Episode #625: Scared To Start Private Practice

Summary

Abundant Practice Podcast

Episode #625: Scared To Start Private Practice
Host: Allison Puryear
Release Date: March 1, 2025

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Introduction

In Episode #625 of the Abundant Practice Podcast, Allison Puryear addresses a common and significant concern among therapists contemplating the transition from agency roles to private practice: the fear and anxiety associated with such a substantial career change. This episode delves deep into understanding these fears, providing actionable advice, and offering reassurance to those ready to embark on their private practice journey.

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Understanding the Fear of Transition

Timestamp: 02:59 – 03:09

The co-host begins by empathizing with listeners who feel nervous about leaving their agency jobs. Emphasizing that such feelings are entirely normal, they compare the transition to other major life changes like starting college or a new job:

“If you weren't nervous, I would be concerned. This is a really big life change... You are stepping into a new chapter and you're counting on yourself in a way that you have not had to before. It is exciting, but it's also scary. And that's okay.”
— Unknown Co-Host [02:59]

This perspective reassures listeners that their apprehensions are a natural part of growth and change.

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Harnessing Existing Skills to Overcome Anxiety

Timestamp: 01:50 – 02:30

Allison shares a personal mantra that has helped her navigate through similar fears:

“Feel the fear and do it anyway.”
— Allison Puryear [01:55]

She emphasizes that therapists possess the necessary skills to manage their anxiety, just as they do when guiding clients through discomfort and manageable steps:

“Think about all the things you tell your clients, how to sit with discomfort, take manageable steps forward, and trust the process. You get to apply that to yourself now.”
— Unknown Co-Host [02:15]

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Addressing the Competitive Landscape

Timestamp: 03:01 – 03:07

A prevalent fear among therapists is the notion of fierce competition in private practice. The co-host dispels this myth by highlighting the current demand for therapy services:

“Most of us in private practice are drowning in client demand. We're full. People are seeking therapy at unprecedented rates. And there is more than enough room for you in private practice.”
— Unknown Co-Host [03:01]

This insight serves to alleviate fears of oversaturation in the market, positioning private practice as a viable and welcoming option.

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Practical Steps to Start Your Practice

Timestamp: 03:07 – 04:30

Transitioning to private practice involves several administrative tasks that can seem daunting. The co-host breaks down these tasks, reassuring listeners of their simplicity:

“The early administrative tasks that happen in a practice, like getting your business license, setting up your EIN, those are simple and they're easy. They're just boring.”
— Unknown Co-Host [03:30]

She encourages therapists to push past procrastination and tackle these essential steps with determination, emphasizing the long-term benefits of such efforts:

“Don't let those tasks or your anxiety hold you back... It is really worth powering through and you're going to feel so much more powerful having done so.”
— Unknown Co-Host [04:00]

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Community and Support Systems

Timestamp: 04:30 – 05:12

Allison highlights the importance of community and support when starting a private practice. By joining the "private practice club," therapists can connect with others who share similar experiences and challenges:

“Welcome to the private practice club. We have all been here nervous, filled with self-doubt, wondering if we made the right choice. But you're in really great company and you're on the right path.”
— Unknown Co-Host [04:30]

She also offers practical resources to assist listeners in their journey:

“If you are feeling stuck or overwhelmed, I got resources to help you. You can DM me the word checklist to get my getting started checklist for free.”
— Unknown Co-Host [04:50]

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Conclusion and Encouragement

Timestamp: 05:12 – End

As the episode wraps up, Allison reinforces her support for listeners embarking on this journey:

“You've got this. I am cheering you on. Until next time. Take care. Bye for now.”
— Unknown Co-Host [05:07]

She reminds listeners of additional resources available, encouraging them to take actionable steps toward building their private practice.

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Key Takeaways

1. Normalizing Fear: Feeling nervous about starting a private practice is natural and a sign of the significant change you're undertaking.
2. Leveraging Skills: Use the same strategies you employ with clients to manage your own anxiety and fears.
3. Market Demand: There's a high demand for therapy services, making private practice a promising and less competitive field than perceived.
4. Administrative Simplicity: Essential setup tasks are straightforward and manageable with persistence.
5. Community Support: Joining a supportive community can provide encouragement and practical assistance during your transition.
6. Actionable Resources: Utilize available checklists and resources to streamline the process of establishing your practice.

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Additional Resources

• Free Private Practice Checklist & Worksheets: www.abundancepracticebuilding.com
• Membership Program - Abundance Party: www.abundanceparty.com
• Email Support: [e-mail]

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Embarking on a private practice journey can be daunting, but with the right mindset, resources, and community support highlighted in this episode, therapists can confidently take the leap toward a more fulfilling and autonomous professional life.

