Burnout in therapy isn’t just about long hours—it’s deeply rooted in systemic issues. The pressure to maintain high caseloads, insurance reimbursement challenges, administrative burdens, and the emotional toll of working within a healthcare system that often prioritizes profit over well-being all contribute to exhaustion. Unfortunately, working less isn’t always a viable solution, especially when financial stability and access to care are at stake. Instead of placing the burden on individual therapists to simply "do less," we need strategies that help the individual practitioners navigate navigate these systemic challenges while preserving energy, passion, and sustainability in the profession.

In our society, information is often kept behind a price wall or limited to formal learning strategies (ie continuing education and the education system), but that isn’t the only way we learn and grow. Informal learning strategies help prevent burnout by making professional growth feel organic and enjoyable rather than another obligation, while also resisting capitalism’s pressure to monetize every learning experience—allowing therapists to cultivate knowledge in a way that prioritizes curiosity, community, and sustainability over constant financial investment.

As a therapist, growth isn’t just a goal—it’s a necessity. The field of mental health is constantly evolving, and staying ahead means continuously honing your skills, deepening your knowledge, and refining your practice. Whether you’re looking to enhance your clinical techniques, expand your professional network, or strengthen your business acumen, there are countless ways to elevate your expertise. Below, I’ve compiled some strategies to help you grow as a therapist and provide even greater value to your clients.

As a therapist in solo private practice, you understand the importance of self-care—you likely preach it to your clients every day. But one area of self-care that often goes overlooked, even among therapists, is financial hygiene. Taking care of your finances is more than just balancing the books; it’s an act of self-love that ensures your well-being, supports your practice, and reduces stress.

As a therapist in solo private practice, maximizing your tax deductions is a smart way to keep more of your hard-earned income while ensuring your business runs smoothly. To help you navigate this with confidence, here’s a handy list of common deductions tailored to your unique needs as a mental health professional.

Discover why prioritizing rest in January sets the stage for sustainable success. Learn how taking time to recharge can lead to clearer goals, better health, and long-term productivity.

Running a private practice can be demanding, but rest isn’t optional—it’s essential. Discover eight powerful ways to recharge your body, mind, and spirit in the new year and show up as your best self for both your clients and yourself.

Discover how to design a balanced schedule for your solo private practice. Learn tips for managing client sessions, admin work, and personal time to avoid burnout and thrive as a therapist.

Learn about the recent injunction blocking the Corporate Transparency Act (CTA) filing requirements. Find out what this means for therapists, whether you should file now or wait, and access helpful resources to stay compliant.

As a therapist in private practice, you might feel like a generous Santa Claus, handing out emotional support and wisdom to your clients without a second thought. But let’s face it: even Santa needs a break from the North Pole hustle! If you’re finding yourself giving away everything but the kitchen sink (and maybe even that, too), it’s time for a reality check. In this list, we’ll explore 15 things you absolutely need to stop giving away. Because, spoiler alert: you can’t help others effectively when your own well is running dry. So, let’s dive in and reclaim some of that precious time, energy, and sanity!

As a therapist in private practice, you're likely used to giving—whether it's your time, emotional energy, or expertise—to support your clients. But it’s important to remember that you can't pour from an empty cup. Just as you guide your clients to take care of themselves, you need to receive certain things to keep your practice thriving and to maintain your own well-being. In this post, we’ll explore the key forms of support that every therapist needs to receive, from emotional backing to professional guidance, and why they’re essential to sustaining a successful and balanced practice.

In this upcoming winter season, there is an extreme focus on giving. While it is important for us to give and giveback, as a private practice therapist, your work revolves around caring for others, but it's easy to fall into the habit of giving without receiving. While helping clients is rewarding, constantly pouring out without replenishing your own emotional and professional reserves can lead to unintended consequences that impact both your well-being and the quality of care you provide. In this list, we’ll explore the potential pitfalls of always giving but never receiving and why it's essential to find balance for both your personal health and the success of your practice.

As I currently have 3 guests evacuated from the Panhandle due to Hurricane Helene, inclement weather policies have been on my mind. The policy or lack thereof doesn’t have to be as scary as the storm. I’m sure there are several ways to implement an inclement weather policy but here is the one that I do.

This title should be read in the voice of the song “Monster Mash” if you didn’t already sing it in your head. IMO two of the largest problems in private practice are 1) overwhelm and 2) isolation. We are going to be focusing on isolation and how to overcome. First, why is isolation such a common complaint from private practice owners:

Being scared about starting a private practice often stems from the fear of the unknown and the challenges ahead, which can be managed with preparation and support, whereas deciding you shouldn’t do it usually indicates a deeper misalignment with your values, goals, or current life circumstances that may not be resolvable through overcoming fear alone. Some considerations you need before taking the leap:

As I’m currently in the research stage of deciding whether or not I want to try note taking AI software, I thought I would share my links for my research rabbit hole (can anyone tell my hyperfocus:)). I’ll keep adding to this as I find helpful resources during my decision making process and keep you updated.

I’ll say it again, private practice is not for everyone. I get super annoyed in facebook groups when folks are like “just leave and start a private practice it’s so easy.” Private practice is not the pinnacle of our career, but it can be the right move for you at the right time. Starting a private practice can be daunting for clinicians due to several factors:

Here are some tools and technologies that can help streamline practice management, reduce administrative burdens, and allow private practitioners to focus more on client care:

A private practice is more that just providing therapy, it’s running a business. And even more so if you are a solo private practice-you are wearing every hat. Now, I don’t know about you but I didn’t take any courses on business management, marketing, or accounting in my grad school program-I’m so thankful for the internet. While in general I consider myself scrappy and want to save the most money, sometimes it is more economical to outsource our labor. One way I like to think about labor is, how much does it cost for me to do this task, and how much would it cost for me to have someone else do this task.

Why is the history of Labor Day important for therapists? We labor too. Though I don’t have the numbers to support this claim, I’m going to make it anyways…I believe many people leave jobs due to poor labor practices in the work place. But we don’t feel better if we don’t improve the labor practices in our private practice. It is vital that we establish safe labor practices in private practices in order to prevent burnout, ensure appropriate client care, and to make a livable wage with appropriate retirement planning.