From Imposter Syndrome to Inspiration in Private Practice with Erinn
So, you’re getting serious about this private practice thing. Maybe you’re tiptoeing away from community mental health, eyeing that sunlit office window (or, let’s be honest, that Zoom corner with the potted plant), or maybe you’ve got a full schedule at a group practice and secretly dream of answering your own phone line. Wherever you’re starting, therapists like you across the country—and globe—are asking the same questions: Can I do this? When should I leap? What if nobody calls? Will I ever feel like “the real deal”?
Sound familiar? Grab your favorite beverage. Let’s cozy up with the story of Erinn, LMFT, founder of Every Heart Dreams Counseling in El Dorado Hills, California. Erinn joined the “Starting a Counseling Practice Success Stories” podcast to chat with hosts Kelly Higdon and Miranda Palmer about her winding, heart-centered, and let’s-say-it, delightfully real road from group practice associate to thriving private practice owner.
Ready for lessons, laughs, and a few practical tips you can use, starting today? Let’s go!
Every Heart Has a Dream (And Sometimes a Knack for Names!)
Before we get tactical, let’s talk about inspiration. Erinn’s business, Every Heart Dreams Counseling, is more than a clever play on her last name. It’s also her call to all of us—clients and clinicians alike—to heed our dreams, embrace our passions, and trust that we really can create lives (and practices) that feel like ours.
“I wanted to choose something that kind of spoke to people having a dream, people having a calling, and, you know, you can do what you want to do with your life. You can live your dreams and your passions and, um, just go for it.”
That’s not just copy for the website. It’s Erinn’s story. She’d been “the therapist’s daughter, the therapist’s friend,” and even as a teen, a Myers-Briggs test memorably steered her toward counseling. But intuition alone isn’t what got Erinn to “private practice owner” status.
The Big Leap: (Pandemic, Babies & All)
Let’s address the million-dollar question: Why a private practice, and why in the middle of one of the wildest years in recent history?
Erinn puts it simply (if not calmly):
“I was already working for a group practice prior to launching on my own. And then 2020 rolled around… we were in the middle of the pandemic. But also, I had just given birth to my third child, and so she was my pandemic baby. I was working from home, and I really loved the flexibility that that actually provided for me during that time.”
It wasn’t just the pandemic that changed things—it was a confluence of need, opportunity, and a nudge from her group practice owner to finally do the thing. With all her clients transitioned online, Erinn started taking on her own side clients, and later, a brick-and-mortar office came as the world reopened.
Lesson 1: Sometimes, You Just Need a Little Push
Erinn’s transition wasn’t overnight. She started “side launching” in September 2020 and didn’t fully step out on her own until September 2021. Why so careful?
“I was going very slowly and cautiously, and I was still part of the group practice. And at one point, I think I was seeing like 35 clients a week. It was kind of insane… eventually there comes to be the push and shove question of, well, when do I actually launch? And for me, I just, I had to, I think, build that confidence in myself and know that I would be okay being on my own.”
Takeaway: If you’re waiting for absolute certainty or “enough” confidence, you might be waiting forever. Sometimes, “just enough” is enough. (And sometimes, as Erinn shares, you need someone to encourage you: “I think I just needed to be pushed. Yeah, yeah.”)
Lesson 2: You Already Have What You Need (Mostly!)
Imposter syndrome: heard of it? Erinn sure has. When those first client inquiries started rolling in, she confesses:
“It was crazy. I felt a little bit of the imposter syndrome… But at the same time, I knew, like, this was what I was meant to do and I could actually do this… I realized that I was able to do this and I was getting calls and people needed to see a therapist. They wanted to see me.”
Takeaway: The calls might feel surreal at first. But trust your years of training and your desire to help. You’ll grow into the new role, one intake at a time.
Practical tip: Notice the ways people already choose you. If you’re marketing, networking, or showing up online, they’re calling because your presence—just as you are—resonates.
