May 3, 2025 • 12 mins
Feeling discouraged because your practice isn’t growing as fast as others’? In today’s Ask Allison, I’m unpacking why comparison can be so harmful, what actually affects private practice growth, and the 8 key factors that are often overlooked when you’re stuck in the comparison trap. Most importantly, I’ll help you shift your focus to what you can control—so you can build a practice that feels aligned and sustainable, at your own pace. Prefer video? This episode is also available to stream on our YouTube channel!
Sponsored by TherapyNotes®: Use promo code Abundant for 2 months free
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
(00:07):
(Transcribed by TurboScribe.ai. Go Unlimited to remove this message.) Welcome to Ask Allison.
Y'all ask the questions about having a
fun and thriving practice and I answer them.
We have a worksheet for you today so
you can bring this answer into your life.
You can access that at abundancepracticebuilding.com slash
links where you'll also be able to ask
any questions you have for Ask Allison.
If you want more support, we've got some
free trainings in there too.
(00:28):
If you can't get enough Ask Allison, check
out our YouTube channel for our entire Ask
Allison library.
Welcome back to Ask Allison.
Here's today's question.
I'm comparing my practice's growth to others and
feeling discouraged.
Any tips to stop the comparison?
Absolutely.
Before I answer though, I'd like to thank
Therapy Notes for sponsoring Ask Allison.
(00:50):
I have talked about Therapy Notes for years,
know their features by heart, but the thing
that really sets them apart is what I
want to talk about.
They genuinely care about your experience.
It's not just about troubleshooting.
They actively implement users' suggested features like their
new AI notes and automated client payments.
Everybody at Therapy Notes believes in the product
and wants you to love it too.
(01:12):
Plus, they're independently owned, which keeps their prices
fair, their focus on innovation, and they prioritize
the customer experience.
With over 100,000 therapists already on board,
they've proven you don't have to compromise success
for quality.
If you're ready to see for yourself, try
Therapy Notes free for two months with the
code ABUNDANT at therapynotes.com.
All right, so it's really easy to get
(01:33):
caught up in the comparison game, especially when
you're seeing other therapists succeed and grow and
thrive.
And maybe you feel like you're not growing
as fast as you'd like, or maybe you're
wondering if your practice will ever reach the
level of somebody else's.
But here's the truth, comparing your growth to
others is a surefire way to tap into
those feelings of shame and inferiority.
(01:55):
So today, we are going to unpack why
comparison is so detrimental and what really affects
the speed of growth in private practice.
I'm going to walk you through eight key
features that are going to influence how quickly
or slowly your practice grows.
But more importantly, I'm going to help you
focus on what you can control and how
to set yourself up for success.
So let's start with the first feature of
(02:18):
how fast your practice is going to grow
is the doer versus the non-doer dynamic.
Your personal work style is what we're basically
talking about.
Some of us are doers, we get an
idea, we get super excited about it, we
dive in head first.
For a doer, that laser focus can really
drive growth quickly.
You're the type of person who gets things
done.
And when you focus all your energy on
(02:39):
building your practice, things can really take off.
But there's this downside to being a doer
as well, because sometimes we get so excited
about all the things like working on a
book or creating a course outline and building
our practice that we spread ourselves really thin.
And when you are juggling multiple projects, it
can take a lot longer to see the
growth that you're hoping for.
(03:00):
So the thing here is if you are
not a natural doer, I don't want you
to beat yourself up.
You've already made it this far in your
career by using whatever skills have worked for
you in the past.
Maybe that scheduling, accountability, mentorship, persistence, whatever it
is.
Whatever it is that lights a fire under
your ass, right?
So remember that you've already overcome challenges to
get here.
Pick one thing to focus on, lean into
(03:23):
the strategies that have helped you succeed in
the past.
It is not about being someone you're not.
It's about utilizing your natural strengths and the
tools that you have built thus far in
your life.
All right.
Number two, let's talk about the financial side
of your practice.
