The Practice of Therapy Podcast (Gordon Brewer, LMFT)

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	Pub. Date	Title	Duration
	14 Oct 2019	Michelle Hardman \| Having A Primed Private Practice \| TPOT 101	00:39:55
In this episode, Gordon talks with Michelle Hardman, LPC from The Primed Practice. They discuss the importance of understanding how to run a business when starting a private practice. Therapists do not get training on how to run a business, so starting a private practice can be tricky. However, Michelle wants to bridge that gap of knowledge and coach therapists through the intricacies of running a business. Plus, Michelle tells us about her Primed Planner, the perfect tool to remind private practice owners to practice self-care, network, and follow-up with clients. Meet Michelle Hardman Even though she knew at 15 years old she wanted to be a therapist, life always has some interesting detours! After nearly 16 years in corporate human resources leadership, Michelle decided to follow her dream to counsel people in the context of their whole life rather than just their career life. Now, as a Licensed Professional Counselor and owner of a successful private practice, Michelle enjoys working with adults who have anxiety and/or trauma histories. Michelle is also a Certified Daring Way Facilitator, teaching curricula based on the research of Dr. Brené Brown. While Michelle is honored to be in this clinical space, she still loves all things “business!” By leveraging her unique combination of corporate and clinical experience, as well as her MBA in strategic management, she is an exceptional business coach to fellow clinicians in private practice. By teaching clinicians about critical business elements such as marketing, branding, networking and business planning, as well as creating invaluable tools such as The Primed Planner™, Michelle is committed to helping amazing clinicians become confident business owners! Business Coach When Michelle grew her private practice, people kept asking how she did it. Michelle took for granted the things she knew from her MBA; she applied all her business knowledge without even knowing it. The idea of coaching on the business side of private practice grew organically. Michelle doesn’t have a secret sauce; she loves talking with clinicians and breaking down business for them. Clinicians will have an epiphany that the business side of practice doesn’t have to be so scary. Brené Brown Workshops Brené Brown’s work is so relatable and easy to break down into digestible bits. Her research and the way she presents it fascinates Michelle. Brené’s work is part of the human experience, so that is why it is easy to relate with. Michelle works with people who have anxiety and trauma, so shame almost always presents itself in those situations. Clinicians also feel guilt when they go into private practice because they feel like they are supposed to know how to run a business even though the courses were never taught in graduate school. Even though Michelle has an MBA, she still thinks it’s still scary. Therapist Shame It’s easy for self-care to fall off the radar; sometimes, therapists are the worst ones to stay on top of it. Michelle felt like an outsider coming into the world of private practice. In graduate school, we are taught to feel shame about running a profitable business. We are told that therapists shouldn’t be working to make money; they should be working to make a change. There’s a stigma that marketing and business do not help people; that is not true. We got into this business to help people; however, we deserve to have thriving lives of our own. Private Practice Sales Michelle says you don’t have to be a salesperson; you need to showcase your strengths and skills. Marketing is about relationships and cultivating those relationships; it’s not about selling. We should never be making a sale. Instead, we should be putting ourselves out there. If you repel people, then they are not the right fit for your practice. The small things matter most. We can only do so many things in a day, so think about the little things you can do today to move the needle forward. The Primed Planner If we are not trained in business, and it feels overwhelming and scary – having a tool that has those prompts along the way to keep us engaged will help our practices flourish. Michelle wanted to put an engaging structure around the business of private practice. The Primed Planner is published and available! It was developed in the spirit and love of Michelle’s company. The planner creates prompts for self-care, networking, and follow-up items. Yes, it’s a monthly and weekly calendar, but there is also an annual roadmap. Michelle’s planner allows us to take the time to think about our goals and the things that energize us. Goal Setting Michelle is a big believer in knowing what your core values are. When building a house, you want a strong foundation for it to sit on. In your business, if you do not have a strong message, your marketing will come off as inauthentic. We deserve a solid foundation. Think about your core values and how you align your business to build on those values. Then, we can start thinking about our goals for the actual business. If you don’t know where you’re going, how are you going to get there? Being transparent… Some of the resources below use affiliate links which simply means we receive a commission if you purchase using the links, at no extra cost to you. Thanks for using the links! Michelle’s Resources The Primed Practice The Primed Planner Facebook Instagram LinkedIn Vimeo The Daring Way™ Email: Michelle@MichelleHardman.com Other Resources Therapynotes.com Free Webinar: Business Entities For Private Practice Killin’It Camp The Practice of Therapy Resources G-Suite For Therapists Be a Podcast Guest How To Make Money In Private Practice >>Get the FREE Financial Analysis Guide<< Money Matters in Private Practice \| The Course Follow @TPOTpodcast on Instagram Meet Gordon Brewer, MEd, LMFT Gordon is the person behind The Practice of Therapy Podcast & Blog. He is also President and Founder of Kingsport Counseling Associates, PLLC. He is a therapist, consultant, business mentor, trainer, and writer. PLEASE Subscribe to The Practice of Therapy Podcast on iTunes, Stitcher and Google Play. Follow us on Twitter @therapistlearn and Pinterest “Like” us on Facebook
	30 Oct 2023	Andrea Liebross \| Finding Direction and Purpose in Your Private Practice \| TPOT 303	00:36:12
In this episode, Andrea Liebross takes center stage to illuminate the transformative power of having a clear vision in driving action and achieving unprecedented success. As a seasoned business consultant, Andrea acknowledges the common struggle among business owners, including therapists and coaches, in defining their vision and purpose. She unfolds her unique process, guiding clients through the creation of a visionary business plan, encouraging them to wield a metaphorical magic wand to envision their business a decade into the future. This imaginative exercise, though challenging, is pivotal in breaking free from constraints and allowing dreams to flourish. Andrea Liebross's insights resonate as a comprehensive guide for private practice owners seeking not just success but extraordinary success. Through the lenses of clear vision, strategic goal-setting, outsourcing, task selection, and financial acumen, Andrea provides a holistic blueprint for businesses to thrive and achieve remarkable results. The journey unfolds as a dynamic interplay of imagination, strategic planning, and emotional intelligence, guided by Andrea's expertise and visionary approach. Resources Mentioned In This Episode Use the promo code "GORDON" to get 2 months of Therapy Notes free Full Focus Planner Focus Group The PsychCraft Network Launch Club The Practice of Therapy Community Instagram Mental Health Templates Be A Podcast Guest Mental Health Wear Website Time To Level Up Podcast She Thinks Big Andrea on Facebook Andrea on Instagram Andrea on YouTube
	25 Jul 2022	Danielle Swimm \| Tips For Staying Organized In Private Practice \| TPOT 239	00:31:58
In this episode, Danielle Swimm, business coach for therapists, joins the show. First, Danielle speaks about staying organized regarding your session notes. If you haven't streamlined the process of writing your notes, now is the time to do so! Next, you need to take a good hard look at your email inbox. Danielle explains why you shouldn't have your work emails connected to your phone. Tune in as Danielle chats about keeping your work schedule organized, adding another stream of income, and the importance of being intentional when it comes to your time in private practice. Resources Mentioned In This Episode: Free Webinars Practice Launch Club Use the promo code "GORDON" to get 2 months of Therapy Notes free Eat That Frog!: 21 Great Ways to Stop Procrastinating and Get More Done in Less Time Danielle's Website Danielle’s Podcast Danielle's Instagram Full Focus Planner
	22 Jun 2020	Systems, Processes, G-Suite & HIPAA In Private Practice \| TPOT 134	00:53:47
In this episode, Gordon dives deep into the systems and processes it takes to run a private practice. No matter what size your practice is, you will want things to run as smoothly as possible. A few ways to ensure your practice is running smoothly is by automating specific administrative tasks. Plus, you’ll need to consider where and how you are storing all your documents and information. Later, Gordon dives deep into the benefits of using G-Suite and how to ensure your practice stays HIPAA compliant. Systems and Processes Systems and processes are what happens when you receive a client’s call until the time you discharge them. Particularly on the back-end in terms of the clinical documentation and the administrative functions. For example, when you get a new client, you’ll probably give them some paperwork or forms. We need to do that, just legally and ethically have them sign forms, understand their HIPAA privacy policy, understand their fees, and the risk involved in doing therapy. Especially with teletherapy, our clients need to understand the risk of doing virtual therapy. In addition, we have that whole moving piece for those of us with insurance-based practices. We are checking benefits for their insurance and then filing the claims. So, when I say systems and processes, it means all of those things that occur outside the therapy room in terms of documentation and administrative functions. When starting in private practice, all of those things can be overwhelming, particularly in the beginning. A lot of people are not sure how to pull all that together. Regardless of the size of your practice, you want those things to run smoothly. Divide Your Tasks So the first thing that I think is helpful is to divide things into what I think of as clinical functions versus administrative functions. So, you’ve got your progress notes and session notes, your treatment plans, your discharge plans, all of that kind of documentation that we keep for our patients. Those are the clinical functions, and that’s the stuff that we really have to focus on keeping protected and confidential. These things are commonly referred to as personal health information. The administrative side includes tracking things like where your money is coming in and coming out from. Plus, it would help if you had a marketing plan and a business plan. Those things are all administrative functions. HIPAA HIPAA comes in around our clinical functions. A lot of times, we can make HIPAA much more complicated than it is. If you want to keep paper records, which there’s nothing wrong with that, then HIPAA doesn’t apply other than keeping it under a double lock. With analog paper records, you can quickly run out of space. I have moved to pretty much paperless office now and any documents we get, we either scan them and convert them, or we put them into an electronic health record system. Also, we use our Google Drive, which is HIPAA secure. I make it a policy within my practice that the only thing that I’m going to communicate with a client by email is just something around appointment times and changing appointments and sending out initial paperwork. I’m not going to use email to address clinical issues as I would in a session. So in that sense, you’re keeping things a little more private. Using G-Suite You cannot make your regular Gmail account HIPAA complaint. Instead, you need a G-Suite account. G-Suite allows you to change the email name from @gmail.com to @yourcounselingpractice.com. Plus, when someone emails you, it is handled through the Gmail app, it’s just like using the free Gmail app. Also, you get the benefit of having HIPAA secure emails. G-Suite allows you to create all sorts of cool things with it. Google Drive is one of my favorites because it comes with cloud storage. Cloud storage is much better and more secure than storing stuff on your computer. If you’re storing things on your computer, there is always the potential for someone to hack into it. Also, you could lose your computer, or it could crash. However, if stored in the cloud, you will always have access to it, and you will always have a backup. Plus, Google’s security will be better than anything you can put on your computer; they depend on it. Most people are familiar with Google Docs and Google Sheets. The biggest nugget for private practice owners is Google Forms. It allows you to track how many sessions you have per week and the average session rate. This dashboard can be done on a Google Form – it will automatically put the information from the form to the sheet. This way, the data can be manipulated. If you get creative, there are lots of different ways you can set up systems and processes using Google G-Suite. Electronic Health Records System An EHR is a way to go! That way, you can file all your claims electronically. Plus, it makes things a lot more automated. Most EHR systems will track the money you make from clients. However, it doesn’t necessarily have a function to track business expenses. Instead, you’ll want an accounting and bookkeeping system. Keep in mind that QuickBooks is not HIPAA secure. Therefore, do not put any health information or client information in the accounting system. When you have a client, do not write their name in the accounting system, write that you received payment from a client. You can use your client’s name in an EHR or on Google G-Suite. Being transparent… Some of the resources below use affiliate links which simply means we receive a commission if you purchase using the links, at no extra cost to you. Thanks for using the links! Resources TherapyNotes.com - Use the coupon code "GORDON" to get 2 months free. 4th of July Brighter Vision Sale Roy Huggins on Technology, HIPAA and The Financial Side of Private Practice \| TPOT Podcast 007 Rob Reinhardt \| Electronic Health Records (EHR) In Private Practice \| TPOT Podcast 028 Rob’s EHR Reviews Easy Safe Harbor From HIPAA Breach Notification: Now on Your Computer and Smartphone Racism Resources G Suite for Therapists \| The E-Course (Use Code JUNE2020) The Session Note Helper System Free Google G-Suite Hacks Sheet Join the G-Suite for Therapists Users Group Money Matters in Private Practice \| The Course Cool Resources Be a Podcast Guest Follow @TPOTpodcast on Instagram Meet Gordon Brewer, MEd, LMFT Gordon is the person behind The Practice of Therapy Podcast & Blog. He is also President and Founder of Kingsport Counseling Associates, PLLC. He is a therapist, consultant, business mentor, trainer, and writer. PLEASE Subscribe to The Practice of Therapy Podcast on iTunes, Stitcher and Google Play. Follow us on Twitter @therapistlearn and Pinterest “Like” us on Facebook
	24 Feb 2025	Kelley Stevens \| Creating Sustainable Income in Private Practice \| TPOT 370	00:29:33
Kelley dives deep into the growing trend of therapists exploring multiple income streams. While many dream of creating passive income, Kelley shares a powerful insight: there’s no such thing as truly passive income. She unpacks the reality of building diverse revenue sources, from group practices to online courses, workshops, and retreats. But before diving into digital products, Kelley stresses the importance of first building an engaged audience. She explains how to test ideas, create value with free content, and develop products that truly meet the needs of your community. If you’re a therapist looking to scale and diversify, this episode is packed with actionable tips and strategies you won’t want to miss! Resources Mentioned In This Episode Use the promo code "GORDON" to get 2 months of Therapy Notes free Start Consulting with Gordon THE PRACTICE OF THERAPY COLLABORATIVE The PsychCraft Network The Practice of Therapy Community Mental Health Wear TN Kelley's Website Kelley's Instagram Kelley's Facebook Meet Kelley Stevens Kelley Stevens is passionate about empowering therapists with the tools they need to start private practices. Based in Santa Barbara, CA, Kelley is an LMFT with over a decade of experience in both mental health and business development. She began her career as the marketing director for a large outpatient program in Los Angeles, where she played a pivotal role in its growth before launching her own successful six-figure private practice. After five years, she relocated and established two more thriving practices in new cities. Additionally, Kelley serves as an adjunct professor at Pepperdine University and Antioch University. When she's not working, she enjoys spending quality time with her toddler and husband.
	19 Oct 2020	Linda Sanderville \| Liberating Your Identity In Private Practice \| TPOT 150	00:36:41
In this episode, Linda Sanderville explains how she wants to shift generational poverty – it’s all about a money mindset shift. We talk about navigating our mindset blocks when it comes to having a thriving private practice. Also, Linda reveals what it takes to create a practice that fits your lifestyle, including why you should never feel guilty for raising your fees. Lastly, Linda speaks about how she found her liberated identity and gives her thoughts on the #BlackLivesMatter movement. Meet Linda Sanderville Ready to receive greater abundance in your private practice? Without guilt, fear, or self-sabotage? Linda Sanderville helps therapists move beyond the initial stage of practice building, to increase profits through subconscious work, trauma release, and authentic business design. Working with Linda means growing your income in the next stage of your private practice, with all of the clarity and impact, and none of the scramble to hustle harder. She has an uncanny intuition for pinpointing your limiting beliefs and getting you unstuck so you can master your unique business strategy! When she’s not working on unlocking your unlimited potential, you’ll find Linda watching Arrested Development on perpetual repeat, and happily downing a vegan doughnut or an apple-ginger green smoothie. Don’t be surprised if you hear her adorable toddler sounding loud and proud in the background of a Zoom call! Creating A Practice That Fits Your Lifestyle Private practice should fit your lifestyle. Linda knew that she needed a strong foundation and clarity in her private practice. She loves her work – it’s her calling and her mission. Linda realized that if she doesn’t take care of herself, she won’t be able to take care of her clients. So, she wanted to design her practice from the ground up in a way that she wouldn’t have to leave it. From the start, Linda wanted her practice to revolve around her lifestyle and taking care of herself and her family. How To Start Building Your Practice The first step is to unlearn unhelpful information. It would help if you had your own style of doing things. Reflect on and examine social work culture more objectively. That way, you won’t feel guilty for taking care of yourself. In social work, there’s a martyr-like quality. You don’t have to stay up late hours and help your clients. If you don’t stay up late, then you shouldn’t feel guilty about it. Lastly, Linda says to look at your numbers. Figure out how much money you need to make your practice work. What will it take for you to show up excited to work for your clients? We are not taught about money in grad school; however, it’s an essential piece of the puzzle. Navigating Money Shame Recognize that you have subconscious money blocks. Some people don’t realize they have a money block until they start looking at setting their fees. For instance, when you think about raising your fees, you might begin to wonder if people will think you’re greedy. However, you know in your heart that you’re not greedy. So, where is that mindset block coming from? Many people have a fear of perception. If you want to have a sustainable private practice, you need to learn how to raise your fees. To be sustainable, you can’t work for free. When clients invest in you, then you can show up better for them. Finding A Liberated Identity Recognize the effects of how you can tend toward devaluation of yourself as a result of other experiences. These effects should not be impacting your private practice. As a Black woman, Linda thinks about how she would do things if she had white man confidence. In general, women do not ask for more money, they don’t ask for raises, and they don’t ask for promotions. We have a responsibility to take care of ourselves emotionally, financially, and physically. It's time that we take control of our own lives and make our wildest dreams come true. Being transparent… Some of the resources below use affiliate links which simply means we receive a commission if you purchase using the links, at no extra cost to you. Thanks for using the links! Linda's Resources LinkedIn Facebook Website Instagram linda@lindasanderville.com Resources Use the promo code "GORDON" to get 2 months of Therapy Notes free. Learn more about GreenOak Accounting Take the G-Suite For Therapists Survey Listen to Therapy For Your Money Podcast The Group Practice Outfitter Waitlist My Grandmother's Hands: Racialized Trauma and the Pathway to Mending Our Hearts and Bodies Scale-Up Services Summit October 20th – 23rd G Suite for Therapists \| The E-Course Session Note Helper 3.0 Money Matters in Private Practice \| The Course Join the G-Suite for Therapists Users Group Cool Resources Follow @TPOTpodcast on Instagram Meet Gordon Brewer, MEd, LMFT Gordon is the person behind The Practice of Therapy Podcast & Blog. He is also President and Founder of Kingsport Counseling Associates, PLLC. He is a therapist, consultant, business mentor, trainer, and writer. PLEASE Subscribe to The Practice of Therapy Podcast wherever you listen to it. Follow us on Twitter @therapistlearn, and Pinterest, “Like” us on Facebook.
	09 Dec 2019	Julie Herres \| Preparing Now For Tax Season In Private Practice \| TPOT 108	00:36:25
In this episode, Gordon and Julie Herres from GreenOak Accounting talk about taxes. Being a private practice owner comes with a unique set of financial advantages and disadvantages. Self-employment is a whole lot different than being an employee – many private practice owners are not prepared for the change. Stay tuned to hear Julie discuss why you may want an accounting firm managing your money monthly and the importance of knowing your numbers. Don’t forget to reserve your spot for the upcoming FREE webinar: Private Practice Owners: Mistakes To Avoid For A Stress-Free Tax Season. Meet Julie Herres Julie Herres is the owner of GreenOak Accounting. The firm provides bookkeeping, accounting, CFO and tax services to mental health private practice owners throughout the United States. When Julie founded GreenOak Accounting she started working with a few therapists. Over time, more and more therapist referrals came in and she started noticing trends across the practices that were thriving. Based on those trends she developed success ratios as a way to quickly determine the health of a practice. Today, GreenOak Accounting’s focus on mental health private practice is intentional and geared towards helping business owners understand the story that their numbers are telling. Julie understands what’s involved in managing and growing a practice and is uniquely positioned to be a trusted advisor to clients. Self-Employed Being a business owner is one of the most significant opportunities, income-wise and tax-wise. There’s a big difference between being an employee and being a business owner. When you’re an employee, you’ll get a W-2 or 1099, a lot of the tax work is already done for you. As a business owner, there are many items you can deduct and savings opportunities out there. You need to keep track of what is going on in your business to prepare for taxes or a potential audit. DIY Taxes You may want to do your taxes if you just started your business, and you have minimal income. Another reason you should do your own taxes is if you are very comfortable with your numbers and know your finances like the back of your hand. For most business owners, doing your taxes may not be worth it – there are risks involved in doing your taxes incorrectly. If you have a more complex business structure, typically, you will want to outsource your taxes. Find an Accounting Professional Now is the perfect time to find someone you want to work with. Accountants are going to start getting very busy. You should find someone that is the right fit for you. Dave Ramsey says to find someone who has the heart of a teacher. Most therapists do not have an accounting background; there is a lot of stress that comes around finances. Find an accountant who isn’t going to make you feel like you asked the wrong question and find someone who will be patient with you. Make sure they are trustworthy and are capable of making you feel comfortable. Monthly Accounting Some accountants will help you with your monthly accounting. Julie says it helps them advise the business owner year-round. When you see your accountant once a year, there are a lot of missed opportunities. Monthly accounting doesn’t work for everyone – many people are happy to do the yearly tax accounting. Money Shame People hold back because they are embarrassed by their financial situation. Business owners might be worried that they are being compared to other people who may have more financial means than they do. When someone works with Julie, there is no judgment. Julie and her team know what habits are successful for private practice owners – she can offer different perspectives and useful information based on their experiences. Understanding Your Numbers You shouldn’t be making less money as a group practice owner than as a solo practice owner. You need to know where the money is coming from and where it is going. At one point, Gordon paid his therapists out of his pocket, whereas his therapists should be making enough to cover their costs and then some. The end of the year is a great time to analyze your data and find places to decrease expenses and increase profitability. Should you get rid of the insurance panels that may not be producing for you? It’s essential to be knowledgeable about your numbers. Being transparent… Some of the resources below use affiliate links which simply means we receive a commission if you purchase using the links, at no extra cost to you. Thanks for using the links! Julie’s Resources GreenOakAccounting.com Call GreenOak Accounting: (571) 208-2065 Julie’s LinkedIn Other Resources TherapyNotes.com Private Practice Owners: Mistakes To Avoid For A Stress-Free Tax Season Private Practice Start-Up Guide Money Matters in Private Practice Cool Resources Session Note Helper G-Suite For Therapists Be a Podcast Guest Follow @TPOTpodcast on Instagram Meet Gordon Brewer, MEd, LMFT Gordon is the person behind The Practice of Therapy Podcast & Blog. He is also President and Founder of Kingsport Counseling Associates, PLLC. He is a therapist, consultant, business mentor, trainer, and writer. PLEASE Subscribe to The Practice of Therapy Podcast on iTunes, Stitcher and Google Play. Follow us on Twitter @therapistlearn and Pinterest “Like” us on Facebook
	22 May 2018	Finding Your Purpose and Passion In Private Practice \| TPOT Podcast 037	00:25:53
In this episode of the Practice of Therapy Podcast, Gordon talks about finding and living into your purpose and passion in private practice as a therapist, counselor or social worker. One of the important pieces of being successful in private practice is simply making sure you are doing what you enjoy and that give meaning. Gordon talks about some of the insights he has had lately through attending conferences and the work being done around the opioid crisis occurring in Tennessee and other parts of the country. Finding Your Passion If you were to think about it, when was it that you decided to go into the career you are in? Was there a defining moment? What about people that maybe influenced you? All of us go into this work for different reasons. It might be an interest in the clinical side of things. Or maybe you simply do this out of a passion for helping people who are struggling in life. It might be too that you had gone to therapy yourself and discovered a passion for this kind of work. Regardless of how you get into this field or career, I think it is important to remind yourself why you did that. So many times we can become jaded and lose sight of our passion for the work we do. Getting bogged down in the logistics of the work, whether it is the paperwork and documentation or the schedule, can cause a person to forget why they decided to go into this kind of work, to begin with. Finding Your Purpose Obviously, purpose and passion tend to go hand in hand. But I think of purpose as the place we can put our passion into action. Your passion helps inform your purpose. Then your purpose will help you inform your niche. Having a niche in your practice will help assure two things: Helping you fill your practice with your ideal clients. Ensuring you of doing the work you are passionate about. Changing Passions and Purposes Over Time One of the things that happens for many people is that our passions and purpose changes over time. This can occur for many different reasons. Many times though this occurs when we have experienced an event or epiphany about something. An example of this was a clinician that I knew that had gone through some significant health problems. It was something she overcame, but as a result, it caused her passion and purpose to change. She had been primarily focused on helping children in her practice. But as a result of this issue in her life, she began working with people struggling with chronic pain. For me, I had a bit of an epiphany in my own focus with the opioid addiction crisis we are having in our area. One of the things I am seeing in my practice is more and more clients either affected directly or indirectly by opioid addictions. In tandem with this, I happened to attend two conferences recently that dealt with the opioid crisis here in Tennessee and nationwide. Both of these things have prompted me to have a new passion for me around this issue and the effects it is having on many of my clients. Being Genuine, Authentic and Present Finally, the work of being a counselor, therapist or any other mental health clinician does require authenticity and genuineness. It is the only way to do your best work as a clinician and a business person. Otherwise, people see right through it. As I tell the people I supervise for licensure, to be a good clinician you have to have the ability to connect with people. It requires being totally present with people…what I like to refer to as “the ministry of presence” There are a lot of hurting people out there. You will and can make a difference in their lives! So go out there and help heal this hurting world by finding your purpose and passion! Resources Mentioned: Holy Friendship Summit: https://divinity.duke.edu/events/holy-friendship-summit-healing-heart-southern-appalachia Hacks and Tips for Google G-Suite Join the Mastermind Group Meet Gordon Brewer, MEd, LMFT Gordon is the person behind The Practice of Therapy Podcast & Blog.He is also President and Founder of Kingsport Counseling Associates, PLLC. He is a therapist, consultant, business mentor, trainer and writer. PLEASE Subscribe to The Practice of Therapy Podcast on iTunes, Stitcher and Google Play. Follow us on Twitter @therapistlearn and Pinterest “Like” us on Facebook.
	11 Dec 2023	Jim LaPierre \| Navigating Imposter Syndrome in Private Practice \| TPOT 309	00:36:49
Jim LaPierre LCSW, CCS is a seasoned mental health clinician who specializes in recovery from trauma and substance use disorder. Jim identifies as a wounded healer and a work in progress. He spends his days with fellow social misfits, helping them transform their lives. Jim & his wife Brigitte own and operate an outpatient client in Brewer, Maine. In this episode of The Practice of Therapy, we navigate the intricate terrain of imposter syndrome, delve into the raw reflections on authenticity and compassion in mental health training, and uncover the often-neglected reality of self-care in the profession. Jim, a seasoned therapist, shares his invaluable insights on imposter syndrome, emphasizing its roots in the multifaceted journey of overcoming challenges. The narrative challenges misconceptions surrounding this phenomenon, shedding light on its universal nature that can manifest at various career stages. Jim's candid reflections on authenticity and compassion expose the pitfalls of conventional professional training, urging a shift towards a more genuine and compassionate approach for clinicians. As we conclude, Jim calls for fostering vulnerability within the mental health profession, emphasizing the pivotal role of supportive networks and honest dialogues in navigating the challenges of toxic work environments. This episode provides a holistic perspective, encouraging clinicians to embrace their identity, overcome challenges, and prioritize self-care for a fulfilling and resilient career in mental health. Resources Mentioned In This Episode: Use the promo code "GORDON" to get 2 months of Therapy Notes free Try Jotform The PsychCraft Network The Practice of Therapy Community Instagram Mental Health Templates Mental Health Wear Overcoming Imposter Syndrome: for Healers & Helpers A Guide for Wounded Healers Jim’s Website Email Jim: counseling@roadrunner.com
	19 Jun 2023	Whitney Owens \| The Importance of Community and Summits \| TPOT 284	00:30:02
Whitney Owens is a licensed professional counselor, group practice owner, and faith-based private practice consultant. This episode is about Whitney’s upcoming Wise Practice Summit conference. The summit starts October 5th, 2023, and has been approved by the NBCC for NBCC credit. Whitney is committed to supporting therapists in incorporating their faith into their practice. During the summit, Whitney looks forward to creating a space where therapists can feel safe and supported as they explore the intersection of faith and therapy. Tune in to hear all the details and why you will definitely want to meet us in Savannah for the Wise Practice Summit! Resources Mentioned In This Episode: Use the promo code "GORDON" to get 2 months of Therapy Notes free The Practice of Therapy Podcast Workshop Money Matters In Private Practice [use code: JUNE2023] Join The PsychCraft Network Today! Kindness and Compassion The Practice of Therapy Community Whitney's Website Whitney on Facebook Wise Practice Summit
	26 Jun 2023	Dr. Kevin B Handley \| Why Therapists Should Prioritize Sleep Education \| TPOT 285	00:39:13
Dr. Kevin B. Handley is on a mission to help people sleep better. Through his individual and group work with clients, public speaking, and CE training for healthcare professionals, Kevin hopes to teach people how to enjoy the benefits of healthy sleep. This episode is about the importance of sleep for therapists and their clients. Dr. Handley explains the impact of sleep on our mental and physical health and offers practical tips for improving sleep hygiene. The discussion covers the impact of technology on sleep and recommendations for improving sleep habits. The episode also emphasizes the need for therapists to prioritize their sleep to provide the best care for their clients. Tune in as we chat about the critical need for sleep education to improve treatment outcomes and the overall well-being of our clients. Resources Mentioned In This Episode: Use the promo code "GORDON" to get 2 months of Therapy Notes free The Practice of Therapy Podcast Workshop Money Matters In Private Practice [use code: JUNE2023] Join The PsychCraft Network Today! The Practice of Therapy Community Focus Groups Use the coupon code GORDON for 20% off Kevin's Sleep CE workshops How to Help Your Client Sleep Better Kevin's Website Kevin on Twitter Kevin on Instagram Kevin on LinkedIn Kevin on Facebook
	29 Jan 2018	Mel K. Whaley \| Making Your Services Available & Advocacy in Private Practice \| TPOT Podcast 023	00:39:14
In this episode of the Practice of Therapy Podcast, Gordon talks with Mel K. Whaley about advocacy and help make mental health services more readily available to the people that need it most. Mel talks about several of the projects she has been working on in both the for-profit and non-profit sectors to help providers have better support and improve their performance in the way they run their practices. Mel’s main focus has been to use her business background to help clinicians work more efficiently and improve business processes.
	07 Mar 2022	Stacey Lanier \| When Therapists Are "A Hot Mess" \| TPOT 219	00:35:54
Stacey specializes in treating women and helping professionals who are overwhelmed, worried, and who may have overlooked their own self-care and well-being. In this episode, Stacey speaks about using self-disclosure in the therapy room. Yes, even therapists can be a “hot mess.” We aren’t perfect or completely put together; self-disclosure can be a critical tool for gaining your clients' trust. Plus, Stacey talks about the struggles of finding a Black female therapist and why therapists need therapy too. Tune in as we chat about the importance of mastermind groups, different therapy modalities, and why it’s okay to be a hot mess. Resources Mentioned In This Episode Truth Empowered Email: SLanier@truthempowered.com Stacey on Instagram Follow Stacey on Twitter Use the promo code "GORDON" to get 2 months of Therapy Notes free. Blueprint Health: First month free with promo code TPOTPODCAST Be A Podcast Guest Kindness and Compassion Check out all the webinars
	01 Mar 2021	Kasey Compton \| Fix This First In Your Private Practice \| TPOT 167	00:44:49
Business ownership can be challenging, but it's not that different than treating patients. Your business is like a patient, and Fix This Next for Healthcare Providers by Kasey Compton will teach you to treat it that way. We talk all about the inspiration behind this book and why Kasey thinks healthcare providers are the best suited for entrepreneurship. Plus, we dive into everything you need to fix in your private practice and how to finally get closer to professional goals while building a strong foundation. Meet Kasey Compton Kasey built a million-dollar practice with over seventy-five staff members in less than two years from the ground up. She is the President/CEO of Mindsight Behavioral Group with multiple offices located in Kentucky. Kasey says, “it definitely wasn’t easy but I learned a lot scaling a practice”. She is now in year three and her business with basically running itself; largely due to the systems and processes we put into place. Now, Kasey is a behavioral group consultant (www.consultwithkc.com) and author that helps practices avoid mistakes by cleaning up their systems, implementing better processes, and understanding what to do with their money. Kasey says, “ I take so much pride in my own practice and now I feel honored to help others grow too.” About Fix This Next When Fix This Next: Make the Vital Change That Will Level Up Your Business came out; Kasey loved it! It is based on Maslow's hierarchy of needs. Well, our private practices have tons of needs. We can't act like a firefighter in private practice. Every time our business has a problem, we need a system for addressing the issues rather than just willy nilly solving things. When Kasey read that book, she thought this was meant for mental health. Kasey knew that mental health professionals needed something similar. After talking to so many other practice owners, Kasey learned that they loved the book. However, something was missing – they didn't know how to apply those principles to their private practice. Kasey knew that it was just something she had to fix; she felt like she was responsible for writing this book. Treat Your Business Like You Treat Your Patients In many ways, private practice consultants have a responsibility to help people feel confident in the way that they're spending their time and feel like they don't need an MBA to run a therapy practice. Throughout Kasey's book, that's a running theme that therapists, in her opinion, are better-suited business owners than anybody else out there. She truly believes that our businesses are much like our patients. If we treat our businesses like we treat our patients, everything becomes much smoother, and everything becomes much more efficient. Overall, we will have better outcomes. So, that is what Kasey teaches in Fix This Next for Healthcare Providers is how to treat your business like you do your patients. How To Assess Your Business One of Kasey's strategies within Fix This Next for Healthcare Providers is all about assessing your business. Basically, you would do a diagnostic assessment of a client or a patient. Kasey teaches therapists how to evaluate the business in the same way. There are three foundational levels in your business, which are sales, profit, and order. We have core needs within each of those levels. Next, we ask ourselves the fifteen questions in the book. Based on that simple assessment, we're able to determine what our business's biggest priority is and where we should start. If you have a client coming in to see you, and they're having panic attacks. What you're going to do first is you're going to gather information. We're going to ask them all these questions to try to determine what is at the core. Panic and anxiety are a direct result of fear. So, fear is just manifesting itself into anxiety and then ultimately into a panic attack. What we have to do is identify the fear and treat that. This method is exactly how we get back our time, and that's how we make our business better. It will help us reach more confidence in our decisions and what we decide to work on by fixing the core of our issues. Fixing Your Level of Sales One of the most significant issues for practices is having too many clients and not enough clinicians. Of course, there will be issues with this because you cannot serve the clients in your practice properly. While on the other hand, some practices have too many clinicians and not enough clients. The foundational level of sales is sort of like the bloodline for the practice. It's the creation of cash; if we don't have sales, we can't have a business. Sales will be the most critical thing to look at in your business. Tune in as we dive into all the other aspects of your business that need to be fixed. Being transparent… Some of the resources below use affiliate links which simply means we receive a commission if you purchase using the links, at no extra cost to you. Thanks for using the links! Kasey Compton's Resources Kasey’s Website Pre-Order Fix This Next Kasey on TPOT 47 Kasey on Instagram Kasey on Facebook Resources Use the promo code "GORDON" to get 2 months of Therapy Notes free. Purchase The Full Focus Planner™ Profit First Fix This Next: Make the Vital Change That Will Level Up Your Business Learn more about Mike Michalowicz Getting Things Done Join my Focus Groups Google Workspace for Therapists \| The E-Course Session Note Helper 3.0 Money Matters in Private Practice \| The Course Join the Google Workspace (formerly G-Suite) for Therapists Users Group Cool Resources Follow @PracticeofTherapy on Instagram Meet Gordon Brewer, MEd, LMFT Gordon is the person behind The Practice of Therapy Podcast & Blog. He is also President and Founder of Kingsport Counseling Associates, PLLC. He is a therapist, consultant, business mentor, trainer, and writer. PLEASE Subscribe to The Practice of Therapy Podcast wherever you listen to it. Follow us on Twitter @therapistlearn, and Pinterest, “Like” us on Facebook.
