Insights From a Mompreneur: Balancing Family, Clients and Ambitions
Discover the art and power of mompreneurship! In this episode, host Kelley Stevens speaks with Alex Steric, a private practice therapist who fearlessly embarked on the path of entrepreneurship while balancing the joys and challenges of motherhood. Follow her journey from the early weeks of establishing her private practice to navigating maternity leave, postpartum anxiety, and harmonizing work and family life. Prepare to be inspired as she unveils Thrive After Baby, an online community co-founded by Alex, offering transformative courses, personalized therapy, and coaching to empower new parents. Don’t miss out on her expert advice for starting a therapy practice, launching your own course, and stepping into your entrepreneurial potential!
Calling all fellow dreamers and doers! This next episode of The Private Practice Pro is sure to ignite your entrepreneurial spirit and inspire you to become the next great dad- or mompreneur. I sit down with Alex Steric, a private practice therapist who fearlessly embraced the path of entrepreneurship while gracefully navigating the joys and challenges of motherhood. Believe me when I tell you that her insights are pure gold.
First, we dive deep into Alex’s journey, starting with the early weeks of establishing her private practice. She shares candid details about the thought process, emotions, and experiences that shaped her path. One of the most inspiring aspects of Alex’s story is her unwavering commitment to finding balance. While juggling parenthood, relationships, and the demands of running a business is no easy feat, she provides valuable insights on how to make it work (and keep it enjoyable). The honesty with which she shares her journey through maternity leave, postpartum anxiety, and the challenges of transitioning back to work will resonate with every parent striving to find their equilibrium.
Did I mention that Alex co-founded Thrive After Baby, an online community dedicated to supporting and empowering new parents? Through courses, personalized therapy, and coaching, Thrive After Baby is a sanctuary for those navigating the rollercoaster ride of early parenthood; and Alex offers invaluable advice for therapists who wish to launch their own online courses, providing practical tips on building an audience and crafting a compelling message.
I hope you join us for this inspiring episode as we explore the art of nurturing your family, your private therapy practice, and yourself!
Alex is a mom of two and an LCSW in private practice with offices in Westlake Village and Ventura, CA. Alex specializes in working with new and expecting parents and women facing symptoms of anxiety, perfectionism, feelings of not enough, and trauma. She is certified in perinatal mental health (PMH-C) and utilizes Brainspotting in her work with clients. Alex also enjoys supervising associates and offers consultation to licensed therapists. She is also the co-founder of Thrive After Baby.
Website: alexstericlcsw.com
Instagram: @alexstericlcsw @thriveafterbaby
Email: alexstericlcsw@gmail.com
How One Clinician Built a Thriving Private Practice
Launching a private therapy practice can feel overwhelming, especially when you're balancing the demands of parenthood, entrepreneurship, and clinical care. But Alex Stewart, LMFT, is proof that it’s possible to build a successful and sustainable solo therapy practice that aligns with your personal values and family life. In this blog, we’re diving into insights from her journey, covering everything from setting up a therapy office to navigating maternity leave in private practice and scaling with online marketing for therapists.
Starting a Therapy Practice: From Dream to Reality
For Alex, the dream of becoming a therapist began early. Even in elementary school, teachers recognized her empathy and matched her with students who needed extra support. Over time, that calling evolved into a clear goal: to start a private therapy practice.
She officially launched her own cash-pay therapy practice in 2019 after gaining experience in group therapy practice settings. Like many therapists, she found that a group private practice offered the ideal stepping stone. It helped her build clinical confidence, refine her niche, and gain referrals before fully transitioning to independence.
Alex took the leap when she had around 10 consistent full-fee clients. “The anticipatory anxiety was worse than the reality,” she says. “Once I was in it, I was in it.”
Creating the Ideal Therapy Office
Designing a physical space that felt welcoming, safe, and inspiring was crucial. Alex chose an office that didn’t feel like a traditional therapist suite; it had natural light, greenery, and even a duck pond outside. “Clients walk in and say, ‘I wish my house looked like this,’” she shared.
The therapy office vibe matters. For many therapists building a private practice, investing in a space that reflects their style can enhance both client comfort and clinician well-being.
Building a Private Practice Around Parenthood
A huge part of Alex’s story is how she shaped her private practice therapist’s schedule to support motherhood. With two kids under five, she crafted a workweek of Tuesday through Thursday, reserving Mondays and Fridays for personal time and parenting.
“I show up as the best version of myself with this balance,” she explained. Her husband, also an entrepreneur, shares caregiving duties. Together, they’ve created a life with flexibility and shared responsibility.
For therapists wondering how to handle maternity leave in private practice, Alex offers reassurance. “I was scared clients wouldn’t return,” she admits. “But most did. And those who didn’t were ready to move on. That’s okay.” She emphasized that out-of-network therapy practice clients often appreciate referrals to trusted colleagues during leave, many even return or refer friends.
Private Practice Tools for Therapists
One tool that made a difference in her practice is SimplePractice, an all-in-one solution for scheduling, billing, and documentation. “I’ve used it since 2016,” said host Kelley Stevens in the episode. Software like this can streamline practice management, especially for those running a solo private practice or scaling with virtual services.
Marketing for Therapists: The Hard Truths
Alex and Kelley both emphasized that marketing a therapy practice, especially when offering private pay therapy, takes more than just setting up a Psychology Today profile. “You don’t just build it and they come,” they joked.
Alex co-founded Thrive After Baby, an online marketing for therapists venture and support space for new parents. The goal was to offer courses and community resources around postpartum mental health, something she wished existed during her own early parenting years.
Launching an online course took serious effort. “People call it passive income, but it’s anything but passive at first,” Alex explained. She recommends that any therapist interested in marketing therapy private practice products or services online “do your homework” and build a community before launching a course.
Therapist-Approved Marketing Strategies
Both Alex and Kelley discussed how therapist-approved marketing strategies begin with identifying your niche and offering true value. Whether you’re supporting success in teen therapy, building an out-of-network therapy practice, or offering sliding scale therapy fees, what matters most is clarity of message and consistency.
And while social media can be part of your marketing ideas for therapists, it’s not everything. Alex’s success grew largely from referrals, word-of-mouth, and building strong professional networks, strategies that are still effective in 2025.
How to Grow Your Therapy Practice Without Burning Out
Alex keeps her client load between 15–20 clients per week. “That’s my sweet spot,” she says. “I don’t go back-to-back, and I always take a lunch break.” That type of sustainable scheduling helps her avoid burnout while continuing to grow.
For therapists looking to grow your private practice or maintain momentum long-term, Alex recommends:
Setting clear work-life boundaries
Aligning your caseload with your bandwidth
Regularly checking in on your needs as a clinician and a parent
A Guide for Therapists Ready to Launch
So what’s the advice Alex would give to therapists wanting to start your private practice?
“You can do it,” she says. “Even if you’re scared. Even if you’ve been told it’s too hard or not for you. You absolutely can do this.”
The keys? Start with a clear roadmap, find mentors, and use the right tools for therapists—from software to peer support. Whether you’re launching a sliding scale therapy practice, a cash-pay therapy model, or building your brand with therapist marketing strategies, the most important thing is to begin.
Final Thoughts: Finding Joy in the Journey
Alex’s story is a testament to the flexibility and freedom that building a private practice can offer. From duck ponds and office design to babies, business, and burnout prevention, her path shows that success in private practice isn’t about perfection; it’s about purpose.
Whether you're navigating your roadmap to private practice, exploring soap notes templates, or scaling a group therapy practice, remember: you don’t have to do it all at once. Growth can be intentional, sustainable, and joyful.