Have you ever caught yourself living in constant hustle mode — pushing for the next milestone in your therapy practice but rarely pausing to breathe, to celebrate, or to simply be? 

I sit down with Jenny Jonker, a therapist, practice owner, and graduate of both my Money Skills for Therapists and Money Skills for Practice Owners programs. Jenny’s story is powerful — she shares how her immigrant background, her family’s experience fleeing war, and the survival mindset that shaped her early years carried into her life as a business owner. Together, we explore what it looks like to shift from fear and scarcity into calm, trust, and true presence. 

I coach Jenny through the process of breaking free from the “always-doing” cycle and learning to actually enjoy the success she’s built. We talk about how trauma, culture, and early money stories shape the way we work — and why slowing down, resting, and allowing ourselves to feel safe in abundance is part of the deeper healing work for therapists. 

Jenny’s reflections are moving and relatable: honoring her parents’ legacy while learning that she doesn’t have to hustle to prove her worth. She reminds us that the path to financial stability in private practice isn’t only about spreadsheets and systems — it’s about healing what’s underneath. 

The Cost of Constant Hustle and How Therapists Can Embrace Rest 

(00:03:11) Finding Purpose Beyond Hustle 

(00:09:01) Breaking Cycles, Reclaiming Your Space 

(00:10:39) Feeling Empowered Through Your Backstory 

(00:18:51) Reflecting on Presence and Growth 

(00:21:07) Hustling to Prove Yourself 

(00:23:01) New Patterns Take Time 

(00:26:10) Prioritizing Rest and Growth 

(00:30:29) Balancing Hustle with Presence 

Redefining “Enough”: Healing the Immigrant Hustle Mindset in Private Practice 

(00:10:05) “Being an immigrant and having my own history and the way that I grew up, I think has really informed my practice and how I show up with clients and how I want to create this space with intention and be able to share my story and my experiences of hardship and poverty with clients in a way that helps them have hope." - Jenny Jonker  

Jenny beautifully describes what she calls her foreboding joy — that anxious feeling when things are finally good, but a part of you is waiting for something to go wrong. She’s practicing new tools to retrain her nervous system, learning to let in safety, joy, and gratitude. One of her grounding techniques: closing her eyes, counting to three, and saying, “I am really here. I deserve this.” 

If you’ve ever felt driven by scarcity, fear, or the pressure to prove yourself, Jenny’s story offers a gentle reminder: your worth doesn’t come from your productivity. It’s okay to slow down, to rest, and to take in how far you’ve come. 

Action Steps to Help You Shift Your Money Narrative:  

Explore your family’s money story. Reflect on the messages you absorbed about money, work, and success growing up. Which beliefs are truly yours, and which are ready to be released? 

Notice when “hustle” shows up. When you feel the pull to overwork, ask: “What am I afraid will happen if I slow down?” 

Practice mindful presence and positive affect tolerance. Try the same exercise I walked Jenny through: sit still, close your eyes, count to three, and open them with the words, “I deserve this. This is my life. I built this.” 

Connect with your younger self. When fear arises, connect with that child part of you and gently remind them, “We’re safe now. I’ve made good choices for us.” 

Celebrate your accomplishments – Visibly. Create small rituals to recognize what you’ve built. Light a candle, share your win, or simply pause and feel it. 

Start building in rest and enjoyment. Schedule moments of stillness and pleasure — even if it feels unfamiliar. This is how you grow your capacity to receive the good. 

Seek out financial education & support. Surround yourself with resources that honor your lived experience. My Money Skills for Therapists and Money Skills for Group Practice Owners programs are designed to help therapists like you build calm, confidence, and financial stability — from a place of self-compassion, not hustle. 

Get to Know Jenny Jonker:  

Jenny Jonker, MSW, RSW, is the owner and founder of Dragonfly Counselling and Wellness, a private therapy practice offering compassionate, trauma-informed care across Ontario. She came to Canada as a refugee of war from Nicaragua and draws on her lived experience of exile, trauma, and PTSD to inform her work and how she shows up for clients. With over 15 years of experience, Jenny specializes in complex trauma and has advanced training in EMDR, CBT, DBT, and ACT. At the heart of Dragonfly is a human-centered approach—being real, compassionate, and simply human with people is central to the team’s values. Dragonfly proudly serves diverse communities, including a strong focus on Indigenous populations, and offers therapy in multiple languages both in-person and virtually. 

Follow Jenny Jonker:  

Email: [email protected] 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dfca.w/ 

Ready to feel confident with your money? 

Are you a Solo Private Practice Owner? 

I made this course just for you: Money Skills for Therapists. My signature course has been carefully designed to take therapists from money confusion, shame, and uncertainty – to calm and confidence. In this course I give you everything you need to create financial peace of mind as a therapist in solo private practice. 

Want to learn more? Click here to register for my free masterclass, “The 4 Step Framework to Get Your Business Finances Totally in Order.” 

This masterclass is your way to get a feel for my approach, learn exactly what I teach inside Money Skills for Therapists, and get your invite to join us in the course. 

Are you a Group Practice Owner? 

Join the waitlist for Money Skills for Group Practice Owners. This course takes you from feeling like an overworked, stressed and underpaid group practice owner, to being the confident and empowered financial leader of your group practice. 

 

Mentioned in this episode:

Start Feeling Calm and Confident About Your Group Practice Finances

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