When Your Two Passions Feel Like They Don't Belong Together: A Live Coaching Session With Kelly Wheatley!
- Jan 26
- 6 min read
Picture this: You have two completely different specialties you're passionate about. One feels clinical and serious. The other feels outdoorsy and unconventional. You're convinced they don't belong together in the same practice. Sound familiar?
That's exactly where Kelli Wheatley found herself when she joined me for live coaching on the Purpose & Profit podcast.
Here's the thing nobody tells you about niching
You don't have to choose between your passions. You don't need two separate practices or two different websites. What you need is a different way of thinking about your brand.
Kelli is a first-year therapist in North Vancouver who specializes in chronic pain and the mind-body connection. She's also deeply passionate about walk-and-talk nature therapy. On the surface, these feel completely unrelated. But here's what we discovered together in real time.
The "I thought I'd be fully booked in a month" reality check
Before we dive into the niching breakthrough, let's talk about Kelli's first-year experience—because it's so relatable.
Kelli entered private practice with a common expectation: sign up for Psychology Today, be fully booked within a month. She laughs about it now, but that was literally what she anticipated based on what she heard during grad school.
"I entered school at a time related to COVID where every clinician everywhere was kind of booked out," Kelli explained. "That was the messaging we got all through school—there's a shortage of clinicians, everybody has a wait list."
Fast forward to launching her practice in a different climate.
"I sat around for the first two or three months and was like, where are my clients? I was like, boy, okay, I gotta pivot here."
The COVID bubble burst. That "instant wait list" promise was a selling point that couldn't be cashed. If you're struggling with visibility right now, you're not failing—you're experiencing what happens when market conditions shift and nobody prepared you for it.
The niche confusion that's keeping you invisible
Here's where Kelli got stuck—and maybe you'll see yourself here too.
"I work with chronic pain, persistent pain, chronic illness—the mind-body connection. But I also really love walk-and-talk therapy. I love being outside in nature," Kelli shared. "And I'm wondering, is that confusing? Do I need to somehow separate those things?"
She was worried these two specialties made her look scattered. Unfocused. Like she didn't really know what she was doing.
But here's what I told her: You're not two separate entities floating around. They're both tethered to you. You are the umbrella.
The breakthrough: YOU are the brand
This is the piece most therapists miss when they're trying to figure out their niche.
You're not building a practice around modalities or diagnoses. You're building a practice around you—your expertise, your approach, your way of working.
When I asked Kelli what connects chronic pain work and walk-and-talk therapy, she paused. Then it clicked. "They're both about embodiment and being present in your body."
Exactly.
Kelli came to this work through her own journey—competitive ballet, body image struggles, eating challenges, chronic illness. She understands what it's like when living in your body feels impossible. And whether someone's sitting in her office or walking through the forest with her, she's helping them reconnect to their bodies in sustainable ways.
That's the umbrella. That's the brand. That's what makes both niches make perfect sense. The "I don't want to be a content creator" relief
Here's another thing Kelli was struggling with—and I bet you are too.
Being a content creator...
Good news: You don't have to.
Content creation for therapists isn't about performing. It's about service. It's one-to-many education instead of one-to-one therapy.
Kelli's on this podcast because of content I created. That's how visibility works. You share your knowledge, your perspective, your expertise—and the right people find you.
If writing feels more natural than dancing on social media, write. Blog posts, articles, educational content—that's all valid visibility work. You don't need to force yourself into platforms that feel completely misaligned.
The 13-year-old test for accessible writing
When Kelli mentioned that people in her family tell her she needs to "dumb it down" at the dinner table, I knew exactly what was happening.
"Would a 13-year-old understand this?" That's the filter I use for all content.
This isn't about assuming clients aren't smart. This is about making language accessible. We're master's-level educated professionals—we're at the top percent of education. We don't talk in elevated academic language in session, so we shouldn't write that way either.
Your homework: Read your website copy out loud. If it sounds like a research paper, simplify it. Use the language you actually use in session with real people.
