When I opened my private practice in 2016, I didn’t really have a roadmap, systems, or onboarding flow. I had just like a spiral notebook, a Gmail account, and enough anxiety to fill a waiting room.
I figured I’d figure it out. And I did, eventually. But it came with tears, late-night Googling, and a lot of grace.
The Systems I Didn’t Know I Needed
There was no portal. No EHR (Electronic Health Record) system. I wrote my progress notes by hand and stored forms in a binder. Scheduling? I often texted clients myself, yes, chaos.
I wasn’t disorganized on purpose. I was just trying to survive the day.” I was just trying to keep up. No one told me how having systems in place could give me breathing room. I thought I my number one goal was to get to a full caseload.
What I really needed was:
- A clear and simple way to manage scheduling
- A welcome to therapy process that wasn’t floating around in my head
- A note template that didn’t make me want to procrastinate
These days, I’m experimenting with tools like SimplePractice—just to see if it’s worth recommending. I’m still figuring things out and sharing what might actually help.
The First Time I Thought I’d Failed
One of my first few clients canceled. And I got really down.
I wondered if I’d said something wrong. I debated calling. I panicked that maybe no one else would come.
But here’s the truth: cancellations, no-shows, awkward silences—these aren’t signs you’re failing. They’re part of the process. I didn’t need to be perfect. I just needed to show up again.
“Sometimes God asks us to walk without clarity—not to punish us, but to build trust in the unseen.”
3 Things That Kept Me Going
- An honest therapist friend who reminded me I wasn’t crazy.
- A homemade intake checklist—not pretty, but functional.
- Faith over performance. I wasn’t called to impress. I was called to be faithful.
Today, my systems are smoother. My calendar isn’t chaotic. And I don’t dread admin work. But back then and even now, it’s all live and learn.
If You’re Starting Now, Here’s My Advice
- You don’t need a perfect website to be a real therapist.
- You’re not behind if your practice feels a little messy.
- Growing slow is still growing.
Check out my other article on what I wish someone had told me before I started.
Trying to piece it together? You’re not doing it wrong. You’re doing it the brave way.
DM me or drop a comment. I’d love to hear where you’re at in the journey.
Citations:
SimplePractice. (n.d.). Practice Management for Therapists. https://www.simplepractice.com
American Psychological Association. (2021). Practice Guidelines for Psychologists in Private Practice. https://www.apa.org
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