What if your next big breakthrough in private practice isn’t a brand-new strategy, but simply making the most of what you’ve already got?

In this episode, I’m sharing 10 small-but-mighty areas to check in on. The kind of practical tweaks that can bring more ease, more focus, and yes… even more client enquiries.

Most counsellors skip this kind of business reset. They keep pushing forward, adding more to their plate and end up stuck.

But you don’t have to. With a little reflection (and some cushion-and-throw-style updates), you can refresh your practice without starting from scratch.

We’ll explore:

• How to spot when your clients, systems, or boundaries need a reset
• Why less social media can actually bring you better results
• The hidden marketing assets you already have but aren’t using
• How to check whether your goals still match the life you want now

This isn’t about doing everything. It’s about making a few focused changes that move your practice forward.

🎧 Listen in and give yourself the reset you’ve been waiting for.

September's here. Yay. Well, it is not quite, but it is very, very nearly here. And yes, it comes with that sort of that fresh start feeling, doesn't it? You know, sometimes we get it in January for me, I tend to get it in September, but. Instead of throwing yourself into some massive, shiny new project. I want to ask you, what have you used this time to go back to basics?

Because in today's episode, we are not overhauling everything. We are checking in what's already in place. You know, your marketing, your content, your systems, and we're gonna ask. Is this still working the way that I want it to? Because sometimes the most powerful progress comes from tweaking what's already there, not starting from scratch.

So welcome to the Grow Your Private Practice podcast. I'm Jane Travis, and I help counselors to simplify their marketing and attract more of the right clients with a special love for all things blogging. So if marketing feels awkward, overwhelming, or just plain confusing, you are in the right place.

So hello, hello, hello and welcome back and if you are new here you are.

Very welcome. So without further ado, let's get started because, like I say, there is something about September, you know, it's like the air gets a little bit crisper, the stationary hours in the supermarkets are overflowing with new notebooks and suddenly it feels as though we're all supposed to sort our lives out.

You know that back-to-school energy is kind of everywhere. It seems to be full of blank pages waiting to be filled and routines waiting to be set. And for anybody who's like me and has a bit of a stationary fetish, I absolutely love going around the supermarkets at this time of year and seeing what there is.

So for counselors in private practice, that buzz can actually spark a real mix of excitement and unease. You know, you might feel the urge to make a big old plan, but at the same time, there's that quiet voice that says, oh, am I doing enough? Am I even headed in the right direction? But you know, the good news is you don't need to rip everything up and start again.

I recommend that you just pause, you know, hit the pause button, take a moment to step back, take stock, and adjust. So think of it less like redecorating the whole house and more like buying a couple of new cushions or a throw. Small changes that refresh the space, lift your mood and make, well, just make everything feel a bit more like you without going to the whole effort of, you know, getting the dust sheets out or dealing with paint fumes or having to, you know, live in a pigsty for a few weeks.

And yet, I know I'm leaning into the home decor theme here, but stick with me because I'm going to be talking more about that. So if you are ready for a reset without blowing everything up, here are 10 areas you can explore. I recommend that you don't try to tackle them all at once. You know, choose one or two things that took at you the most and then give yourself the space to reflect and to act.

So here we are, 10 things. The first thing is your fabulous clients. So picture the clients that sit with you right now. Do you feel energized in those sessions, or do you sometimes leave feeling really drained and in need of, I don't know, a nap and a biscuit? Are you working with the people that truly in your heart you'd do the best work with?

Or has your practice wandered slightly away from what you'd hoped it was going to be? Now noticing this is kind of like realizing that sofa you've always loved five years ago doesn't quite fit in with the room anymore. So maybe it's time for a change, even a subtle change. So yeah, stop. Have a think.

Are you working with the clients that really light you up? The second thing is, well, of course, it's about your marketing. You know, look at the last few inquiries that you've had. Where did they come from? Did they come from your website? Did they come from directories? Word of mouth, a blog post. Notice what's genuinely working rather than what you're doing kind of out of

obligation. And if you're not sure where your clients are finding you then start asking clients how they heard about you. You know that one small question is gonna give you some really useful insights. So if something feels a bit like a grind and brings a little return. Then maybe it's time to swap it out, like, you know, finally ditching the, scratchy cushion or the scratchy throw that nobody likes.

You know, if it's not working, if nobody likes it, get rid of it. But not everything that's not working needs to be thrown away. You know, sometimes something might just need a little bit more love, you know, a little bit more attention, a little bit more time spending on it. So, for example, if you've been blogging, but you don't think it's brought you clients yet, it might be that you just need to update your skills.

