What I Learned My First Year In Private Practice
Typically these types of posts are followed with a “and what I wish I knew sooner”. I could go there, but then I quickly said that would be quite a waste of time. In the spirit of being a therapist who helps those heal from anxiety, I checked my own anxiety here. I could go into the should’ve would’ve could've. But for what? There are some things that no matter what, I simply could not have learned they were coming. Like any unexpected challenge, maybe I wouldn’t have tried if I knew what was to come. Or, I would’ve kept postponing launching my practice trying to get it “right” from the beginning. So instead I say, here is a short list of what I learned, and how it will serve to move forward with grace for myself.
It’s hard to believe how quickly this year has come around.
Here is a short-list of all that I learned, much of which was unexpected. And how I’m using it to grow in grace and continue moving forward. My hope is this list will help others both receive, and let go.
It’s like a year of exposure therapy for making mistakes. So. Many. Mistakes.
You will not get it 100% right from the beginning - or ever. I fully began to understand this from day one. I was in constant learning and growing mode. Information overload and decision making fatigue are very real. I had to learn to pace myself for this style of work. For someone who does not like making mistakes, this was a year of growth.Taxes. Yes, they are a headache. But knowing the ins and outs is worth it. Invest in advice from an expert on how to be proactive about your personal and business taxes. I use www.joinheard.com. Contact Us for a referral code.
Get an LLC. You want the extra layer of protection for yourself, your business, and you have to share your FEIN on a whole lot of things (versus your social security number). Plus it feels really cool to throw an “LLC” after your business’ name.
Liability insurance is a must. Period.
You need an EMR (Electronic Medical Record System) such as Simple Practice. One way I made an internal checklist for myself when opening Clinica Artesana was to consider all the systems I worked with when I worked at agencies, and how to translate them into a smaller scale. Contact Us for a referral code and $100 off Simple Practice.
Your work time is separate from your personal time. Answering calls, creating posts and doing a few home/work tasks simultaneously can blur these lines quickly - especially if you work from home. Don’t lose who you are outside of your work. This “off” time of work, also gives space to fuel yourself, so you can be more present with your work when you clock in again.
The “to do” list does not end. Create boundaries accordingly. You cannot work all the time. Working all the time can be counterproductive. We simply don’t access the decision-making part of our brain well when we are tired, burnt out, or simply not feeling up to it. Resentment is another unpleasant feeling that can come up. A “to-do” list can also be a good thing. A “to do” list means you have a job and a flowing business!
Because the “to do” list does not end, delegate. Sometimes it means delegating to the dishwasher, or a food delivery service - so that you also have time to do other things. There are many things only you can do as the therapist and business owner. Owning this is as important as owning you cannot do it all. Giving up control in some parts of life will help both you, and your practice in the long run.
Have fun. Having your own business should also be joyful. Supplement your hard work with celebrations of your accomplishments. From anniversaries, to making it through really hard decisions. Celebrate even everyday things like finding pens that match your brand’s color scheme. Especially if you are remote or virtual, you want tangible things to double down on the reality of it all.
If you work from home - leave the house at least once a day. It may seem simple or unnecessary, but fresh air and scenery can make a big difference. It’s one of those simple things that are easy to overlook until you start to miss the “reset” feeling it gives you. This is especially encouraged if you are seeing clients throughout the day - you want your body to cleanse its energy so you are ready for the next hour - whether it be to meet with others or to spend time with yourself.
