Are You Setting Stretch Goals in Your Private Practice?
You Should Be. Here’s Why…
I’ve talked many times about setting simple, doable goals for your practice. I started January by sharing this post
Today, I want to zoom in on a different kind of goal: stretch goals. These are goals that feel a bit uncomfortable… but not impossible. The kind that transform your practice over 6-12 months, not within a week.
Surviving Vs. Stretching
Most therapists I work with are very good at setting what I call ‘survival goals’. They say things like:
💬‘I just need enough clients to pay the bills.’
💬‘I just need to get my notes done.’
💬‘I just need to get through this week.’
Don’t get me wrong, these goals are important. They’re realistic and achievable. There are also seasons of life where they’re the most we can manage. When our time, energy or capacity is limited, there’s nothing wrong with focussing on survival goals alone.
But if we live there forever, our practice stops evolving – and so do we. Stretch goals are what pull you forwards.
Put it this way: I’ve never met a therapist who hit a stretch goal and regretted it. I’ve met hundreds who stayed ‘realistic’ and wished they hadn’t.
What is a Stretch Goal?
A stretch goal sits just outside your comfort zone. It’s achievable, but only with growth, support, and probably a new way of working.
It’s not a fantasy like winning the lottery, and it’s not something you could do tomorrow with no extra effort. Instead, it usually sounds like:
💬‘I’d love that… but I’m not totally sure I can do it.’
💬‘That feels a bit scary, but also exciting.’
💬‘If I pulled that off, things would really change.’
Stretch Goals for Therapists in Private Practice
If your goal for 2026 doesn’t make you think ‘there’s no way… but God, I want it,’ it’s probably not big enough.
For therapists in private practice, a stretch goal might look like:
Going from 3 clients a week to 10 self-funding clients.
Raising your fee from £60 to £90.
Launching your first workshop or group.
Achieving your first £5K month – or later, your first £10K month.
Taking a full week off without feeling guilty or terrified your practice will collapse.
These are all realistic, but they require intention, planning, and usually some emotional work around fear, shame, money, or visibility.
Why Stretch Goals Matter in Private Practice
Stretch goals are powerful because they give your practice a direction. Instead of a vague desire like wanting more clients at some indeterminate point in the future, you’re saying, ‘by June, I want a steady caseload of 12 self-funding clients’.
They also help you make better decisions. If your stretch goal is to earn £5K in a month, it becomes easier to say no to things that drain you and yes to things that move you towards your income goal.
Stretch goals also bring any mindset blocks to the surface, revealing worries and fears that might be holding you back. As soon as you name a stretch goal, your threat system often pipes up with things like ‘who do you think you are?’, ‘what if you fail?’, or ‘what will other therapists think?’. These thoughts don’t mean the goal is wrong. They’re a sign there’s something important you need to work on.
Finally, stretch goals build self-trust. Even if you don’t hit the exact target or deadline, working steadily towards a stretch goal proves you can choose something hard, show up for it, and survive the discomfort.
What Happened When I Set my Own Stretch Goals
I’ve set a few stretch goals over the years. Moving from ‘I just want to be fully booked’ to consistent £5K months. Then, stretching again to £10K months without adding more client hours. Launching my course for therapists in private practice instead of keeping everything 1:1 was also a stretch goal. As was starting this Substack community and turning it into a meaningful part of my work and income.
None of these things felt comfortable at the start. Each one brought up all the usual fears. Who am I to teach other therapists? What if nobody signs up? What if I can’t sustain this?
But with adequate planning, the right support, and plenty of supervision, I’ve achieved my wildest dreams. Over time, taking small, consistent steps has eventually transformed each stretch goal into my new normal.
That’s what I want for you too.
A Quick Reflection for You
Take a moment and check in with your vision for 2026. Do you have a stretch goal for your practice right now?
If not, that’s okay. Most therapists I meet don’t. They tend to have vague wishes (more balance, more clients, more time) rather than concrete, stretchy targets and deadlines.
If you do have one, notice how it feels in your body when you say it out loud. Wobbly? Excited? Nauseous? All completely normal.
🧡 Free members, I’d love to invite you to take one small step today:
Write down one stretch goal for your practice for the next 6–12 months.
It might be linked to:
Caseload
Fees
Time off
A new income stream (workshop, group, supervision, online resource)
You don’t have to know how you’ll achieve it yet. Just name it.
