What do you think of when you think of a therapist?

Or there's the middle aged, middle class white woman who's looking for something to do now the kids have flown the nest.

Is that what the public perception of counselling is, that we are all tweedy busy-bodies looking down our noses at people and observing them?

You're just starting out in private practice and you’ve heard blogging is a great way to get known, start connecting with potential clients and help people.

Well, you’re right, it is! 

But does this mean you need a website first?

Thankfully, no.

At some point you will definitely need a website, but it’s not something you need right at the start. You can start attracting clients without a website - and without a logo or business cards either.

So I'm going to show you where to blog when you don't have a website

You’ve passed your exams, done your placement and had your personal therapy and now you’re a fully qualified therapist - YAY! 

Congratulations! You should be very proud. Time to start in private practice - exciting times!

But wait! You’re not starting in practice yet?

‘No, I think I’m going to get a more qualified qualification so I can help people in a more qualified way. And it’ll attract more clients as they’ll see how super qualified I am.'

Okay, no. We need to talk…

Getting started in private practice is an amazing time. You’ve worked so hard and finally you’re ready to start making an income doing what you feel passionately about - that’s kind of the holy grail of life!

But it can also feel overwhelming too - with websites, niching, social media, blogging, networking, podcasts etc, where do you even begin? 

I asked some therapists what advice they’d give new therapists just starting out, and here’s what they said:

In part one of this series on therapist self care, we looked at how self care is an ethical consideration, and how our profession makes us more suseptical to burnout, depression and suicide than other comparable professions. 

Thats serious stuff. So this should be taken seriously. 

So what can you do to avoid this?

Lots and lots of things!  

So here are 22 practical ways to increase your self care.