MHM#12 Saying no to clients

Saying no to clients is just as important, if not more important, than saying yes.

However, it can be difficult to say no in the early days of growing a therapy practice (or any business). The fear and stress around money can be overwhelming, leading to the instinctive urge to say yes to every opportunity.

The thought process can go like this: "If I say no to a client, I'm also saying no to money, and I'm already stressed about this month's appointment numbers and being able to pay bills, so I'll just say yes."

And the reality is, in the early days, it's normal to make compromises about who you'll accept as clients. Sometimes you just need to keep the money coming in to survive and to be able to continue on your path of growing a private practice.

Once you feel more financially secure, the ability to say no becomes incredibly valuable. Turning down clients who aren't the right fit is a crucial part of building a practice you love. It allows you to focus on working with clients you genuinely enjoy working with, creating a more fulfilling and sustainable practice.

If you plan on opening your own practice, one way to help alleviate that initial pressure is to maintain a part-time role while growing your own practice, such as working at an agency or another practice. If you're working full time somewhere, can you stay but reduce your hours? This can significantly relieve financial stress and take the pressure off, allowing you to be more selective with your clients as your practice grows.