Artwork for podcast Marketing Therapy
21. Fully Booked Without Insurance, Burnout, or Regret: Erin’s Story
Episode 217th August 2025 • Marketing Therapy • Anna Walker
00:00:00 00:29:14

Share Episode

Shownotes

What does it look like to go all-in on your private practice—without lingering in agency life or taking insurance? In this inspiring conversation, I’m joined by Erin, a second-career therapist who made a bold transition from the world of marketing analytics to a thriving private-pay therapy practice.

Erin shares how she filled her caseload within six months of launching, the mindset shifts that helped her stay the course, and the systems that supported her along the way. You’ll hear how she used her business background (and support from Confident Copy!) to build a website that truly speaks to her ideal clients—and how she leans on local Facebook groups to keep her practice visible.

If you’re early in your practice, or feeling discouraged by those who don’t “get” your vision, Erin’s story will remind you that it is possible to do this on your terms—and see success.

Here’s what you’ll learn in this episode:

1️⃣ How Erin went from new grad to fully booked in six months (without taking insurance)

2️⃣ The quiet mindset shift that helped her ignore the naysayers and stay focused on her goals

3️⃣ Why a clear, client-centered website + local Facebook groups became her go-to marketing strategy

Resources & Links Mentioned:


Connect + Subscribe

Enjoying the podcast? Subscribe so you never miss an episode—and feel free to share it with a fellow therapist who’s building their private practice.

Explore more marketing support for therapists: The Walker Strategy Co website: walkerstrategyco.com


About Marketing Therapy

Marketing Therapy is the podcast where therapists learn how to market their private practices without burnout, self-doubt, or sleazy tactics. Hosted by Anna Walker—marketing coach, strategist, and founder of Walker Strategy Co—each episode brings you clear, grounded advice to help you attract the right-fit, full-fee clients and grow a practice you feel proud of.

Transcripts

Speaker:

Hey there.

2

:

Welcome back to Marketing Therapy.

3

:

Imagine what it would be like to launch

your practice fully private, pay from

4

:

the beginning and be ready to lease a

full-time space within six months because

5

:

you're getting the clients you need.

6

:

Your caseload is full, and

you're hearing from people who

7

:

are ready to work with you.

8

:

That is Erin's story.

9

:

Erin is a second career clinician,

so if you are one of those, I think

10

:

you'll really resonate with this.

11

:

But anyone who is early on in their

private practice journey, especially if

12

:

you feel like the people in your world

maybe don't think this is the best choice,

13

:

are gonna get a lot out of this one.

14

:

I think you'll be incredibly inspired

by what Erin has created for herself,

15

:

the mindset and habits she uses

regularly in order to continue seeing

16

:

success and the systems that are

ultimately serving her as she grows

17

:

her practice in the Nashville area.

18

:

Alright, enough for me.

19

:

Let's get into it.

20

:

Anna Walker: Erin, welcome to the show.

21

:

Will you tell us a little bit

about you and where you're located?

22

:

Erin Hunter: Yes, absolutely.

23

:

Um, hi Anna.

24

:

Thanks for having me.

25

:

This is exciting to be with you.

26

:

So I am located in the Nashville

area, so just south of you

27

:

here in Franklin, Tennessee.

28

:

My practice is in Franklin.

29

:

I have a Master's in

Marriage and Family Therapy.

30

:

Been in practice for about two years now.

31

:

Anna Walker: Okay.

32

:

Um, what were you doing prior to

33

:

Erin Hunter: launching your practice?

34

:

So this is a second career for me.

35

:

I was a consumer data strategist

which is, doesn't really say anything.

36

:

Um, I worked for an agency and our

clients would hire us to look at their

37

:

data and to kind of make sense on how

they could use the data that they have

38

:

better to market to their customers

and kind of improve some of their ROIs.

39

:

Anna Walker: Interesting.

40

:

And then what led you to decide to.

41

:

Totally change gears

and move into therapy.

42

:

Erin Hunter: Yeah, it's a great question.

