Episode Overview

Podcast: Private Practice Startup Podcast
Episode: 126 – "Take The Brakes Off Your Practice: The Top 3 Fears Holding You Back"
Hosts: Dr. Kate Campbell & Katie Lemieux
Guest: Jane Carter (Counselor & Coach for Therapists & Solopreneurs)
Date: March 9, 2019

This episode dives into the key fears that hold therapists and other solopreneurs back from growing their practices. Jane Carter, an experienced counselor and coach, joins the hosts to explore the psychology behind these fears, how they manifest for clinicians, and actionable strategies for overcoming them. The conversation is peppered with humor, personal stories, and practical wisdom, aiming to inspire listeners to take brave, imperfect action on their private practice journey.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Three Major Fears Holding Clinicians Back

[07:08] Jane Carter identifies and unpacks what she sees as the top three fears:

• Fear of Failure
  • Often masked as imposter syndrome or perfectionism.
  • “I would even reframe it as the fear of the shame of failure... it feels like I'm going to get kicked out of the tribe or… what if I really suck and I’m a loser and I have to find out by failing?” (Jane Carter, 07:35)
• Fear of Being Seen
  • The anxiety of putting yourself and your practice in the public eye, risking judgment—even positive attention can feel threatening.
  • “Fear of being seen... Sometimes we can face judgment or the fear of judgment, just by being seen as marketers.” (Jane Carter, 08:34)
• Fear of Change
  • Even positive transitions can trigger resistance due to leaving comfort zones and facing the unknown.
  • “Any change feels like death. Wah, wah.” (Jane Carter, quoting Seth Godin, 12:42)

2. Personal Stories of Facing Fear

[05:25, 12:48]

• Jane shares how she vacillated between "playing too small" and "playing too big"—only to find her way by learning from failures and testing her limits.
• Kate reflects on experiencing anxiety after moving into an expanded group practice—bringing the topic close to home:
  • “There’s just so much like, little fears and that little critic voice keeps popping up in my head.” (Dr. Kate, 12:57)

3. Notable Mindset Shifts

[16:30–19:22] Jane introduces actionable frameworks for tackling these fears:

• Shift from Re-active to Leader ("Alpha Dog") Mode
  • “If you can shift into this leader mode… I am the leader of my practice. I affect my business. It’s not coming at me.” (Jane Carter, 17:30)
  • Physical cues and ‘power posing’ (Amy Cuddy’s method) can help reset your energy.
• Courage Over Confidence
  • Waiting for fear to disappear or confidence to show is a trap; only acting with courage builds confidence.
  • “Courage is more important than confidence... The confidence comes with repetition.” (Jane Carter, 19:23)
• Get Support
  • Having a tribe, coach, or colleague alongside you makes the "mountain" of change appear less steep—literally, as Jane cites neuroscientific studies.
  • “Our brains change when we have other people coming alongside us.” (Jane Carter, 24:04)

4. Strategies & Practical Advice (“How to Take Action Anyway”)

[16:29, 24:45]

• Take courageous, imperfect action—just start, even if scared.
• Build resilience by surviving criticism or awkward moments; these rarely destroy you.
• Seek out supportive peers, coaches, or mastermind groups for accountability and reassurance.
• Use humor and self-compassion to lighten the process.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On the process of starting:
  • “You know, we all become experts on the thing we struggle with the most.” (Jane Carter, 04:54)
• On risk and growth:
  • “All my failures were how I learned to land where I am… people are so afraid of taking those leaps, but that's where the good stuff is.” (Jane Carter, 06:29)
• On courage:
  • “The confidence is not going to show up. The fear is not going to go away. As soon as we can accept that and focus on courage... the confidence comes with repetition.” (Jane Carter, 19:23)
• On leadership:
  • “Chipotle had the Alpha Energy. They took the lead. They said, this is what we charge now. They didn’t ask for permission.” (Jane Carter discussing money & fees, 22:03)
• On support:
  • “When a climber is looking at a mountain, it looks 10 to 20% steeper if they're alone versus if they have another climber next to them.” (Jane Carter, 23:42)
• On your practice:
  • “Your practice is here to grow you. It’s not just here to make you money and give you freedom. It's pulling for you.” (Jane Carter, 27:57)

Humorous Highlights

• Katie: “I can dump the coffee on top and say, I drunk coffee...”
• Jane: “And then when I pee my pants, y’all can be there with my clean pants.” (27:43)
• Extended banter about puns and Jane’s hesitation to participate in Asheville’s “homegrown pun battle.” (26:55–27:24)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• [03:40] — Jane Carter introduction and personal background
• [04:54] — How Jane got into coaching clinicians on fear
• [07:08] — The 3 main fears holding back therapists
• [10:26] — The boundary and authenticity challenge of being seen
• [12:48] — Kate’s personal group practice expansion story and anxiety
• [16:29] — Jane’s “alpha dog energy” (leader mode) advice
• [19:23] — Courage vs. confidence; taking brave, imperfect action
• [23:42] — Neuroscience of support: “climbing the mountain” is easier with company
• [24:45] — Importance of support, mastermind groups, coaching
• [27:57] — Jane’s final message: Your practice is here to grow you
• [29:33] — Jane’s permission slip giveaway and how to get in touch

Actionable Resources & Giveaways

• Jane’s Permission Slip Template:
  • Email jane@janecartercoaching.com with subject line “woof woof” to receive it.
  • “In my coaching, I’ve realized that 90% of what I do is just give people permission for the thing they’re scared to do…” (Jane Carter, 29:33)

Listen If…

You want an honest, practical, and humor-filled discussion on the real internal blocks private practice owners face and how to break through—plus great stories and actionable tips for any clinician looking to take braver steps forward.