Transcript

[Allison]

Foreign.

[Unknown Co-Host]

Welcome to Ask Allison.

[Allison]

Y'all ask the questions about having a fun and thriving practice and I answer them.

[Unknown Co-Host]

We have a worksheet for you today.

[Allison]

So you can bring this answer into your life. You can Access [e-mail] links where you'll also be able to ask any questions you have for Ask Allison. If you want more support, we've got some free trainings in there too. If you can't get enough Ask Allison, check out our YouTube channel for our entire Ask Allison library.

[Unknown Co-Host]

Welcome back to Ask Allison. Here's today's question. I've worked for agencies my entire life, so the whole process is daunting to me. Any words of wisdom to help me not be nervous? So let's talk about this because it is such a common feeling and a totally normal one. Before we dive in, I Want to thank TherapyNotes for sponsoring Ask Allison. I've talked about them for years. I know their features by heart. But here's what really sets them apart. The first, they genuinely care about your experience. It is not about troubleshooting. They actively implement user suggested features like therapy search or secure messaging, clinical outcome tracking, real time insurance checks, and a really smooth super bill process. Everyone at TherapyNotes believes in the product and they really want you to love it too. Like they actually care about that. Plus, they're independently owned, which means no venture capital, no pressure to prioritize investors over customers. This independence allows them to keep their prices fair, to focus on innovation, and to prioritize customer experience. With over 100,000 therapists already on board, they've proven you don't have to compromise success for quality. Ready to see for yourself? Try therapynotes.com and use the code abundant for two free months. I would love to hear your experience because they're fantastic. All right, so let's dive in. First of all, if you weren't nervous, I would be concerned. This is a really big life change. It's like that feeling before you start college or a new job or your very first therapy session. You are stepping into a new chapter and you're counting on yourself in a way that you have not had to before. It is exciting, but it's also scary. And that's okay. Here's the truth. Nervousness, fear, anxiety. These come with the territory. But the great news is that you already have the skills to tolerate it. Think about all the things you tell your clients, how to sit with discomfor, take manageable steps forward, and trust the process. You get to apply that to yourself now. Yay. So back in my late teens and early twenties, I was in pretty intensive therapy and my mantra became feel the fear and do it anyway. And I have said that to myself probably a million times since. And it has carried me through moments just like the one you're facing. Starting a private practice isn't about competing for a spot in the NBA or winning an Oscar. There is no cutthroat competition where thousands.

[Allison]

Of people are vying for the same role.

[Unknown Co-Host]

In fact, here's the reality. Most of us in private practice are drowning in client demand. We're full.

[Allison]

The phone keeps ringing and a lot.

[Unknown Co-Host]

Of the therapists I know and trust are full too. People are seeking therapy at unprecedented rates. And there is more than enough room for you in private practice. Now, are you going to fill your practice overnight? No, you're not. But if you take consistent steps and you follow a marketing plan, you're going to get there. Marketing might push your buttons, but here's the thing. It's simple. It's not always easy, but it's simple. And those early administrative tasks that happen in a practice, like getting your business license, setting up your ein, those are simple and they're easy. They're just boring. So here's my advice. Don't let those tasks or your anxiety hold you back. You're going to find excuses to put them off, but trust me, it is really worth powering through and you're going to feel so much more powerful having done so. The one regret I hear over and over from therapists who have made the leap is I wish I'd done this sooner. And I think you're going to feel the same way. So let me say this a little early. Welcome to the private practice club. We have all been here nervous, filled with self doubt, wondering if we made the right choice. But you're in really great company and you're on the right path. So just keep doing the next right thing. If you are feeling stuck or overwhelmed, I got resources to help you. You can DM me the word checklist to get my getting started checklist for free. That's going to get you moving with confidence on those simple, easy, albeit boring tasks that you need to do to get your private practice going and going in the legal and ethical ways you need to get it going. You've got this. I am cheering you on. Until next time. Take care. Bye for now.

[Allison]

If you're ready for a much easier practice, TherapyNotes is the way to go. Go to therapynotes.com and use the promo code abundant for two months free. I hope that helped. If you have questions for Ask Allison or you want to get your hands on the worksheet for this episode, go to abundancepracticebuilding.com Links.

[Unknown Co-Host]

If you're listening, you.

[Allison]

Probably need some support building your practice. If you're a super newbie, grab our free checklist using the link in the show notes. I'd love for you to follow rate and review, but I really want you to share this episode with a therapist friend. Let's help all our colleagues build what they want.