What happens when you see yourself as the umbrella
Once Kelli understood that she's the brand holding everything together, the relief was immediate.
Here's what this reframe creates:
Freedom to work with different populations without feeling scattered
Permission to evolve your niches over time as your career develops
Clarity that you're not married to one specialty forever
Confidence that your diverse interests are actually an asset, not a problem
Kelli's practice can serve people struggling with chronic pain. It can also serve people who thrive in outdoor therapy settings. Those clients might overlap, or they might not. Either way, they're all working with Kelli—and that's what matters.
The competitive edge you didn't know you had
One more thing I noticed: Kelli's background in competitive ballet.
"Those competitive things that come from dancing actually really translate a lot into business," I told her.
She laughed, but it's true. Competitiveness isn't just about hustle—it's about discipline, strategic thinking, performance under pressure, and showing up consistently even when it's hard.
If you have a background in competitive anything (sports, dance, music, academics), that's not separate from your therapy work. That's part of what makes you resilient as a business owner.
Moving forward: Your action steps
If you're struggling with multiple niches like Kelli was, here's what to do:
Identify your umbrella. What's the common thread connecting your different specialties? What do you bring to all of them?
Position yourself as the intervention. Your supervisor told Kelli, "You are the intervention." That applies to your brand too.
Test your content accessibility. Read your website copy to a friend. Ask: "Would a 13-year-old understand this?"
Choose your visibility platform. You don't have to do TikTok. Pick the platform that feels like service, not performance.
Give yourself permission to evolve. Your niches will change as your career develops. That's normal and expected.
The truth about niching in your first few years
Here's what I want you to hear: If you're in your first few years of practice and you're still figuring out your niche, that's completely normal.
Kelli's not alone in thinking she'd be fully booked immediately. She's not alone in feeling confused about how to position multiple interests. And she's definitely not alone in resisting the "content creator" label while simultaneously knowing she needs visibility.
But here's what shifted for her in one coaching session—and what can shift for you too:
You don't need to have it all figured out. You need to see yourself as the umbrella that holds your expertise together. Once you have that clarity, the rest starts to make sense.
About the Author
Cecilia Mannella, MSW, RSW, RCC, is a Registered Clinical Counsellor and Registered Social Worker specializing in helping therapists and practice owners build sustainable, profitable practices without burnout.
Ready to build a therapy practice that thrives without the hustle?
Explore how the Sustainable Practice Framework™ can help you scale strategically while maintaining the clinical excellence and values that matter to you.
About Kelli Wheatley
Kelli Wheatley, M.Ed., RCC, CCC is a clinical counsellor passionate about supporting clients with mind-body wellness. She takes clients outside onto the trails of North Vancouver for walk-and-talk therapy and sees clients virtually across Canada who are struggling with body image, chronic pain, and illness. She believes everyone has the capacity to heal and build a full, joyful life, and she takes immense pride in walking alongside folks throughout their journeys.
Connect with Kelli Wheatley:
Website: kelliwheatleycounselling.com
FAQ
Q: Can I really have two completely different niches in one practice?
Yes—as long as you are the connection point. Your clients aren't hiring your modalities; they're hiring you. If both niches reflect your authentic expertise and passion, they belong together.
Q: What if people think I'm unfocused or scattered?
The key is how you position it. If you explain the common thread (like Kelli's embodiment focus), people will understand. If you present them as random, unrelated specialties, it will feel confusing.
Q: How do I know which niche to lead with on my website?
Lead with whichever one you want to grow first, or create an umbrella statement that encompasses both. Example: "I help people reconnect to their bodies through chronic pain work and nature-based therapy."
Q: Do I need separate websites for different niches?
No. That's way more work and usually unnecessary. One website, clear positioning, you as the umbrella. Much simpler.
Q: What if I want to add another niche later?
Then you add it. Your practice isn't static. As long as new niches fit under your umbrella (your expertise, your approach, your brand), you can evolve.
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