	04 Nov 2019	Brent Sweitzer \| Getting Things Done (GTD) In Private Practice \| TPOT 104	00:48:53
In this episode of the Practice of Therapy Podcast, Gordon and Brent Sweitzer, LPC, RPT dive deep into the book, Getting Things Done by David Allen. Brent describes how the methods of GTD changed his life and some of his favorite tools from David Allen. Plus, Brent explains his recent jump into full-time private practice, despite not thinking he was 100% ready for the change. Brent Sweitzer Brent Sweitzer, LPC, RPT specializes in helping distant couples reconnect and in helping children play their way through difficult emotions through play therapy. He is a Registered Play Therapist, which means he has received special training and supervision in using the medium of play to work with children of all ages. He is also extensively trained in Emotionally Focused Couples Therapy, a well-researched approach that helps couples overcome long-standing conflicts in order to feel closer and communicate better. He runs his own private practice, Sweitzer Counseling, that serves the communities of Cumming, Johns Creek, Alpharetta, and the surrounding communities in Atlanta, GA. He is married and has two young children of his own. When he’s not connecting with clients or his family, he’s often exploring the great outdoors or strumming his guitar. Getting Things Done Brent found the book Getting Things Done, and it spoke to him so clearly. There are so many distractions and challenges with work now as therapists and entrepreneurs. As an entrepreneur, we have to define a lot of our work. Brent knew the book was the answer – he went all in and applied the methodology to his life since January. Gordon was also blown away by the book. David Allen breaks it down into manageable pieces. Getting Things Done for Teens Since Brent works with children, he is always looking for things that simplify the concepts from Getting Things Done. That why he is a big fan of Getting Things Done for Teens. There are these things called transformer tools – decide if you care about something and then decide if you are committed to doing it. It’s so simple but an unconscious choice. We can learn how to do it and respond to these challenges consciously. What Are Contexts? How much time do you have available? Imagine having a list of things you can do with a spare ten or fifteen minutes. Have a list of items already decided that would be possible to do in between clients or in line at the DMV. This method has been a real change for Brent. GTD is about efficiency – not in a cold kind of way. We only have 24 hours in a day, and we only have so much energy. GTD helps us to list the things that we can do that are mindless. Keep your life moving! Channel Your Inner CEO Brent loves being with people. He has a left side of his brain, but he wasn’t able to pull it up when he needed it. GTD has helped Brent think that way. Being a private practice owner means you are an entrepreneur and a CEO. You need to be thinking like an executive at least some of the time. OmniFocus OmniFocus is designed to align with GTD – Brent tried to use it with Trello. So far, it’s going well. For those people who are digitally oriented, Brent says it works well with Apple Reminders. It’s a great way to capture all your ideas while you are out and about or even exercising. However, it is essential to remember to go back and look at the ideas you captured. Full-Time Private Practice Marketing your private practice is a part-time job in itself. Brent didn’t know when he would be able to leap into full-time private practice. He wanted to start next year when his son joined Kindergarten. His leap into private practice happened a little sooner than he planned for. Brent needed time and focus on putting all of his knowledge into place. He put his foot on the accelerator to market his practice and himself to the community. He is actually going to be speaking at a mental health symposium at a high school about communication between parents and children. After Killin’It Camp, Brent was inspired to create the next step for people after his speeches. He is in the process of developing an email series – allowing himself to stay in contact with potential clients. Being transparent… Some of the resources below use affiliate links which simply means we receive a commission if you purchase using the links, at no extra cost to you. Thanks for using the links! Brent’s Resources Sweitzer Counseling 678-701-7545 brent@sweitzercounseling.com Brent’s LinkedIn Resources TherapyNotes.com Ethical Business Practice for Psychotherapists Killin’It Camp Session Note Helper G-Suite For Therapists Be a Podcast Guest Follow @TPOTpodcast on Instagram OmniFocus Business School Bootcamp Practice of the Practice Meet Gordon Brewer, MEd, LMFT Gordon is the person behind The Practice of Therapy Podcast & Blog. He is also President and Founder of Kingsport Counseling Associates, PLLC. He is a therapist, consultant, business mentor, trainer, and writer. PLEASE Subscribe to The Practice of Therapy Podcast on iTunes, Stitcher and Google Play. Follow us on Twitter @therapistlearn and Pinterest “Like” us on Facebook
	05 Aug 2024	Jamey Schrier \| Thriving in Private Practice: Insights and Strategies \| TPOT 342	00:37:57
Welcome to this episode of The Practice of Therapy Podcast, where Jamey Schrier dives deep into the current challenges facing private practice in today's landscape. From navigating insurance reimbursements and integrating complex technologies like Electronic Health Records (EHRs) to grappling with the soaring costs of professional training, Jamey illuminates the daunting realities many mental health practitioners face despite the growing demand for their services. He argues passionately that the survival of private practices hinges on treating them as serious businesses, advocating for a shift towards equipping clinicians with essential business acumen alongside their therapeutic skills. Jamey's insights underscore the critical need for strategic thinking, scalability, and profitability to not only sustain but thrive in the evolving healthcare market. Join us as Jamey shares practical strategies and profound insights aimed at empowering clinicians to navigate and succeed in the complex world of private practice. Resources Mentioned In This Episode: Read the full show notes here GUSTO: Earn $100 when you run payroll Use the promo code "GORDON" to get 2 months of Therapy Notes free Start Consulting with Gordon Send me the FREE Podcasting Roadmap PDF The PsychCraft Network The Practice of Therapy Community Mental Health Wear Jamey's Website Tired of Working More and Making Less? Take Jamey’s Quiz Jamey on Facebook Jamey on YouTube Jamey on Instagram Jamey on LinkedIn Meet Jamey Schrier: Jamey Schrier, P.T. is an author, former private practice owner and founder of Practice Freedom U...a company focusing solely on helping practice owners work less, earn more and build a business that sets you free. Jamey has helped hundreds of growth-minded owners in physical therapy, occupational therapy and other health professionals, create a vibrant practice that runs like clockwork. Working less hours and focusing on the things you love to do is a requirement to achieve what he refers to as "Practice Freedom.” Jamey has worked with owners wanting to expand locations, remove themselves out of patient care or wanting to maximize the clinics value before selling. He helps you build your dream practice and spend less time working “In” the clinic, and more time working "On" your business and enjoying life!
	22 Feb 2021	Margarita Khosh \| Insurance, License Portability, and Practicing in Different States \| TPOT 166	00:42:35
Margarita Khosh joins for a lively and fun conversation. We talked about expanding your niche beyond state lines; it's time that you become available to more clients than you could have ever imagined! Plus, Margarita gives us the scoop on navigating regulatory compliance, licensing regulations, and the importance of niche branding to reach underserved and underrepresented communities. Lastly, we chat about how Covid and 2020 had a massive impact on getting telehealth to become universally accepted and finally lowering the stigma around mental health. Meet Margarita Khosh Margarita Khosh, MBA, LSSGB, GHAC, is a healthcare industry implementation consultant who works with health care professionals to strengthen the patient-provider relationship. Leveraging her 20-year healthcare operational experience, international training, Healthcare MBA, fluency in insurance terminology, licensing, and regulatory compliance, she launched MK Medical Solutions, LLC to shift the mindset of providers and health systems to understand that the patient is a consumer. Through this lens, and motivated by overcoming trauma and burnout, she propels the implementation of a modern patient-centric experience that funnels to benefit all healthcare stakeholders by reducing cost, decreasing burnout, and contributing to a health system that works for all. Margarita serves on the Board of Directors of Women’s Healthcare Executive Network of South Florida and teaches a Facebook community of 12K therapists while interviewing industry-leading authors. She has been featured on Sabrina Runbeck’s Powerful and Passionate Healthcare Professionals, The Mighty Pete Lonton’s Fire In The Belly, The B2B Podcast by The App Guys, The Practice Of Therapy Podcast with Gordon Brewer, and Coming Out Loved and Supported Podcast. She is also a contributing author and columnist. In a recently cited article at awarenow, she spoke about the importance of leveraging technology to make the health system work better for everyone. Covid's Impact On Telehealth Before Covid, therapists were not leveraging technology the way that other industries leverage technology. When Covid happens, all of a sudden, it helped therapists propel the adoption of technology in a way that we never imagined. The entire healthcare industry has been turned upside down (for the better)! During this time, Margarita learned everything that she needed to know about how the new policies, rules, and regulations worked. So, she started helping therapists launch private practices beyond state lines. Plus, she can inform therapists on how to utilize the executive orders and treat patients. 2020 and 2021 are all about helping therapists expand their practice beyond state lines for Margarita. It is a total game-changer for both therapists and clients. Plus, it's helping lift the stigma that people have around mental health issues. Covid has been extremely stressful, and we are lucky to help patients in the virtual world. Why You Should Get Licensed In Another State It has been exciting for many therapists - you can get licensed in another state and grow your practice. There is value in niche branding and lived experience. When you expand your practice beyond state lines, think about how that will impact a population that has traditionally had a different viewpoint on therapy. So, this is how you heal even more people. With telehealth, we can bring therapy to people regardless of where they are. Sadly, there is stigma and shame associated with mental health in specific communities; nobody will talk about it the importance of therapy. That's why it will be critical to get your practice across state lines. How Licensing Works In Other States There are resources out there to empower therapists to understand how licensing works in different states. Therapists might not be aware of specific questions they need to ask, especially given the executive orders. Margarita will help clinicians figure out interstate licensing. She has all of the resources for a therapist to do it themselves. Her goal is to empower and educate professionals to make educated decisions and understand the process themselves. If someone doesn't have time to make it work, then Margarita will offer additional support. She understands which questions to ask to get to the bottom line and move the process along. Florida Telehealth Registration There are certain states that therapists can explore in terms of getting to take their practice to where they don't need to become credentialed fully. If you would like to start seeing patients in Florida, there is a Florida Telehealth Registration. It is not a licensing, it's a registration. Simply put, it allows you to be registered in the state of Florida to treat patients, and it had nothing to do with the executive order because it's been in place for two years now. So it means that you can solicit patients in Florida that are not your patients, and you could practice there. It only takes a couple of days. Plus, the registration is free. To complete the registration application, click the link labeled "Documents" at the bottom of the homepage HERE. Being transparent… Some of the resources below use affiliate links which simply means we receive a commission if you purchase using the links, at no extra cost to you. Thanks for using the links! Margarita's Resources MK Medical Solutions MK Medical Solutions on Facebook Margarita's Instagram MK Medical Solutions on LinkedIn Florida Telehealth Certification Resources Use the promo code "GORDON" to get 2 months of Therapy Notes free. Purchase The Full Focus Planner™ Free to Focus: A Total Productivity System to Achieve More by Doing Less The Free to Focus Course Join my Focus Groups Google Workspace for Therapists \| The E-Course Session Note Helper 3.0 Money Matters in Private Practice \| The Course Join the Google Workspace (formerly G-Suite) for Therapists Users Group Cool Resources Follow @PracticeofTherapy on Instagram Meet Gordon Brewer, MEd, LMFT Gordon is the person behind The Practice of Therapy Podcast & Blog. He is also President and Founder of Kingsport Counseling Associates, PLLC. He is a therapist, consultant, business mentor, trainer, and writer. PLEASE Subscribe to The Practice of Therapy Podcast wherever you listen to it. Follow us on Twitter @therapistlearn, and Pinterest, “Like” us on Facebook.
	31 Dec 2018	Amanda Patterson \| Using Social Media To Market Your Private Practice \|TPOT Podcast 062	00:54:12
In the first podcast episode of 2019, Gordon has a conversation with Amanda Patterson about her private practice in Pembroke Pines and how she utilizes social media to gain clients. Then, Amanda gives some advice on keeping private information private, using professional pictures, and social media reviews. Then, Amanda and Gordon discuss the benefits and possible issues with Facebook groups and Amanda explains some ethical dilemmas that come about. Meet Amanda Patterson Amanda Patterson is a private practice consultant who helps therapists create business and marketing plans. She’s the owner of a group practice, Caring Therapists of Broward in South Florida. She’s the founder of My Private Practice Tribe, an online community for therapists in private practice. Find out more about Amanda here: www.amandapattersonlmhc.com Social Media Amanda has been a therapist for over ten years and never imagined herself going into private practice. Her group practice is in Pembroke Pines, Florida and she utilizes social media to gain clients. In the beginning, she would private message people online to try and increase her clientele. Facebook and Instagram allow you to create business pages and keep personal information private from the public eye. Amanda wants everyone to ensure their webpage looks pretty and suggests using Canva to perfect headers and posts. Also, use a professional picture to appeal to your audience and capture their attention. On Instagram, it is essential to have a consistent color scheme to keep an audience on your page for as long as possible. Amanda points out that social media is a long-term marketing plan. She gets most of her clients from being on the first page of Google. However, those clients will look at social media reviews and make their decision based on that. Thirty hashtags on Instagram will target an audience and create follower growth. Facebook Groups Facebook groups are a great way to attract clients and become an essential part of your community. Amanda even joins Facebook groups with other therapists to network and gain potential referrals. Throwback Thursdays are a creative way to engage a Facebook group and a way to advertise your niche therapy. For example, you can share your services in a Facebook group free of charge, and those people will think of you first when looking for a therapist. Amanda did a thirty-day marketing challenge on a Facebook group and engaged many people. The group was left open and is now a support system for over seven-thousand therapists. Amanda recommends not breaking HIPAA because people can screenshot and it could break potential laws. Ethics Amanda recommends not breaking HIPAA on social media because people can screenshot and it could break potential laws. A social media policy should be involved in your informed consent paperwork. For example, Amanda will not answer messages on social media from her clients to ensure she is following all ethical practices. Do not ask your clients for Facebook reviews, ask your colleagues to review on social media instead. Resources Mentioned >>Get the FREE Financial Analysis Guide<< Amanda’s Resources Facebook Twitter Instagram My Private Practice Tribe Podcast Sponsors For 2019 Practice Solutions Brighter Vision Therapy Notes Products from Amazon.com -28% Full Focus Planner by Michael Hyatt - The #1 Daily Planner to Set Annual Goals, Increase Focus, Eliminate Overwhelm, and Achieve Your Biggest Goals - Appointment & Agenda Organizer - Hardcover Price: $42.99 Was: $59.99 -20% Social Media Marketing Workbook: How to Use Social Media for Business (2019 Updated Edition) Price: $31.80 Was: $39.99 Social Media Marketing 2019: Step by Step Instructions For Advertising Your Business on Facebook, Youtube, Instagram, Twitter, Pinterest, Linkedin and Various Other Platforms [2nd Edition] Price: Check on Amazon Meet Gordon Brewer, MEd, LMFT Gordon is the person behind The Practice of Therapy Podcast & Blog. He is also President and Founder of Kingsport Counseling Associates, PLLC. He is a therapist, consultant, business mentor, trainer, and writer. PLEASE Subscribe to The Practice of Therapy Podcast on iTunes, Stitcher and Google Play. Follow us on Twitter @therapistlearn and Pinterest “Like” us on Facebook.
	16 Oct 2023	Christy Pennison \| Connections That Count: The Power of Like-Minded Networks \| TPOT 301	00:41:24
In this episode, we're diving deep into the essence of personal and professional growth with Christy Pennison. Imagine breaking free from limiting beliefs and unlocking a world of new opportunities that were once thought impossible. Our exploration begins with the profound impact of mentors who guide, support, and inspire us to challenge conventional wisdom and expand our perspectives. Join us as we navigate growth through diverse experiences and fearless exploration, discovering fresh insights and uncovering hidden talents. But that's not all – we'll delve into the crucial role of reflection in personal and professional development, where we share insights on creating space for clarity, goal setting, and envisioning future possibilities. Then, we'll explore the power of like-minded connections, revealing the potential of surrounding oneself with individuals who encourage growth and challenge limited mindsets. And don't miss our exploration of the importance of embracing slowness for self-care and professional impact. Christy reminds us to step back, reflect, and prioritize self-care in today's fast-paced world, offering a compelling perspective on preventing burnout. Get ready to embark on a journey of growth, reflection, and self-discovery that promises to reshape your personal and professional landscape. Tune in and embrace the possibilities! Resources Mentioned In This Episode: Use the promo code "GORDON" to get 2 months of Therapy Notes free The PsychCraft Network The Practice of Therapy Community Instagram Mental Health Templates Mental Health Wear Focus Group Launch Club Website Christy on Facebook Christy on Instagram Christy on LinkedIn Inspiring Possible Podcast The Practice Collab
	04 Dec 2023	Morgan Zionz \| Jotform: Simplifying Private Practice, Streamlining Workflows, & Enhancing Efficiency \| TPOT 308	00:30:08
Morgan has over a decade of experience helping people do their best work. As Jotform’s Product Education Manager, she shares best practices for taking full advantage of Jotform’s suite of products. Jotform is a powerful form-building tool for all your data collection and management needs. In this episode, we explore the multifaceted capabilities of Jotform, a versatile form-building solution that transcends its fundamental purpose. With a repository of over 10,000 templates, including specialized options for therapy and counseling, Jotform emerges as a robust workflow management tool. Dive into the world of seamless form creation, data access, and approval flows that cater to the unique needs of therapy practices. Join us as we explore how Jotform's commitment to automating tasks, customizable templates, and efficient workflows aligns with the mission of simplifying and enhancing therapy practices. Resources Mentioned In This Episode: Use the promo code "GORDON" to get 2 months of Therapy Notes free Try Jotform The PsychCraft Network The Practice of Therapy Community Instagram Mental Health Templates Mental Health Wear Google Workspace for Therapists (formerly G-Suite for Therapists)
	29 Mar 2021	Tom Young \| Coordinating Care With Physicians in Private Practice \| TPOT 171	00:41:42
Nearly 1 in 5 adults experience a severe mental illness in their lifetime. Dr. Tom Young is a physician, and he has developed a screening tool for other professionals in the health industry. The tool helps physicians realize when they need to refer out to mental health providers. I'm looking forward to you hearing from Dr. Tom and learning about the technology that he's put together with his team at nView Health. Plus, we chat about the use of innovative technology and data insights to positively impact all those who serve this vulnerable population. Meet Dr. Tom Young Dr. Tom Young is the co-founder and chief medical officer of nView Health, an innovative software company that helps you better identify, treat and monitor patients with behavioral health conditions, featuring the world’s most trusted digital assessment – the M.I.N.I. Primary care physicians make 80% of diagnoses and decisions around behavioral health and get it wrong 92% of the time. nView’s suite of online behavioral health solutions empowers primary care physicians, pediatricians, behavioral health practices, psychiatrists, therapists, and counselors who specialize in identifying and treating patients with mental health, substance abuse, and other behavioral health disorders to get it right 98% of the time. Intersecting Mental & Physical Health Most family physicians find that there is so much more to their patients than physical health. Of course, there is always the mental aspect of our health. Like most young physicians, Dr. Young was not taught much about mental health back in those days. However, Dr. Young taught medicine for several years, and in those adventures, he began to think more about it. All along the way, he started to understand the depth of opportunity that needed to happen between primary care providers and people's mental health providers. So, Dr. Young began his journey on finding ways to intersect those two worlds, hence nView Health. The Mental Health Covid Crisis The concept of mental health has really changed over the last 12 months because of the pandemic. The mental health tsunami behind the pandemic increased anxiety and increased depression. Now, mental health professionals are trying to keep up with the demand. Sadly, it's affecting all ages of people, and we're seeing children needing mental health assistance now a lot more than before. Unfortunately, more than 5 million children in America have some serious mental illness that significantly interferes with their daily lives. The critical issue for primary care is getting the proper initial assessment. However, if a doctor doesn't know what to look for, they will not be able to spot an issue. So, Dr. Young provides a tool that's quick and easy. It only takes a couple of minutes for the patient to fill out, and it really lets the primary care provider decide where they should focus their energy. Dr. Young's Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview (M.I.N.I.) — has been used in patient care and clinical research for more than 25 years. Coordinating Mental & Physical Care For the most part, primary care providers want to understand how their patient is doing. Like any other referral process in medicine, doctors will send their patients to you with the hopes that you're able to help them. Then, the patient will come back in between for something medical. That doctor should be able to converse with them about their progress with you in that visit. However, if the doctors don't know what's going on, they will feel left out of the healing process. Then, that's where some of the fractured relationships occur. Sadly, doctors will send a patient for care and then never hear back. Some ways to coordinate care are through phones, tracking tools, and assessments. Using Data As A Therapist Dr. Young's daughter is a therapist; she found that this assessment tool was great for her work. First, she gets to provide data back to her referring physicians. Plus, she can see how her practice is doing. As she grew her practice using the interview tools, it gave them greater confidence in each therapist's diagnostic skills. It's a beautiful tool because therapists want to know if their patients are getting better. Well, how do you know that? If you use a tracking tool attached to the right assessment tools, you have the data that shows you what's going on. While on the other hand, you'll have the data to know if your patient is, in fact, not getting better and maybe needing more assistance. Being transparent… Some of the resources below use affiliate links which simply means we receive a commission if you purchase using the links, at no extra cost to you. Thanks for using the links! Dr. Young's Resources nView Health LinkedIn Young Healthcare Consultants Resources Use the promo code "GORDON" to get 2 months of Therapy Notes free. Google Workspace for Therapists \| The E-Course Purchase The Full Focus Planner™ Join my Focus Groups Session Note Helper 3.0 Money Matters in Private Practice \| The Course Join the Google Workspace (formerly G-Suite) for Therapists Users Group Cool Resources Follow @PracticeofTherapy on Instagram Meet Gordon Brewer, MEd, LMFT Gordon is the person behind The Practice of Therapy Podcast & Blog. He is also President and Founder of Kingsport Counseling Associates, PLLC. He is a therapist, consultant, business mentor, trainer, and writer. PLEASE Subscribe to The Practice of Therapy Podcast wherever you listen to it. Follow us on Twitter @therapistlearn, and Pinterest, “Like” us on Facebook.
	09 Mar 2020	Alyssa Adams \| How To Diversify Your Practice To Leverage Your Knowledge \| TPOT 119	00:34:46
Alyssa Adams opens the show talking about adding coaching to her private practice. Therapists have a rich skillset, and we can utilize our knowledge in various ways. Alyssa dives deep into how she navigates the stigma of becoming a coach and what the difference between coaching and therapy are. Plus, Gordon and Alyssa talk about the reasons why you would even want to diversify your private practice. Meet Alyssa Adams Dr. Alyssa Adams is a clinical psychologist and certified coach who helps therapists and coaches to grow their practices and make even more money working for themselves so they can focus on serving clients they love. She specializes in helping therapists navigate the field of coaching by leveraging their incredible skills and ethically adding this service to their practice. She has been featured in media outlets, such as Brit + Co, Popsugar, Bustle, and has authored numerous scientific publications. She created a successful coaching practice and subsequently left her leadership position with the federal government, and she is passionate about supporting other therapists and coaches to find autonomy and financial freedom working for themselves. Adding Coaching to Your Private Practice Why coaching? As therapists, we have a rich skillset around creating transformation in people. We can support people differently than in a therapeutic relationship. Alyssa went back and got more training to learn how to coach. There are ways to help and support people as a coach vs. as a therapist. You can use your skillset differently. Therapists may feel a stigma when they become a coach. Navigating the Stigma of Becoming a Coach Coaching is a less regulated field. People can be a coach who may not have a lot of training or background. There are room and space for coaches to be well trained. Learn the areas of overlap between coaching and therapy. Always be open and curious about what you can bring to your coaching practice. However, always remember to keep the integrity of your therapy practice. How is Coaching Different From Therapy? Alyssa will have her diagnosis hat on when working as a therapist; she will be thinking of mental health concerns. Coaches will not be thinking of a diagnosis or mental health. A coach will be thinking about moving toward a specific goal. The topics on the lists are usually different from therapy to coaching. Alyssa’s niche areas are pretty different, so it feels clean and clear in her head. The way she communicates will be changed, and her clients will be different. Coaching is helping people work on a specific problem, whereas therapy is assisting clients in working on a particular condition. Diversify Your Private Practice How do we think about building a business? Diversify your business to help increase your profit. Step into the entrepreneurial mindset and look at what will help you have more freedom and financial stability. Give yourself permission to think about private practice as a business. For the most part, people who can give themselves this permission, they will find their work more fulfilling and more rewarding. Being transparent… Some of the links below are affiliate links. This simply means that if you use the link to make a purchase, I get a commission at no extra cost to you. Thanks for using the links! Alyssa’s Resources Alyssa’s Website Facebook Instagram Email: Alyssa@DrAlyssaAdams.com Other Resources TherapyNotes.com Free Webinar: Contractors vs. Employees? How To Hire and Add People To Your Practice Apply for the Focus Group G Suite for Therapists \| The E-Course Session Note Helper Cool Resources Be a Podcast Guest Follow @TPOTpodcast on Instagram Meet Gordon Brewer, MEd, LMFT Gordon is the person behind The Practice of Therapy Podcast & Blog. He is also President and Founder of Kingsport Counseling Associates, PLLC. He is a therapist, consultant, business mentor, trainer, and writer. PLEASE Subscribe to The Practice of Therapy Podcast on iTunes, Stitcher and Google Play. Follow us on Twitter @therapistlearn and Pinterest “Like” us on Facebook
	09 Mar 2018	Samara Stone \| Being Pro-Insurance In Your Private Practice\| TPOT Podcast 027	00:42:03
In this episode, Gordon talks with Samara Stone, LCSW about having a pro-insurance private practice. Samara is a person you need to know in the private practice realm. Samara teaches so much about work-life balance and is an innovative and inspiring leader in the field of behavioral health. Gordon and Samara share their journeys into private practice and how they came to the decision to be on insurance panels instead of being strictly private pay. Samara’s approach is inspirational and encouraging to those of us in this field.
