May 17, 2025 • 9 mins
Not sure when to launch your private practice? In today’s Ask Allison, I’m breaking down the seasonal rhythms of private practice—why summer might feel slow (but can actually be strategic), how to assess if now is the right time based on your financial needs and goals, and the essential mindset shifts that can help you thrive even during quieter months. Most importantly, I’ll guide you through practical ways to build momentum now—so you’re ready to grow with confidence and clarity when the busy season returns. Prefer video? This episode is also available to stream on our YouTube channel!
Sponsored by TherapyNotes®: TherapyNotes® just made documentation way easier with TherapyFuel™, their new AI-powered tools. Instantly generate progress notes, summarize client history, and even transcribe sessions with TherapyFuel™ Scribe. Plus, check out new features like AutoPay, secondary insurance claims, and Referral Rewards. Try it now and use promo code Abundant at TherapyNotes.com for two free months!
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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.
Is there a time of year that's better
or worse than others for starting a private
practice?
I'm excited to answer this.
It's very timely, but first I'd like to
thank TherapyNotes for sponsoring Ask Allison.
(00:49):
I've talked about them for years.
You know their features by heart by now,
but here's what really sets them apart is
that they genuinely care about your experience.
It is not just about troubleshooting.
They actively implement user-suggested features like their
new AI Notes program and automated client payments.
Everyone at TherapyNotes believes in the product and
they want you to love it too.
Plus they're independently owned, which means no venture
(01:10):
capital, no pressure to prioritize investors over customers.
This independence allows them to keep their prices
fair, to focus on innovation, and to prioritize
their 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
TherapyNotes free for two months with the code
ABUNDANT at TherapyNotes.com.
(01:33):
So this is such an important question.
I'm glad that you're asking it.
Right now, honestly, is not the ideal time
to launch your private practice if you're considering
leaving your current job.
Typically, many therapists, especially those newer to private
practice experience a slowdown during the summer months.
However, if you're not immediately dependent on your
practice income, or if you're planning to keep
(01:55):
your current job while gradually building your practice,
this could be a really fantastic time to
start.
I always aim to be completely real with
y'all because the comparison game can be
brutal.
It's very common, especially when you're first starting
out, to look around at other therapists who
seem to be thriving and then worry that
you're falling short.
But the truth is there is an ebb
and a flow in private practice and everyone
(02:17):
experiences slowdowns at some point.
Late spring through summer can provide a really
valuable opportunity if you're able to financially weather
a slower start because you've got extra time
and space to lay down a really strong
foundation for your practice.
You can focus on your systems, on your
paperwork, fine-tuning your marketing, building a website
or networking, all of that without feeling frantic
(02:39):
or rushed.
However, if your bills depend heavily on immediate
client income, late summer or late spring and
early summer might feel really tough and stressful.
Referrals traditionally slow down this time of year.
There is a counterintuitive part of you that
I really want you to not do this,
so just listen to me here.
Many therapists start panicking when referrals drop, even
(03:01):
though it happens like clockwork for the majority
of practices.
They spend their energy venting in Facebook groups,
they're scrolling Reddit threads, they're exchanging anxious texts
with their fellow new therapists about how stressed
out they are about it.
These activities, while totally understandable, they tend to
lead to reduced or inconsistent marketing.
(03:23):
Ironically, pulling back on marketing is exactly what's
going to prolong the slowdown, right?
So here's what I encourage instead.
Keep your marketing consistent.
Even if your efforts yield fewer clients right
away, consistent marketing is going to position you
perfectly when the busier fall season comes around.
The therapists who stay steady and they keep
(03:44):
putting themselves out there, even when it's frustratingly
slow, they're the ones who come out ahead.
When September rolls around and clients are actively
searching for therapists, these consistent marketers, they're easy
to find, their practices fill up quickly.
Remember that consistency is always going to trump
sporadic bursts of energy.
(04:04):
If you feel overwhelmed or uncertain about where
to focus your energy during these slower periods,
I want you to try small, manageable steps
like writing one blog post a week, attending
a local networking event or meeting somebody for
coffee, updating your online directory profiles.
Even smaller actions taken regularly make a significant
difference over time.
(04:26):
Another really helpful tip during slow periods is
to invest some energy into learning and growth.
Use the extra space in your schedule to
sharpen your clinical skills, attend trainings, create helpful
content that positions you as an expert.
Not only does this build your confidence, it
also attracts your ideal clients who then resonate
with your unique perspectives and skills.
(04:47):
If you need help with training, not boring
CEs, I highly recommend it.
This is also an ideal time to revisit
your niche.
Are you really clear about who your ideal
client is?
Have you fine-tuned your messaging to speak
directly to their needs and pain points?
Summer gives you a bit of breathing room
to clarify and to elevate your brand presence.
(05:07):
If you've been putting off updating your Psychology
Today profile or tweaking the copy on your
website or whatever it is you need to
work on, this is your moment.
You're going to really thank yourself come fall.
Now if you're someone who tends to struggle
with internalized pressure or perfectionism, slower seasons can
really make you uncomfortable and worried.