43

:

Um, because it is so different.

44

:

I think that I was experiencing

some burnout prior to COVID.

45

:

You know, there was a Surgeon

General's report that talked about

46

:

basically our kids are not okay, and

this was, uh, pre COVID and I really

47

:

wanted to do something in that space.

48

:

You know, I, my role was to

find people market to them in a.

49

:

Bigger, better way so that they would

spend more money with the brands that

50

:

they were already spending money with.

51

:

And it started to feel a little bit

like, eh, do you need another lipstick?

52

:

I'm not sure.

53

:

Um, maybe but also maybe not.

54

:

So I wanted to get out of the

commercialism space and I felt

55

:

like that made so much sense.

56

:

I had a young daughter at the

time and I was just, was very

57

:

protective of that space.

58

:

In my clinical internship, however, I

started to work with kids and it was

59

:

just like, whoa, where are the parents?

60

:

Let's have a conversation

with the parents.

61

:

Yeah.

62

:

And so I really be drawn to the parents.

63

:

And so that's a long way of saying second

career for me, you know, wanted to get

64

:

into this space, but then immediately kind

of learned like, no, I, I really, I really

65

:

wanna be with, um, more of the adults.

66

:

Anna Walker: Interesting.

67

:

So I didn't realize that, that you

had started thinking you would serve

68

:

children and then shifting into adults.

69

:

Yeah.

70

:

Yeah.

71

:

Um, so today, what, what is your

72

:

Erin Hunter: niche?

73

:

So today, um, I help adult women and

couples, who are feeling disconnected and

74

:

stuck to help them feel less anxious, more

connected and able to kind of reengage

75

:

in things that make them feel kind of.

76

:

More alive, more like themselves.

77

:

Anna Walker: I mean, I imagine

some of those are parents of

78

:

those children you imagined that

you would see, but some not too.

79

:

They are.

80

:

Erin Hunter: Yeah.

81

:

I, I actually have some parenting,

um, modalities that I'm trained

82

:

in and have been able to

leverage that within the work.

83

:

My, my primary group is, it's probably

70% adult women from the age of 35

84

:

to 55 is, is typically where I serve.

85

:

And so those are women who are

dealing with all kinds of things.

86

:

Perimenopause, life transitions.

87

:

Parenting marriages, things like that.

88

:

So, um,

89

:

Anna Walker: yeah, there's it.

90

:

That's a rich season of change and need.

91

:

Certainly it is for that demographic.

92

:

No doubt about it.

93

:

Yeah.

94

:

Yeah.

95

:

So you decided to shift gears

into this career and then you

96

:

decided to open a private practice.

97

:

Um, and you did that pretty readily.

98

:

It's not like you were hanging

out in agency life or group

99

:

practice land for a while.

100

:

You got straight into this, right?

101

:

I did get straight

102

:

Erin Hunter: into it.

103

:

You know, luckily I was in the

marriage and family fair therapy

104

:

track, which allows clinicians

to, to hang a, a shingle.

105

:

I didn't realize going into

this that, you know, you, you

106

:

couldn't do that in other tracks.

107

:

And I, I did kind of look around at

a couple of different practices in

108

:

the area and while they were lovely.

109

:

The, the idea of.

110

:

Giving away 60% of your income as

you've just come out of, you know,

111

:

paying for your master's and not

getting paid for clinical internship.

112

:

And, you know, the, the financial

gravity of it is I think real.

113

:

So for me personally, I needed to be

able to have the work life balance

114

:

that I, I really was looking for.

115

:

And.

116

:

Be able to pay my bills, quite honestly.

117

:

Sure.

118

:

Private practice for me was always

the direction that I wanted to go in.

119

:

I did do about six months at a

group practice here in Nashville.

120

:

Which was a just a great, um, arrangement.

121

:

You know, he's super

supportive, um, person.

122

:

But, um, you know, always with the

intention that really where my heart is,

123

:

is building my own practice along the way.

124

:

And he was very encouraging

and, and helping me to do that.

