Building your Practice
the journey of building your practice
Let’s be honest—building a practice from the ground up is not easy. It can feel overwhelming, confusing, and at times completely consuming. Most practitioners don’t enter this field because they want to run a business. They become counselors, acupuncturists, massage therapists, and healers because they feel called to the work and genuinely want to help people.
The work with clients—the relationships, the craft, the impact—often feels natural and meaningful. The logistics of building a practice usually do not.
Too often, practitioners burn out not because the work itself is too much, but because the business side is unclear, unsupported, and overwhelming. We’re not meant to be experts in everything. When the logistics—branding, systems, administration, and regulations—aren’t in place, they can overshadow the work we actually love.
Most training programs offer only a brief introduction to practice-building, often limited to a single course, with little support once you’re out in the real world. Supervisors and mentors provide invaluable clinical guidance, but their role rarely includes helping you choose booking software, or figure out how to set up a practice that works day to day.
The foundational pieces most practitioners want support with include:
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Clarifying who you truly want to work with
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Creating a brand and presence that feels aligned, not performative
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Setting up a website, booking system, and basic tech without it taking over your life
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Navigating insurance, taxes, and compliance with confidence
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Finding an office, creating systems, and making decisions that support your capacity rather than drain it
I enjoy supporting practitioners in this building phase—laying the groundwork so your practice feels clear, functional, and sustainable from the start. I share what I’ve learned through experience: what worked, what didn’t, and what I would do differently now. My intention is to help you build a practice that supports you, your values, and your clients—so you can stay focused on what you do best: your craft, your gift, and the people you’re here to serve.
My story
I left the corporate world in 2015 without knowing where I was headed. I had known for some time that my chapter there was ending, but I didn’t have a clear picture of what was next. What I did know was that I loved working with people, and I wanted my work to feel more meaningful.
Slowly, and almost serendipitously, opportunities began showing up that pointed me toward counseling school. I felt both excited and terrified. It wasn’t a path I had ever imagined for myself, and the idea of starting over in my early thirties felt daunting. Still, the pull was strong. With the support of my family and friends, I chose to listen and take the leap.
Once I was in school, something clicked. It felt right, even though I still didn’t know exactly where it would lead. I trusted the process and kept taking the next step in front of me. During my final year, I worked as a case manager at a transition house, which allowed me to begin putting my skills into practice. A few months before graduating, I started seeing clients, and shortly after, I built my brand, launched my website, and opened my practice.
Over the past decade, I’ve had the privilege of supporting many clients through similar transitions—people who felt called to shift careers, return to school, or step into work that felt more aligned. I’ve walked alongside them as they navigated uncertainty, rebuilt their sense of direction, and began laying the groundwork for their own practices.
At the same time, my own practice continued to evolve—just as I did. I’ve revisited my brand, redesigned my website, refined my counseling style, and shifted my niche more than once. Each change came from learning, reflecting, and figuring things out as I went.
Much of what I know now came through trial and error—through doing, adjusting, and learning what actually works in real life.
Supporting practitioners in building their practices grew naturally out of this work. I’ve seen how many skilled, thoughtful healers are out there—people who genuinely want to help—but who need support when it comes to putting themselves out into the world. The foundation matters. When practitioners feel supported in building a practice that makes sense for them, it creates space for them to show up more fully for the people they’re here to serve.
It’s work I care deeply about, and one of the places I feel most grounded in my experience and care for others.
Here is what you can get out of this Practitioner support:
Practical, Clear Guidance on All the Essentials
Receive step-by-step support on building your brand, choosing websites and booking systems, setting up insurance, navigating compliance, and other small but important details. We’ll also review your current business setup, website, and systems, providing feedback and actionable steps to improve or adjust what’s in place.
Confidence and Ongoing Support
Move through the challenges of private practice with reassurance and guidance. Identify where you feel stuck, what’s coming up for you, and why—and turn those moments into clear, manageable next steps. Ongoing support ensures you’re never left alone to navigate blocks or overwhelm.
Build a Practice That Energizes You
Create sustainable rhythms, boundaries, and systems that allow you to serve clients deeply while protecting your own wellbeing and avoiding burnout.
Show Up Authentically and Reconnect with Your Purpose
Develop the confidence to express your voice and build a practice aligned with your values—so you can attract the clients you’re truly meant to serve while rediscovering the passion and joy that drew you to your healing work in the first place.
Community and Connection
Build meaningful relationships with fellow practitioners who understand the unique joys and struggles of running your own practice, creating a supportive network of collaboration rather than competition.