Lesson 3: Expect the Ebbs, Flows, and Unexpected Surges
Especially for those working with kids, teens, or families, the seasonal rhythms of private practice can feel daunting, then surprisingly reassuring. Erinn notes:
“We get a lot of clients in the fall… when everyone’s going back to school and there’s a big transition… then in the spring we see another big boost… and then in the summer I see it slow down. So that ebb and flow has remained pretty consistent… I have not seen that many changes with that pattern, which has actually been really reassuring for me because I know when it dips down, I don’t freak out anymore.”
Takeaway: Seasonal slumps and spikes are normal. Over time, seeing the pattern will ground you, letting you plan (and yes, schedule vacations!) instead of panicking during every slow month.
Pro hack: Erinn’s cohosts suggest summer camps or programs as creative ways to keep the caseload—and the inspiration—fresh.
Lesson 4: Build Your Foundation. Don’t Wing the Business Stuff.
Therapists are pros at the helping side, but lots of us freeze up at “business owner.” Erinn credits business coaching—and specifically Business School Bootcamp for Therapists—as the game-changer for her process:
“The biggest thing is to get the tools right, get the resources that you need. Do some business coaching. I really like the business school bootcamp for therapists and the model just because it does outline exactly what you need and what you need to know… You want to get the training and you want to get the tools so that you can apply that to really being able to start a business.”
Takeaway: Even if you’re a natural with clients, you don’t have to figure out marketing, systems, or policies from scratch. Find a community and a proven roadmap. It’ll save you time, worry, and probably money.
Tip: Authenticity wins. If you’re considering joining a program, look for real-deal leaders who “are just very authentic and real, and there’s no, like, bullshit about it.”
Lesson 5: Let Your Practice Serve You, Too
Freedom and sustainability are why most therapists chase private practice. But that can feel like an abstract goal mid-launch. Erinn’s reminder:
“You have the passion, you have the drive, you’re a helper, you are a therapist. And that is such a needed thing. And it always will be… There will always be a need for the one to one in office, in person, you know, therapy.”
And, reflecting on what therapists need for themselves, the hosts add:
“If you're feeling stretched too thin, consider reducing your caseload, revisiting your schedule, or taking structured time off. Learn early to make space for yourself.”
Takeaway: Don’t build a practice that replicates the grind you left behind. Private practice should expand your life, not shrink it. That might mean fewer evening hours, better boundaries (with yourself and clients!), or even January vacations.
The Future Isn’t Robots (It’s Relationship)
The world is changing fast—AI bots, telehealth platforms, and therapy “disruptors” are everywhere. But Erinn and the hosts return to this central truth: what therapists offer is irreplaceable.
“We’re not gonna disrupt it… we’re not going to learn people skills through ChatGPT. Like, we can maybe hear about people skills from ChatGPT, but we’re not going to learn the relational piece by not sitting across from like a real human.”
Takeaway: No matter how technology evolves, people will always seek connection, empathy, and the healing power of being seen by another person. There’s a place—and a need—for what you bring.
Top Takeaways for Therapists Starting Out
Move at Your Own Pace (But Don’t Wait Forever): You can slow-launch, side-gig, and transition carefully—and that’s okay.
Imposter Syndrome Is Just a Sign You’re Growing: Clients are seeking you. Let that in.
Seasonal Ebbs and Flows Are Normal: Trust the cycle. Plan for slow times.
Business Is a Skill—Get Training: Find a program or support network to make the “non-clinical” stuff easier and less lonely.
Build for Sustainability, Not Burnout: You get to design this thing. Make it serve your life.
The Magic Is in the Relationship: No app is going to replace you.
Ready to Take Your Leap?
Maybe Erinn’s story got you daydreaming about your own someday website. Maybe you’re craving more support or a step-by-step path to building your dream practice. However you’re feeling, know this: you’re not alone.
If you want to connect with Erinn or see how she’s living her mission, check out everyheartdreams.com. Want a bit of daily inspiration? Follow her journey on Instagram at @ErinnEverheartLMFT or @EveryHeartDreams.
Here’s to choosing yourself, trusting your heart, and flying when you’re ready - just like Erinn
Resources Discussed
Hear wha Erinn has to say about joining Business School for Therapists and how it changed her life and her practice.
Here’s your invitation: Dream big. Gather your tools. Reach out for help. Step by step, you’ll build a practice (and a life) that’s truly all yours.
