How to Be the Boss You Wish You Had: Trauma-Informed Leadership in Private Practice

Written By Amanda Enlow

Why Most Therapists Secretly Dread Being “The Boss”

Most of us didn’t get into this work because we dreamed of running staff meetings or analyzing spreadsheets. But here you are, leading or dreaming of leading a thriving group practice. Out of nowhere you’re expected to be the Chief Empathy Officer and the CEO. If you grew up in dysfunction (shoutout to my fellow travelers in Adult Children of Alcoholics and Dysfunctional Families), the idea of being a “boss” might feel like living a nightmare. 

Here’s the good news: you don’t have to do what was done to you. You can lead your therapy practice in an heart-centered, trauma-informed way without losing your sanity, your soul, or your sense of self. 

What Is Trauma-Informed Leadership (and Why Should Therapists Care)?

Trauma-informed leadership isn’t just a trendy phrase. It’s about understanding how trauma - yours, your team’s, your clients’ - shows up in every system, including your business. At its core, it means running your group practice with awareness, compassion, and clear boundaries. And yes, it is possible to be a kind boss and still run a profitable practice.

Key elements of trauma-informed leadership:

  • Safety: Emotional, psychological, and physical safety for everyone in your practice.

  • Trustworthiness & Transparency: Clear communication, honesty, and predictable leadership.

  • Empowerment & Choice: Giving team members autonomy and a voice within the supportive container of your rules and expectations

  • Collaboration: Power with, not power over.

  • Cultural Sensitivity: Honoring diverse backgrounds and experiences.

If you’ve ever sworn you’d never be “that boss,” trauma-informed leadership is your roadmap.

How Traditional Agency Management Fails Therapists

Raise your hand if you’ve experienced any of these at an agency job:

  • Toxic hierarchies

  • Gaslighting leadership

  • Burnout culture

  • Poor boundaries and unclear expectations

Most therapists have. The result? You left to create something better… and now the pressure is on to actually do it differently. No more “do as I say, not as I do.” It’s time to heal the leader within.

How to Lead with Heart: Action Steps for Conscious Therapy Practice Leadership

1. Do Your Own Inner Work (Yes, Still)

The boss you wish you had isn’t a unicorn. They’re someone who keeps healing, especially when leadership triggers old wounds. To be the leader you’ve always wanted, you need to stay in your own work. Not once in a while, consistently. Putting your own therapy sessions on your calendar and making sure they are non-negotiable meetings is a must. Connecting with other safe people in similar stages (Healers In Practice Facebook Community is the place for you) and showing up in spaces where you can be real and authentic about the challenges you are facing (hello The Private Practice Business School ™️ cohorts) is also a must.

Pro tip: Your ongoing work, connection, and accountability aren’t luxuries. They’re necessities.

2. Communicate Like a Human, Not a Corporate Robot

Ditch the jargon. Be real with your team. Share your vision, your values, and even your uncertainty (without making it their problem and with clear boundaries). Relationships are the foundation of safety for your heart-centered business and need to be nurtured consistently.

3. Set Boundaries That Serve Everyone (Including You)

Clarity is kind. Trauma-informed leaders don’t leave their team guessing about what’s okay and what’s not. Boundaries protect you from resentment and your team from chaos. That’s a win-win. Tools like clear and detailed Policy and Procedure Manuals and Standard Operating Procedures are necessities for your practice from day 1. Join the next round of The Private Practice Business School ™️ if you want support in building these from our templates.

4. Prioritize Collaboration Over Control

Your team is made of humans, not robots. Team Process is a leadership tool we teach in The Private Practice Business School ™️ to support developing a healthy process for this. We want to utilize our relationships to support our team members in stepping into solutions together than support the health of our business.

5. Remember: Profit and Integrity Can Coexist

You can run a practice that is both ethical and financially sustainable. Let go of the “starving healer” trope. A thriving practice is good for your clients, your team, and for you.

Common Leadership Triggers for Therapists (and How to Heal Them)

  • Authority Issues: If you flinch at being “in charge,” what role did you play in your family system growing up?

  • Fear of Conflict: What is your relationship with your own critical parent voice? He or she is trying to do all the wrong things for the right reasons. 

  • Imposter Syndrome: It’s normal, especially for therapists with trauma histories. Build a support network of other heart-centered leaders. (Healers in Practice, anyone?)

Conclusion: The World Needs Better Therapy Bosses—Be the Change

If you’re reading this, you’re already on the path to being the boss you wish you’d had. Trauma-informed, heart-centered leadership isn’t just a business strategy—it’s a revolution. Lead with courage, integrity, and a little sass. Your team (and your inner child) will thank you.

Ready to step into conscious leadership?

Amanda Enlow
Next

Why AI Can’t Replace Your Wisdom: The True Value of Trauma-Informed Private Practice Tools