Starting Your Practice With Clarity
Starting your practice may feel like standing on the edge of something exciting and terrifying! Perhaps you just got licensed and are eager to go out on your own. Or, maybe you have been in the field for many years, and the nudge to own your own practice has been sitting there quietly for a decade. The thought of creating your own schedule, choosing the clients you feel most called to serve, potentially earning a higher income, and shaping a practice that reflects your values can be deeply inspiring.
At the same time, questions naturally arise. How can I make this work financially when I am starting out? Will I be able to handle the marketing, admin, and business side of therapy while staying true to myself as a therapist? Will I feel isolated and alone?
I want to reassure you that these fears are normal. They are also the exact place where most new practice owners begin.
Rather than viewing your practice as one single leap, I encourage you to envision your practice as a series of small, intentional choices that evolve, and come together, slowly over time.
Begin by clarifying your vision. What kind of practice do you want, and why? Do you want to work fewer hours so you can be more present with each client? Do you want to build a specialty in anxiety, families, or trauma? Do you want flexibility in your schedule so you have more time with your family? Or perhaps you envision a variety of offerings such as groups, intensives, or retreats. Maybe you want to offer online courses or workshops. Your vision will guide the decisions you make about where you work, the marketing you will need to do, and finances. It can help to write your vision down and continue to expand and refine it overtime. I have a practice vision document that I keep up to date. I add to it and refine it on a weekly basis.
When I started, I went all in, all at once. I rented an office full time and when I was not with clients I was writing blogs, posting on social media, and buidling relationships with other therapists. This worked really well for me. Yet many therapists begin gradually. They may work part time at an agency and rent an office on two days each week. Or, they may limit client sessions to school hours, so they can be with their children every afternoon and evening. If you choose to start small, this can help you build confidence and stability over time.
Another key to success is learning the business side of therapy. When you have your own practice, you need to start thinking like a business owner, and acquire a general understanding of operations, sales, marketing, and finances. This can feel intimidating at first, but it is what makes your practice sustainable. Start with the basics: set up your business legally, open a business bank account, establish a professional phone and email, and decide on your fee structure. Create systems for scheduling, payments, and client records. Test out different electronic health record systems to see which one is the best fit for you. Having systems and structure in place, will protect your time and energy so you can focus on your work with clients.
When therapists think about starting a practice, marketing is often the part that feels the most stressful. Yet, every single day, people are searching for a therapist who can help them. Your job is to make sure they know you exist and how you can help. If they never get the chance to meet you they will not know you are out there ready to support them. That is why simple steps like setting up a website and a Google Business Profile are important first moves. Eventually you can add social media or other ways of attracting clients over time.
The truth is, the best “marketing” never feels forced. It works when it feels natural, honest, and relational, just like the work you do in therapy. Surround yourself with other therapists that are in private practice through consultation groups, trainings or events. Building authentic relationships provides mutual encouragement, guidance, and often leads to referrals. Having a strong professional community makes private practice sustainable and fulfilling.
Most importantly, remember that confidence will not come before you start. It grows as you take each step. Every action you take, from setting up your office to meeting your first private pay client, builds trust in yourself.
The rewards of private practice are flexibility and the ability to create a professional life that feels aligned with who you are. It is about building something that allows you to serve others while also sustaining yourself.
You do not need to have everything figured out before you begin. What matters most is that you start. Allowing yourself to grow, to learn, and to build something meaningful one step at a time. If owning your own practice is a dream you hold, consider this your invitation.
