Since STC usually focuses on aspects of the journey into private practice, today’s show is different. We are talking to someone who decided to take her skill set in another direction and move away from private practice. A traditional talk-therapy practice isn’t for everyone, and there are other therapeutic healing modalities that can be fulfilling and meaningful. Join us to learn more! Hayley Hansen is a body-centered healer based in Phoenix, Arizona. She was a Licensed Professional Counselor wh...
Jun 18, 2020•32 min•Ep. 245
Today’s show is different from the regular topics of business and entrepreneurship, and it may be one of the most important issues of all. Join us to learn some golden nuggets to help you in your relationships. Roger Nygard is best known for his highly acclaimed and successful documentary called Trekkies. Today’s conversation is focused on Roger’s latest documentary, The Truth About Marriage. He wanted to figure out what makes happy relationships, so he started out by reading a lot of books on t...
Jun 11, 2020•42 min•Ep. 244
We are tackling another topic relevant to the pandemic crisis. This particular time is a good chance to think about private practice in different ways than ever before. If you’ve ever considered blogging as a way to build your practice and expand your reach to your ideal clients, then this is the show for you. Lauren Hahn is a licensed mental health counselor in Orlando, Florida. She has built a successful private practice through blogging. In this episode, Lauran shares the process that she’s g...
Jun 04, 2020•42 min•Ep. 243
The concept of using telemedicine for mental health clinicians has become very relevant due to the coronavirus pandemic. Unfortunately, meeting clients this way is something that is not just temporary; clinicians need to make this transition and set themselves up for successful telemedicine for the future. Roy Huggins has been at the forefront of telemedicine and how to do it ethically. In today’s show, he’ll share practical measures to take, like setting up your computer and tablet. He’ll also ...
May 28, 2020•36 min•Ep. 242
As clinicians, we occupy a unique role as we hold space for the grief of our clients while still navigating our own grief and disappointment in a time like this pandemic crisis. These times make us think differently about how we serve our clients, which makes today’s show about text-based therapy very relevant. Can it be used in an ethical and effective way? Bill Hudenko is a professor at Dartmouth College in the Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences. He also teaches at Dartmouth’s Scho...
May 21, 2020•31 min•Ep. 241
Even though today’s topic is very specific, it’s one that applies to many clinicians. We are discussing the unique situation of restarting a private practice after a military deployment. We include many helpful tips if you find yourself in that situation, or if your niche involves working with the military population. Chad Welch has a private practice outside St. Louis. He has an amazing story of deployment to the Middle East until July of last year and then restarting his private practice just ...
May 14, 2020•35 min•Ep. 240
Today’s show is about search engine optimization (SEO), an essential aspect of your private practice website. The truth is that you can have the most beautifully designed website on the planet, but it won’t help your practice if it doesn’t attract people. If you’re confused about trying to navigate the world of SEO, then this is the show you don’t want to miss! Dr. Maelisa Hall is a licensed psychologist and digital marketing expert. She’s here to break down the intimidating world of SEO with la...
May 07, 2020•42 min•Ep. 239
It’s a challenge to open up and be vulnerable about what you’ve learned along your journey. Often, it’s that authenticity that is most effective in helping others learn from what YOU have learned. Today’s guest is an example of openness and vulnerability. Katie Leikam, LCSW, has a private practice in Decatur, GA. She is sharing with transparency about how she went from zero clients after the first four months to a thriving $100,000 practice. There is wisdom to be found in Katie’s experience, in ...
Apr 30, 2020•35 min
Welcome to a solo episode about a very important topic: Focusing on Your ONE Thing. This episode is an outgrowth of one of my personal goals for 2017, which is to read one business-related book per month. I’ve already read a book that has impacted me greatly and changed the way I approach my business. The book is The One Thing: The Surprisingly Simple Truth Behind Extraordinary Results by Gary Keller and Jay Papasan. The book hones in on the principle that successful businesses with innovative p...
Apr 23, 2020•34 min
This episode features . . . .you! Nineteen of our listeners took the time to record their tips for getting referrals, which just happens to be the most-asked question for clinicians. This episode is bittersweet for me because it’s the last one of this season. I’m taking some time off to focus on being a husband and daddy and to take some much-needed time for self-care. But before I say goodbye, for now, let’s listen to these great ideas for getting those coveted referrals! You can read the full ...
