When counsellor Gemma Anderson started her training, she never imagined it would lead to a thriving private practice. Having become a mum at sixteen, she worked in a wide range of jobs — from bakery counters to loan collection and domestic cleaning — before retraining as a counsellor at 29.
Now, nearly ten years later, Gemma runs a busy private practice in Essex. What makes her story stand out is that she’s done it all without a website or social media — just through her counselling directory profiles and word of mouth.
Her message to other therapists?
“Feel the fear and do it anyway – but ask for help.”
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Starting out in counselling
Gemma’s route into counselling came from curiosity and courage. A friend introduced her to counselling training, and although she doubted whether she was “clever enough,” she decided to go for it.
She remembers saving the course deposit in a bag at the bottom of her stairs and taking weeks to work up the courage to enrol. Once she did, she never looked back.
Like many new counsellors, Gemma juggled family life, work, and training – cleaning by day and studying in the evenings. When asked how she found the bravery to start, she laughs:
“I was scared. I just went with the fear and did it anyway.”
That decision changed everything.
And it’s a reminder for anyone starting or growing a practice that courage often comes before confidence. You don’t have to have it all figured out before you begin – and you don’t have to do it alone.
Bringing life experience into therapy
Gemma’s early jobs taught her more than she expected. Working in a bakery, she found herself chatting with school kids and regular customers about their lives. As a loan agent, she met people struggling financially and learned how to meet them with honesty and compassion.
That experience shaped the therapist she is today — relatable, non-judgmental, and grounded.
“I want clients to feel I’m just like everyone else,” she says. “I’m not above you.”
Keeping private practice simple
When it came to building her practice, Gemma kept things practical. She set up on Counselling Directory, later adding Psychology Today, and relied on those profiles to bring clients in.
She offered a free first session for years (now half-price) because she believed that once clients met her, they’d feel comfortable enough to return.
She doesn’t have a website or social media presence – just clear, approachable profiles that reflect who she is.
“I don’t want people to see me as polished or formal,” she says. “I want them to feel at ease.”
Finding balance and sustainability
Gemma also works part-time as a merchandiser at Asda, where she looks after the make-up aisles. That regular income gives her stability and the freedom to keep her client work manageable.
During quieter periods, she tweaks her profiles – changing a sentence or uploading a new photo – and trusts that new clients will come.
“I just have this belief that it will work out. They always do.”
Her advice for new therapists
After ten years in private practice, Gemma has one clear message for counsellors starting out:
“Ask for help. People will help you, and happily help you. You don’t have to do it all on your own.”
She’s proof that you don’t need a flashy website or hundreds of followers to succeed. What matters most is showing up as yourself – and having the courage to take that first step.
Find out more
If Gemma’s story has reminded you that courage often comes before confidence, you’ll find the same kind of encouragement inside the Therapy Growth Group.
It’s a supportive space where you don’t have to figure everything out on your own. You’ll connect with other therapists who are growing their practices one step at a time, share ideas, and get practical guidance so you can:
- Feel more confident about how to attract clients
- Take consistent action towards a full, sustainable practice
- Know that you’re not alone when things feel uncertain
Because when you have the right support around you, doing it anyway feels a lot less scary.