Starting private practice after qualifying is exciting, but it can also feel like a lot to hold at once.
Alongside supporting clients, you are suddenly thinking about finances, marketing, bookings and professional development. We’ve put together nine practical tips to help you take those first steps with greater confidence 🌿
1. Open a separate business bank account
Keeping your therapy income and expenses separate makes bookkeeping much easier. You’ll have a clearer picture of how your practice is performing and a simpler record for your tax return. Consider speaking to an accountant about your circumstances.
2. Keep supervision regular
Your supervisor is an important source of clinical guidance, reflection and encouragement. Agree how often you’ll meet and protect that time in your diary. Supervision can also help you think through boundaries, workload and the emotional impact of private practice.
3. Stay connected to your peers
Reach out to people from your training cohort or professional network. A quick message, peer discussion or regular coffee can make a real difference when you’re working independently. You don’t have to figure everything out alone.
4. Invest in extra training
Your qualification is the beginning of your professional development. Look for CPD that interests you and supports the clients you hope to work with. Specialist training can build confidence while helping you develop a clearer focus.
5. Be thoughtful about social media
You don’t need to post constantly, but a consistent presence can help people understand who you are and how you work. Tools such as Marblism may help streamline content creation. Keep your posts ethical, boundaried and genuinely useful.
6. Decide whether you need a website
A simple website can explain your approach, fees and availability. However, a detailed Mill Hill Therapy Hub profile may be more than enough to get started, particularly when you’re building your practice gradually.
7. Find your professional community
Private practice can feel isolating. Joining a supportive network like the Mill Hill Therapy Hub community gives you connection, encouragement and opportunities to meet other practitioners.
8. Set up robust systems for contracts and notes
Getting into good habits from day one is essential. Use a secure platform like DocuSign for professional client contracts, and consider a specialised practice management platform such as Splose to manage note-taking, scheduling and strict GDPR compliance with confidence.
9. Consider your consultation space
A calm, confidential room can help clients feel comfortable and help you create a clear boundary between work and home. The Mill Hill Therapy Hub offers welcoming therapy rooms by the hour, so you can start flexibly without committing to a long-term lease.
You can contact the Mill Hill Therapy Hub with any questions or book a chat with Marc to explore what might work for you 😊
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