125

:

So, after about six months, I took

on full lease space and really.

126

:

Shifted fully into the

private you jumped realm.

127

:

So yeah, it was, it was, it was

quick and slow all at the same time.

128

:

Anna Walker: Yeah.

129

:

One thing I have always appreciated

about you, Erin, is you decided ahead of

130

:

time that you were gonna make this work.

131

:

Like it, it was a non-negotiable.

132

:

You, you leased the space, you opened, you

hung the shingle, and it was time to go.

133

:

Um, and I, I think that there is so much

to be said for that attitude, and I, I

134

:

know it served you well in a lot of ways.

135

:

When you think back to those early

days, what challenges, if any,

136

:

did you, did you face or kind of

have to work through or overcome?

137

:

You know, honestly, the, this

138

:

Erin Hunter: is.

139

:

I think the biggest challenge was

really with a few notable exceptions.

140

:

Um, there was not encouragement for a

new graduate to go into private practice,

141

:

and I understood those concerns.

142

:

It was interesting to me though.

143

:

It was never the, the message

was never about skillset.

144

:

It wasn't about readiness as a clinician,

it was about, well, business is hard.

145

:

You need support and community,

you know, as if you're just

146

:

going to do this on your own.

147

:

So I think that, that was really the

biggest challenge was kind of getting

148

:

over that I idea of like, people don't

seem to think that I can and I should.

149

:

It just was not the right decision

for me to, to do anything else.

150

:

And that's not to say that everybody

is ready to go into private practice.

151

:

I mean, there are a lot of things that

come with it, but being that I had

152

:

spent, you know, almost 25 years in a,

in a separate career you know, I had

153

:

invested a lot in, um, advanced training.

154

:

I had really worked to kind of

cultivate that support system.

155

:

Not just from a networking standpoint,

but you know, I work with multiple.

156

:

A-A-M-F-T approved supervisors.

157

:

I have a peer group that I meet with

regularly, so, uh, you know, the,

158

:

the challenge was really getting over

the idea of like, wow, people really

159

:

don't think I should be doing this.

160

:

Um, again, there were some notable

exceptions and, and people that I

161

:

really trusted and, and felt like I

had their support and so they, they

162

:

kind of helped smooth that over, but

it was just that mental idea of like.

163

:

Am I doing something I shouldn't be doing?

164

:

Sure.

165

:

You would be

166

:

Anna Walker: silly not to, to

second guess yourself if everyone

167

:

around you is sort of indicating

that maybe this isn't a wise idea.

168

:

So you had some sort of marketing

background, you had a kind of a business

169

:

mind, it sounds like, in some regard.

170

:

How do you feel like that

served you as you got started?

171

:

Erin Hunter: You know, it's interesting.

172

:

I think that it, it did and it didn't.

173

:

I mean, it did in the sense that it

gave me some level of confidence.

174

:

Like, I kind of understand

what a, what the goal is.

175

:

Maybe how you think about getting there.

176

:

I mean, obviously marketing and, and

therapy is very different, but we're

177

:

talking about building a practice and

so there's, there are some similarities

178

:

and I understood generally what SEO was.

179

:

I didn't know how to do it.

180

:

That's not what my skillset was.

181

:

Um, so there, there were some

things that that definitely helped.

182

:

But in terms of building a website

and branding and those types of things

183

:

it, it was very different for me.

184

:

And obviously then there's that whole

component of like, now I'm marketing

185

:

myself, now I'm putting myself out there.

186

:

And that Yeah, it's a different

ball game than lipstick.

187

:

Oh yeah.

188

:

Very.

189

:

Yeah.

190

:

So very different.

191

:

So in some ways I think there, it, it

really did help kind of create this

192

:

idea of like, I can go figure this out.

193

:

It's just how, what are the things that

I need to do in order to figure it out?

194

:

Anna Walker: Interesting.

195

:

And how, do you remember how you

first discovered Walker Strategy Co.

196

:

Or Confident Copy?

197

:

I don't recall that that part

of my memory is, is gone.