"I want to help practitioners and healers share their gift authentically with the world, without the business logistics dimming their light and holding them back.
program details
I’m offering two ways to work together so you can choose the level of support that best fits where you are in your practice-building journey, how you learn, and what feels most accessible for you financially. Both options cover the same foundational material and offer steady, practical support—the difference is in the format and level of personalization. You’re invited to choose the option that feels most supportive for you right now.
Group Option
This 6-week group program offers practical, step-by-step support for building the foundations of your private practice. Each session focuses on core topics with space for questions, reflection, and shared learning.
You’ll be supported through guided discussions, simple exercises, and weekly practice-building homework, while connecting with other practitioners navigating similar questions.
Length: 6 weeks group sessions (1.5 hours each)
Investment: $650
Next starting date: March 1, 2026
1on1 Option
This 6-week one-on-one program offers personalized support to help you build the foundations of your practice in a focused, supportive space.
Sessions are tailored to your specific questions, pace, and needs while covering the same core topics as the group program.
Each session includes practical guidance, reflection, and clear next steps to support you between sessions.
Length: 6 weeks one-on-one sessions (60 minutes each)
Investment: $1,000
Next starting date: February 15, 2026
Topics covered:
1. Clarifying Your Identity and Practice Vision
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Who you are as a practitioner and what matters most
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Your story and how it shapes your work
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Core values and guiding principles
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Defining your ideal clients
2. Pricing and Session Structure
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Setting fees that reflect your value
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Structuring sessions to suit your style and clients
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Individual sessions, group work, packages
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Approaches to pricing each type fairly and sustainably
3. Branding and Presentation
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Practice name, tagline, and visual identity, logo
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Website setup and structure
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Aligning your brand with your values
4. Practice Format and Location
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Choosing online, in-person, or hybrid
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If in-person: finding and setting up a suitable space
5. Professional and Legal Foundations
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Designation and membership options
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Insurance, liability, and professional coverage
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Taxes, GST, and bookkeeping basics
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Policies, contracts, and informed consent
6. Client Management Systems
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Booking and scheduling platforms
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Payments, invoices, and record-keeping
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Client files and note-taking systems
7. Technology and Systems Basics
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Email, calendar, and file management
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Telehealth platforms and digital security
8. Visibility and Connecting with Clients
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Practitioner directories and listings
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Networking and collaboration with other practitioners
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Referral pathways and community involvement
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Communicating ethically and authentically
9. Daily Operations and Boundaries
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Designing your workflow and schedule
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Setting boundaries to prevent burnout
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Balancing work, self-care, and professional development
10. Marketing Basics (Without “Selling”)
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Clear, authentic ways to communicate what you offer
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Making your practice discoverable while staying aligned
11. Support Networks
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Mentors, supervision, and peer groups
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Building relationships with others who understand the journey
12. Ongoing Reflection and Evolution
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Reviewing and updating brand, offerings, and systems
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Learning from trial, error, and client feedback
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Staying aligned with your values as your practice grows
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Learning your triggers, where you get stuck, and strategies to move through challenges
When to seek support
You don’t have to wait until you’re completely overwhelmed to ask for help. Reaching out early can save you months—or even years—of spinning your wheels. Some signs it might be time to seek support include:
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You’re just starting out and feel stuck with decisions like websites, booking systems, or getting your first clients.
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You’re already seeing clients but struggling to fill your practice consistently—or working harder than you expected without the growth you hoped for.
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You’re feeling drained trying to manage the business side and losing touch with why you started this work.
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You’re shifting your niche, brand, or approach and want guidance on how to communicate these changes confidently.
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You feel isolated and crave connection with others who truly understand the challenges of building a healing practice.
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You’re second-guessing yourself—wondering if your pricing is fair, your marketing feels authentic, or if you’re “doing it right.”
There’s no perfect moment to ask for support. Whether you’re just beginning or have been running your practice for years, having someone who’s walked the path alongside you can make all the difference.
Some real numbers to keep in mind:
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About 21.5% of small businesses in Canada close within their first year, and only half survive five years.
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In the service sector, only 35% make it to ten years.
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Many practitioners struggle too: more than half experience burnout, and 69% of Canadian psychologists, social workers, and counselors report their mental health has worsened since 2020.
Often, it’s not that you’ve lost your passion for helping people—it’s that the business side can feel overwhelming and lonely.
The good news? With the right support, you can build a practice that sustains and fulfills you. Support groups and guided programs provide a safe space to share challenges, gain clarity, and connect with others who get it. You don’t have to do it alone—you deserve a practice that brings you joy, purpose, and confidence.