June 21, 2025 • 7 mins
Thinking about switching your niche but not sure where to start? In today's Ask Allison, I walk you through how to make the transition without blowing up your caseload. We’ll talk about how to know it’s the right time, ways to quietly test the waters, and how to update your messaging and referral network with intention. If your current niche no longer fits, this one’s for you.
Sponsored by TherapyNotes®: Use promo code Abundant for 2 months free
Grab our free tools to grow your practice—weekly worksheets, the Tasky Checklist, and more: www.abundancepracticebuilding.com/links
Ready to fill your practice faster? Join the Abundance Party today and get 75% off your first month with promo code ASK: www.abundancepracticebuilding.com/abundanceparty
Have a question for me about practice building? Submit it via our Ask Allison form, and I'll add it to the queMark 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.
Do you have any advice or resources, suggestions
for switching your niche?
Good timing.
Before I answer this question, I'd like to
thank TherapyNotes for sponsoring Ask Allison.
(00:49):
I've talked about them for years.
You probably know their features by heart too,
but what really sets them apart is that
they genuinely care about your experience.
It's not just about troubleshooting.
They implement the user-suggested features like therapy
search, secure messaging, clinical outcome tracking, their new
AI option.
They have a lot they put into place
(01:10):
because people have asked for it.
Everyone at TherapyNotes believes in the product and
they really want you to love it.
Plus, they're independently owned which means no venture
capital, no pressure to prioritize their investors over
their customers.
This independence allows them to keep their prices
fair, to focus on innovation, and to prioritize
the customer experience.
With over 100,000 therapists already on board,
(01:32):
they've proven that you don't have to compromise
success for quality.
If you're ready to see for yourself, go
to TherapyNotes.com and use coupon code ABUNDANT
for two free months.
All right.
I have lots of advice about changing your
niche.
I'm actually in the process of doing this
right now.
Let's talk about it.
Number one, before you blow up your website
(01:54):
and you rewrite your psych today at 2
a.m., pause and ask, why are you
wanting to switch?
There is a big difference between this population
doesn't feel aligned anymore and I had a
slow month and now I'm panicking.
One is wisdom and the other is fear
dressed as logic.
If you're feeling burned out or disinterested, just
(02:15):
get curious.
What used to light you up about your
work?
What doesn't anymore?
What kinds of clients do you leave sessions
thinking, I could do that all day.
That was awesome.
You're allowed to want to do something different.
We don't expect chefs to only cook Italian
food for their entire careers.
Therapists can grow too.
The next step is get clear before you
(02:37):
get loud.
Don't immediately post, I'm now working with moms
who crochet through grief just because you had
a good session with somebody's aunt last Thursday.
Instead, I want you to get really clear.
Who do you want to work with?
What are they struggling with?
Really?
And why are you a great fit for
helping them?
Bonus points.
If you can tie your own lived experience
or your past clinical work, you don't need
(02:59):
to start from scratch.
You just need to reframe what you already
bring to the table.
For many of us, our niches are our
own lived experience in the past.
It might be that you've been through a
thing since you've last niched and now this
is what you want to focus on.
That's great.
Step three is to quietly experiment.
Start dropping some breadcrumbs for your new audience.
(03:20):
That might look like a blog post about
a common issue your new ideal client faces.
An Instagram story speaking to a frustration they
have.
Updating some language on your website to reflect
both the current and the desired niche, finding
that overlap.
This is your soft launch.
You're testing the waters while still keeping the
business side stable.
If people start reaching out in response, amazing.
(03:41):
You're clearly on the right track.
Step four, layer it in.
Don't burn it down.
Unless you're in a financial position to blow
up your practice and start fresh, and if
you are, love that for you, then you
probably want to add the new niche before
you subtract the old one.
That means keep accepting clients in your current
niche.
Keep your current clients in the old niche.
(04:02):
Begin by saying yes to more of the
new population when it comes up.
Gradually shift your marketing, your networking, your messaging
towards where you want to go.
Slow and steady shifts are not only safer
financially especially in this economy, but they also
help your nervous system not completely freak out.
Step five, update your messaging.
Once you're all in, once it's time to
(04:23):
go all in, you really need to go
all in.
Half in marketing confuses people.