198

:

I don't know how we met originally.

199

:

Do you

200

:

Erin Hunter: mine too?

201

:

Mine too.

202

:

I think Anna, what I did is.

203

:

I recall looking at your website during

actually one of my last classes in

204

:

my final semester, and it was a MFT

professional class where they were kind

205

:

of going through all the things you could

do as an MFT and um, I think I was just

206

:

researching and came across your, maybe it

was like your intro video, and I watched

207

:

that and there was something about.

208

:

The messaging that resonated.

209

:

It just it clicked for me.

210

:

Like, I was like, okay, I got it.

211

:

I, we think the same way I,

this would make sense to me.

212

:

And then it was the idea of

this very curated experience.

213

:

This, this, the approach

felt very comforting to me.

214

:

So when I think about like, what

I didn't have in order to go

215

:

do this, it was like, oh, okay.

216

:

This is how, these are the

things that I find that then.

217

:

Fall into place so that I can

actually, you know, go along this,

218

:

this path to put things live and

in order and like ready to go.

219

:

Anna Walker: Yeah.

220

:

Um, as you think back on your time

at confid Copy, which has been a,

221

:

a handful of years since then, what

stands out to you about, you know, the

222

:

experience you had, the support the

tools, anything that really stands out

223

:

to you as you reflect back on that?

224

:

Honestly, it was just,

225

:

Erin Hunter: You know,

play on words, right?

226

:

But it.

227

:

It was that it gave me the

confidence to do the work.

228

:

And again, the way that it is

set up from the modules just

229

:

felt very attainable to me.

230

:

And so then it's like, okay if

I feel good about doing it, it's

231

:

clear to me what I need to be doing.

232

:

Then you think about the support,

not only of your team, but then also

233

:

of the other people that are kind

of going through the process and

234

:

hearing this real time discussion.

235

:

Was very helpful.

236

:

And so it, it just kind of made

all of the pieces fallen together.

237

:

Anna Walker: Yeah.

238

:

It's funny you say that because I, I

did name confident, copy mindfully.

239

:

There is, you know, the confident

element, but I hear that so often from

240

:

alumni that they, uh, that they emerged

more confident and yet on the front end.

241

:

No one's looking necessarily,

they're not buying a program

242

:

because they want confidence.

243

:

They're buying a program

'cause they want clients.

244

:

But the confidence is that

prerequisite, that is this intangible

245

:

that once you have it, you know

it, and when you lack it, you, you,

246

:

it's hard to know what's missing.

247

:

Erin Hunter: Yeah.

248

:

Anna Walker: Does that resonate

249

:

Erin Hunter: with you?

250

:

It does.

251

:

It does.

252

:

And I, you know.

253

:

I think again, it's like we,

there's this big idea of there's

254

:

so many things that are needed in

order to have a private practice.

255

:

How do you even start to

figure those things out?

256

:

It's like, well, this is it.

257

:

This is, this is the thing that shows you.

258

:

And so there were things that I, you

know, obviously knew I would need a

259

:

website and copy and things like that.

260

:

But the way that, you know, you, you kind

of explain and take people into different

261

:

tools in order to not only look at data,

but how do you even think about what

262

:

are people searching in my, in my zip

codes and the places that I'm serving?

263

:

It really did kind of make the work more

attainable, make the work, you know,

264

:

you just, you, you felt like you were

very much guided in what you're doing.

265

:

And if you got, you had resources.

266

:

Anna Walker: Yeah, absolutely.

267

:

That is, that is our hope that you're

not on an island doing that alone.

268

:

It's interesting you came into Confident

Copy as a quote unquote new clinician.

269

:

So what was the process like for

you, especially of defining a niche?

270

:

'cause that is a huge part of confident

copy, it's a huge part of excelling

271

:

in the private pay space, which

you have been from the beginning.

272

:

So what was that like for you as

someone who was earlier on in,

273

:

in your career as a therapist?

274

:

Erin Hunter: Yeah.

