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Starting in Private Practice

My private practice journey started in October 2024. I initially embraced this new challenge; however, the loneliness of private practice and the stamina required to build a business, quickly became apparent. I found myself without an experienced network of colleagues to turn to for advice, with new skills to learn and creeping doubts about my competence for the role.

A Therapy Today ad for the London Íø±¬ÃÅ Private Practice Networking event caught my eye. Invoking my personal mantra ‘±õ’m willing to give anything a try once!’, with a little hesitation I signed up.

What the meetings are like

Before the meeting, there’s time for refreshments and informal networking. It’s a collaborative community, and the main gathering usually starts with a short knowledge sharing session led by a group member followed by Q&A. Recent thought-provoking counselling/therapy topics have included working with dreams, war in the therapy room and menopause.

Mid-session, there’s more coffee and time to get to know new members, catch up with familiar faces, and reflect on the topic.

Frequently, energising breakout sessions follow, to delve deeper into aspects of the chosen topic.

It’s a diverse community comprising newly qualified counsellors through to psychotherapists with decades of experience, of varied ages and backgrounds.

The benefits I’ve gained

This large face-to-face network group is a rich and unique opportunity, unlike anything else in my practice. I have felt warmly welcomed, accepted and heard as a counsellor, giving me greater confidence in my ability to be a successful private practitioner. Reflecting on this, and in line with John McLeod’s writing¹, I believe this engagement has been significantly beneficial for my growth and effectiveness.

As a new group member, the breakout sessions are not as daunting as introducing myself over coffee. The smaller groups have enabled a depth of connection: I’ve learned from others sharing approaches and practice, cultural differences, enriched my knowledge on new topics, and gained support in areas I find challenging.

Growing a meaningful network

Being part of this Íø±¬ÃÅ group is enabling me to develop new genuine connections; it’s not just about the CPD hours.  I’ve extended my professional network and have already met with Mags Lewis a ‘menopause counsellor’ individually to explore more deeply how to support clients navigating menopause in my therapy room.

I am experiencing ‘being part of a professional community helps in shaping and reinforcing one’s professional identity and commitment to the field’.²

Why I’d recommend it

Walking into a room full of strangers can be daunting. You may be naturally shy or new to Private Practice and feel like an imposter.  You need not worry about these events. I quickly felt this was a space I belonged in – something I hadn’t expected at all when I started my ‘experiment’.

I’d highly recommend these meetings as a warm, friendly space for every practitioner.  There’s no pressure to speak, and the isolation of private practice lifts for a while.