There might be some confusion while you're in
that transition period.
That's okay.
It's brief.
Don't keep one foot in the old niche
with vague messaging like, I work with teens
and also high-powered CEOs and also couples.
You're not a cheesecake factory menu.
Be specific.
(04:44):
Speak directly to your new ideal client.
Make it obvious who you work with and
what kind of support they can expect.
Your website, your directory listings, your elevator pitch
at networking events, all of this should align.
Step six is to communicate with referral sources.
People will not refer to you if they
don't know what you're doing now, so tell
them.
(05:05):
You can keep it really short and simple
like, hey, I've been working more with new
moms, navigating anxiety and identity shifts, and it's
been a really great fit.
I'm still taking clients, so if you know
someone in that boat, I'd love to help.
You're not burning bridges.
You're just kind of like rerouting traffic to
better fit what you're offering now.
Now, there are some potential issues we're going
to talk about because we're grownups and we
(05:25):
name the hard stuff.
A temporary dip in referrals or inquiries may
happen.
That's normal.
You are building momentum.
Next is imposter syndrome, especially if you're newer
to the niche.
You are not a baby therapist.
You are a seasoned clinician bringing your wisdom
into a new focus.
And then the third is guilt about letting
go of a population that you used to
(05:45):
serve.
Maybe a population that's underserved that you are
letting go of.
That's hard.
That's human.
But if you keep serving everyone out of
guilt, you're going to be miserable and you're
going to burn out in no time.
This is a transition.
Transitions feel weird.
It doesn't mean it's the wrong move.
If your niche doesn't fit anymore, you're allowed
to change it.
Not just allowed, but you probably should.
(06:07):
You're the one doing the work.
You should like the work you're doing.
Make this shift with intention, with planning.
Literally plan out dates, not panic or reaction.
Be really smart about it.
Be clear.
And most of all, trust that your growth
is a good thing.
The best version of your practice is the
one that really fits who you are now,
not who you were five years ago.
(06:27):
You've got this.
So today's free worksheet, things to explore before
changing your niche.
You can DM me the word sheets and
I will send it and you'll also get
access to the other free worksheets.
If you want some help through the niche
process and you're full, I want you to
DM the word limitless.
We can chat around where you are now
and where you want to be in your
practice.
(06:48):
All right, great.
Have a wonderful day.
If you're ready for a much easier practice,
Therapy Notes 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
you want to get your hands on the
worksheet for this episode, go to abundancepracticebuilding.com
(07:12):
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
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.
Do you have any advice or resources, suggestions
for switching your niche?
Good timing.
Before I answer this question, I'd like to
thank TherapyNotes for sponsoring Ask Allison.
(00:49):
I've talked about them for years.
You probably know their features by heart too,
but what really sets them apart is that
they genuinely care about your experience.
It's not just about troubleshooting.
They implement the user-suggested features like therapy
search, secure messaging, clinical outcome tracking, their new
AI option.
They have a lot they put into place
(01:10):
because people have asked for it.
Everyone at TherapyNotes believes in the product and
they really want you to love it.
Plus, they're independently owned which means no venture
capital, no pressure to prioritize their investors over
their customers.
This independence allows them to keep their prices
fair, to focus on innovation, and to prioritize
the customer experience.
With over 100,000 therapists already on board,
(01:32):
they've proven that you don't have to compromise
success for quality.
If you're ready to see for yourself, go
to TherapyNotes.com and use coupon code ABUNDANT
for two free months.
All right.
I have lots of advice about changing your
niche.
I'm actually in the process of doing this
right now.
Let's talk about it.
Number one, before you blow up your website
(01:54):
and you rewrite your psych today at 2
a.m., pause and ask, why are you
wanting to switch?
There is a big difference between this population
doesn't feel aligned anymore and I had a
slow month and now I'm panicking.
One is wisdom and the other is fear
dressed as logic.
If you're feeling burned out or disinterested, just
(02:15):
get curious.
What used to light you up about your
work?
What doesn't anymore?
What kinds of clients do you leave sessions
thinking, I could do that all day.
That was awesome.
You're allowed to want to do something different.
We don't expect chefs to only cook Italian
food for their entire careers.
Therapists can grow too.
The next step is get clear before you
(02:37):
get loud.
