How Katie Built a Thriving Practice for High Risk Teens and Found Her Purpose

Nov 3

So, you’re thinking about starting or expanding your counseling practice. Maybe you’re fresh out of grad school, still haunted by ethics exams and APA formatting… and the idea of having your own practice is thrilling! Could you really do it? Would anyone ever call? And, what the heck do you do about health insurance and toilet paper?

Take it from Katie - licensed professional counselor, serial experimenter, group practice maven, author (with a second book on the way!), and self-proclaimed ‘very googleable’ human. Her private practice story, as shared on the Starting a Counseling Practice Success Stories podcast, is a roadmap for therapists who want to build a practice on their own terms (and maybe break a few rules along the way).

Ready for the twists, turns, mindset shifts, and oh-so-practical tips? Let’s dig in!

The Origin Story: Becoming a Therapist on Your Own Terms

For Katie, the decision to become a therapist was rooted in real life: “I struggled as a teenager a lot with a lot of different things... because I had been through so much and gotten to the other side, I decided that I wanted to give back. And my way of giving back was becoming a therapist and helping teens. Like, I struggled.”

Sure, the journey included detours: “I went to school and hated science and decided I didn’t want to be a therapist,” Katie laughs. A surprise pregnancy realigned her purpose and values, leading her right back to her calling.

Takeaway: The why behind your practice can (and often should) be deeply personal. If you’re feeling pulled to help, that’s your compass.

The Fast Track (or How to Get Licensed Without Losing Your Soul)

License anxiety is real. (Is someone out there racing you to finish your hours?) Katie managed the process straight through: “From start to finish of grad school to licensure, graduation. Then three years later, I really went straight through. I worked at a partial hospital program, so I accrued my hours fairly quickly.”

But here’s where the spirit of healthy rebellion kicks in: “I knew early on that I needed to be in a private practice because I’m pretty unbossable. I don’t work well for others. I work well with others, but not for others. And so I really was motivated to get to that point.”

Takeaway: Many therapists realize they’re built for collaboration, not micromanagement. Let your inner unbossable help propel you forward.

Lesson #1: The Power of Starting Small (and Why It’s OK!)

Before there was a multi-location group or a best-selling book, there was a percentage-based office sublet and three clients.

“I started my private practice subletting office space. On my very first venture... she allowed me to come in and use the space and pay her a percentage of any clients that I had coming. So I didn’t even have to like, pay by the day or by the hour…” Katie recalls. “We worked out a deal and I was able to start a private practice and grow. I think I had like three to five clients fairly quickly, but it was such an accessible way to do it.”

No plush office, no ego showdowns with the copier. Just permission to start where you are.

Tip: Don’t wait for the perfect office or a full caseload. Adopt the ‘start small, start now’ mantra.

Lesson #2: Listen When Your Energy Wants a Change

Katie’s journey wasn’t a straight shot up. She had to course-correct when things no longer felt right - like that time she realized commuting into Philly didn’t jive with mom life. “I decided, like, having a child that was probably five or six around that time, I didn’t want to keep commuting and build a bigger practice out there. I wanted to build closer to home.”

When her agency gig refused her request to go part-time so she could build her practice, she took the leap. “At the time, I was really frustrated... but it was really the best thing they could have done for me because then I had to go all in. And I did, and I made it work, and I made it work well.”

Takeaway: Sometimes, rejection is redirection. Your energy (and life circumstances) matter, don’t ignore them.

Tip: If something feels off - your schedule, your location, your work-life mix - give yourself permission to pivot.

Lesson #3: The Magic of Talking (and Talking, and Talking) About Your Work

Therapists aren’t always known for self-promotion, but Katie found her groove. “I did a lot of networking at the beginning… I was talking a lot in videos, I was creating ads. I was doing all of the things. But the main message that I would say behind it was like, I just never shut up about what I do.”

Fast-forward: “Somebody came in [to my Pilates studio] and she was like, you’re that lady that talks about therapy all the time on the Internet. And I was like, oh, yeah, that’s me.”

Takeaway: Visibility is non-optional. People can’t hire you if they don’t know you exist.

Tip: Don’t wait for your referrals to find you. Whether through social media, community networking, or casual conversations, talk about what you do. Often!

Lesson #4: Permission to Be (or NOT Be) Vulnerable

If you’re honest, ‘putting yourself out there’ might sound like a nightmare. But for Katie, being seen wasn’t a struggle, in fact, her problem was relentless enthusiasm.