275

:

So if I think back about the timing

of all of this, and I probably brought

276

:

the program before I even graduated

or maybe it was within weeks, right?

277

:

So I had obviously completed my clinical

internship and I did know generally

278

:

who I wanted to be working with.

279

:

The problem in, in terms of

the niche that I had, was.

280

:

I felt like I was trying, and I,

and I still do sometimes think,

281

:

like I'm trying to pull too many

things into the statement, right?

282

:

Parents, couples, adult women.

283

:

And so when I pull that back at thinking

about just speaking to the adult female

284

:

and the couples still feels like kind

of a, a broad umbrella, but new from the

285

:

internship from that clinical experience.

286

:

Who I felt really good within the room

and the people that I resonated with and

287

:

the things that they were experiencing

and the words that they were using.

288

:

And so all of that really just rolled

right into the templates and the, the, you

289

:

know, the path that you provided to say

like, yeah, when I meet with somebody who

290

:

I just feel great with at the end of the

session, even if it's been hard, right.

291

:

What are the things that are coming

out of that dialogue and how do I

292

:

incorporate that into my marketing

messaging, because that's ultimately

293

:

who I wanna be working with.

294

:

And so, you know, we think about

some of those words that you know,

295

:

apply to adult females or couples

and what's that grounding source and,

296

:

and how do you kind of speak to both?

297

:

Anna Walker: Yeah, I remember, uh,

you as a student had such wonderful

298

:

insight into those clients and their

needs and those specific, as we say,

299

:

sticky examples and things like that.

300

:

And I know you've gotten feedback from

clients about what you've displayed there.

301

:

That's really, that's, that's

really wonderful to hear.

302

:

So you go through confident copy

that is at the very, you know,

303

:

kind of onset of your practice.

304

:

You launch your website,

you launch your practice.

305

:

What happened then?

306

:

Erin Hunter: So I.

307

:

Actually went back and looked at

some of the data, you know, from

308

:

the anticipation of this call.

309

:

And I, I launched my website, I

believe it was in October of 23.

310

:

I graduated in August and had a couple

clients that had come with me from my,

311

:

my internship experience, but really

launched the website in October.

312

:

It was by February that I said I

need to be leasing space full time.

313

:

And part of that, as you know, we get

random snowstorms and, you know, I had

314

:

two days a week at a place and we had

a random snowstorm come in and it just

315

:

wiped out that week's entire worth of

revenue, which, which was small at the

316

:

time, but it was enough to say, still

meaningful if I could put them into

317

:

another date at the end of the week.

318

:

I would be able to recoup all of that.

319

:

And in having done that, I

would've paid for the rent, right?

320

:

So it was kind of one of those things

like, okay, now you just gotta go.

321

:

So, launched the website in October

leased the space in February, and you

322

:

know, not sure where you went head with

all of this, but by like April, may,

323

:

I was pretty much at my revenue goal.

324

:

Anna Walker: Amazing.

325

:

Amazing.

326

:

Erin Hunter: And had left the private

practice that I was working at, you know,

327

:

right around February or so, and yeah.

328

:

Um, transitioned fully into,

to MySpace and my work.

329

:

Anna Walker: Cool.

330

:

And so you've been in that kind

of full ish, you know, there's

331

:

ebbs and flows no doubt, I'm sure.

332

:

But, um, you've, you've held

steady there, essentially for

333

:

going on a year and a half now.

334

:

Erin Hunter: That's correct,

335

:

Anna Walker: yeah.

336

:

How are your clients most

often finding you these days?

337

:

I do

338

:

Erin Hunter: a bad job

of, of asking this, right.

339

:

I think that the biggest driver of

getting people to my website right

340

:

is, um, responding to the Facebook

groups that I am in the local

341

:

Facebook groups, and I can, you know.

342

:

Look at the website data and the traffic,

and I see exactly what happens when

343

:

I respond to one of those requests.

344

:

And particularly last summer, you

know, somebody in in our area would

345

:

say that they were looking for

recommendation for a therapist.

