Episode 205: Managing the Unseen: How Invisible Disabilities Impact Entrepreneurs [featuring Destiny Davis]

Navigating entrepreneurship is challenging enough—but add chronic illness or invisible disabilities to the mix, and the journey is a whole new level of complex. In this episode, Patrick Casale and Destiny Davis, MS, LPC, CRC, share powerful insights on building meaningful, sustainable work while honoring your own needs.

Here are 3 key takeaways:

1. Honor Your Capacity: Your energy and time are your most valuable resources. It’s okay to say “no,” set boundaries, and recognize that your own well-being comes first—even when that means letting go of things you once loved or cutting back on work that’s no longer sustainable.
2. Build Supportive Systems: Whether it’s a supportive partner, intentional friendships, or business relationships with similar values, surrounding yourself with understanding people makes a huge difference. Don’t have that support? Explore peer networks, online groups, or communities where your lived experience is understood and validated.
3. Practice Self-Compassion Over Perfection: Normalize the ebb and flow of your energy. Some days will be productive, while others are meant for rest—and that’s okay. Focus on what you can do rather than shaming yourself for what you can’t, and remember that progress is built through small, sustainable steps.

More about Destiny:

Destiny Davis, MS, LPC, CRC is a Licensed Professional Counselor and Certified Rehabilitation Counselor in private practice in Atlanta, Georgia. She specializes in helping people with invisible illnesses and disabilities navigate relationships and build meaningful lives using Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and Somatic Experiencing approaches.

Destiny works with individuals and facilitates groups for adults, teens, and parents who want to strengthen their relationships with themselves, their families, and their communities. She created and facilitates Welcome to The Waiting Room, a membership community providing evidence-based, peer support for people with complex medical conditions.

As host of The Chronic Illness Therapists Podcast and leader of clinical consultation groups for medical professionals, Destiny bridges the gap between lived experience and clinical expertise in chronic illness care.

• Instagram: @the.chronicillnesstherapists
• Cohort Group page: revivepractice.com/chronic-illness-cohort
• Conference: chronicillnesstherapists.com

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Thanks to Our Sponsors: The Receptionist for iPad, Alma, & All Things Private Practice — 2025 & 2026 Retreats!

✨ The Receptionist for iPad

Thanks to The Receptionist for iPad for sponsoring this episode.

The Receptionist offers an iPad list check-in option where clients can scan a QR code to check in, which negates the need for you to buy an iPad and stand. Go to thereceptionist.com/privatepractice and sign up for a free 14-day trial. When you do, you'll get your first month free. And don't forget to ask about our iPad list check-in option.

✨ Alma

Thanks to Alma for sponsoring this episode.

Building and managing the practice you want can be challenging. That’s why Alma offers tools and resources to help you build not just any practice, but your private practice. They’ll help you navigate insurance, access referrals who are the right fit for you, and efficiently manage administrative tasks — so you can spend less time on the details and more time delivering great care. You support your clients. Alma supports you. Visit helloalma.com/ATPP to learn more.

✨ All Things Private Practice — 2025 & 2026 Retreats

All Things Private Practice has some amazing retreat experiences coming up in 2025 and 2026.

We have two retreats in Queenstown, New Zealand. The first is for Neurodivergent Entrepreneurs from March 1st to 8th, and the second retreat, Beyond Private Practice, focuses on moving beyond one-on-one therapy and creating alternative income streams from March 15th to 22nd.

Spaces are limited, so check the links to sign up today. Doubt yourself, do it anyway!

• Neurodivergent Entrepreneurs in Queenstown, New Zealand: allthingspractice.com/new-zealand-neurodivergent
• Beyond Private Practice in Queenstown, New Zealand: allthingspractice.com/new-zealand-income-streams

Mentioned in this episode:

The Receptionist for iPad

I want to thank The Receptionist for iPad for sponsoring this episode. From new patients faced with an empty lobby and no idea where to find their therapist to clinicians with a session running over time and the doorbell ringing, some of the most anxiety-ridden moments of a therapy appointment happen before a session even starts. The Receptionist for iPad, helps you tackle some of that pre-appointment apprehension and anxiety. The Receptionist for iPad is an easy-to-use digital client check-in system that helps your visitors check in securely to their appointments and notify their practitioners of their arrival via SMS, email, or your preferred channel. No more confusion, and less lobby checking or having clients sign in on paper logbooks. It can even help you upgrade and update your demographic information for your clients as well and even validate parking. Start a 14-day free trial of the Receptionist for iPad by going to thereceptionist.com/privatepractice. Make sure to start your trial with that link and you'll also get your first month free if you decide to sign up.

All Things Private Practice — 2025 & 2026 Retreats

All Things Private Practice has some amazing retreat experiences coming up in 2025 and 2026. Join us in Edinburgh, Scotland for the second Doubt Yourself, Do It Anyway Summit from July 14th to 17th, 2025! We have an incredible lineup of 12 speakers and offer 12 MBCCEs. If you're a leader or aspiring to start a group practice, join our Leadership Retreat in Chania, Crete, from September 6th to 11th. In 2026, we have two retreats in Queenstown, New Zealand. The first is for Neurodivergent Entrepreneurs from March 1st to 8th, and the second retreat, Beyond Private Practice, focuses on moving beyond one-on-one therapy and creating alternative income streams from March 15th to 22nd. Spaces are limited, so check the links to sign up today. Doubt yourself, do it anyway! Doubt Yourself, Do It Anyway Summit in Scotland: https://www.empoweredescapes.com/scotland-july-2025-summit Leadership Retreat in Chania, Crete: https://www.empoweredescapes.com/greece-retreat-2025 Neurodivergent Entrepreneurs in Queenstown, New Zealand: https://www.allthingspractice.com/new-zealand-neurodivergent Beyond Private Practice in Queenstown, New Zealand: https://www.allthingspractice.com/new-zealand-income-streams

Alma

I want to thank Alma for sponsoring this episode. Building and managing the practice you want can be challenging. That’s why Alma offers tools and resources to help you build not just any practice, but your private practice. They’ll help you navigate insurance, access referrals who are the right fit for you, and efficiently manage administrative tasks — so you can spend less time on the details, and more time delivering great care. You support your clients. Alma supports you. Visit helloalma.com/ATPP to learn more.