Introducing "The Counsellors Chair: The Proven Framework for Private Practice Success"
May 2025 and the sweat, tears and hard work has paid off - I hold in my hand a proof copy of my very own book that I wrote! Never in my wildest dreams would I have thought that this would be someting I would do. But I did and it's been a very fulfiling and rewarding journey - albeit hard work!
There have been times over my life where I have thought that writing a book would be pretty cool and a little bit awesome BUT it never eventuated. This article is going to share the reasons why I decided to write a book for supporting Australian Counsellors with Private Practice and what this book is all about! This is a pretty special time in my career and want to share my learnings with as many counsellors as possible.
Imposter Syndrome - "I'm back!"
“Whether you think you can - or think you can't, either way you are right!”
Henry Ford
Before we get to the reasons I wrote this book - let's talk about the elephant in the room - the irritating imposter syndrome. The old friend that pops up everytime we try something new or stretch the edges of our skills or competence. So many counsellors in group supervision bring up imposter syndrome and fear of failure - it's real people and it's a struggle! We have all been there - if you say you haven't I do think you are either in denial or telling porky pies!
I have struggled off and on with it all my career - and not just counselling career. My first career was in retail and retail management and it was present there as well. I have learned though, particularly in private practice to push through the terror barrier and keep going as I am determined not to let it win! The more I push through the quieter it gets. However writing a book was certainly someting very new and right out of my comfort zone and the old friend gate-crashed the party in spectacular fashion. In fact when I first joined the program that worked with me to publish my book, I nearly didn't go ahead. There were a lot of excuses as to why I couldn't do this - too busy, too hard, take too long, never get it finished blah blah blah. Then there was the voice in my head - you know the one - 'what if no one reads it', 'what if they all hate it', 'what if people criticise it' (well people will that is a given fact because you can't please everyone) etc. etc. This has been present at every step of the writing and publishing journey and it got very real when the pallet of books arrived and I started packing and posting them - yikes! people are actually going to read it!!
Well you know what? I felt the terror - pushed through the barrier and kept going and if I can do it so can you
From Burnout to Breakthrough: Why This Book Had to Be Written
I share my story in the book, however to understand why this book had to be written is to give a little bit of my journey as a business owner.
I really kick-started my private practice beginning of 2018 as a result of experiencing burnout as a result of working in a school. I took a year off from the school unpaid, after initially wanting to resign but being convinced otherwise (should have stuck to my original decision). Sitting around idle is not something I do so I decided to use my skills and resources and start a business - because why not?
Well it was a great idea but let's face the truth - I had zero experience in starting or running a business, less than zero experience in marketing or advertising. I thought like many do that if I have the skils of being a counsellor surely I can run a business right? So I paid for help with branding and a website and got off to what I thought was a reaonsable start in a smallish regional area in South Australia.
I look back now and wonder what that version of me would have thought if she could see the journey I have taken and the highs and lows of business and the counselling industry I have seen. She probably would have said 'no way you are dreaming!'. I have had amazing support along the way people like Holly McCue who was my first ever business coach - end of 2019 and her business model was a bit different to what is now, but she provided amazing support and encouragement through what was a steep learning curve during the onset of Covid. Kate Toon an amazing copywriter, SEO expert, website guru and overall great marketing person whose style and humour really resonated with me along with her ability to keep it real. Sarah Thomson from Online Social Butterfly who has been an amazing down-to-earth and highly skilled business and marketing coach (also wrote a forward in my book!). These people are brilliant at what they do but it comes at a cost - time, energy and money, this is one of those areas I consider an investment in my business and brand.
However I have also wasted good money on coaches and supports who are not great and have taken advice from people who did not have my best interest at heart (who will remain nameless), and whilst very frustrating and upsetting at the time it's all part of the learning journey. Because of those disppointing experiences I now know what works for me and what doesn't and I am very strategic in locating people who can assist with what I need.
It is because of ALL these experiences of running a two sucessful businesses (one with the amazing Rosie Barbara), running hundreds and hundreds of hours of supervision with amazing counsellors across the nation of Australia that I realised that all the support I want to provide cannot be provided one on one or even in group sessions because there is one of me and thousands of counsellors looking for affordable support that is genuine, down-to-earth and without the fluff and sales hype - and hefty price tag - that often accompanies this type of business coaching or support in this industry.
So here we are - one book later of just over 40,000 words (can't believe I did actually write that much) and my mission of supporting as many counsellors as possible to start, grow and develop their private practices is underway. Read on as I summarise the main framework of the book and if would like a copy hit the buttom at the bottom of the article.
