You may have chosen to go into private practice because you wanted more freedom, only to find yourself recreating the same traditional workweek you were trying to leave behind. When success has always looked like putting in your time, staying busy, and being available throughout the workday, stepping away from your desk can feel like playing hooky, which can be uncomfortable — even when your business is stable and your clients are well supported. In this “Best Of” episode, Linzy revisits one of the most downloaded conversations from the past year with Diane Webber, a financial therapist, private practice owner, and coach in the Money Skills programs. Together, they explore the freedom, responsibility, uncertainty, and purpose that can come with self-employment. Diane shares how private practice has allowed her to be present for her family while navigating the changing needs of the sandwich generation. She and Linzy also talk about why therapists do not have 40 hours of quality emotional energy to give every week, how rest and time away support better clinical work, and why appearing busy is not the same as doing meaningful work. Their conversation also turns to the ongoing work of managing money as business owners. Financial systems cannot always be reorganized quickly because money is still coming in and going out while the changes are happening. Diane explains why patience, small wins, and confidence in the decision-making process matter more than trying to fix everything at once. If you have been measuring your success by the number of hours you work, feeling guilty when you step away, or trying to overhaul your finances in one intense burst, this episode will help you think differently about what a sustainable private practice can look like. Timestamps: 03:30 - Meet Money Skills Coach Diane Webber 04:16 - The Highs and Lows of Self-Employment 05:17 - What Freedom in Private Practice Can Look Like 06:05 - Self-Employment and the Needs of the Sandwich Generation 07:41 - Building a Business That Supports Time Away 08:01 - Unlearning the Need to Put In Your Time 09:39 - Why Quality Matters More Than Quantity 10:26 - Therapists Do Not Have 40 Hours of Emotional Energy 11:16 - Giving Yourself Permission to Step Away 12:54 - Letting Your Brain Work in the Background 13:56 - The Performance of Busyness and Pseudo-Productivity 14:41 - Understanding and Honoring How You Work Best 17:34 - Variety, Change, and Using Different Parts of Your Brain 18:17 - Why Money Skills Work Can Feel More Concrete 20:00 - Creating Order in Work That Often Feels Messy 22:00 - Building Confidence in Your Financial Process 22:33 - Learning Money Skills While Money Is Still Moving 23:30 - Creating a Sustainable, Ongoing Relationship with Money 24:43 - Do All Private Practice Owners Identify as Entrepreneurs? 29:33 - Finding a Gap and Building Work Around It 30:33 - How Owning Your Niche Helps the Right Clients Find You 32:22 - Outsourcing Work You Do Not Enjoy 33:00 - Freedom, Responsibility, and the Thrill of Self-Employment 34:06 - Diane's Financial Therapy Practice 35:29 - Linzy's Final Reflection and Community Invitation Connect with Diane Webber: Diane is a licensed professional counselor and certified financial social work counselor with a fully online private practice in Northeastern Pennsylvania. She serves clients experiencing financial anxiety, general anxiety, strained relationships, grief, loss, and life transitions where money is part of the picture. Diane is also a proud member of the Money Skills for Therapists coaching team, enthusiastically celebrating successes as members of the program redefine their money mindsets and sharpen their money skills. Website: https://www.dianewebber.me/ For other episodes with Diane, check out: Episode 97: Compassionate Approaches to Finances with Diane Webber Episode 213: Adapting Your Business and Team for a Changing Market About Linzy Bonham: Linzy Bonham is a therapist turned money coach who helps private practice owners and health professionals feel calm, confident, and in control of their finances through her podcast, free workshops and comprehensive programs: Money Skills for Therapists and Money Skills for Group Practice Owners. It all started when she saw her extremely skilled colleagues struggle with the money side of business. Some had even left private practice, or were avoiding starting one, because managing finances was just too stressful. So Linzy set out to support helpers and healers with developing peace of mind about their money. Since so many were never taught money skills, she focuses on the “how” of making the business side of private practice doable, and even super satisfying. You can learn more here: https://moneyskillsfortherapists.com/about And you can follow along on social media: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/linzybonham/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/moneyskillsfortherapists/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/moneynutsandbolts Want to feel more calm and confident about your money? Join one of Linzy’s free online workshops for private practice owners who want practical support with money mindset, avoidance, and the technical side of managing business finances. Explore upcoming workshops and save your spot or register to get the replay: https://moneyskillsfortherapists.com/workshops You can also join the private WhatsApp community to connect with other therapists, health practitioners, and podcast listeners. Submit your request here to join today.