She shares: “If I’m super interested in something, I’m going to learn everything I can about it and I’m going to be an expert in it and I’m going to talk about it… And so I kind of don’t get imposter syndrome.”

Takeaway: Some people will always feel vulnerable in marketing, others, less so. There’s no one way to be visible, just make sure you’re showing up.

Tip: If sharing feels hard, ask yourself why. Take baby steps, share with a small audience, or start with low-stakes platforms. (And if you’re a natural, don’t hide your light!)

Lesson #5: You Don’t Have to Coach If You Don’t Want To (But You Totally Can)

Katie also built a consulting business, training other therapists in her systems for marketing and running groups. But the joy wasn’t in the coaching itself: “There were so many people who either struggled to be visible, who struggled with some of the tech things that come naturally to me, who didn’t want to do the work to market… That was where I started feeling like…there’s this portion of it that you need to want to enjoy social media. You need to, you know, enjoy making videos.”

Over time, she realized: “It’s a sign that there’s a new version of me that’s emerging… it was like a grief process of letting go of this identity… but there was this piece of me that… there’s a new version of me that’s emerging.”

Takeaway: Your passion may shift over time. You can pivot, again and again.

Tip: If something that used to light you up now feels heavy, listen. You’re allowed to step back, modify, or move onto a completely new creative challenge.

Lesson #6: Building Legacy, Not Just a Business

The brilliance of Katie’s journey? She kept creating systems that could outlast her direct involvement.

“I would say that my best project has been my group practice because I created something that was a signature method… I trained 18 people on it. And now they do it every day and they love it… But I’m allergic to consistent and repeatable. So I can’t be the one that does it. I just need to create it.”

That’s where her upcoming book comes in: “It is the documentation of the repeatable system that my team is trained on… I’m kind of creating this system that doesn’t need my FaceTime because… I want to travel the world. I don’t want all the FaceTime.”

Takeaway: Systems (and teams) are how you scale without burning out.

Tip: If you’re dreaming bigger, think about how you can build processes that others can use. Legacy isn’t just for big names.

Lesson #7: Get Comfortable With The Maybe

Picturing big moves? Katie says, “I lead with curiosity and with the interests that excite me. And it doesn’t mean that you’re locked into an end result. But if you never say, maybe I’ll just look. Maybe I’ll just see what’s up with that, then you never get to that next step.”

What if you just… check out that office space? Pick up the phone to a potential hire? Try that group ad? Write that outline?

“You’re not locked in,” Katie insists. “Lead with what lights you up and with curiosity for what could be without being afraid that it could be successful or not. Just see. Just see what happens.”

Takeaway: Let your curiosity lead. You can check things out without making a forever commitment.

Tip: The next time you have a maybe… follow it. You might just stumble onto the next chapter of your business.

Lesson #8: You’re Allowed to Evolve (And Dream!)

Therapists are sometimes taught that dreaming big is impractical, even disloyal. Katie calls for a total reframe: “Permission to change your mind… people change jobs throughout the trajectory of their career and that’s totally typical. That’s okay. It’s healthy.”

Want to be a solo practitioner? A group leader? A coach? An author? A podcaster? A Pilates studio owner!? Katie’s done them all.

Takeaway: The career for life model doesn’t work for most of us. Change is not only normal, it’s necessary.

Tip: Check in with your dreams, often. If the dream changes, let it!

Your Next Step: Follow Katie’s Footsteps (But Write Your Own Story)

If you’re feeling inspired by Katie’s approach, her philosophy, her authenticity, and her remarkable willingness to pivot - know that you can do this too. Start small. Embrace curiosity. Build what lights you up. And, above all, remember: you are allowed to design a practice (and a career) that feels like magic.

Want to stay in the loop about Katie’s upcoming book and training? She says, “The best place to follow me is my Instagram @Katiek May... There also is a website right now, I think there’s just a form on there if you’re interested…”

Ready to Create a Practice That’s Unmistakably You?

Whether you’re just getting started or headed for your next big thing, take what resonates, toss what doesn’t, and don’t wait for the perfect moment. Listen to your own unbossable spirit, talk about what you love, and let curiosity be your guide.

Looking for more insight, encouragement, and (yes, magic)? Head over to @KatiekMay on Instagram or pop over to teen dbt book.com to follow the next steps in her journey.

Here’s to your next maybe… may it lead you someplace unbelievably good.