346

:

And, you know, I would try to

put a little blurb in there about

347

:

like, this is what I specialize in.

348

:

Here's more about me.

349

:

Go to my website.

350

:

Um, and I would consistently

see traffic go up in the day.

351

:

And, and following days of responding

to one of those posts, I consistently

352

:

had consultations and 99% of the

time a new client after having done

353

:

that and I, I would have clients say.

354

:

That they saw me on that,

on the, on those groups.

355

:

So even though they weren't the

original poster that my name was still,

356

:

you know, in, in that thread mm-hmm.

357

:

They were, and it was

still driving traffic.

358

:

Anna Walker: That's one of

the coolest parts of, of using

359

:

Facebook groups as a strategy.

360

:

And you're such a wonderful

example of this, that one person

361

:

is, is sitting there writing the

post and asking for a referral.

362

:

Hundreds are watching.

363

:

Right.

364

:

And so the, the same woman that also is

looking for a couple's therapist, 'cause

365

:

her and her husband are like roommates.

366

:

Yeah.

367

:

She's, she's looking at that.

368

:

She may not have written the

post, but she has the need.

369

:

And I, it's, it's one of the really

cool ripple effects of that strategy.

370

:

And

371

:

Erin Hunter: I think that it, you know,

in using that strategy, going back to

372

:

your term sticky words, right, it's

really important to know what those

373

:

are because if you can incorporate

that into the response, then.

374

:

That other woman that is reading that

response it's, it's resonating with her.

375

:

Yeah.

376

:

And I think that that's what I

found probably more often than not,

377

:

that those are the people that are

coming in that maybe weren't even

378

:

looking in the beginning, but there's

something about those sticky words.

379

:

There's something about the

way that it's communicated.

380

:

It's causing them to go to the website and

then they go to the website and the, the

381

:

feedback that they're providing from the

website is just really, really powerful.

382

:

So.

383

:

Anna Walker: I remember getting a

message from you that you'd booked

384

:

another private pay client who had

said, like, I read the intro paragraph

385

:

on your website and I knew I wanted to

work with you, or something like that.

386

:

Erin Hunter: I've had several

people say like, wow, it's like

387

:

you're speaking to me, or this

is exactly what I'm looking for.

388

:

And it's so, so that has been,

you know, talking, going back

389

:

to that confidence, right?

390

:

Like following that program,

thinking about it in a way that.

391

:

Brings that dialogue into the

copy was just so impactful and

392

:

you continue to hear that payout.

393

:

Anna Walker: I love that.

394

:

That's really wonderful.

395

:

And you have never taken insurance, right?

396

:

You've been private pay from the start.

397

:

Erin Hunter: Yeah,

398

:

Anna Walker: I've

399

:

Erin Hunter: never taken insurance.

400

:

Yeah, it's just, it's not been

something that I've wanted to do.

401

:

Or even some of these other

conglomerates that are kind

402

:

of coming into the space now.

403

:

It's unfortunate.

404

:

I, you know, sometimes I wrestle with

that, but at the same time you know,

405

:

our market can sustain it, at least

for right now, at least in the, the

406

:

time period that I've been there.

407

:

That's been something that I

haven't had to, to look at.

408

:

Anna Walker: Yeah.

409

:

Um, I'm curious, one of the narratives

that we've heard a lot so far

410

:

here in 2025 is things are hard.

411

:

No one's paying for therapy.

412

:

I, my caseload is, you know, my referrals

have slowed down or dried up or whatever.

413

:

Um, that's obviously not the

experience of every clinician.

414

:

You're a good example of that.

415

:

But what has been your observation?

416

:

Um, or do you have any comments

on that trend that some

417

:

clinicians are experiencing?

418

:

Erin Hunter: Yeah.

419

:

I've experienced it as well.

420

:

I've had, you know, again, it's number

one thing I've had people that have

421

:

gone from weekly to biweekly simply

'cause they don't feel like they

422

:

need the, that level of support.

423

:

Um, which is great.