Apr 16, 2020•51 min
Today’s topic is one that puzzles many clinicians and leaves us feeling uncomfortable. We’ve approached setting fees on past episodes, but today we are diving deeper into setting fees that ensure our profitability. How do we make sure our business is growing, thriving, and allowing for future expansion? Join us as we learn more with today’s guest. Reina Lombardi is an art therapist based in Florida. She has a wealth of experience and knowledge about debt, building a business, and setting fees. R...
Apr 09, 2020•43 min
Today’s show is about something a bit different, even though we’re in the middle of the coronavirus crisis. I’ve learned that we should have a virtual aspect of our business in place for scenarios like this. I’ve also learned how important diverse income streams can be when your regular practice is interrupted. I can’t maintain my business health if I rely solely on my clients. Five years ago, I launched my first online course, so now I’m sharing lessons learned over that time, especially about ...
Mar 26, 2020•30 min•Ep. 233
Today’s show is one that I’ve looked forward to for a long time. We are covering a topic that comes up frequently in the STC community, which is the process of hiring a virtual assistant. I’ve been through this process more than once, and it was a rocky road before finding Nicole three years ago. Hiring a VA teaches you about your strengths, weaknesses, and communication skills. I’ve learned what tasks I can delegate and what help I need for long-term sustainability in my business. Today you’ll ...
Mar 19, 2020•40 min•Ep. 232
Today’s show is about a topic I’ve wanted to cover for a while. It’s about something many of us might have wanted to do in our practices. We are talking about retreats and mini-retreats, and I have the perfect person to fill us in on the details. Mikella Millen is an art therapist in NYC. She has taken a great idea and made it reality by creating retreats focused on self-care for clinicians. She’s sharing with us how she developed this idea and validated the fact that people would want to sign u...
Mar 12, 2020•35 min•Ep. 231
Today’s topic is a new one in the STC community. Have you ever thought about renting or subleasing extra office space? Whether you might be a prospective owner or renter, today’s show has great wisdom about how that extra office space can be put to good use in serving other clinicians and your community. Elena Clemente has a practice in North Tampa. She has learned many lessons through renting out parts of her four-person office suite. In today’s show, Elena shares how she found this office spac...
Mar 05, 2020•35 min•Ep. 230
As STC has grown, I’ve been wanting to address this topic of getting on other podcasts as a guest. In a typical week, I receive several requests from people wanting to be a guest on STC. There are several reasons why I cannot accept every one of those requests, and there are things to consider in remaining authentic while seeking podcast appearances. In this solo episode, we discuss some tips to follow if you want to increase your exposure by appearing on podcasts. www.sellingthecouch.com/sessio...
Feb 27, 2020•23 min•Ep. 229
Today’s conversation focuses on an interesting topic. We’ve often discussed the nuances of a private pay practice, but today we are going deeper. Is it possible to build a successful private pay group practice in an area where most other clinicians take insurance? Join us as we explore this question together. Deborah Duley has a practice in Maryland, which she manages remotely from her new home in Atlanta. Deborah has learned a lot along the journey in which she began as a solo practitioner in a...
Feb 20, 2020•30 min•Ep. 228
Today’s show covers an interesting topic that has come up in the STC community. We discuss multiple income streams frequently, but what is the best way to put those in place? Do I need to build my therapy practice before I launch a second income stream? Let’s answer these questions and more with today’s guest. Annie Schuessler lives in the San Francisco Bay area. She’s been in private practice for 20 years, and she’s mentored other therapists for 10 years. She has insights learned along the way ...
Feb 13, 2020•34 min•Ep. 227
Today’s topic is one that puzzles many clinicians and leaves us feeling uncomfortable. We’ve approached setting fees on past episodes, but today we are diving deeper into setting fees that ensure our profitability. How do we make sure our business is growing, thriving, and allowing for future expansion? Join us as we learn more with today’s guest. Reina Lombardi is an art therapist based in Florida. She has a wealth of experience and knowledge about debt, building a business, and setting fees. R...
Feb 06, 2020•38 min•Ep. 226
Welcome to a solo episode! I wanted to take this opportunity to discuss how I’ve revamped my private practice website. The process has been very intentional for me, and I’ve enlisted the help of several other people. Maybe you are considering changes to your website, but you aren’t sure where to begin. I hope today’s “inside look” at a private practice website is helpful to you. www.sellingthecouch.com/session225 Mentioned in this episode: Try Quiet Builder! 📬 The Quiet Builder: A premium newsl...