	13 Mar 2023	Teresa Williams \| Recovering From Divorce: A Therapist’s Perspective \| TPOT 270	00:35:39
Teresa Williams is a therapist from Huntsville, Alabama, and has her own private practice where she does marriage and family counseling. In this episode, she talks about her passion for helping women who have gone through a divorce, sharing her journey as an example. She explains the distinct stages of divorce, from shock/confusion, to messy/complicated, and then the challenge of piecing things together when it is finalized. Teresa emphasized the significant losses associated with divorce and its importance for support and understanding. Resources Mentioned In This Episode: Read the blog post! Confident and Courageous Woman Teresa Williams Counseling Use the promo code "GORDON" to get 2 months of Therapy Notes free Podcasting for Mental Health Professionals Join The PsychCraft Network Today Free Mini Course: 4 Reasons To Start Your Podcast In 2023
	13 Jul 2020	BEST OF Telehealth Episodes \| TPOT137	00:49:06
In this Best Of Telehealth episode, we feature four previous guests who know about running a successful virtual private practice. You will hear from Clay Cockrell, Jonathan Van Viegen, Jeremy Zug, and Danielle Blessing Taylor. The four speak about various topics like the importance of having a website and how to work with clients internationally. Plus, they give tips and tricks on making your virtual private practice run smoothly. As COVID is still among us, now is the time to think about how we will continue to serve clients virtually. Meet Clay Cockrell Clay Cockrell, LCSW is a therapist based in New York City and is the founder of several counseling oriented endeavors. Most recently he is the founder of Onlinecounselling.com – a listing directory with the mission of helping clients all over the world to find the therapist or life coach that will best meet their needs. The site also works through their educational resources and podcasts to help counselors work online in an ethical, responsible, and legal manner. A majority of proceeds from the site are donated to non-profit arts. Clay started his career as the creator of Walk and Talk Therapy (www.walkandtalk.com). Where Are You Licensed? The first question therapists will have licensure. Who can you work with? Back in the day, there weren’t a lot of regulations. People will think if you’re sitting in New York, then the therapy is happening in New York. However, that’s not how it works. The only thing that matters is where your client is sitting. Is your client sitting in Nebraska? Then that’s where you need to be licensed. Can You Work With Clients Internationally? There is a caveat. What about people outside of the United States? There is a massive mental health need all over the world. It would be best if you did some investigation on this. Think about your ethics and the different regulations around the globe. With the exception of Canada, no countries regulate virtual therapy. Clay says that he has clients all over the world. It’s a personal choice. Clay has the ability to work with people who need his services; therefore, he works internationally. You Need a Website and Advertising Your private practice needs a website. On that website, you will need to explain that you provide this service. Make sure it’s on your homepage. Plus, make sure you have another page about online therapy. On this page, make sure you describe the benefits of online therapy. Advertising is also essential. You can have your ad only show in a specific area. That way, people who are looking for you will find you. Find out where your target audience is and advertise to them. This is where the importance of having a niche comes in. Make sure you know who your ideal client is! Meet Jonathan Van Viegen Husband, Father of 2, Marriage and Family Therapist, Entrepreneur, and Coach, Jonathan Van Viegen, MA, MFT, CCC is the Founder and CEO of the Online Therapist Academy. Jonathan helps therapists all over the world attract new clients and build thriving online practices so they can do more of what they love to do while serving their clients with passion, integrity, and authenticity. Jonathan built a successful therapy practice in Canada before selling it all to travel full-time with my family. After transforming his struggling online practice into a 6-figure business, he decided to help other therapists do the same. His therapy website is: https://jonathanvanviegen.com/ The Do’s of Online Therapy DO your research. Make sure you have the proper licenses to practice. DO have a goal in mind. You can be both a coach and a therapist if that’s your plan! DO protect your license. Make sure you operate under the necessary authority. DO take action. Put one foot in front of the other. You can pay for mentorship – it will be a journey. DO be consistent. Regardless of how you build your practice, get your momentum. “Success is going from failure to failure without losing your enthusiasm.” -Winston Churchill Getting Momentum Online It took about twelve months for Jonathan to get momentum. Jonathan learned everything himself using webinars and training. Today, Jonathan has three sales calls. People show up to book calls with Jonathan; he doesn’t have to go out and find people. It took a lot of work and effort. If it were too easy, then everyone would do it. Online Coaching vs. Online Therapy With therapy, your client will come to you with the content. With coaching, we go to our clients with the content. We are teaching them skills that will help with their daily lives. We aren’t supposed to label our clients – why are we labeling how we assist them? Psychotherapy isn’t the be-all and end-all intervention for our clients. We can offer people coaching or therapy – you do not need to mix the two. There is no reason that we can’t provide both. Meet Jeremy Zug Jeremy grew up in the Pacific Northwest where he discovered his passion for people. He decided to go to college in Chicago to further develop his skills working with people and pursue a degree in counseling. While in Chicago he worked for a group practice as a practice biller and marketing manager. This initiated his desire to pursue learning about the business of private practice, particularly medical billing. He now lives in Michigan with his wife of 3 years. They both are pursuing their passion for helping helpers maintain sustainable and compliant billing practices. In his free time, Jeremy loves reading, fishing, biking, hiking, and camping. Telehealth Claims How can you determine whether your patient’s copay will be waived? There are some excellent resources, but the best way to do that right now is to call the insurance companies. You’re going to want to say: is telemental health covered on an outpatient basis for this patient? Then, give them the insurance information and the date of birth because that will lead the provider representative to tell you what they have. What we’re seeing as a trend is if the patient had telehealth benefits into their benefits before COVID-19, they are covered at one-hundred percent. If they didn’t have those benefits, the patients still have copays and deductibles applying through this time. It’s confusing for many people, but as providers, we can do the best job we can by being as clear as possible. We want to be as transparent as possible with that. Telehealth is the New Normal Providers can do a good job as far as lobbying with their government officials on telehealth being the new normal. Telemedicine is effective, and you can reach more people. Jeremy knows that insurance companies often get a bad rep, but this has been an enormous agenda item for them for a long time. Please send a letter to your governor, your senator, and congress members to push for it. Telehealth can also make the lives of the private practice owner easier too. Telehealth will make it more convenient to choose your hours, and therapists can even be available for clients who are overseas. Meet Danielle Blessing Taylor Danielle Blessing Taylor is a Licensed Marital and Family Therapist in DC, MD, VA, and PA who has been providing therapy since 2010 and has built her ever-growing private practice which was created in 2015. In addition to specializing in Telehealth, she also specializes in helping individuals, families, and couples to cultivate healthy relationships. She helps people to make sense of their past and create healthy changes for a happier life within themselves and in relationships with others. Telehealth Tips Danielle shows private practice owners how to position the camera at the top of the screen and put their head at the top of the screen. That way, it looks like you’re making more eye contact. If the internet goes out, Danielle encourages therapists to restart their computers and update their browsers. Also, clearing the cache in the browser and updating the actual computer system will help with any audio issues. Danielle gives a tips and tricks sheet to her clients for the initial set up, which also explains how to troubleshoot if they have issues. Also, think about where you will be practicing therapy virtually. You need to be comfortable at home in a private space, where nobody can hear you. Do not be in a moving car. Danielle says it’s important to know where your clients are. If the client is in a different place, you need to be licensed in that state. Especially in the summer, clients will be on vacation all over the place, and not even realize that it will affect their therapy. Telehealth Is The New Normal Gordon was surprised how smooth the transition was for telehealth. However, some clients did not want to do it. Gordon is seeing 1/3rd of his clients online. At first, telehealth can be uncomfortable. Therapists are used to seeing people in person. It’s a little weird not being able to see people from the waist down. So, Danielle has started asking specific questions on her questionnaire. For instance, now, Danielle asks: do you have any physical limitations? Sometimes, you can’t even tell if someone is in a wheelchair when you’re talking online. Telehealth has become second nature for Danielle. Plus, her clients are so open when they are in the comfort of their own home. Being transparent… Some of the resources below use affiliate links which simply means we receive a commission if you purchase using the links, at no extra cost to you. Thanks for using the links! Clay’s Resources Clay Cockrell \| Providing Your Services in Unconventional Ways \| TPOT 008 Sign-up for the Online Counseling Directory Listen to Clay’s Podcast Jonathan’s Resources Jonathan Van Viegen \| Working Abroad As An Online Therapist and Coach \| TPOT 117 Jonathan’s Website Jonathan’s Facebook Schedule Your Strategy Session with Jonathan Jeremy’s Resources Jeremy Zug \| Telehealth and Insurance Best Practices \| TPOT 129 Jeremy Zug \| Solutions To Insurance Credentialing & Insurance Billing In Private Practice \| TPOT Podcast 052 Practice Solutions Practice Solutions on Facebook Practice Solutions on LinkedIn Danielle’s Resources Danielle Blessing Taylor \| Telehealth Creativity In Private Practice \| TPOT 135 Danielle’s Website Call Danielle: (202) 759-6107 Email Danielle: DBTaylor@mymfts.com Resources TherapyNotes.com - Use the coupon code "GORDON" and get 2 months free. The Session Note Helper System Free Google G-Suite Hacks Sheet Join the G-Suite for Therapists Users Group Money Matters in Private Practice \| The Course Cool Resources Be a Podcast Guest Follow @TPOTpodcast on Instagram Meet Gordon Brewer, MEd, LMFT Gordon is the person behind The Practice of Therapy Podcast & Blog. He is also President and Founder of Kingsport Counseling Associates, PLLC. He is a therapist, consultant, business mentor, trainer, and writer. PLEASE Subscribe to The Practice of Therapy Podcast on iTunes, Stitcher and Google Play. Follow us on Twitter @therapistlearn and Pinterest “Like” us on Facebook
	22 May 2023	Alyse Freda-Colon \| One-To-Many: Building a Sustainable Private Practice Business \| TPOT 280	00:36:41
In this episode of the Practice of the Therapy podcast, host Gordon Brewer interviews Alyse Freda-Colon. She talks about her journey into becoming a therapist and adding a coaching business to her portfolio. Alyse shares how she manages her work-life balance while maintaining a successful private practice. The episode provides valuable insights and advice for aspiring therapists and coaches, including tips on managing a private practice and exploring coaching opportunities to find sustainable success. Resources Mentioned In This Episode: Use the promo code "GORDON" to get 2 months of Therapy Notes free Join The PsychCraft Network Today! Launch Club The Practice of Therapy Community Focus Groups Instagram: @coachingwithalyse Instagram: @afctherapy Facebook: Afctherapy Facebook: Coaching With Alyse Website: coachingwithalyse.com Website: afctherapy.com TikTok: @coachingwithalyse
	08 Feb 2021	Kelly Higdon & Miranda Palmer \| We're Talking About Money! \| TPOT 164	00:53:19
I am grateful to be joined by two private practice rock stars, Kelly Higdon and Miranda Palmer, in The Practice of Therapy's latest episode. Our conversation revolves around the money mindset that we should have as therapists and as private practice owners. The one silver lining that has come out of Covid is that people are finally starting to understand mental health services' true value. So, join me, Kelly, and Miranda as we talk about what you should be charging, why you should consider outsourcing, and the reason therapists should never compare fees. Meet Kelly Higdon, LMFT Kelly Higdon, LMFT is the co-founder of ZynnyMe and co-creator of The Business School Bootcamp for Therapists, a flagship course that helps therapists in all parts of their private practice journey solidify their business foundation and growth. When she isn’t coaching or hosting retreats for her clients, you can find her playing roller derby or spending time with her family. To learn more about Kelly check out kellyhigdon.com and zynnyme.com On any given day you will find her writing, meeting with her psychotherapy or coaching clients, running a webinar for therapists, providing consultation with private practice owners, and making lots of room for playtime with her family. Kelly's hair constantly changes. She cares about the people that she works with. AND her most FAVORITE THING is to push, educate and inspire in the Business School Bootcamp. Meet Miranda Palmer, LMFT Miranda Palmer built a cash-based private practice during the recession. But, she is most proud that she did it to take care of her family and created a work-life balance that allowed her to avoid the all too common burn-out a lot of therapists experience. As the co-creator of ZynnyMe.com, she provides how-to articles, free monthly webinars, and co-leads the Business School Bootcamp for Therapists. Today her primary business is inspiring and teaching therapists private practice marketing. Miranda teaches them business skills, and not because she is all about money. Miranda sees how clinical outcomes, burnout rate, and overall passion can be impacted positively or negatively by how our businesses run. How Much Is Therapy Worth? How much is therapy worth? Most of us know that it's a silly question! Well, people are priceless, and you cannot put a value on a therapy. How are you going to monetize transgenerational trauma and healing? So then that brings us back to, well, how do we know what to charge? What do we need to do good work and to live the life we teach our clients? Money is a resource; that is part of the outcome that we are working towards. We're working towards an outcome with our clients, a clinical outcome, and we want them to have a great experience. We want to be able to be present to provide that outcome. So we need to look at our outcome; money is just one resource that we need to get there. Time and energy are also resources that we require as therapists. Now, we start to calculate, what does that number really come out to? When you take all of this into account, then you no longer feel shame or guilt about how much you charge for your services. When you think about running a business, you need sick time; you need to pay your rent, you need to pay your mortgage, health insurance, vacation, technology, and utilities. All of these things that are part of being a business owner we need to consider. Most of us did not learn how to be business owners in graduate school, we have nonprofit training, and we have this nonprofit mindset. Nonprofit organizations will get grants for millions of dollars; then, they can use that money to pay for their positions. You never really get to see where all of the other money goes. Stop Comparing Fees The mental healthcare system is not doing well. Access is challenging. As therapists, we are one part of that system. In order for that system to exist, to be sustainable, we all have to operate from that place of our highest and best. Then, we can raise the bar for these other systems, maybe to change with us. We should not be looking at our peers and saying, "you charge too much; why are you doing that?" Because at the end of the day, you don't know someone else's situation. You don't know what that therapist needs to run their business. It can be totally different than what you need to run your business. A lot of us live paycheck to paycheck. Would you want your clients to live paycheck to paycheck? No! So, you shouldn't have to live paycheck to paycheck either. Private Practice During Covid Our relationship to money has a lot to do with self-care. Many private practice owners are starting to see their phones ring off the hook because of Covid. However, the clinician will not be able to see everyone that calls their practice. It wouldn't be fair to the patients or fair to the clinician. The pandemic has only highlighted the issues we have had as a system. Now, we see the cracks in mental healthcare widen. We will be treating anxiety, depression, agoraphobia, medical trauma, and all sorts of things in the next years to come. As therapists, we feel like we have a duty to do extra work during these times because it is such a crisis. However, don't forget about self-care! The Importance of Outsourcing When we get into private practice, we have to look at the bookkeeping, answering the phones, maintaining the website, and dealing with loans. If you are the business owner, you have to budget for those things that you're outsourcing, or you have to have time for those things that should be outsourcing. Clinicians think private practice will be great because they are only going to see thirty clients a week. However, they find themselves working sixty or seventy hours a week because of all the extra tasks they have taken on. Unfortunately, Clinicians are a lot of times too slow to outsource stuff. When you don't outsource things, you'll be saving money. However, when you do outsource things, it will allow you to enjoy your life. Make outsourcing part of your business plan and charge a fee that covers that instead of stressing out about small things that don't necessarily matter. Reevaluate What You Charge During Covid One silver lining that has happened through Covid that a lot of the stigma around mental health and mental wellbeing is starting to lower. So many of us have experienced anxiety on different levels. More than ever, people are beginning to understand the value of therapy, and they need to pay for what the services are truly worth. We hope that therapists are really looking at those numbers and reevaluating what to charge. For instance, it's time that therapists start saying no to insurance contracts that are paying $25 or $35 for a session. It's appalling that those contracts are still out there, and therapists are still signing them. Therapists need to do the math - we have to do the math for ourselves and figure out what works. Being transparent… Some of the resources below use affiliate links which simply means we receive a commission if you purchase using the links, at no extra cost to you. Thanks for using the links! Kelly & Miranda's Resources ZynnyMe ZynnyMe’s Worksheet on Setting Your Fees ZynnyMe’s Amazing Free Trainings Business School Bootcamp Resources Use the promo code "GORDON" to get 2 months of Therapy Notes free. Listen to Kelly Higdon on Episode 16 of The Practice of Therapy Podcast Join my Focus Groups Google Workspace for Therapists \| The E-Course Session Note Helper 3.0 70. Your Successful Therapy Website Redesign: Understanding When & Why Kingsport Counseling Money Matters in Private Practice \| The Course Join the Google Workspace (formerly G-Suite) for Therapists Users Group Cool Resources Follow @PracticeofTherapy on Instagram Meet Gordon Brewer, MEd, LMFT Gordon is the person behind The Practice of Therapy Podcast & Blog. He is also President and Founder of Kingsport Counseling Associates, PLLC. He is a therapist, consultant, business mentor, trainer, and writer. PLEASE Subscribe to The Practice of Therapy Podcast wherever you listen to it. Follow us on Twitter @therapistlearn, and Pinterest, “Like” us on Facebook.
	23 Sep 2019	Juan Santos \| Being Genuine And Authentic In Your Private Practice \| TPOT Podcast 098	00:44:47
In this episode, Gordon speaks with Juan Santos about what it was like for Juan to open a private practice straight out of graduate school. Plus, Juan gives valuable tips on how to market a private practice. He says the essential factor is to be your most genuine and authentic self when spreading the word about your practice. Later, Gordon and Juan discuss a unique niche – immigration evaluations. Meet Juan Santos Juan Santos is a Licensed Professional Counselor in North Carolina. He is married to his wife, Elizabeth Livingston Santos, together they operate Santos Counseling PLLC a family-owned private practice. Mr. Santos is a father to his 5-year-old daughter Nola and 3-year-old son Alexander. Mr. Santos and his family enjoy traveling, outdoor activities, and spending time with family and friends. Mr. Santos specializes in helping couples build healthy sustainable relationships and supporting individuals with their immigration case by writing immigration evaluations. He utilizes his experience in working with immigration attorneys and writing hardship evaluations to guide clinicians interested in the specialty. Juan is currently a doctorate student at the University of the Cumberland’s where he is a pursuing a Ph.D. in Counselor Education and Supervision. Mr. Santos hopes to utilize his doctorate studies to strengthen his clinical skills. Mr. Santos has attained recognition in publishing courses and self-help books aimed to address issues ranging from anxiety to relationship, he was the recipient Winston Salem State University Alumni Achiever 2015, the Winston Salem Under 40 Leadership Achiever, and the 2015 Notable Latino of the Triad Award. Juan has presented his work in immigration hardship evaluations with GoodTherapy, the LPCANC fall conference 2018, and on a notable podcast. Marketing Juan started his private practice journey with support; he was so fortunate to have someone that put him under his wing. Juan wasn’t taught how to run a private practice or how to utilize marketing in graduate school, so this assistance was essential. Juan stays genuine in his marketing practices; he is true to himself. At first, he struggled with being himself because, at school, they were taught about professionalism. His first professional videos did not go well because people could tell it was not his authentic self. Private Practice Post Graduate School Juan is the type of person to jump into the pool before learning how to swim. After getting his degree, Juan knew he wanted to start a private practice right away. Juan utilized his mentor to help him with things that Juan would need to learn to succeed. Plus, he read books and listened to podcasts to push himself. Immigration Evaluations Juan helps his clients who are working with attorneys on their immigration status. Depending on the type of case will depend on the type of evaluation needed. For instance, an example of a hardship case is when a citizen of the United States has an undocumented partner. The clinician is going to work with the citizen about documenting would it be like to be without their partner. This will lead to potential diagnoses and recommendations. The attorney will then use this information in court when they are presenting their client’s case. Marketing Your Niche Primarily, Juan partners with immigration attorneys, clinics, and churches to get his name out in the community. More than likely, these are places his ideal client is going to visit. Next, Juan explains how to market a private practice using social media. The first thing to do is look for a platform. Where do you think your clients spend most of their time on? For instance, Instagram is getting more younger folks than Facebook is. Social media should be to support those out there who will navigate towards their goals, whether it’s with Juan or without Juan. Marketing doesn’t have to be looking for the sale; be genuine above all else. Being Bilingual in Private Practice If you are not bilingual, some services will bring a translator to your meetings. When Juan works with couples, he shares his experiences with having a wife who is not bilingual. Differences in languages and culture can massively affect our relationships at home and work. As clinicians, we all go through some culture class. However, one consistent problem in relationships is communicating through the lenses of our cultures. Our society has a significant diversity overlap, so understanding these barriers will go a long way. Juan’s Resources Juan’s Website Call Juan: 336-707-1723 Email: juansantos@santoscounseling.com Other Resources GreenOak Accounting Be a Podcast Guest How To Make Money In Private Practice G-Suite for Therapists >>Get the FREE Financial Analysis Guide<< Money Matters in Private Practice \| The Course Follow @TPOTpodcast on Instagram The Power of Vulnerability Building a Storybrand Jump – Steve Harvey Meet Gordon Brewer, MEd, LMFT Gordon is the person behind The Practice of Therapy Podcast & Blog. He is also President and Founder of Kingsport Counseling Associates, PLLC. He is a therapist, consultant, business mentor, trainer, and writer. PLEASE Subscribe to The Practice of Therapy Podcast on iTunes, Stitcher and Google Play. Follow us on Twitter @therapistlearn and Pinterest “Like” us on Facebook
	03 Mar 2025	Justin Ahn \| Branding Mistakes That Could Be Hurting Your Private Practice \| TPOT 371	00:27:20
What if your brand could do more than just look good—what if it could tell a story, attract your ideal clients, and truly reflect your values? That’s exactly what Justin set out to do when he left the corporate world to launch Inflow, a branding agency dedicated to helping private practices create meaningful and impactful brand identities. From designing album covers in Detroit’s music scene to stepping onto the stage at the APA conference in Seattle, Justin’s journey is one of creativity, risk-taking, and transformation. In this episode, he shares why branding isn’t just about logos and websites—it’s about connection, trust, and the power of a cohesive identity. Tune in as Justin reveals common branding mistakes practice owners make, how to craft a website that actually converts, and why the right name can make all the difference in your visibility. Whether you're just starting your practice or looking to refresh your brand, this conversation will change the way you think about marketing your services. Resources Mentioned In This Episode Read the full show notes here Use the promo code "GORDON" to get 2 months of Therapy Notes free Start Consulting with Gordon The PsychCraft Network The Practice of Therapy Community Mental Health Wear TN Inflow's Resources Website Instagram Facebook Justin on LinkedIn Inflow on LinkedIn About Justin Ahn Inflow was founded by Justin Ahn, a Creative Director inspired by his wife, a clinical psychologist. As he helped her develop client-friendly resources, Justin saw the need for exceptional design in healthcare. Inflow provides top-tier design services, ensuring every healthcare practice has a visual identity that reflects its expertise and communicates compassionate care. About Inflow Inflow Healthcare Designs specializes in crafting brilliant, tailored branding, websites, and graphics exclusively for healthcare practices, becoming your trusted partner in long-term success. More than creating visuals, they shape trust and confidence—transforming your vision into a brand that feels inviting, professional, and authentically you. With client-focused designs that inspire trust, foster meaningful connections, and drive practice growth, every detail tells your story. From compelling logos to seamless websites, they'll help your practice stand out, attract patients, and grow with purpose.
	22 Aug 2022	Vanessa Lech \| Leaving Traditional Therapy For Family Mediation \| TPOT 243	00:38:25
Vanessa Lech is the founder of "Diverse Mediation Solutions LLC" (DivorcingAdults.com). In this episode, Vanessa Lech joins the show to discuss her transition from working as a mental health clinician to family mediation. If you're unfamiliar, family mediations involve a neutral third party to help to resolve conflict and facilitate communication. As a licensed clinician, it can be challenging to wrap your mind around doing other types of work; Vanessa reveals how she overcame limiting beliefs around her new career aspirations. Tune in as we talk about making a living with family mediations and the importance of marketing when starting a new business. Resources Mentioned In This Episode: Use the promo code "GORDON" to get 2 months of Therapy Notes free Free Webinars Vanessa Lech \| TPOT 080 Vanessa's Website LinkedIn Divorcing Adults Company Page Vanessa's LinkedIn Profile YouTube Channel Divorcing Adults Podcast for Divorcing Adults Twitter for Divorcing Adults Rumble for Divorcing Adults Pinterest for Divorcing Adults Newsletter Sign Up Vanessa's Store
	04 May 2020	Rob Reinhardt \| Your Private Practice Contingency Plan \| TPOT 127	00:43:54
In this episode, Rob Reinhardt from Tame Your Practice joins Gordon to talk about the importance of having a contingency plan in private practice. First, Rob explains the difference between a contingency plan and a professional will. Plus, he reveals the first things you will need to do when thinking about your contingency plan, including considering who will be on your emergency response team. Rob highly recommends having another mental health professional on your team, rather than a family member. Later, Rob speaks about all the things you will need to inform your emergency response team about. If you need more assistance with your plan, get Rob’s book Private Practice Preparedness: The Health Care Professional’s Guide to Closing a Practice Due to Retirement, Death, or Disability (use code WF44M for 15% off the ebook). Meet Rob Reinhardt Rob Reinhardt, LPCS, M.Ed., NCC has his own successful counseling practice and is CEO of Tame Your Practice. Known for his expertise in reviewing and recommending EHRs for therapists, Rob previously worked in Information Technology for over ten years and has lived around technology his entire life. Contingency Plans for Private Practice Mental health professionals usually don’t have a contingency plan. If something happens to a private practice owner, what is the spouse going to do? The owner is in charge of helping all of these people get informed about the situation. Plus, there are all of the records to deal with. There’s all of this business to take care of. If there were no plans, an attorney would have to help them through it. It’s not just what happens when you die; there could be lots of reasons that you need a contingency plan. For instance, you need a plan in case you decide to retire or in case you find some fantastic job opportunities that you can’t turn down. What if your family decides to move across state lines? That would change everything. You might have to take an extended leave of absence to care for an ill family member. There’s any number of reasons that draw you away from your practice and require you to have this plan in place. Well, there are not many resources out there for private practice owners to create the plan. And that’s when Rob decided to sit down and write Private Practice Preparedness: The Health Care Professional’s Guide to Closing a Practice Due to Retirement, Death, or Disability with Nancy Wheeler. They talk about how to make the plan and provide some templates that you can fill in your information and have that plan. Professional Wills Many people talk about a professional will in this context. The reason Rob doesn’t say professional will a lot, and instead, he talks about a contingency plan is because the professional will tends to be focused on if you die. Plus, it also tends to be focused on the business aspects of private practice. Some people do incorporate other things into the professional will, but not everything will be covered. For instance, what if somebody needs to get into your G Suite? What if somebody needs to get into your EHR? These are the kinds of details that often aren’t included in something like a professional will. So, make sure you’re covering all these things that someone would need to address if someone else has to care of business. There are so many things that you do that are connected to your practice that are in your head. However, you never really bothered to write down or explain it to anybody else. Starting Your Contingency Plan Get Rob’s book, Private Practice Preparedness: The Health Care Professional’s Guide to Closing a Practice Due to Retirement, Death, or Disability, and go through it. Rob would step back and make a list of all these things that he does. Including all of the things that he doesn’t even really think about. They’re second nature to him. Think about what are all the things that you do, and if you weren’t there, who would do them? As you are making a list, think about doing these things, how are you doing them, and what are you doing them with? In other words, what tools are you using? Are you using G suite a lot? Some people have electronic health records, and they have bank accounts for their business. So, make a list of what are all the tools that you use, and how do you access those tools? Then, it can get even more detailed. So one example is electronic health records. We’re talking about protected health information here. It may not just be enough that somebody has your login and password information. You may want to have them set up in that EHR as a confirmed user. And in fact, some of the electronic health record systems have that as part of their programs. Rob advocates firmly using two-factor authentication. So that means you’re not just entering a username and password, but you’re often entering a code that you either receive via text or through an authentication app. It’s an extra layer of security to be sure that if someone gets your username and password, they can’t impersonate you and get into this sensitive data. Plus, who is your emergency response team? That’s the terminology Rob uses in his book. How is your emergency response team going to get that authentication data? The key is that you identify these workflows, how do you access the information, what information do you use, and how do you make sure that your emergency response team knows all of this? When Rob says an emergency response team, that could be a team of one, it could be a team of 10. It depends on your practice and what your needs are and so forth. So a solo practitioner may only have a team of one or two people to back them up. Emergency Response Team You want to identify your emergency response team, whether that’s an individual or a group of people, and you want to make sure you talk to them, and you set an agreement and give them everything they need to know. So, at a moment’s notice, they can jump in and take over. Many people do mutual agreements. They will be your backup, and you will be their backup. Get that established so that they know that they’re the backup; it should never be a surprise. Plus, they should know where to find the information if they need to jump in and take care of business. Also, make sure they are a mental health professional. Some people want it to be their family members. Especially when you’re talking about a professional will, it may be fine and well, but it’s essential to consider having a knowledgeable mental health professional take care of business. They have the clinical knowledge; they have the experience of things like HIPAA and ethics that a family member is not likely to have. They’re going to step in and know what’s essential and how to take care of the records. That’s a crucial facet of deciding who’s going to be on your response team. Another reason why it’s crucial to have a mental health clinician involved in this emergency response team because they may be providing some counseling as they help transition people to a new care provider. What does this emergency response team need to do? Apart from your day to day routine activities, how are they going to communicate this to clients? It’s essential to have already identified some clinicians that would be a good fit for the particular clients that you work with. Make sure those clinicians are aware that they are a part of your transition plan. Those clinicians need to know how to contact your clients, what to tell them, and the list of providers to make them aware of. Being transparent… Some of the resources below use affiliate links which simply means we receive a commission if you purchase using the links, at no extra cost to you. Thanks for using the links! Rob’s Resources Private Practice Preparedness: The Health Care Professional’s Guide to Closing a Practice Due to Retirement, Death, or Disability (use code WF44M for 15% off the ebook) Creating Income From Products in Private Practice Electronic Health Records in Private Practice “Tame Your Practice” Therapy Tech with Rob & Roy Describe Cards Other Resources TherapyNotes.com LastPass Join the G-Suite for Therapists Users Group Money Matters in Private Practice \| The Course G Suite for Therapists \| The E-Course Session Note Helper Cool Resources Be a Podcast Guest Follow @TPOTpodcast on Instagram Meet Gordon Brewer, MEd, LMFT Gordon is the person behind The Practice of Therapy Podcast & Blog. He is also President and Founder of Kingsport Counseling Associates, PLLC. He is a therapist, consultant, business mentor, trainer, and writer. PLEASE Subscribe to The Practice of Therapy Podcast on iTunes, Stitcher and Google Play. Follow us on Twitter @therapistlearn and Pinterest “Like” us on Facebook
	12 Oct 2020	Elizabeth Broyhill Morris \| Creating Hope And Resilience \| TPOT 149	00:42:40
In this episode, Elizabeth Broyhill Morris, the Founder of Living Hope, joins the show. We talk about the difference between hope and expectation. When we expect something to happen, we are relying on external factors. When we hope, we understand that our life is in our own control. Then, Elizabeth reveals the eight practices you can utilize to sustain hope - Surrender, Stillness, Grief, Honesty, Curiosity, Forgiveness, Resilience, and Joy. Stay tuned as Elizabeth dives into how to put these actions into place to start your journey to joy. Meet Elizabeth Broyhill Morris Elizabeth Broyhill Morris is the Founder of Living Hope. Through her own experience of finding Hope after struggle and trauma, she found herself privileged to offer love and encouragement to others who were in despair. In sharing her words and wisdom and receiving them from others, she came to believe that Hope is not an emotion – it is an action that must be practiced consistently and intentionally. This project has been a labor of love that evolved over the course of several years, gaining traction, slowing down, and eventually going silent for a time. The turning point, however, was in 2015, when Elizabeth lost a precious friend who died unexpectedly and tragically. In her grief, Elizabeth was called to speak on a broader platform to people who were losing hope. From this experience grew a team of devoted individuals who brought the community of Living Hope to life. Elizabeth lives in Chapel Hill, N.C., with her husband, their son, and a new baby on the way. She is a voracious reader, amateur cook, aspiring gardener, and passionate community volunteer. Hope vs. Expectation There is a big difference between hope and expectations. Disappointment is just an unmet expectation. Who are you hoping to be, and who are you expecting to be? Hope is the sweet spot. You should never fully expect something to happen a certain way. Expectations are focusing on something outside of yourself. We need to think about our locus of control. People who are happiest in life have an internal locus of control – they know themselves well, and they know how to handle their own emotions well. People with an external locus of control are continually responding to what they think everyone else wants or thinks. At the end of the day, we need a great “I am.” We all have the ability to tap into our internal wisdom. Expectations are entirely external. Whenever we are externally focused, we are going to get tripped up. Eight Practices To Sustain Hope Elizabeth identified eight specific practices that create and sustain hope – Surrender, Stillness, Grief, Honesty, Curiosity, Forgiveness, Resilience, and Joy. It is these eight Practices that became the cornerstone of Living Hope. You have to be totally focused on your personal therapeutic practice and you can’t put it down. So, Elizabeth sat down and thought about her process of recovering from divorce. These steps need to be interchangeable for any challenge in your life. Elizabeth dives into her eight practices for hope: Surrender: let it go. Stillness: sit with it; it’s gone now. Grief: we have to process our grief; it is absolutely vital to go through the grieving process. Do not get stuck in the grieving process. Honesty: sit down and get honest with yourself. Ask yourself, how did I get here? Curiosity: what happened in your past that shapes the way you pursue this? All the puzzle pieces are starting to come together. Forgiveness: there is a lot of value to forgive someone. The most significant piece is forgiving yourself for going through that. You can really find freedom through forgiveness. Resilience: pull your bootstraps up, stand up, and move forward. Find fresh new air. Joy: this is the ultimate practice of hope. Step into a space of complete freedom and joy – it’s an incredibly loving place to be. When we are in crisis, we need to slow down enough to get the landscape. This framework gives people steppingstones. Grief is at the heart of everything we struggle with as human beings. Once we can move through grief, we can be on our way to find joy. [fusebox_transcript] Being transparent… Some of the resources below use affiliate links which simply means we receive a commission if you purchase using the links, at no extra cost to you. Thanks for using the links! Elizabeth's Resources Living Hope Facebook Twitter YouTube Instagram Resources Use the promo code "GORDON" to get 2 months of Therapy Notes free. Learn more about GreenOak Accounting Listen to Therapy For Your Money Podcast Listen to Finding Fred The Group Practice Outfitter Waitlist Scale-Up Services Summit October 20th – 23rd G Suite for Therapists \| The E-Course Session Note Helper 3.0 Money Matters in Private Practice \| The Course Join the G-Suite for Therapists Users Group Cool Resources Follow @TPOTpodcast on Instagram Meet Gordon Brewer, MEd, LMFT Gordon is the person behind The Practice of Therapy Podcast & Blog. He is also President and Founder of Kingsport Counseling Associates, PLLC. He is a therapist, consultant, business mentor, trainer, and writer. PLEASE Subscribe to The Practice of Therapy Podcast wherever you listen to it. Follow us on Twitter @therapistlearn, and Pinterest, “Like” us on Facebook.
	15 Aug 2022	Betsy Byler \| All Things Substance In Private Practice \| TPOT 242	00:34:19
Betsy Byler has been a therapist since 2003. She is passionate about treating trauma, working with substance use, and training therapists in both areas. In this episode, Betsy explains why adding substance use to your scope of practice is easier than you think. Many of us didn't get the training we needed to deal with substance use; however, Betsy reveals how you already have the skills to handle these clients. We talk about why therapy is essential in treating substance use; clients will do better if they have both a mental health therapist and a substance use specialist. Tune in as we chat about when your client needs to be referred to a specialist, rewiring the brain for sobriety, and using Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) for substance use. Resources Mentioned In This Episode: Betsy's Website Betsy's Facebook Betsy's Twitter Betsy's LinkedIn All Things Substance Podcast The Practice of Therapy Webinars Use the promo code "GORDON" to get 2 months of Therapy Notes free
	02 Apr 2018	Amber Hawley & Maelisa Hall \| "Biz Besties" in Private Practice \| TPOT Podcast 029	00:39:27
Download Podcast In this episode of the Practice of Therapy Podcast, Gordon has a conversation with Amber Hawley, LMFT and Dr. Maelisa Hall about developing business relationships and support systems in private practice. Amber and Maelisa talk about being able to connect with people that are in similar places in their journey and how it has helped their practices thrive and grow. They talk about how getting together with others for support has increased their productivity and ability to focus in their businesses. Meet Amber Hawley Group psychotherapy practice owner, licensed marriage and family therapist, business coach, ENFP, mom of three kids and avid coffee drinker. You can find out more about Amber at: www.amberhawley.com www.couplesfix.com www.fremontcounselingservices.com Meet Dr. Maelisa Hall Licensed psychologist, consultant and trainer, online biz owner, ENFP, wife, cat owner and nail design enthusiast. You can find out more about Maelisa at: www.qaprep.com www.maeunleashed.com Maelisa and Amber met in an online book club that turned into an annual business retreat held with seven other female colleagues. After this they connected over being ENFPs with ADHD and their friendship grew into a biz bestie relationship. Together they started their podcast, My Biz Bestie, which helps other female biz owners find their support system and have more fun as entrepreneurs. Amber and Maelisa have a podcast, “My Biz Bestie” (https://www.mybizbestie.com/podcast/) where they talk about the struggles of being female business owners and how they have been able to develop meaningful relationships for support. Know Yourself Well Part of success in private practice, or any business for that matter, comes from knowing yourself well and knowing your limits. You need also know what you need to help you be successful. Everyone obviously has different needs. But by knowing yourself well, you can connect with those people that can truly be of support. Relationships Are Key One of the difficulties of being in private practice, especially as a solo provider, is that it can quickly become very isolating. Isolation can lead to stagnation and slow growth (We see it all the time with our clients…) But by having significant friendships and business relationships, a person can increase their success exponentially. These are relationships that are deeper and not at all superficial. Parallel Processes One phenomenon of drawing on supports and having “biz besties” is that a parallel process occurs. Much like it is in supervision, by being on parallel or tandem journeys people can learn from each other. Not only learn about others that you are in relationship with, but also learn about yourself from them. Amber mentions that we can have all different kinds of friendships. Friends for a reason, a season or a lifetime. As we know, no single person can be everything to us. We have relationships on a lot of different fronts depending on the context. Be Willing To Put Yourself Out There Not all of us are necessarily wired as “extroverts”, like Amber and Maelisa. So it takes a bit of courage to put yourself out there and develop those relationships. But once you take that first step, it becomes easier to connect with a lot of different people. When we know we are not alone, it is easier to take some necessary risks with your practice. Technology Can Keep Us Connected Amber and Maelisa talked about the fact that they live on opposite ends of their state (California) and that distance is really not a problem. They do talk almost daily and bounce ideas off each other. They do however get together frequently since it is only a one flight between their cities. Resources Mentioned Find out about upcoming mini-retreats and an upcoming workshop on networking that Maelisa and Amber will be hosting in the fall at: “My Biz Bestie” - www.mybizbestie.com [amazon_link asins='0887307280' template='ProductGrid' store='POT Sales' marketplace='US' link_id='8858362b-36ab-11e8-8908-b1e2527556c2'] Brighter Vision- Beautiful websites for counselors and therapists Disclaimer: Some of the links above are affiliate links. These just means we receive a commission if you purchase using these links. There is no extra cost to you if you use these links. Meet Gordon Brewer, MEd, LMFT Gordon is the person behind The Practice of Therapy Podcast & Blog.He is also President and Founder of Kingsport Counseling Associates, PLLC. He is a therapist, consultant, business mentor, trainer and writer. PLEASE Subscribe to The Practice of Therapy Podcast on iTunes, Stitcher and Google Play. Follow us on Twitter @therapistlearn and Pinterest “Like” us on Facebook.
	27 Aug 2017	TPOT Podcast Session 004: Dr David Hall on Learning From Failures in Private Practice	00:39:40
Part of learning new things in private practice requires us to fail at different times in our careers. In fact we do have to get outside our comfort zones to grow and learn. In this episode Dr. David Hall talks about what he has learned about private practice not only through his successes, but from his failures. Dr. S. David Hall is a LMFT and LPC in practice in Knoxville, TN. He is the Executive Director of Haven Family Psychiatry, an outpatient psychiatric clinic in Knoxville. David is also the founder of the Narrative Institute, a continuing education group that puts on workshops and seminars, and is the head of business development and long-term strategic planning for Basis Health Group, a telepsychiatry practice providing services in multiple states. For more information, visit www.davidhallmft.com.
	25 Nov 2024	Nicole McCance \| Systemizing: Setting Your Private Practice Up for Success \| TPOT 358	00:34:13
In this episode of The Practice of Therapy podcast, host Gordon Brewer talks with Nicole McCance, who shares her insights on scaling a therapy practice through effective systems and strategic hiring. Nicole emphasizes the importance of systemizing processes before bringing new hires on board, helping therapists avoid the overwhelm of constant questions and task management. She reveals that many therapists dive into hiring without setting up essential workflows, which can quickly turn them into “chief question answerers” rather than effective leaders. Nicole discusses the power of documenting every step of your practice in a Google Doc, which not only streamlines daily operations but also fosters team independence and enables automation. Reflecting on her own journey, she explains how hiring a business coach early on was instrumental to her success, giving her the clarity and direction to create her own coaching program, where she now teaches therapists the systems and marketing strategies that fueled her rapid growth. From crafting SOP manuals with tools like Loom and ChatGPT to making your first hire a “mini-me” who mirrors your style, Nicole shares a practical and empowering guide for therapists ready to grow their practice with intention and efficiency. Resources Mentioned In This Episode Read the full show notes here Use the promo code "GORDON" to get 2 months of Therapy Notes free Start Consulting with Gordon The PsychCraft Network The Practice of Therapy Community Mental Health Wear TN Full Focus Planner Nicole’s Website Nicole’s Instagram Nicole’s Facebook Group Nicole’s Free Masterclass Meet Nicole McCance Nicole is a Psychologist (retired) turned Business Coach for therapists scaling to a group practice. She expanded her private practice to 55 therapists and multiple seven figures in 3 years (with toddler twins at home). Nicole sold her clinic in her 4th year and then retired as a Psychologist in her 5th year. She now teaches therapists how to help more people, make more money, and have more freedom following her proven method.
