From Self-Doubt to Success: Mindset Shifts for Online Speech Therapists

Introduction: The Voice in Your Head vs. The Reality of Your Potential

I remember my first online session vividly. I’d spent hours making sure everything was perfect—camera angles, Wi-Fi connection, backup plans. But the moment I hit ‘start meeting,’ a wave of doubt crashed over me. What if I look unprofessional? What if I can’t engage my client the same way online?

The truth is, I wasn’t alone in those fears, and if you’re feeling them too, you’re in good company. So many brilliant speech therapists hesitate to take the leap into telepractice—not because they lack skills, but because they’re worried they won’t be “techy enough” or that their expertise won’t translate through a screen.

Here’s the good news: your success as a teletherapist has far less to do with tech skills and far more to do with mindset. If you’ve ever helped a non-verbal child say their first word or supported an adult in regaining their speech, then trust me—you already have everything it takes. You just need to shift the way you see yourself in this new space.

Let’s break down the mental roadblocks holding you back and reframe them, so you can step into this journey with confidence and clarity.

1. Reframe Imposter Syndrome: You Are an Expert

A while ago, I spoke to a fellow therapist, Sarah, who had 15 years of experience working in schools. She was fantastic at what she did—engaging children, adapting therapy on the spot, guiding parents with ease. But when she decided to move online, doubt crept in.

"I feel like I’m starting from scratch," she admitted. "What if families don’t trust me as much online?"

I asked her, "Sarah, if you saw a doctor in a clinic one day and on a video call the next, would you suddenly believe they were less qualified?"

She laughed. Of course not. Because the setting doesn’t define your expertise—your experience does.

Tech and new formats may feel unfamiliar at first, but your knowledge, your intuition, and your ability to connect with clients don’t disappear just because there’s a screen between you. If anything, telepractice expands your reach—you can now help families who may have struggled to access in-person therapy.

🚀 Mindset Shift: Being an expert doesn’t mean knowing everything—it means using what you DO know to make a difference.

So next time your inner critic whispers “You’re not qualified for this,” respond with, “I have valuable skills, and someone out there needs my help today.” Because they do.

2. Stop Comparing Yourself to Others: Your Journey Is Your Own

A few months into my telepractice journey, I made the mistake of scrolling through social media and looking at other online speech therapists. Their polished branding, perfectly curated Instagram feeds, and glowing testimonials made me feel like I was years behind.

"I’ll never be as good as them," I thought. "They’ve got it all figured out."

Sound familiar? It’s easy to fall into the comparison trap, especially in a digital world where you can see other therapists showcasing their wins. But here’s the truth no one talks about—behind every successful teletherapist is a messy middle. The awkward first sessions. The tech hiccups. The self-doubt.

The difference? They kept going.

Imagine if you told a child learning /s/ blends, “You should quit because Jamie down the hall is already saying them perfectly.” Absurd, right? You’d never say that to a client—so why say it to yourself?

Your success isn’t about being better than someone else; it’s about being better than you were yesterday.

🌱 Mindset Shift: Instead of comparing yourself to others, compare yourself to your past self.

Instead of focusing on how far ahead others seem, ask yourself:
✅ Have I learned something new this week?
✅ Did I step outside my comfort zone today?
✅ Am I showing up for myself and my future clients?

The therapists you admire online? They started exactly where you are. And one day, someone else will look at you and think, Wow, they really have it all figured out.

Because you will.

3. Pricing with Confidence: You Deserve to Be Paid Well

Let me tell you about my first online client inquiry. I was thrilled—until they asked, “So… what do you charge?” My stomach dropped. I stammered out a number that was way too low, just to avoid any awkwardness.

Guess what? They said yes immediately. And in that moment, I realised—I had just underpriced myself.

If you’re hesitating to set your rates or feel guilty charging clients for your expertise, you’re not alone. Many speech therapists—especially those transitioning from salaried positions—struggle to assign a value to their services. But here’s the shift you must make: your rates are not just about the time you spend in a session. They reflect your experience, skill, and the life-changing results you deliver.

Think of it this way: Imagine walking into a high-end restaurant. You see two options for steak—one for £10, the other for £50. Which do you assume is the better cut of meat? The one with the higher price, right? Clients also associate price with quality and value. If you price yourself too low, people may subconsciously question your expertise.

And let’s be real—undercharging will only lead to burnout and resentment. You’ll find yourself overbooked, underpaid, and exhausted, which defeats the whole purpose of moving to telepractice for better work-life balance.

💰 Mindset Shift: You're not just charging for your time—you’re charging for your results.

Next time you hesitate about raising your rates, remember:
✅ Clients aren’t just paying for the session; they’re paying for the years of experience behind it.
✅ People expect to pay for quality services—they just need to see the value you bring.
✅ You deserve to be paid well for transforming lives.

