Know the Difference or Pay the Price
By Samantha Newton, HR Consultant, Ethical Practice Advocate & unapologetic HR Queen
Why Listen to Me?
Because I’ve been in the trenches.
I’m not here waving a clipboard, shouting from corporate towers, I’ve supported everyone from trauma-informed coaches to sound healers, reiki masters to yoga teachers, when their work got messy and personal. I’ve been called in when the refund requests land, the collaborations explode, the burnout hits, and the policies don’t exist. I know what happens when practitioners try to hold everyone else without structure to hold themselves.
I’ve also rebuilt that structure, without stripping away your soul. That’s the difference.
So no, I’m not here to tell you to “get more organised.” I’m here to help you stay in this work, with less resentment, more protection, and way more peace.
If you don’t draw the line, they’ll cross it, and you’ll burn out trying to be their friend, coach and therapist all in one.
Let’s be honest, when it comes to boundaries and burnout, you need someone who’s seen it all, called it out, and rebuilt it properly. That’s me, the HR Queen, and I’m here to stop the chaos before it even starts.
Most practitioners in the wellness world wear multiple hats. You’re part coach, part healer, part emotional support. And while empathy is your superpower, it can also be your downfall.
When boundaries are weak, roles get messy. You find yourself answering texts at 10pm, listening to life stories that spill way past the session’s end, and feeling drained rather than energised after your calls.
This is more common than you think. And it doesn’t mean you’re doing something wrong, it means you’re human. But running a sustainable practice requires more than heart, it requires a healthy boundary spine.
The Empathy Trap
Empathy makes you good at your job. But over-identification? That’s where trouble brews. If you begin absorbing your client’s emotions, problems, or patterns, you’re no longer holding space, you’re taking it on.
Your client doesn’t need you to be a friend. They need you to be a grounded, consistent, clear professional. One who can listen without losing themselves in someone else’s story.
Signs You’re Blurring the Lines
- You dread sessions with certain clients.
- You keep checking your phone out of hours.
- You give discounts out of guilt.
- You feel responsible for your client’s life choices.
- You avoid raising your prices because “they can’t afford it.”
- Prevention is Protection
Why Clients Need Boundaries Too
Sole Traders, Listen Up: You might be tempted to blur lines to ‘be supportive’, especially when it’s just you. But overgiving is a form of self-abandonment. Boundaries aren’t a wall, they’re a welcome mat with a message: Respect lives here.
Boundaries aren’t just for your protection; they help clients feel safe. When you model healthy, professional limits, you create a container of trust. It tells them: I am reliable. I am structured. You can relax here.
Clients who experience consistent boundaries tend to get better results. Why? Because they know the terms of engagement. They can focus on the work, not on interpreting your availability, mood, or signals.
Case Example: The Burned Out Coach
This one’s all too common. Let me walk you through it.
A life coach came to me after nearly quitting her practice. Her client base had grown, but so had her anxiety. She was spending hours texting clients in between sessions, offering emotional support late at night, and never saying no. She didn’t realise that every “yes” to her clients was a “no” to her own wellbeing. We restructured her packages, clarified her scope of practice, and automated her scheduling and boundaries. Within three months, she was thriving again.
Reflect Before You Act
Think about a recent client interaction. Did you overextend? Did you take responsibility for something that wasn’t yours?
How might it feel to protect your energy and your client’s growth with clearer boundaries?
What You Can Do Now
- Clarify your scope — What’s included in your role? What’s beyond it?
- Define communication boundaries — How can clients reach you? When?
- Use a code of conduct or welcome guide — Outline expectations upfront.
- Hold session time sacred — Start and end on time.
- Let go of people-pleasing — Boundaries aren’t rejection. They’re respect.
Midway Gut Check
Feeling a bit called out? That’s a good thing. Boundaries aren’t about being cold, they’re about being clear. You’re not just a practitioner. You’re a business owner. And your clients deserve the best version of you, not the one running on fumes.
If you want a quick snapshot of where your own boundaries might be leaking, email me for the Boundaries & Burnout Audit Checklist.
What to Action Today
- 🔲 Choose and brief your Business Buddy
- 🔲 Create an emergency handover document
- 🔲 Update your T&Cs with a contingency clause
- 🔲 Back up your client data securely
- 🔲 Build a savings plan for sick or burnout leave
Summary
Being soul-led doesn’t mean being structure-less. If you are your business, then your sustainability is everything. Emergency planning isn’t fear-based, it’s freedom-based. It lets you rest, recover, and respond to life without losing everything you’ve built.
That’s not just smart. That’s sacred.
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Always happy to connect, collaborate, or simply have a great conversation.
Warm regards,
Samantha Newton
Let’s Get Your House in Order
You didn’t come this far to be undone by a cancellation policy or a boundary breach. If you’re still managing client expectations via vibes and voice notes, it’s time to upgrade.
Here’s what working with me gives you:
- ✅ Peace of mind
- ✅ Real templates that work (not fluff)
- ✅ A practice you can grow without collapsing under it
Trying to run a people-facing business without proper boundaries and agreements is like running barefoot through brambles. You’ll keep going, but you’ll bleed for it. Let me help you walk through it in boots, with a map, and a torch.
Book your free 15-min HR SOS call, because if you’re going to do meaningful work, you need meaningful protection.
Not ready for a call? Grab my free Boundaries & Burnout Audit Checklist, quick, honest, brutally helpful. It’ll show you what’s leaking energy in your business, and what to do about it.
Got a horror story or boundary win to share? Message me, I love hearing what’s really going on behind the scenes. Connect on Foyht or LinkedIn and let’s talk about making your practice not just sustainable, but brilliant.
Your energy is sacred.
So is your business.
Guard both.
Connect with Samantha Newton on Foyht & start building a practice that’s as boundaried & brilliant as you are.
Main – Photo by Ugluk Potroshitel on Unsplash
