Why You Haven't Started Your Private Practice

"Starting a private practice can feel terrifying. Even seasoned clinicians can feel uncertain about stepping into the unknown. Fear of failure, financial instability, or professional isolation can make staying in an agency or group setting feel safer. Often, the fear is not just about logistics. It's about visibility. In private practice, you are no longer behind an organization's name. You are the name. That can stir up deep vulnerability. What if I am not enough?"

"Many therapists struggle with imposter syndrome, even years into their careers. We teach clients to trust their inner voice but question our own. The thought of hanging a shingle and saying "I can help" can feel almost audacious. Imposter syndrome whispers that you need more training, more credentials, or more confidence before you begin. But that waiting can become a form of self-protection that keeps you from ever taking the first step."

"Most graduate programs teach very little about running a business. Therapists are trained to hold space for emotion, not to build websites, manage finances, or understand insurance billing. Without a framework, the business side can feel overwhelming and almost incompatible with the clinical side. That lack of structure feeds the belief that private practice is only for people who already "get it," not for those who are still learning."

Many therapists dream of private practice because it offers freedom, autonomy, and a space aligned with personal values. Fear of failure, financial instability, professional isolation, and heightened visibility keep many clinicians in agencies or groups. Imposter syndrome can persist years into a career, prompting therapists to seek more credentials and delay beginning. Graduate training often omits business skills, leaving therapists unprepared for marketing, finances, websites, and insurance billing. That absence of structure reinforces the belief that private practice is only for those who already "get it." Growth toward autonomy can begin through small, grounded steps that address both clinical and business needs.

Read at Psychology Today