So take a deep breath, say your price with confidence, and know that you are worth every penny.

4. Take Imperfect Action: Progress Over Perfection

I once spent three hours trying to get my webcam angle just right before my first teletherapy session. Three. Hours. And after all that? The client barely noticed—I could have been upside down, and they still would’ve just been happy to get the help they needed.

We speech therapists love a well-structured plan, don’t we? We analyse, prepare, tweak, and adjust—because in our line of work, small details can make a big difference. But when it comes to starting your telepractice, perfectionism can become a trap.

👉 Waiting until you feel “ready” means you’ll be waiting forever.

One of the biggest myths in starting an online business is that you need everything—the perfect website, the ideal branding, flawless therapy materials—before you can begin. But I’m here to tell you: Done is better than perfect.

Think about the children and adults you work with. Imagine if they refused to try speech exercises because they couldn’t do them perfectly on the first attempt. It wouldn’t make sense, right? Progress comes from showing up, making mistakes, and improving along the way.

The same is true for you.

🚀 Mindset Shift: You don’t need confidence to start—you need to start to gain confidence.

Instead of waiting for everything to be “just right,” ask yourself:
✅ Can I help a client today with the skills I already have? (Yes, you can.)
✅ Would a real, imperfect therapy session be more valuable than me endlessly preparing for a future one? (Absolutely.)
✅ Is my fear of not being perfect stopping me from changing someone’s life? (That’s a hard truth, but one worth facing.)

Taking action—even messy, imperfect action—is what builds success. So start today. Launch your telepractice. Hold that first session. Trust that you’ll figure things out along the way. Because the best way to become a successful teletherapist?

Simply begin.

5. Embrace Selling as Helping: You’re Not ‘Selling’—You’re Changing Lives

I used to cringe at the idea of selling my services. The word sales made me picture pushy car salesmen and awkward cold calls. I just wanted to help people—wasn’t that enough?

But then I had a realisation.

One day, a parent told me, “We’ve been looking for a speech therapist for months, but we had no idea where to start. I wish we’d found you sooner.”

That hit me. I wasn’t pushing my services on anyone—I was solving a problem for people who needed my help. Selling isn’t about tricking someone into booking with you; it’s about making sure the people who need you can actually find you.

Reframing the Fear of ‘Selling’

Think about a parent whose child struggles to communicate. Or an adult recovering from a stroke, desperate to regain their speech. Imagine if they never found you—simply because you felt awkward about marketing yourself.

Would you hesitate to tell a parent about a therapy strategy that could change their child’s life? Of course not. That’s exactly what selling is—connecting the right people with the right solution.

💡 Mindset Shift: If you believe in the value of your work, it’s your responsibility to share it with the world.

The next time you hesitate to talk about your services, remember:
✅ People need what you offer—make it easy for them to find you.
✅ Marketing isn’t about forcing—it’s about inviting the right people in.
✅ Confidence comes from knowing your service truly helps people.

So go ahead—share what you do. Talk about the lives you’ve changed. Let people know how you can help. Because selling isn’t selfish—it’s serving.

Conclusion: Your Success Starts with Your Mindset

Let’s take a moment to look back at where we started. Maybe you’ve felt overwhelmed by technology, unsure about pricing, or hesitant to promote your services. Maybe that little voice of self-doubt has whispered, “You’re not ready yet.”

But now you know the truth:

✅ Your expertise doesn’t disappear just because you’re online.
✅ Comparing yourself to others won’t serve you—taking action will.
✅ You deserve to charge what you’re worth and build a business that supports you.
✅ Perfection isn’t required—progress is.
✅ Selling isn’t about pushing—it’s about helping.

Success as a teletherapist isn’t just about having the right platform or fancy software. It’s about believing in yourself, showing up, and taking action.

And you don’t have to figure it all out alone.

Join the Free One-Page Business Plan Workshop for Speech Therapists! 🎉

If you're feeling unsure about how to start or grow your telepractice, I’ve got something special for you.

👉 Join the free online workshop: One-Page Business Plan Workshop

Here’s just a fraction of what you’ll learn:

✅ A Simple Plan to Start Your Telepractice – Walk away with a clear, easy-to-follow One-Page Plan so you know exactly what to do next.
✅ Ways to Find and Connect with Clients – Learn how to attract the right clients and show them why they should choose you.
✅ Tips to Set Up Your Services and Pricing – Get clear on your pricing, how to structure your sessions, and gain confidence in your new business.

📅 Don't miss out—register now and take the first step towards building a telepractice that works for YOU!

👉 Click here to sign up

Your future telepractice is waiting. You can do this—and I can’t wait to help you make it happen. 🚀