We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Alicia Johnson. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Alicia below.

Alicia , looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Setting up an independent practice is a daunting endeavor. Can you talk to us about what it was like for you – what were some of the main steps, challenges, etc.

The early days of starting my mental health private practice were really scary and stressful. I started my online therapy business in 2020 after working in community mental health for a few years. That was when things were still online due to Covid-19 and I had some upcoming life transitions coming up with a big interstate move so there was a lot going on in my life.

For many therapists, while we have our master’s degree, we don’t really get formal training on how to start up or run a business. So here I was just figuring it out on my own. I spent many days looking at state and federal laws, my code of ethics, marketing stuff, our board rules, and liability stuff. Oh, and how the heck to do business taxes and budgeting. All of that logistic stuff was over my head and for someone who is very type – A and likes to achieve it was often frustrating not understanding a lot of it.

Thankfully, I had an amazing team of supporters in my life. I was able to lean on my mentors and peers who went into private practice and got invaluable advice and resources from them. I was able to lean on my family who helped me understand some of the financial pieces that was way over my head. I was able to take time for myself and watch trainings and programs from other’s who have done this process. That all really helped. I could not do it alone and I would not be here today without the support of those wonderful humans who helped me create and maintain a success business.

One of the biggest challenges I noticed in my journey was the divide among my field around fees and accessibility of care. There are these Facebook groups where other therapists can join and support each other, and often times, people would get attacked if they had a “high” fee or didn’t take insurance. There was a lot of judgement placed on people who didn’t want to take insurance or have sliding scale and it was a huge mindset journey I had to go through to figure out my values and what worked for my business. I have always been private pay, which means I don’t take insurance, and I used to feel guilty or ashamed when I would tell people that. I didn’t want people to think I was selfish or only cared about money. But the truth was, I valued my time and did not want to get burned out and leaving the field. I had to protect my time and energy so that I could keep doing what I loved and not end up burned out and resentful. That was a hard journey of therapy, self-refection, and creating boundaries.

My advice for new folks starting their own practice is believe in yourself!! I remember having so many imposter syndrome thoughts and valued myself below others. Running a business is brave and courageous and you can do it! Also, remember, you don’t have to do it alone and it doesn’t have to be perfect. My practice has changed and evolved over the years just like I have. So put yourself out there and let’s see what you can do!!

Alicia , before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

I am a licensed therapist and coach for women and entrepreneurs who are dealing with burnout and anxiety. I love to empower people to believe in themselves and take care of their needs while also helping them reach their goals. I believe in helping people find a meaningful work-life balance so that people can experience more joy and success.

I am fully virtual and I offer therapy services, coaching services, and digital courses and workbooks to help people feel confident in the work that they do. Being fully online allows my clients and audience to meet at times that work best for them! Many of my clients are BUSY so they love having a flexible schedule and being able to hop on for a meeting. The courses and workbooks are great for these folks too because it is all self-paced and broken up into small sections so even busy people can take this time for themself!

The thing that I am most proud of is how I can provide a sliver of hope for people. Many people dealing with anxiety and burnout can feel helpless and hopeless. It can be a dark space to be in. So when client’s share that they have some hope that they can get through it, it is the best feeling in the world.

If you could go back in time, do you think you would have chosen a different profession or specialty?

I used to say no and that I wish I could do something like accounting or professional organizing. But that was when I was burned out and thought I didn’t have what it takes to be a therapist. Now, I would 100 percent say I would do this profession again! I love being a therapist and those skills have transformed me into a coach that can meet people where they are and provide empathy and encouragement in a healing way. The helping professions are so special and needed in our world.

Putting training and knowledge aside, what else do you think really matters in terms of succeeding in your field?

Consultation! We often feel like we have to do things alone or we are weak. Or that we have to be all knowing otherwise we are not good enough. We need to understand that asking for help and knowing our limits is actually a sign of strength. Get a group of peers or find a mentor. The scarcity mindset can be very limiting so when we can change into a growth mindset and help each other out, the possibilities are endless.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.aliciarjohnson.com
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/aliciajohnsonlmft
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100065086297326
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aliciarjohnson/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@aliciarjohnsononline