Does purchasing an ownership interest in a business providing psychological services qualify as independent practice?

Purchasing an ownership interest in a business that provides psychological services typically qualifies as engaging in independent practice of psychology. This is because independent practice implies the ability to direct and govern the clinical and ethical standards of the practice, which ownership inherently provides. By owning a part of the business, the individual has the ability to influence how psychological services are delivered, including operational policies, hiring and training staff, and determining the scope of services offered.

Independent practice is fundamentally tied to the concept of not only delivering psychological services but also having control over their provision. Therefore, ownership can directly link the individual to the practice's clinical activities, reinforcing that it constitutes independent practice.

In contrast, other options such as ownership not qualifying as practice or dependency on the nature of the business imply limitations that do not align with the overarching principle of autonomy in ownership and direction in psychological services. Additionally, the notion that only licensed psychologists can own such businesses is incorrect in contexts where ownership is not predicated on licensure but rather on corporate law.