It's no secret that therapy is a profession ripe for burnout.
As much as I love this work, I'm just as susceptible to it as any other practitioner.
Over the last couple of years, I've been on a quest to tweak and refine, and discover exactly how to make my counseling career a sustainable one.
What I've discovered is that the answer is not as simple as "self-care" and "boundaries."
While I still have my moments, and I suspect this will be a lifelong learning experience, I have come to find what works BEST for me, at protecting myself from burn out.
Today I am sharing that secret with you!
The answer is: Diversification.
I'm gonna go out on a limb here and guess that (like me) your initial idea of owning a solo counseling practice mostly revolved around the idea of doing counseling....all day every day.
And you know what? There's nothing wrong with that if that's your dream!
But for myself, and many other providers I know, that is a quick ride to burn-out.
What I have found is that AT LEAST an 80/20 ground beef approach is more conductive for longevity in the career. (For me personally, the ratio feels best somewhere between 70/30 - 60/40 honestly)
That means doing maybe 80% your direct counseling services (including notes and admin work) and then the other 20% is a different therapeutic offering.
We can diversify with activities like these 15:
keynote speaking
presenting
community support
workshops
online courses / resources
program development
consultation
supervision
coaching and mentorship
adjunct instruction
affiliate relationships and marketing
research
social media
YouTube
podcasting
blogging / book-writing
Now, before you say, "but kelseeeeee I'm burnt out I don't want to add anything new?!"
I hear you!!! Diversification of our work is not adding more onto 100% therapy. It's reducing therapy below 100% and making up the difference with something (ideally somethings) different.
Another thought here: The diversification doesn't have to be something that is monetized. Of course you've gotta hit your bottom line. HOWEVER even if some of these different tasks don't make you money directly (yet👀) they CAN be a powerful marketing asset, which is well worth the effort!
Here's a breakdown, as an example of what I'm doing to diversify my counseling career at the moment:
I currently see about 30 clients 1:1 per week.
I adjunct teach 1 course per semester at Butler University in the MS School Counseling and CMHC online programs.
I have about 1 community engagement per quarter. This typically is a speaking gig, program development, or workshop os some kind. Some recent examples:
Workshop about coping with Climate Change Anxiety, for the Indy Office of Sustainability and Indy Parks and Rec.
Affiliate marketing for LMNT electrolyte that I use for mental and physical wellness.
Interviews: podcasts and written publications. For me, interviews usually do not generate income but are great for boosting credibility and visibility as a professional! I've got a BIG feature coming up soon that I can't wait to share with you!!
Business Coaching for Therapists (holler at me, I'm taking new coaching clients now!!)
In the past I used to offer free community guided meditation hikes, developed my own online courses, produced my own podcast, and offered life coaching.
Diversification is also a low-risk opportunity to explore your professional interests, because the bulk of your work is still sustained by what you already know is working- the counseling itself!
How do you determine what to start diversifying with? I would say to consider:
where your mind wanders when you were supposed to be doing notes and other admin work. hehe
the advice/guidance/skills that you are most often repeating with clients
the support that you are most often being solicited for (that's how I started offering therapy-biz coaching in the first place, TBH)
I love helping counselors discover how to diversify their work so that they can still enjoy counseling, while also finding fulfillment in their other professional interests. This is something we can focus on in a coaching session!
I hope this encouraged you in your counseling business today. I believe that therapists have SO MUCH to offer the world and that we are multifaceted professionals, who can be defined as so much more than just a good helper.
Consider this your permission to branch out and diversify that beautiful business of yours!
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