Abundant Practice Podcast

Episode #728: Why Can't I Get Clients

Host: Allison Puryear
Date: January 31, 2026

Episode Overview

In this episode, Allison Puryear answers a vulnerable listener question: why is my private practice not getting clients? She addresses the common frustrations and self-doubt that therapists feel when starting a private practice. Allison breaks down the core reasons practices stay empty, provides actionable steps for building a full caseload, and reassures therapists that a thriving practice is within reach—with systems, strategies, and consistency.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Vulnerability of Building a New Practice (02:15–03:45)

• Empathy for Struggling Therapists:
  Allison recognizes how isolating and personal it feels when all the work to start a practice results in "crickets."

  "This is one of the most vulnerable places a therapist can be in their private practice… and the universe is responding with a whole lot of crickets. It is scary. It's lonely. It feels personal." (03:15, Allison Puryear)

• Commonality of the Struggle:
  She reassures listeners that nearly every therapist faces this at the start and that it's not a personal failure.

2. The Three Core Ingredients for Getting Clients (04:00–04:38)

• Essentials Reviewed:
  Allison presents a three-question framework for diagnosing why clients aren’t coming:

  1. Are you truly niched?
  2. Are you using up to (and no more than) five marketing strategies?
  3. Are you using best practices for those strategies, consistently and long enough?

  "When these three things line up, therapists get full. Even when one is missing, the phone can stay quiet." (04:31)

3. Deep Dive: Niching Your Practice (04:40–06:00)

• What's NOT a Niche:
  Saying you see "teens, adults, couples, anxiety, trauma, grief, ADHD, postpartum anxiety" is a buffet, not a niche.

• The Power of a Niche:
  A niche helps your ideal client recognize themselves instantly and makes marketing more effective.

  "A niche isn't about excluding people. It's about letting your ideal client recognize themselves instantly." (05:16)

• Consequences of Vagueness:
  Without a niche, your marketing becomes "vague, generic, and forgettable."

4. The Five-Marketing-Strategy Principle (06:01–08:00)

• No Single-Line Marketing:
  Having just a Psychology Today listing and telling people about your practice is insufficient.

• Build a Marketing 'Web':
  Therapists should maintain approximately five active strategies—which could include:

  • A clear, niched website
  • Networking (which doesn't always mean events; it can be a coffee with a potential referral source)
  • Niche-specific directories (not just Psychology Today)
  • Social media (if you enjoy it)
  • Blogging and SEO
  • Community workshops and talks
  • Active participation in relevant groups

  "Marketing works best. Think of it like a web. It's not like a fishing pole dangling in the ocean. It's like a net." (07:51)

5. Consistency and Mastery of Best Practices (08:01–10:00)

• Quality Over Quantity:
  Therapists often think they're doing "all the things" but may be doing them incorrectly or inconsistently.

• Best Practices Example (Psychology Today):

  • Your first sentence must clearly target your niche.
  • Use warm, human language, not clinical jargon.
  • Approachable headshot, transparent fee, and client-facing copy.

• Consistency Is Key:
  Sporadic marketing bursts don't work; consistent weekly or daily efforts, even if results are delayed, are required.

  "Most therapists will say, 'I've been marketing for months.' But what they mean is: I did two weeks of trying, and then silence… and then a burst of effort again a few weeks later, and then silence again." (09:30)

• The Garden Analogy:

  "You don't water the tomatoes once and walk away and then get pissed off that there aren't tomatoes there. You’ve got to grow with this consistent watering and sunlight and time." (10:05)

6. Gentle Encouragement and Big-Picture Perspective (10:01–11:30)

• It's Not Personal, It's Structural:
  Lack of clients "is not a personality problem, it's not a skill problem… it's just a system you haven't flexed before."

• Building a Sustainable System:
  With the right systems and consistency, "your practice fills. That’s how it works."

• About Abundance Party:
  Allison’s membership program offers step-by-step guidance for all these stages, so therapists don’t have to figure it out alone.

  "It's not luck, it’s not charisma, it’s not even working harder necessarily. It's just systems, clarity, consistency." (11:17)

7. Notable Quotes & Affirmations

• "You're not broken, you're not failing, you're not invisible, you're not the exception. You're just missing a system." (10:37)
• "Once you have a clear niche, five marketing strategies, best practices for each, time, and consistency—your phone will ring and your caseload will grow." (11:05)
• "You're not behind. You're just at the beginning. And the beginning feels harder. It's just hard. And you’ll get there. Keep going." (11:20)

Timestamps for Important Segments

• 02:15 – The loneliness and fear of an empty practice
• 04:00 – The three core questions for practice-building
• 04:40 – Why having a niche is essential
• 06:01 – Why you need five active marketing strategies
• 08:01 – The importance of consistent, best practice marketing
• 10:05 – Marketing as gardening: the need for steady, repetitive action
• 10:37–11:30 – Encouragement and action steps for discouraged therapists

Memorable Moments

• Empathetic Affirmation:
  “Oh, okay. I want to first… I just want to squeeze you. This is one of the most vulnerable places a therapist can be…” (02:10)
• Niche Clarity Litmus Test:
  "Anyone who needs support is not a niche." (05:01)
• Marketing Analogy:
  "It's not like a fishing pole line dangling in the ocean. It's like a net…" (07:51)

Actionable Takeaways

• Identify and clearly define your niche so your ideal client knows your practice is for them.
• Use (and stick with) approximately five different, complementary marketing strategies at all times.
• Follow best practices for each channel, and focus on consistency—weeks or months, not days.
• Don’t misinterpret delayed results as failure—marketing is a long game.
• Seek structured support (such as the Abundance Party) if you want step-by-step guidance.

Further Resources

• Free worksheet ("Troubleshooting Your Practice"): Comment “sheets” or visit the show notes.
• Abundance Party membership: DM Allison “party” for a link or see the show notes.
• Free private practice checklist and tools: abundancepracticebuilding.com

For aspiring private practice therapists feeling stuck, Allison Puryear offers equal doses of empathy, practical wisdom, and reassurance, asserting: “It’s not magic. It’s math and messaging and systems.” This episode is a must-listen for anyone struggling to get their phone to ring.