If marketing your counselling practice feels like a wobbly, messy, “what-the-heck-am-I-doing” kind of experience… this episode is for you.

Because today, we’re not talking strategy or content plans. We’re talking about you - the human behind the posts. The one quietly trying to make it work while wondering if you're getting it all wrong.

In this open letter, I’m sharing a personal message to the part of you that’s second-guessing, doubting, and wondering if you're cut out for all this “visibility” stuff.

Spoiler: You are.

We’ll talk about:

• Why it’s totally normal to feel overwhelmed by marketing
• What most counsellors get wrong about visibility (and how to shift it)
• The emotional side of showing up, even when it’s scary
• And why small, consistent action is more powerful than you think

If you’ve ever felt like the only one struggling to “get it right,” this episode is your gentle reminder that you’re not alone, and that slow doesn’t mean stuck.

Mentioned in this episode:

• Definition of courage (because it’s surprisingly reassuring): https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/courage
• Framework First £9/month - Your one small step to easier blogging for counsellors
• Janetravis.co.uk/starthere

Last week we talked about the cumulative effect of marketing. How small actions can quietly build something real, even when you can't see it yet. But there's another side to this that I keep on thinking about because you are the one taking these steps and that can feel really messy. You know, the fear, the wobble.

The worrying that are you even doing this right? The second guessing that creeps in when you are trying so hard to make this work. So today, instead of focusing on the practical side of this momentum, I want to talk to the part of you that's carrying all of that. You know, consider this an open letter to the counselor who's trying to be visible while managing the internal chaos that comes with it.

Well, hello, hello, hello and welcome back and if it's your first time here, it's really great that you've found us. Now, what I'm gonna be doing today is I'm sharing something a little bit more personal because I've been really thinking about you and the way, sometimes you worry that you're getting your marketing wrong, even though you're trying so hard to make this work.

So yeah, I've kind of been thinking. A lot about you lately. You know, not in a weird way, don't worry. I'm not out there stalking you or anything, but just in that familiar way, you know where you spot somebody who reminds you of an earlier version of yourself, somebody who's trying really hard, even if they don't realize how hard they're actually trying. Because I know what it's like to sit there wondering whether starting a private practice was just a massive mistake or wondering if you cut out for this business malarkey, or wondering why market feels like trying to untangle the world's worst snarl of Christmas tree lights with your bare hands because you've trained to help people.

That's the, that's the thing that you love. That's the part that you enjoy and that's the part that you are really good at. Not this pressure to become a content creating machine or to build a following on social media. And if I know you, social media probably freaks you out a little bit, and yet here you are staring down the barrel of a, a, be more visible and post more often or share more helpful content and secretly thinking, look, I would do, but I just don't even know where to start.

But you are here because you do know one thing. If you want to do the work you are meant to do, help people use your skills, make a difference, then people need to know that you exist and you want to get it right, you know you want to sound professional. You still want to sound like you. You know you want to be a real human. You don't want to annoy people with the things that you say. You don't want to look foolish. You don't want say the wrong thing. And you don't want to look like you're bragging and you absolutely don't want to come across like some dodgy car lot salesperson, and I see you and yes, even if you don't quite believe it yet, you can do this.

And look, honestly, you are halfway there. You've got the part. Marketing just can't teach. You've got empathy, you've got insight. You've got the ability to understand people deeply. And the rest is just learning how to show that consistently enough so that it starts to work for you. Because marketing is not some sort of magic and it definitely isn't a personality transplant.

It's a cumulative thing. You know, each tiny step you take, just it stacks up. It's just taking you one step closer to where you want to be, whether that's writing a blog or tweaking your website. That post that feels a little bit like you are just whispering. Well, somebody out there hears it and one day you'll realize that that whisper.

Has weight and it's gathering momentum, becoming that little snowball that suddenly picks up speed and you catch yourself thinking, well, my goodness, this is actually working. And action is the thing that gets the snowball moving. It doesn't have to be perfect action. You don't have to be confident while you're doing it.

