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6 Steps to Running a Holistic Therapy Practice with Purpose

Have you ever felt that running your holistic business is more of a burden than a fulfilling endeavour? Do you sometimes struggle to connect with your clients, or find yourself overwhelmed with the stresses of managing a practice? The truth is running a successful and sustainable holistic business requires more than just technical skills and a passion for helping others. It also requires a mindful and positive mindset. By embracing both mindfulness and positivity, you can cultivate a deeper connection with your clients, navigate challenges with resilience and create a supporting and nurturing environment for yourself and your clients.

Here, we explore six key steps to running your business more mindfully and positively, allowing you to build a practice that aligns with your key values and supports your wellbeing.

Step One: Identify and Set Your Intentions

Goal setting is a powerful practice that can motivate and guide us in business. It helps trigger new, helpful behaviours and guides focus, but only if you set them for the right reasons. A common misconception is that goals and intentions are the same thing, but this is not true. A goal is something to achieve, and is typically specific, narrow and outcome-oriented, whereas an intention is ‘why’ you want to do something, a commitment to yourself and can be embraced immediately.

In business, being aware of your ‘why’ brings clarity and focus to your goals, fostering a more authentic and meaningful environment for your clients. It represents your purpose and the deeper meaning behind your work. To set an intention, reflect on your purpose, identify your focus areas and set a clear intention statement that aligns with your personal values and desired impact.

Step 2: Practice Mindfulness Dailey

By now, most of us already know what mindfulness is; the ancient practice of being completely aware of the present – all that’s going on inside and all that is happening around us. It can help transform your relationship with yourself, with other people, with the pressures of the modern world and it can also help your holistic practice. Even on the best days, stress can prevent us from being fully focused, but mindfulness can keep us more attuned to the task at hand, lowering our chances of feeling overwhelmed. By practising mindfulness every day you can:

  • Increase your self-awareness, allowing you to understand your emotions, thoughts and reactions which enables you to respond skilfully to the needs of your clients.
  • Enhance your empathy, by developing a more aware and compassionate mindset, helping you better understand and connect with your clients, creating a safe and supportive environment for them to heal and grow.
  • Manage your stress, cultivating a better sense of calm and inner piece that can help you stay organised and provide better care.
  • Strengthen your intuition and insight, becoming more attuned to your own experiences which can guide your therapy practice and lead to more profound connections with your clients.
  • Help maintain your work/life balance, which is vital when running your own business as it can help you establish boundaries, set aside time for self-care and prevent business responsibilities from overwhelming your personal life.

But remember, incorporating mindfulness into your daily routine takes time and effort. Consistency and perseverance are key. Consider starting with short mindfulness exercises, such as mindful breathing, and gradually expand your practice as you see fit.

Step Three: Embrace Positivity

Embracing positivity can be extremely beneficial in managing your practice and its outcomes. By creating a happy environment, you establish a safe and supportive space to build trust and rapport with your clients. Not only that, but a positive mindset can have a transformative impact on the overall wellbeing and success of your therapeutic work; as your clients adopt a more positive outlook, they are more likely to navigate life’s challenges with optimism and a belief in the potential for growth, creating a more fulfilling and impactful therapeutic experience.

Step Four: Create a Supportive Culture

Similar to step three, creating a supportive culture is instrumental in running your therapy practice with purpose. By doing this, you can foster a sense of belonging and collaboration among yourself and your clients. This supportive culture not only enhances your practice’s success, but it can also help with your own personal development as a therapist.

Local group meetings, supported by the FHT, provide the perfect opportunity for you to network, exchange ideas and learn from one another about best practices, industry trends and different therapeutic approaches. By attending Local Support Group meetings you can expand your professional network and build relationships that may lead to referrals and partnerships, enabling you to offer a wider range of expertise and value to your business.

Step Five: Prioritise Your Self-care

As Sarah Kuipers said in our Autumn issue, you cannot give from an empty cup. When working in a caring job, it’s equally important to look after yourself, helping you to avoid burnout or compassion fatigue. As a therapist, your personal wellbeing directly influences the quality of care that you provide to clients. When you prioritise this, you can maintain optimal physical, emotional and mental health, ensuring you can show up as your best self for your clients.

Taking time to care for yourself through activities like exercise, meditation and relaxation helps you recharge and avoid conditions like burnout. As with step three, this can set a positive example to your clients. Promoting the importance of personal self-care can increase your clients’ trust and value in your service, and demonstrates your authenticity as a holistic therapist. This can lead to stronger relationships and a greater likelihood of them returning for more frequent visits.

Step Six: Keep Learning

The common phrase “You learn something new everyday” holds true and can benefit your business in numerous ways. To keep learning means to expand your expertise, explore new modalities and incorporate innovative approaches into your practice. It not only increases the value you provide to your clients, but also positions you as a knowledgeable and reputable professional.

Beyond that, ongoing education fosters personal growth, builds confidence and inspires creativity; all of which can positively impact the success of your business. In a rapidly evolving field like holistic therapy, staying curious, open-minded and continuously expanding your knowledge.