Private practice can bring freedom and fulfilment – but it can also stir up a lot of anxiety. Working for yourself brings pressures and questions such as whether you’ll get enough clients, managing finances during quiet periods and whether you’re good enough to be able to make it work,
In this blog, I’m sharing some of the key insights from my conversation with Laura Knight of See Clear Counselling. Laura has built a thriving private practice after years of living with anxiety – and what she shares is both encouraging and grounded in real experience.
If you’ve ever thought “Is it just me?” – it isn’t. And this episode is full of reassurance and practical advice.
Want to hear more from Laura?
Listen to the full episode here:
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Why anxiety often shows up in private practice
Therapists aren’t immune to anxiety – especially when stepping into the unknown world of business. As Laura says, anxiety often pulls us into “what if” thinking: What if clients don’t come? What if I’ve made a mistake?
Her key message? That kind of thinking is entirely normal – and it doesn’t have to hold you back.
Bring yourself back to now
One of Laura’s most helpful strategies is to shift attention from the future to the present.
Instead of spiralling into what might happen, she asks herself:
What can I do today, right now, that will help?
Maybe it’s:
- Writing a short blog post
- Recording a simple video
- Updating her website or directory profile
This mindset is what’s helped Laura keep her practice steady – even through the uncertainty of the pandemic and the natural ebb and flow of client work.
She shares more examples of this in the episode – including how she handled giving up her corporate job just before lockdown hit.
It’s not just about clients
It’s easy to think a quiet week means your practice is failing. But Laura reframes these moments: no-shows and gaps become opportunities to focus on the rest of the work – admin, marketing, content, or even taking a walk.
In the episode, she talks about how seeing her business as more than client sessions has helped her stay grounded during slower periods.
How Laura grew her practice (without burning out)
Laura didn’t leap straight into a full diary. She built up gradually while still working her corporate job – one evening, one Saturday, one extra day at a time. And she adjusted as she went.
She also shares how her previous experience in sales helped her get past the fear of marketing – and why believing in yourself matters, even before the evidence appears.
Her approach is structured but realistic: five goals a year, clear diary boundaries, and a two-hour lunch break that she fiercely protects.
Curious how she makes that work financially? Laura talks about her “pot system” for managing income – and how it helps her stay calm even when the phone’s quiet.
Marketing when you feel anxious
If you think video is only for the confident and extroverted, Laura’s story might surprise you.
She started with shaky hands and a wobbly voice – but the weekly anxiety tips she shares on social media have become one of the main ways clients find her.
Some people have been watching for months before they ever get in touch.
She also shares how she uses local craft fairs to promote her practice and how it led to real client enquiries.
Dealing with the dips
We ended our conversation with a discussion about self-regulation – and how to stay steady when the numbers drop.
Laura doesn’t sugar-coat it: there will be quiet spells. But she offers this reminder:
- Look at your practice across the year, not the week
- Use the time wisely (rather than panicking)
- Trust the patterns – clients always come back
She explains how she balances fortnightly clients, manages her calendar, and blocks out time to keep her work sustainable.
Final thoughts
If anxiety has ever made you doubt your ability to run a private practice, this episode is for you.
Laura shows us what it means to run a business that works with your nervous system – not against it. It’s not about pushing through or pretending you’ve got it all figured out. It’s about taking steady steps, focusing on what you can control, and trusting the process.
Listen to the full episode here:
If you’d like more support to grow your private practice in a way that feels manageable and aligned with your values, you can find out more about Therapy Growth Group here.