Having supported hundreds of therapists through their transition into private work, I’ve seen the same avoidable mistakes trip people up again and again. If you’re just getting started—or even if you’ve been at it a little while—these are a few of the common missteps to steer clear of.
1. Skipping the Business Planning Bit
We’ve all done it—got excited, built a profile, maybe even created a logo, and then waited for clients to roll in. But private practice is a business. Without clarity on your goals, audience, services, pricing, and marketing strategy, it’s easy to feel lost and underpaid. A business plan doesn’t have to be complicated, but it does need to exist.
Ask yourself:
What’s your vision for private practice, and what will it take to get there?
2. Saying Yes to Work That Doesn’t Match Your Goals
Signing up with referral companies that pay £35–£50 per session, when your goal is to work fewer hours for a better income. Referrals can dry up without any warning
Therapists often say yes to these contracts out of fear or urgency. But months later, they feel trapped: exhausted, underpaid, and still not in control.
Your time is precious. Your expertise is valuable. Your private practice should be designed around your values and vision, not someone else’s business model.
3. Expecting Income Without Investment
There’s a myth that if you’re a great therapist, clients will somehow find you. The truth? Without some investment in time, skills, visibility, or coaching, your practice will likely plateau early.
You don’t have to spend thousands, but you do have to be willing to invest in your professional growth, your marketing, and your systems if you want a consistent caseload and sustainable income.
Things changed for me when I got serious about understanding the business side of things.
I went back to basics and built a business that enabled me to move away from referral companies, earn more and have a better work-life balance.
I went on to write the book and create the Getting Started in Private Practice course: I saw many brilliant therapists struggling to build momentum and making the same mistakes I had.
You can prevent all this, save time and get your business up and running and profitable with a solid foundation much earlier by following the step-by-step road map in The Course
A step-by-step guide designed to take you from unsure and underbooked to fully booked with self-funding clients—without burning out or compromising your values.
(Self-paced access and everything you need to build strong foundations.)
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