You know, learn some simple tweaks around things like, you know, headlines. What headlines are gonna attract people? The structure of the blog post or SEO, that's actually why I created my framework first blogging method to give counselors clear and easy to use structures that make blogging far more effective.

So if you have a look in the show notes, there's some more details about it there. But yes, sometimes it's a case of right, do I just need to update some of my skills to make all that difference? Number three is your website. So here's what I recommend with your website. I really recommend that you just read your website as though you are a potential client.

Just imagine yourself, who's somebody, who's your ideal client at the point of looking for some help. So they're probably sat there anxious, really nervous, don't know what they want, dunno what they need if they have a look at your website. Is that going to be helpful? Is it gonna feel warm and comforting?

Do you sound human? And does it sound like you are today? Or is it an echo of an earlier version of you, you know, the one of you still finding your feet. So if you've not revisited your website for a while, you know, now is the time to just look at it. Like I say, pretend you are your ideal client and just read it as though you are them and think, right, is this going to be something that's gonna make this person feel at home? You know? Because if you can just make a few tweaks to just make it feel instantly feel more warm, more inviting, and more you, then that's gonna really count. And number four is quite an important one 'cause this is about checking in with your boundaries. So check in with the hours that you want to work. Check in with the pricing that you charge and check in with the availability that you offer and ask yourself, do these feel sustainable? Or do you notice that little frustrations are creeping in?

You know, like when somebody asks for an evening slot and you, you're kind of going, oh no, I don't wanna work in the evenings. Or maybe you wished you'd raised your fees months ago. So, you know, boundaries are a little bit like the furniture placement when we use the analogy of doing your room. If you keep tripping over the coffee table, it's a sign that something needs moving.

So yeah, the house analogy strikes again, apparently it's here to stay, unlike that wobbly table, sorry, and I'm being a bit silly, aren't I? But there you go. So yeah, your boundaries. Have a look at how you are working and think, is this still working for me? And remember, when it comes to your business, you are the most important there.

So you want your business to be you working the hours that you want to charging, the price that you want to, and working the days. And you know, whenever it is that you want to be working, that is the most important thing. Number five, your systems. You know, where are you losing time unnecessarily. You know, maybe you are still writing handwritten invoices or juggling your diary manually or rewriting the same email again and again because a tweak here is like discovering storage baskets. You know, you can just put things into your storage baskets and suddenly the clutter's gone and you can actually see the floor again. I hope these analogies are working. I hope they are. but yeah, when it comes to systems, is it just really clunky, is what I'm trying to say.

Number six, social media. So what I want you to do with your social media is actually check in with how you are currently using your social media. Are you juggling too many platforms because you think that you know you should be on every single platform? It often leads to you spreading yourself too thin, and it means that there's sometimes a lot of effort and very, very little return because the thing is you'll usually get better results and save yourself a lot of time and stress by focusing on just one platform and making that platform work really well for you.

So ask yourself, which one of the platforms do you enjoy the most or whereabouts do you think your clients are most likely to be hanging out? And what would happen if you gave yourself permission to just go all in on that one platform instead of scattering your energy across several? Because when you do, don't forget the basics. Update your bio. Make sure your profile reflects who you are to today, who you work with, and focus on sharing content that feels natural and doable for you.

And when you do go all in on one platform, remember to go back to basics. So have a look at your bio, update it. Make sure your profile reflects who you are today. Who is it that you work with, who is it you help, what do you do to help them? And focus on sharing the content that's going to feel really natural and doable for you.

The more you really understand your ideal clients, the easier all of your marketing is gonna be. So focus on one platform and just get really good on it, and that's gonna be far better being than being scattered. So number seven is your content. Now, the chances are that you've probably already created more. Content than you realize. So things like blog posts, social media posts, maybe handouts or you know, eBooks or workshop notes or stuff like that, and they're all sitting around just waiting to be used and reused.

So instead of starting from scratch, ask yourself, what could I dust off and update and share again? You know, it's the blogging equivalent of rearranging your cushions. It's gonna be the same materials, but it's gonna be a whole fresh feel. And remember, repurposing can work both ways. So a single blog post can be split into like numerous, numerous different pieces for social media loads where a short social post could be expanded and turned into a full blog.

So you don't always need new ideas, just new ways of using what you've got. And I do this all of the time. So if you've ever stared at an old blog post and wondered how on earth to revive it, well you are on the right track. So number eight is your online directory listing. And this is one of those things that sometimes gets completely ignored, yet you are paying good money for it. So if you've got a listing on online directory, and what I mean here is things like Counselling Directory or Psychology Today, there are loads of them these days.