	12 Aug 2024	Heather Hendrie \| Developing a Unique Private Practice with Nature Therapy \| TPOT 343	00:37:42
Heather Hendrie is a Whistler nature-based therapist and writer originally from Guelph, Ontario. She lived in Cusco, Costa Rica, California, Colorado, and the Canadian Rockies before calling British Columbia home. Heather’s intimate writing style draws on her varied life experiences and works as a clinical counselor to remind us all that in our tough or embarrassing moments; we are not alone. Heather’s first best-selling anthology, awfully hilarious: stories we never tell, won the Canadian Book Club Awards readers' choice for best anthology in 2023. The second anthology in the series, period pieces, tells truths in an attempt to end shame around menstruation and menopause. In this episode of The Practice of Therapy podcast, Heather delves into the profound healing potential of nature and its evolving role in therapy. She highlights the age-old recognition of nature’s therapeutic benefits, from historical examples like tuberculosis patients who thrived in Central Park in the early 1900s, to modern initiatives such as Outward Bound that harness nature for growth and resilience. Heather also shares her personal journey, revealing how a condition affecting one in twenty menstruating individuals often goes undiagnosed due to societal stigma and stresses the importance of clinical vigilance. Additionally, she discusses the success of her anthology series "Awfully Hilarious," born from a shared experience of dating mishaps during COVID-19, which underscores the therapeutic power of humor and storytelling. Through these narratives, Heather illustrates how nature-based and community-driven approaches can revitalize both personal and professional practices, offering new perspectives on healing and connection. Resources Mentioned In This Episode: Read the full show notes here Gusto: Earn $100 when you run payroll Use the promo code "GORDON" to get 2 months of Therapy Notes free Start Consulting with Gordon Send me the FREE Podcasting Roadmap PDF The PsychCraft Network The Practice of Therapy Community Instagram Mental Health Templates Mental Health Wear Awfully Hilarious: Period Pieces Awfully Hilarious: Stories We Never Tell Heather’s Website True Nature Wilderness Therapy Heather on Instagram Awfully Hilarious on Instagram True Nature Wilderness Therapy on Instagram Mentorship for new nature-based practitioners and aspiring self-publishing writers
	11 Dec 2017	Jim Turner \| Private Practice Collections and Getting Paid \| TPOT Podcast 018	00:39:15
In this episode, Gordon talks with Jim Turner about collections and getting paid in your private practice as a therapist, counselor or other mental health provider. They discuss having client credit cards on file and how to have a system that is secure and reduces liability for the clinician. They talk about how to set this up and then how to present it to clients. Jim talks about having a clear and simple financial policy with clients so that there very few questions about payment expectations.
	07 Jun 2021	Andréa Jones \| Beating Social Media Overwhelm in Private Practice \| TPOT 181	00:35:27
Are you ready to make an impact? Andréa Jones helps coaches, consultants, thought leaders, and passion-led online business owners impact and empower more people through strategic social media marketing strategies. First, we talk about how to fight the overwhelm of social media. Then, we dive into the importance of starting small and staying consistent. Tune in as Andréa gives loads of social media tips, including the ABCs of writing captions. Meet Andréa Jones Andréa Jones is fiercely committed to empowering businesses to utilize the power of social media in a positive and impactful way, without being overwhelmed and drained by it. With over 7 years of experience in the game, Andréa hosts the acclaimed podcast Savvy Social Podcast, leads a team providing done-for-you service inside of her marketing agency that was named a Top Digital Marketing Agency in 2021, and serves over 200 students in her membership Savvy Social School. You can find her online at onlinedrea.com or @onlinedrea on Instagram. Fighting The Overwhelm of Social Media Feeling overwhelmed by social media is natural; social media can feel like another language sometimes. To fight the overwhelm, choose a platform that you are most comfortable with to get started. If you already have a personal Facebook account, then it can be easy to create a Facebook account for your private practice. Next, think about how you should spend time on these platforms. Andréa says you should focus on a time limit for social media. There's so much that goes into posts, and it may add to that overwhelming feeling when you spend too much time on one. So when you sit down to write those posts, try to spend one hour a week working on your social media content. Sometimes in that one hour, you may only put together one caption and snap a photo of your location, and that's okay. Throughout the week, check your account for ten minutes each day. Checking daily really helps build the muscle and the skills needed to do social media. Start Small With Social Media When we look at social media, sometimes we're looking at a team of people working on their social media accounts. People who are in private practice still hire a group of people to help them with their work. Even though you see a selfie, you see a video; sometimes, there's a team of people behind that. When you compare yourself to other people on social media, you're not giving yourself a fair chance. Overall, you will want to start small when it comes to your social media. Over time, you can add more people to help you out with your posts and your content. The Importance of Consistency First, start with one social media platform. Instead of having consistent posts, be consistent with the time that you spend on social media. You will get better at it naturally; just like anything, you will get better the more you practice. Focus on one platform and get consistent. Before you dive into social media, Andréa has an exercise that you can do. On one side of a piece of paper, write the word "before." On the other side, write the word "after." Now, think about your clients. What do they feel before working with you, and what do they feel after working with you. Write down all of these feelings. Later, these feelings can all be turned into social media posts. The ABCs of Writing A Caption Your captions on social media should follow the ABC rule. A: Grabbing attention in some way. Why would someone stop at your post when they are scrolling through social media? B: Benefit statement. Tell your followers why you want to help them and how you are going to do that. Focus on the feelings of your potential clients. C: Call to action. This is the part where we're extending our hands out; we're inviting them to take that next step with us. Being transparent… Some of the resources below use affiliate links which simply means we receive a commission if you purchase using the links, at no extra cost to you. Thanks for using the links! Andrea’s Resources Website Instagram Facebook Savvy Social School Social Media Rockstar Framework {Free Mini Course} Resources Use the promo code "GORDON" to get 2 months of Therapy Notes free. Google Workspace The Webinar Solo to Group Practice: Adding More Therapists to Grow Your Time & Income Money Matters In Private Practice \| The Course Get your FREE Financial Analysis Guide... Google Workspace for Therapists \| The E-Course Purchase The Full Focus Planner™ Join my Focus Groups Session Note Helper 3.0 Join the Google Workspace for Therapists Users Group Cool Resources Follow @PracticeofTherapy on Instagram Meet Gordon Brewer, MEd, LMFT Gordon is the person behind The Practice of Therapy Podcast & Blog. He is also President and Founder of Kingsport Counseling Associates, PLLC. He is a therapist, consultant, business mentor, trainer, and writer. PLEASE Subscribe to The Practice of Therapy Podcast wherever you listen to it. Follow us on Twitter @therapistlearn, and Pinterest, “Like” us on Facebook.
	19 Aug 2024	Rachel Harrison \| Evolving a General Private Practice into a Trauma Specialty \| TPOT 344	00:33:21
On the Practice of Therapy Podcast, Rachel Harrison recounts the organic and somewhat accidental evolution of her practice, emphasizing the importance of hiring the right staff and fostering a supportive team. Initially lacking a grand plan, Rachel's practice grew through serendipitous opportunities and learning from other group practice owners. Her trauma-focused practice aims to provide a comfortable, non-clinical environment and has expanded across Maryland, Delaware, and Pennsylvania. Rachel underscores the need for hiring clinicians who align with her practice's culture, advocating for an "abundance mentality" where practices support each other. Reflecting on her decision to specialize in trauma, she highlights the benefits of having a niche, which has helped attract the right clients and therapists. Rachel has also founded the Trauma Specialist Training Institute and ventured into podcasting exploring innovative approaches to mental health. Transitioning from therapist to business owner, she acknowledges the new skills required for running a business and the ongoing evolution in the mental health field. Meet Rachel Harrison: Rachel is a trainer and speaker providing education on trauma treatment, EMDR and Entrepreneurship. She is also the Founder of Trauma Specialists of Maryland, Delaware and Pennsylvania. She is a Certified EMDR Therapist and an Approved Consultant for EMDR Therapy, as well as a trainer, offering EMDRIA approved EMDR trainings nationally. She brings 26 years’ experience as a therapist and is the owner of The Trauma Specialists Training Institute. Rachel is passionate about treating trauma, specifically using EMDR to heal our communities. She is also curious about innovations in mental wellness, leading her to develop The Mental Health Entrepreneur Podcast. Resources Mentioned In This Episode: Read the full show notes here Gusto: Earn $100 when you run payroll Use the promo code "GORDON" to get 2 months of Therapy Notes free Start Consulting with Gordon Send me the FREE Podcasting Roadmap PDF The PsychCraft Network The Practice of Therapy Community Instagram Mental Health Templates Mental Health Wear The Mental Health Entrepreneur The Mental Health Entrepreneur on YouTube The Mental Health Entrepreneur on Instagram The Mental Health Entrepreneur on TikTok Trauma Specialists Training Institute
	16 Jan 2023	Steve Bisson \| The Differences Between Coaching and Therapy for Private Practice \| TPOT 262	00:39:16
In this episode, Steve Bisson, host of Finding Your Way Through Therapy, joins the show. First, Steve speaks about his niches and how he found himself working with people who have substance use issues, people with trauma, and first responders. Then, Steve dives into his work as an emotional management coach. We touch on the differences between mental health therapy and coaching. Tune in as we chat about why you need both a therapist and a coach; plus, Steve speaks about the inspiration behind his show Finding Your Way Through Therapy. Resources Mentioned In This Episode: Use the promo code "GORDON" to get 2 months of Therapy Notes free Try Mental Health Match For FREE! Use Code “PRACTICE” Join The PsychCraft Network Today! GWS for Therapists Course Contributor Application Podcast: Finding Your Way Through Therapy Steve’s Website Book: Finding Your Way Through Therapy: A Navigation Tool for Therapists & Clients Steve on Instagram
	09 Aug 2021	Paul Petroski \| Generate Passive Income With An Online Course \| TPOT 190	00:34:41
In this episode, Paul Petroski speaks about creating online courses that create extra income for private practice owners. Plus, we talk about the mindset shift that needs to happen to make more money. Private practice owners need to think about their practice in different ways to diversify income. Depending on how your practice is set up, you can reach a ceiling with the amount of income you bring in. Tune in as we chat about different ways to create income streams in private practice and the mindset shift that needs to take place to build a successful business. Meet Paul Petroski Paul Petroski has spent the past 20+ years helping organizations design and deploy learning solutions that improve bottom-line performance. His experience spans the business landscape from Fortune 100 companies, such as IBM and CSC (now DXC Technologies), to San Francisco-based startups. Several years ago, Mr. Petroski found himself sitting in his Counselors office as he was navigating a major life change. Having such a profound experience and transformation working with his Counselor, Mr. Petroski saw the opportunity to bring these two paths of his life together. At that point, he began helping Counselors and Therapists build passive income by turning their years of experience into online courses. Through his work, he has helped Counselors build their personal brand, free up time by generating multiple streams of income, and rethink what it means to build their overall practice. In his free time, Mr. Petroski is relearning how to live life through the eyes of his 13-year-old son and 10-year-old daughter, is an aspiring drummer, and loves to ride through many bike paths that Colorado has to offer. The Mindset Shift To Build Your Practice The first step in taking the journey down building an online course is thinking of your practice as something big. It would help if you stopped thinking about your private practice as a practice; instead, think about it as a business. Shift that mindset from a practice owner to a business owner. Then you start thinking about the proper ways to grow a business outside of getting people into your practice. Think about the business side of what you're trying to accomplish and how to grow your income. The Importance of A Niche To Diversify Income Think about how you can turn your niche into an income stream. Maybe you've seen success with marriage counseling. How can you help more people with their marriages instead of just the people you see in your practice? An online course will help you go from the one-on-one method of making income to reaching many people simultaneously. No longer will you need to trade your time for money. Building An Online Course There's an upfront cost associated with getting your online course off the ground. However, once you reach that breakeven point, all other sales will be straight profit. Plus, you'll get a vast reach of people. Building an online course is a smart investment for people who are looking to diversify their income streams and find a larger audience. Creating Passive Income Within Your Private Practice If you haven't already, you need to check out Smart Passive Income; they have a one-stop-shop for content, training, and resources on building a successful and thriving online business. Passive income is the idea that you can create something that gives you the ability to make money in a nontraditional way. With passive income, you can have assets that allow you to make money without your direct involvement. It's not entirely passive because there is some level of maintenance and attention required. Online courses will have upfront work and costs. In addition, there is some SEO work that will need attention periodically. Producing Your Online Course The production aspect of creating an online course is the biggest fear for private practice owners. Most people don't know how to develop well-produced videos and only have a smartphone to create content. Well, there are different ways that you can create an online course. Some people will record themselves live while using a DSLR camera. Other times people make a voiceover PowerPoint where their content is more of the focus, and they're putting an audio recording over the presentation. If you're advanced in the technology space, then it's easy to get started on production. If this type of technology is new to you, Paul recommends getting a coach or finding an expert to assist. You Are An Expert: Overcoming Imposter Syndrome A lot of times when it comes to business, we hear the concept of imposter syndrome. When thinking about creating an online course, counselors are worried that no one will buy it. Think about how long you've been a counselor and how many clients you have helped. You have an experience that would be of benefit to people. The reality is that you are an expert. Once you can get over imposter syndrome, then you will be successful in selling your online course. Being transparent… Some of the resources below use affiliate links which simply means we receive a commission if you purchase using the links, at no extra cost to you. Thanks for using the links! Paul Petroski's Resources Counselor Online Course Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Resources Use the promo code "GORDON" to get 2 months of Therapy Notes free. The Google Workspace Platform Course Smart Passive Income Purchase The Full Focus Planner™ Join the Google Workspace for Therapists Users Group Follow @PracticeofTherapy on Instagram Meet Gordon Brewer, MEd, LMFT Gordon is the person behind The Practice of Therapy Podcast & Blog. He is also President and Founder of Kingsport Counseling Associates, PLLC. He is a therapist, consultant, business mentor, trainer, and writer. PLEASE Subscribe to The Practice of Therapy Podcast wherever you listen to it. Follow us on Twitter @therapistlearn, and Pinterest, “Like” us on Facebook.
	10 Mar 2025	Krista St-Germain \| What Private Practice Clinicians Should Understand About Grief \| TPOT 372	00:33:03
Grief isn’t just about five stages—it’s messy, personal, and ever-evolving. If you’ve ever felt like you weren’t “grieving the right way” or struggled to make sense of your emotions after loss, this episode is for you. Krista St-Germain joins us to break down the myths about grief and explore what truly helps us heal. From the Dual Process Model to Continuing Bonds, we’re diving deep into the realities of loss, why “moving on” is a harmful misconception, and how we can integrate grief into our lives in meaningful ways. Tune in for a powerful conversation that will change the way you think about grief—and, more importantly, how you support yourself and others through it. Resources Mentioned In This Episode Read the full show notes here Use the promo code "GORDON" to get 2 months of Therapy Notes free Website Design Packages from Inflow Start Consulting with Gordon The PsychCraft Network The Practice of Therapy Community Google Ads for Therapists Mental Health Wear TN Meet Krista St-Germain Krista St-Germain is a Master Certified Life Coach, grief expert, widow, mom and host of The Widowed Mom Podcast. When her husband was killed by a drunk driver in 2016, Krista's life was completely and unexpectedly flipped upside down. After therapy helped her unfurl from the fetal position, Krista discovered Life Coaching, Post Traumatic Growth and learned the tools she needed to move forward and create a future she could get excited about. Now she coaches and teaches other widows so they can love life again, too. Krista's Resources Krista's Website Get your FREE download of Memories that Matter today! The Widowed Mom Podcast
	31 Jan 2022	David Frank \| Don’t Make These Private Practice Money Mistakes \| TPOT 214	00:40:14
David Frank is on a mission to ensure every therapist has access to unbiased and fiduciary financial advice! I am lucky to have David Frank join the show. He is an expert in fiduciary financial planning for therapists. As private practice owners, we face economic challenges that they don’t teach us how to solve in graduate school. David speaks about how to understand your private practice financials better. Plus, we talk about spending more time with your finances, being curious about your money mindset, and the importance of getting comfortable around your money relationship. Tune in as David reveals money mistakes you could be making in your private practice. Resources Mentioned In This Episode: Study: High income improves evaluation of life but not emotional well-being Money Scripts Inventory Assessment David's Website David's LinkedIn Use the promo code "GORDON" to get 2 months of Therapy Notes free. Free Webinars Money Matters In Private Practice Kindness and Compassion Podcast
	17 Sep 2018	Kate Campbell & Katie Lemieux \| Getting Clarity For Marketing Your Private Practice \| TPOT Podcast 051	00:49:18
In this episode of the Practice of Therapy Podcast, Dr. Kate Campbell and Katie Lemieux from the Private Practice Startup Podcast join Gordon to talk about getting clarity with your marketing, diversifying and the importance of creating a niche in your private practice. They also talk about the importance of doing the “middle part” of marketing rather than focusing solely on strategies. In other words, knowing why and who you are marketing too and who is your ideal client. Kate & Katie share what they have learned in their journeys and how they got interested in their niche of helping clinicians brand and market their practices. Meet Kate & Katie The Private Practice Startup is co-owned by Kate Campbell, Ph.D., LMFT and Katie Lemieux, LMFT. They’re two therapists with entrepreneurial spirits who are crazy about business. They live, work and play in South Florida. Kate and Katie both built their 6-Figure private practices in less than 2 years from the ground up and love inspiring ambitious mental health professionals to brand themselves and grow their dream private practices! They have a hunger for business, branding, and marketing. They love sharing their expertise and inspiring private practitioners across the globe from startup to mastery. They have helped therapists increase working with the clients they love the most, profit more, increase their rates, have more time off and enjoy a true lifestyle business. Together, they have been featured as guest experts on GoodTherapy.org, Therapy Sites, Your Badass Therapy Practice, Abundance Practice Building podcast, Selling the Couch podcast, Practice of the Practice podcast, Brighter Vision’s podcast, John Clarke’s Cast, Private Practice University, Love Your Practice podcast, Become a Group Guru and more. They provide free podcasts, webinars, online courses, private practice coaching, INSPIRE Networking, and customizable Attorney Approved Private Practice Paperwork for therapists. Visit PrivatePracticeStartup.com for more info! Join our Startup Nation Superheroes in Facebook. Not Missing “the Middle” One of the mistakes a lot of people make when it comes to marketing their private practices is that they jump too quickly to strategies. As Katie said, “they leave out the middle”. In other words, they do not clearly define what and why they are marketing. Why Niche Is So Important In order to truly do a good job with marketing your practice, you need to have a clear understanding of who you are marketing to. That’s why defining a niche is so important. Having a niche helps on many different levels. First of all, it helps you identify your ideal client. Which people you enjoy working with the most. Secondly, when you are working with your ideal client, you will just do better work and be more energized by what you do. Kate mentions having those sessions where we come out of the session feeling really good about what we did with the client and the breakthroughs they might have had. This is a good indicator of knowing what kinds of clients are your ideal clients. Thirdly, by having a niche you can better identify the kinds of problems your ideal clients are having. This is where your “marketing message” comes from. You are able to speak their language and they are able to connect with you as a therapist on the front end. Target Market, Niche and Ideal Client A lot of times people confuse the concepts of a target market, niche, and their ideal client. Kate talks about those differences. The examples she gives is in the context of how she thinks about her own practice as a couples therapist. Target market = couples Ideal client = couples who have experienced an affair Niche = the services you create to best meet their needs (ex., Gottman Method, intensives, etc.) If you don’t know who you are marketing to it is going to be very difficult to know how to market… You Are Your Brand The number one “product” we have to offer people in our practices is you. We trade our time and expertise for the money people pay us. A brand is simply the image or personality you project to the public. It’s what people use to identify you. The more you can project and get that out there, the more successful your marketing will be. But it needs to be genuine and reflect who are as a person and clinician. Remember, YOU are your brand. Being able to project a true picture of yourself through your website, photos and copy go a long way in knowing how to market well. Using video to help convey your personality to potential clients. Many people feel intimidated by video. But practicing and doing it more makes it easier. Think about the times you first started seeing clients and how you developed confidence over time. A good way to do this is by using videos. Videos help convey your personality to potential clients. Many people feel intimidated by video. But by practicing and doing it more makes it easier. Think about the times you first started seeing clients and how you developed confidence over time. Making videos of yourself are the same. Starting with Dream Visualization Really understanding your “why” and having a clear vision. After all, if you don’t know where you are going, how will you get there?! A good place to start is by identifying the lifestyle you want. Do some dreaming and visualization around this. Then breakdown the steps it will take to get you there. Marketing Is Like Doing Therapy If you think about it. marketing is very much like doing therapy. It’s about joining with people and engaging with them. Marketing your practice never needs to be “cheesy” or “salesy”. Good marketing simply conveys to people who you are and how you can help them with the problems they are struggling with. Another way to think about marketing is that it is a way to simply begin a conversation with potential clients. You help them find you then, you communicate with them about how you can help them. Ultimately, marketing is simply about building relationships. It helps people get to know and trust you so that you can help them with their struggles. Kate & Katie’s Resources Website: www.privatepracticestartup.com A to Z Worksheet- Five-day walkthrough of how to build a private practice The Private Practice Startup Facebook Group Private Practice Marketing E-Course Resources From Gordon Apply for the Mastermind Group “Cool Resources” Page Session Note Helper™ Meet Gordon Brewer, MEd, LMFT Gordon is the person behind The Practice of Therapy Podcast & Blog.He is also President and Founder of Kingsport Counseling Associates, PLLC. He is a therapist, consultant, business mentor, trainer and writer. PLEASE Subscribe to The Practice of Therapy Podcast on iTunes, Stitcher and Google Play. Follow us on Twitter @therapistlearn and Pinterest “Like” us on Facebook.
	21 Sep 2018	Jeremy Zug \| Solutions To Insurance Credentialing & Insurance Billing In Private Practice \| TPOT Podcast 052	00:41:29
In this episode of the Practice of Therapy Podcast, Gordon talks with Jeremy Zug fromPractice Solutions about his medical billing in private practice. The two discuss the advantages and disadvantages of using insurance panels versus private pay. Jeremy also brings up the fact that most providers disregard the option to do out-of-network billing and goes into detail on how to provide this service. Later they talk about insurance credentialing and Jeremey gives some helpful tips and tricks to make the process easier. Lastly, we find out why using Practice Solutions can make being on insurance panels easier and how you will never have to deal with an insurance claim again. Meet Jeremy Zug Jeremy grew up in the Pacific Northwest where he discovered his passion for people. He decided to go to college in Chicago to further develop his skills working with people and pursue a degree in counseling. While in Chicago he worked for a group practice as a practice biller and marketing manager. This initiated his desire to pursue learning about the business of private practice, particularly medical billing. He now lives in Michigan with his wife of 3 years. They both are pursuing their passion of helping helpers maintain sustainable and compliant billing practices. In his free time, Jeremy loves reading, fishing, biking, hiking, and camping Insurance Panels vs. Private Pay Jeremy and Gordon start the podcast by discussing the advantages and disadvantages of insurance panels versus private pay. Jeremy asserts that private pay is definitely easier. However, the bigger the business gets, the more expenses it will generate. This will, in turn, shrink your profit margin. While on the other hand, the benefits of being on an insurance panel include marketing and keeping the cost of therapy affordable for patients. Jeremey then touches on the fact that some insurance panels are just hard to work with. He suggests looking at the number of patient referrals for each insurance company, the ease of interaction, and their reimbursements in order to decide which company to continue working with. Out-of-Network Billing Out-of-network billing is an option most people forget about. It lets the payment go directly to the patient and you still submit the claim, allowing the practice to still make your cash rate. Jeremy suggests collecting your cash rate up front and determining the out-of-network benefits for that patient. Chances are, their out of network benefits are pretty decent. Jeremy reveals in certain instances, patients only paid a few dollars more than they normally would and his practice made their full rate. Gordon’s practice offers a sliding scale for patients who do not have insurance or do not wish to use their insurance. His practice still makes the money it would if they went through the insurance company. Credentialing Gordon brings up the fact that credentialing can seem like an intimidating process. Jeremy suggests being organized with your license documentation, resume, previous work experience, and certifications. Credentialing boils down to being who you say you are. The only way to prove this is with your documentation, so it needs to be organized! It is very important to create a filing system that makes sense and keeps all documentation in a row. Next, you need to ensure there is a consistent follow-up with the insurance companies. Lastly, you need to prove your modalities of treatment work. Practice Solutions Jeremey discusses opening Practice Solutions and how it was only meant for five therapists in Montana. With his business, they were able to save therapists eight to ten hours a week. Therapists no longer have to waste their time calling insurance companies and dealing with the billing. With this time saved, therapists are able to see more patients and essentially pay for the cost of this outsourcing. Another solution to getting this work done would be to hire an admin. As long as the expense is covered, it will be worth the price. Insurance Claims Insurance claims can be time-consuming and overwhelming when in a solo practice. Practice Solutions takes all of this off their plates. Practice Solutions will post payments, follow-up with the insurance company on rejected claims, send out patient statements, and do the credentialing. All of these items are now 100% the responsibility of Practice Solutions. Resources Mentioned: Practice Solutions- practicesol.com/gordon Session Note Helper Meet Gordon Brewer, MEd, LMFT Gordon is the person behind The Practice of Therapy Podcast & Blog.He is also President and Founder of Kingsport Counseling Associates, PLLC. He is a therapist, consultant, business mentor, trainer, and writer. PLEASE Subscribe to The Practice of Therapy Podcast on iTunes, Stitcher and Google Play. Follow us on Twitter @therapistlearn and Pinterest “Like” us on Facebook.
	30 Sep 2019	Jill Barnett Kaufman \| Diversifying Your Income Within Your Niche \| TPOT Podcast 099	00:40:51
In this episode, Jill Barnett Kaufman tells us all about the courses she provides for continuing education. Her latest course is on how parents can redirect children’s behavior. Jill describes the four reasons a child may be misbehaving and the ways we can identify these behaviors. Plus, Jill explains all the different niches she has been part of including parenting classes, court-ordered co-parenting classes, and her upcoming course on thriving through a divorce. Meet Jill Barnett Kaufman Jill Barnett Kaufman is an experienced therapist, a certified Parent Educator, and a Certified Divorce Mediator. She provides divorce counseling, couples counseling, co-parenting counseling, family counseling, and divorce mediation. She recently co-authored an online training for therapists entitled “Redirecting Children’s Behavior Training for Therapists” which has been approved for 6 CEUs through NASW. She is the mother of three adult children and is committed to helping raise a generation of children who have high self-esteem and a well-developed sense of responsibility for themselves and their community. Jill’s Course Jill researched her course, Redirecting Children’s Behavior Training for Therapists, and the specifics on getting approval from the Continuing Education Unit (CEU). Everything we do as therapists requires a lot of steps, and you need to jump through numerous hoops to accomplish it. It’s a fifteen-hour course, not all of it is necessary for therapists. Jill took the parts that she thinks therapists would need to know. Currently, it is six hours of classroom time and is available for people to take. Jill uses Teachable, it’s a straightforward platform with an excellent sales page, and everything is automated. Teaching Clients About Parents look at a child when they misbehave as being bad. Jill’s course, Redirecting Children’s Behavior Training for Therapists, will teach you how to look at a child as being discouraged instead of bad. Jill teaches therapists on the varying ways to encourage the child, so you’re not disciplining or punishing. Instead, you’re looking for positive ways to discipline so they are learning while understanding what they did was unacceptable. Goals of a Misbehaving Child There are four goals of a misbehaving child: Attention Power Revenge Avoidance You discipline the child differently depending on the intention of the child. You find out the goal of the child by analyzing the way you are feeling. If you are feeling irritated, their goal is attention. If you are feeling angry, their goal is power. If you’re feeling hurt their goal is revenge. If you are feeling pity for the child, then their goal is an avoidance. Parenting Expert Niche You need to involve the parents to give them the proper skills to parent their child. Therapists can develop a niche working with children and will want to have a session or two with their parents. You can also go to schools – Jill has done training for teachers and parents at schools. This helped Jill get her name out into the community. Now, Jill has people contacting her consistently because her name is out there as a parenting expert. Court-Ordered Parenting Classes There’s a course in Jill’s state that she would have to take to be approved for court-ordered parenting classes. With this course, Jill knows people who have developed a curriculum based on this work to teach the course to parents. However, Jill’s niche is divorce and co-parenting. Judges have ordered parents to take co-parenting classes with Jill. There is no special certification you need to do these sessions with parents. Thriving Through Divorce Jill is working on an online course about thriving through a divorce. The course is for people who are struggling with their separation. The reason Jill came up with this idea is that there are not enough things out there to support people who are going through a divorce. Also, Jill likes the idea of having something out there that she can share with people without having to do the one-on-one sessions. Being transparent… Some of the resources below use affiliate links which simply means we receive a commission if you purchase using the links, at no extra cost to you. Thanks for using the links! Jill’s Resources Jill’s Website Jill’s LinkedIn Redirecting Children’s Behavior Training for Therapists use code: GORDON Other Resources GreenOak Accounting Free Webinar: Business Entities For Private Practice The Practice of Therapy Resources Be a Podcast Guest How To Make Money In Private Practice >>Get the FREE Financial Analysis Guide<< Money Matters in Private Practice \| The Course Follow @TPOTpodcast on Instagram Smart Passive Income Meet Gordon Brewer, MEd, LMFT Gordon is the person behind The Practice of Therapy Podcast & Blog. He is also President and Founder of Kingsport Counseling Associates, PLLC. He is a therapist, consultant, business mentor, trainer, and writer. PLEASE Subscribe to The Practice of Therapy Podcast on iTunes, Stitcher and Google Play. Follow us on Twitter @therapistlearn and Pinterest “Like” us on Facebook
	15 Nov 2021	Accepting Insurance and Third-Party Payors In Your Private Practice \| TPOT 204	00:43:14
In this episode, I talk about some of the myths and misperceptions people have about being on insurance panels. I delve into this topic and let you know what I've learned about it from my insurance-based practice. First, I speak about the stigma around accepting insurance in private practice. If you accept insurance, you are just as valid and can be just as successful as private practice owners who are cash-based. Tune in as talk about the pros and cons of insurance panels, why I chose to be insurance-based, and where to start when you decide to accept insurance. The Stigma Around Accepting Insurance In Private Practice Many people are curious about accepting insurance and if they should or not. There is no correct answer. If you start to delve into your mindset and think about it all, it might just be something that you should consider doing. When you look at all that is out there, there are so many great resources around building a private practice. It seems like most people are encouraging cash-pay. There seems to be a little bit of a stigma against having an insurance-based practice. Many people say that you don't want to be controlled by insurance companies. If therapists don't have a cash-based practice, they're second-class citizens for being an insurance-based practice. I don't agree with that at all! In fact, my success comes from being insurance-based. The Pros and Cons of Being An Insurance-Based Practice There are a lot of pros and cons to being on insurance panels. Certainly, one of the cons of being insurance-based is that you've got to have more systems and processes in place. You've got to do more work on the front end to get prepared for insurance. You need specific systems when you start accepting third-party payors and being reimbursed by insurance companies for your services. The biggest con is that there is some work on the front end of being insurance-based. The pros for being insurance-based are that you've got a built-in referral source by being on insurance panels. I would say at least half the people that we find are from their insurance. In other words, they checked with their insurance provider first to see who would accept their insurance in the area. When making an appointment with us, people ask, how much does it cost? Plus, they ask if we accept insurance. That's why I wanted to be an insurance-based practice. People depend on their insurance, and I want to help those people. Ready To Accept Insurance? What To Do First Where do you start? Research your area to find out which are which insurance panels are the most prevalent. In my area, most people have Blue Cross Blue Shield health insurance. Another thing to research is looking at significant employers in the area. Then, check which insurance those companies use. Next, use that data to decide which insurance companies you want to be paneled with. Another thing to note is that when an insurance company offers you a contract, that's negotiable! Make sure to negotiate what rate you will accept. Systems and Processes Around Filing Insurance Claims Figure out your systems and your processes around filing insurance claims. If you're on insurance panels, you need a traditional way to send claims off. The best way I know to do that is through an electronic health record system. TherapyNotes helps my practice with this. It's a few clicks of a button to get your insurance claims sent to the insurance companies to be reimbursed. For the most part, insurance companies have a pretty quick turnaround for electronic health claim submissions. Within a week of sending off the claim, we are getting paid. There's a myth that you have to wait a long time to get paid from insurance companies – that's not true! So, make sure you have a way to submit claims and make it as automated as possible. Cash-Based and Insurance-Based Private Practices If you're not ready to be entirely reliant on insurance, there's a hybrid option! You can have a mix of cash-paying clients and clients that use insurance. Give people a choice on whether or not they want to pay for therapy through a third-party payor. Remember to set your full fee at a reasonable place; your fee needs to be your FULL fee. The insurance company will pay you what they pay you. Then, you write off the difference between the full fee and the contract rate. If they choose not to use insurance, you can offer a sliding scale based on family income. We don't go and check their income; instead, we go on the honor system. Ensure that the lowest rate on your sliding scale fee schedule is in the ballpark of your average reimbursement rate from insurance companies. If you want more tips about deciding to panel with 3rd-party payors, check out this FREE webinar coming up: https://practiceoftherapy.com/insurancepractice. Being transparent… Some of the resources below use affiliate links which simply means we receive a commission if you purchase using the links, at no extra cost to you. Thanks for using the links! Resources Use the promo code "GORDON" to get 2 months of Therapy Notes free. Blueprint Health: First month free with promo code TPOTPODCAST Free Webinar \| November 19th @ 1 PM EST \| Managed Care Finances for Therapy Practice Apply For My Focus Group [Starts November 2021] Using Google Workspace As A Practice Platform Course Get Your Copy of The Full Focus Planner Join the Google Workspace for Therapists Users Group Follow @PracticeofTherapy on Instagram Meet Gordon Brewer, MEd, LMFT Gordon is the person behind The Practice of Therapy Podcast & Blog. He is also President and Founder of Kingsport Counseling Associates, PLLC. He is a therapist, consultant, business mentor, trainer, and writer. PLEASE Subscribe to The Practice of Therapy Podcast wherever you listen to it. Follow us on Twitter @therapistlearn, and Pinterest, “Like” us on Facebook.
	03 Dec 2018	Perry Rosenbloom \| Making Your Private Practice Website Work For You \|TPOT Podcast 059	00:37:02
In this episode of the Practice of Therapy Podcast, Gordon talks with BrighterVision CEO and Founder, Perry Rosenbloom. Perry and Gordon chat about Brighter Vision and what inspired Perry to start his business. Also, Perry reveals the tools Brighter Vision uses to enhance and build an active webpage. For example, Brighter Vision has an SEO specialist that will audit your SEO, with other companies the cost of an SEO audit is astronomical. However, Brighter Vision builds this cost into their services. Later, Perry gives his tips on getting a better website ranking. Blogging is a useful tool and showcasing your specialties will ensure a high ranking on a specific Google search. Meet Perry Rosenbloom Perry has always had a connection to the field of therapy and therapists, having family both working in the field and benefiting from it. He founded Brighter Vision in March 2014 with a passion to use business savvy and web development know-how to help therapists both fully realize their career ambitions and help the most people possible. Since then, Brighter Vision has grown to be the world’s best therapist website design company, as well as one of the most trusted names in our industry, helping thousands of therapists throughout the world. Brighter Vision Perry started Brighter Vision four years ago to help therapists’ brand themselves more effectively, so they can get the types of clients they love working with. The company focuses on building brands and websites. This upcoming year, they are offering marketing automation solutions designed exclusively for therapists. Perry started this business because he wanted to create websites for exclusively one industry. Focusing on one industry saves money for his company and his clients. Website Help The process is as streamlined and straightforward as possible. When signing up for Brighter Vision, you will receive a design team and gain the help of two developers. Fill out a brief online questionnaire, pick a theme, and a week later the team will have a website specifically designed for your needs. Once you’re ready for the site to go live, the team makes the switch, and you will be able to get technical advice and guidance whenever needed. Using Brighter Vision, you will not need to learn SEO or learn how to change the color of a sentence. Also, the SEO specialist will audit your SEO; usually this would cost a couple of hundred dollars. However, with Brighter Vision, you can get this SEO audit with the cost of your membership. Lastly, Brighter Insights will rank your brand online from Google Analytics in a readable and straightforward way. Website Ranking Blogging can be useful in positioning yourself as an expert. Brighter Vision has a tool that allows their customers to blog easily. The growth platform will enable you to access blog posts and have automatic sharing services to social media accounts. The biggest mistake Perry sees therapists make is not having specific service pages to market their specialties. Most therapists have a particular services page; however, Google ranks websites as accurate as possible to a consumer’s search request. When someone is doing a basic therapist search, he or she is doing initial research. You want to focus on someone who is searching for a specific therapist. If you do not have pages listing your specific searches, then your page won’t get any Google hits. >>Get the FREE Financial Analysis Guide<< Resources Mentioned: Brighter Vision Brighter Vision’s Blog SEO Sherpa Money Matters in Private Practice Meet Gordon Brewer, MEd, LMFT Gordon is the person behind The Practice of Therapy Podcast & Blog.He is also President and Founder of Kingsport Counseling Associates, PLLC. He is a therapist, consultant, business mentor, trainer and writer. PLEASE Subscribe to The Practice of Therapy Podcast on iTunes, Stitcher and Google Play. Follow us on Twitter @therapistlearn and Pinterest “Like” us on Facebook.