This is a big one.
If you're on insurance panels, you'll probably see
faster growth than someone who is strictly private
(03:43):
pay because insurance companies act as a marketing
team for you.
They make it easier for people to find
you.
They handle a lot of the financial conversations.
Insurance can help you build a larger clientele
quickly because it makes your services more accessible
to people who might not be able to
afford it otherwise.
But here's the thing that gets tricky.
(04:04):
Insurance companies may not always pay well.
Some can be a really huge headache to
work with.
Depending on your area, taking insurance may mean
a pretty big pay cut.
But if you're in a position where you
need to build quickly, that lower pay rate
may be worth it, at least for a
little while.
On the other hand, private pay gives you
much more control over your rates and can
(04:24):
be a lot more financially rewarding in the
long term.
But that doesn't mean it's like the fast
track to growth.
It will take longer to fill your caseload
if you're private pay.
But if you're comfortable with a slower and
steadier pace, then this can be a better
choice for you.
Ultimately, you need to decide what works best
for you.
And if you are considering taking insurance, make
sure you do your homework.
Learn what the insurance companies in your area
(04:46):
are like.
Talk to your local colleagues.
Get insights about what it might be like
for that insurance to be a part of
your practice.
Next is finding your niche.
99.9% of the time, having a
clear niche is going to help you grow
your practice much faster than being a generalist.
And let's be real, most of us didn't
(05:06):
get into this field just to be average
at everything.
We got into this because we have a
passion for helping people.
We want to work with those who really
benefit from our expertise.
The key here is to choose a niche
that aligns with what you're best at and
the people you enjoy working with.
I know that there's a lot of pressure
to pick a popular niche that promises quick
success.
Don't fall into that trap.
(05:28):
The best niche for you is the one
that lights you up.
When you're excited and you're energized by your
work, that enthusiasm shines through.
It attracts the right clients through great marketing.
Some niches are going to take longer to
develop than others.
Remember, any niche can be successful if you're
really passionate about it.
If you're someone who loves working with teens,
(05:48):
families, individuals, whatever, going through a really specific
challenge, that's your niche.
Your niche is the challenge itself as they
describe it.
It's not their understanding of it three months
into sessions.
It is what they're coming into therapy for.
Don't chase a niche just because it seems
like it's going to be really marketable or
have faster growth.
(06:09):
It is creating a practice you love that
serves your ideal clients that I am really
wanting for you.
This next one's kind of tricky, but it's
true.
Your location has a really big impact on
how quickly your practice grows.
I am not talking about where you rent
your office space for those of you who
are in person.
I'm talking about your city in general if
(06:32):
you're wanting to have some kind of more
localized therapy, whether that's in person or whether
that's online.
If you're in a city that already values
therapy, then you're in a really good position.
If you're not, I would market to those
cities that really value therapy.
People in those areas tend to already understand
the importance of therapy and it is easier
to build a client base when you're not
(06:53):
having to convince therapy people that therapy is
like a real thing.
That said, some less saturated markets can also
be a great opportunity, especially if your community
is starting to recognize the value of therapy.
If you're in an area where there aren't
many therapists, that's a chance to step in
and serve the need that's already there.
But at the end of the day, it's
about finding the opportunity where you are, whether
(07:15):
that's a crowded city or a smaller town
or virtually throughout your entire state.
Fee structure is another thing that is going
to make or break the speed with which
we build.
You might think that lowering your fees is
actually going to bring in more clients, but
that is not the case.
Perceived value is a really huge factor in
how clients choose their therapist.
(07:37):
One of my clients shared a story that
stuck with me.
I've actually had a couple clients share this
recently, but she was looking for a couple
of counselors.
She realized that she had already ruled out
all the therapists who charged the same rate
she did, because she assumed that they were
less competent.
Instead, she chose somebody with a higher fee,
assuming that that higher price signaled more experience
or expertise.
(07:58):
This is not about judging others or assuming
that high fees always mean high quality therapy,
because that's not the case.
