The simple answer…
You don’t have competition to rise above.
A bold claim but let me explain. In business people tend to focus on the competition and scarcity. “There aren’t enough clients for everyone!” “The market is getting flooded with too many therapists.” I look at it this way – there are always going to be people transitioning to another stage in their life, waking up to who they are, or gathering the courage to make big changes. There are plenty of clients for everyone, and every client/therapist match is a special fit. Worrying about what everyone else is doing neglects the key factor to success in your business…You!
There isn’t another therapist just like you.
Even if you have the same education and the same specialties and target the same clients in the same location – you are not in completion with other therapists. Just like you will never be friends with everyone of a certain group, you will not be the perfect fit with everyone who falls into your ideal client category. Your lived experiences, your values, your quirks – that is what will set you apart and make you resonate with your potential clients. That is what your clients are drawn towards.
Remember – the biggest predictor of results in therapy is the quality of the relationship between therapist and client.
You need to be clear about who you are and what you stand for, and clear about who you help and how you do it. Simple to say, but it takes soul searching to do. Once you figure out who you truly are as a practitioner and who your clients are at their core, you need to communicate this to them in a way that makes sense to them. Speak their language and speak from the heart. I promise you this, there are more than enough clients for everyone, and your clients are out there waiting for you to find them. Stop worrying about what other people are doing and start doing you really well. And if you need support to figure out how to do that, I’ve got your back.