Running Your Practice With Your Values at the Center
The Right Tack Podcast, Episode 12
Every behavioral health clinic owner begins with a vision for the kind of work they want to do and the kind of life they hope to build. But once the paperwork, credentialing, scheduling, hiring, and daily decisions start piling up, it can be surprisingly easy to lose sight of what matters most: your values.
In Episode 12 of The Right Tack, our hosts, Jim and Paul Jonas, sit down for a candid conversation about what it really looks like to start and run a practice with your values guiding the way.
This episode is just the two of them — father and son — reflecting on what they’ve learned across decades of entrepreneurship, leadership in mental health, and building teams that stick around.
Why Values Matter More Than You Think
Paul and Jim admit they didn’t write down their values early in their business journeys. Like many practice owners, they were too busy launching, scrambling, and trying to keep things afloat. But looking back, they both say this: defining values earlier would have made everything easier.
Values shape:
How you lead
How you hire
How you show up for clients
How you show up for staff
How you show up for your family
How you show up for yourself
When your values are clear, decisions become simpler. Boundaries become clearer. Teams understand what you stand for. And your practice feels more authentic from the inside out.
Authenticity Isn’t a Buzzword — It’s a Survival Skill
Jim shares a concept he uses in supervision: isomorphism — the idea that you show up the same way no matter where you are. Whether you’re with clients, staff, or family, being the same person in every setting keeps you grounded and creates trust.
Paul connects this idea to BreezyBilling’s own ground rules, including one of their foundational values: Take care of yourself, your family, and your work (in that order!).
Values aren’t meant to be performative. They serve as a compass when you’re tired, overwhelmed, or facing hard decisions. And as the hosts share, authenticity reduces the emotional friction of running a practice. You don’t have to be a different version of yourself for each room you enter.
Boundaries, Emotional Energy, and Rewriting Old Patterns
Another theme: managing your emotional energy.
Practice owners pour so much into clients, staff, documentation, and decision-making that personal boundaries can erode without noticing. Jim and Paul talk openly about the importance of naming what you need — with your team and with your family — and how honesty helps everyone stay aligned.
They also share personal stories about learning to communicate needs clearly. When you’re building a business, unresolved emotional drains can spread into your practice and influence how you lead.
Values, when defined and revisited, help prevent this energy leak.
Starting a Practice? Start With Who You Want to Be.
This episode reminds new and seasoned owners alike that values are not about corporate jargon. They are your non-negotiables: the traits and principles that shape the way you treat people and how you move through your work.
You don’t need a full-day retreat or a long strategic planning session. Your values can be simple, honest, and personal. And when you articulate them early, you give yourself a roadmap that keeps your practice aligned, sustainable, and human.
🎧 Listen to Episode 12 of The Right Tack: “Running Your Practice With Your Values at the Center”
