Episode #649: Is It Bad Timing To Start A Practice Right Now

Summary

Abundant Practice Podcast Summary Episode #649: Is It Bad Timing To Start A Practice Right Now Release Date: May 17, 2025 Host: Allison Puryear

---

Introduction

In Episode #649 of the Abundant Practice Podcast, host Allison Puryear tackles a pressing question from her listeners: "Is there a time of year that's better or worse than others for starting a private practice?" Released on May 17, 2025, this episode delves into the nuances of timing when launching a private therapy practice, offering actionable insights and strategies to navigate seasonal fluctuations in client engagement.

---

Understanding the Optimal Timing for Starting a Private Practice

Allison begins by addressing the core question, emphasizing that "right now honestly is not the ideal time to launch your private practice if you're considering leaving your current job" (02:15).

Key Points:

• Seasonal Slowdowns: Many therapists, especially those new to private practice, experience a natural slowdown during the summer months. This period can be challenging if one is heavily reliant on immediate client income.
• Financial Cushion: If you're not immediately dependent on your practice's income or plan to maintain your current job while gradually building your practice, summer can be a strategic time to start.
• Foundation Building: The slower months offer an opportunity to focus on essential aspects like system setup, paperwork, marketing strategies, website development, and networking without the pressure of high client demand.

---

Managing Slow Periods Effectively

Allison emphasizes the importance of maintaining consistency in marketing efforts, even during slower seasons. She warns against the common pitfall of reducing or halting marketing activities when referrals decrease.

Notable Quote: "Consistency is always going to trump sporadic bursts of energy." (05:05)

Strategies Discussed:

1. Maintain Consistent Marketing:

   • Visibility: Continue marketing efforts to ensure your practice remains visible, positioning you well for busier periods.
   • Long-Term Benefits: Steady marketing lays the groundwork for attracting clients when demand increases, especially in the fall.

2. Implement Small, Manageable Steps:

   • Actionable Tasks: Write one blog post a week, attend local networking events, meet potential clients for coffee, or update online directory profiles.
   • Cumulative Impact: Regular small actions contribute significantly over time, building momentum without overwhelming you.

3. Invest in Learning and Growth:

   • Skill Enhancement: Use the extra time to sharpen clinical skills, attend trainings, and create content that showcases your expertise.
   • Niche Refinement: Revisit and clarify your niche, ensuring your messaging resonates with your ideal clients' needs and pain points.

Notable Quote: "Treat marketing like brushing your teeth. It's something you do regularly because it keeps your practice healthy, not just when there's a problem." (06:45)

---

Addressing Internal Challenges and Maintaining Motivation

Allison acknowledges the emotional and psychological challenges that come with slow periods, such as self-doubt and pressure.

Notable Quote: "If your bills depend heavily on immediate client income, late summer or late spring and early summer might feel really tough and stressful." (04:50)

Advice Offered:

• Self-Reflection: Engage in activities like journaling, therapy, or mindful walks to process feelings of inadequacy or doubt.
• Internal Work: Use this time to strengthen your resilience and reassess your commitment to private practice.
• Community Support: Avoid venting in unproductive spaces like Facebook groups or Reddit, and instead focus on constructive actions that support your practice's growth.

---

Maximizing Opportunities During Slow Seasons

Allison highlights that while summer is typically slower, some niches and client populations may thrive during this time.

Notable Quote: "Some therapists do just fine in the summer, especially if they specialize in working with different populations that come in more in the summer." (07:00)

Recommendations:

• Understand Your Niche: Anticipate the seasonal rhythms of your specific client base to tailor your services accordingly.
• Strategic Planning: Develop a marketing plan that aligns with your clients' availability and needs during different times of the year.

---

Structured Marketing and Goal Setting

For those who thrive on structure, Allison suggests setting clear, achievable goals for summer marketing efforts.

Actionable Steps:

• Weekly Planning: Map out a weekly plan that includes one visibility action, one connection-building activity, and one content creation task.
• Focus on Control: Concentrate on activities you can control to build momentum, ensuring sustained progress regardless of client volume.

Notable Quote: "Setting goals for your summer marketing efforts... helps you build momentum that pays off later." (06:10)

---

Empathy and Encouragement

Allison expresses deep empathy for therapists struggling with motivation and self-doubt during slow periods, highlighting the cyclical nature of reduced marketing leading to prolonged slowdowns.