It's just a reminder that your fee is
a part of your perceived value.
So don't be afraid to raise your fee
if it feels aligned with what you want
and need in your life right now.
Pricing is not just about what's fair to
you.
It's about how your clients perceive the value
(08:19):
they're getting.
Marketing your practice is a really, really, really
huge part of all of this.
It can feel really overwhelming at times.
There is so much advice out there on
how to market, but the reality is just
because something worked for the person in the
office next to yours or your friend you
went to grad school with does not mean
it's going to work for you.
The best marketing strategy is the one that
(08:41):
aligns with your strengths and allows you to
stay consistent.
So I say all therapists need to have
a great website.
All therapists need to network.
But some therapists love social media, while others
find that writing blogs or running workshops are
their sweet spot.
The trick is finding what's authentic to you
and stick with that, because marketing is definitely
(09:01):
not about doing everything that could bring in
clients.
It's about doing very few things really well.
So instead of throwing everything at the you
and keep doing those consistently.
Seventh factor that impacts your growth is having
the right support system.
It is crucial for success.
(09:22):
The therapists who tend to build their practices
faster are the ones who have a really
strong network of people cheering them on, whether
that's mentorship or a peer support group or
an online community like mine.
Having people who understand your challenges and can
offer advice is really, really priceless.
Isolation can be a growth killer.
The more you connect with others who are
(09:43):
on the same journey, not the naysayers, not
the people who say, wouldn't you like a
nice, steady, stable job?
Let's not talk to those people about your
business.
But the other people who are going on
the same journey, the more you talk to
them, the faster you're going to go.
And if you don't have a solid support
system yet, please seek one out.
It makes such a huge difference.
(10:03):
Number eight, I would say that impacts the
speed of your practice growth is luck.
I know that's not something we can control,
but luck is a real factor in how
quickly your practice grows versus somebody you might
be comparing yourself to.
So maybe you get a referral from a
perfect source, or you just happen to meet
the right person at the right time.
You can't control luck, but you can control
(10:25):
how open you are to luck, how many
opportunities you give it to land in your
lap, and you can control how you respond
to it.
So if aren't going as fast as you
want, I want you to try shifting your
focus to the things that are going well.
Take stock of all the good things in
your life, maybe your health, your family, the
fact that you're building a practice that aligns
with your values.
(10:45):
Gratitude can really be a game changer when
it comes to shifting your mindset and staying
positive.
And I want you to think through these
eight growth factors and think about of the
ones you can control, how in are you
on those?
Maybe the person you're comparing yourself to has
been nailing each of these things, and you're
nailing two or three of them.
(11:06):
Do what you need to do to make
sure that you have the practice you want.
That's going to take work, and it's going
to take consistency.
If you're ready to get more intentional with
your practice building and focus on factors that
really matter, I have a free worksheet for
you called the Common Marketing Strategies for Therapists
that can help speed up your growth.
DM me the word sheet, and I'll send
you this week's worksheet, as well as links
(11:28):
to all the previous worksheets.
And if you want or need help with
marketing so that clients can come in the
door, I want you to join us in
the Abundance Party.
We have helped thousands and thousands of therapists
fill their practice by teaching them the marketing
strategies that work best for them.
And they then get to love the practice
that they built instead of feeling like they
just keep kind of trying things, and they're
(11:49):
not sure if they're the right things to
try.
All right, y'all.
You can find the in the show notes,
if you're listening to the podcast, or hit
us up with the word party on social
media.
I will see y'all later, and I
hope you have a great day.
If you're ready for a much easier practice,
TherapyNotes is the way to go.
(12:09):
Go to TherapyNotes.com and use the promo
code ABUNDANT for two months free.
I hope that helped.
If you have questions for Ask Alison, or
you want to get your hands on the
worksheet for this episode, go to AbundancePracticeBuilding.com
slash links.
If you're listening, you probably need some support
(12:30):
building your practice.