424

:

I've had people say that they

are watching, you know, their

425

:

finances and that they, you know,

are limiting because of that.

426

:

And at the same time I guess

it was last week, I had to.

427

:

Two people you know, come on.

428

:

Um, again, full pay, private practice, no

insurance, types of, like, it's not even,

429

:

it's not part of the dialogue really.

430

:

Do you take insurance?

431

:

And of course on the website, I, I, I talk

about that and I'm very clear about my

432

:

rates and that I can provide a super bill.

433

:

But so it's interesting.

434

:

I do think that, you know, I, looking

through my own lens, summers are hard.

435

:

I know my kids' schedule changes

every week to try to put something

436

:

else on top of that feels like

I can't even think about it.

437

:

So I think that that's

playing into it as well.

438

:

And at the same time, last July was

my biggest, July and August were my

439

:

biggest months, you know, one of the,

one of the biggest time periods also.

440

:

So that ebb and flow, it's

just, people felt it last year.

441

:

I didn't feel it last year.

442

:

I'm feeling a little bit more this year.

443

:

I've also had to cut back

my availability this year.

444

:

So it's hard for me to really say what's,

what's true, at least in my experience.

445

:

Yeah, it's a little bit of everything,

but, um, it has been a bit of

446

:

a, a slower, a slower period.

447

:

Anna Walker: How do you manage

the anxiety or unease that can so

448

:

naturally pop up in those times?

449

:

Erin Hunter: Yeah, I, it's,

450

:

you know, one of the things that

we talked about previously was

451

:

like, what's the mindset, right?

452

:

Like what's.

453

:

How do you, how do you

think about these things?

454

:

And um, I just kind of go back to that

saying like, not to spoil the ending

455

:

for you, but everything works out in

the end, you know, and, and just try to

456

:

say like, if it's slower I, you know,

I'm actually gonna take a vacation.

457

:

I'm taking a week off,

you know, this month.

458

:

Good for you.

459

:

I was too nervous to do

that before and now I am.

460

:

And so it is just kind of understanding

that yes, there are ebbs and

461

:

flows and you know, I think back

about my corporate experience.

462

:

During COVID, nobody knew

what was gonna happen.

463

:

And so like, there's no security

anywhere is is the reality.

464

:

Unfortunately, and I know that there

are things that I can do that can help.

465

:

Um, I haven't really chosen to do

those things this summer because

466

:

again, I've been a little limited.

467

:

But optimizing what I have, going back

to networking, going back to, you know,

468

:

looking for what's out there in those

Facebook groups that I can respond to.

469

:

Yeah.

470

:

Uh, I feel like those are

things that I can do in order

471

:

to kind of help mitigate that.

472

:

And, and I actually did that

in the beginning of, of the

473

:

month and it, it did pay off.

474

:

So I try not to pull those

levers unless I have to.

475

:

Um.

476

:

So I, I know that there's more

that I can do and, uh, I, I

477

:

trust that those things work.

478

:

Yeah.

479

:

I kind of go back to what I know.

480

:

Anna Walker: I think even just knowing

that those levers are there, even

481

:

if you don't have to pull 'em, but

to know if you're sitting there in a

482

:

time where things feel slower, there

are things I can do if I need to.

483

:

Uh, I think that's, that's huge.

484

:

What I also really appreciate

about you is you don't, you

485

:

trust yourself to figure it out.

486

:

It's not, you're not putting your trust

in the economy or in anything else.

487

:

It's like Erin's it and Erin's gonna

figure it out and that's why spoiler

488

:

alert, everything's gonna be okay

at the end of the day, you know?

489

:

And I think business owners, regardless of

industry, can sure learn a lot from that.

490

:

That if you fundamentally trust

your own capability, everything

491

:

will work out in the end.

492

:

Erin Hunter: Yeah.

493

:

Yeah.

494

:

I think there's a lot of truth

that you can't keep chasing

495

:

and you can't keep switching.

496

:

Like the consistency I think is important.

497

:

Otherwise, you're just trying to serve

everything and everybody, and you lose.

