Private Practice Skills

I’ve heard folks strongly advocate that you either HAVE to have a sliding scale, or that you absolutely SHOULDN’T have a sliding scale.

You can have a sliding scale if you want, and you also don’t have to offer one either. As long as you follow your jurisdiction’s laws surrounding offering one.

You can make the decision based on what aligns with your values. And regardless, you can earn the income you want.

If you offer a sliding scale, consider capping how many slots you have available at the lower rate for those who qualify for it. You can do a little math to make sure the average between all of your available slots offers the hourly income you want.

I’ve chosen to offer a sliding scale. And I’m considering offering a few more slots at an even lower rate. This aligns both with my values and my income goals. Since Private Practice Skills is now my primary source of income, I’m comfortable with a pay cut in my practice if it means more folks can access counseling. My income between both businesses is still increasing overall.

Whatever you do, make the choice based on what your goals are, and not based on what somebody told you you’re supposed to do.

And in case it needs to be said: you deserve to earn the income you want. “Pay your dues” is total rubbish my friend.

🙋 Raise your hand if you need this reminder today.

Earlier on, I used to think this was borderline unethical - aren’t we supposed to prioritize our clients’ needs over our own?

It took a long time for me to realize that when we prioritize our own needs, we model healthy choices for our clients. It’s a way to give them permission to do the same. And it shows that we practice what we preach.

And when we prioritize our clients’ needs over our own, eventually we burn out and we’re not able to care for our clients well anyway.

I’ve been on maternity leave since the beginning of June. I haven’t checked my email for my private practice for months. My phone is off.

I took the necessary steps to make sure my clients were well-cared for without me, I prepared them for the transition, and then I logged off.

My daughter arrived in June and I’ve been enjoying time with her, my toddler, and my husband (and myself!) since then. It’s been awesome and 100 percent worth it.

I’ll log back into those emails in September, and I’ll start seeing clients again in October. Until then, I trust that my clients are okay without me.

So if you needed that little nudge to take that vacation, sabbatical, or leave from work but you were nervous you were taking too much time for yourself, take this as your virtual permission slip.

Not that you need one, but sometimes we just need a little reminder :)

I’m curious what’s the longest time that you’ve been away from your clients? Let me know! 👇

What brings you joy in life?

Some of my greatest joys include: San Diego sunsets in the summer, leisurely hikes, gardening, and time with my family.

If I can check some of those boxes, then it unlocks energy for my passions: spending time with friends, giving back, and caring for my clients.

But if I don’t have access to my deepest joys, then trying to give energy to my passions feels incredibly taxing. I become prone to procrastinating and then questioning whether those are truly my passions.

Sometimes we tell ourselves to prioritize working harder at what we’re most passionate about rather than what brings us joy, only to feel frustrated that we don’t like it. And then we lose energy and burn out.

What if our approach has been backwards? If you relate to this, consider making space for your deepest joys and see if that changes how you feel about pursuing your passions. It might be more joyful (and you’ll likely be far more productive anyway!).