When you are a therapist, you are often working independently on your business. You don’t have any managers breathing down your neck, telling you what to do.
This approach to work can be a blessing. But, unfortunately, it can also be a curse. While you get some things right, you also inadvertently do other things wrong.
That’s where this post can help. We look at some do’s and don’ts for making a living as a therapist. But first, let’s look at some challenges you might face.
Being a self-employed therapist comes with its own set of challenges, even though it offers flexibility and autonomy. Here are some key ones:
1. Balancing Business and Therapy
When you work for yourself, you’re not just a therapist; you’re also a business owner. That means juggling client sessions with tasks like marketing, billing, and managing a website. It can be tough to find the right balance, especially when you just want to focus on helping your clients.
2. Isolation
Therapists often work alone, which can get lonely. Without colleagues around, you miss out on the support, collaboration, and daily interaction that come with working in a group practice or agency. This isolation can lead to burnout or even doubts about your effectiveness as a therapist.
3. Inconsistent Income
Clients cancel, take breaks, or don’t show up, which can lead to income fluctuations. Unlike a salaried position, your income isn’t guaranteed. This uncertainty can add financial stress, especially if you’re just starting out.
4. Setting Boundaries
When you’re your own boss, it’s easy to blur the lines between work and personal life. You might find yourself answering emails late at night or squeezing in one more client session, which can lead to burnout.
5. Professional Development
Staying up-to-date with the latest therapy techniques, laws, and ethics can be challenging without the support of an employer who might fund or organize training. You’ll need to be proactive in seeking out opportunities and often pay for them yourself.
Working for yourself as a therapist can be incredibly rewarding, but it’s not without its hurdles. With good planning and self-care, though, these challenges can be managed effectively.
The Do’s And Don’ts
Do Get Training
Always start your practice on firm foundations. Ensuring you have the necessary training you need reduces the risk of malpractice cases and ensures you can serve your clients better.
Training doesn’t always take as long as you might think. Many courses can be done in a couple of months or less. However, the longer you stay in school, the more advanced your practice will become. As you probe deeper into the human psyche, you learn more about how to help people with the challenging situations they face in their daily lives.
Don’t Ignore The Business Side
As strange as it may sound, you should never ignore the business side of being a therapist. While you need to help other people, it’s also essential to take care of yourself.
Think about your practice as a company (even if it doesn’t feel like it). Use private practice software, scheduling tools, AI, and other systems to improve efficiency.
If you don’t like doing that sort of work, pass it over to a secretary. Get them to hand out bills and invoices to customers paying for your services.
Do Invest in Continuous Learning
It’s also a good idea to invest in continuous learning. Constantly learning about new approaches and techniques allows you to outshine the competition and do your work better.
Avoid getting stuck in the same approach for decades at a time. Mental health challenges change over time, so your approach also needs to adapt.
Don’t Let Ethical Standards Slip
You also want to avoid letting your ethical standards slip while in practice. While they might work in the short-term, they can damage your practice over the long run.
Start by following the rules of your governing body. Check that you remain compliant with your patients.
Then, look for solutions to problems. Don’t drag therapy out for months or years, even if you know you can take a shortcut to healing.
Do Develop Your Communication Skills
Developing communication skills as a therapist helps you make a living by forging better relationships with your customers. The more you can get through to them, the more likely they are to remember what you say and find your advice helpful.
Don’t Ignore Feedback
Lastly, avoid the temptation to ignore the feedback you get from patients. While criticism is never a pleasant experience, it is often the only way to improve your work and get better and what you do.
The best feedback is from colleagues and clients who’ve known you for a long time. They often have the deepest and most helpful insights into what you can do better.