The Weekly CEO Hour: Run Your Practice Like a Business

One of the most empowering parts of being a therapist is the freedom to shape your own path. You have the opportunity to build a practice that reflects your values, your vision, and the kind of care you want to provide. But while your clinical training prepared you to support others, it may not have prepared you for the day-to-day demands of running a business. Over time, these demands can hold you back from creating your dream practice.

During your typical session-packed week, it might feel impossible to carve out time to think about the bigger goals for your practice. But by dedicating just one hour per week to working on the business-side of your practice, you’re more likely to:

• Avoid end-of-year tax stress
• Maintain steady client flow
• Prevent burnout
• Make smart decisions about your practice

Here’s how to implement a Weekly CEO Hour.

What is the weekly CEO hour?

The Weekly CEO Hour is one protected hour where clinicians can step away from client work to focus purely on business. It’s a self-created opportunity to invest consistently in the success and sustainability of your private practice.

How to get started

Step 1: Schedule it like a client session

The key to making the CEO Hour work is consistency. Treat it like it’s as non-negotiable as a client session because in many ways, it is!

Decide when you’ll do it

Ideally, you’d schedule your CEO hour for the same time each week. Choose a time you can consistently keep and resist scheduling over it.

• Some therapists prefer Monday mornings (to start the week with clarity) or Thursday afternoons (close to end of the week but not on Fridays, which are often disrupted by weekend plans).
• Pick a time when you won’t be distracted by sessions, calls, or personal/family demands.

Decide where you’ll do it

• If you work in an office, consider blocking off time to arrive early or stay late.
• If you work remotely, going to a café, library, or co-working space can be a welcome change of pace.

Get started: Open your calendar now and schedule a recurring Weekly CEO Hour for the next month.

Step 2: Focus on what matters

Having a clear focus during your Weekly CEO Hour will help you make the most of that time. The four focus areas below are suggestions to get the wheels turning. They’re the kinds of tasks many therapists put off—not because they aren’t important, but because they’re often less enjoyable than clinical work. By giving them regular attention, they become more manageable and help keep your practice running smoothly.

Financial Health: Tracking Your Numbers

You might have a habit of ignoring finances until tax season or when something looks “off” on a bill or payment record. Instead, you can use your CEO Hour to:

• Review weekly income and expenses like bank statements, payment statements, and bills.
• Track and categorize business expenses like rent, software, supervision, and insurance.
• Address errors or other issues like overdue bills and unwanted subscriptions promptly.
• Set aside tax savings, which usually amount to 25 to 30% of income on average.
• Adjust your income goals to consider what you need and want to make over the next few months.

Why it matters: It’s really hard to meet your financial goals when your finances aren’t clear. Getting a better handle on your cash flow can help you make more informed decisions about your practice.

Get started: Open your accounting software, spreadsheet, or bank app and review your income and expenses from the past week.

Marketing: Ensuring a Steady Flow of Clients

It’s tempting to put marketing on the backburner when you have a full caseload, but doing a little marketing on a regular basis will make it easier to bring in new clients when you suddenly find yourself with open spots to fill.

Use your CEO Hour to:

• Check your website and online directory listings. Are they updated? Could you add more detail or nuance to appeal to your ideal clients?
• Review inquiries and consultation requests. Who contacted you this week? Are potential clients registering your areas of speciality? Are they asking questions that could be more clearly answered on your profile?
• Plan social media content or blog posts. Even short-and-sweet posts help keep you visible.
• Reach out to referral partners. Consider forming relationships with local doctors, attorneys, other therapists, and schools.

Why it matters: Even if you’re fully booked, a steady marketing plan ensures that you’re not scrambling to find clients later.

Get started: Pick one small marketing task for the week. This could mean updating a profile, sending a networking email, or planning a social media post.

Workload check-in

Private practice can be emotionally draining. Instead of waiting until you’re exhausted or resenting client work, use your CEO Hour to reflect on how you’re feeling about your workload. Jot down a few responses to the following questions:

• How many client hours did I work this week?
• Did it feel sustainable?
• Which experiences or tasks drained me the most?
• Which energized me?
• Did I take breaks between sessions?
• Did I feel overbooked?
• Am I sticking to my work boundaries (e.g., no after-hours emails, limiting evening sessions)?

Why it matters: It’s easy to overlook the warning signs of burnout while you’re focused on supporting others. Stay in touch with how you’re feeling about your caseload so that you can course-correct early.

Get started: Identify one area where you need to adjust your workload or boundaries.

Big Picture Planning & Goal Setting

Think about the bigger vision for your practice—whether it’s developing a new specialty, expanding your client roster, or earning a new certification. Start by writing down these long-term goals, then break them into smaller, achievable steps.

Each week, set a SMART business goal that moves you closer to your ideal practice. Over time, these consistent, manageable actions build momentum and lead to significant progress.

To refresh your memory, SMART goals are:

• Specific: Focused on a singular aspect of your business or clinical development
• Measurable: There’s a clear way to measure progress over time
• Achievable: You can get it done with the resources you have available now
• Relevant: Tied to a larger goal or purpose that fundamentally fuels you
• Time-bound: Established start and end dates

Why it matters: The daily demands of running a practice make it difficult to step back and focus on your long-term vision. Writing a clear plan makes you much more likely to achieve your goals.

Get started: Jot down one short-term goal, one medium-term goal, and one long-term goal to map out your path forward.

Step 3: Hold yourself accountable

It’s easy to fall back into the chaos of client work and let your CEO hour slip off your calendar. To ensure your Weekly CEO Hour stays effective:

• Keep a CEO Notebook or Google Doc to track what you work on each week.
• Use a checklist to stay consistent.
• Find an accountability partner. Another therapist, coach, or business mentor can help you reflect on your progress each month.

Your private practice deserves a CEO!

As a therapist, you’re committed to helping your clients gain clarity, set boundaries, and feel more satisfied in their lives. You and your practice deserve that same level of care and attention.

By committing to one hour per week, you can prevent financial stress, avoid burnout, and ensure long-term business success. Give your practice the intentional care it deserves, and it will continue to support you and your clients for years to come.