5 Things I Would Do If I Was Starting Out in Private Practice Today
Doors are open to the Getting Started in Private Practice Course: The step-by-step support from first client to fully booked.
The doors to the Getting Started in Private Practice Course are now open!
Starting a private practice is one of the most rewarding steps you can take as a therapist but it can also feel overwhelming without the right roadmap.
Here are five things I’d prioritise if I were starting again today…..
based on over a decade of running a fully booked, self-funded practice focused on self-referring clients.
These lessons helped me move away from the exhausting cycle of being busy or quiet, dependency on referral companies and guesswork toward a steady, consistent, values-aligned business that supports the life I want.
And if you’re ready for structured support and the complete roadmap the 5-week programme Getting Started in Private Practice starts on 9th February, with doors open now. It’s designed exactly for therapists like you: step-by-step guidance, templates, live sessions, and community so you finish with a real, usable plan — not just theory.
1. Develop a Solid Business Plan (Even If “Business” Feels Scary)
I’d start here immediately not some stiff corporate document, but a clear, living plan that answers the essentials:
What am I offering, and to whom?
How much do I need to earn monthly to feel secure?
How many clients can I hold sustainably (without burnout)?
What are my key policies, systems, and boundaries?
How will I market consistently?
A good plan brings calm, cuts risk, prevents costly mistakes, and stops you building on hope alone. Planning is now one of my favourite parts of private practice because it creates real confidence and freedom to focus on therapy.
In the course, we build your personalised plan week by week so you end with something practical you’ll actually use.
2. Choose a Niche Earlier Than Feels Comfortable
I delayed niching because I worried it would limit me. Turns out, the opposite is true.
When I finally focused my messaging on my ideal clients, everything clicked: content flowed easily, my website converted better, and referrals felt like perfect fits. Clients started saying things like “this feels like coming home” — that’s the magic of speaking directly to the people you’re best equipped to help.
Niching isn’t exclusion; it’s clarity. It builds trust, sharpens your voice, and attracts the right people faster.
The course includes a gentle, aligned process to find your niche, one that feels true to you, not restrictive, plus help turning it into powerful messaging.
3. Invest in a Professional Website (Your 24/7 Silent Salesperson)
Don’t delay or cheap out here. When shifting to self-funding clients, your website becomes your main home base:
It builds instant trust and credibility
Answers client questions before they even ask
Showcases your expertise
Makes enquiries simple and natural
Early on, I relied too much on third-party referrals juggling their rules and systems was draining. A strong site gave me independence and steady flow.
In the course, you’ll get clear guidance on essentials: where to start, what to include, what to skip, and how to write a website that genuinely connects and brings in referrals (without sounding salesy).
4. Learn Basic SEO from Day One
SEO isn’t mysterious, it’s mostly straightforward once explained simply. A gorgeous website does nothing if no one finds it.
My early site took months to gain traction, but learning the basics (keywords, content strategy, technical must-dos) changed everything. I’ve seen too many therapists waste money on ineffective “SEO packages” because they didn’t know what good looked like. You just need to learn the small, consistent actions that build visibility over time, with no overwhelm.
5. Get Support Early — Coaching, Mentorship, or Community
This is the biggest accelerator. Moving from “just a therapist” to “business owner” is a huge mindset shift. You suddenly handle fees, accounts, boundaries, marketing, money, systems and doing it solo often leads to overthinking or avoidance.
Support shortens the learning curve, saves time/money/stress, and helps build a practice that’s profitable without the isolation.
Two ways to get support right now:
Join Therapists Corner (my Substack community): for ongoing guidance, templates, Q&As, expert guests, and a supportive network of therapists building businesses that support them and their clients, real-life help, not just ideas.
Enrol in Getting Started in Private Practice (starts 9th Feb — doors open now), for the full structured support, the 5-week programme.: is a clear roadmap with live teaching, resources, and accountability — perfect if you want to go from “where do I even start?” to “I know exactly what I’m building and how to build my caseload.”
Private practice can give you real freedom, clinically and personally. It can mean choosing your clients, doing the work you really care about, with clients who choose to work with you, while earning properly (yes, consistent £5K+ months with self-funding clients), and feeling proud of what you’ve built. But it gets a whole lot easier when you stop guessing how to move forward and follow a clear plan with the right support around you.
Not quite sure yet?
Tell me in the comments: What’s your biggest sticking point right now — niche, fees, confidence, enquiries, or something else?
I’ll point you toward the right next move. You’ve got this — and you don’t have to do it alone! 💛