Leadership in a business and especially in a group practice, doesn’t pause when life gets heavy. As the owner, we carry the vision, responsibility, and the awareness that our clients and our teams are looking to us for steadiness, even when we are navigating uncertainty ourselves. There are seasons when everything seems to happen at once-unexpected challenges, hard decisions, and moments that test your resilience and your purpose. If you are in one of those seasons now, I want you to know this: struggling and leading can coexist and we have the ability to come out stronger. Here are some suggestions on how to continue to show up with intention, honesty, and compassion when the path forward feels unclear.
When everything feels “too much”
Maybe a key team member steps away unexpectedly and you must re-assign their responsibilities or take on more tasks yourself. Insurances issues or credentialing delays can impact revenue while you are trying to support clinicians who are feeling overloaded. Maybe you need to make a difficult decision to hold someone accountable or terminate them. While holding space for clients, managing systems behind the scenes, navigating financial pressures, and supporting your team it can be difficult to maintain a calm and steady presence for everyone who is relying on you. Oftentimes, it is not one big crisis but rather the layering of smaller challenges that compound, making even the strongest leaders question how they are going to move forward.
What is helpful to lead through it
Leading through the hard seasons doesn’t mean pretending everything is fine or pushing past your limits-it means choosing presence over perfection. This means deciding to keep showing up, communicating with honesty, and making thoughtful moves even when you are unsure. It also means leaning on your systems, your team, or your support network instead of carrying everything alone. These periods can bring clarity about what truly matters, what systems are and are not working, and what areas need to be strengthened. They can deepen trust within your team as people step up in unexpected ways. They can spark innovation and improving workflows, refining your vision, or forcing you to make decisions you have been avoiding.
What helps me
I give myself the time to feel and process the emotions that come up for me in these difficult seasons. Emotional awareness makes us stronger leaders and it is helpful to avoid rushing into “fix mode.”
I then shift into action, focusing on what was within my control. I clarify priorities, delegate, and re-assure the team while being honest about the aspects that are uncertain.
I look for the “glimmers” (moments that bring joy, peace, connection, or safety within our nervous system) and share them with others. These include examples of the team stepping up, breakthroughs, or unexpected support.
The strength around you
One of the most humbling parts of a difficult season is realizing how much strength exists beyond you. Leadership can feel isolating, but it was never meant to be carried in solitude. Building a sustainable practice means allowing yourself to be supported in the same ways you support everyone else.
Grounding yourself in identity-rather than circumstance-is essential. Return to your values, your mission, and the resilience you have built through past seasons of growth. Staying connected to purpose even when conditions are uncertain creates businesses that last.
How we help
At Compassionate Consulting Company, we help therapists prepare for the things no one tells you about business ownership. Our work is centered on helping therapists and group practice owners move through challenging moments with both strategy and compassion: strengthening systems, reconnecting with purpose, and creating structures that make leadership feel sustainable again. You don’t have to carry the weight of hard seasons alone. With the right support, even the most challenging chapters can become turning points that bring renewed confidence, stronger leadership, and a practice that truly reflects the vision you set out to build. If you are looking for support or guidance, schedule a free consult.
