As a new year begins, so often our goals center around more — more productivity, more clients, more success. But what if your most important professional resolution this year is about less?
Less stress.
Less isolation.
Less burnout.
At Health Affiliates Maine, we know that supporting your clients starts with supporting yourself. The work you do as a mental health professional is essential, and it’s also demanding. In private practice, you’re holding space for others while managing the business behind the scenes. That’s a lot to carry.
So this year, instead of adding pressure, we invite you to set a different kind of goal: build a sustainable practice that supports your well-being. Here’s how.
1. Make Your Self-Care Goals Just as Real as Your Business Goals
The most successful clinicians we know aren’t necessarily the busiest. They’re the ones who’ve learned how to integrate rest and restoration into their work rhythms.
Before setting goals around client numbers or marketing this year, consider:
- What boundaries do I want to protect around my time?
- What fills my cup professionally and personally?
- What kind of support do I need to keep doing this work sustainably?
Write those goals down. Make them real. Self-care isn’t a reward, it’s a requirement.
2. Remember: You Don’t Have to Do It All Alone
Private practice doesn’t have to mean isolated practice. One of the biggest contributors to burnout is the sense that you’re carrying the weight of your business, clinical work, and paperwork without a guide.
This is where HAM comes in. Whether you’re newly independent or a seasoned clinician, you don’t have to go it alone. We provide:
- Business and billing support
- Referrals and credentialing
- Clinical individual and group consultation
- Free CEU trainings
- A community of professionals who truly get it
You choose your clients and your schedule, and we help navigate the red tape. Together, we make space for what matters most: your work with clients, and your own well-being.
3. Keep Learning, Without Overcommitting
Professional development should feel inspiring, not overwhelming. This year, prioritize trainings that feed both your clinical curiosity and your practice’s needs.
Our January 30 training, From Startup to Success: Strategies to Master Building & Managing Your Private Practice, is designed for exactly that balance. It offers practical guidance on:
- Financial wellness for your practice
- Ethical considerations and record-keeping
- The role of AI
- Burnout prevention in private practice
You’ll leave with tools you can use immediately. No overhauls or added stress required. Register here.
4. Talk About It. Seriously.
Burnout thrives in silence. One of the best ways to protect yourself is by staying connected to peers, supervisors, and trusted support systems. This year, make a commitment to check in regularly.
At HAM, we believe in quality over quotas, connection over competition, and support over silence. That’s why we offer monthly optional consultation groups and a team that’s here when you need us.
You don’t have to push through. You can reach out.
Let 2026 Be the Year You Thrive
Your work is life-changing for your clients, your community, and our state. But your own health matters too.
As you set intentions for the year ahead, we encourage you to ask not just “What do I want to accomplish?” but also, “How do I want to feel?”
Grounded.
Supported.
Connected.
Inspired.
We’re here to help make that possible.
