Abundant Practice Podcast – Episode #706: "Part Time To Full Time Practice"

Host: Allison Puryear
Guest: (Not named; therapist in transition to full-time practice)
Date: November 19, 2025

Episode Overview

In this insightful episode, Allison Puryear sits down with a therapist who is on the verge of transitioning from part-time private practice (alongside a full-time job) to full-time private practice. The conversation is candid, practical, and deeply relatable for clinicians considering a similar leap. Key topics include financial preparation, marketing strategies with a strong Instagram focus, avoiding burnout, and future opportunities for scaling beyond one-on-one work.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Assessing Readiness for Full-Time Transition

• Client Details & Goals (04:00–07:05)

  • Currently working 3 days/week with 19 clients:
    • Mix of insurance (legacy clients), EAP, and private pay
    • Goal: Shift client base to 60–70% private pay, reducing EAP clients, open up Thursdays
    • Successes in Instagram marketing, rapidly growing from 19 to 3,500+ followers and gaining 5 private clients in 3 months.

• Common Mistakes in Transitioning

  • Allison emphasizes that most therapists stay at their full-time job too long, not too little due to the “golden handcuffs” effect of two incomes.

    "Too early is rarely the mistake; I see most people transition too late." — Allison (07:33)

  • Suggests aggressively saving private practice income ("sock all the money away") while living on the primary salary—effectively creating a 'runway' and safety net.

    "If you sock all that money away, then you've got all this savings that gives you a cushion." — Allison (08:10)

2. Financial Frameworks & Profit First Model

• The guest discusses using the Profit First method: allocating 60% of practice income as take-home and saving for taxes.
• Allison’s advice:
  • Create a 'profit bank account' and save all extra practice income during the transition phase (09:45–10:10).
  • Avoid unnecessary practice spending until there's more clarity and cushion.

3. Maximizing What's Working: The Instagram Strategy

• The guest’s Instagram success is notable:

  • Started at 19 followers, now over 3,500 with 5 private clients gained (11:09–13:05).
  • Uses creative, engaging content (acting skits) specialized in toxic relationship and narcissistic abuse recovery.
  • Considers daily posting a sustainable strategy due to the strong engagement.

• Allison praises the approach:

  "Most therapists do not get clients from Instagram, even when they're trying. There's something special about you and the way you're doing it." — Allison (12:48)

• Boosting series-based Reels is the primary driver for audience growth and new clients. (14:53–16:20)

  • Viral and "baby viral" posts (100–400 new followers per boost).
  • Focus on content under 90 seconds for optimal boosting options.

4. Handling the Waitlist Dilemma

• Quandary: To implement a waitlist or not as practice fills up (17:58–19:28).

• Allison’s stance: Be wary of long, undefined waitlists (too much risk of client need going unmet).

  • Only keep a waitlist if you can provide a clear timeline for prospects.
  • Suggestion: Stop taking more EAP, prioritize private pay, and open new slots in a “hairdresser style” (e.g., "I'm now booking for November").

  "If you had three people on your wait list for private pay, that would get you up to 8. Private pay." — Allison (19:28)

5. Avoiding Burnout

• Recognition of the dangerous grind: “You're working so much and posting on Instagram every day. It sounds like it's a real quick, easy thing, but it's not.” — Allison (13:52)
• Advice to quickly fill the new available day (Thursday) to optimize working hours and avoid overextension (20:54–21:21).

6. Scaling Beyond One-to-One Therapy

• Guest aspires to offer intensives or therapy groups in the future (23:07–25:43).

  • Allison outlines pros and cons for both:
    • Intensives: Good for private pay, especially if clients from outside the state are attracted. Can be billed as adjunct sessions.
    • Groups: Harder to fill, but can be marketed effectively with urgency via boosted posts/ads.
  • Practical tip: Save rollout until after transition is complete. Use Instagram skits/stories to gauge interest and market these offerings.

  “If people outside of the state... are willing to fly to you, do an intensive and then fly home, then that's an opportunity.” — Allison (24:29)

7. Building an Email List as a Safety Net

• Guest has begun an email list (27 signups so far)—seeks ways to increase opt-ins.
• Allison: Use Reels and Stories to promote the quiz for list-building (29:12–29:36).

  “Instagram is not your home... if something goes away, you need to be able to reach these people.”

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On the “Golden Handcuffs”:
  “You get comfortable with that income... there's no heat under your ass to get it done.” — Allison (08:16)

• On Instagram Marketing Uniqueness:
  “There's something special about you and the way you're doing it that is not common amongst therapists.” — Allison (12:48)

• On Waitlists:
  “I'm not a personal fan of it, but I think in your circumstance it can make sense if you're clear on a timeline... if you had three people on your wait list for private pay, that would get you up to 8.” — Allison (18:46–19:28)

• On Burnout:
  “I do see people get burned out because you're working so much and posting on Instagram every day.” — Allison (13:52)

• Scaling Reels & Skits:
  “You could do a skit about [intensives]... a lot of selling happens in stories.” — Allison (26:16)

Timestamps for Major Segments

• Credentials & Practice Snapshot: 03:00–07:05
• Transition Financial Strategy: 07:15–10:22
• Instagram Marketing Deep Dive: 11:09–16:20
• Waitlist Discussion: 17:58–21:49
• Burnout & Scheduling: 20:54–22:47
• Scaling Beyond 1:1: 23:07–27:36
• Email List Growth: 29:12–29:36
• Episode Closing and Appreciation: 29:36–30:16

Key Takeaways

• Move toward full-time deliberately: Don’t wait too long out of financial comfort; build your runway by saving all private practice income and live off your salaried job until the jump.
• Lean in to what's working: Instagram, especially with creative, authentic content, can be a major source of client leads if it fits your style.
• Limit unnecessary spending: Postpone upgrades or new tools unless they directly impact your income or client flow.
• Prioritize private pay as you transition: Gradually reduce reliance on lower-paying referral sources.
• Clarity for prospective clients: Use clear timelines rather than indefinite waitlists to keep client interest and set expectations.
• Prepare for burnout: Watch your workload and fill new time slots intentionally. Building slowly but consistently is key.
• Diversify eventually: Consider scaling to intensives/groups post-transition, but don’t distract from what’s working too soon.
• Don’t neglect your email list: Build your own audience as a hedge against changes in social platforms.

Episode in a Sentence:
This episode offers a roadmap for therapists eyeing the leap from side-hustle private practice to full-time, blending practical financial advice with authentic marketing and self-care wisdom.