The Nervous System Cost of Inconsistent Income

Part Six in the series: Behind the Practice – Navigating the Real Challenges of Running a Private Practice
By Angela M Carter, IFS Therapist

One week you’re booked solid.
You exhale, feel grateful, even a little hopeful.

The next? Three clients cancel. One takes a break. A new enquiry ghosts you.

Your body tightens. Your breath shallows.
And the story begins:

• “This isn’t sustainable.”

• “I knew it wouldn’t last.”

• “I’m not cut out for this.”

Welcome to the feast or famine cycle—a nervous system rollercoaster that few practitioners talk about, but many quietly live through.

Because behind the numbers is something more primal:

Survival energy.

Money Isn’t Just Money—It’s Safety

In Internal Family Systems (IFS), we recognise that financial instability activates more than your bank account.

It activates:

• A protector that pushes you to overwork or undercharge just to “keep things moving”

• A scarcity-driven part that makes decisions out of fear, not strategy

• A manager part that never rests, always scanning for the next dip

• And often, an exile who still carries the burden of past lack, instability, or shame

These parts don’t care about projections or spreadsheets.
They care about survival.

Because for many of us—especially those who grew up with financial unpredictability—money is not neutral.

It’s charged.
It’s emotional.
It’s layered with legacy.

A Personal Reflection: When My Body Felt the Dip Before My Brain Did

There was a time in my practice where things felt steady for a while.
I allowed myself to exhale. I planned. I trusted.

And then—within two weeks—I had five clients cancel or pause their sessions.

My mind tried to stay calm.
But my body didn’t buy it.

I couldn’t sleep properly. I woke with adrenaline. A part of me whispered: “You’ve been here before. Remember what it was like when it all fell apart?”

That wasn’t just about money.
It was about memory.

A younger part of me, shaped by scarcity, came forward.

And in that moment, I didn’t need a business plan.
I needed to be with that part. To tell her:
“We’re not there anymore. I’ve got us now.”

The work didn’t return instantly. But my nervous system did.

You Can Build a Business Without Burning Out Your Body

The reality of private practice is that it often starts unevenly.

But while income may fluctuate, your internal steadiness doesn’t have to.

When you meet the fear with presence instead of panic,
your parts learn that you can be trusted to lead—even when things feel uncertain.

That steadiness becomes your foundation.
And from that place, you can make decisions that serve you, not just your survival system.

Try This: Creating Internal Safety in Financial Uncertainty

This nervous system and parts-based practice supports you when the money slows down and the fear speeds up.

Step One: Name the Trigger
Write:
“When my income drops, I notice…”
Let your parts speak honestly. What sensations, thoughts, or fears arise?

Step Two: Ask the Part What It Remembers
Gently ask:

• “What are you afraid will happen if this continues?”

• “Have you been here before?”

• “How old do you think I am?”

You may meet a younger exile who’s still holding past hardship or financial fear.

Step Three: Speak From Self
Place your hand on your heart. Breathe deeply. Write:

“I see you. I know this feels familiar, and it’s scary.
But we are not alone. We are not without options.
I won’t abandon you. I will take care of us.”

Step Four: Anchor in Practical Self-Led Action
Ask: “What small, Self-led action can I take today to support steadiness?”

It could be:

• Reviewing your calendar with clarity—not urgency

• Reaching out to your referral network

• Offering a new service or reconnecting with existing clients

• Doing nothing for one day to reset your nervous system

Let it be a choice—not a reaction.

Final Thoughts

You are not a bad practitioner because your income isn’t consistent.
You’re not doing it wrong.
You’re building something real.

And in a world that rewards hustle, your steadiness is radical.

The more you relate to your money parts with compassion—not control—the more your system begins to trust you.

And that trust becomes your greatest wealth.

In abundant love and kindness for all gentle souls,

Angela xox 

Next up: When Clients Leave: Managing Attachment, Identity, and Business Anxiety