The Counsellor’s Chair: A Framework You Can Actually Sit In
The analogy of the chair just kind of came to me. I have always loved wing-backed chairs, there is something so supportive about them - they just seem to wrap around you. Here’s a glimpse of each part:
The Legs are your foundations—your business structure, finances, scope of practice, and mindset as a business owner. Without strong legs, the chair wobbles.
The Seat is where the operations happen—your systems, processes, tech, admin, and workflow. It’s what keeps you supported day to day.
The Backrest is your marketing and visibility—the part that supports the structure of the business, be seen, and attract the right clients in ethical, aligned ways.
The Armrests symbolise your clinical confidence—boundaries, ethics, reflective practice, and the courage to do the work well without losing yourself in the process.
The Wings (yes, it’s a wingback chair!) are your self-care and sustainability—because if you’re not well, the whole practice eventually falls apart. These wings help you fly, not fall.
This isn’t a do-it-my-way formulal or a one-size-fits-all approach. It’s a flexible, realistic framework that gives you language, structure, and guidance to build a practice that works for you to build a private practice that aligns with your style, strengths and skills (not mine!)
What You'll Find Inside the Book
This book a real-world guide from one counsellor to another. It is practical, down-to-earth and real. It's uniquely Australian for counsellors. Just a grounded path forward, wherever you’re starting from.
In The Counsellor’s Chair, I walk you through the five key parts of private practice using the metaphor of a chair — a sturdy, grounded structure that holds your work and your wellbeing. You’ll journey through each element, from foundational setup to marketing, clinical practice to self-care, in a way that feels achievable and human.
You’ll also meet Counsellor Casey, a fictional composite of stories and struggles I’ve seen over the years — someone stepping into private practice for the first time, navigating doubt, decisions, and small wins. Casey’s story brings the concepts to life without sugar-coating the hard stuff.
Rather than overwhelm you with theory or jargon, this book offers insight, practical guidance, and steady encouragement. It’s written for real-world counsellors — like you — who want to create a practice that’s ethical, sustainable, and actually fits their life.
What this book is NOT - this book is not a promise of success! No one can promise you that (although people do). It's not a one-size-fits-all approach that creates clones of someone else's business. It's not cloaked in promises of 6 figures because no one can promise income. It does require work and commitment - not from me but from YOU the person who wants the private practice - I have done the hard work and I keep doing it everyday and my goal is to support you to do the same not do it for you.
The workbook
If you purchase the book you get access to a FREE Counsellors Companion Workbook and a special offer for The Counsellors Chair Hybrid Membership Program!
PLEASE NOTE THAT AMAZON KINDLE VERSION WILL BE OUT IN AUGUST 2025
The Counsellors Chair: Hybrid Membeship Program
The book gives you the framework, the Hybrid Membership gives you the space to build on it — a program with self-paced lessons, videos, community, and practical tools you can dip into at your own pace. It is deliberately affordable to ensure that people can invest money in what really matters when setting up their private practices. The uniqueness of the program is 🚀PowerUps - the ability to purchase support and feedback only as you need it - keep costs at a minimum and support is on your terms when you need it the most.
This isn’t another course to sit on your to-do list. It’s a flexible, low-pressure membership designed specifically for counsellors who are setting up, refining, or reimagining private practice. Inside, you’ll find course-style modules based on the book, a private community space for connecting with others, and a personal support vault where I offer individual feedback.
You can choose 6 or 12 months, join office hours when you need a sounding board, and add optional “power-ups” for extra help. No pressure to show up every week. No need to keep up with anyone else. Just steady, down-to-earth support, led by someone who’s walked the road — and wants to make it a little easier for you too.
Interested in Supervision with Penny Adams
Book your FREE 30 minute supervision enquiry call to ensure we are the right fit!
Experience the benefits of expert professional counselling supervision with Penny Adams and join a community of counsellors dedicated to excellence. Penny offers the following supervision:
Individual Supervision:
- Feel supported in your career and practice
- Personalised guidance and support
- Focus on your unique challenges and goals
- Affordable supervision
Group Supervision:
- Learn from and with your peers
- Feel connected in what can be a lonely space
- Diverse perspectives and collaborative problem-solving
- Cost-effective
- Enriching group discussions
Don’t wait to enhance your practice and ensure the best outcomes for your clients. Contact us now to book your supervision session and embark on a path of continuous professional growth.
Penny Adams shares why she wrote The Counsellor’s Chair—a practical, heartfelt guide for counsellors building a sustainable private practice.