	06 Jan 2018	Rachael Norman \| Making Private Pay and Out-Of-Network "Better" \| TPOT Podcast 020	00:42:21
In this episode Gordon talks with Rachael Norman about helping self-paying clients who want to use their health insurance to pay for your services. The easiest way for practitioners to help people collect out-of-network insurance benefits is to offer a “superbill”. Rachael talks about how and why her company developed an app called “Better” that helps clients easily get paid back for their out-of-pocket expenses, using a superbill, from their health insurance.
	25 Mar 2019	Practicing Gratitude and Drawing On Supports in Private Practice \| TPOT Podcast 073	00:27:14
In this episode, Gordon discusses gratitude and growing on supports. He also dives deep and explains some personal struggles going on in his life recently. Rolling with the punches is critical for growth and reminds Gordon why his independence by being private practice has been such a blessing. Later, Gordon explains how essential safety nets are, how to practice gratitude, and planning for the day. Taking ten to fifteen minutes to prepare for the day will make life much less overwhelming. Independence Being able to work when you want to and being your own boss is a big reason many people move to private practice. Gordon started private practice part-time while working for an agency and the turns of life helped motivate him to move more fully into full-time private practice. His daughter started high school, and Gordon wanted to participate in her extra-curricular activities. If he continued working for the agency he would not be able to do this. Also, Gordon’s wife developed breast cancer, and that is when life got complicated for their family. Safety Net When you work for someone else, you build up sick time or paid time off that you can use for medical appointments or even emergencies. When you go into private practice, you will not have this luxury which is why it is critical to have financial reserves built up when becoming self-employed. Also, diversifying your income will assist with your safety net. Find ways to make money without using a lot of your time. For instance, Gordon uses his podcast and financial courses to diversify his income. Practicing Gratitude Therapists are so busy taking care of others but all too often, they forget their self-care. Practicing gratitude is a big part of self-care to navigate the ups and downs of life. Gordon has been guilty of trying to do too much on his own. Honestly, we cannot do it all, and we have to draw on supports. Gordon is grateful for his staff, close friends, and neighbors who support his family in this time of need. Building relationships in your practice will allow us to rely on the community to deal with life’s surprises. Lastly, recharging batteries are needed for self-care, especially exercising. <ins class="adsbygoogle" data-ad-format="auto" data-ad-client="ca-pub-1494080817715106" data-ad-slot="1054679871" data-ad-channel= "WordPressSinglePost+pso-lv-8" data-adsbygoogle-status= "done"></ins> Resources Mentioned Michael Hyatt’s Full Focus Planner Killin’it Camp Practice Solutions Brighter Vision Therapy Notes Products from Amazon.com -26% Daring Greatly: How the Courage to Be Vulnerable Transforms the Way We Live, Love, Parent, and Lead Price: $12.54 Was: $17.00 -28% Full Focus Planner by Michael Hyatt - The #1 Daily Planner to Set Annual Goals, Increase Focus, Eliminate Overwhelm, and Achieve Your Biggest Goals - Appointment & Agenda Organizer - Hardcover Price: $42.99 Was: $59.99 -15% Good Days Start With Gratitude: A 52 Week Guide To Cultivate An Attitude Of Gratitude: Gratitude Journal Price: $5.95 Was: $6.99 ‹› Meet Gordon Brewer, MEd, LMFT Gordon is the person behind The Practice of Therapy Podcast & Blog.He is also President and Founder of Kingsport Counseling Associates, PLLC. He is a therapist, consultant, business mentor, trainer and writer. PLEASE Subscribe to The Practice of Therapy Podcast on iTunes, Stitcher and Google Play. Follow us on Twitter @therapistlearn and Pinterest “Like” us on Facebook.
	21 Oct 2019	Sarah Leitshuh \| Navigating The Overwhelm In Private Practice \| TPOT 102	00:43:36
Do you ever feel overwhelmed? In this episode, Gordon and Sarah Leitschuh, LMFT discuss the progression of practicing therapy to consulting people on the business side of private practice. Often, private practice owners crave the flexibility of being an entrepreneur. However, flexibility isn’t always a good thing as Sarah can attest to. Stay tuned to hear all the ways owners can navigate the overwhelm of private practice. Meet Sarah Leitschuh Are you ready to reduce the overwhelm that has overtaken your life as a result of trying to balance your work and personal life? Schedule a complimentary 20-minute Vibrant Therapist Clarity call and walk away with a strategy that you can implement today in order to find yourself feeling more energized and less depleted. You can access my schedule HERE. Flexibility in Private Practice Sarah quickly realized that flexibility could be a bad thing. She found herself overwhelmed – it was hard for her not to have enough time or energy for anything she wanted to do. Sarah was working all the time and not seeing the results she wanted to see. Plus, she was supervising others – her supervisees were saying the same things that she was thinking. Sarah knew there was something she wasn’t doing. There needed to be a way to show up to private practice and still have a life in the outside world. Taking Inventory We can find the path to doing things more easily – but we don’t necessarily have the big picture of what is contributing to our overwhelm. Here are some questions you need to ask yourself: what is contributing to your overwhelm? Where do you feel like you are wasting a lot of your time? Also, find out where you are leaking time, energy, and money. Once you fix these leaks, you will have more time to devote to things that could fill your bucket. Feeling Overwhelmed Private practice owners feel overwhelmed because of the constant need to document. Sometimes, their caseload is full of clients that they are not passionate about working with. Or, the schedule can be overwhelming. Your schedule may not be working out – are you scheduling too many things outside of therapy? These extra activities could be stressing you out. Gordon says therapists need to stick to their schedule. Do not let your clients run your schedule for you. Solid Boundaries Sarah says having boundaries is one of the ways to beat the overwhelm in private practice. Have limits as to which clients you can take into your practice. Have a solid list of referrals to give to your clients if you cannot take them in. Plus, have your set hours. If clients ask to see you outside of your hours – set your boundaries and let them know what is possible. Gordon says it was overwhelming when he started taking clients that were not his ideal clients. He is not a drug and alcohol addiction specialist – he gets a lot of calls about this, but his practice is not equipped to do this kind of therapy. Constant Evaluation Sarah recommends that quarterly or monthly therapists take a look at the state of their practice. Are you taking action to get you closer to vision? Or are you taking steps that are pulling you away from your vision? Evaluating regularly will keep your practice on track of meeting your goals and fulfilling your vision. Tabling For Later We do not have time for everything! It is beneficial to table things intentionally. At the end of 2019, some of the items on your brain dump list are not able to happen this year. Write this list down for 2020 to free up energy on things you can get done this year. It will no longer be hanging over your head for the rest of 2019. Find a blank spot on your calendar and make it sacred. Prioritize your well-being – it is just as important as seeing a client. Being transparent… Some of the resources below use affiliate links which simply means we receive a commission if you purchase using the links, at no extra cost to you. Thanks for using the links! Sarah’s Resources Counseling Website Vibrant Therapist & Professional Development Website The Overwhelm Assessment for Stressed Out Therapists Sarah’s Facebook Other Resources Therapy Notes Free Webinar: Business Entities For Private Practice Killin’It Camp The Practice of Therapy Resources G-Suite For Therapists Be a Podcast Guest How To Make Money In Private Practice >>Get the FREE Financial Analysis Guide<< Money Matters in Private Practice \| The Course Follow @TPOTpodcast on Instagram Meet Gordon Brewer, MEd, LMFT Gordon is the person behind The Practice of Therapy Podcast & Blog. He is also President and Founder of Kingsport Counseling Associates, PLLC. He is a therapist, consultant, business mentor, trainer, and writer. PLEASE Subscribe to The Practice of Therapy Podcast on iTunes, Stitcher and Google Play. Follow us on Twitter @therapistlearn and Pinterest “Like” us on Facebook
	16 Jan 2018	Dr. Maelisa Hall \| Creating Meaningful Documentation in Private Practice \| TPOT Podcast 021	00:39:15
In this episode, Gordon talks with Dr. Maelisa Hall from QA Prep about documentation and the common problems clinicians in private practice run into with their paperwork. Maelisa discusses some strategies around staying current with your documentation and getting caught up when you have fallen behind. “Session notes should be thought of as a part of your therapy session”. Gordon and Maelisa also talk about some of the challenges of starting a new business/practice and the importance of sticking things out and being persistent with what you do to build a practice.
	16 Mar 2020	LaTonya Shelton \| What I Learned My First Year Of Private Practice \| TPOT 120	00:38:52
LaTonya Shelton joins the show to discuss the highs and lows of her first year in private practice. It’s possible to do things your own way. LaTonya speaks about her self-care techniques and what has helped her get through the lows of running your own business. Plus, LaTonya explains the ways to ease the pain points of private practice and how mastermind groups can play a crucial role. Meet LaTonya Shelton LaTonya N. Shelton, LCSW, RYT, the owner of Red Jasper Counseling, PLLC, located in Nashville, TN. Her practice specializes in providing treatment for trauma, anxiety, and depression. She is a licensed clinical social worker and yoga instructor who integrates somatic (body-centered) psychotherapy practices and mindfulness in her work with clients. LaTonya embodies a deep passion for helping individuals learn, heal and grow. She believes that by helping others understand and navigate difficult emotions, clients can experience relief, improved health, and regain control of their lives. Doing Things Your Own Way LaTonya is a self-starter. It is so easy to get overwhelmed and inundated with all of the information that’s out there. There are a lot of opportunities for mastermind groups and business coaching. With all the information, it’s so easy to get overwhelmed. You need to start somewhere. Plus, you’re not going to get it right and perfect in the beginning. However, that’s the beauty of starting and moving forward on a journey. Make it your own! Self-Care For Private Practice Owners Self-care is such a buzzword these days. Some of the self-care that LaTonya engages in is very simple. She enjoys a cup of coffee most mornings with her dog walking in the park, and that works well for LaTonya. Do the things that get you out in nature. Reading, talking, and being around people that support you will also be essential. These things have been the crux of LaTonya’s self-care. Take the Leap of Faith Throw your limiting beliefs out the window. Show up and do the work that you want to do. LaTonya is a dreamer, but also a planner. Being organized, balanced, and flexible will assist in your private practice journey. Are you wondering if you should take the leap into private practice? It’s going to be scary, and there’s going to be peaks and valleys, but start, and you’ll find your way. You’ll meet great people like Gordon. Plus, LaTonya met people in a mastermind and focus groups. Pain Points in Private Practice The most significant pain point for LaTonya is not knowing. A lot is riding on your business, so it can be scary, not knowing how it’s going to turn out. The journey is unpredictable, and that cannot be very easy. Also, learning how to market has been a journey for LaTonya. We all want to scale and grow our practices. So that’s been a pain point, not knowing and then deciding what marketing avenues to go down. Imposture syndrome is also a pain point. Sometimes you’ll ask yourself if you really know what you’re doing or if you know what you’re talking about. Take a step back and breathe deeply. You can ease some of the anxiety of jumping into private practice by keeping your full-time job until you have enough finances saved up to feel comfortable. Mastermind Groups It’s great to know other people are going through the same struggles. Plus, you’ll see how well other private practice owners are doing, and yet they still have questions and need help. There is always room to grow. It’s inspiring to see other people who are willing to learn continuously. Once you hit a peak, there is still an opportunity to find another peak. Having the support and the opportunity to problem solve is invaluable. Being transparent… Some of the links below are affiliate links. This simply means that if you use the link to make a purchase, I get a commission at no extra cost to you. Thanks for using the links! LaTonya’s Resources LaTonya’s Website Email: info@redjaspercounseling.com Phone: (615) 606-2964 Facebook Instagram Other Resources TherapyNotes.com Free Webinar: Contractors vs. Employees? How To Hire and Add People To Your Practice Apply for the Focus Group The Faith in Practice Podcast G Suite for Therapists \| The E-Course Session Note Helper Cool Resources Be a Podcast Guest Follow @TPOTpodcast on Instagram Meet Gordon Brewer, MEd, LMFT Gordon is the person behind The Practice of Therapy Podcast & Blog. He is also President and Founder of Kingsport Counseling Associates, PLLC. He is a therapist, consultant, business mentor, trainer, and writer. PLEASE Subscribe to The Practice of Therapy Podcast on iTunes, Stitcher and Google Play. Follow us on Twitter @therapistlearn and Pinterest “Like” us on Facebook
	11 Apr 2022	Paul Wright \| 7 Mistakes People Make in Private Practice - Part 2 \| TPOT 224	00:30:17
Paul Wright is the author of the Amazon Best Seller "How to Run a One Minute Practice," founder of the Practiceology™ health business freedom program, and has helped thousands of health business owners from 57 countries earn more, work less and enjoy their lives. In part two, Paul Wright dives deep into more mistakes you could be making in private practice. He covers the importance of having proper systems and processes in place. If your goal is to have a practice function without you, systems will be critical. Next, it’s vital to know your numbers. Tune in as Paul covers why you need a recruitment system and how packaging your services can make you unique. Plus, Paul gives a bonus tip: don’t ever put a monetary value on your family time. Resources Mentioned In This Episode: Paul's Website “How to Run a One Minute Practice” Practiceology The Podcast Paul on LinkedIn Use the promo code "GORDON" to get 2 months of Therapy Notes free. Blueprint Health: First month free with promo code TPOTPODCAST Check out all the webinars
	04 Mar 2019	Lisa Wozniak \| Niche Marketing In Private Practice \| TPOT Podcast 070	00:46:24
In this episode, Gordon speaks with Lisa Wozniak about leaving her corporate job to start her own marketing business. As a marketer, Lisa knows you need to have a niche. After falling in love with the mental health industry, Lisa knew she was exactly where she belonged. Later, Gordon and Lisa discuss sales pitches, connecting with people, and partnering with your competition. Meet Lisa Wozniak Lisa is a Marketing Consultant and owner of Woz Marketing; a marketing company dedicated to helping private practice owner enroll more clients through online marketing strategies. Lisa is driven by her passion for assisting practitioners to overcome different marketing challenges private practice owners face. Lisa has been in the marketing arena for over 25 years. Having worked with several big business clients in a corporate setting, she has realigned her niche to focus on private practice owners by helping them develop and implement creative marketing strategies designed to grow their client base. Lisa’s Niche Lisa got to the point where she knew she wanted to go out on her own. Leaving a corporate setting is pretty scary and takes a lot of courage to say enough is enough. Lisa wanted to know if she really did have the chops to make it on her own. To do so, Lisa needed to figure out what her niche is going to be. A niche is what is going to attract people; she needed to find out what space was going to make her special. A family member came down with depression, and she was exposed to the mental health community. After doing some research, Lisa was surprised to find the mental health community had a severe lack of marketing. Sales Pitches When we think about giving a sales pitch, we tend to think about ourselves and our role in the scenario. We need to flip that mindset and focus our attention on the other person. What can you find out about this person that will allow you to assist this person without expecting anything in return? With no expectations, it will take all the pressure off of you. For example, Lisa went in for a physical; the doctor started asking a bunch of mental health type questions. Lisa was handed a sheet about mental health questions. At the bottom of the sheet was a local therapist’s information. Partner With Your Competition Collaborating with your competition might feel strange and like a weird concept at first. However, there is more than enough business to go around for all of us. When you meet another therapist, there is always the opportunity to collaborate even if you are a therapist in the same community. There are also opportunities where you are different enough, making it a great partnership for both parties. A partner doesn’t have to be someone you go into practice with. It is a partnership in collaboration and marketing techniques. Look out for someone who has that scarcity mindset because they will not be a good partner. Find someone who has a genuine interest in helping you grow your practice and someone who is interested in a long-term relationship with you. Lastly, find a business partner who is not afraid to roll up their sleeves and work right alongside you. Social Media Lisa says clients say they try social media, but it doesn’t work. Her clients post once every few weeks, and of course, people are not responding well to inconsistency. As a business owner, you need to give the perception that you are everywhere all the time. This means posting all day every day. The bottom line is, if you are consistent with your marketing over time, it will yield great results for you. Watch Lisa’s Interview with Gordon on Youtube Resources Mentioned Being transparent… some of the links below are affiliate links which simply means we receive a commission, at no extra cost to you, if you use the links. Thanks for using the links! Email Gordon@practiceoftherapy.com to get involved in the mastermind group! Killin’it Camp Practice Solutions Brighter Vision Therapy Notes Money Matters in Private Practice Lisa Wozniak’s Resources Lisa@WozMarketing.com https://wozmarketing.com LinkedIn YouTube – Woz Marketing Products from Amazon.com Million Dollar Practice: Five Steps to Make Sure Your Group is on Track Price: Check on Amazon -41% Profit First: Transform Your Business from a Cash-Eating Monster to a Money-Making Machine Price: $15.94 Was: $27.00 -33% Building a StoryBrand: Clarify Your Message So Customers Will Listen Price: $16.84 Was: $24.99 ‹› Meet Gordon Brewer, MEd, LMFT Gordon is the person behind The Practice of Therapy Podcast & Blog.He is also President and Founder of Kingsport Counseling Associates, PLLC. He is a therapist, consultant, business mentor, trainer and writer. PLEASE Subscribe to The Practice of Therapy Podcast on iTunes, Stitcher and Google Play. Follow us on Twitter @therapistlearn and Pinterest “Like” us on Facebook.
	16 Mar 2018	Rob Reinhardt \| Electronic Health Records (EHR) For Private Practice \| TPOT Podcast 028	00:40:23
In this episode of the Practice of Therapy Podcast, Gordon has a conversation with Rob Reinhardt, LPCS of “Tame Your Practice”. Rob and Gordon talk about EHR (Electronic Health Records) and how clinicians might decide which EHR might be the best fit for them in their practices. EHRs can be one of the most important investments a clinician can make in their practice. Rob’s expertise is in doing EHR reviews and looking in detail at the features the various EHR’s available for practitioners.
	13 Jan 2025	Dr. Jen Blanchette \| Rethinking Therapist Burnout: Addressing Systemic Issues and Prioritizing Recovery \| TPOT 364	00:38:05
Are you ready to take a deep dive into the complex, multifaceted nature of therapist burnout? In this episode, Dr. Jen Blanchette unpacks the hidden costs of caring, from compassion fatigue and vicarious trauma to the systemic issues that perpetuate burnout in the field. You’ll hear about the unique challenges therapists face, like navigating moral injury and the struggle to prioritize their own well-being amidst clinical and personal demands. Dr. Blanchette doesn’t just stop at prevention—she shares actionable insights for recovery, emphasizing the importance of financial sustainability, meaningful connection, and small, intentional steps toward a healthier, more balanced life. If you’ve ever wondered how to heal while helping others, this conversation is a must-listen! Resources Mentioned In This Episode Use the promo code "GORDON" to get 2 months of Therapy Notes free Sign up for free at berries.icu, enjoy 20 sessions, and use promo code CRAFT50 for 50% off your first month! Start Consulting with Gordon The PsychCraft Network The Practice of Therapy Community Mental Health Wear TN Full Focus Planner Dr. Jen Blanchette’s Website Dr. Jen Blanchette on LinkedIn Free Money Guide From Dr. Jen Blanchette The Therapist Burnout Podcast Meet Dr. Jen Blanchette Dr. Jen Blanchette is a licensed psychologist, former private practice owner, and therapist burnout consultant dedicated to supporting therapists and heart-centered professionals. She understands the unique challenges they face—balancing the demands of serving others while often confronting burnout repeatedly. Having experienced these struggles firsthand, Dr. Blanchette recalls her own journey of navigating the desire to leave her role as a trauma therapist during the pandemic. Amid the chaos, she explored whether the traditional 1:1 therapy model aligned with her temperament and aspirations. What she needed most during that time was support, guidance, and the wisdom of someone who had walked a similar path. Today, Dr. Blanchette offers that support to others. Whether it’s navigating burnout or finding the courage to transition away from therapy, she is committed to helping professionals redefine their work or explore new directions. With a neuroscience-based approach, Dr. Blanchette helps create the space needed to uncover the answers clients are seeking. She invites anyone ready to take the next step to start with a free consultation, where they’ll identify the sources of burnout and determine a plan to help them rediscover their passion—or confidently transition to something new.
	14 Nov 2017	Productivity, Time Management and Outsourcing in Private Practice \| with Nikki Carey \| TPOT Podcast 015	00:34:28
In this podcast episode Gordon talks about productivity and time management in private practice. One of the main things that separates really successful private practice owners from those that struggle the most, is how they manage their time and get things done. How many times have you felt overwhelmed with the shear volume of stuff that needs your attention? For me, it happened a lot! So I decided to get a handle on it and look at how I was spending my time and what I could do to better manage not only my time but my productivity. One of the main productivity “hacks” for most people in private practice is to hire a virtual assistant. One of the biggest time killers for anyone in practice is doing follow-ups and answering phone calls. So Gordon has a conversation with his virtual assistant and intake coordinator, Nikki Carey, about what they have learned together about managing intakes and helping Gordon spend his time on things that truly need his attention and expertise.
	19 Feb 2024	Jason Frishman \| Presence and Mindfulness: Balancing Work and Family \| TPOT 318	00:40:56
Jason has been working for over 20 years to support individuals, groups, families, organizations, and businesses. Jason is excited to bring over two decades of work in offices, institutions, kitchens, farmers’ markets, woodlots, and boardrooms to wild new environments. Whether as a psychotherapist, the creator and founder of JourneyMen, public speaker, thought leader, or narrative consultant, Jason believes that our lives are adventurous, and we can and should be active, engaged authors of our own adventure stories! In this episode, Jason critiques the societal norms that suppress male sensitivity and emotions, advocating for a broader range of narratives that reflect diverse human experiences. Jason emphasizes the importance of presence and mindfulness in navigating societal expectations, particularly for men balancing work and family life. He calls for a reimagining of masculinity and fatherhood within broader social narratives and encourages individuals to craft their own stories. Ultimately, Jason highlights the power of storytelling and agency in shaping our lives and invites others to engage with his work. Resources Mentioned In This Episode: Use the promo code "GORDON" to get 2 months of Therapy Notes free The PsychCraft Network Start Consulting with Gordon The Practice of Therapy Community Instagram Mental Health Templates Mental Health Wear (use code POT24) Jason’s Website Jason on LinkedIn Jason on Facebook Jason on Instagram
	22 Apr 2024	Maureen Clancy \| Integrating Diverse Healing Modalities in Private Practice \| TPOT 327	00:34:51
Maureen Clancy has been a licensed therapist and trauma expert for the past 20 years, helping women go through enormous life changes who have experienced childhood trauma. In this episode, Maureen shares her journey of integrating alternative healing modalities into therapeutic practice. She discusses her exploration of various methods such as energy work, acupuncture, and Reiki alongside traditional therapy, emphasizing the holistic nature of healing. Maureen reflects on the limitations of the conventional therapeutic profession and advocates for the incorporation of alternative approaches to address clients' diverse needs. She also dives into topics like psychedelic therapy, Tarot integration, and the significance of embracing alternative paths to achieve wholeness beyond clinical intervention. Resources Mentioned In This Episode: Learn More About this Episode Here Use the promo code "GORDON" to get 2 months of Therapy Notes free Start Consulting with Gordon The PsychCraft Network The Practice of Therapy Community Instagram Mental Health Templates Mental Health Wear Maureen's Website Maureen's Instagram Maureen's TikTok
	08 May 2018	Whitney Owens, LPC \| Starting Fresh & Growing Fast In Private Practice \| TPOT Podcast 036	00:40:12
In this episode, Gordon talks with Whitney Owens, LPC about marketing a private practice after starting from scratch. Whitney is the owner of Waters Edge Counseling in Savannah, GA. Whitney has started a private practice twice. Because of moves, she has made with her family, Whitney has had practices in both Georgia and in Colorado. Whitney and Gordon discuss the ways that she found to network and make contacts with people to grow her practice quickly after starting it. Meet Whitney Owens, LPC Whitney is originally from Valdosta, Georgia and has a master’s degree in Professional Counseling from Richmont Graduate University in Atlanta. GA. Following graduate school, Whitney and her husband immediately moved to Denver, CO where she built a private practice while also doing inpatient work at a local hospital. In 2014 they moved to Savannah, Georgia and Whitney started Water's Edge Counseling. Whitney is married with two beautiful girls ages five and one. In addition to counseling, Whitney also offers a number of other services including training and keynote speaking. She has been invited to local organizations such as churches and schools to educate on leadership, adolescent issues, parenting, family concerns, and mental health. Whitney has also facilitated retreats focused on helping women heal and find themselves. Starting From Scratch In Private Practice One of the unique things about Whitney is that when she started her current practice, she was able to build it and fill it with clients fairly quickly. What Whitney has done has been to concentrate on some proven ways to build a practice from scratch. Whitney has had the unique opportunity to start private practices in two different cities during her career thus far. And what she did was typical for a lot of people, she started at private practice while working somewhere else. Whitney was working in an inpatient setting and then would see private practice clients in the evenings and on weekends. Both experiences gave her the opportunity to learn not only clinical skills but also some business building and private practice skills. When Whitney and her husband got the opportunity to move back to Georgia from Colorado, Whitney made the decision to pursue private practice as a full-time endeavor. Marketing and Building Relationships One thing that Whitney knew she needed to do in order to build her practice was start networking. What she knows about the town and culture she now lives in (Savannah, GA), is that building those relationships in the community were important. What has worked best for Whitney is spending time out in the community going to doctors offices and even doing some presentations with them on mental health issues. So many times doctors offices, hospitals, and other providers are grateful to have the contact and know who to refer to. By having that personal connection just increases the likelihood of them feeling confident to make those referrals. Understanding the Community’s Needs The other place in which Whitney has had a lot of success is in having an understanding of the community’s needs. By spending time with doctors and other professionals, she would simply ask what were their concerns for patients and how as a therapist, she could help them with those problems. It comes from a place of concern rather than going out there to “convince” someone to make referrals. For example, Whitney was able to connect with a local design school that sends her referrals from their student counseling services. And in addition to the referrals, she is getting, she was able to connect with some students to help with the revamp of her website. So it was a “win, win” situation for both she and the design school students. Drawing on Supports The other thing that Whitney has been able to do is to draw on the support of a mastermind group. Both Gordon and Whitney have been involved in mutual mastermind groups and have learned so much. Whitney said that she has been able to double her income since being involved in a mastermind group. Mastermind groups allow clinicians to be with peers who are struggling with many of the same issues in their practices. A person can learn so much from the group in that many of the people in the group, along with the facilitator, have done or are working on many of the same things. For example, things as simple as what phone system to use or larger issues like whether or not to form a group practice. The other thing that mastermind group does is create a sense of accountability for you in your practice. Private practice can be lonely and by having other like-minded people to bounce things off of, helps us stay focused. Also if you say you are going to do something, the group, in a way, holds you do that and holds you accountable. Creating A Niche One of the other things that Whitney and Gordon discussed is how they have both integrated faith and spirituality as somewhat of a niche in their practices. Both Whitney and Gordon have theological/faith-informed training. They talk about how this has helped them in their practices in terms of being identified as “Christian Counselors” and being able to incorporate addressing spirituality as part of what they can offer clients. Of course, both Whitney and Gordon very much recognize that this needs to all be done in the context of doing sound clinical work first and keeping those ethical boundaries by being respectful of differing beliefs or spiritual practices. Having a “faith focus” or identifying one’s spiritual orientation can be attractive for some potential clients. Finally, the key to success in private practice comes with hard work and persistence. Being able to face that challenges of private practice head-on and continue no matter what is what is needed to create a successful private practice. Resources Mentioned: Whitney's website: https://watersedgecounseling.com/ Join a Mastermind Group Meet Gordon Brewer, MEd, LMFT Gordon is the person behind The Practice of Therapy Podcast & Blog.He is also President and Founder of Kingsport Counseling Associates, PLLC. He is a therapist, consultant, business mentor, trainer and writer. PLEASE Subscribe to The Practice of Therapy Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher and Google Play. Follow us on Twitter @therapistlearn and Pinterest “Like” us on Facebook.
	15 Mar 2021	Daniel Fava \| Redesigning Your Private Practice Website - Part 1 \| TPOT 169	00:32:32
Your website is ground-zero for marketing your private practice and fueling your business with new leads and clients. In this particular interview, we chat all about my private practice website redesign. Daniel Fava has been just gracious enough to partner with me and hold my hand as we go through this. This episode is part one of a two-part series – we examine the questions you need to ask yourself before starting a website redesign. Be sure to listen next week for the second part of this series. We will dive into the nuts and bolts around this particular project. If you want to see the final product, check out Kingsport Counseling here: https://kingsportcounseling.com/. Meet Daniel Fava Daniel Fava is a father, husband, podcaster, website consultant, and founder of Create My Therapist Website and Private Practice Elevation. He helps therapists create websites and attract more clients online. After building a website for his wife’s private practice and seeing the impact it had on her business, he became passionate about helping others achieve the same. Daniel offers web design services, SEO services, consultations, and online training to help therapists grow their business through online marketing. You can get free access to his library of PDFs, cheatsheets, and ebooks by clicking here. Why Do You Want To Redesign Your Website? Why do you want to redesign your private practice website? Especially, think about why you want to switch it up right now. Most people will say that their website is pretty old and outdated. However, it goes a lot deeper than that. A website is and should be an investment into the future of your business. It's the way that people will find you, and it can be just a great tool to bring lots of traffic to your practice and convert that traffic into new clients. So, if you are interested in a private practice redesign, then think about your why. Your Business Goals Will Drive The Website Redesign Once you know your 'why,' then it's time to think about your business. If your private practice needs a new website, it will help clean up the front of your business. With a clean website, you can be responsive to your clients. Also, when redesigning your website, it's critical to increase your visibility in Google search engines. However, we also need to think about your goals when it comes to private practice. So, now you need to think about the most crucial aspect of your website and the most important goals you have for your business for the next 12 months. For instance, many people have the goal to get more telehealth clients. Then, we need to make sure that people are aware on your website that you offer telehealth and in which states. Consider Hiring A Website Professional As far as a redesign goes, the best place to start is with the why. Before starting your redesign, it will be critical to think about the goals you want to hit next year. When you start looking at your goals and vision, you might need to think a little bit bigger when it comes to your redesign. If your goals are big enough, Daniel highly recommends getting help with your website. Reach out to a professional to build the website because you might end up spending a ton of time and some money on trying to put it all together on your own. Making a website without any help can be very time-consuming. You may have better luck investing in someone that's going to increase those conversions. Working With Daniel Fava If you're looking for some professional help with your website redesign, I highly recommend working with Daniel. To get the process started, Daniel will have a 15-minute call to uncover the issues holding you back and put together a plan to help you reach your goals. If you're not ready for a complete redesign, Daniel has loads of free website and SEO resources to help you elevate your online presence and market your private practice. You can check those out HERE. Lastly, be sure to check out the redesign we did on Kingsport Counseling, and let me know what you think! Being transparent… Some of the resources below use affiliate links which simply means we receive a commission if you purchase using the links, at no extra cost to you. Thanks for using the links! Daniel Fava's Resources 5 Ways to Improve Your Website- PDF Download Create My Therapist Website Private Practice Elevation Apply For Private Practice Elevation Daniel Fava on Effective Private Practice Website Design 5 Ways To Improve Your Private Practice Website Resources Use the promo code "GORDON" to get 2 months of Therapy Notes free. Google Workspace for Therapists \| The E-Course SALE! Purchase The Full Focus Planner™ See The Website Redesign: https://kingsportcounseling.com/ Join my Focus Groups Session Note Helper 3.0 Money Matters in Private Practice \| The Course Join the Google Workspace (formerly G-Suite) for Therapists Users Group Cool Resources Follow @PracticeofTherapy on Instagram Meet Gordon Brewer, MEd, LMFT Gordon is the person behind The Practice of Therapy Podcast & Blog. He is also President and Founder of Kingsport Counseling Associates, PLLC. He is a therapist, consultant, business mentor, trainer, and writer. PLEASE Subscribe to The Practice of Therapy Podcast wherever you listen to it. Follow us on Twitter @therapistlearn, and Pinterest, “Like” us on Facebook.
