The Confident Private Practice Part #1: Who Are You?
So… last week we talked about why confidence in private practice is so important. This week we are going to start the process of breaking down HOW to get confident in private practice. And our first step is digging into “Who Are You?”
Why We Start with Who You Are
In therapy, we start with an assessment. We ask a LOT of questions. Some of those questions are to identify the problem, but many of the questions are actually about building rapport, connection, and identifying the strengths that our client already has developed. Here is where it gets really juicy… how many times has a client been aware of some of their MAJOR strengths? How many times has a client been unaware of what they really needed or desired? Sometimes, just the assessment and reflection process can be life-changing for clients.
Why It Matters
This is your business. While you are not your business. Your business is an extension of you. Or… at least it should be. A business that is an extension of someone else, their needs and their vision often doesn't end up “feeling” good. It is sort of like dating a really nice person and marrying them because it looks good on paper- even though your body and heart are saying “this doesn't fit.” How can you feel at ease in something that truly wasn't made for you?
You Are Meant to Do This
As I've gotten older, I have learned to “embrace the woo” and be more open about how powerfully I believe that people have a purpose on this planet. Part of our mission in life is to uncover and enact this purpose. And when you see someone in their purpose… it is positivly electric. I don't mean a person has to be extroverted or some kind of rockstar… I mean you sense and feel it just being around them that deep sense of yes… this is right… this is as it is meant to be… It feels good to even be in the vicinity of that.
Where Do You Start?
A great place to start in getting confident about who you are in private practice is with a thorough assessment of yourself. Here are some areas to explore with rating as a strength or area for growth:
Does your business bring you joy?
Where do you easily spend your time?
What do you spend time stressing about?
What areas do you try to ignore completely?
Who are you modeling your business after?
Are you at ease each morning as you go to work?
How are you using work to avoid areas in your personal life?
What is most easeful in your work day?
Where do you tend to ignore your intuition because of fear or discomfort?
In what areas do you do well in staying confident?
What areas do you know you need more information?
What areas do you verbally down-talk your skills or abilities?
How checked in are you in personal and business finances?
How much time are you spending on admin vs client time?
What are you ignoring that you know you really need to do?
What do you really want?
What have you not given yourself permission to want?
There are a lot of areas within your private practice that you need to explore. Many of our bootcampers are really surprised when they go through our Business School Bootcamp for Therapists. They think it is all about revamping their website, or writing a business plan, but they realize very quickly that it starts more deeply, in a still, small space with connecting with who they really are... allowing themselves to want what they really want.
If you can't give yourself permission to get to know yourself, what you really want, and go after that it makes it almost impossible to feel confident in private practice.
Homework: Share below in the comments one area where you feel a deep sense of confidence as a business owner, and one area where you struggling to feel confident and at ease..
