The Private Practice Academy Podcast - podcast cover

The Private Practice Academy Podcast

Kerstin Anderson-Ridgewww.privatepracticeacademy.com.au

Are you a psychologist looking to create a sustainable and profitable private practice, but you’re intimidated by how much you need to learn and worried about sacrificing your freedom in the process? Join Kerstin Anderson-Ridge, a clinical and counselling psychologist and business mentor, as she shares her journey and interviews other therapists to share theirs too. If you want to create, build and sustain a profitable private practice, this show is for you.

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Episodes

55. How to Handle 1 Star Reviews

There’s something that all business owners fear… and that’s negative reviews. At my practice, we recently received a 1 star review on Google. We’re not the first practice to receive one, and we won’t be the last, so I wanted to share about our experience so that you know what to do if you’re ever in the same situation. In this episode, I’ll share: The reason AHPRA doesn’t want psychologists to have reviews Why you shouldn’t remove your Google My Business profile, even if you get bad reviews Whet...

Aug 12, 202516 minSeason 2Ep. 55

54. Professional Wills and Why You Need One with Robyn Miller

What would happen to your practice if something happened to you? It may feel like a dark question, but it’s one that most psychologists aren’t asking ourselves. We have an ethical obligation to consider the impact on our clients if we are suddenly absent, and Robyn Miller is ensuring that more practice owners are aware of this. In this episode, we speak about: What is a professional will? How we can help our clients avoid the trauma of the unknown What needs to be addressed in a professional wil...

Aug 05, 202538 minSeason 2Ep. 54

53. $8k in Cancellations in 1 Week and What I Did About It

Today, I’m sharing one of the most challenging things that’s happened to me as a group practice owner. Honestly, I’m uncomfortable about sharing this, but I think it’s important for all practice owners to hear! In this episode, I’ll share: The time our practice had $8k of cancellations in one week How this changed the structure of our assessments and our policies What I learnt from this experience How to stop this from happening to you Find out how to work with me: https://www.privatepracticeaca...

Jul 29, 202515 minSeason 2Ep. 53

52. Staff Overtime: How to Set Limits

My group practice has a policy and procedure around overtime now, but that wasn’t always the case. Once, a staff member did 16 hours of unapproved overtime, and it showed me that I needed to rethink the way I’d set things up (or should I say: hadn’t set things up!). In this episode, I’ll share: The exact moment I realised our contracts and policies needed a serious upgrade How to rethink overtime, boundaries, and fair expectations in a helping profession How to bring admin on board for the bigge...

Jul 22, 202514 minSeason 2Ep. 52

51. The Dark Side of Showing Up Online

A few weeks ago, I had an incident that threw me for a loop. As psychologists, we’re encouraged to market ourselves online - especially on social media - but there’s a dark side that isn’t spoken about enough. In this episode, I’ll share exactly what happened to me and the lessons I learnt from it. Find out how to work with me: https://www.privatepracticeacademy.com.au/services FREE content ideas for psychologists: https://www.privatepracticeacademy.com.au/content-ideas Send me a DM @kerstin_and...

Jul 15, 202513 minSeason 2Ep. 51

50. You Can’t Build a Team Without This..

Before you expand or scale your practice, it’s important to consider what expectations you have for your staff members. This helps to set the tone for your practice and your team. In this episode, I’ll share: My top two expectations that I have in place within my practice Why you should consider your values within your expectations How to determine what your expectations should be Find out how to work with me: https://www.privatepracticeacademy.com.au/services FREE content ideas for psychologist...

Jul 08, 20258 minSeason 2Ep. 50

49. Nobody Plans for This – But You Should

Are you prepared for when ‘life things’ show up in your practice? Maybe it’s a staff member who gets pregnant, someone going on leave or a clinician transitioning away from the practice. In this episode, I’ll share: Whether you should hire a replacement The importance of having multiple people who can fulfil a role My process to follow when someone tells you they’re leaving for a time period Find out how to work with me: https://www.privatepracticeacademy.com.au/services FREE content ideas for p...

