How to Handle Your First Tough Session as a Business Owner (When You Can’t Just Text Your Supervisor After)
When you’re a new PMHNP in private practice, there’s a moment that hits hard:
A session ends.
You close your laptop.
And suddenly, the weight of it sinks in.
Something about it felt off.
Maybe a safety concern came up.
Maybe the dynamic felt triggering.
Maybe you just walked away questioning your own clinical judgment.
And then you realize… there’s no team to debrief with.
No huddle.
No quick text to your supervisor.
No built-in place to process.
Just you, your thoughts, and the silence that follows.
This is one of the loneliest parts of private practice and one that no one talks about enough.
So if this has happened to you, take a breath. You’re not doing it wrong.
You’re just navigating something new, without the structure you were trained in.
Here’s how to move through it without spiraling, shutting down, or going back to systems that never supported you in the first place.
1. Don’t make it mean more than it does
A tough session doesn’t mean you’re not skilled.
It doesn’t mean you did something wrong.
And it doesn’t mean you’re not cut out for private practice.
It means you’re human.
It means you care.
And it means your nervous system is still adjusting to holding space without a built-in net.
Start with this reminder: “I can feel rattled and still be competent.”
2. Build a self-debrief ritual
This doesn’t have to be complex.
It just needs to be consistent.
After a tough session, try asking yourself:
What specifically felt off, unsafe, or overwhelming?
What was mine to hold, and what wasn’t?
What would I tell a colleague in the same situation?
What do I need to do next, if anything?
Write it down. Say it out loud. Step away if needed.
Creating this space helps you process before panic takes over.
3. Know when to consult and who to reach out to
There’s no gold star for handling everything alone.
If something clinical came up that you’re unsure about, or if you just need a reality check, reach out.
That might be:
A trusted colleague
A mentor
A clinical consultation group
A past supervisor, if appropriate
Clinical confidence doesn’t come from knowing everything.
It comes from knowing how to get support when you need it.
4. Take care of your nervous system
Not in the “light a candle and move on” way.
In the real, practical way.
Step outside
Move your body
Eat something grounding
Block off space between sessions if you can
Name what you’re feeling so it doesn’t stay stuck
You are not a machine.
You are a provider and a person.
You’re allowed to be impacted.
5. Don’t let one hard session rewrite your entire story
You don’t need to change your model.
You don’t need to question your entire approach.
You don’t need to go back to agency work just because this felt hard.
One session does not define your skillset.
What matters is how you move through it.
Being a business owner and a provider means learning how to self-regulate, self-reflect, and seek support by choice, not because it’s baked into the system.
Inside Strong Roots, we build those tools from day one— because your sustainability depends on more than your chart notes and treatment plans.
It depends on your ability to take care of you, too.
You’re not alone in this.
You’re just building new muscles.
And that takes time.
If you’re feeling stuck or unsure where to start, come join us inside Strong Roots Mentorship. We take you step by step from ground zero to seeing patients and beyond, without the overwhelm.