Physiotherapist Making the jump from employed to self-employed

Neil’s client is an experienced physiotherapist with a specialism in working with professional athletes who are trying to maintain a grueling training and competition schedule and also in recovery from injury. She had worked for many years in a large institution as an employee whilst also spending some of her time working in partnership with a GP practice to provide general physiotherapy through the NHS.

She came to Neil for coaching at a time when she was starting a family and questioning the extent to which her employed role would support her needs for a more balanced life. She had been self-employed previously and despite the risks involved was considering whether she could form a new business which would allow her the work patterns and fulfillment she wanted.

We started by visualizing what a new physio practice of her own, which would be based from a separate building at home, would be like and how her working life could evolve to make more time for family. Armed with a vision for what life might look like if she were to make the move, Neil supported her in planning both the physical space and also the business components required. This soon provided a degree of clarity a growing sense of confidence in the idea.

Early in the planning process a curve-ball was thrown when the opportunity to take redundancy as part of a cost cutting drive presented itself. Neil supported her in making a rapid decision at a time which coincided with starting maternity leave. She left her role with redundancy and is now pursuing her plans.

“Having Neil as a coach and experienced “sounding-board”, especially being able to reach out at short notice when events have required me to make fast decisions, has been invaluable and has given me peace of mind that I am making the right decisions. Although things are still evolving, I have been able to form a clearer picture of the work/life balance I want and how I can go about building that”