Just action. You know, bit by bit imperfect, human and courageous. And by the way, did you know that the definition of courage is the ability to act despite fear, uncertainty, or intimidation? That's amazing, isn't it? So by you doing your marketing, it's showing that you have this courage. How cool is that? So look, if you are doubting yourself today, if you are wondering whether you've chosen the wrong path, or you're thinking, maybe you should just, I dunno, get a normal job and do some shelf stacking in Tescos, look, please just come and sit with me for a minute because.

You didn't choose this work by accident. Something in you knew that you could help people in a way that really mattered, and that same part of you can learn how to get found by the people that need you. And the fact that you are listening to this and taking that time out tells me that you are serious. You are looking for the right path for you. And I believe in you, and I know that sound might sound a little bit like a cliche, but I really do properly mean it with all of my, with all of my heart, basically.

Now I know that, I dunno your whole story, but I do know counselors. I've been doing this for quite a while now and I know how tough this can feel and I also know how determined that you can be. Tenacious even. You've got that in you. You can make this work, you can build the practice that you've imagined.

And yes, one day when somebody asks you how your business is going, you'll be able to say Really great thanks. And you'll feel that quiet pride settling in. Now, I've watched so many counselors moving through this messy, confusing stage that end up running, thriving, sustainable practices. Now, they didn't grow because they felt confident or knew what to do.

They grew because they took action even when they didn't really know what they were doing. And you can do that too. So here's my invitation to you. Why don't you start your snowball today? You know, write one small thing, share one sentence, edit one paragraph on your website. Take one step that that future you will be able to look back on and think, thank God I did that so that I'm doing it moment starts with this tiny move. And look, I'm here to cheer you on always. And if you do want some support or some structure or somebody in your corner as you build this, I'm right here. Because it's your business and your rules. Action is the antidote to fear, and you are more capable than you realize.

So if you take one thing from this, let it be this. You don't have to have everything figured out to build something real. You just need to keep taking those small steps that feel. Almost too small to matter because what? Because you are in a learning process and it takes time and there's no secret way that you can make it go faster. You are growing a practice from the inside out. One choice to time, one new skill at a time. And yeah, it's gonna feel slow. But slow doesn't mean stuck. Slow is still movement.

Slow is building momentum under the surface. So you've got more in you than you realize, I promise you. So keep going. Choose one tiny action this week and trust that it's enough. And like I say, I'm right here beside you. And look, if you are thinking about taking one small step after this episode, let it be something that actually helps you move forward instead of getting stuck in your own head.

And if blogging's the thing that you keep circling around, the thing that you really want to do, but you never quite start the framework, first system could be that tiny step that's gonna finally get you going. So look, picture this, it's a normal Tuesday afternoon. You sit down with your laptop, you've got a coffee by the side of your cup of tea, and you are fully expecting the usual.

Where do I even start feeling? But instead, you open up your framework first email, and there it is. One simple step-by-step framework. Created specifically for counselors. A structure that tells you exactly what to cover and in what order. So you're not going around in circles or overthinking every sentence. No researching, no second guessing, no disappearing, round down rabbit holes. Just one small action that leads you to a finished blog that you can feel proud of.

And that is the whole point of the framework. First, it helps you to get started without any of the drama or any of the faff or any of the, I think I'm gonna have to do this later spiral. So if you are listening to this right now and thinking.

Do you know, I think I could do with something like that. Then this might be your one small step for the week, and even better than that, it only costs nine pounds. So you know it's not gonna break the bank. You'll find everything about it at jane travis.co.uk/framework first, or I'll put all of the details in the show notes.

So look, come and write your next blog with me, and let's make this the easiest thing that you do all month.

Okay, so that's it for today. I really hope that this has been something that's going to reassure you that you can do this, that you are doing this, and in the future you'll look back and you'll think, I did so well. I did so well. I, you're gonna feel so proud of yourself. Thank you so much for listening to the Grow Your Private Practice Show. And if you did find something in this episode that's really helped, please make sure that you hit follow so you don't miss the next one. And you'll always have a little bit of encouragement waiting for you in your podcast feed. So have a fabulous week and I hope to speak to you soon.

Take care. Bye-bye.