Why should you plan?

As you know, therapy is a unique business. We provide a service, but we have to do it in a way that builds and manages complex relationships. Your business is yours and your clients will come to you because of what you specifically offer in that healing relationship. But all relationships end, and we know the best termination is one that’s planned and discussed by the therapist and client. But even when a termination can’t be that, every client still deserves an ethical termination experience; we do more harm than good if we don’t keep the end in sight.

You start a therapeutic relationship with the knowledge that it will be intense and healing, but it will end, and you’re planning that end from the beginning. Your business plan needs to be similar; your business will be rewarding and productive, and also will someday close, either because you retire or sell it, or you have an emergency that makes it so you can’t do it anymore.

You need a plan. Because your business has a lifespan. Because emergencies happen. Because you’re important to a lot of people, both personally and professionally. Because you spend a lot of time cultivating relationships. Because private practice can be isolating.

But mostly because it’s the ethical thing to do.