If you're a super newbie, grab our free
checklist using the link in the show notes.
I'd love for you to follow, rate, and
review, but I really want you to share
this episode with a therapist friend.
Let's help all our colleagues build what they
want.
(Transcribed by TurboScribe.ai. Go Unlimited to remove this message.) Welcome to Ask Allison.
Y'all ask the questions about having a
fun and thriving practice and I answer them.
We have a worksheet for you today so
you can bring this answer into your life.
You can access that at abundancepracticebuilding.com slash
links where you'll also be able to ask
any questions you have for Ask Allison.
If you want more support, we've got some
free trainings in there too.
(00:28):
If you can't get enough Ask Allison, check
out our YouTube channel for our entire Ask
Allison library.
Welcome back to Ask Allison.
Here's today's question.
I'm comparing my practice's growth to others and
feeling discouraged.
Any tips to stop the comparison?
Absolutely.
Before I answer though, I'd like to thank
Therapy Notes for sponsoring Ask Allison.
(00:50):
I have talked about Therapy Notes for years,
know their features by heart, but the thing
that really sets them apart is what I
want to talk about.
They genuinely care about your experience.
It's not just about troubleshooting.
They actively implement users' suggested features like their
new AI notes and automated client payments.
Everybody at Therapy Notes believes in the product
and wants you to love it too.
(01:12):
Plus, they're independently owned, which keeps their prices
fair, their focus on innovation, and they prioritize
the customer experience.
With over 100,000 therapists already on board,
they've proven you don't have to compromise success
for quality.
If you're ready to see for yourself, try
Therapy Notes free for two months with the
code ABUNDANT at therapynotes.com.
All right, so it's really easy to get
(01:33):
caught up in the comparison game, especially when
you're seeing other therapists succeed and grow and
thrive.
And maybe you feel like you're not growing
as fast as you'd like, or maybe you're
wondering if your practice will ever reach the
level of somebody else's.
But here's the truth, comparing your growth to
others is a surefire way to tap into
those feelings of shame and inferiority.
(01:55):
So today, we are going to unpack why
comparison is so detrimental and what really affects
the speed of growth in private practice.
I'm going to walk you through eight key
features that are going to influence how quickly
or slowly your practice grows.
But more importantly, I'm going to help you
focus on what you can control and how
to set yourself up for success.
So let's start with the first feature of
(02:18):
how fast your practice is going to grow
is the doer versus the non-doer dynamic.
Your personal work style is what we're basically
talking about.
Some of us are doers, we get an
idea, we get super excited about it, we
dive in head first.
For a doer, that laser focus can really
drive growth quickly.
You're the type of person who gets things
done.
And when you focus all your energy on
(02:39):
building your practice, things can really take off.
But there's this downside to being a doer
as well, because sometimes we get so excited
about all the things like working on a
book or creating a course outline and building
our practice that we spread ourselves really thin.
And when you are juggling multiple projects, it
can take a lot longer to see the
growth that you're hoping for.
(03:00):
So the thing here is if you are
not a natural doer, I don't want you
to beat yourself up.
You've already made it this far in your
career by using whatever skills have worked for
you in the past.
Maybe that scheduling, accountability, mentorship, persistence, whatever it
is.
Whatever it is that lights a fire under
your ass, right?
So remember that you've already overcome challenges to
get here.
Pick one thing to focus on, lean into
(03:23):
the strategies that have helped you succeed in
the past.
It is not about being someone you're not.
It's about utilizing your natural strengths and the
tools that you have built thus far in
your life.
All right.
Number two, let's talk about the financial side
of your practice.
This is a big one.
If you're on insurance panels, you'll probably see
faster growth than someone who is strictly private
(03:43):
pay because insurance companies act as a marketing
team for you.
They make it easier for people to find
you.
They handle a lot of the financial conversations.
Insurance can help you build a larger clientele
quickly because it makes your services more accessible
to people who might not be able to
afford it otherwise.