You might find yourself questioning whether you're cut
(05:28):
out for private practice, wondering if you made
the right decision, feeling like everyone else is
doing better than you.
This is a really good time to do
some internal work.
Whether that's journaling, seeing your therapist, taking a
few walks to process what you're feeling, whatever
that self-reflection looks like for you, it
can be incredibly valuable.
It's also worth acknowledging that some therapists do
(05:50):
just fine in the summer, especially if they
specialize in working with different populations that come
in more in the summer.
So while summer is slower for many, it
is not universally slower.
Knowing your niche, anticipating your clientele's seasonal rhythms
can really help you plan more strategically.
Now if you're someone who thrives on structure,
(06:12):
consider setting goals for your summer marketing efforts.
That does not mean I'm going to get
one client this week.
That means mapping out a weekly plan with
one visibility action, one connection building activity, one
piece of content creation, that kind of thing.
The stuff you can control.
That way, even if the client work is
light, you're building momentum that pays off later.
(06:34):
Treat marketing like brushing your teeth.
It's something you do regularly because it keeps
your practice healthy, not just when there's a
problem.
I really, really empathize with therapists who find
themselves stuck in the worry and doubt.
They're creating this self-fulfilling prophecy of struggle
when they slow down their marketing efforts.
I don't even think everybody realizes they're doing
(06:54):
that when they're doing it, but they know
that what they've been doing isn't yielding results
anymore now that summertime has come.
And so they just start pulling back because
they're feeling defeated.
Every year I see this pattern play out
and it really, it breaks my heart because
it's avoidable and it makes that summer slowdown
last into the fall for these folks.
(07:15):
So to help you break this cycle, we
are opening doors to a program specifically designed
to help you stay motivated and consistent and
visible through the summer.
It's called Summer Sprint.
We're closing enrollment May 23rd, that's Friday, just
before midnight.
And then we actually start the program.
So you have to have already signed up
for it the first week of June.
(07:36):
So if you'd like to join an encouraging
group of therapists who are actively marketing their
practices throughout the summer with my direct support,
I want you to DM the word study
on social media, or if you're listening to
the podcast, I want you to click the
link in show notes.
We are working through June, July, and August.
It's okay if you're going for some of
that to make sure that when the fall
(07:57):
rush comes, you're the one being found.
Current Abundance Party members get a special discount,
FYI.
Our free worksheet today is one to help
you with your motivation struggles if you're struggling
with motivation.
That happens for most of us when we're
not getting results yet.
So on socials, you can DM me the
word sheets and I'll get you that worksheet
(08:17):
and all of our other free worksheets as
well.
All right.
I'll talk to y'all later.
If you're ready for a much easier practice,
TherapyNotes is the way to go.
Go to therapynotes.com and use the promo
code ABUNDANT for two months free.
I hope that helped.
If you have questions for Ask Allison, or
(08:39):
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
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
(08:59):
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.
Is there a time of year that's better
or worse than others for starting a private
practice?
I'm excited to answer this.
It's very timely, but first I'd like to
thank TherapyNotes for sponsoring Ask Allison.
(00:49):
I've talked about them for years.
You know their features by heart by now,
but here's what really sets them apart is
that they genuinely care about your experience.
It is not just about troubleshooting.
They actively implement user-suggested features like their
new AI Notes program and automated client payments.
Everyone at TherapyNotes believes in the product and
they want you to love it too.
Plus they're independently owned, which means no venture
(01:10):
capital, no pressure to prioritize investors over customers.
This independence allows them to keep their prices
fair, to focus on innovation, and to prioritize
their 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
TherapyNotes free for two months with the code
ABUNDANT at TherapyNotes.com.
(01:33):
So this is such an important question.
I'm glad that you're asking it.
Right now, honestly, is not the ideal time
to launch your private practice if you're considering
leaving your current job.
Typically, many therapists, especially those newer to private
practice experience a slowdown during the summer months.
However, if you're not immediately dependent on your
practice income, or if you're planning to keep
(01:55):
your current job while gradually building your practice,
this could be a really fantastic time to
start.
I always aim to be completely real with
y'all because the comparison game can be
brutal.
It's very common, especially when you're first starting
out, to look around at other therapists who
seem to be thriving and then worry that
you're falling short.
But the truth is there is an ebb
and a flow in private practice and everyone
(02:17):
experiences slowdowns at some point.
Late spring through summer can provide a really
valuable opportunity if you're able to financially weather
a slower start because you've got extra time
and space to lay down a really strong
foundation for your practice.
You can focus on your systems, on your
paperwork, fine-tuning your marketing, building a website
or networking, all of that without feeling frantic
(02:39):
or rushed.
However, if your bills depend heavily on immediate
client income, late summer or late spring and
early summer might feel really tough and stressful.
Referrals traditionally slow down this time of year.
There is a counterintuitive part of you that
I really want you to not do this,
so just listen to me here.
Many therapists start panicking when referrals drop, even
(03:01):
though it happens like clockwork for the majority
of practices.
