Setting out in the world of private practice can be really tough and you are bound to face unforeseen challenges. Although it can be a learning curve, running your own practice is very rewarding and you will learn a huge amount along the way.
We've put together this article to help new-starters with some words of wisdom from a few experienced specialists, who have made the leap into private practice and came out the other side.
Here is what they said...
Caroline Michael
“One of the biggest challenges you face when starting up a Private Practice is staying focused and motivated when there are no or very few enquiries coming through. It can sometimes take a while for things to build up.
You have to stay positive and proactive, if you aren’t getting many paying clients coming through then get out there and offer pro-bono sessions - word of mouth is so important."
Beibei Mu
"The biggest challenge was to take a leap of faith to put myself out there, and then to trust myself and that what I am offering is valuable.
It was perhaps a necessary psychological threshold that every therapist has to cross. Once I was on the other side, clients did come."
Jessica Stephenson Clarke
"I think a really big thing is about who you share your vision with and that you might end up losing some friends when they see you starting out and doing your own thing.
It can be a lonely road so good to reach out and surround yourself with other people in a similar situation to you."
Alan Hills
"My main challenges were shifting to a mindset from being an employee to self-employed – it feels like safety to be employed but in today’s job market, being an employee is less favourable than ever, lower benefits and more insecurity. Developing your own skills and marketing them is increasingly the safer choice.
Once you decide to do this, you have to accept that you are now responsible. Responsibility creates ongoing freedom and choice, so this means you have to take responsibility for taking action in all areas – maintaining skills, marketing your services, doing the admin, keeping things in balance.
That’s the 3rd aspect – keeping things in balance. It takes time to build a new business – trust that regular effort over time will build it organically. If you expect too much too soon, you’ll likely be stressed and disheartened.
Perhaps having more than 1 source of income, to begin with, will help, perhaps not giving up your employee job completely but phasing it down whilst the new practice builds. Also, you’ve got to manage your boundaries – when to say no, when to practice self-care, when to ask for support. This might involve joining groups to provide a support network – such as the Augmentive community!"
Sarah Norman
"As many of us do, I started my private practice alongside working in the public sector. The biggest challenge I faced was deciding how to give my clients the best possible experience when they choose to work with me.
For example, explaining how I can help them, efficient ways to message and see them, invoicing, checking payments and sometimes chasing them up. All of these elements were time-consuming, costly and most importantly clients could fall through the cracks.
I now feel fully in control and can relax in the knowledge that I won’t miss a client request, message or have to chase a payment."
Natalie Rossiter
"I started my private practice whilst working a day job full time and juggling everything was really difficult. But it was the only way I could do it and keep a roof over my head.
My advice to anyone facing a similar challenge is to not give up, remember why you're doing it and believe that it will get easier, even if you don't know how! That, and rest any chance you get."