Abundant Practice Podcast: Episode #630 - Getting Ready For Next Steps
Release Date: March 19, 2025
In Episode #630 of the Abundant Practice Podcast, host Alison Puryear engages in a heartfelt and insightful conversation with Yolanda, a dedicated therapist navigating the complexities of building and sustaining a private practice. This episode delves deep into the challenges Yolanda faces, her aspirations for expanding her impact, and the strategic steps she considers to achieve her goals. Below is a comprehensive summary capturing the essence of their discussion.
1. Introduction to Yolanda’s Journey
Alison opens the episode by welcoming Yolanda, who shares her initial struggles in establishing her private practice. Yolanda candidly discusses the urgency she felt to start her practice amidst personal hardships, including the passing of her husband and balancing a demanding residency in counseling.
Yolanda [03:15]: “When I started, I was kind of in a rush. It was more so a survival mode.”
2. Navigating Client Load and Financial Stability
Yolanda elaborates on her current client base, highlighting a deliberate strategy to manage her workload during slower seasons. She shares that she maintains enough clients to cover essential expenses, such as her mortgage, and has begun securing her financial future by setting aside money for retirement through a 401k.
Yolanda [05:01]: “I have enough now with that I've been able to do things like set aside some money for my own retirement.”
However, Yolanda expresses concerns about relying solely on insurance payments, particularly with ongoing issues with Tricare not compensating her for January.
Yolanda [06:10]: “Tricare is having some problems right now and they haven't paid me for the month of January.”
3. Balancing Insurance and Private Pay Clients
The conversation shifts to the balance between insurance-dependent clients and those who pay out-of-pocket. Yolanda explains her selective approach to insurance, choosing only Tricare and United Healthcare to remain accessible to military families.
Yolanda [06:12]: “I'm taking two insurances just to be accessible... I take United Healthcare.”
She acknowledges the dichotomy of managing insurance clients versus cultivating private pay clients, especially after relocating from the D.C. area to Southern Virginia, where private pay demand is lower.
Yolanda [08:07]: “I moved to a more affordable area, but the price is more. So now I have to drum up more clients here.”
4. Aspirations for Community Impact and Retreats
Yolanda shares her ambitious vision of expanding her practice to include retreats for women in ministry, integrating her faith with clinical practice. She dreams of establishing a retreat center that serves not only her clients but also other organizations, thereby creating a sustainable and multifaceted income stream.
Yolanda [11:04]: “I would really love to offer retreats for women who are in ministry... to help them deal with their own challenges of managing their mental health.”
The idea extends to fostering community support by providing services to areas lacking essential resources, emphasizing sustainability without dependence on federal funds.
Yolanda [13:20]: “How can we do this so that the service doesn't stop?”
5. Strategic Advice and Next Steps
Alison provides Yolanda with practical advice on turning her vision into reality. She suggests starting with retreats at existing centers to gain experience and save funds for a future retreat center. Alison also emphasizes the importance of refining Yolanda’s niche and leveraging marketing strategies to attract more private pay clients.
Alison [15:12]: “What could be cool is what if you did retreats at somebody else's center for a while and every dime you made in profit you socked away to eventually buy your own space.”
Additionally, Alison encourages Yolanda to complete her niche exercise and engage with the Marketing Fundamentals course to identify actionable strategies tailored to her unique practice needs.
Alison [21:22]: “Private pay usually comes from niches... finish that exercise.”
6. Building Trust and Expanding Reach
Yolanda discusses her reliance on word-of-mouth referrals, especially from her primary care doctor, and her limited use of social media for client acquisition. She expresses a desire to explore additional avenues to increase her private pay client base, such as enhancing her online presence and networking within her new community.
Yolanda [19:19]: “I did a lot of word of mouth... especially my primary care doctor continues to send people my way.”
7. Overcoming Readiness Doubts
A pivotal moment in the episode is when Yolanda questions her readiness to take the next steps in her practice, battling self-doubt despite positive feedback and sufficient training.
Yolanda [09:37]: “Have I been out here enough?... I was like, you're doing the things. So I'm like, okay, but what's wrong?”
Alison reassures Yolanda, encouraging her to trust the process and focus on enhancing her financial stability through private pay clients as a foundation for her larger goals.
Alison [18:10]: “The easiest way to get yourself into a financial position that allows you to do these bigger things is to really hone in on those private pay clients and get more of those.”
8. Conclusion and Encouragement
As the conversation wraps up, Yolanda commits to revisiting her niche worksheet and the marketing strategies discussed. Alison reinforces the importance of taking actionable steps and staying connected with support communities, such as the Abundance Party Facebook group.
Alison [22:34]: “Take care. And keep us updated in that Facebook group.”
Yolanda expresses gratitude for the support and encouragement, promising to stay engaged and continue working towards her vision.
Notable Quotes
- Yolanda [03:15]: “I was kind of in a rush. It was more so a survival mode.”
- Yolanda [06:10]: “Tricare is having some problems right now and they haven't paid me for the month of January.”
- Yolanda [11:04]: “I would really love to offer retreats for women who are in ministry... to help them deal with their own challenges of managing their mental health.”
- Alison [15:12]: “What could be cool is what if you did retreats at somebody else's center for a while and every dime you made in profit you socked away to eventually buy your own space.”
- Yolanda [09:37]: “Have I been out here enough?... I was like, you're doing the things. So I'm like, okay, but what's wrong?”
- Alison [18:10]: “The easiest way to get yourself into a financial position that allows you to do these bigger things is to really hone in on those private pay clients and get more of those.”
Key Takeaways
- Balancing Act: Yolanda illustrates the delicate balance between maintaining financial stability through insurance and expanding her practice with private pay clients.
- Vision and Capacity: Her aspiration to create a retreat center highlights the importance of aligning one's capacity with long-term goals.
- Strategic Planning: Alison emphasizes the significance of niche specialization and strategic marketing in growing a sustainable private practice.
- Overcoming Doubts: The episode underscores the common struggle of self-doubt among therapists and the value of support and actionable steps in overcoming it.
- Community and Referrals: Leveraging existing relationships and community networks remains a powerful tool for practice growth.
This episode serves as a beacon for therapists striving to transition from agency roles to fulfilling private practices, offering both empathy and actionable strategies to navigate the journey with abundance and purpose.