Reason 2: Decision fatigue
I’ve worked as a professor of art & Design, in art galleries, and attended a Master in Fine Arts (MFA) program– all prior to prior to getting a degree in mental health counseling and art therapy. What I noticed in graduate-level therapy courses was a very high number of perfectionists per capita; I also notice this in the field.
I’m a therapist who coaches people on going into private practice and I’m also a brand designer for helping professionals. One of the first decisions counselors have to make when they’re starting their own business is what to call their practice. I’ve seen this stop people in their tracks from moving forward many times. It’s a big decision but everyone makes it in their own way. For example, Minc Work’s name was based on the URLs available when I made my first Squarespace site in 2017! It can also be based on the registered businesses in the state you’re in (e.g., if there is already a Touchstone Therapy in Colorado, you can’t call your practice that!).
The process of building a website involves countless decisions like these. From choosing website design & hosting platforms, to setting themes by selecting colors, fonts, and images. Then, there’s structuring content. These questions sound like: Do I include my undergraduate education even if it’s not in Psychology? Should I make a link for people to text me from the Contact page? Should I allow them to type a message even though it’s not HIPAA-compliant? Which headshot will show that I have a sense of humor? And, do I write in the first or third person?
For therapists, this can trigger decision paralysis. So, if they lean toward self-doubt, perfectionism, if they have neurodivergent procrastination, or if they simply lack the know-how in making these choices, (or other reasons not listed,) everything can come to a halt while they do research, poll their friends, and/or consult an oracle. There are an overwhelming number of options for every single piece of the branding puzzle. If people don’t feel confident in themselves, it makes it even harder to decide.
I tell my coaching clients that delegation is a major strength; one we sometimes have to exercise like a muscle. “Decision paralysis”, or analysis paralysis, is a term which describes the phenomenon of overthinking or being bombarded with endless options. This sometimes even leads to existential angst.
As an Adlerian therapist, I believe that people who deal with the fear of making a wrong choice often have a mistaken belief that they are not good enough or have unfinished business from early life that bogs them down in multiple arenas. What is the solution? Encouragement. Coaches and designers have many roles, and one of them is encouraging and empowering their clients. Good brand designers provide rationale for their suggestions, rooted in theory and practice. When clients doubt themselves, the designer asserts their expertise and encourages the client to delegate or trust their knowledge and skills.
The bottom line is that we can all experience perfectionism, but the idea that a wrong choice will lead to scarcity oppresses us all. Your font will not reflect poorly on you as a person. But, it might not convert website visitors into consultation calls. A color scheme does not reflect poorly upon your clinical skills, but it may make visitors eyes hurt.
Stop the endless deliberation and take action by hiring a design professional. Cut out the middle-man of self-criticism. You can tweak your copywriting next year. Get a website out there so people can call you now. Launching is the most important step. Everything after is figure-out-able. Hiring a designer can take stress and deliberation out of the experience of putting yourself out there in a way that’s congruent to your intent: helping others.
