Why Being Fully Booked Doesn't Mean You're Truly Free
May 12, 2025Why Being Fully Booked Doesn't Mean You're Truly Free
Burnout Is Not a Badge of Honor
If you’re a therapist, there’s a good chance you’ve believed the lie: “If I just fill my calendar, everything will be fine.” But being fully booked doesn’t always bring peace. It often brings burnout.
As James Marland, host of the Scaling Therapy Practice podcast, shares:
"Burnout is not a badge of honor. There's a better way to build."
Let’s unpack that truth and explore how therapists can shift from an overloaded calendar to a more flexible and freeing business model.
The Hidden Cost of a Full Caseload
James describes what many therapists experience: a packed calendar, high stress, and still feeling stuck.
"We are maxed out. And in the model where your calendar is your income, your schedule becomes your ceiling."
In other words, your time becomes the limit. Even worse, when demand drops, the expenses don't. You're left paying for staff, rent, and resources, even if clients stop coming in.
This cycle—overwhelmed during busy times and anxious during slow ones—makes it hard to find joy or balance in your practice.
It’s Not You, It’s the Model
So what’s the real problem? James says it clearly:
"Maybe time or the schedule isn't the problem. Maybe the model is."
Most therapy businesses use a simple model: trade time for money. But therapy time has no shelf life. If no one shows up for a session, the time is gone forever.
"It's like a bag of spinach that sits too long in the fridge. Once it's over, it can't be sold anymore."
This time-for-money model creates constant pressure:
- To take every session
- To never cancel, even when you’re exhausted
- To put off vacations or family events
And that’s not sustainable.
A Smarter Way to Serve: Creating Time-Free Products
What if you could share your knowledge without being tied to a 50-minute session? James offers a solution:
"What if you could package your experience in a way that lasted... like recorded workshops, cohort courses, online courses, intensives, or continuing education classes?"
These options let you serve more people without adding more hours to your day. You build once, and people can buy your course anytime. That means more freedom for you—and more access for your clients.
"Your best ideas shouldn't expire at the end of a 50-minute session."
Start Small, But Start Now
One of the biggest fears therapists have is not having enough time to build something new. But James reminds us:
"You don’t need a flagship course or big audience to get started. You just need a plan—one small step after the other."
He even compares it to missing out on early investments in companies like Netflix or Amazon:
"I kept waiting for the perfect time... But that was the right time. And I missed it."
The key is to stop waiting and start taking small, practical steps today.
You Are Made for More Than Burnout
If your schedule is running your life instead of the other way around, it’s time to try something new. You don’t have to quit your practice or start over. Just take the first step.
"Start building something that gives you your life back."
James offers a free resource to help you get started:
➡️ 15 Ways to Package Your Experience into a Coaching Product
➡️ And for deeper support, check out the Scaling Therapy Empowerment Program (STEP)
Course Creation Planning Worksheet Download
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