January often comes with pressure to be “back”, focused, and already making progress. In private practice, that pressure can push therapists into action before there’s any real clarity about direction.

In this episode, I’m talking about why pausing first is not indulgent or avoidant, but a strategic and grounding step when building a sustainable private practice in 2026.

I share why I deliberately take time at the start of the year to review my business, reflect on what’s working, and get clear on what I actually want from the year ahead. From there, I introduce the Private Practice Compass a simple framework I use with therapists to help them orient themselves before making decisions about marketing, visibility, or growth.

We explore:

• Why rushing into action without direction often leads to overwhelm and comparison
• How values, capacity, and season of life should shape your business decisions
• The importance of holding a longer-term vision, especially in a changing therapy landscape
• Why strategy only makes sense once you’re clear on who you’re building your practice for
• How your ideal client’s age, needs, and habits influence where your marketing energy is best spent

This episode is an invitation to slow down, step back, and think intentionally about your private practice before defaulting to what everyone else seems to be doing.

If you’re feeling a bit rudderless, pressured by January energy, or unsure where to focus in 2026, this is a good place to start.

You can find full details of my therapist membership community here:
https://www.prosperinprivatepractice.com/prosper-in-private-practice-hub

Inside the membership, therapists get ongoing support with clarity, marketing direction, sustainable growth, and practical tools including AI support that’s ethical, grounded, and actually useful.

Link to the Private Practice Compass:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/12C5kxwcU7sd_OCTGmUKMImGiVDAe68ty/view?usp=sharing