Scaling Therapist Podcast
Episode 132: The High Cost of Playing It Safe (Why Avoiding Risk Holds You Back)
Host: James Marland

Episode Summary:
In this episode, I talk about how fear and imposter syndrome can stop therapists and private practice owners from growing their businesses. I share a few personal stories about times when I let hesitation hold me back, and how I learned that courage comes before confidence. If you’ve been waiting to feel “ready” before trying something new, this episode is your reminder that taking action (even small, imperfect steps) is the real way forward.

What You’ll Learn:

• Why imposter syndrome is so common in helping professions
• How fear disguises itself as wisdom
• What hesitation has cost me (and maybe you too)
• Why you should act before you feel confident
• How to take one small step forward this week

Timestamps and Topics:

(00:00) A story about hiding after a small mistake in a school play
(01:00) The cost of fear and hesitation in business and life
(02:30) Imposter syndrome and why it shows up for therapists
(04:00) The leadership role I turned down because I didn’t feel ready
(06:00) Surprising statistics on imposter syndrome
(08:00) How your brain makes small mistakes feel huge
(10:30) Why your audience doesn’t notice what you think they do
(11:30) Leading a group without confidence (courage came first)
(13:00) You don’t need to wait for perfection to move forward
(14:00) A new course to help you overcome self-doubt
(15:30) Final encouragement and call to action

Resources Mentioned

• Store Page: https://www.coursecreationstudio.com/store
• Special offer - Pay what you want for confident course creator https://www.coursecreationstudio.com/offers/EoAzZpsG

If you're a therapist, coach, or mission-minded helper who feels like you're supposed to do it all on your own—this one’s for you.

I share a deeply personal story about what pretending to be “fine” cost me in marriage, and what it revealed about how I was building my business. This episode isn’t about hustle. It’s about getting honest.

What if community is the thing that gets you unstuck?

As a course creation coach for therapists, I’ve seen over and over again that support—not solo hustle—is the real catalyst for growth. Let’s talk about how to find it and why it matters.

• You’ll hear what “fake peace” really looks like in a marriage—and a business.
• You’ll learn why being stuck isn’t a capacity issue—it’s often a community issue.
• You’ll walk away with one practical step to stop building your online offer alone.

• 00:00 – I open with this truth: Support is not a crutch. It’s a catalyst.
• 02:10 – The story of me and my wife walking into a group while silently falling apart.
• 06:45 – Why we say “we’re fine” in business—and why that’s keeping us stuck.
• 08:40 – Naming the Solo Myth: The lie that you have to do this alone.
• 10:00 – Donald Miller's advice: Why coaches need community too.
• 11:20 – My basement remodel: a story of drywall, fear of power tools, and how 10 friends did what would’ve taken me years.
• 14:00 – LinkedIn accountability: how a weekly group helped me start showing up consistently.
• 16:45 – Fun Financial Fridays: how community made money tasks less overwhelming.
• 19:30 – Being authentic: why showing the cracks builds trust with your ideal client.
• 21:00 – A reflection: What about your real life would help your audience connect?
• 22:30 – Final invitation: You’re not stuck because you can’t. You’re stuck because you’re doing it alone.

• Book: Coach Builder by Donald Miller → https://businessmadesimple.com
• Want help planning your next 90 days? Book a free call with me → https://tidycal.com/360z043/custom-goal-setting-interview-m829oov
• Ready to grow without burnout? I'm a therapist online course business coach—learn more here → https://www.coursecreationstudio.com/

You don’t need more grit. You need more people who believe in what you’re building.

If someone came to mind while you listened, text them. Ask for 15 minutes. Swap ideas. Or reach out to me and let’s plan your next 90 days together.

If this helped you see things differently, share it with a friend.
We go further faster when we don’t go alone.

When you’re running a practice, change is constant, but staying focused during the hard parts is where most therapists get stuck. In this episode, James talks with Michael Dettrich-Chastain, therapist and CEO of Arc Integrated, about why we revert to old habits and what to do instead. From real-life struggles with tools like ClickUp to Michael’s 7 Influencers of Change, this episode is packed with insights for practice owners who want to grow without burning out.

• How to stay focused when making changes in your practice, even when things get uncomfortable
• A breakdown of Michael Dettrich-Chastain’s 7 Influencers of Change framework
• Real examples of why we revert to old habits and how to build support systems that keep you moving forward

[00:00:01] Michael opens with the idea that success is self-defined because we are always in flux and always changing.

[00:01:00] James introduces Michael and shares how they met at the Wise Practice Summit.

[00:02:00] Michael shares about the flood in North Carolina and the community’s response during crisis.

[00:04:15] Michael’s journey from therapist to CEO and the leap from comfort to entrepreneurship.

[00:07:00] How becoming a father changed Michael’s perspective on work, travel, and balance.

[00:08:00] Why change in practice often shows up as symptoms, not signs—frustration, delay, complaints.

[00:10:00] Michael introduces his 7 Influencers of Change: cognition, heart, action, nourishment, guts, environment, spirit.

[00:12:00] How environment keeps us stuck—and how to shift it to support change.

[00:13:45] James shares his ClickUp struggle as a real example of falling back on old habits when change gets hard.

[00:15:00] Michael applies his framework to James’s situation, focusing on cognition and environment.

[00:17:30] Why clearly defining success is the key to staying focused when things get tough.

[00:20:00] Entrepreneurship as personal development—how change forces us to grow in unexpected ways.

[00:20:30] Where to find Michael’s free change management resources and tools.

• Free toolkit from Michael: arcintegrated.com/free
• Michael’s website: arcintegrated.com
• Project management tool discussed: ClickUp
• Book: Changes by Michael Dettrich-Chastain