Social media can be a great way to connect with potential clients but it can also be a place that is filled with hostility. This stops many therapists from either setting up a page or from posting on it.

Some of the worries I've heard about from therapists include saying "the wrong thing", being publicly corrected, receiving criticism and being subject to a "pile on". So in this first of a series of episodes around social media boundaries, I explore how you can make your therapy page feel safer for you to use.

Drawing on my own experience of managing online communities and navigating difficult interactions, I share how you can protect your wellbeing and those of your followers - so that you can feel more confident to reach people via your page.

Takeaways

• Why social media platforms thrive on outrage
• What to do when a comment or interaction leaves you feeling shamed and upset
• Why it's important to regulate before responding
• Creating boundaries around comments, messages and engagement
• Deciding on what atmosphere you want for your page
• Why some interactions don't deserve a response
• Choosing spaces that are the right fit for you
• How boundaries can help you feel more comfortable and confident online

I also share some ideas for social media posts for July 2026, including themes around body image, friendship, loneliness, grief and summer family life.

For information about my training courses, please click HERE and you can find out more information about Therapy Growth Group HERE

Setting up in private practice? Download my free checklist HERE

Need ideas for how to get clients? Download my free handout 21 Ways for Counsellors to Attract New Clients HERE

You can also find me here:

The Good Enough Counsellors Facebook Group

Josephine Hughes on Facebook

Josephine Hughes on YouTube

My website: josephinehughes.com

The information contained in Good Enough Counsellors is provided for information purposes only. The contents of this podcast are not intended to amount to advice and you should not rely on any of the contents of this podcast. Professional advice should be obtained before taking or refraining from taking any action as a result of the contents of this podcast.

Josephine Hughes disclaims all liability and responsibility arising from any reliance placed on any of the contents of this podcast.

What happens when someone receives a genetic diagnosis? In this episode of Good Enough Counsellors, I'm joined by Uruj Anjum of Saina Therapy.

Before training as a psychotherapist, Uruj spent nine years working within NHS genetics services, supporting individuals and families navigating conditions such as Huntington's disease and other complex inherited disorders. She now specialises in working with clients affected by genetic diagnoses, reproductive decision-making, grief, loss and family dynamics.

We talk about what therapists need to know when supporting clients living with genetic uncertainty, and how genetics may be lying behind presenting issues such as anxiety, grief, relationship difficulties and identity struggles.

• The emotional impact of genetic diagnosis on individuals, couples and families
• Anticipatory grief and living with uncertainty
• Carrier guilt and the complex emotions that can follow a diagnosis
• How attachment patterns can influence the way people respond to genetic testing and diagnosis
• The impact of inherited conditions on relationships and family dynamics
• Reproductive decision-making and termination for medical reasons
• Supporting clients affected by genetic conditions in the therapy room
• How therapists can work confidently with clients affected by genetic diagnoses without needing specialist medical expertise

You can connect with Uruj via her website saiynatherapy.co.uk and on instagram @saiynatherapy

If listening to Uruj's story has got you thinking about your own niche, your marketing or how to attract more of the right clients, I'd love to help.

I run workshops, training and coaching for counsellors in private practice, helping you communicate clearly with potential clients and build a practice that works for you.

Find out more here: josephinehughes.com

Setting up in private practice? Download my free checklist HERE

Need ideas for how to get clients? Download my free handout 21 Ways for Counsellors to Attract New Clients HERE

You can also find me here:

The Good Enough Counsellors Facebook Group

Josephine Hughes on Facebook

Josephine Hughes on YouTube

My website: josephinehughes.com

Keywords: genetic counselling, therapy for genetic conditions, mental health and genetics, emotional impact of genetic diagnoses, family dynamics in genetic counselling, genetic testing and therapy, attachment theory and genetics, anticipatory grief in genetic conditions, supporting clients with genetic diagnoses, carrier guilt in genetics, navigating genetic testing decisions, anxiety and genetic diagnoses, therapeutic approaches to genetic issues, stigma around genetic conditions, building confidence in genetic counselling.

The information contained in Good Enough Counsellors is provided for information purposes only. The contents of this podcast are not intended to amount to advice and you should not rely on any of the contents of this podcast. Professional advice should be obtained before taking or refraining from taking any action as a result of the contents of this podcast.

Josephine Hughes disclaims all liability and responsibility arising from any reliance placed on any of the contents of this podcast.

It’s tempting to look at other therapists, coaches or creators and think:

“It’s easier for them because they’re bigger.”

But what we often forget is that every established business once started small.

In this solo episode, I reflect on the early days of my own private practice and Therapy Growth Group as we approach its sixth birthday. I talk about fear, comparison, visibility and the courage it takes to keep showing up when you’re still finding your feet.

Because behind every “overnight success” are usually years of small steps, awkward beginnings and learning as you go.

I also explore why helping just one person still matters, why growth can actually be easier to manage when it happens gradually, and how success often looks very different from what we imagine.

Whether you’re just starting out in private practice or feeling discouraged because your audience, client list or confidence still feels small, I hope this episode encourages you to keep going.

In this episode:

• Why comparing yourself to more established therapists can stop you taking action
• What people don’t see behind business growth
• The importance of courage over confidence
• Why helping one person still counts
• How consistency builds confidence over time
• Why starting small can actually help you grow sustainably
• The ripple effects that can happen when you keep going

I also share:

• The story behind starting Therapy Growth Group
• What six years in business has taught me
• Why I still feel fear even now

Training mentioned in this episode:

• Five Ways to Attract New Clients
• Exploring Your Niche
• Ask Me Anything

You can find details of all current training here:

https://josephinehughes.as.me/training

If this episode encouraged you, I’d love it if you shared it with another therapist who needs reminding that starting small still counts.

Setting up in private practice? Download my free checklist HERE

Need ideas for how to get clients? Download my free handout 21 Ways for Counsellors to Attract New Clients HERE

You can also find me here:

The Good Enough Counsellors Facebook Group

Josephine Hughes on Facebook

Josephine Hughes on YouTube

My website: josephinehughes.com

Keywords: private practice growth, starting a counselling business, success in therapy practice, building confidence as a therapist, therapy marketing strategies, finding your niche in therapy, private practice challenges, therapist training and development, encouraging small businesses, client attraction strategies, therapy visibility, successful counselling practices

The information contained in Good Enough Counsellors is provided for information purposes only. The contents of this podcast are not intended to amount to advice and you should not rely on any of the contents of this podcast. Professional advice should be obtained before taking or refraining from taking any action as a result of the contents of this podcast.

Josephine Hughes disclaims all liability and responsibility arising from any reliance placed on any of the contents of this podcast.