But here's the thing that gets tricky.
(04:04):
Insurance companies may not always pay well.
Some can be a really huge headache to
work with.
Depending on your area, taking insurance may mean
a pretty big pay cut.
But if you're in a position where you
need to build quickly, that lower pay rate
may be worth it, at least for a
little while.
On the other hand, private pay gives you
much more control over your rates and can
(04:24):
be a lot more financially rewarding in the
long term.
But that doesn't mean it's like the fast
track to growth.
It will take longer to fill your caseload
if you're private pay.
But if you're comfortable with a slower and
steadier pace, then this can be a better
choice for you.
Ultimately, you need to decide what works best
for you.
And if you are considering taking insurance, make
sure you do your homework.
Learn what the insurance companies in your area
(04:46):
are like.
Talk to your local colleagues.
Get insights about what it might be like
for that insurance to be a part of
your practice.
Next is finding your niche.
99.9% of the time, having a
clear niche is going to help you grow
your practice much faster than being a generalist.
And let's be real, most of us didn't
(05:06):
get into this field just to be average
at everything.
We got into this because we have a
passion for helping people.
We want to work with those who really
benefit from our expertise.
The key here is to choose a niche
that aligns with what you're best at and
the people you enjoy working with.
I know that there's a lot of pressure
to pick a popular niche that promises quick
success.
Don't fall into that trap.
(05:28):
The best niche for you is the one
that lights you up.
When you're excited and you're energized by your
work, that enthusiasm shines through.
It attracts the right clients through great marketing.
Some niches are going to take longer to
develop than others.
Remember, any niche can be successful if you're
really passionate about it.
If you're someone who loves working with teens,
(05:48):
families, individuals, whatever, going through a really specific
challenge, that's your niche.
Your niche is the challenge itself as they
describe it.
It's not their understanding of it three months
into sessions.
It is what they're coming into therapy for.
Don't chase a niche just because it seems
like it's going to be really marketable or
have faster growth.
(06:09):
It is creating a practice you love that
serves your ideal clients that I am really
wanting for you.
This next one's kind of tricky, but it's
true.
Your location has a really big impact on
how quickly your practice grows.
I am not talking about where you rent
your office space for those of you who
are in person.
I'm talking about your city in general if
(06:32):
you're wanting to have some kind of more
localized therapy, whether that's in person or whether
that's online.
If you're in a city that already values
therapy, then you're in a really good position.
If you're not, I would market to those
cities that really value therapy.
People in those areas tend to already understand
the importance of therapy and it is easier
to build a client base when you're not
(06:53):
having to convince therapy people that therapy is
like a real thing.
That said, some less saturated markets can also
be a great opportunity, especially if your community
is starting to recognize the value of therapy.
If you're in an area where there aren't
many therapists, that's a chance to step in
and serve the need that's already there.
But at the end of the day, it's
about finding the opportunity where you are, whether
(07:15):
that's a crowded city or a smaller town
or virtually throughout your entire state.
Fee structure is another thing that is going
to make or break the speed with which
we build.
You might think that lowering your fees is
actually going to bring in more clients, but
that is not the case.
Perceived value is a really huge factor in
how clients choose their therapist.
(07:37):
One of my clients shared a story that
stuck with me.
I've actually had a couple clients share this
recently, but she was looking for a couple
of counselors.
She realized that she had already ruled out
all the therapists who charged the same rate
she did, because she assumed that they were
less competent.
Instead, she chose somebody with a higher fee,
assuming that that higher price signaled more experience
or expertise.
(07:58):
This is not about judging others or assuming
that high fees always mean high quality therapy,
because that's not the case.
It's just a reminder that your fee is
a part of your perceived value.
So don't be afraid to raise your fee
if it feels aligned with what you want
and need in your life right now.
Pricing is not just about what's fair to
you.
It's about how your clients perceive the value
(08:19):
they're getting.
Marketing your practice is a really, really, really
huge part of all of this.
