In this solo episode, I reflect on my experiences as a leader in 2025, discussing the lessons learned about leadership, capacity, and the costs associated with growth. I share my journey from clinician to leader to CEO, emphasizing the importance of delegation, team empowerment, and maintaining a balance between accessibility and effectiveness. I also address the challenges of capacity and burnout, and candidly discuss the financial realities of business growth, including the impact of staffing and operational changes.

Key Takeaways:

• Leadership requires vulnerability and authenticity.

• Comparing ourselves to others can be misleading.

• Delegation is essential for growth and scaling.

• Effective leaders inspire and empower their teams.

• Accessibility must be balanced with effectiveness.

• Energy and time are limited resources.

• Burnout can result from overextending oneself.

• Financial growth does not always equate to profitability.

Julia's Links:

Website

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Jose Diaz is a licensed professional counselor who is currently navigating the process of expanding is solo practice to group. In this consulting episode, he shares his journey of establishing a successful solo practice, the factors that contributed to his decision to build a team, and highlights the challenges and successes he has encountered along the way. We delve into the importance of understanding personal roadblocks, particularly through the lens of the Enneagram, which helped Jose identify fears that have hindered his growth. The conversation emphasizes the significance of self-awareness and the need for support in navigating the complexities of running a counseling practice. Insights are shared about the practical aspects of running a practice, the hiring process, and the value of taking imperfect action.

Key Takeaways:

• The Enneagram can be helpful in understanding the fears that prevent us from taking action.
• You are in control of the pace of the hiring process.
• You do not have to do everything on your own.
• You can start with part-time clinicians to ease into expansion.
• Relationship building is crucial for consistent referrals.
• Acknowledge your achievements.

Jose's Links:

Website

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Kara Cruz is a psychotherapist, private practice owner, and educator whose work centers on helping women and helping professionals reconnect with themselves-without burning out in the process. She is the founder of Therapist Group Bootcamp, a mastermind guiding therapists in designing, planning, and launching their own signature group programs and It Begins with Us, a group for women focused on rebuilding self trust and healing from self abandonment. She specializes in working with women, therapists, and helpers who are successful on the outside but feel disconnected, burned out, or out of alignment on the inside. Her focus is on nervous system health, self-trust, and helping people stop abandoning themselves in the name of being good, productive, or successful. She shares her personal journey of overcoming burnout and how she now helps other women navigate similar struggles. She talks about how over-functioning, people-pleasing, and nervous system dysregulation can slowly pull us away from our values and what it actually looks like to build a life and career that feels aligned, sustainable, and rooted in self-trust.

Key Takeaways

• Self-trust in an important component of overcoming burnout.
• Burnout can manifest in various ways, including physical and emotional exhaustion.
• Creating a supportive community is essential for healing and growth.
• Setting clear boundaries is crucial for maintaining mental health.
• It is important to focus on a few key projects rather than spreading yourself too thin.
• Self-care and rest are vital for long-term success and well-being.
• Therapy and coaching can provide valuable insights and support.
• Building self-trust takes time and practice, similar to developing a new skill.

Kara’s Links:

Website

Therapist Group Bootcamp

It Begins With Us

Instagram