Are you a qualified counsellor and thinking of setting up private practice? Overwhelmed? Don't know where to start? Feeling a little alone in the process? Wondering if you will be good enough? Would like some extra support?
I offer consultations to help other counsellors set up private practice. I have been through the process, and know it is not always easy. I set up Deborah Pleasants Counselling straight after completing my Advanced Diploma. It was a steep learning curve; navigating the legalities and practicalities, and of course that darn imposter syndrome. My inner critic would often like to ask me if I was “good enough” to go it alone? After some internal challenging, thankfully the inner critic lost and within 6 months I was running a thriving practice which continues today.
From my experience, one minute I was training with fantastic support from my peers, tutor and placement. The next minute I passed my Viva, received my Advanced Diploma and was entirely responsible for creating my own client base, running a business and holding clients without the extra support I was used to. Initially it was daunting. Working for yourself means it’s all down to you. In the early stages, it can be trial and error, whilst finding clients and establishing a financially viable business. When things are going well, it is hugely rewarding, but it can make navigating the bumps - with the occasional client issues or new enquiries slowing - a struggle. There’s less to hold you and bounce ideas off, nothing and no one to hide behind and often not a ‘right’ answer about what to do in a situation. There’s also the potential loneliness that comes from maintaining your obligation to confidentiality. In my case I counsel many clients online from home and I do have to ensure that all important self-care and recognise that I need to enter the big wide world on a regular basis, for some work/life balance.
However, with good supervision and for me personal counselling for support, I wouldn’t have it any other way. The independence, flexibility and responsibility suit me. I have control of my life. I choose my hours, who I work with and if I feel drawn to a particular area, I can direct more energy into it. Relatively quickly, a positive feedback loop starts and within this confidence grows, I realised that I could trust myself through it all. I have also created support and connection with others through peer supervision from my course, which has been invaluable. In terms of building a client base, over time it does happen, and it gets easier. You get into your flow; you work out what you can and can’t do in terms of client numbers and timings. Boundaries can be tested and the more it happens the more you use supervision wisely and trust your own instincts for a successful practice.
Before I was a counsellor, I managed the office of a large team within the Watersport industry, both in the UK and Spain, for 15 years. I was stuck, it wasn’t floating my boat (sorry for the pun) and I knew I needed a more fulfilling vocational job, so when I returned from living in Barcelona, I embarked on a counselling career. I now realise that my organisational and customer service skills were not a waste of time and were infact transferable! These skills have helped enormously in setting up and running my own private practice. I soon realised private practice not only involves the counselling skills we are trained for, but it also requires also good organisational skills, strict boundaries and adhering to an ethical framework.
If I was given advice to set up, I would have taken it for peace of mind, to save time and to decrease trial and error! If you feel you could benefit from a consultation around building your own private practice, I can give practical information and help alleviate any stress or doubts you may have. Whether you want advice over something specific or a general overview: I will offer legal, practical, financial, administrative and marketing advice. I can also give a one-off counselling session to help with that inner critic and possible imposter syndrome.
For more information please see my page For Counsellors on my website
Comments