It can feel really overwhelming at times.
There is so much advice out there on
how to market, but the reality is just
because something worked for the person in the
office next to yours or your friend you
went to grad school with does not mean
it's going to work for you.
The best marketing strategy is the one that
(08:41):
aligns with your strengths and allows you to
stay consistent.
So I say all therapists need to have
a great website.
All therapists need to network.
But some therapists love social media, while others
find that writing blogs or running workshops are
their sweet spot.
The trick is finding what's authentic to you
and stick with that, because marketing is definitely
(09:01):
not about doing everything that could bring in
clients.
It's about doing very few things really well.
So instead of throwing everything at the you
and keep doing those consistently.
Seventh factor that impacts your growth is having
the right support system.
It is crucial for success.
(09:22):
The therapists who tend to build their practices
faster are the ones who have a really
strong network of people cheering them on, whether
that's mentorship or a peer support group or
an online community like mine.
Having people who understand your challenges and can
offer advice is really, really priceless.
Isolation can be a growth killer.
The more you connect with others who are
(09:43):
on the same journey, not the naysayers, not
the people who say, wouldn't you like a
nice, steady, stable job?
Let's not talk to those people about your
business.
But the other people who are going on
the same journey, the more you talk to
them, the faster you're going to go.
And if you don't have a solid support
system yet, please seek one out.
It makes such a huge difference.
(10:03):
Number eight, I would say that impacts the
speed of your practice growth is luck.
I know that's not something we can control,
but luck is a real factor in how
quickly your practice grows versus somebody you might
be comparing yourself to.
So maybe you get a referral from a
perfect source, or you just happen to meet
the right person at the right time.
You can't control luck, but you can control
(10:25):
how open you are to luck, how many
opportunities you give it to land in your
lap, and you can control how you respond
to it.
So if aren't going as fast as you
want, I want you to try shifting your
focus to the things that are going well.
Take stock of all the good things in
your life, maybe your health, your family, the
fact that you're building a practice that aligns
with your values.
(10:45):
Gratitude can really be a game changer when
it comes to shifting your mindset and staying
positive.
And I want you to think through these
eight growth factors and think about of the
ones you can control, how in are you
on those?
Maybe the person you're comparing yourself to has
been nailing each of these things, and you're
nailing two or three of them.
(11:06):
Do what you need to do to make
sure that you have the practice you want.
That's going to take work, and it's going
to take consistency.
If you're ready to get more intentional with
your practice building and focus on factors that
really matter, I have a free worksheet for
you called the Common Marketing Strategies for Therapists
that can help speed up your growth.
DM me the word sheet, and I'll send
you this week's worksheet, as well as links
(11:28):
to all the previous worksheets.
And if you want or need help with
marketing so that clients can come in the
door, I want you to join us in
the Abundance Party.
We have helped thousands and thousands of therapists
fill their practice by teaching them the marketing
strategies that work best for them.
And they then get to love the practice
that they built instead of feeling like they
just keep kind of trying things, and they're
(11:49):
not sure if they're the right things to
try.
All right, y'all.
You can find the in the show notes,
if you're listening to the podcast, or hit
us up with the word party on social
media.
I will see y'all later, and I
hope you have a great day.
If you're ready for a much easier practice,
TherapyNotes is the way to go.
(12:09):
Go to TherapyNotes.com and use the promo
code ABUNDANT for two months free.
I hope that helped.
If you have questions for Ask Alison, or
you want to get your hands on the
worksheet for this episode, go to AbundancePracticeBuilding.com
slash links.
If you're listening, you probably need some support
(12:30):
building your practice.
If you're a super newbie, grab our free
checklist using the link in the show notes.
I'd love for you to follow, rate, and
review, but I really want you to share
this episode with a therapist friend.
Let's help all our colleagues build what they
want.
Popular Podcasts
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com
24/7 News: The Latest
The latest news in 4 minutes updated every hour, every day.