Is Guilt Running Your Practice?

You became a therapist to help people. You probably didn't spend years learning how to run a business, market yourself, set policies, raise your rates, or make decisions that centers your needs.

And now you're realizing that in order to have a business AND be a therapist, you need to address some underlying messaging that keeps you over-accommodating and undercharging.

Take this quick assessment to see where guilt may be influencing the way you run your practice.

There are no good or bad answers. Be honest, especially if the honest answer is, “Well...shit that's me.”

How to score it:
0 — Nope, not really
1 — Occasionally
2 — Pretty often
3 — Yep. This is me.

When a client asks for something outside of my normal policies, I feel guilty saying no.

0 — Nope, not really

1 — Occasionally

2 — Pretty often

3 — Yep. This is me.

I have made exceptions for clients that I knew weren't actually good for my practice.

0 — Nope, not really

1 — Occasionally

2 — Pretty often

3 — Yep. This is me.

I feel uncomfortable raising my rates, even when I know my current fee no longer reflects what I need or want to earn.

0 — Nope, not really

1 — Occasionally

2 — Pretty often

3 — Yep. This is me.

I worry that charging more means I'm becoming “too focused on money” as a therapist.

0 — Nope, not really

1 — Occasionally

2 — Pretty often

3 — Yep. This is me.

I keep my schedule more available than I actually want to because I don't want clients to struggle to get an appointment.

0 — Nope, not really

1 — Occasionally

2 — Pretty often

3 — Yep. This is me.

Marketing myself can feel uncomfortable because I don't want to seem salesy, self-important, or like I'm “selling” therapy.

0 — Nope, not really

1 — Occasionally

2 — Pretty often

3 — Yep. This is me.

I sometimes make business decisions based more on what other therapists might think than on what actually works for me.

0 — Nope, not really

1 — Occasionally

2 — Pretty often

3 — Yep. This is me.

I feel guilty when my business conflicts with what a client, colleague, or referral source wants from me.

0 — Nope, not really

1 — Occasionally

2 — Pretty often

3 — Yep. This is me.

I have a hard time letting myself want a practice that is smaller, more profitable, more flexible, or less client-heavy than what I originally imagined.

0 — Nope, not really

1 — Occasionally

2 — Pretty often

3 — Yep. This is me.

I know what changes I need to make in my practice, but actually making them brings up guilt, fear, or anxiety.

0 — Nope, not really

1 — Occasionally

2 — Pretty often

3 — Yep. This is me.

I feel like I'm not accessible if I don't take insurance

0 — Nope, not really

1 — Occasionally

2 — Pretty often

3 — Yep. This is me.

I offer a discount before a client tells me they can't afford my full fee

0 — Nope, not really

1 — Occasionally

2 — Pretty often

3 — Yep. This is me.

I often worry about being perceived as "greedy" if I want to make more money

0 — Nope, not really

1 — Occasionally

2 — Pretty often

3 — Yep. This is me.

I work during vacation or stack my schedule to make up for taking time off

0 — Nope, not really

1 — Occasionally

2 — Pretty often

3 — Yep. This is me.

I don't trust myself to run my practice well

0 — Nope, not really

1 — Occasionally

2 — Pretty often

3 — Yep. This is me.