498

:

You lose the impact.

499

:

Anna Walker: Yeah, yeah.

500

:

Um, looking ahead, I know we, we talked

about before pressing record that you're

501

:

looking forward to some structure.

502

:

What else are you excited about next,

either personally or professionally,

503

:

when it comes to being a practice

owner and doing this, this great work?

504

:

Honestly I think just

505

:

Erin Hunter: taking a minute.

506

:

I'm kind of looking, I'm, I'm

nearing the, the end of my

507

:

licensure process and, you know.

508

:

I really came out of the gates investing

in myself and what are the, you

509

:

know, support mechanisms that I need?

510

:

What are the advanced

trainings that I need?

511

:

You know, what are the systems I need?

512

:

All, all of the things that

I needed to have in place.

513

:

And you know, my hope is

that we get back to school.

514

:

Client hours tick up a little bit.

515

:

Complete the licensure process, and then I

can just kind of see what feels good next

516

:

and, and to not be on this thing that I'm

like, I've gotta go, I've gotta do this.

517

:

And it's been a, an amazing experience.

518

:

It's been terrific.

519

:

But I am looking forward

to a little bit of a.

520

:

Of a pause, if you will.

521

:

Yeah.

522

:

A

523

:

Anna Walker: little cruise control maybe.

524

:

Yeah,

525

:

Erin Hunter: cruise control

sounds really good right now.

526

:

Yeah.

527

:

Anna Walker: Yeah.

528

:

Uh, understandably so.

529

:

Erin, I know that many people

are sitting here listening and

530

:

resonating with parts of your story.

531

:

Maybe they are second career

clinicians, uh, or maybe they're just

532

:

new in the private practice space.

533

:

Um, maybe they're deciding

what to do next, right.

534

:

In order to grow their caseload.

535

:

What would you say to them?

536

:

Erin Hunter: I mean, honestly, and the,

the biggest thing is to have a strong

537

:

website and so whatever you need in

order to do that, obviously my success

538

:

came through the Confident Copy Program

and that really did provide me with what

539

:

I feel to be a really strong website.

540

:

And so my job then becomes

driving eyes to that website.

541

:

So I think it's really about.

542

:

How do you have that good, strong

foundation in place and what are the

543

:

tools that you need in order to do that?

544

:

And once you have that, then you

can figure out how do you layer in

545

:

the leverage that we talked about.

546

:

Anna Walker: Thank you for that.

547

:

I don't know, I don't

know your answer to this.

548

:

If you could go back and talk to Erin

two years ago, so about to graduate,

549

:

you know, finishing up your last couple

classes, what would you say to her?

550

:

Erin Hunter: Um, well, other

than everything works out

551

:

in the end, I think that.

552

:

You know, we, we kind of joke in this

industry of like, trust the process.

553

:

Right.

554

:

And I think it really is about trusting

the process, not in the therapy context

555

:

that we usually use that, but it's,

it's, you know, it goes back to that,

556

:

you know, trust investing in yourself.

557

:

I continually ask myself that question,

if you couldn't fail, what would you do?

558

:

Mm-hmm.

559

:

What would you do next if you knew

that failure wasn't going to happen?

560

:

Then what would you do?

561

:

Because trying to get out of that fear

mindset is really important when you

562

:

think about spending a lot of money

on top of money that you just spent.

563

:

So I think it's really about

thinking if I take fear outta

564

:

the equation, what happens?

565

:

And for me it was trust that process.

566

:

Anna Walker: Yeah.

567

:

Erin Hunter: If that's what you

wanna do and you know, failure's

568

:

not an option, then what do you do?

569

:

What do you, how do you,

how do you get there?

570

:

Anna Walker: I love that.

571

:

Trust the process, trust yourself and

everything will work out in the end.

572

:

Yeah.

573

:

Awesome.

574

:

Thanks for being here today, Erin.

575

:

We really appreciate you.

576

:

Yes.

577

:

Good to be with you.

Links

Video

More from YouTube