Jul 01, 202513 minSeason 2Ep. 49

48. When to Get a PA

A PA may feel like an indulgence to some, but if you really want to move the needle in your practice then they can be a worthwhile investment. In this episode, I’ll share: The path that led me to choosing to hire a PA Why you need a PA Is a PA a good business investment? When you should hire a PA Find out how to work with me: https://www.privatepracticeacademy.com.au/services FREE content ideas for psychologists: https://www.privatepracticeacademy.com.au/content-ideas Send me a DM @kerstin_ander...

Jun 24, 202516 minSeason 2Ep. 48

47. Profit Vs Revenue: Know the Difference

Have you ever seen posts from psychologists saying that their practice is making 7 figures, and felt like you’re miles behind them? That figure may not be as impressive as you think it is! The reason? It all comes down to profit vs. revenue. In this episode, I’ll share: What profit and revenue actually mean Why the practices making 7 figures may not be that impressive The percentage of profit vs. expenses to aim for How to make more profit Signs you’re ready to grow Find out how to work with me:...

Jun 17, 202512 minSeason 2Ep. 47

46. Future Proof your Practice: How to Stay Ahead in Our Changing Landscape with Donna Dupont

How comfortable are you with change? Many psychologists don’t like it, and this can inhibit us from being able to pivot for change within our practices when it’s required. Donna Dupont is the Founder and Chief Strategist for Purple Compass, and she helps organisations to navigate change. In this episode, we’ll talk about: What is future literacy? Why practice owners seeking sustainable growth need to learn to adapt How you can foster future literacy within your practice 3 simple steps practice o...

Jun 10, 202535 minSeason 2Ep. 46

45. See You in Season 2!

We're going on season break! Find out how to work with me: https://www.privatepracticeacademy.com.au/services FREE content ideas for psychologists: https://www.privatepracticeacademy.com.au/content-ideas Send me a DM @kerstin_anderson_ridge: https://www.instagram.com/kerstin_anderson_ridge Make sure you click subscribe to be notified of all new episodes!...

Apr 08, 20253 minSeason 1Ep. 45

44. Why You SHOULDN’T See ‘Everyone’ in Your Practice

“You need a niche!” It’s the statement that many psychologists don’t want to hear, because they believe that it will make it harder to find clients. Today, I’m busting that myth, as I believe all private practice owners need to find their niche! In this episode, I’ll share: What does nicheing actually mean? Why psychologists are often scared to niche What a niche is vs. what it’s not How finding your niche helps with GP referrals Find out how to work with me: https://www.privatepracticeacademy.c...

Apr 01, 202514 minSeason 1Ep. 44

43. How to Nail Your Branding to Attract More Clients with Emma Gage

You have two choices when it comes to marketing your private practice: 1) Do the same old marketing that every other therapist does, and get lost in a sea of ‘sameness’ 2) Create a branding strategy that helps you stand out and build a high-value brand If you want to choose option 2, today’s guest will help you get there! Emma Gage is a brand strategist who has worked with businesses like Nike, Google and L’Oreal, and she’s passionate about helping women create disruptive brand and business stra...

Mar 26, 202549 minSeason 1Ep. 43

42. How to Show Your Face Confidently on Instagram

If you follow me on Instagram, you’ll know that I’m not afraid to share a silly reel, dance on camera or even dress up for a video. Yet many therapists can’t imagine ever feeling confident enough to show their face on Instagram, let alone to embrace reels! Can you relate? If so, that ends today! In this episode, I’ll share: What types of content you should be posting on social media My tips for creating great reels How to overcome the fear of not looking ‘put together’ on Instagram Beating the a...

Mar 18, 20259 minSeason 1Ep. 42

41. Crafting Compelling Copy for Psychologists with Linda Melone

As a psychologist, you learnt how to write a report for an assessment at university - but what about a blog? Website copy? A sales email? There are many spaces for us to use the written word when marketing our practices, yet it’s not something we were ever taught how to do in this context! While there are many wonderful copywriters out there who can take the task off our hands, it’s good to know how we can write great copy ourselves. Today I’m joined by Linda Melone, a copywriter who specialises...