Jan 30, 2020•24 min•Ep. 225
Have you felt the pull of private practice? Maybe you’ve considered taking the leap into private practice, but are hesitant about the first steps to take. Today’s show takes an authentic look at the big picture, along with basic procedures to get you started. Our guest shares how she followed her intuition and took the risk that comes with starting a business. Montoyia McGowan is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker in the Memphis, Tennessee area. She and I have connected online for about four year...
Jan 23, 2020•32 min•Ep. 224
With today’s technology, most people rely on online reviews when it comes to products, services, restaurants, hotels, and much more. When it comes to clinicians and clients, online reviews can reveal a lot, but is that a good thing? Do people mainly leave online reviews when they are upset or dissatisfied with the service they have received? Join us for a deeper look at this issue on today’s show. Dr. Keely Kolmes is a Licensed Psychologist in California. They did research via anonymous surveys ...
Jan 16, 2020•28 min•Ep. 223
Many clinicians think about creating online courses, and some may even feel pressured to take this step. Online courses are sometimes portrayed as the “golden egg” for clinicians and the pinnacle of achievement. While this is certainly a product with much potential, the key is in balancing online courses with the other aspects of your practice while making sure you are motivated by the right reasons. Learn more in today’s show! Miranda Palmer is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist from Zinn...
Jan 09, 2020•42 min•Ep. 222
Welcome to the first episode of 2020! It’s been nice to have some extra time for rest and family time around the holidays, but now I’m ready to get going again with wonderful guests and helpful episodes as we step into a new year. Curt Widhalm, LMFT, is a friend based in Los Angeles. He works with high-achieving teens in his practice. I wanted Curt to share how he chose this niche and what he’s learned along the way. It’s also cool that Curt is a marathon runner who ran competitively in high sch...
Jan 02, 2020•37 min•Ep. 221
Do you “have it all together” when it comes to your business finances? My hat’s off to you if you do, but for most of us, the painful truth is that any business journey comes with its own set of challenges and lessons, some of which must be learned the hard way. Like many of you, I like to pretend that I have it all together, but today’s show is all about transparency and baring it all---the good, the bad, and the ugly. Every few weeks I like to a solo session to share with you what I’m learning...
Dec 26, 2019•26 min•Ep. 220
Today’s guest is Debra Roberts, LCSW, who is in private practice specializing in relationship therapy. Our topic today is one that many clinicians have probably pondered at one time or another. We’re discussing how to take our clinical expertise and turn it into some kind of digital product that extends far beyond the therapy room. Over 20+ years in private practice, Debra realized that she was having success with her clients and finally mustered the courage to write a book that has since branch...
Dec 19, 2019•48 min•Ep. 219
When you’ve talked with as many people as I have, you tend to learn a lot of lessons and gain great insights into what it takes to build a successful private practice. Today’s show is a solo episode inspired by a presentation I did recently. We are focusing on three lessons I’ve learned, along with key takeaways and the biggest mistake for each lesson. www.sellingthecouch.com/session218 Mentioned in this episode: Try Quiet Builder! 📬 The Quiet Builder: A premium newsletter for therapists, found...
Dec 12, 2019•25 min•Ep. 218
Welcome to this solo episode! I’m talking today about all the things I thought I knew about podcasting that turned out NOT to be true. I want to help you avoid these mistakes if you’re considering embarking on your own podcasting journey. My podcasting journey spans almost 2-1/2 years now, which is still hard for me to believe. So, here we go; let’s jump right into Five Podcasting Myths and How to Avoid Them. www.sellingthecouch.com/session217 Mentioned in this episode: Try Quiet Builder! 📬 The...
Dec 05, 2019•32 min•Ep. 217
Welcome! Can you build a private pay counseling private practice in this day and age? That is the question that therapist and business coach Keri Nola and I explore in Session 4 of the Selling the Couch podcast. www.sellingthecouch.com/session216 Mentioned in this episode: Try Quiet Builder! 📬 The Quiet Builder: A premium newsletter for therapists, founders & leaders building thoughtful work + lives. The Quiet Builder...
Nov 26, 2019•32 min•Ep. 216
Today’s guest is Dr. Joy Harden Bradford, a psychologist in private practice in Decatur, GA. She is the creator of the website, blog, and podcast, Therapy for Black Girls . Her practice mainly focuses on African-American women who have gone through breakups. Dr. Joy and I are discussing how she has built this therapy and brand, and how she developed it while staying authentic and true to herself and her calling. www.sellingthecouch.com/session215 Mentioned in this episode: Try Quiet Builder! 📬 ...
Nov 21, 2019•31 min•Ep. 215
