Project Description

Challenge: No clear direction. Stuck at same income for 2 years. Feeling like he was just treading water. Questioning if private practice was the right choice.

Industry: Private Therapy Practice | Location: Bristol | Challenge: Growth & Direction

The Situation

James had been a therapist for 12 years—8 in the NHS, 4 running his own private practice. He was good at his job. His clients got results. His diary was full.

But somewhere along the way, he’d lost sight of why he’d gone private in the first place.

“I feel like I’m just… existing,” James said. “Seeing clients, invoicing, repeat. I don’t know what I’m working towards anymore. I’m not growing, I’m not developing, I’m just treading water.”

The Problem

James’s challenges weren’t about getting clients—he had plenty of those. His problems were deeper:

  • No clear vision for where the practice was going
  • Feeling stuck at the same income level for 2 years
  • Taking on every client who enquired, regardless of fit
  • No time for professional development or specialisation
  • Couldn’t see a path to growth that didn’t mean working more hours
  • Questioning whether private practice was even the right choice

He’d built a job, not a business. And that job was starting to feel like a trap.

What Changed

We spent three months working on strategic clarity and business planning.

First, we got honest about what James actually wanted. Not what he thought he should want, but what would make the work feel meaningful again. Turns out, he was passionate about working with high-performing professionals dealing with burnout—a niche he’d never pursued because he thought he “should” take everyone.

We built a 12-month business plan that included:

  • Transitioning to specialist work
  • Phasing out clients who didn’t fit the new focus
  • Pricing structure that reflected his 12 years of experience
  • Professional development plan (additional training in executive coaching)
  • Marketing strategy to attract corporate referrals

James also confronted his reluctance to turn people away. We worked through the guilt of saying “I’m not the right fit for you”—and built a referral network so he could send people to appropriate colleagues.

The Result

Nine months later:

  • Transitioned 80% of client base to corporate professionals
  • 45% increase in session rates
  • Reduced client hours from 30/week to 22/week
  • Invested in advanced professional qualifications
  • Regained sense of purpose and direction
  • Corporate referrals becoming primary source of new clients

“I finally feel like I’m building something,” James shared. “I know where I’m going. And I’m working with people whose challenges actually interest me. The work feels meaningful again.”

Where James Is Now:

James now runs specialist workshops for corporate clients on preventing executive burnout. He’s written articles for industry publications. His practice has a waiting list. Most importantly, he wakes up actually wanting to work.