Rawda Tomoum: Building a Private Practice From Online to In-Person | Ep 73

Have you been stalling on your private practice dream? What holds you back from starting your own Canadian private practice? What does the first step look like? 

Whether you are concentrating on levelling up your marketing efforts, honing in on your niche, or launching a sustainable private practice, making an investment in that future can feel scary – but in reality it is completely doable. The most difficult point is starting, so remember that everything is “figureoutable”, and take that first step. 

In this podcast episode, Rawda and I discuss her journey into Canadian private practice – all the way from Egypt to Dubai to the US and then to BC! – and how she navigated trials, tribulations, and successes along the way. 

MEET RAWDA

Rawda is a Registered Clinical Counsellor who came all the way from Egypt, passing by Dubai and Texas, till she made it to Burnaby, BC, Canada. She works with couples as well as adult individuals struggling with self-esteem, stress, depression, anxiety, and trauma, and since she started her practice, her background has led many immigrants and mixed-race couples her way.

Learn more about Rawda on her website and LinkedIn profile. 

In this episode: 

• Starting a private practice 

• Being intentional with work preferences 

• Highlight your background in your marketing 

• Struggles and triumphs of running a private practice 

• Rawda’s advice to Canadian private practitioners 

Starting a private practice 

Rawda was already applying for her paperwork to launch her Canadian private practice while she was in Texas. 

Rawda decided not to work in an organization because it was difficult to either match up her schedule or her skillset with what they wanted. So, she focused more on launching her Canadian private practice. 

Being intentional with work preferences 

Take control of your schedule in a way that supports you in being the best Canadian therapist that you can be. Structure your working hours to suit your lifestyle, you do not have to follow the same routine as others! 

Be proactive in helping yourself by taking some of the pressure off, and having the initiative to structure your day as it suits you best to do good work while caring for your needs. 

Highlight your background in your marketing

If it fits within your niche and is something that you would feel comfortable doing, bring your background into your marketing strategy! 

Often clients will be drawn to work with you not just for the services that you offer, but for whether they feel connected with or comfortable around you. 

Struggles and triumphs of running a private practice

Something that almost all new Canadian private practice owners struggle with is that they have to wear so many hats at first when they are launching the practice for the first time. 

Rawda made sure when she was starting to utilize the marketing platforms that would help her to find her clients, and they worked! From Google Maps to the website to social media, they all helped her to connect with her first clients. 

Rawda started her Canadian private practice online, and when she felt that things had settled and were going well, she then transitioned to offering in-person counselling. 

Rawda’s advice to Canadian private practitioners 

There will never be a perfect moment to do something where you have everything figured out, because nobody – no matter their journey – has everything figured out! 

So stop stalling and get going on your dreams. Let yourself be free to make mistakes so that you can learn faster and reach