Mar 11, 202548 minSeason 1Ep. 41

40. The Secret to How I Make Money While I’m on Leave (and Why I Didn’t Post About It!)

I took 6 weeks off at the beginning of the year, and I still made money while I was away (even when my practice was closed for 2 weeks!). I’ve had a few questions about how I did it, and why I didn’t post about it on social media. Today, I’m answering those questions. I’ll share: The three ways I make money while on leave My tips for being financially prepared for your break How to make money passively year-round Find out how to work with me: https://www.privatepracticeacademy.com.au/services FR...

Mar 04, 202511 minSeason 1Ep. 40

39. Operations: The Unsexy (Yet Vital) Side of Owning a Practice with Brie Chrisman

We all want to increase profits in our private practice, yet many recommended strategies involve more work which leads to more overwhelm, so we put off starting them in the first place. Yet there is a side to business that many practice owners aren’t utilising effectively, which will drive profits whilst also making our lives easier and more fulfilled. That’s what Brie Chrisman, founder and CEO of Boss Co, is here to talk about today! In this episode, we chat about: Why it’s imperative for pract...

Feb 25, 202555 minSeason 1Ep. 39

38. 5 Tools To Market Your Practice

Marketing is a subject that stumps many practice owners. There are so many different ways to market your practice, so it’s difficult to know where you should focus your attention. Luckily, I’ve tried many of them and can give you some guidance! In this episode, I’ll share 5 tools you can use when marketing your private practice, including: Visiting GPs Relational marketing A marketing plan Social media SEO Want to learn more about how you can use SEO to market your practice? Purchase my recorded...

Feb 18, 202516 minSeason 1Ep. 38

37. Creating and Marketing Your Online Program with Marie Vakakis

One of the big questions I get from my mentoring clients around online programs is… “But what topic would I choose?” Marie Vakakis is an Accredited Mental Health Social Worker and therapist who expanded from the 1:1 therapy model to offer online programs, and she has some fantastic advice for anyone struggling with this question! As someone who has done it all before, in this episode Marie shares: How to decide what type of program to create Marketing to people what they want, not necessarily wh...

Feb 11, 202543 minSeason 1Ep. 37

36. Sole Trader vs. Company: What’s Better?

After many years of operating as a sole trader, my practice has become a company. This is a process that confuses many practice owners - which model should they choose? As an ex-accountant, I’m a little more familiar with the pros and cons of each option than most! Today I’ll help you make the decision about which is right for you. In this episode, I’ll share with you: The differences between a sole trader and a company What I like about each option Why accountants typically encourage business o...

Feb 04, 202512 minSeason 1Ep. 36

35. Automating Your Practice (and Other Marketing Secrets!) with Chris Morin

Do you wish that you had a steady stream of ideal clients, converted the people who visit your website, could scale your practice AND focus on what you love? That’s what Chris Morin from Moonraker is here to help with! Moonraker is a marketing system that helps practice owners boost their online presence and visibility, and connects them with ideal clients. In this episode, Chris and I chat about: What inspired him to make the shift from massage therapy to helping practice owners with SEO The mo...

Jan 21, 202549 minSeason 1Ep. 35

34. How Many Clients to See in a Day

Have you been wondering how many clients you should be seeing per day in your private practice? Some people see 8 or 9 clients per day, and others see 3 or 4. So what should you be doing? That’s what I’ll share in today’s episode. You’ll learn about all of the things you need to consider to determine the right number for you, with advice for both solo practice owners and group practice owners. Find out how to work with me: https://www.privatepracticeacademy.com.au/services FREE content ideas for...

