Common Mistake Made by Therapists, Coaches, and Healers in Private Practice

Common Mistake Made by Therapists, Coaches, and Healers in Private Practice

I talk to a lot of therapists who are in or who want to be in private practice, and I’ve been categorizing common mistakes I observe.  This is the first in a series of posts where I’ll be sharing with you common mistakes I see smart, skillful therapists make.

MISTAKE #1: NOT OWNING YOUR INNER ENTREPRENEUR

Most therapists did not get into the field because they wanted to be an entrepreneur.   They tend to see themselves as “heart-centered,” and, consciously or subconsciously, they often have all kinds of judgments and negative associations about entrepreneurs as being money hungry and not really caring about people.  This viewpoint can keep therapists from owning their inner entrepreneur because they have fears of being seen in this light—as caring more about money than clients, as being too “salesy” or arrogant, etc.

Other times, confidence issues keep therapists from stepping into the entrepreneurial energy that would help them market and network themselves and think like a business owner.  Fears of putting themselves out there, of being more visible, of being judged as “tooting their own horn,” and of not being good enough are common and can be crippling.

  

And other times, therapists just simply don’t know HOW to own their inner entrepreneur (Yep, they sure don’t teach that in counseling school!).  Lack of clarity about what is and isn’t ethical can also get in the way. 

Many therapists run kicking and screaming at the idea of developing their inner entrepreneur.  But if you’re not owning this part of you, you’re missing out on the awesome gifts of the entrepreneur, and it is probably costing you big time.

COSTS OF NOT OWNING YOUR INNER ENTREPRENEUR

One of the biggest consequences of not owning your inner entrepreneur is not putting yourself out there—keeping your gifts hidden like a well-kept secret. Without leaning into your inner entrepreneur, it can be really hard to network and market yourself (two things many therapists don’t naturally like!).  But if you can’t put yourself out there and confidently talk about yourself and your work in a way that lets people see the value, they’re not going to refer to you.  And without referrals, it’s hard to build a successful practice. 

Another way not thinking like a business owner costs therapists is not getting real with the financial aspect of their businesses—not looking at profits and losses, not setting financial policies that support the business (which also, by the way, can actually support clients!)  And, maybe most importantly, it often prevents them from setting financial goals, which is one of the most important things to do if you want financial success.

Lastly, therapists who don’t access their inner entrepreneur are probably missing out on the entrepreneur’s creative tendency to think big and look for new opportunities, possibilities, and ways to expand.  Therapists without their inner entrepreneur often have a much smaller vision for their practice and tend to settle in without much room for growth. 

Are you missing out on the gifts of your inner entrepreneur?  If so, what do you think it’s costing you?

If you’d like to move towards the success that’s possible when you can have the confidence to own your inner entrepreneur, click here to schedule a complimentary Practice Accelerator Session where we’ll identify the three biggest obstacles getting in your way and the number one thing you can do to move forward.