Element 1: Why Capacity Must Come Before Strategy

 The Parking Lot Moment

It was 8:02 AM on a Tuesday. I had just dropped my children off at daycare. My first client was at 8:15 AM. I sat in my car in the parking lot of my own practice, unable to make myself go inside.

I worked 8 to 5—the exact hours my children were in childcare. Drop them off, go right to work, pick them up at 5. No break even in the commute. This was my life, five days a week.

On paper, I had built exactly what I was supposed to build. Full caseload. Waitlist. The calls kept coming in—something I was doing was working for my clients. I was making good money, certainly more than when I was a caseworker.

Of course, what I didn't know yet was the business side of things. I had been at it full time in private practice for a little over a year and was just beginning to see the mountain of learning that was needed.

But beneath the surface of this "success," something else was happening.

I was drowning.

I had two little kids at home and was still nursing. I was tired physically—my sleep constantly interrupted—and my work was draining me emotionally. I was putting too much of myself into it, giving everything away until there was nothing left. My motivation was tanking.

That was 2019. That was my wake-up call.

The Lie We Were Told

Here's what they taught us in graduate school about building a therapy practice: nothing.

They taught us how to be clinicians. But when it came to running a business? The implicit message was clear: if you're good enough at the clinical work, the rest will figure itself out.

This is the model most of us absorbed:

• More clients equals more impact
• A full schedule equals success
• Exhaustion is the price of meaningful work
• Your needs come after everyone else's

And underneath all of these: Your body's signals are obstacles to overcome, not information to heed.

Why Foundation Comes First

At the Somatic Integration Institute, we've discovered something radical: You cannot build sustainable practices on a depleted foundation.

The first element of the Somatic Leverage System™ is simple but revolutionary: Capacity Before Strategy.

Before you plan, strategize, or set goals, you need to know: What does my nervous system actually have bandwidth for right now?

Not what you think you should handle. Not what your colleague manages. What does your body—right now—have capacity to hold?

The Expansion/Contraction Test

Before making any significant decision, try this:

1. Get Present - Take three breaths. Drop into your body.
2. Consider the Decision - Hold it gently: "I'm considering [X]."
3. Notice Your Body's Response

Expansion: Shoulders drop, breath deepens, chest opens, sense of ease Contraction: Shoulders tighten, jaw clenches, breath shallows, sense of bracing

Your body is giving you accurate information. Trust it.

Early Warning Signals

We often don't realize we're depleted until crisis hits. Learn to recognize these early signals:

Early Warning:

• Sleep quality changes
• Irritability at home
• Tasks feeling heavy
• Sunday evening dread
• Checking out during sessions

Red Alert:

• Falling asleep between clients
• Getting sick frequently
• Client stories following you everywhere
• Losing compassion
• Resentment toward people who need you

Why "Should" Decisions Fail

"Should" is the language of obligation:

• "I should be able to handle this caseload"
• "I should say yes to this opportunity"
• "I should be grateful for this success"

Every "should" decision is made from somewhere other than your actual capacity. You can override your body's no for weeks, months, sometimes years. But eventually, your nervous system demands attention through burnout, illness, or breakdown.

The alternative? Decisions made from embodied alignment. From your body's actual yes. From capacity, not conditioning.

Your Foundation Can Strengthen

The capacity you have today isn't fixed. It grows when you:

1. Start from where you actually are
2. Honor your current edges
3. Build slowly and consistently
4. Support yourself through growth
5. Measure progress somatically

True capacity building happens when you honor your edges, not when you override them.

Where to Start

If you're depleted or approaching burnout:

Immediate Actions:

• Reduce caseload if possible (even 2-3 clients helps)
• Add spacers between sessions
• Get back to your own therapy/supervision
• Implement ONE regulation practice that actually helps
• Take at least one full day off per week

Within 30 Days:

• Calculate your sustainable capacity
• Identify your early warning signals
• Practice the Expansion/Contraction Test daily
• Make one decision from alignment, not "should"

What Becomes Possible

When you build from embodied foundation, everything changes:

• Chronic override → Sustainable presence
• Sunday dread → Anticipation or neutrality
• Irritability at home → Capacity for connection
• Guilt about boundaries → Clear, grounded limits
• Fantasy of quitting → Love for the work again

This isn't theoretical. This is what happened for me. This is what we see with therapists at the Somatic Integration Institute through the Catalyst Collective.

Your Next Step

Building embodied foundation is the first element, and everything else builds from here. You cannot skip this step.

Start with honest assessment:

• What is my actual capacity right now?
• What are my early warning signals?
• Where am I making decisions from "should" instead of alignment?

Your body has been trying to tell you something. Maybe it's time to listen.

Want to dive deeper? Access the complete Embodied Foundation assessment at flourishingsystem.org/smartperformance

Ready for structured support? The Catalyst Collective guides therapists through all 7 Elements. Learn more at the Somatic Integration Institute.

Capacity before strategy. Everything else builds from there.