	27 Sep 2021	Gabe Nelson \| Preparing for Worst-Case Scenario In Private Practice \| TPOT 197	00:38:11
Today we talk about preparing for emergencies in private practice. As a solo practitioner, certain things need to be in place before you have an emergency on your hands. If you haven't started preparing yet, then it's not too late! Gabe Nelson joins the show to explain exactly what you need to do to be ready for the worst possible scenarios. Tune in as we chat about saving for emergency funds, getting the right insurance, and ensuring you are protected as a business owner. Meet Gabe Nelson With almost three decades in the financial services industry and more than a decade as an independent small business owner, Gabe Nelson already had an established thriving practice and solid reputation in his industry when he recognized an interesting trend among some of his favorite clients. More and more, he found himself working with self-employed professionals and solo-entrepreneurs. And as a business owner himself, he was fired up about helping them navigate the unique challenges they were facing – because he was just like them. He understood that independent professionals have specific needs. Most financial advisors don’t know exactly what it takes to transition from employee to independent contractor status or establish long-term financial security without relying on a regular paycheck. He also knew that with more of the workforce becoming self-employed every day, more people could benefit from working with an advisor who knows how to plan for the whole financial picture, including legal, estate, financial, retirement, life, disability, and more — with an entrepreneurial spirit. So he took his passion for providing a personal touch with hands-on problem-solving and solution-oriented comprehensive planning and decided to focus on serving solo entrepreneurs. Preparing For The Worst Possible Event We're talking about preparing for emergencies or preparing for the worst thing that could possibly happen. It would help if you protect yourself from a crisis as a practicing therapist. This preparation should come in handy whether you're running a solo practice or a group practice. There are certain things that you need to start thinking about and putting into place. For instance, make sure you have money set aside in case something happens. If something does happen to your practice, and you're not able to keep working or seeing your clients, then what is your plan? The pandemic was a great test run for a lot of people. The beautiful thing about therapy is that you can still see clients virtually and do a lot of your practice through telemedicine. Start Saving For Your Emergency Fund Today If you haven't yet, then it's time to set aside a certain amount of money in your practice. It would help if you considered how much money you are willing to save. It can be anywhere from three months to six months or even twelve months. Gabe recommends that solo private practice owners reserve twelve months of their income for emergency use. As a solo practitioner, that business checkbook is kind of like your personal checkbook. Many people think that if their business is doing well, they are going to be okay on the personal side. However, that is not always the case. Do You Have The Proper Insurance? The next step is to start making sure that you've got some adequate insurance in place to protect you from those types of things that could happen. No one ever likes to talk about insurance. I mean, no one's talking about life insurance, and they don't want to talk about disability insurance. These are all things that you need to start thinking about when you are an adult businessperson and running a practice. Make sure that you've got an adequate amount of life insurance in place. Gabe is a huge fan of just Straight Term Life Insurance; keep it simple, get as much coverage as you can, and for the lowest cost. Who Will Take Over Your Business? If something does happen to you, what is going to happen to your business? Do you have another set therapist or a firm that is set and ready to buy your practice from you? That way, you can realize all of those years of hard work you put together to benefit your family? Over the last ten years, the investment advisory world has gotten big into that because they realize the trust and relationships we build with our clients. That's a piece of protection that most solopreneurs don't think about. Find Protection As A Business Owner Lastly, it would help if you had some business owner protection. What if there is a fire at your workplace? What if there is a flood in your home? Do you have some of those protections in place that would at least give you some replacement of income? It would help if you had some insurance protections that would replace your computer or your software. Business owner's insurance is a policy that combines both property and liability coverage into one package. Don't forget to consider other types of insurance like life insurance and disability insurance. Being transparent… Some of the resources below use affiliate links which simply means we receive a commission if you purchase using the links, at no extra cost to you. Thanks for using the links! Gabe's Resources Gabe’s Podcast Gabe’s Website Gabe’s Resources Resources Use the promo code "GORDON" to get 2 months of Therapy Notes free. Blueprint Health Using Google Workspace As A Practice Platform Course Fall Into Cash 2021 Space Holder Live With Marissa Lawton Killin'It Camp Join the Google Workspace for Therapists Users Group Follow @PracticeofTherapy on Instagram Meet Gordon Brewer, MEd, LMFT Gordon is the person behind The Practice of Therapy Podcast & Blog. He is also President and Founder of Kingsport Counseling Associates, PLLC. He is a therapist, consultant, business mentor, trainer, and writer. PLEASE Subscribe to The Practice of Therapy Podcast wherever you listen to it. Follow us on Twitter @therapistlearn, and Pinterest, “Like” us on Facebook.
	02 Oct 2023	Teva Johnstone \| Navigating the Children's Mental Health Crisis in Private Practice \| TPOT 299	00:41:54
Teva Johnstone is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker in California who specializes in supporting the parents of autistic, spirited and highly sensitive kids. She creates online courses for parents interested in homeschooling for children's mental health and social development. In this episode, Teva Johnstone sheds light on the children's mental health crisis, which has been brought to the forefront by the COVID-19 pandemic. Therapists like Teva Johnstone have had to adapt and pivot their practices to address the challenges faced by children and parents. The conversation highlights the need for alternative approaches, such as online education and coaching with parents, to create long-lasting change. The pandemic has increased awareness and conversations about children's mental health, but it is crucial to recognize that the crisis existed before the pandemic and requires ongoing attention and support. Tune in as we chat about how to unlock creativity in the classroom, homeschooling, and supporting children with autism. Resources Mentioned In This Episode: Use the promo code "GORDON" to get 2 months of Therapy Notes free The PsychCraft Network Launch Club The Practice of Therapy Community Teva’s Website Teva on Instagram Teva on LinkedIn Instagram Mental Health Templates Mental Health Wear
	05 Feb 2018	Balancing the Business and Clinical Side of Private Practice \| TPOT Podcast 024	00:30:29
In this episode, Gordon talks about the balance between the clinical vs. business side of running a private practice. Even though there are some overlaps of clinical processes and business processes, it is usually helpful to keep things separate. Gordon talks about having a good handle on how you spend your time and having processes in place to manage the various aspects of operating a private practice as a counselor, therapist, psychologist or social worker.
	01 May 2023	Maira Holzmann \| Cost vs. Investment in Private Practice \| TPOT 277	00:38:31
This Practice of Therapy Podcast episode features Maira Holzmann, a group psychotherapy practice owner from Denver, Colorado. Maira discusses her experience with somatic therapy and how she helps clients heal from early trauma and anxiety. She also gives the scoop on her coaching program for therapists looking to up-level their private practice. The episode concludes with a conversation about the growth of Maira's practice and her recent hiring of two new clinicians. Resources Mentioned In This Episode Use the promo code "GORDON" to get 2 months of Therapy Notes free Join The PsychCraft Network Today! Launch Club The Practice of Therapy Community Focus Groups Somatic Therapy Partners Maira on Facebook Maira on Instagram Maira's Coaching Website
	06 Apr 2020	Derek Collins \| Providing Court-Mandated Services In Private Practice \| TPOT 123	00:36:53
In this episode, Derek Collins, MEd, CADC explains how he started his drug & alcohol counseling private practice and how he navigated imposture syndrome. Also, Derek describes how he reaches the maximum amount of people using Google rankings and SEO. Stay tuned as Derek dives deep into his marketing strategy and why it’s necessary to have multiple streams of income. Meet Derek Collins Derek Collins is the founder and CEO of the Diversion Center where he provides court-mandated classes and counseling services to offenders who are trying to get their lives back on track. He owns and operates 5 outpatient treatment facilities surrounding the Atlanta Metro area and provides court-mandated classes that include: anger management, shoplifting and theft prevention, values clarification, ASAM Level I, family violence intervention program and more. Currently, he is transitioning into the consulting field, helping others around the country start their own court-mandated practice. You can find out more information about Derek Collins and the Diversion Center at www.thediversioncenter.com. How Derek Started His Practice Derek had to step out of faith. He started just teaching classes at first, and then he proceeded to add on anger management. Then, he moved to get registered with the state of Georgia for their DUI intervention program. Derek kept on adding services and taking his time. He started his practice with a laptop, a broken down printer, and co-op coworking space. Derek’s space was only $99 a month, and he ran classes. Eventually, he had so many clients in there, so he had to get a second and third office. Private Practice Competition Georgia is highly competitive, and a lot of people want to do it out there. There are roadblocks and hoops you have to jump through. They make it hard for you to get into this industry in Georgia. However, if you jump through all those hoops, you should do what you need to do to be profitable. But at the same time, what a lot of therapists struggle with is marketing. It’s not something that’s taught in the schools and graduate schools, how to market your services. If your clients cannot find you on their phone, then you can forget about it. Marketing Strategy Derek’s marketing strategy is to get number one on Google. You have to be number one or at the very least on the first page. So when someone types up alcohol and drug evaluation, his name pops up first. Derek has multiple websites. On the first page of Google, you will see three different websites that Derek has. So no matter what, you have to come to him. Derek tries to dominate the market. Derek’s main website is a WordPress site because it’s a more substantial website for SEO. You will also want to have a Google business page and several of those that can help. Derek says that about 90% of his business is through his website SEO, and the other part is just word of mouth. Being transparent… Some of the links below are affiliate links. This simply means that if you use the link to make a purchase, I get a commission at no extra cost to you. Thanks for using the links! Derek’s Resources Derek’s Website Derek’s LinkedIn Diversion Center on Facebook The Ultimate ‘On-Demand’ Court Mandated Training Program CALL: 404-781-7468 info@thediversioncenter.com Other Resources TherapyNotes.com Teachable.com Financial Tips for Surviving The COVID-19 Crisis The Practice of Therapy Teachable Courses (use code SPRING2020) Money Matters in Private Practice \| The Course G Suite for Therapists \| The E-Course Session Note Helper Cool Resources Be a Podcast Guest Follow @TPOTpodcast on Instagram Meet Gordon Brewer, MEd, LMFT Gordon is the person behind The Practice of Therapy Podcast & Blog. He is also President and Founder of Kingsport Counseling Associates, PLLC. He is a therapist, consultant, business mentor, trainer, and writer. PLEASE Subscribe to The Practice of Therapy Podcast on iTunes, Stitcher and Google Play. Follow us on Twitter @therapistlearn and Pinterest “Like” us on Facebook
	18 Mar 2024	Carla Titus \| Financial Foundations for Private Practice \| TPOT 322	00:30:24
Carla Titus is a finance expert with over 15 years of combined corporate financial planning, analysis, strategy, and online businesses experience. She provides fractional CFO services and financial consulting to business owners looking to grow their business profitably. Her priorities for her clients are to help them grow profits, have cash in the bank, and pay themselves well so they can build personal wealth. The journey to financial success in any business requires a solid foundation and forward-thinking strategies. Carla, a seasoned financial advisor, emphasizes the critical role of robust bookkeeping and accounting practices as the cornerstone of this foundation. With expertise honed through years of guiding businesses, she underscores the necessity of having competent professionals on board to ensure financial integrity and develop effective tax strategies. Carla highlights the proactive nature of financial planning, advocating for clear goals and actionable plans. She emphasizes the importance of setting realistic benchmarks, monitoring key performance indicators, and optimizing cost structures to achieve sustainable growth and profitability. Tune in as Carla dives into the intricacies of strategic financial planning, profit optimization, operational efficiency, and clinician compensation; her insights serve as a comprehensive blueprint for navigating the complexities of business finance and securing long-term success. Resources Mentioned In This Episode: Use the promo code "GORDON" to get 2 months of Therapy Notes free Start Consulting with Gordon The Practice of Therapy Collaborative The PsychCraft Network The Practice of Therapy Community Carla's Website Carla on Facebook Carla on Instagram Carla on LinkedIn Carla on TikTok
	24 Aug 2020	Dana McNeil & Nancy Ryan \| Getting Confident For Successful Couple's Practices \| TPOT 142	00:45:44
In this episode, Dana McNeil and Nancy Ryan speak about how to be a successful couple's therapist. A couple's therapist needs to be compassionate and connect with the pair. Plus, a couple's therapist has to control the room and not be afraid to make mistakes. If you're looking for a private practice niche, couple's therapy can be an excellent tool for your practice. However, if you find out that couple's therapy is not your specialty, please refer to another therapist. Tune in for more tips about couple's work! Meet Dana McNeil, LMFT Dana McNeil is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and is the founder of a group practice called The Relationship Place located in San Diego, California. Dana’s practice specializes in couples’ therapy and utilizes an evidence-based type of couples’ therapy which is known as the Gottman Method. Dana is a certified Gottman Method therapist and Bringing Home Baby instructor. Dana’s practice works with all types of relationship issues from pre-marital counseling, dealing with the aftermath of extramarital affairs, partners working through addiction recovery, the military deployed families, parents of special needs children, LGBTQ, and polyamorous clients. Dana has been featured on many relationship podcasts and in publications such as the Business Insider, Authority Magazine, Eat This-Not That, Parade, Oprah Living, Martha Stewart Living, Ladders, AARP and is the resident relationship expert on the Cox Communications show “I Do”. Meet Nancy Ryan, LMFT Nancy Ryan is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and is the founder of a group practice called The Relationship Therapy Center in Roseville and Fair Oaks, California. Nancy's practice specializes in couples therapy and she is a Certified Gottman Therapist. Nancy's practice works with all types of relationship issues from pre-marital counseling, all types of couples, divorce, and uncoupling, affair recovery, sexual issues, and codependency. Nancy has been featured in the media and in publications such as the Psych Central, Bustle, Elephant Journal, Marriage.com, KFBK News Radio, Fox 40 Sacramento, and Cox Media "Main Street Living". Client Ambassadors Do you want to talk about money while you're in the session? It is better to have someone else talk about business aspects with your clients. That way, the therapists do not need to ask their clients for the money. When you go to medical practice, the doctor doesn't ask you for the money; there is a separate person. Having a buffer is enormous. Handle The Room In Couple's Therapy You have to be the presence that carries hope and the demeanor. Internally, therapists could be thinking that it's a mess. However, it should never come out in the room. Both partners need to be able to feel like you're on their side. There is a way for you to get the couple to talk to one another. It would help if you were a therapist for the relationship, not for each individual. When one person is talking and sharing, look at the other partner's face, and see how they react. Call Out Emotions If someone is aggressive, there needs to be a pause, so you remain in control of the room. When someone is aggressive, then they are not tuned in to the other person's body language. As a therapist, you need to show them what is happening with their partner. A therapist needs to be brave enough to call out emotions. It's a talent that you have to learn because sometimes you get it wrong. It would help if you were comfortable with correcting yourself and making mistakes. There's a dance that happens when you're a perfect couple's therapist. Normalize Couple's Therapy Couples aren't in therapy because they can't figure things out. Couples are in therapy because no one teaches them about the couple's communication. Couples should be in therapy because they need to learn the tools. A therapist should also relate to their clients – we all have struggles. A therapist can talk about conflict at their house. That way, the couple will start to feel safe. Being transparent… Some of the resources below use affiliate links which simply means we receive a commission if you purchase using the links, at no extra cost to you. Thanks for using the links! Resources Use the promo code "GORDON" to get 2 months of Therapy Notes free. GreenOak Accounting Dana's Resources Free Copy of Three Conflict Busting Techniques Confident Couple's Therapists Use to Manage Escalated Clients The Relationship Place Dana's Website Confident Couples Therapist Nancy's Resources Relationship Therapy Center Confident Couples Therapist Other Resources Click on this link, nominate yours truly and write your most intriguing questions for the “Up Close and Personal Podcast Mini-Series” Use the discount code "AUG2020" on all of the Practice of Therapy e-courses and digital products at Gumroad and Teachable. G Suite for Therapists \| The E-Course Session Note Helper 3.0 Money Matters in Private Practice \| The Course Join the G-Suite for Therapists Users Group Cool Resources Follow @TPOTpodcast on Instagram Meet Gordon Brewer, MEd, LMFT Gordon is the person behind The Practice of Therapy Podcast & Blog. He is also President and Founder of Kingsport Counseling Associates, PLLC. He is a therapist, consultant, business mentor, trainer, and writer. PLEASE Subscribe to The Practice of Therapy Podcast wherever you listen to it. Follow us on Twitter @therapistlearn, and Pinterest, “Like” us on Facebook.
	08 Aug 2022	Avivit Fisher \| Thriving During The Summer Slump In Private Practice \| TPOT 241	00:31:35
Avivit Fisher is the principal of REdD Strategy, a marketing and business consultancy for therapists in private practice. Avivit Fisher joins the show to discuss starting a private practice during the summer. Summer is the perfect time to start a private practice for many reasons. First, creating a practice from scratch will require a lot of research and up-front work. So, starting your practice during the slower time of the year isn’t necessarily bad for therapists. Tune in as Avivit talks about where to start when building your private practice, the importance of knowing your ideal client, and what to do when your practice slows down during the summer. Resources Mentioned In This Episode: Free Webinars Use the promo code "GORDON" to get 2 months of Therapy Notes free Avivit Fisher \| How Private Practice Marketing Has Changed \| TPOT 212 Avivit's Website Avivit on Instagram Avivit on Facebook Avivit on LinkedIn
	27 Jun 2022	Whitney Owens \| Podcast Takeover: Shrink Think with Aaron and Nathan \| TPOT 235	00:34:23
Shrink Think is an online platform that provides digital resources to cultivate successful therapeutic relationships. With courses geared towards educating and empowering clients, as well as effective training and onboarding new clinicians, Shrink Think supports private practices to achieve better outcomes across the board. In this episode, Aaron Potratz and Nathan Hawkins join for the last podcast takeover with Whitney Owens. First, they chat about Shrink Think and the importance of pre-session onboarding for your private practice clients. At Shrink Think, Nathan and Aaron aim to demystify therapy for those starting their mental health journey. Tune in as Aaron and Nathan dive into the resources they provide at Shrink Think, including their courses on how clients can get the most out of therapy and achieve breakthroughs. Plus, they talk about their upcoming courses on orienting new clinicians to your group practice. Resources Mentioned In This Episode: Use the promo code "GORDON" to get 2 months of Therapy Notes free The Launch Club Shrink Think Shrink Think Podcast Shrink Think on Instagram Whitney's Website Whitney on Instagram
	10 Jun 2019	What I Have Learned So Far About Private Practice \| TPOT Podcast 083	00:37:33
In this episode, Gordon discusses some things he has learned so far about private practice. Being in private practice is an ongoing process as you grow. It is important to be prepared to change things as time goes on. Ultimately you can do what you want to do in your way. Don’t measure what you are doing by what others are doing. Always celebrate the small wins, and focus on one thing at a time. Know when to outsource and invest in things to make allow you the best use of your time. Ongoing Process Being in private practice is an ongoing process, you cannot set it and forget it. You cannot approach it in this way because there is constant change. Embrace the idea that you are going to be continually changing and updating things. One thing most people get stuck on is doing everything the right way. There is no one correct way, do it the way you want to do it and be happy with that. Find an EHR Another lesson about private practice is to find the electronic health record system that works best for you. Gordon loves TherapyNotes because it helps him stay organized and HIPAA compliant. If you want to have a paperless office, then you should find an EHR system that will allow for that. However, there are some people out there that prefer to be low-tech and do paper paperwork, which is perfectly fine! Don’t Compare Remember not to compare your beginning point with somebody’s middle. There are a lot of very successful private practice consultants out there that are good friends with Gordon. If he were to measure what he is doing with what someone else is doing, it would create a lot of anxiety. Some of the people out there have been doing it a lot longer than Gordon, so comparing the two would not make sense. Celebrate the Small Wins You do not have to always go for tremendous growth. There is a concept that bigger is better, and success is measured by some sort of magic number. One of the things Gordon has figured out and learned along the way is that your lifestyle is essential. How you live your life, and your comfort level is more important than going after the shiny objects. It is better for you to make your practice profitable rather than overgrowing. Break Things Down When we get overwhelmed, the best thing to do is to break things down into smaller pieces and do one thing at a time. If you could imagine having your garage crammed full of stuff all the way to the ceiling and you were tasked with reorganizing it, you would just do one item at a time. You would start in one corner, take everything out, and decide what to do with it one piece at a time. In your practice, just work on one thing at a time and make it work really well. Ultimately, being in private practice allows you the freedom and flexibility to do things your way. There are best practices that will help you succeed, but in the end, it is YOUR practice. You get to be the boss and decide what works best for you. Being transparent…Some of the resources listed below are affiliate links which simply means we receive a commission if you purchase using those links, at no extra cost to you. Thanks for using the links! <ins class="adsbygoogle" data-ad-format="auto" data-ad-client="ca-pub-1494080817715106" data-ad-slot="1054679871" data-ad-channel= "WordPressSinglePost+pso-lv-8" data-adsbygoogle-status="done" data-overlap-observer-io= "true"></ins> Resources Mentioned Brighter Vision >>Get the FREE Financial Analysis Guide<< Money Matters in Private Practice \| The Course TherapyNotes Cool Resources Meet Gordon Brewer, MEd, LMFT Gordon is the person behind The Practice of Therapy Podcast & Blog.He is also President and Founder of Kingsport Counseling Associates, PLLC. He is a therapist, consultant, business mentor, trainer and writer. PLEASE Subscribe to The Practice of Therapy Podcast on iTunes, Stitcher and Google Play. Follow us on Instagram @TPOTpodcast, Twitter @therapistlearn and Pinterest “Like” us on Facebook.
	02 Apr 2019	Lindsey Davis \| Registered Dieticians In Private Pratice \| TPOT Podcast 074	00:48:42
In this episode, Gordon speaks with Lindsey Davis about tapping into niches and how therapists can utilize the help of a dietitian. Lindsey explains in what situations would a therapist want to refer to a dietitian and how the two can work together to assist their clients. We also learn the steps a dietician would take to help their clients and then we hear Lindsey’s thoughts on fad diets. Later, Gordon gives Lindsey some advice on her web presence and suggests blogging as frequently as possible to assist with search engine optimization. Meet Lindsey Davis Lindsey Davis is a Registered Dietitian and owner of Restorative Health, a nutritional counseling business aimed at transforming a client’s diet and lifestyle by helping them embrace a BALANCED view of health and eliminate any weight-related fear, guilt or shame. Lindsey believes that all foods can fit into your meal plan and health-related goals are met by setting a series of small, measurable, realistic goals. She has worked clinically for 6 years and is well versed in chronic disease treatment as well as weight management. She loves the counseling environment as it allows her to develop a relationship with her clients and walk through a season of life with them. She strives to help her clients develop a positive body image while providing education and support to meet their personal, individualized goals. Dietitian Referrals Lindsey reached out to Gordon to educate others on when the therapy community should refer to a dietitian. For instance, people with eating disorders and disordered eating will benefit from having a registered dietitian. The dietitian can walk through with the client how to have a balanced lifestyle with their food choices. Therapists have clients with eating disorders and do not know how to address the food aspect without a dietitian. Lindsey would refer a client immediately the second you know they have an eating disorder so the dietitian and therapist can start working together. Normal Eating Lindsey’s work is very individualized because eating disorders are not universal. Typically, Lindsey tries and nail down the negative thought that is running through her client’s head. The dietitian would then challenge the thinking and find one that would reflect the truth. Many clients suggest they want to eat like a reasonable person, so Lindsey uses a resource from the Ellen Satter Institute as to what constitutes normal eating. Then, the client will pick which aspects of normal consumption to challenge them the most and Lindsey will work them one at a time with her clients. Fad Diets The reason Lindsey is so passionate about starting her private practice is because of her personal philosophy. Her philosophy is that all foods fit; she does not believe in excluding or restricting entire food groups unless a medical diagnosis requires it. Eating is about moderation and portion size; Lindsey wants to teach others to live a balanced and healthy lifestyle. People go out to eat, go on road trips, and come into contact with fast food. It is essential to learn how to navigate these situations without any fear or guilt. Specialty Pages Specialty pages are useful for SEO and online marketing. For instance, a specialty page will have one page devoted to binge eating and having one page dedicated to weight loss. These pages do not need to be lengthy, but it can be a subset of the services page. The reason for separate pages is that when people search the web for a particular problem, they will type their specific need. If you have addressed this particular need on your webpage, you will be the site that comes up first on Google. Gordon also suggests stepping blogging up to a few times a month if not once a week. Relevant content is essential for search engine optimization. Resources Mentioned Killin’it Camp Practice Solutions Brighter Vision Therapy Notes Money Matters in Private Practice The Group Practice Exchange Podcast Lindsey’s Resources What is normal eating? By Ellen Satter https://www.restorativehealthrd.com Lindsey’s Blog Email: restorative.health@yahoo.com Call Lindsey: (479) 226-1286 Products from Amazon.com -46% Company of One: Why Staying Small Is the Next Big Thing for Business Price: $14.15 Was: $26.00 -34% The Ideal Team Player: How to Recognize and Cultivate The Three Essential Virtues Price: $16.59 Was: $25.00 -15% Secrets of Feeding a Healthy Family: How to Eat, How to Raise Good Eaters, How to Cook Price: $16.95 Was: $19.95 ‹› Meet Gordon Brewer, MEd, LMFT Gordon is the person behind The Practice of Therapy Podcast & Blog. He is also President and Founder of Kingsport Counseling Associates, PLLC. He is a therapist, consultant, business mentor, trainer and writer. PLEASE Subscribe to The Practice of Therapy Podcast on iTunes, Stitcher and Google Play. Follow us on Twitter @therapistlearn and Pinterest “Like” us on Facebook.
	17 May 2021	Whitney Owens \| Consulting, The Enneagram, & Religion In Private Practice \| TPOT 178	00:41:04
In this episode, Whitney Owens opens the show by explaining the importance of having grace and acceptance on your private practice journey. If you aren't as productive as you want to be, learn from your mistakes and make better choices moving forward. Whitney also explains why she does a time study to determine where she spends most of her working hours and what she can improve on in the future. Plus, Whitney reveals why learning more about Enneagrams has taken her business to the next level, and we chat about using faith in private practice. Meet Whitney Owens I enjoy working with both adults and adolescents on an individual basis. I have experience working with those suffering from depression, anxiety, self-harming behaviors, identity formation, relational issues, and other mood disorders. I use a variety of therapeutic models such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, and Interpersonal Therapy. I have been seeing clients since 2009 in a variety of settings. While earning my Master in Professional Counseling from Richmont Graduate University, I saw young adults at a residential treatment facility. In 2010 I moved to Colorado where I spent four years working at an inpatient and day treatment facility. Also while in Colorado, I joined a group practice and saw teenagers and adults. In 2014 I moved back to Savannah and started Water’s Edge Counseling. I am a Licensed Professional Counselor in Georgia and a member of the American Counseling Association and the Licensed Professional Counseling Association of Georgia. In addition to counseling, I also offer a number of other services including training and speaking engagements. I have been invited to local organizations such as churches and schools to educate on leadership, adolescent issues, parenting, family concerns, and mental health. As well, I have spoken at retreats focused on helping women heal and find themselves. I have also spoken at youth meetings to adolescents. Please let me know about your next event and how I can help. Practice Grace And Acceptance The most important thing is that private practice owners need to provide themselves is grace and acceptance. When a day doesn't go the way you want it to, or maybe you don't prioritize everything the way you would wish to, it's best to learn from it. Always take a lesson from the mistakes that you make and make better choices moving forward. Never beat yourself up for something! Delegating has been huge for Whitney as she works on managing more and more in her personal life and professional life. She relies on her husband tremendously when she needs help around the house and their children. Conduct A Time Study A time study is significant because our time gets away from us, and we have no idea where we spend it. From a financial standpoint, it's essential to know where your time is going. If you have a side hustle for your practice, think about where you spend your time and which one is bringing you more income. Also, think about where you can delegate more. If you're spending too much time in one area and not getting enough money, consider having more delegation efforts. That way, you can focus your time on the area that will bring you the most income. Making a list will help you see where you can save time throughout the day. Consider Joining A Mastermind Group Do you want to grow a faith-based group practice? Whitney's favorite thing about consulting is the group work that she gets to do with people. Specifically, she loves mastermind groups because you see these great connections come together in a small group of people working on their business. Whitney's mastermind group is for people who have a faith-based practice. In the group, they talk about religion when appropriate, but they also work on their businesses. Luckily, Whitney and her group get to pray for each other and use their faith to help make business decisions together. If you want to learn more about Growing Your Faith-Based Practice with Faith in Practice Mastermind, check out the link: https://practiceofthepractice.lpages.co/faith-mastermind/. Learn More About Enneagrams When Whitney learned that the Enneagram Type 1 has a critical voice in their head at all times, she was confused. Whitney thought that everyone had a critical voice in their head. Also, Enneagram Type 1 carries anger around with them; they are angry at the world for being so messed up. These simple things spoke to Whitney. After digging into the Enneagram Type 1, Whitney understands herself so much better. Now Whitney uses it to understand other people and help other people know themselves. In fact, Whitney is planning an Enneagram Type 1 training for all of her staff next week. Overall, Whitney does it with all her clients, and she does it with everyone she consults; it really helps move treatment and businesses along. Learn more about Enneagrams by checking out Ian Cron's work: https://ianmorgancron.com/. Being transparent… Some of the resources below use affiliate links which simply means we receive a commission if you purchase using the links, at no extra cost to you. Thanks for using the links! Whitney’s Resources Waters Edge Counseling Grow Your Faith-Based Practice with Faith in Practice Mastermind! Practice of the Practice: Faith in Practice Podcast Whitney Owens \| Starting Fresh & Growing Fast in Private Practice \| TPOT Podcast 036 Whitney Owens \| Contractors Vs. Employees In Group Private Practice \| TPOT Podcast 091 Faith in Practice Consulting with Whitney @Practice of the Practice Group Practice Launch Membership Community Email: Whitney@practiceofthepractice.com Resources Use the promo code "GORDON" to get 2 months of Therapy Notes free. Solo to Group Practice: Adding More Therapists to Grow Your Time & Income Money Matters In Private Practice \| The Course Get your FREE Financial Analysis Guide... Google Workspace for Therapists \| The E-Course Purchase The Full Focus Planner™ Join my Focus Groups Session Note Helper 3.0 Join the Google Workspace for Therapists Users Group Cool Resources Follow @PracticeofTherapy on Instagram Meet Gordon Brewer, MEd, LMFT Gordon is the person behind The Practice of Therapy Podcast & Blog. He is also President and Founder of Kingsport Counseling Associates, PLLC. He is a therapist, consultant, business mentor, trainer, and writer. PLEASE Subscribe to The Practice of Therapy Podcast wherever you listen to it. Follow us on Twitter @therapistlearn, and Pinterest, “Like” us on Facebook.
	22 Mar 2021	Daniel Fava \| Redesigning Your Private Practice Website - Part 2 \| TPOT 170	00:41:28
Welcome back to the Website Redesign Series - this is part two. If you haven't already, I invite you to go back and listen to the previous episode. I have my good friend and website guru Daniel Fava with me. He is from Private Practice Elevation, and I am so grateful for his assistance! We are chatting all about the website redesign project that I have started. In part two, we walk through the nuts and bolts of what needs to get done to take your private practice website to the next level. If you want to see the final product, check out Kingsport Counseling here: https://kingsportcounseling.com/. Meet Daniel Fava Daniel Fava is a father, husband, podcaster, website consultant, and founder of Create My Therapist Website and Private Practice Elevation. He helps therapists create websites and attract more clients online. After building a website for his wife’s private practice and seeing the impact it had on her business, he became passionate about helping others achieve the same. Daniel offers web design services, SEO services, consultations, and online training to help therapists grow their business through online marketing. You can get free access to his library of PDFs, cheatsheets, and ebooks by clicking here. The Importance of a Website for Your Private Practice The importance of having a website is so critical for your private practice's health - we can't emphasize that enough. As we said in the previous episode, it's more important than the building you work in and your office location in terms of bringing in new clients. Your website is the front of your private practice. When people ask you, what's the face of your business? Well, it's your website! It's the face of your brand. Often, the first interaction that someone's going to have with your private practice is on your website. Even when someone gets a referral from a friend, they will still check out your website. Why Your Website Could Use A Redesign Is your website already working? If you get loads of referrals from your website, then that means it's working well! Daniel loves to work with clients that already get referrals from their websites. If that’s you, it means your online presence is already working in some sense. There are all these little things that we can do that will make your website even better. For instance, it can always look better on mobile devices. When it looks better, it will then convert better because we can focus on making sure that your contact information is in the right place. Also, a website facelift can make you look more professional, so that can help increase conversions. Keep Your Website Active Daniel always receives this question first, "what's going to happen to my current website while you're building the new website?" The good news is your current website can stay up and stay alive. We don't want to take it down while you're working on this new project because maybe that new project will take you about six weeks to complete. If you DIY your website, it may take even longer depending on how much time you devote to it. So, obviously, we want to keep business coming in; we want to make sure that your website is still there. Get Help For Duplicating Your Website To keep your website active, you will need to duplicate it. There can be issues that arise when duplicating a website because you have different hosting environments and PHP languages. It's great if you have the money to invest in getting professional help for your website because receiving help will save you loads of time, and it will save you headaches. No one wants to be on Google to figure out why something isn't working or spending time on support chat. However, if you know to get this done on your own, then there are WordPress duplication plugins that you can use. Make sure you follow their instructions! Otherwise, it can get messy quickly. Redesigning Page-By-Page A website facelift will start to get a little complicated when it comes to the design part of it. Many people think they can get a new theme, turn it on, and it's going to look great. However, that's not the case, especially if your website is pretty old. Each WordPress theme has a different way of showing your content, displaying images and headers. Divi is the theme that Daniel likes to use with his custom design clients. So, you migrate the website over, and then you install the Divi Theme on WordPress. Next, turn it on! When you look at your pages, you'll probably see all this short code. There is still plenty of work to do when you're redesigning the website, and it has to be completed page-by-page. That's where it can be a time suck for many people. Tune in as we chat about the difference between Squarespace, WordPress, and Wix. Plus, we talk about website plugins, design tips, and SEO. Being transparent… Some of the resources below use affiliate links which simply means we receive a commission if you purchase using the links, at no extra cost to you. Thanks for using the links! Daniel Fava's Resources Daniel Fava \| Redesigning Your Private Practice Website - Part 1 \| TPOT 169 5 Ways to Improve Your Website- PDF Download Create My Therapist Website Private Practice Elevation Apply For Private Practice Elevation Daniel Fava on Effective Private Practice Website Design 5 Ways To Improve Your Private Practice Website Resources Use the promo code "GORDON" to get 2 months of Therapy Notes free. Google Workspace for Therapists \| The E-Course Purchase The Full Focus Planner™ See The Website Redesign: https://kingsportcounseling.com/ Join my Focus Groups Session Note Helper 3.0 Money Matters in Private Practice \| The Course Join the Google Workspace (formerly G-Suite) for Therapists Users Group Cool Resources Follow @PracticeofTherapy on Instagram Meet Gordon Brewer, MEd, LMFT Gordon is the person behind The Practice of Therapy Podcast & Blog. He is also President and Founder of Kingsport Counseling Associates, PLLC. He is a therapist, consultant, business mentor, trainer, and writer. PLEASE Subscribe to The Practice of Therapy Podcast wherever you listen to it. Follow us on Twitter @therapistlearn, and Pinterest, “Like” us on Facebook.
