Episode Overview

Podcast: Private Practice Startup Podcast
Episode: 197 – Working When You're Not Going to Get Well Soon: Three Ideas for Therapists Who Have Chronic Illnesses
Hosts: Dr. Kate Campbell & Katie Lemieux
Guest: Dr. Jo Eckler, Psychologist, Author, and Chronic Illness Advocate
Date: June 20, 2020

Theme:
This episode focuses on the unique challenges and opportunities therapists with chronic illnesses face in private practice. Dr. Jo Eckler draws from her personal and professional experiences living with multiple chronic illnesses while building and running a practice. She shares concrete ideas and heartfelt advice for fellow therapists navigating work and wellbeing when getting “well soon” isn’t on the table.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Dr. Jo’s Journey with Chronic Illness and Professional Path

• Origin Story:
  Dr. Jo became the go-to person for others' problems early in her life, leading her to pursue mental health professionally.

  "Middle school, I was leaving the dinner table to talk my friends down from suicide. I shouldn't have been doing that... I decided I would just become trained and have some more skills." (04:26, Dr. Jo)

• Long Diagnosis Journey:
  She first noticed symptoms at fifteen, with more than a decade passing before she got a diagnosis—an experience familiar to many with chronic illness.

  "It's not uncommon for people to have to chase a diagnosis for years... It starts to get disappointing when a test comes back negative, like, so I still don't know what I have." (05:29, Dr. Jo)

2. Private Practice as a Haven

• Why Private Practice Helps:
  The rigid schedules and inflexible expectations of traditional agencies made Dr. Jo’s health struggles unmanageable. Private practice offered lifesaving flexibility.

  "Business was what saved me...I actually can work more working for myself than I could in a tight structure where I didn't have that flexibility." (06:43, Dr. Jo)

• Flexibility Benefits:
  She emphasized small things—like the freedom to choose what to wear, when to rest, and how to structure her day—as vital for energy management with illness.

  "It saves so many spoons...not having...a little more flexibility with my schedule, with when I had days off, with what tasks I do, when, with what I wear, where I sit. Maybe I go lie down if I need to." (08:11, Dr. Jo)

3. Embracing Your Needs as a Business Owner

• Know Yourself and Your Limits:
  Understanding what aggravates or soothes symptoms is key. Build your schedule around your body’s rhythms and needs.

  "One of the biggest things is knowing yourself. You really gotta figure out what your illnesses like and don't like...helps you plan what you want for your business life." (11:30, Dr. Jo)

• Diversify Income Streams:
  Leverage skills outside traditional therapy (writing, editing, creative work) to buffer unpredictability and reduce burnout.

  "The more income streams you have...the more likely it is you'll be able to keep going, even if you have a big flare." (13:11, Dr. Jo) "For me, I have three days a week of clients, and then I have two and a half days sometimes of editing and writing kinds of things or content creation things that I can do at my own pace." (13:30, Dr. Jo)

4. Building Support and Realistic Routines

• Technology as a Lifeline:
  Tools like online scheduling, phone apps, and telehealth make managing your practice feasible, especially on bad health days.

  "I can have Spruce on my phone, and if I'm stuck in the ER...I was able to reschedule my clients sitting there...without missing a beat." (17:50, Dr. Jo)

• Find Trusted Allies:
  Connection with others who "get it" is crucial; not only for emotional support but also for practical help as your business grows.

  "It can help to find other people who get it...somebody that you can go to and just be like, oh, this is a rough day and they're not going to tell you to eat kale..." (19:40, Dr. Jo)

5. The Emotional and Practical Cost/Benefit of Work

• Scarcity vs. Sustainability:
  Early in business, overcommitting leads to burnout, especially when energy is unpredictable. Being honest about timelines and setting realistic buffers is essential.

  "In the scarcity place, it's so easy to say I’ll do anything because it’ll bring in some money. But looking at the cost benefit ratio is super important for anybody." (20:56, Dr. Jo) "Do I want to do this? And kind of checking in with my body because my body is pretty clear." (22:05, Dr. Jo)

• Never Live at the Edge:
  Dr. Jo shares wisdom from her yoga teacher training:

  "Never live at the edge of your time, energy or money. I thought that was brilliant." (24:32, Dr. Jo)

6. Core Takeaway: There's Hope—Not "Cure," but Meaningfulness

• Redefining Hope:
  Even without the prospect of being “well,” there can be joy and fulfillment.

  "There's hope. Not hope like, oh, everything's gonna get cured and your life is gonna be like it used to be. But...you have a lot of skills and gifts...There may be ways to repackage them or use them that you’re not even aware of yet." (25:15, Dr. Jo)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• "I help weird people who've been through bad things." (05:09, Dr. Jo)
• "I started collecting illnesses, kind of like CEUs or other certifications along the way." (06:43, Dr. Jo)
• "For me, it saves so many spoons." (08:11, Dr. Jo)
• "You can actually work more and better because you're able to manage your own schedule, knowing yourself and what works for you." (17:50, Host)
• "Never live at the edge of your time, energy or money." (24:32, Dr. Jo quoting Judith Lassiter)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• 03:00 – Dr. Jo's background and playful unicorn stories
• 04:26 – Early experience with caregiving and motivation for becoming a therapist
• 05:29 – The struggle to get a diagnosis and living undiagnosed
• 06:43 – The push into private practice and the relief of flexibility
• 11:30 – The importance of self-knowledge and structuring your business around your needs
• 13:11 – Diversifying skills and income to manage unpredictability
• 17:50 – The role of technology and systems in supporting chronic illness
• 19:40 – Building supportive connections, both personal and professional
• 20:56 – Real talk on overwork, boundaries, and realistic planning
• 24:32 – “Never live at the edge” wisdom
• 25:15 – Redefining hope and resilience for therapists with chronic illness

Actionable Resources & Takeaways

• Flare Preparation Checklist
  Dr. Jo offers a fillable PDF and printable worksheet to help therapists (and clients) plan proactively for health “flares”—a practical tool that acts like a personal safety plan for tough days.
• Final Message:
  Therapists with chronic illnesses can thrive when they design their businesses—and their expectations—around their authentic needs, skills, and desired lifestyle. Success and meaning are still absolutely possible, even if “getting well soon” isn’t.

For more tools and community, join the Private Practice Startup Facebook group or visit privatepracticestartup.com.