They spend their energy venting in Facebook groups,
they're scrolling Reddit threads, they're exchanging anxious texts
with their fellow new therapists about how stressed
out they are about it.
These activities, while totally understandable, they tend to
lead to reduced or inconsistent marketing.
(03:23):
Ironically, pulling back on marketing is exactly what's
going to prolong the slowdown, right?
So here's what I encourage instead.
Keep your marketing consistent.
Even if your efforts yield fewer clients right
away, consistent marketing is going to position you
perfectly when the busier fall season comes around.
The therapists who stay steady and they keep
(03:44):
putting themselves out there, even when it's frustratingly
slow, they're the ones who come out ahead.
When September rolls around and clients are actively
searching for therapists, these consistent marketers, they're easy
to find, their practices fill up quickly.
Remember that consistency is always going to trump
sporadic bursts of energy.
(04:04):
If you feel overwhelmed or uncertain about where
to focus your energy during these slower periods,
I want you to try small, manageable steps
like writing one blog post a week, attending
a local networking event or meeting somebody for
coffee, updating your online directory profiles.
Even smaller actions taken regularly make a significant
difference over time.
(04:26):
Another really helpful tip during slow periods is
to invest some energy into learning and growth.
Use the extra space in your schedule to
sharpen your clinical skills, attend trainings, create helpful
content that positions you as an expert.
Not only does this build your confidence, it
also attracts your ideal clients who then resonate
with your unique perspectives and skills.
(04:47):
If you need help with training, not boring
CEs, I highly recommend it.
This is also an ideal time to revisit
your niche.
Are you really clear about who your ideal
client is?
Have you fine-tuned your messaging to speak
directly to their needs and pain points?
Summer gives you a bit of breathing room
to clarify and to elevate your brand presence.
(05:07):
If you've been putting off updating your Psychology
Today profile or tweaking the copy on your
website or whatever it is you need to
work on, this is your moment.
You're going to really thank yourself come fall.
Now if you're someone who tends to struggle
with internalized pressure or perfectionism, slower seasons can
really make you uncomfortable and worried.
You might find yourself questioning whether you're cut
(05:28):
out for private practice, wondering if you made
the right decision, feeling like everyone else is
doing better than you.
This is a really good time to do
some internal work.
Whether that's journaling, seeing your therapist, taking a
few walks to process what you're feeling, whatever
that self-reflection looks like for you, it
can be incredibly valuable.
It's also worth acknowledging that some therapists do
(05:50):
just fine in the summer, especially if they
specialize in working with different populations that come
in more in the summer.
So while summer is slower for many, it
is not universally slower.
Knowing your niche, anticipating your clientele's seasonal rhythms
can really help you plan more strategically.
Now if you're someone who thrives on structure,
(06:12):
consider setting goals for your summer marketing efforts.
That does not mean I'm going to get
one client this week.
That means mapping out a weekly plan with
one visibility action, one connection building activity, one
piece of content creation, that kind of thing.
The stuff you can control.
That way, even if the client work is
light, you're building momentum that pays off later.
(06:34):
Treat marketing like brushing your teeth.
It's something you do regularly because it keeps
your practice healthy, not just when there's a
problem.
I really, really empathize with therapists who find
themselves stuck in the worry and doubt.
They're creating this self-fulfilling prophecy of struggle
when they slow down their marketing efforts.
I don't even think everybody realizes they're doing
(06:54):
that when they're doing it, but they know
that what they've been doing isn't yielding results
anymore now that summertime has come.
And so they just start pulling back because
they're feeling defeated.
Every year I see this pattern play out
and it really, it breaks my heart because
it's avoidable and it makes that summer slowdown
last into the fall for these folks.
(07:15):
So to help you break this cycle, we
are opening doors to a program specifically designed
to help you stay motivated and consistent and
visible through the summer.
It's called Summer Sprint.
We're closing enrollment May 23rd, that's Friday, just
before midnight.
And then we actually start the program.
So you have to have already signed up
for it the first week of June.
(07:36):
So if you'd like to join an encouraging
group of therapists who are actively marketing their
practices throughout the summer with my direct support,
I want you to DM the word study
on social media, or if you're listening to
the podcast, I want you to click the
link in show notes.
We are working through June, July, and August.
It's okay if you're going for some of
that to make sure that when the fall
(07:57):
rush comes, you're the one being found.
Current Abundance Party members get a special discount,
FYI.
Our free worksheet today is one to help
you with your motivation struggles if you're struggling
with motivation.
That happens for most of us when we're
not getting results yet.
So on socials, you can DM me the
word sheets and I'll get you that worksheet
(08:17):
and all of our other free worksheets as
well.
All right.
I'll talk to y'all later.
If you're ready for a much easier practice,
TherapyNotes is the way to go.
Go to therapynotes.com and use the promo
code ABUNDANT for two months free.
I hope that helped.
If you have questions for Ask Allison, or
(08:39):
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
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
(08:59):
this episode with a therapist friend.
Let's help all our colleagues build what they
want.
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