	24 Apr 2023	Maegan Megginson \| Shedding the Blank Slate Persona in Private Practice \| TPOT 276	00:36:16
In this episode, host Gordon welcomes Maegan Megginson, a licensed therapist and business coach who founded Next-Level Therapist, a coaching program for therapists looking to move beyond private practice. Maegan shares her own journey as a therapist, from working in a group practice to starting her own private practice and ultimately launching her coaching program. She discusses the importance of therapists bringing their authentic selves into their businesses and creating profitable personal brands. Please tune in to learn more about Maegan's approach to coaching and her tips for therapists looking to take their practice to the next level. Resources Mentioned In This Episode: Use the promo code "GORDON" to get 2 months of Therapy Notes free Join The PsychCraft Network Today! Launch Club The Practice of Therapy Community Focus Groups Maegan’s Website Maegan’s Instagram Personality Power Pack Community Writing Studio Next-Level Therapist
	17 Jul 2023	Danielle Branche \| Recognizing the Importance of Connection and Community in Private Practice \| TPOT 288	00:36:52
Danielle’s main focus is working with couples around issues of trust, communication, forgiveness after infidelity, intimacy, sex, and decision-making (finances, children, etc.). Danielle offers a multitude of different workshops and groups that will help both communities and clinicians build self-awareness, accountability, and help unlearn negative stigmas in a safe, encouraging, and supported space. Take a look at her upcoming workshops by visiting her events page. Danielle shares her journey to becoming a therapist; she reflects on her initial decision to enter the field, driven by a desire to help and heal others due to her own experiences. Danielle's passion lies in couples' work and relationships, as she believes they shape our worldview. However, Danielle has shifted her focus towards a holistic approach to healing and wellness beyond traditional therapy. Currently, she conducts workshops, trainings, and community events to destigmatize therapy and promote overall wellness. She encourages the intentional application of therapy principles in everyday life and incorporates activities like crafting and movement therapy to foster mind-body connection and create safety and alignment. Resources Mentioned In This Episode: Read the Full Show Notes Here Use the promo code "GORDON" to get 2 months of Therapy Notes free The Practice of Therapy Podcast Workshop Focus Group Join The PsychCraft Network Today! The Practice of Therapy Community Danielle's Website Danielle on Facebook Danielle on Instagram Danielle on LinkedIn Listen to Danielle on this episode: TPOT 151 Learn more about Danielle
	26 Aug 2019	Litsa Williams \| Expanding Your Niche To Provide Resources Beyond Therapy \| TPOT Podcast 094	00:41:04
In this episode, Litsa Williams and Gordon discuss helping people with an issue that affects all of us at one point or another in our life, grief. Litsa and her partner, Eleanor Haley, have created an endless supply of resources for people who are in the grieving process. Plus, they have resources for professionals who help others that require grief support. Later, they discuss creative coping and the idea that re-grieving is entirely normal. Meet Litsa Williams I have taken a winding road, from England and a Master’s in Philosophy, to Baltimore and a Master’s in Social Work, to working with homeless adults, troubled kids, and grieving families. It is those individuals who have taught more than I could ever have hoped to learn in my 20 years of schooling. Though I never imagined myself here I am confident it is where I am supposed to be. I live in Charm City, with my husband and my rescue pit bull. And I believe that 5 minute late is absolutely on time. Grief Support Grief is a natural part of life. It’s an adjustment people are going to have to cope with at some point. About 85% of people can cope with grief without getting formal grief counseling as long as they receive normalization, validation, and social support. Unfortunately, when we look at this space where people do not need extra support, where does it come naturally? Litsa and Eleanor asked if there was something that they could create in the online space that would offer so many new ways to share information and build community. Creative Coping Both Litsa and her partner, Eleanor Haley, used photography as a real tool for self-expression and coping with their grief. They started talking about this and wanted to find other people who would be interested in it. As soon as they started talking about it, people were immediately online and wanted to know more about how to connect photography with grief. They ended up creating webinars, online courses, blog posts, and podcast episodes. People are excited about getting this information in a convenient format. Print Materials Litsa and Eleanor also create print materials for funeral directors, hospitals, grief centers, and hospices. They were often given brochures and booklets to hand out to patients during grieving times. The leaflets were outdated because they have not been updated for 30 years. Litsa loves seeing how her new materials are used as the first step to the introduction of grief for so many people. What’s Your Grief Blog At this point, Litsa and Eleanor have nearly 600 articles. They try and cast an extensive net and still publish every week. There has long been a disconnect between academia and the regular people out there for grieving materials. Sometimes the resources for people struggling are underestimated; their blog translates their knowledge into understandable terms for everyone. Plus, they cover topics like talking to kids about suicide, miscarriage loss, and creative expression. Also, they offer hands-on ideas for professionals to help their grieving groups. Re-grief We re-grieve experiences, and that is a normal part of life. For kids, this is especially important because they re-grieve at every developmental stage. When kids get older, they revisit those losses through new lenses they now have. We as adults do that as well. When we hit life milestones, we suddenly re-grieve losses even if it happened thirty years ago. It doesn’t mean we did not grieve right; it just means it is part of our journey. When we see things in the media, we will feel empathy for other humans, and our losses will wrap into those thoughts as well. Being transparent… Some of the resources below use affiliate links which simply means we receive a commission if you purchase using the links, at no extra cost to you. Thanks for using the links! Litsa’s Resources What’s Your Grief? Grief 101: A Primer For Helping-Professionals What’s Your Grief on Facebook What’s Your Grief on Instagram What’s Your Grief on Twitter Photographing Grief Email: whatsyourgrief@gmail.com Other Resources Practice Solutions GreenOak Accounting The Paperwork Packet Join the Mastermind Group FREE Webinar: How To Make Money In Private Practice >>Get the FREE Financial Analysis Guide<< Money Matters in Private Practice \| The Course Follow @TPOTpodcast on Instagram Dr. Alan Wolfelt The Five Stages of Grief Meet Gordon Brewer, MEd, LMFT Gordon is the person behind The Practice of Therapy Podcast & Blog.He is also President and Founder of Kingsport Counseling Associates, PLLC. He is a therapist, consultant, business mentor, trainer, and writer. PLEASE Subscribe to The Practice of Therapy Podcast on iTunes, Stitcher and Google Play. Follow us on Twitter @therapistlearn and Pinterest “Like” us on Facebook
	03 May 2018	Part 4 \| Marketing and Getting Referrals \| Love the Work, But Hate the Job \| TPOT Podcast 035	00:26:44
This is part 4, of this four-part series of the Practice of Therapy Podcast, “Love the Work, But Hate The Job”. In this session, Gordon talks about marketing and developing referral sources as you start and grow your private practice. This four-part series discusses the various steps and things a clinician might want to think about as they move into private practice. Especially those people making the transition from agency work into private practice. The series discusses: 1.) Knowing your “WHY”, 2.) Making a Plan, 3.) Setting-up an Office, and 4.) Marketing & Getting Referrals. Check out the mini-course: “Love the Work, But Hate The Job” In this course, you will be emailed 4 lessons, one each day, that will walk you through a way to think about making the transition from agency work into private practice. (Get the discount here!) Marketing and Referral Sources “Marketing” is a word most of us therapist types shy away from. The idea of “selling” anything really rubs us the wrong way. In fact, unless a person has had any experience in business or in marketing, it can seem daunting. Most of us in this field have not had that. I think it is important to think about it differently though. My friend and colleague, Allison Puryear, puts it this way: “Marketing your private practice is simply helping the people that need and want our services find you…” I like thinking about it that way! Marketing your private practice simply comes down to making it easier for people to find us. It’s getting your name in front of the people that you can best help. It does not have to be pushy or “salesy”. Clients Come to Us In Two Ways If you think about it we get clients is two ways. One is they search us out on their own because they are struggling with some sort of personal issue in some way. Typically they will do an internet search or ask for some sort of recommendation from someone. The second way is through some sort of referral or suggestion from someone that they come to us; typically a doctor or other professional. So when you think about getting clients there are two areas to focus. One is online and the second is through referral people. Online Marketing Needless to say, in this day and age, having a website is a must. This is especially true for those just getting started and developing a client base. For the majority of people, they “Google it” first. So having an effective website should be a priority when it comes to getting a private practice started. It is your “marketing hub”. Two Ways To Have A Website First is to create a website yourself. This a good choice for someone that has a bit of tech-savvy and the time to do it. Especially when you are in that “bootstrapping phase” of private practice. What this involves is creating your domain name and getting a hosting service to house your website. I recommend Bluehost for this. (You can learn more about that here.) And if you want to learn more about creating websites and be in a do-it-yourself mode, a good resource is Daniel Fava’s, CreateMyTherapistWebsite.com (affiliate link) The second way to have a website is to have someone else create it for you. For this, I recommend Brighter Vision. They are the experts in helping counselors and therapists build beautiful websites. They also help with SEO (Search Engine Optimization) which helps your website get ranked higher in Google. In fact, therapists websites are all they do. BrighterVision (affiliate link -use this link to get one month free) Blogging One of the best ways to boost your SEO and establish yourself as an expert, is to blog. Blogging does not have be overly complicated and should be treated like writing a research paper. Use short paragraphs and put things into simple, ordinary language. Write to your clients and the struggles they are having. Developing Referral Relationships Besides having an online presence, developing referral relationships is a tried and true way to bring in new clients. AKA, “networking” is truly about developing relationships. If you think about it, it is what we do best as therapists and counselors. We do it all the time with clients. Networking can be simply be dropping off business cards or rack cards to doctors or other professionals to use for referrals of patients. It could also be getting together with potential referral people for coffee or lunch. One tool that I use is a “coordination of care” form. (You can get a link to that by downloading the free Marketing Cheat Sheet). I get an “authorization to release” and send the coordination of care form and a practice flyer (information about my practice) to doctors of the clients I am seeing. The doctor and client appreciate the contact and the doctor becomes aware of my practice. Other ways to develop referral sources is to just simply become involved in your community, especially with other professionals. When people know you, they will refer to you. Put In the Sweat Equity Marketing your practice is something that does take some time. But the pay off is that you will develop a steady stream of referrals and clients that can come to you. Marketing and getting referrals is ultimately about developing relationships with people both on and offline. It’s helping the people that need and want your services find you. Resources Mentioned Marketing Cheat Sheet BrighterVision CreateMyTherapistWebsite.com Bluehost Disclaimer: Some of the links to products and services in this post are affiliate links. That just simply means we receive a commission, at no extra cost to you, if you purchase using those links. Thanks for using the links! Meet Gordon Brewer, MEd, LMFT Gordon is the person behind The Practice of Therapy Podcast & Blog.He is also President and Founder of Kingsport Counseling Associates, PLLC. He is a therapist, consultant, business mentor, trainer and writer. PLEASE Subscribe to The Practice of Therapy Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher and Google Play. Follow us on Twitter @therapistlearn and Pinterest “Like” us on Facebook.
	03 Feb 2025	Dr. Ajita Robinson \| Diversifying Your Income Streams In Private Practice \| TPOT 367	00:40:17
In this episode of The Practice of Therapy Podcast, Dr. Robinson shares her profound journey of resilience, purpose, and professional growth. From navigating personal grief and loss to becoming a trailblazer in grief education and business expansion, she offers invaluable insights for clinicians looking to make a greater impact. Dr. Robinson discusses the importance of stabilizing your practice before diversifying, ensuring financial stability while preparing for growth. She shares her experience transitioning from private practice to corporate and organizational work, offering practical advice on marketing strategies, branding, and building partnerships with schools, universities, and hospitals. You'll also learn how to expand your impact through writing, public speaking, and creating resources that outlive your practice. Dr. Robinson’s inspiring story of transforming loss into legacy reminds us of the power of purpose-driven work and the possibilities that arise when clinicians step beyond their comfort zones. Don’t miss this episode packed with actionable tips and heartfelt wisdom to help you grow your practice and broaden your reach. Resources Mentioned In This Episode Use the promo code "GORDON" to get 2 months of Therapy Notes free Start Consulting with Gordon The Practice of Therapy Collaborative The PsychCraft Network The Practice of Therapy Community Mental Health Wear TN Dr. Robinson’s Facebook Dr Robinson’s Instagram The Purposeful & Profitable Therapist™ Summit Dr Robinson’s Website Meet Dr. Ajita Robinson Dr. Ajita Robinson is known as The Experts’ Therapist. She is a Grief & Trauma therapist, Bestselling Author of The Gift of Grief: A Practical Guide on Navigating Grief and Loss and The Purposeful & Profitable Therapist’s Guide to Diversifying Income, International Speaker, and Income Strategist. She has been seen in places such as the Wall Street Journal, HuffPost, Washington Post, Business Insider, Bustle, and Therapy for Black Girls. Dr. Robinson is a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor, Trauma and Grief Expert, and first-generation trauma and poverty disruptor. She is the Founder and Executive Director of Friends in Transition Counseling Services, a trauma-centered mental health practice located in Bethesda, MD. She is also the CEO of Legacy Wellness Group, a conglomerate of enterprises dedicated to promoting generational wealth, education, and healing. Dr. Robinson embodies excellence in mental health and education. She is a servant leader, an involved member of the community, and a born-giver. She believes that we all have gifts that are unique to us, and we thrive when we lean fully into those gifts; we find purpose and fulfillment. At her core, she believes that all people have the capacity to overcome adversity. She is living proof that you can start at ground ZERO and chart a path of excellence that is uniquely yours.
	30 May 2022	Roy Huggins \| Throwback: Technology, HIPAA, & The Financial Side of Private Practice \| TPOT 231	00:45:01
As both a tech expert and mental health counselor, Roy Huggins is the bridge from the digital world to real-world client care. His clear translation of legal and technical jargon into clear and actionable information will help you apply tech and security information directly to your business and your clients’ care. You’ll hear episode 7 of The Practice of Therapy podcast with Roy Huggins in this throwback. He talks about tech, HIPAA, self-care, and the business side of private practice. First, Roy reveals details about his private practice journey and how he was able to use his business and technology background to start Person-Centered Tech. Roy also discusses the ethics of using technology and doing it in a way that protects clients and keeps their information secure. Later, we chat about the differences between being “HIPAA compliant” vs. “HIPAA secure.” Tune in for the importance of financial self-care in private practice and why clinicians must prepare for the constant technology changes in running a private practice. Resources Mentioned In This Episode: Person-Centered Tech Remembering Roy Easy Safe Harbor From HIPAA Breach Notification Signal and HIPAA Compliance Free Articles on Technology in Mental Health HIPAA Staff Training for Group Practices Group Practice Tech Podcast Take The Practice of Therapy Survey Free Webinars Use the promo code "GORDON" to get 2 months of Therapy Notes free
	09 May 2022	Kasey Compton \| Paying Attention To Your Internal World In Private Practice \| TPOT 228	00:37:33
Kasey Compton, a former mental health counselor turned entrepreneur, quickly became a southern staple in the land of business operations. Her knack for systems-thinking and relationally driven approach contributed to the successful curation of many multi-million-dollar businesses. In this episode, Kasey Compton opens up about her experiences with writing her first book, Fix This Next. Kasey reveals the inspiration behind her book and what you'll learn about prioritizing the needs of your private practice. Plus, we speak about the importance of self-love and slowing down as business owners. As therapists, we need to practice what we preach to our clients. Tune in as we chat about overcoming the overwhelm in private practice and knowing your business's diagnoses. Resources Mentioned In This Episode: Kasey's Website Fix This Next Kasey's Instagram Kasey's Facebook Fix This First In Your Private Practice \| TPOT 167 Use the promo code "GORDON" to get 2 months of Therapy Notes free Blueprint Health: First month free with promo code TPOTPODCAST Kindness and Compassion Free Webinars
	11 Oct 2021	Reflections From My Private Practice Journey \| TPOT 199	00:44:28
I learned a lot of things about starting a private practice the hard way. I'm grateful to share the lessons that I learned from my journey and help you not make the same mistakes that I did. First, I speak about the importance of knowing your 'why' on starting a private practice. Once you know your 'why,' other aspects of your business will begin to fall into place. Tune in as I dive deep into lessons learned around finances, marketing, outsourcing, and systems. Plus, I direct you to all sorts of resources that will help you on your journey. Thanks for being with me! Knowing Your 'Why' For Private Practice Why did you want to go into this profession, to begin with? Why did you want to go into clinical work, become a therapist, a social worker, psychologist, marriage and family therapist, licensed professional counselor, or whatever you are within this particular profession? Your 'why' is an important piece to keep in mind as you build your private practice. So, I invite you to think about your inspiration. When we get busy with business, we can lose sight of our inspiration, and eventually, we will feel a little burnt out. Private practice is hard work! We have experienced a lot of struggles because of Covid, so knowing your why is more important than ever. Private Practice Isn't For Everyone One of the things that you need is a sense of wanting to feed the creative side of yourself. We can all feed our creative selves differently, but is a private practice adding to your creative side? One of the things that you need to be successful in private practice is an entrepreneurial spirit. In other words, you need to accept challenges along the way on your private practice journey. I love to learn about the business side of things; it's what inspired me to start The Practice of Therapy back in 2016. I started this podcast so I could share lessons learned around the business aspects of private practice. Learning About The Financial Side of Private Practice One of the first things you have to learn about private practice is the money side of the business. I put together a course on teaching people about the financial side of private practice. When you go into business, you need to have some money to kind of back that up. A lot of traditional companies do it through investors. In other words, they get people to give them money for some return on that investment. When we go into private practice, we want to be self-sufficient. If you're interested in learning more about managing the financial side of your practice, check out my course Money Matters In Private Practice. Have Money Saved Before Starting Your Private Practice So, I started in private practice, doing it part-time and working for an agency. The extra income took the pressure off of me when I built my private practice. I wouldn't recommend diving into private practice unless you have enough money to back yourself up. I spent a year saving money, so I had a reserve. That way, if something happened, I had a buffer to protect me through emergencies. You need at least three to six months of income and expenses saved away before you jump into full-time. It will take a tremendous amount of pressure off of yourself. There Is More Than Enough Business For All of Us One thing that I've learned during the pandemic is that there is more than enough business for all of us. It's a matter of being able to put yourself out there and market your practice in a way that people can find you. That's all marketing is, is just making sure that you've got a website that is performing well and you are networking with the right people. If you are insurance-based, you need to be on the right insurance panels. I have a Facebook Live where I give all sorts of marketing ideas. You can watch the replay HERE. Keep It Simple When I first started my practice, I made my systems and processes much more complicated than they needed to be. So one of the things I would recommend is to keep it simple and don't make it overly difficult for yourself. People start getting worried about regulations such as HIPAA, state requirements, and all that. You don't want to do anything illegal and unethical. However, these fears can hold us back. You don't need to make things overly complicated. The bottom line to HIPAA is that we protect client information; that's something we do anyway in our profession. Make sure that you encrypt your equipment, and you encrypt your storage of documents. Please read my blog about HIPAA Anxiety In Private Practice. Outsource Your Administrative Functions In Private Practice People are reluctant to invest in things that are going to be a better use of their time. When initially starting a practice, therapists do too much of the work that isn't a good return on their time. For instance, if you're still returning phone calls to your clients and scheduling your clients, then you might want to outsource. Whenever I do consult therapists, that's the first place I start. The more you can outsource your administrative functions, the easier it will be for your practice. You can bootstrap and do these things yourself when you don't have a lot of clients. However, at some point, you will have to outsource it. I recommend outsourcing if you have ten or more clients per week. Think About Ways To Diversify Your Income There are only so many clients you can see in one day. There are only so many clients you can see in a week. One of the things that you will want to think about doing is diversifying your income. If you're going to increase your revenue within your business, many people believe they need more clients. However, it might not be a good return on the investment of your time. So, the next logical step for a lot of people is starting a group practice. A group practice might not be for everyone. You need leadership skills, and you need to enjoy working with other people. Check out my free webinar Solo to Group Practice: Adding More Therapists to Grow Your Time & Income. Being transparent… Some of the resources below use affiliate links which simply means we receive a commission if you purchase using the links, at no extra cost to you. Thanks for using the links! Resources Use the promo code "GORDON" to get 2 months of Therapy Notes free. Blueprint Health: First month free with promo code TPOTPODCAST Using Google Workspace As A Practice Platform Course Solo to Group Practice: Adding More Therapists to Grow Your Time & Income HIPAA Anxiety In Private Practice Money Matters In Private Practice Marketing and Diversifying Income Killin'It Camp Get Your Copy of The Full Focus Planner Join the Google Workspace for Therapists Users Group Follow @PracticeofTherapy on Instagram Meet Gordon Brewer, MEd, LMFT Gordon is the person behind The Practice of Therapy Podcast & Blog. He is also President and Founder of Kingsport Counseling Associates, PLLC. He is a therapist, consultant, business mentor, trainer, and writer. PLEASE Subscribe to The Practice of Therapy Podcast wherever you listen to it. Follow us on Twitter @therapistlearn, and Pinterest, “Like” us on Facebook.
	26 Jul 2021	Leah Leynor \| The Therapist In The Attic \| TPOT 188	00:37:20
During the pandemic, most of us started conducting psychotherapy sessions through 100% Telehealth. "The Therapist In The Attic," Leah Leynor joins the show to talk about her transition from her thriving private psychotherapy practice office to the attic. Plus, Leah speaks about her consulting work and what private practice owners are struggling with today as the pandemic winds down. Later, we talk all about becoming an insurance-based practice and what sorts of things you need to consider before accepting insurance. Tune in as we chat about diversifying your income, negotiating rates with insurance companies, and marketing your private practice. Meet Leah Leynor Leah Leynor provides a variety of counseling services to families and individual children, teens, and adults in Cary, North Carolina. She holds a Master's degree in Marriage and Family Therapy from Pfeiffer University, a massage therapy diploma from the American and European Massage Clinic, and a Bachelor's degree in political science from Rider University. She is a certified hypnotherapist with specialized training in trauma counseling and family systems. She is a proud member of the American Association of Marriage and Family Therapy (AAMFT) and the North Carolina Association of Marriage and Family Therapy (NCAMFT). The Therapist In The Attic During the pandemic, Leah ultimately moved her practice from in-person to her attic. The attic was the perfect place for privacy and for consulting with clients. Whenever Leah called herself the therapist in the attic, people would laugh. For Leah, the attic was a way to connect with others in complex, uncertain, and stressful times. Plus, when you think about it, we are all somewhat "stuck in the attic." Leah hopes to relate to the varied experiences many of us have been experiencing in these uncertain times. What Private Practice Owners Are Struggling With Today Most private practice owners have a high level of anxiety because of the pandemic. Many people question if private practice is the right move for them or if they need to start changing their business plans. Plus, they have anxiety around dealing with stressed-out clients while managing their businesses' administrative side. On top of private practice responsibilities, many owners are looking after their children participating in online classes. Finally, people are considering if life will go back to the way it was or adjust to a new normal. Becoming An Insurance-Based Practice When thinking about becoming an insurance-based practice, there are a few questions you should ask yourself first. - What brought you to this decision? - Where do you see your practice going? - What would you like to see in your practice? You don't have as much control over your fees with insurance-based practices because the insurance companies determine it. So, you need to set your expectations accordingly. You can't just ask the insurance company to change your prices. Plus, you'll want to consider how your marketing and website efforts are going. You'll need to ensure the right people see your advertising when using insurance panels. Negotiating A Higher Fee From An Insurance Company Negotiating a higher fee will depend on the insurance company. Sometimes, you have to put the negotiation in writing. The insurance company may ask what your proposed rate would be. Other times, you need to find the contract negotiator representative and call them directly. Then, you can start the negotiation process. You have to find out what the process is for the specific insurance company. If the insurance company is not taking negotiations, then you should figure out why. The best time to negotiate is a couple of months before recredentialing. Being transparent… Some of the resources below use affiliate links which simply means we receive a commission if you purchase using the links, at no extra cost to you. Thanks for using the links! Leah’s Resources LinkedIn The Therapist In The Attic Call: 919-268-2182 Life Learning Counseling Reliant Practice Resources Use the promo code "GORDON" to get 2 months of Therapy Notes free. Take The Survey Webinars Webinar: Using Google Workspace in Private Practice July Sale on Cool Resources (Use Code "JULY421") Google Workspace for Therapists \| The E-Course Purchase The Full Focus Planner™ Join the Google Workspace for Therapists Users Group Follow @PracticeofTherapy on Instagram Meet Gordon Brewer, MEd, LMFT Gordon is the person behind The Practice of Therapy Podcast & Blog. He is also President and Founder of Kingsport Counseling Associates, PLLC. He is a therapist, consultant, business mentor, trainer, and writer. PLEASE Subscribe to The Practice of Therapy Podcast wherever you listen to it. Follow us on Twitter @therapistlearn, and Pinterest, “Like” us on Facebook.
	22 Jun 2018	Using G-Suite So It's HIPAA Compliant \| with Joe Sanok \| TPOT Podcast 041	00:33:51
In this episode of the Practice of Therapy Podcast, Gordon does a “reverse interview” with Joe Sanok about why using G-Suite in your private practice might be a good idea. The original interview was first released as Episode 309 of the Practice of the Practice podcast with Joe Sanok. Gordon and Joe talk about why they started using G-Suite and some of the hacks and tips therapists and counselors can use in their practices to work more efficiently and make it HIPAA compliant. Meet Joe Sanok Joe is no stranger to the Practice of Therapy. Joe is the person behind the Practice Of The Practice Podcast which is the #1 podcast for counselors and therapists learning about private practice and what to do to grow and scale. It is one of the top resources out there in this private practice building space. Joe has been a previous guest on the Practice of Therapy Podcast, Episode 011, How To Level Up And Grow Your Private Practice. Joe, his wife Christina and their two daughters live in Traverse City, MI where Joe owns Mental Wellness Counseling, a private group practice. Joe is nationally known and has been a guest on numerous podcasts and most recently a TEDx talk in Traverse City. Joe a true entrepreneur with big heart and genuineness for helping people. Why Use G-Suite? Google G-Suite is the set of applications and tools that comes with every Google account. Most of the tools, like GMail, Google Calendar, Google Docs and Google Sheets are familiar to most. But the big game changer for most clinicians is being able to use the paid version of G-Suite in order to make it HIPAA secure. In particular, by using the paid version of G-Suite, you can get the BAA (business associate agreement) from Google which is a HIPAA requirement. GMail Using Your Own Domain One of the big game changers in using G-Suite, is that it allows you to use your own domain name for your email. So for example, if you can have you email address be @yourdomainname.com vs. @gmail.com or yahoo.com, etc. Also, when using the paid version of G-Suite, you get the functionality of GMail that is HIPAA secure. G-Suite Tools Can Boost Your Productivity Another, “selling point” of the tools of G-Suite, is that you can customize them and make use of templates to streamline repeated tasks. For example, using the “canned responses” feature of GMail for those emails that you respond to repeatedly; like requests for information, etc. You can also use the tools of G-Suite to automate a lot of administrative functions. For example, setting up a Google Form that can be embedded on your website for people to request services or do intakes. Another automated task is to set up a Google Calendar to use for people to self-schedule appointments using the appointments feature that is built in. The calendar then can be embedded on your website. G-Suite Is A Great Choice For Bootstrapping Because G-Suite is so adaptable and cost-effective, it’s a great choice for counselors and therapists during those “bootstrapping” phases of private practice growth. The applications and tools have pretty much everything you need to do all of your administrative functions. To Learn More: G-Suite for Therapists Course G-Suite Hacks and Tips Cheat Sheet Session Note Helper™ Other resources mentioned: Join a Mastermind Group Meet Gordon Brewer, MEd, LMFT Gordon is the person behind The Practice of Therapy Podcast & Blog.He is also President and Founder of Kingsport Counseling Associates, PLLC. He is a therapist, consultant, business mentor, trainer and writer. PLEASE Subscribe to The Practice of Therapy Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher and Google Play. Follow us on Twitter @therapistlearn and Pinterest “Like” us on Facebook.
	28 Aug 2023	Jessica Tappana \| Unleashing the Potential of ChatGPT in Your Private Practice \| TPOT 294	00:43:51
As a successful group therapy practice owner herself, Jessica Tappana understands the importance of marketing your practice and getting your name out to the right potential clients. A well-ranking website has been Jessica’s number one marketing tool for her Columbia, MO counseling practice. In the podcast episode, Jessica Tappana delves into the application of artificial intelligence (AI) and ChatGPT in private practice. She highlights the potential use of ChatGPT in creating templates for clinical notes and streamlining the session writing process. Additionally, Jessica discusses how ChatGPT can generate alternative phrasing ideas for clients. However, she emphasizes the importance of remaining vigilant against biased information and conducting thorough scans of the output. Also, Jessica acknowledges that not all clients may be suitable for therapy involving ChatGPT, as discernment skills are crucial. Tune in as we touch on the utilization of AI in blog writing and other areas within the field. Resources Mentioned In This Episode: Simplified SEO Consulting Use the promo code "GORDON" to get 2 months of Therapy Notes free The Practice of Therapy Podcast Workshop Focus Group The PsychCraft Network Launch Club The Practice of Therapy Community Launch Club (use code: PLCFALL2023)
	07 Aug 2018	Does Your Private Practice Support Your Lifestyle? \| TPOT Podcast 046	00:37:11
In this episode of the Practice of Therapy Podcast, Gordon talks about creating a sustainable practice that supports the lifestyle you want to have. He talks to about how he would have done some things differently, knowing what he knows now about being in private practice. In particular, Gordon talks about what he has learned about why private practices fail and the financial side of owning a small business. Apply for a Mastermind Group! Some of the links below are affiliate links. This simply means that I get a commission, at no extra cost to you, when you purchase the books mentioned using those links… Thanks in advance for using the links! Private Practice Isn’t Always What You Think… A book that has caught my attention here lately and I have been reading is The E-Myth Revisited; Why Small Businesses Fail and What To Do About It* by Michael E. Gerber. The premise of the book is that most people that go into small business are excellent technicians but lack the skill for management and being an entrepreneur. If you think about, that is so true for most all of us in helping professions. We are trained to help people and provide services. We have excellent clinical knowledge and know how to apply it in the therapy room. That is also where our passion lies. We do this kind of work because we truly want to help people. What most of us never learned was how to manage a business or how to be entrepreneurs… The primary reason practices fail is because of clinicians not knowing how to manage the financial and business sides of private practice. They also fail because they get overwhelmed with growth and not knowing how to navigate the increasing demands of a growing business. Always Start With “WHY” You know the biggest question that anyone should ask themselves before jumping into private practice is “why”? You hear that from me a lot. It’s more than just a rhetorical question. It’s about understanding what you need for yourself in life to help you feel happy and content. It’s something most of us in this field ask our clients all the time…what do you need to make you happy? Of course, there are no simple answers to that question. But if you were to peel away all the layers of this question, what would be at the core of what you need to make your truly happy? What Has Motivated You To Go Into Private Practice? The simple answer to this question, for most of us is simply “freedom”. Freedom to set your own schedule to have the time off we need with our families. Freedom to do therapy in the way we want to do therapy. Freedom to have the kinds of clients we best work with. And finally some financial freedom with possibly greater earning potential. I think too, that for most of us, money is important, but it is NOT what motivates us. What motivates us is knowing that we have helped someone in a genuine way. Also what motivates us is having a lifestyle that is relatively stress-free and surrounded by those people and things that bring us comfort and contentment. Family, friends, home… Second, but not necessarily in the order, we are motivated by feeling like we matter. We want our work to make a difference and to be valued by others. We want what we do to get noticed and truly inspire change in the world. If You Had A Million Dollars… So, if you had a million dollars what would really change for you? For most of us, it is an idea that we associate with winning the lottery or coming into some big windfall of cash. It’s a pipe dream. We think or have the fantasy that somehow our lives would get easier and that we could live a different lifestyle. The truth of the matter is that having an exorbitant amount of money does not equate to having more happiness or even a greater quality of life. How many times have we heard of people that win the lottery and their lives quickly go down the tubes because it is too much to handle? What We Really Want For most of us, what we really want is when it comes to money is to be able to buy and do the things that contribute to a standard of living and quality of life. We want to be able to eat out, go on vacations, have a decent car, good healthcare and not have to worry about bills and debt. We also want to have enough money in reserve for any unforeseen problems that might crop up. We want money to be off our worry list… If we are totally honest, having a big pile of money would maybe give us a sense of security, but would we really change our lifestyle that much? Maybe get a bigger house or a new TV or maybe get yourself out of debt. But I think for most of us, we would just want to have more time leisure time with our families and be able to work when and how we wanted to. Understanding How Money Really Works When it comes down to it all money really is, is something that has a universal value that we exchange for something that is more valuable to us personally. And unless you are totally self-sufficient and living totally off the grid, you have to have money to live. You have to buy food, shelter and clothing… basic needs. Then we also need to have a way to get money in order to have even just the basics, not to mention the things that add to our quality of life. So in order to get money, we exchange our time and knowledge for money. But we also have to have the supports in place in order to even do that exchange. A car to get us to our workplace, the gas to put in the car, licenses and car tags, car insurance, etc… just to name one aspect of all that. We need a steady flow of money coming in to pay for all of these things… AKA cash flow The other thing about money is being able to prepare for that time when we are no longer able to exchange our time and expertise for money…AKA retirement. In order to do this, we need to have a stockpile of money held back from what we spend on all the other things we need to prepare for those days ahead… AKA reserves The other part of the equation that comes into play, especially in our culture today, is borrowing. When we want to boost our lifestyle or get something we do not have the immediate cash for, we borrow it from someone else… AKA debt. Debt is simply someone taking the risk of getting repaid from the money you are getting from your cash flow or your reserves. And usually, it is with the stipulation that you give them more money in exchange for having lent you the money, to begin with… AKA interest. Success Comes From Balancing Cash Flow and Reserves The key to any successful business is in putting the right systems and processes in place to maintain cash flow. It also means balancing that by putting money into reserve for those times when the cash flow slows or you are not able to exchange your time and knowledge for money. And this is where most private practices fail… They do not have the right systems in place to assure cash flow and the creation of reserves. What Can Be Done First of all, you have to start with fully understanding your current financial situation. This means not only knowing your practice/business financial situation, but also your personal financial situation. You need to find out exactly how much money you have in the way of personal assets (everything you own) and what is owed to others (debt). You also need to know your current cash flows and what you can expect from future cash flows. It’s what you expect to come in and what you expect to pay back out. Secondly, you need to structure things so that the money coming in: pays you, gives you a profit (excess), pays off your debt, pays your expenses, and gives you a reserve for things like taxes and down times. One system I really am excited about with all this is Profit First by Mike Michalowicz (He will be a guest on the podcast later this month!) What the Profit First system does is uses an allocation system based on percentages that you predetermine are needed for your business and for yourself as a practice owner. The book will walk you through an assessment process to help you determine how you should be allocating the money you are getting from your practice (and other sources). The third thing, which is part of the second, is doing all you can to get yourself out of debt. In particular things like student loans, credit cards and car payments. Those three things will absolutely suck the life out of your practice and you personally if they are not addressed. Getting out of debt is like “free money”. If you were to think about what you make in monthly payments and what it would be like to put that money into your reserves instead, it would most likely make a huge difference. It would not only free up your cash flows, but it would be a huge burden lifted emotionally and psychologically. You would no longer feel that stress. Debt Reduction Plan Another one the books and resources I like a lot is Total Money Makeover by Dave Ramsey. A strategy for getting out of debt that Dave Ramsey suggests is the “Snowball Strategy”. With this strategy, Dave recommends focusing on paying off your smallest debt first as quickly as possible. Then when that debt is paid off, using the amount of that payment to add to what you are paying on your next highest debt and so forth. What this does is help you maximize the time it takes to pay off your debt. It’s a “snowball effect”. The fourth thing that can be done to help with having a solid financial plan is to know your tax liabilities. So many times clinicians in private practice get themselves into trouble because they are still operating under an “employee” mindset vs. a “self-employment” mindset. Being self-employed is much different than being employed from a tax standpoint. When you are employed, your employer is responsible for making sure your income taxes are withheld AND they pay a portion of those for you. When you are self-employed you are responsible for paying all of those taxes. Typically, an estimate of what is owed is paid quarterly. Make sure you are covering this! So many times private practice owners will reach the end of the year and find out they owe several thousand dollars in income taxes and do not have the cash on hand to cover it. Consult with experts! It’s always a good idea to have a trusted accountant that can advise you on tax implications and how to structure your business. They can also advise you on what you need to be paying for your taxes. Think About The Big Picture Most of us go into private practice with the idea of simply being a solo practitioner, having a comfortable income and only working when we want to. But as they grow, they realize that things get a little more complicated and the ups and downs of practice makes it well..uncomfortable. As they grow, the time they are having to spend on administrative functions goes up as well. For some practices, if they continue to grow, they reach a tipping point at which they need to hire an administrative person and/or add clinicians to the practice in order to free up time. (You know, it’s that time you wanted before you went into private practice, to begin with!) Growth does bring in more income, but it also creates additional expenses. This is why it is important to have that clear understanding and handle on the financial side of things. It is also why I like the Profit First system because it is based on percentages. If the percentages are where they need to be, growth truly brings more profit. Dream A Little (Or A Lot!) Ultimately, we all want a certain quality of life and lifestyle. Knowing how much money that will take and what you need to give yourself financial freedom will help you better know how to structure your private practice. Most of us, if we are brutally honest, do not aspire to be multi-millionaires. We just want a life! We want to be content with what we have and be surrounded by the people we love the most. Money is just a tool. So in reality, it’s not about the money. It’s about having a meaningful life that is relatively stress-free. Products from Amazon.com -45% The E-Myth Revisited: Why Most Small Businesses Don't Work and What to Do About It Price: $12.75 Was: $22.99 -44% Profit First: Transform Your Business from a Cash-Eating Monster to a Money-Making Machine Price: $15.01 Was: $27.00 -40% The Total Money Makeover: Classic Edition: A Proven Plan for Financial Fitness Price: $14.99 Was: $24.99 Meet Gordon Brewer, MEd, LMFT Gordon is the person behind The Practice of Therapy Podcast & Blog.He is also President and Founder of Kingsport Counseling Associates, PLLC. He is a therapist, consultant, business mentor, trainer and writer. PLEASE Subscribe to The Practice of Therapy Podcast on iTunes, Stitcher and Google Play. Follow us on Twitter @therapistlearn and Pinterest “Like” us on Facebook.