Notable Quote: "I really empathize with therapists who find themselves stuck in the worry and doubt... but you know that what you've been doing isn't yielding results anymore now that summertime has come." (06:50)

Encouragement:

• Stay Consistent: By maintaining steady marketing efforts, therapists can break the cycle of slowdown and set themselves up for success when the demand increases.
• Avoid Self-Fulfilling Prophecies: Recognize and counteract patterns that contribute to prolonged slow periods by staying proactive and engaged.

---

Conclusion and Action Steps

To support therapists in maintaining consistency during slow seasons, Allison introduces the Summer Sprint program—a specialized initiative designed to keep therapists motivated and visible throughout the summer months.

Key Offers:

• Enrollment Details: Enrollment closes on May 23rd, with the program running through June, July, and August.
• How to Join: Therapists interested in participating can DM the word "study" on social media or click the link in the show notes.
• Special Discount: Current Abundance Party members receive a special discount.

Additional Resources:

• Free Worksheet: A worksheet addressing motivation struggles is available by DMing "sheets" on social media or accessing it through the show notes.
• Supportive Tools: Access to a free private practice checklist, worksheets, and more can be found at abundancepracticebuilding.com.

Final Encouragement: Allison urges listeners to share the episode with fellow therapists, fostering a supportive community dedicated to building thriving private practices.

---

Notable Quotes with Timestamps

• "Consistency is always going to trump sporadic bursts of energy." (05:05)
• "Treat marketing like brushing your teeth. It's something you do regularly because it keeps your practice healthy, not just when there's a problem." (06:45)
• "If your bills depend heavily on immediate client income, late summer or late spring and early summer might feel really tough and stressful." (04:50)
• "Some therapists do just fine in the summer, especially if they specialize in working with different populations that come in more in the summer." (07:00)
• "Setting goals for your summer marketing efforts... helps you build momentum that pays off later." (06:10)
• "I really empathize with therapists who find themselves stuck in the worry and doubt... but you know that what you've been doing isn't yielding results anymore now that summertime has come." (06:50)

---

Final Thoughts

Episode #649 of the Abundant Practice Podcast serves as a comprehensive guide for therapists contemplating the timing of launching a private practice. Allison Puryear provides a balanced perspective, acknowledging the challenges of seasonal slowdowns while offering practical strategies to maintain momentum and build a resilient practice. By emphasizing consistency, strategic planning, and personal growth, she equips therapists with the tools needed to thrive regardless of the time of year.

For more resources, worksheets, and support, visit abundancepracticebuilding.com and consider joining the Summer Sprint program to stay motivated and visible throughout the summer months.

Transcript

[A]

Foreign welcome to Ask Allison. Y' all ask the questions about having.

[B]

A fun and thriving practice and I answer them. We have a worksheet for you today 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.

[A]

