Starting or growing a therapy practice can feel overwhelming, especially when student loans are high, salaries don’t stretch far enough, and finding clients on your own is a constant challenge. The good news? With a few simple steps, you can make yourself more visible, attract new families, and even launch a side hustle that creates extra income while doing what you love. Don’t forget to check out the checklist at the bottom of the post for the basic steps to grow your practice.
Clarify Your Offer
The first step to building a business or side hustle is knowing exactly what you’re offering. Are you focusing on private therapy sessions, insurance providers, parent coaching, workshops, or short-term school contracts? Start with one clear service. It’s easier to market something specific than a long list of options. As your confidence grows, you can add more.
Build a Visible Presence to Grow Your Practice
If families can’t find you, they can’t hire you. Three essential visibility tools are:
- Directory Listings – Get listed where parents are searching. Whole Child Guide provides therapist-led visibility and links directly to your website or contact info.
- Website or Landing Page – A simple page with your photo, short bio, services, and contact form is enough to start.
- Google Business Profile – A free listing that helps you show up in “near me” searches.
Leverage Your Network
Many of your first clients will come from people you already know. Start local:
- Schools – Offer a free 15-minute workshop or resource sheet at your local school for teachers or parent groups.
- Pediatricians – Share your specialty and leave behind professional materials.
- Word of Mouth – Ask families who trust you if they’d recommend your services.
Start Small and Scale Later
You don’t need a perfect system to get started. Begin with low-barrier offers such as:
- A free developmental screening event
- A $25 parent Q&A session
- A single one-on-one consultation
- A short workshop
These small offers build trust and open the door to ongoing services.
Use Whole Child Guide as Your Launchpad
Your membership listing is designed to help you:
- Grow your current business by sending parents directly to your site or contact info
- Grow a side hustle by testing new services like workshops or parent coaching
- Start a side hustle with access to growth resources and tools created for therapists
Quick Action Checklist to Grow Your Practice
Use this checklist to get moving this week:
- Write a 2–3 sentence description of your core service
- Get listed on at least one online directory
- Share one post on social media about who you help and how
- Reach out to one school or pediatrician to share your info
- Identify one small service you could start offering in the next 30 days
Growing a practice or side hustle doesn’t have to be complicated. By clarifying your offer, making yourself visible, and taking small, consistent steps, you can create new income streams while doing what you love. 🌟 Next Step: Join Whole Child Guide and let families find you today.