	17 Mar 2025	Dr. Brook Choulet \| Marketing, Niching, and Branding—The Private Practice Essentials \| TPOT 373	00:29:56
Many therapists and psychiatrists dream of running their own private practice—setting their own hours, choosing their clients, and working independently. But what happens when the reality doesn’t match the dream? In this episode, Dr. Choulet pulls back the curtain on what it really takes to run a successful private practice—especially one that operates on a cash-pay model. Spoiler alert: It’s not just about being a great clinician. If you’re not passionate about networking, marketing, and building your brand, you may struggle to make it work. Dr. Choulet shares why niching down is a game-changer, how branding can make or break your success, and why investing in your visibility is just as important as your clinical skills. She’s built a thriving practice that serves high-profile clients, from professional athletes to business executives, and she’s here to share her biggest lessons—so you can decide if private practice is the right move for you. If you’ve ever wondered why some private practices thrive while others barely survive, this episode is for you. Resources Mentioned In This Episode Read the full show notes here Use the promo code "GORDON" to get 2 months of Therapy Notes free Website Design Packages from Inflow Google Ads for Therapists Start Consulting with Gordon The PsychCraft Network Mental Health Wear TN Meet Dr. Brook Choulet Dr. Brook Choulet, M.D., The Performance Psychiatrist™, is the founder and CEO of the Choulet Performance Psychiatry®, President of the Maricopa County Medical Society Foundation, and President of the American Board of Sports and Performance Psychiatry, of which she is one of the seven founding members. With a focus on concierge Performance Psychiatry®, Dr. Choulet guides professionals, athletes, and their families towards unparalleled mental health and performance optimization by offering bespoke mental health care services for both adolescent and adult patients. She holds a Certificate of Additional Training in Sports Psychiatry from the International Society for Sports Psychiatry (ISSP) and is a preferred provider on the NBPA, NFLPA, USSF, USOPC, and MLBPA's Mental Health Directories. Dr. Choulet's expertise has been pivotal in shaping mental resilience in sports at its highest level, and she worked for two seasons as a Consulting Team Psychiatrist for the NBA Phoenix Suns and WNBA Phoenix Mercury. Dr. Choulet is a regular contributor to Forbes SportsMoney and is a Forbes Health Advisory Board member who reviews and consults on Forbes Health articles. She also contributes her expertise to the American Psychiatric Association's publications and Psychology Today's Sports & Performance Psychiatry column. She also provides expert advice each month to local Arizona publications, including Paradise Valley City Lifestyle Magazine, Stroll Biltmore, Stroll Desert Mountain, and Stroll Paradise Valley, as part of her commitment to cultivating the mental health and well-being of her local community. Website Facebook Instagram LinkedIn
	11 Feb 2019	Ethical Financial Managment In Private Practice \| TPOT Podcast 067	00:43:11
In this episode, Gordon discusses the ethics of money management in clinical practice. Gordon’s favorite course in graduate school was legal and ethical issues in counseling. First, Gordon discusses documentation and some ethical considerations when taking payment for a session. One suggestion is to keep the client’s specific finances separate from the bigger picture business finances. Later, Gordon informs us on how to turn a profit and some tips on setting a sliding-scale fee. Stay tuned to hear Gordon’s thoughts on ethically keeping accurate records for tax information and what to do when a client does not show. Implementing Ethics Clients see the clinician with an expectation of paying; most people do not expect free services. The deciding factor for many clients is whether or not the clinician accepts insurance. Insurance panels are bound legally by a contract to provide services to people with this insurance at the rate that was agreed to. When receiving payments, the clinicians need to have systems in place to track the financial side of the business. Documentation If you are in private practice and someone pays you for your services; how do you document that payment? Larger practices probably are using an electronic health record system in place to file claims. In that system, there is also a financial component to it; a patient billing system. You can look and see what a patient owes for a session if the claims have been filed, what you can expect to receive, and what the patient might owe for copays. These systems will significantly alleviate any stress concerning the business side of private practice. If you are just getting to start your practice, you can do something simple with a spreadsheet. Business Finances You receive a payment from the client, it is documented, but then you need to know what to do with the money next. Obviously, you are going to want to put it in the bank. There should be a whole separate system for the business side of your finances. Using a system like QuickBooks or FreshBookswill help you keep your books and track your income. It is a good practice, when using these systems, that as money comes in, that you leave out the names of clients in those transactions. Instead just make a notation that came from a client, but no client name. It is a great way to track the income and expenses for your business. Ethically, keep track of your money with client records and have another system for your business finances. Profiting and Fees To have a profit, the amount of income you have need to exceed the number of expenses you have. Tracking your earnings over time is really important to the expansion of your business. Knowing your profit and loss statement each month will allow you to see where you stand financially. You might want to consider using a sliding-scale fee for people who do not have insurance or who choose not to use their insurance for counseling services. This fee is based on the person’s income and is typically found at non-profit organizations. Do not set your prices too low. Gordon’s lowest fee used to be thirty dollars, this was too low to maintain Gordon’s practice. Ensure your scale range is viable for you and fair for your clients. One suggestion Gordon has is to set your lowest fee at what your average per-session rate is. No-Show Expectations If you have many no-shows, that is something you need to address. You have an ethical responsibility to discuss this with your clients. Many times, clients not showing up for sessions is a clinical issue. This was ingrained in Gordon from graduate school. As the clinician, you need to be able to ask what is wrong with them that they are avoiding sessions. Make sure in your intake paperwork that it is noted they will get charged if they no-show you for a session. Keep clients credit cards electronically, so you have access to their information in case of a no-show. Gordon does give them the option to not provide their credit card information; a surcharge will be added however if they need to take a payment. All of this gets discussed at an intake session and in their intake paperwork. Resources Mentioned Disclaimer: some of the resources mentioned are affiliate links. This simply means we receive a commission if you purchase the service or product mentioned, at no extra cost to you, if you use those links. Thanks for using the links! <ins class="adsbygoogle" data-ad-format="auto" data-ad-client="ca-pub-1494080817715106" data-ad-slot="1054679871" data-ad-channel= "WordPressSinglePost+pso-lv-8" data-adsbygoogle-status= "done"></ins> Practice Solutions Brighter Vision Therapy Notes Money Matters in Private Practice QuickBooks FreshBooks >>Get the FREE Financial Analysis Guide<< Products from Amazon.com -41% Clinical Ethics, 8th Edition: A Practical Approach to Ethical Decisions in Clinical Medicine, 8E Price: $31.17 Was: $53.00 Business Ethics: A Stakeholder and Issues Management Approach Price: Check on Amazon -32% Profit First: Transform Your Business from a Cash-Eating Monster to a Money-Making Machine Price: $18.36 Was: $27.00 -50% QuickBooks Desktop Pro 2019 [PC Disc] Price: $149.00 Was: $299.99 ‹› Meet Gordon Brewer, MEd, LMFT Gordon is the person behind The Practice of Therapy Podcast & Blog.He is also President and Founder of Kingsport Counseling Associates, PLLC. He is a therapist, consultant, business mentor, trainer and writer. PLEASE Subscribe to The Practice of Therapy Podcast on iTunes, Stitcher and Google Play. Follow us on Twitter @therapistlearn and Pinterest “Like” us on Facebook.
	19 Sep 2022	Dr. Jenny Hughes \| Managing Vicarious Trauma In Private Practice \| TPOT 247	00:32:53
Dr. Jenny Hughes received her Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from the University of California, Santa Barbara, and completed her predoctoral internship and postdoctoral fellowship at the Louisiana State University Health Science Center. In this episode, Dr. Jenny Hughes joins the show to discuss vicarious trauma. She defines vicarious trauma and reveals the signs and symptoms that may mean you are suffering from vicarious trauma as a clinician. Then, Dr. Hughes explains what next steps you can take to cope with vicarious trauma. Plus, we dive into preparing for challenging sessions with clients to avoid vicarious trauma and how to make empowered decisions about combating this type of trauma. Download the FREE Vicarious Trauma Tracker HERE. Resources Mentioned In This Episode: Download the FREE Vicarious Trauma Tracker Brave Providers Dr. Jenny's Website LinkedIn Dr. Jenny's Instagram Brave Providers on Instagram Dr. Jenny's Facebook Brave Providers on TikTok Use the promo code "GORDON" to get 2 months of Therapy Notes free The Practice of Therapy Community
	06 Sep 2021	Tosha Rollins \| Autism Therapist Education in Private Practice \| TPOT 194	00:28:44
Today, Tosha Rollins joins the show. She turned her passion into a private practice niche. One of the most important things about finding your niche is looking at what speaks to you. For Tosha, it's working with clients that have autism spectrum disorder. Research shows that only 2 out of 44 therapists feel comfortable working with autistic clients. So, there is a massive demand for referral resources and families that need our help. Tune in as Tosha speaks about the Autism Therapist Network, working with autistic clients, and the importance of continuing education for autism resources. Meet Tosha Rollins Tosha Rollins is a Licensed Professional Counselor in South Carolina, and owner of Rollins Counseling, LLC. She is also a wife to Travis, and momma to three sons, ages 8-22, and stepmom to Kaylee, who is now in college. She loves adventures, traveling, nature, and spending time with her family. She started the Autism in Action Podcast because she wanted to help families connect with autism resources, services, and support. She became frustrated trying to find an autism-trained counselor for her oldest two children on the autism spectrum and realized the shortage of trained professionals across the country. She decided to create the Autism Therapist Network to teach & mentor mental health clinicians how to feel more confident and competent working with autistic clients and families affected by autism. When she is not seeing clients, homeschooling her youngest son, podcasting, she is spending quality time with her family and planning her next adventure. Finding Autism Resources and Ongoing Education Tosha's two oldest sons have autism spectrum disorder. After the diagnosis, Tosha decided to go into private practice and serve people on the spectrum. Research shows only 2 out of 44 mental health clinicians feel comfortable working with the autistic population. Unfortunately, this makes it hard for families to access services. A lot of times, it comes down to competency, skill sets, and education. So many parents of autistic children complain about how hard it is to find mental health services for their children. In fact, 1 in 5 families has to move because they don't have access to services. Children with autism grow up to be adults with autism. There is a lack of services after children age out of school; it's a big concern. It's estimated that anywhere between 70,000 and 100,000 children aged out of high school services with minimal transitional supports in place. A Therapist Community That Is Increasing Mental Health Autism Resources Tosha's primary mission is to educate clinicians and collaborate on the skill sets they need to improve on. Often we get comfortable with a specific niche or population. However, we need to do continuing education to meet our licensure requirements. Sadly, there's not a lot of training out there for the autism niche. Tosha is a fan of Pesi and the courses they offer. In fact, they have a Certified Autism Spectrum Disorder Clinical Specialist Intensive Training. Their training provides the education you need to deliver effective transformational strengths-based interventions, strategies, and approaches to support your clients. Tosha created the Autism Therapist Network to help people expand their clinical skillsets for working with autistic clients. She provides online educational workshops and peer-driven clinical consultation groups to help you learn more about autism. In addition, the Autism Therapist Network is great for networking opportunities because of its online directory for all of its members. Lastly, their resources are perfect for anyone that wants to best support their autistic clients. Mental Health Therapy and The Autistic Client Therapists need to be open-minded, adaptable, and flexible when working with the autistic population. You might have a particular intervention that is structured for CBT. However, you may have to modify it for your client's executive functioning or cognitive ability. So, therapists need to get a good overview of their clients' executive function, cognitive ability, and emotional regulation. Make sure that your client understands their emotions. Also, ensure that they have plenty of resources to take home and use as visual prompts. That way, your clients can regulate when they are not in therapy. The number one consideration for working with the autism population is to make sure that you have the education behind it. In order to be comfortable and competent, you need to understand person-centered planning. Plus, you need to understand cognitive behavioral therapy and have an excellent toolbox to pull from when working with these clients. These are all things that Tosha teaches on her Autism Therapist Network. She has expert spotlights that come in and share their words of wisdom. The more you can grow your network, the more that you can learn. Being transparent… Some of the resources below use affiliate links which simply means we receive a commission if you purchase using the links, at no extra cost to you. Thanks for using the links! Tosha's Resources Autism Therapist Network Autism In Action Podcast Tosha's Website Instagram LinkedIn Facebook Resources Use the promo code "GORDON" to get 2 months of Therapy Notes free. Blueprint Health Understanding & Utilizing the Enneagram (10 CE Hours) Using Google Workspace As A Practice Platform Course Killin'It Camp Join the Google Workspace for Therapists Users Group Follow @PracticeofTherapy on Instagram Meet Gordon Brewer, MEd, LMFT Gordon is the person behind The Practice of Therapy Podcast & Blog. He is also President and Founder of Kingsport Counseling Associates, PLLC. He is a therapist, consultant, business mentor, trainer, and writer. PLEASE Subscribe to The Practice of Therapy Podcast wherever you listen to it. Follow us on Twitter @therapistlearn, and Pinterest, “Like” us on Facebook.
	02 May 2018	Part 3 \| Setting Up The Office \| Love the Work But Hate the Job \| TPOT Podcast 034	00:32:43
This is part 3, of this four-part series of the Practice of Therapy Podcast, “Love the Work, But Hate The Job”. In this session, Gordon explores some of the logistics around setting up an office and getting started with your private practice. This four-part series discusses the various steps and things a clinician might want to think about as they move into private practice. The series discusses: 1.) Knowing your “WHY”, 2.) Making a Plan, 3.) Setting-up an Office, and 4.) Marketing & Getting Referrals. Check out the mini-course: “Love the Work, But Hate The Job” In this course, you will be emailed 4 lessons, one each day, that will walk you through a way to think about making the transition from agency work into private practice. (Get the discount here!) Setting Up The Office One of the very first things you have to figure out, logistically, about going into private practice is where and how you will see clients. The good news about doing talk therapy is all you really need is a couple of chairs and place to meet that is private and has very few distractions. The truth is, that could be just about anywhere. But, we need a little more than that for ourselves and for our clients. For example, a waiting and reception area is nice to have. Also, a comfy, warm and inviting therapy room makes a big difference too. We want our clients to feel at ease and safe when they come to us. Finding the right place to meet with clients sometimes takes some creativity and willingness to “think outside the box”. For most people getting started in private practice, there needs to be some flexibility in order be a bit more frugal. You really can’t afford a huge office with all the “bells and whistles” in those beginning stages. Finding an Office Space There are a lot of things you want to take into consideration in getting an office to see clients. Location is important. Also thinking about how clients get in and out of the space. It’s better to not have a lot of stairs (I did that and it was a barrier for some clients). Also thinking long-term as you grow; will the space support your growth? A good place to start is just looking online and in directories like Craigslist. Keep an eye out for places as your drive around town or begin to look. Sometimes people will only advertise by having a sign out in front of an office space. I know too, letting friends and other folks know you are looking for an office space can bring some results. Use social media to help let people know you are looking. Also maybe consider talking to a realtor who specializes in office space. Bootstrapping and Sharing Office Space The normal progression of being in private practice is that you will want to do a lot of “bootstrapping” in those beginning stages. In other words, you leverage your time while you have a lot of it. You also want to be able to save as much money as possible as you build your financial assets in the practice. Depending on where you are located, office space may be easy to come by or not. Usually, if there is a lot of spaces available, the prices will be more competitive. Needless to say, it makes sense, in those beginning stages, not to overextend yourself financially by spending a lot on office space. After all, office space will be one of your bigger, if not the biggest, expense you will have with running a private practice. For this reason, subleasing or sharing office space just makes sense. And it doesn’t need to be another therapist’s office either. You could rent or sublease space from any other professional (lawyers, doctors, chiropractors, etc.). Also, look into churches, synagogues or other civic organizations that might have the extra space. Group Practices One thing to not overlook is considering joining a group private practice as an independent contractor. Depending on their business model, many group practices do a “fee-split” with the clinicians they contract with. The advantage is that your “overhead” is already taken care of by the fee split. Depending on how it is structured, you might do better, in the long run, to work within a group practice than trying to go out on your own and build the referrals and client base you need. Also, it might be that you would come out better financially by not having to worry as much about the cost of being in practice. Non-Traditional Services Another thing to consider when getting started in private practice is to look into teletherapy or online therapy. It is something that is certainly growing and lucrative for a lot of people. In fact, some people have built their whole practice around this model of delivery. Another delivery method is to go to the clients, rather than them coming to you. In-home therapy is offered by a lot of agencies. The same model can be used by people in private practice. Phones, Email and Such Another part of running a private practice is having systems in place for people to contact you and make appointments. There are any number of phone systems available, but a simple/easy solution is to simply get a separate cell phone to use for your practice. Then as you grow you can look a dedicated phone system that is HIPAA compliant and all that. As far as email goes, Google G-Suite is one of the best options for many reasons. You can set it up to use your own domain name (it’s more professional that way). Also, it is HIPAA secure if you use the business (paid) version of G-Suite. The other thing is the whole suite of applications that it comes with. These tools are very adaptable to small business and being able to manage a private practice. (Check out the full G-Suite for Therapists Course here) For some practices, they will need a FAX service. More and more, email is replacing FAXes, but might be something you will need. S-Fax is one service I can recommend and also the one I use in my practice. Other Office Equipment Besides phones and FAXes, it is helpful to have a copier and printer. Again depending on where and how you are set up. It might be that the office space you are using will provide those things. Finding and setting up an office is really not all that hard. It just takes a bit of perseverance and willingness to do some searching. Ultimately the office and equipment you pick will help you sustain and grow, Resources Mentioned: G-Suite for Business (This is an affiliate link to get 20% off your first year. Also, I do receive a commission for this at no extra cost to you) G-Suite for Therapists Course Mastermind Groups- Find out more and apply here! Other Resources for Office Set-Up Meet Gordon Brewer, MEd, LMFT Gordon is the person behind The Practice of Therapy Podcast & Blog.He is also President and Founder of Kingsport Counseling Associates, PLLC. He is a therapist, consultant, business mentor, trainer and writer. PLEASE Subscribe to The Practice of Therapy Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher and Google Play. Follow us on Twitter @therapistlearn and Pinterest “Like” us on Facebook.
	12 Sep 2022	Rosemary Scheppske \| Finding Your Passion and Niche in Private Practice \| TPOT 246	00:33:01
Rosemary Scheppske is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor accepting new clients in Davie, Florida. She enjoys working with couples and individuals to offer hope while helping them achieve their goals. In this episode, Rosemary Scheppske explains why she decided to join a group practice instead of diving into the world of private practice. Then, Rosemary digs deep into her passion for couples counseling and why she's such a big fan of the Gottman Method. Plus, we discuss using the Enneagram and the Gottman Method for couples counseling. Tune in as we chat about the importance of community, faith-based counseling as a niche, and how our relationships can impact our physical health. Resources Mentioned In This Episode Use the promo code "GORDON" to get 2 months of Therapy Notes free Free Webinars Launch Club Be A Podcast Guest The Practice of Therapy Community Rosemary on Instagram Caring Therapists Whitney Owens
	02 Jan 2023	Goals and Thinking Forward In Private Practice \| TPOT 260	00:29:35
This episode is about goal-setting and how you can achieve your resolutions for 2023. First, consider the why behind your goals and nail down the motivation for your 2023 plans. If you are new to goal-setting, using the SMART Goals Worksheet is an easy way to write goals. Remember, you want your goals to be specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, and time-specific. Later, Gordon speaks about how to stay organized when it comes to goal-setting; he loves using the Full Focus Planner. Tune in as he chats about working backward toward goal-setting and starting with the small steps to achieve big things! Resources Mentioned In This Episode: Use the promo code "GORDON" to get 2 months of Therapy Notes free Join The PsychCraft Network Today! SMART Goals Worksheet! Full Focus Planner GWS for Therapists Course Contributor Application
	23 Sep 2024	Donny Frank \| The Making of a Dynamic Duo in Private Practice \| TPOT 349	00:34:23
Tune into Donny's episode of the Practice of Therapy Podcast to explore profound insights on building resilient and fulfilling marriages. In this enlightening discussion, Donny reveals that while marriage inevitably comes with challenges, choosing the right partner sets the stage for overcoming these obstacles together. He tackles pressing issues like the rise of fractured families and the growing trend of self-centeredness, highlighting how these factors can undermine relationship health. Donny advocates for a shift from a self-focused approach to one centered on giving and understanding, emphasizing that genuine self-care should support, not detract from, our ability to contribute to others. Learn how to navigate marital complexities with Donny’s unique perspective on maintaining upward-trending relationships, mastering perspective-taking, and fostering a deeper connection. His practical advice, drawn from his book The Making of a Dynamic Duo, promises to provide valuable strategies for couples striving to thrive despite life’s inevitable ups and downs. Meet Donny Frank Donny Frank is a licensed marriage and family therapist who has been helping couples and families connect for over 25 years. His clinical practice and worldwide workshops are influenced by his training in leading relationship approaches, such as Imago Relationship Therapy and Gottman methods, EFT, CBT, and NLP. In fact, the communication handbook featured in the second part of his book is largely based on IRT's highly effective Couples Dialogue. Driven by his passion for people and his deep respect for the institutions of marriage and family, Donny's extensive experience and wealth of knowledge, coupled with a balanced demeanor, practical approach, and creative nature, all contribute to his practice and presentations. These qualities are also the ingredients that make this book a game-changer for couples seeking connection. Resources Mentioned In This Episode Use the promo code "GORDON" to get 2 months of Therapy Notes free Start Consulting with Gordon The PsychCraft Network Mental Health Wear Donny on Instagram The Making of a Dynamic Duo
	25 Sep 2023	Ryan Derousseau \| Securing Your Financial Well-Being in Private Practice \| TPOT 298	00:36:30
Meet Ryan Derousseau, the financial advisor with a knack for helping therapists navigate the wild terrain of money. He's here to reveal that your therapy practice isn't just a job; it's a golden goose that can lay those financial security eggs! From therapists struggling to see their practice as anything more than a room with a comfy chair to the importance of professional wills and contingency plans, we've got you covered. And if you're wondering how to pass the therapy torch gracefully, Ryan's got the scoop on finding a partner or successor. We'll also tackle the thrilling world of retirement savings and why it's the real MVP for your financial future. Get ready to learn how to secure your therapeutic legacy! Resources Mentioned In This Episode: Use the promo code "GORDON" to get 2 months of Therapy Notes free The PsychCraft Network Kindness and Compassion Launch Club (use code: PLCFALL2023) The Practice of Therapy Community Ryan's Website United Financial Planning Group You can find Ryan on LinkedIn Ryan on Twitter Ryan on YouTube
	08 Jan 2024	Liane Wood \| Mastering Your Schedule: Lessons for Private Practice \| TPOT 312	00:35:27
Liane Wood is a Registered Psychotherapist (RP) who has combined her education in the mental health field with her own experiences to pursue her passion for helping others. In this episode, we chat about the nature of saying "no" externally and internally, acknowledging the need for self-care and well-being. Liane's proactive approach shines through as she emphasizes the significance of designated admin blocks, strategic vacation planning, and the immediate implementation of boundaries for a healthier and more balanced professional and personal life. Her insights on burnout provide a comprehensive understanding of its insidious effects and the necessity of setting boundaries as a proactive measure. Liane's wisdom culminates in a call to immediate action, urging listeners to reflect on and implement small yet intentional changes that can positively impact work-life harmony. Resources Mentioned In This Episode: Use the promo code "GORDON" to get 2 months of Therapy Notes free The PsychCraft Network The Practice of Therapy Community Instagram Mental Health Templates Full Focus Planner YouTube Series: Love & Loss Build Your Private Practice Build Your Private Practice on Facebook Liane Wood on LinkedIn
	19 Apr 2021	Dr. David Geier \| Why Getting Media Press Matters For Your Private Practice \| TPOT 174	00:35:52
Dr. David Geier is a double-board certified orthopedic surgeon and sports medicine specialist, media medical expert, and host of the new podcast, The MEDIA PROS Show. Dr. Geier has the formula to make it into the media. As private practice owners, you want to establish yourself as an expert and be well-known. Plus, it would be best to make sure that the people who need your help can find you. So, the media is a great way to do that! Tune in to learn quick, simple tips to grow your business by serving as an expert on your topic in the media. Meet Dr. David Geier In his practice and on his online platform, he helps people feel and perform their best, regardless of age, injuries, or medical conditions. Having done well over 2,500 TV, radio, podcast, newspaper, magazine, and online publication interviews, he now coaches experts to help them grow their practices by getting interviewed as an expert in the media. Media For Beginners Where you want to start depends on what you are trying to achieve. First, Dr. David says to figure out what you want to accomplish by doing media appearances. What's your message going to be? You'll want to narrow down who you want to help and why you want to help them. Brainstorm everything that comes to mind for your message. It can be based on your ideal patient, problems you like to solve, and what you are looking to attract. Your message should be one or two sentences. It will help media and reporters think of you when a topic comes up. Sure, you're a therapist, but are you known by a specific niche? If you specialize in divorce, then people in the media will remember that you're a person that knows everything about divorces! Reaching Out To The Media Dr. David is a big believer in developing relationships with writers, reporters, and journalists. These relationships can be with people in newspapers, magazines, radio shows, TV shows, and reporters. The value of the media isn't in being seen one time. The value of media is repetition. When you make a media appearance, that person is already thinking of other stories they will use you as an expert. Overall, the value of the media is in developing those relationships. That way, the media will ask you back when your niche comes up again in the news. So, identify the types of media that would help build your practice, where you can contribute information that would be helpful, and then start to build those relationships. When you make those relationships, it will pay off for years to come. Help A Reporter HARO is a great way to start a relationship with reporters. There are 800,000 + HARO users connecting with journalists. The website will send you emails three times a day (5:35 a.m., 12:35 p.m., and 5:35 p.m. ET), Monday through Friday. Check the emails and look out for source requests relevant to your industry, expertise, or personal experience. Dr. David says the trick with HARO is responding to those emails quickly. Most likely, you won't get picked unless you respond within thirty minutes to an hour of their request. You may be wondering how this can help your therapy practice. If you can put that you were used as a resource for USA Today, it will help you build your credibility. Patients can see that on your website and know that you are the real deal! Relationships With The Media Are Key Relationships are the key! You won't get media appearances unless you can show how you're helping. The reporter wants to know that you're an expert in your field. That's the actual value of media over advertising. When you watch an ad, you know that somebody is trying to sell you something. There is nothing inherently wrong with selling things. However, people generally trust what they hear in the context of a news show much more than advertising. A good goal would be to get a media appearance at least once a month. Offer simple tips to help people. It may not be something they need now, but it can be something they need down the road. That way, when the situation does arise, they will think of you first. Being transparent… Some of the resources below use affiliate links which simply means we receive a commission if you purchase using the links, at no extra cost to you. Thanks for using the links! Dr. David Geier's Resources Website MEDIA PROS Coaching Facebook Twitter YouTube The MEDIA PROS Show Resources Use the promo code "GORDON" to get 2 months of Therapy Notes free. HARO Solo to Group Practice: Adding More Therapists to Grow Your Time & Income Money Matters In Private Practice \| The Course (Use Code: April2021) Get your FREE Financial Analysis Guide... Google Workspace for Therapists \| The E-Course Purchase The Full Focus Planner™ Join my Focus Groups Session Note Helper 3.0 Money Matters in Private Practice \| The Course Join the Google Workspace (formerly G-Suite) for Therapists Users Group Cool Resources Follow @PracticeofTherapy on Instagram Meet Gordon Brewer, MEd, LMFT Gordon is the person behind The Practice of Therapy Podcast & Blog. He is also President and Founder of Kingsport Counseling Associates, PLLC. He is a therapist, consultant, business mentor, trainer, and writer. PLEASE Subscribe to The Practice of Therapy Podcast wherever you listen to it. Follow us on Twitter @therapistlearn, and Pinterest, “Like” us on Facebook.
	25 Jan 2021	Susan Orenstein \| Expanding Your Niche Outside The Therapy Room \| TPOT 162	00:35:48
In this episode, I am joined by Susan Orenstein, who works with individuals and couples to pursue a more peaceful, purposeful, and passionate life. Susan speaks about the process behind starting a podcast and what she has learned so far. We chat about creating content outside of the therapy room to help people on their healing journey. Tune in as we discuss other ways to expand your niche and turn your passions into creative and useful content. Meet Susan Orenstein Hi, I’m Susan Orenstein, Ph.D. For over twenty-five years, I’ve worked with individuals and couples that come to my counseling office in pursuit of a more peaceful, purposeful, and passionate life. Relationships are integral to that rich, fulfilling existence we all desire. Healthy relationships bolster our well-being while unhealthy relationships hinder our ability to thrive. That’s why I’m passionate about helping couples to either optimize their relationship or learn to let each other go so they can develop a nourishing, intimate connection elsewhere. Making Content For Clients Susan wants her work to be accessible to more people. So, she developed a podcast - it's called After The First Marriage. Plus, Susan has a free e-course that goes with it. She is creating a lot of content because Susan particularly loves the work that she does. In addition, Susan loves going online and looking at worksheets, reading, and joining groups. There are so many ways people can heal outside of the therapy room, and Susan wanted to help develop those things for her clients. Creating A Podcast In Susan's podcast, she gets to bring more of herself in. Susan gets to think about who interests her, who she wants to learn from, what she is reading, and who she wants to interview. Plus, Susan gets to create fun materials with her content. Also, Susan is learning that there are parts of her that she can bring into this process to expand her ability to be a therapist. For instance, Susan has learned about the effectiveness of self-disclosure when working with clients because it gives you more credibility when they can hear that a therapist has gone through similar struggles. Overall, with a podcast and creating content, it's fun to shake it up and to learn new things all the time. Normalizing Therapy Next, Susan speaks about working on tearing down the stigma that's still attached to being a therapy client. She wants to normalize these processes for people because almost everybody cares about having healthy relationships. Therefore, getting the skills to learn about this and making it approachable and accessible to people is critical to Susan. One way Susan helps people for free is through her podcast and social media. Plus, podcasting is more personal than blogging or written material because it's a better way to connect with the person on the other end. Even though you're just listening to a recording, you still make a connection through voice. Choosing Divorce As A Niche Professionally, Susan's favorite clients have been people who have been kicked to the curb. They are so down; they cannot get their head up, and they are so grateful to have therapy and have someone believe in them and have someone help them. That way, Susan can help her clients figure out what happened, so it doesn't happen again. Through therapy, Susan's clients regain self-esteem and gain some tools for intimacy in the future. Some of her very favorite clients have been people going through a divorce. Luckily, Susan can't say that she knows personally what divorce is like. However, she can say that she has never taken her husband for granted, and he has never taken Susan for granted. Client Themes Around Divorce When Susan sees somebody going through a divorce who didn't choose divorce, they are often very wounded, have hurt self-esteem and depression. Plus, there is anxiety, they question their attractiveness, and they question their desirability. After divorce, many people will suffer from self-doubt, low self-esteem, and even revenge fantasies. In addition, many times these people are angry, and they are bitter. Also, these people will look for ways to numb themselves so they may start drinking heavily, eating more, turning to relationships that aren't good for them in order to dull their feelings. While on the other hand, for the person who is initiating the divorce, there can be guilt and shame. Usually, these people want to know how they can help their children through the divorce process. Mainly, people want to be proactive, which is terrific. Lastly, another category is people that want the divorce, but don't think it's possible. For instance, someone might be staying in the marriage because of financial issues, or they are worried about their children's wellbeing. These are the trickiest and saddest situations because these people are almost like hostages. Expand Your Practice Outside The Therapy Room When expanding your practice, find some issues and topics that fascinate you that you want to learn about no matter what. That way, you can't go wrong. When you enjoy the information, you'll become an expert, and it will help fuel your energy. Also, when you love what you do, it will be harder to burnout. Another piece of advice is having a colleague help you. For instance, talking it out with someone can be a massive asset to your endeavors. It's also critical to have a set of trusted peers and colleagues that you can share information with. Being transparent… Some of the resources below use affiliate links which simply means we receive a commission if you purchase using the links, at no extra cost to you. Thanks for using the links! Susan's Resources After The First Marriage After The First Marriage Podcast After The First Marriage Instagram After The First Marriage Twitter Resources Use the promo code "GORDON" to get 2 months of Therapy Notes free. Learn more about GreenOak Accounting Join my Focus Groups Money Matters in Private Practice \| The Course Google Workspace for Therapists \| The E-Course Session Note Helper 3.0 Join the Google Workspace (formerly G-Suite) for Therapists Users Group Cool Resources Follow @PracticeofTherapy on Instagram Meet Gordon Brewer, MEd, LMFT Gordon is the person behind The Practice of Therapy Podcast & Blog. He is also President and Founder of Kingsport Counseling Associates, PLLC. He is a therapist, consultant, business mentor, trainer, and writer. PLEASE Subscribe to The Practice of Therapy Podcast wherever you listen to it. Follow us on Twitter @therapistlearn, and Pinterest, “Like” us on Facebook.

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