Why Early-Career Therapists Need Mentorship (And Where to Find It)
Starting out as a therapist can feel both exciting and overwhelming. You’ve put in years of education, countless practicum hours, and survived the gauntlet of supervision and exams. And yet… stepping into the role of “therapist” can feel a little like being tossed into the deep end.
Early-career therapists often carry big questions:
How do I find clients who are a good fit?
How much should I charge? How do I make enough and still keep therapy accessible to all?
How do I balance being present for clients with running the business side of private practice?
What kind of therapist am I becoming?
Supervision covers clinical growth, but mentorship speaks to the whole picture. It’s the bridge between theory and practice, between being a trainee and stepping into your own authority.
Why Mentorship Matters
Practical Guidance – No one teaches you how to set fees, manage a website, or talk about your work in ways that feel authentic. Mentorship gives you concrete tools.
Reflective Space – It’s one thing to learn interventions; it’s another to have space to explore your values, your blocks, and the therapist you’re becoming.
Community & Belonging – Private practice can be isolating. Having a circle of peers and a guide who “gets it” helps you feel less alone.
Sustainability – Without support, many early therapists burn out or undercharge. Mentorship offers accountability for building practices that actually nourish you.
Where to Find Mentorship
Mentorship doesn’t have to look like a single supervisor at a clinic. It can take many forms:
Peer Consultation Groups – Great for connection, though they often lack structured guidance.
Formal Supervision – Essential, but usually focused narrowly on clinical hours and liability.
Workshops & Trainings – Helpful, though often one-off and not personalized to your unique context.
Structured Mentorship Programs – A blend of education, reflection, and community designed specifically for early-career therapists.
Introducing In Practice
This is exactly why I created In Practice—a 6-week group mentorship program for early-career therapists (AMFTs, ASWs, LPCCs, and those newly licensed).
In Practice is built around the questions and challenges you don’t get enough support on:
Clarifying your identity as a therapist
Naming and shifting stuck patterns (overgiving, undercharging, saying yes too fast)
Translating your values into aligned marketing
Building confidence in fees, policies, and boundaries
Connecting with a circle of peers who are in it with you
It’s part mentorship, part community, and part practical workshop space.
If You’re Looking for Support
If you’ve been craving a space that bridges the gap between supervision and private practice reality, In Practice might be for you.
✨ Enrollment for the Fall cohort is opening soon.
You can learn more and join the waitlist here.
You don’t have to figure it all out alone. Mentorship can be the difference between simply surviving the early years of practice and actually building a career that feels sustainable, authentic, and deeply your own.