Don't immediately post, I'm now working with moms
who crochet through grief just because you had
a good session with somebody's aunt last Thursday.
Instead, I want you to get really clear.
Who do you want to work with?
What are they struggling with?
Really?
And why are you a great fit for
helping them?
Bonus points.
If you can tie your own lived experience
or your past clinical work, you don't need
(02:59):
to start from scratch.
You just need to reframe what you already
bring to the table.
For many of us, our niches are our
own lived experience in the past.
It might be that you've been through a
thing since you've last niched and now this
is what you want to focus on.
That's great.
Step three is to quietly experiment.
Start dropping some breadcrumbs for your new audience.
(03:20):
That might look like a blog post about
a common issue your new ideal client faces.
An Instagram story speaking to a frustration they
have.
Updating some language on your website to reflect
both the current and the desired niche, finding
that overlap.
This is your soft launch.
You're testing the waters while still keeping the
business side stable.
If people start reaching out in response, amazing.
(03:41):
You're clearly on the right track.
Step four, layer it in.
Don't burn it down.
Unless you're in a financial position to blow
up your practice and start fresh, and if
you are, love that for you, then you
probably want to add the new niche before
you subtract the old one.
That means keep accepting clients in your current
niche.
Keep your current clients in the old niche.
(04:02):
Begin by saying yes to more of the
new population when it comes up.
Gradually shift your marketing, your networking, your messaging
towards where you want to go.
Slow and steady shifts are not only safer
financially especially in this economy, but they also
help your nervous system not completely freak out.
Step five, update your messaging.
Once you're all in, once it's time to
(04:23):
go all in, you really need to go
all in.
Half in marketing confuses people.
There might be some confusion while you're in
that transition period.
That's okay.
It's brief.
Don't keep one foot in the old niche
with vague messaging like, I work with teens
and also high-powered CEOs and also couples.
You're not a cheesecake factory menu.
Be specific.
(04:44):
Speak directly to your new ideal client.
Make it obvious who you work with and
what kind of support they can expect.
Your website, your directory listings, your elevator pitch
at networking events, all of this should align.
Step six is to communicate with referral sources.
People will not refer to you if they
don't know what you're doing now, so tell
them.
(05:05):
You can keep it really short and simple
like, hey, I've been working more with new
moms, navigating anxiety and identity shifts, and it's
been a really great fit.
I'm still taking clients, so if you know
someone in that boat, I'd love to help.
You're not burning bridges.
You're just kind of like rerouting traffic to
better fit what you're offering now.
Now, there are some potential issues we're going
to talk about because we're grownups and we
(05:25):
name the hard stuff.
A temporary dip in referrals or inquiries may
happen.
That's normal.
You are building momentum.
Next is imposter syndrome, especially if you're newer
to the niche.
You are not a baby therapist.
You are a seasoned clinician bringing your wisdom
into a new focus.
And then the third is guilt about letting
go of a population that you used to
(05:45):
serve.
Maybe a population that's underserved that you are
letting go of.
That's hard.
That's human.
But if you keep serving everyone out of
guilt, you're going to be miserable and you're
going to burn out in no time.
This is a transition.
Transitions feel weird.
It doesn't mean it's the wrong move.
If your niche doesn't fit anymore, you're allowed
to change it.
Not just allowed, but you probably should.
(06:07):
You're the one doing the work.
You should like the work you're doing.
Make this shift with intention, with planning.
Literally plan out dates, not panic or reaction.
Be really smart about it.
Be clear.
And most of all, trust that your growth
is a good thing.
The best version of your practice is the
one that really fits who you are now,
not who you were five years ago.
(06:27):
You've got this.
So today's free worksheet, things to explore before
changing your niche.
You can DM me the word sheets and
I will send it and you'll also get
access to the other free worksheets.
If you want some help through the niche
process and you're full, I want you to
DM the word limitless.
We can chat around where you are now
and where you want to be in your
practice.
(06:48):
All right, great.
Have a wonderful day.
If you're ready for a much easier practice,
Therapy Notes 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
you want to get your hands on the
worksheet for this episode, go to abundancepracticebuilding.com
(07:12):
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
this episode with a therapist friend.
Let's help all our colleagues build what they
want.
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