Now, if you are in an with an online directory. Are you getting the results that you want? Because if not, it might just need a refresh. So when's the last time you looked at it properly? Because what happens so often is that we have a look at it when we start on one of the directories and we write it and we think, yeah, that's okay.

And we might look at what other people have said and we might sort of put a version of that on there. But online directories can be for a lot of people, a really powerful source of inquiries. But what you say on there has to be clear. It has to be engaging, and it has to really genuinely speak to your ideal clients.

And, something that I see so often is something that's very bland. It's not helping people to see exactly how you can help. So I put together something. So if you need some help with this, I offer a one-to-one service that's called the Directory Revival. It's a short focus session where I go through your listing with you and we make it more purposeful and effective.

Now, after I'd spoken to Lynn, she said this, Jane helped me to turn my directory listing into something more purposeful, conversational, and impactful. I came away feeling. Energized with a clear path and finally felt like it reflected me and the clients that I want to work with. So if that sounds good to you, and if you are not getting enough from your online directories, then go and check this out.

Go to janetravis.co.uk/directory-revival, or I'll put the details in the show notes if you want a little bit of help with that. So number nine is your goals. So think about what it is that you are aiming for. So do your current goals match the life that you want now or are they outdated leftovers from, you know, last year or five years ago?

Because sometimes we kind of chase bigger when what we really need is better. So what do I mean by that? Well, for example, maybe you used to have a goal to fill your evening with clients, but now you'd rather keep your evenings free to spend with your friends or your partner or your kids or whatever, and you'd prefer to build your caseload through the day. Or perhaps you thought that you needed to grow a group practice, but what would actually feel better for you is a really steady flow of one-to-one clients that you really enjoy working with.

So checking in with your goals is about making sure that they're still. What you want. You know, they still fit into your life and the life that you want today, not the version from what you ha wanted two years ago. And we change all the time, don't we? So it's the same for me. What I wanted two years ago is very different to what I'm looking at, you know, achieving now.

And the last one, this is the last one, and it's a big one. Number 10, your energy. So let me ask you, are you working in a way that actually supports you? Is your pace sustainable or are you holding it together with coffee and you know, cross fingers? Now, if that sounds like you, this is a just a little nudge to encourage you to check in with yourself, you know, not just your to-do list, because your business can only thrive. If you do, and burnout is very real. So just stop and take a look at how you are practicing self-care. Or is this something that you've been letting slip?

Because if it is, what can you do now to bring about that self-care? So progress comes from action, not perfection. And you, if you know me at all, you'll know that I'm constantly banging on about taking action because it's so important. It's tempting to believe that you need to line up the perfect 10 point plan before you can move forward.

But waiting for the perfect is just another way. Avoiding action. And let's be honest, perfection is about as likely as keeping a cream sofa spotless with a Labrador in the house. So instead, choose one thing. You know, maybe that small task that's been nagging at you, nipping at your heels. That idea that you keep circling around and coming back to maybe tackle that one because the momentum builds when you start, not when you sit around. Ploting the best route to take. Remember action is the thing that creates clarity.

So get clear. Take action because sometimes it's easier to see the way forward when you've got someone outside of your own head to help you untangle the noise. And that's exactly what my Get Focused, Take Action call is for what this is, is a one-to-one session where we cut through the overwhelm and we zoom in on what really matters in your practice right now, and we map out the next steps and what will actually move you forward over the next 12 weeks. So think of it as trying out the new layout of your favorite room. Sorry, I can't stop doing those knowledges now. So you don't have to do any demolition. It doesn't have to be, it doesn't have to be any chaos, just clarity about what's going to fit best.

So if you are interested in learning a bit more about the Get Focused, Take Action call then again, you'll find those details in the show notes. So that's about it. That was interesting. That was fun. I liked my little analogies. I hoped you did. I know I'm being a bit silly. So what is your next step? Well, here's the good news.

You don't need to have a color coded master plan to move forward. You just need to have that one next step. So whether it's September or if you are listening to this at any time, any month at all, take this as your queue check in. Take stock, choose the action that feels the most doable and then do it.

And as I say, if you'd like a clear, supportive place to figure out exactly what that step should be, check out the Get Focused, Take Action call 'cause that can help you to cut through the noise and leave you with a plan that you can feel all ready to put into practice.

So look, if this episode has helped you at all, look please come back anytime. This is episode number 215. There are loads of help here for you. So please have a look at what we've got and I'm sure you'll find something that will be helpful to you. I'm here to help you with small doable steps that are gonna help you grow your practice in a way that feels like you, because you don't have to do it all.

You just keep having to move in the direction that works for you. So look, thank you so much for listening and I shall look forward to seeing you next time. Okay. Bye-Bye.