Welcome back to Ask Allison. Here's today's question. Is there a time of year that's better or worse than others for starting a private practice? I'm excited to answer this. It's very timely. But first I'd like to thank Therapy Notes for sponsoring Ask Allison. I've talked about them for years. You know their features by heart by now. But here's what really sucks sets them apart is that they genuinely care about your experience. It is not just about troubleshooting. They actively implement user suggested features like their new AI Notes program and automated client payments. Everyone at Therapy Notes believes in the product and they want you to love it too. 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 their customer experience. With over 100,000 therapists already on board, they've proven you don't have to compromise success for quality quality. If you're ready to see for yourself, try Therapy notes free for two months with the code abundantrapynotes.com so this is such an important question. I'm glad that you're asking it. Right now honestly is not the ideal time to launch your private practice if you're considering leaving your current job. Typically, many therapists, especially those newer to private practice, experience a slowdown during the summer months. However, if you're not immediately dependent on your practice income, or if you're planning to keep your current job while gradually building your practice, this could be a really fantastic time to start. I always aim to be completely real with y' all because the comparison game can be brutal. It's very common, especially when you're first starting out, to look around at other therapists who seem to be thriving and then worry that you're falling short. But the truth is, there is an ebb and a flow in private practice, and everyone experiences slowdowns at some point. Late spring through summer can provide a really valuable opportunity if you're able to financially weather a slower start because you've got extra time and space to lay down a really strong foundation for your practice. You can focus on your systems, on your paperwork, fine tuning your marketing, building a website or networking. All of that without feeling frantic or rushed. However, if your bills depend heavily on immediate client income, late summer or late spring and early summer might feel really tough and stressful. Referrals traditionally slow down this time of year. There is a counterintuitive part of you that I really want you to not do this, so just listen to me here. Many therapists start panicking when referrals drop, even though it happens like clockwork for the majority of practices. They spend their energy venting in Facebook groups. They're scrolling Reddit threads. They're exchanging anxious texts with their fellow new therapists about how stressed out they are about it. These activities, while totally understandable, they tend to lead to reduced or inconsistent marketing. Ironically, pulling back on marketing is exactly what's going to prolong the slowdown, right? So here's what I encourage instead. Keep your marketing consistent. Even if your efforts yield fewer clients right away, consistent marketing is going to position you perfectly. When the busier fall season comes around. The therapists who stay steady and they keep putting themselves out there, even when it's frustratingly slow, they're the ones who come out ahead. When September rolls around and clients are actively searching for therapists, these consistent marketers, they're easy to find. Their practices fill up quickly. Remember that consistency is always going to trump sporadic bursts of energy. If you feel overwhelmed or uncertain about where to focus your energy during these slower periods, I want you to try small, manageable steps like writing one blog post a week, attending a local networking event, or meeting somebody for coffee. Updating your online directory profiles. Even smaller actions taken regularly make a significant difference over time. Another really helpful tip during slow periods is to invest some energy into learning and growth. Use the extra space in your schedule to sharpen your clinical skills. Attend trainings, create helpful content that positions you as an expert. Not only does this build your confidence, it also attracts your ideal clients who then resonate with your unique perspectives and skills. If you need help with training not boring ces, I highly recommend it. This is also an ideal time to revisit your niche. Are you really clear about who your ideal client is? Have you fine tuned your messaging to speak directly to their needs and pain points? Summer gives you a bit of breathing room to clarify and to elevate your brand presence. If you've been putting off updating your Psychology Today profile or tweaking the copy on your website, or whatever it is you need to work on, this is your moment. You're going to really thank yourself come fall now. If you're someone who tends to struggle with internalized pressure or perfectionism, slower seasons can really make you uncomfortable and worried. You might find yourself questioning whether you're cut out for private practice, wondering if you made the right decision, feeling like everyone else is doing better than you. This is a really good time to do some internal work. Whether that's journaling, seeing your therapist, taking a few walks to process what you're feeling. Whatever that self reflection looks like for you, it can be incredibly valuable. It's also worth acknowledging that some therapists do just fine in the summer, especially if they specialize in working with different populations that come in more in the summer. So while summer is slower for many, it is not universally slower. Knowing your niche, anticipating your clientele's seasonal rhythms can really help you plan more strategically. Now. If you're someone who thrives on structure, consider setting goals for your summer marketing efforts. That does not mean I'm going to get one client this week. That means mapping out a weekly plan with one visibility action, one connection building activity, one piece of content creation, that kind of thing. The stuff you can control. That way, even if the client work is light, you're building momentum that pays off later. Treat marketing like brushing your teeth. It's something you do regularly because it keeps your practice healthy, not just when there's a problem. I really, really empathize with therapists who find themselves stuck in the worry and doubt they're creating this self fulfilling prophecy of struggle when they slow down their marketing efforts. I don't even think everybody realizes they're doing that when they're doing it. But they know that what they've been doing isn't yielding results anymore now that summertime has come. And so they just start pulling back because they're feeling defeated. Every year I see this pattern play out and it really, it breaks my heart because it's avoidable and it makes that summer slowdown last into the fall for these folks.

[B]

So to help you break this cycle.

[A]

We are opening doors to a program specifically designed to help you stay motivated and consistent and visible through the summer. It's called Summer Sprint. We're closing enrollment May 23rd. That's Friday, just before midnight. And then we actually start the program. So you have to have already signed up for it the first week of June. So if you'd like to join and encouraging group of therapists who are actively marketing their practices throughout the summer with my direct support. I want you to DM the word study on social media. Or if you're listening to the podcast, I want you to click the link in the Show Notes. We are working through June, July and August. It's okay if you're gone for some of that to make sure that when the fall rush comes, you're the one being found. Current Abundance Party members get a special discount. FYI, our free worksheet today is one to help you with your motivation struggles. If you're struggling with motivation, that happens for most of us when we're not getting results yet. So on socials you can DM me the word sheets and I'll get you that worksheet and all of our other free worksheets as well. All right, I'll talk to you all later.

[B]

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.

[A]

If you're listening, you.

[B]

Probably need some support building your practice.

[A]

If you're a super newbie, grab our.

[B]

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.