out on my own. I assumed building the operational side of a practice would be relatively straightforward. In hindsight, I was naively optimistic. What I quickly discovered was that compliance, workflows, technology, and operations required far more time, energy, and expertise than I had anticipated.
The Challenge
When I launched my own practice, I had a solid clinical foundation—but I lacked the built-in infrastructure and community. My professional network was still there, but collaboration is easier when you’re working within the same systems, on the same platforms, and under the same operational umbrella.
And then there was the infrastructure itself. No single platform does it all. I spent countless hours in demos, consultations, and research trying to piece together a system that was compliant, efficient, and actually pleasant to use. Eventually, I found a solution—but only after far more effort than I ever expected.
The Solution
My experience made one thing clear: if this was difficult for me, it had to be difficult for others.
Initially, I loved the idea of leading a group practice, but not the liability of overseeing someone else’s clinical work. What I really wanted was a collective of equals—clinicians with shared values, diverse strengths, and the ability to consult, collaborate, and grow together without sacrificing autonomy. As my own transition from a group practice to independent practice unfolded, I realized that by offering high-quality systems and meaningful resources to respected clinicians, seeking both independence and professional community, I could help make independent practice for others not just possible, but more sustainable.
That’s how Practice Elements + Co. was born.
We provide the elements.
You provide the care.
Is PE+Co Your Missing Element?
If the weight of legal, ethical, and operational demands feels heavy…
If setting up systems feels overwhelming or time-consuming…
If you value community, strong branding, and smart infrastructure—but want to retain full ownership of your practice and your fees…
Practice Elements + Co. may be your solution.
PE+Co. is designed for licensed clinicians who want the freedom of independent practice without the isolation or administrative overload. You keep your autonomy. You keep your clients. You keep your revenue. We provide the structure, systems, and support that make running a practice simpler and more sustainable.
Because independence shouldn’t mean doing everything alone.
We provide the elements.
You provide the care.
And yes—these really are very good systems.
Let’s not make this harder than it has to be.