Jan 07, 20257 minSeason 1Ep. 34

33. Moving Away From the 1:1 Model with Dr. Hayley Kelly

The mental health industry is changing, and it’s leading therapists to diversify their income streams beyond the 1:1 model. At the forefront of this movement is Dr. Hayley Kelly, a trailblazer in adapting to industry changes to avoid burnout and better serve clients. In this episode, we’ll speak about: How Hayley transitioned from traditional therapy to coaching and online programs after burnout, compassion fatigue and vicarious trauma The challenges and limitations of the 1:1 model Why you shou...

Dec 24, 20241 hrSeason 1Ep. 33

32. When to Scale Your Practice

One of the questions that I get asked all of the time is: “When should I scale my practice?” Scaling my practice has allowed me to make more income, more impact and have more freedom, so I am passionate about teaching others to scale. But how do you know if it’s the right time to do so? In this episode, I’ll share: Working in the practice vs. working on the practice My story and how I decided it was time to scale How to know you’ve reached the turning point Is there one right reason to scale? Jo...

Dec 10, 202410 minSeason 1Ep. 32

31. Using AI to Combat Burnout and Save Time with Maria Szandrach

After rotating through five different therapists during her eating disorder and noticing that she had to repeat her story over and over (or that the clinicians would forget things she’s said), Maria Szandrach realised that something needed to be done. That’s why she created Mentalyc - an AI-powered platform that automates note-taking for therapists, streamlines administrative tasks, and personalises treatment plans. In this episode, we’ll speak about: How Mentalyc works and saves you time The di...

Nov 26, 202434 minSeason 1Ep. 31

30. Why I Didn't Tell Colleagues I Had a Heart Attack

In 2020, I had a heart attack. Despite this being a medical issue that I had no control over, I still didn’t tell any of my colleagues about it. I kept my experience a secret and chose not to seek support from my community, for one simple reason. In this episode, I’ll share: Why I made the decision to hide my heart attack What I’d do differently if I had my time again The valuable lessons that this experience taught me Find out how to work with me: https://www.privatepracticeacademy.com.au/servi...

Nov 12, 202413 minSeason 1Ep. 30

29. Integrating ADHD Assessments Into Your Practice – Is It for You?

I’m passionate about helping psychologists to scale their practices by hiring staff, but there are other methods to scale which don’t involve taking on a team. One of these methods is to offer assessments. Today, I’m sharing all about how you can integrate ADHD assessments into your practice for more impact and more income. In this episode, I’ll share: Should any psychologist (even those who aren’t experienced in neurodiversity) choose to scale with assessments? The importance of getting support...

Nov 05, 202413 minSeason 1Ep. 29

28. Building and Scaling a Sustainable Group Practice: Lessons from 3 Decades of Growth with Kirstin Bouse

If you’re a group practice owner, you know that there are many wonderful things about it… and also some less wonderful aspects! Today’s guest is candid about her experiences in the private practice space, which span almost three decades. Kirstin Bouse is a Clinical and Forensic Psychologist, and the founder of Perth Psychology Collective and All About Her - The Centre for Menopause. In this episode, we speak about: Her journey from forensic assessments and offender work to the perimenopause spac...

Oct 29, 202445 minSeason 1Ep. 28

27. Making Your First Hire

A lot of psychologists freak out at the idea of hiring staff! However, it doesn’t have to be difficult - it can be the thing that takes your practice to the next level and allows you to create more freedom, more impact and more income. There are a number of things that you should know before you make your first hire. Luckily, that’s what I’m here to tell you! In this episode, I’ll chat about: How to know when to hire The steps to making your first hire How to find good staff Ensuring you have al...

Oct 15, 202415 minSeason 1Ep. 27

Moving Beyond 1:1 Therapy and Developing a Group Program with Tiffany Rochester

There are many reasons why moving beyond the 1:1 therapy model and finding alternative income sources is beneficial. In the words of today’s guest, Tiffany Rochester, shifting from therapy to coaching is liberating! Tiffany is a Clinical Psychologist and head coach at Co-Parenting Companion, and she has scaled her practice by developing a group program. In this episode, we speak about: Her transition from one-on-one therapy to co-parenting coaching Challenges and liberation in moving from one-on...

Oct 01, 202437 minSeason 1Ep. 26
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