Independent practice
Office of Independent Practice
The Office of Independent Practice leads the development of best practices and business operations regarding independent practice with an eye toward marketplace realities and opportunities. The Office works closely with the Office of Health and Health Care Financing and the Office of Legal and State Advocacy to ensure the needs of independent practitioners are included in APA’s efforts to promote psychology.
Goals
- Ensure that the voices and perspectives of psychologists in independent practice are integrated into APA’s strategic initiatives.
- Help psychologists in independent practice adapt to emerging challenges and capitalize on new opportunities to ensure successful futures.
- Serve as the key link between the independent practitioner community, APA governance, and APA staff.
- Embrace diversity of practitioners and service delivery to ensure the long-term applicability and viability of the profession.
- Provide business resources to the community of psychologists in independent practice
Director
Marnie G. Shanbhag, PhD
Senior Director, Office of Independent Practice
Marnie Shanbhag is a licensed psychologist with PSYPACT® authorization to practice telepsychology. Before joining APA in 2023, Shanbhag ran her own practice in Orlando, Florida, for more than 16 years. Her independent practice expertise spans both mental health care practice and applied practice, with a special interest in leadership, immigrant communities, and maternal health. Prior to private practice, Shanbhag served as the executive director of a nonprofit agency and coordinating maternal and child health systems. Shanbhag graduated from the University of Pennsylvania and earned her doctorate in counseling psychology from the University of Florida. Her clinical psychology internship was at the South Texas Veteran’s Health Care System in San Antonio, Texas, and she completed postdoctoral work at the University of Florida. Shanbhag remains active with the Florida Psychological Association.
Staff
Rachael Soule, JD
Director of Business Regulations and Independent Practice
In 2022, attorney Rachael Soule joined the Legal and State Advocacy team at APA. She comes to APA with over eight years of experience delivering technical legal and business analyses on a variety of health care laws and regulations to identify risk and empower compliance strategies. Soule’s key areas of focus include the No Surprises Act, mental health parity, and the intricate landscapes of privacy and confidentiality—encompassing HIPAA, 42 Code of Federal Regulations Part 2, and evolving state rules—alongside Medicaid expertise. Soule holds a bachelor’s in economics from Gettysburg College and earned her JD from Florida Coastal School of Law.