Many therapists feel squeezed right now. 

Headway just announced a $9.99 fee on every session with a new client it sends you. The big platforms have the budgets, the content teams, and the search rankings. 

And the website that brought in steady inquiries a couple of years ago may have gone quiet.

Here's the good news. 

A therapist starting from scratch needs 15 to 20 clients, and most of Jamie's clients only need 5 to 7 more. 

You can win those clients with the things the big platforms can't give their providers: your personality, your expertise, and a website where people can picture working with you.

Today Daniel is talking to Jamie Reutershan, founder of Therapist Digital Marketing. Jamie spent 9 years at Google in New York, including 3 at Waze, then ran marketing for a portfolio of 5 brands. 

In 2022 a family friend asked for help marketing his group practice in New York City. The referrals kept coming, and Jamie now works full time on websites and Google Ads for therapists. His motto for this moment: bully your bullies back.

• Psychology Today now mostly sends people to your website. Jamie cited one analysis where 15% of profile visitors clicked through to the therapist's site and 5% emailed directly.
• Jamie cited a Herd analysis of therapists: those using 3 channels to bring people to their website were beating the average.
• Google Ads can target by state (useful for licensure), by what people search for, and, for cash-pay practices, by household income.
• Social media is free but slow. Someone may follow you for months before reaching out, though they're usually ready to start when they do.
• Paid traffic shows you where a weak website loses people. Jamie turns down ad clients whose websites aren't ready yet.
• Daniel's team uses AI for coding efficiencies and for SEO articles built on carefully refined inputs. Website copy is 100% human written.
• Google will spend as much money as you give it. Bringing in someone who knows ads usually costs less than learning it all yourself.

• Therapist Digital Marketing: therapistdigitalmarketing.com
• Jamie's free guide: Therapist Niche Performance Guide
• Jamie's newsletter: Therapist Marketing Newsletter
• Jamie's website templates for therapists and Google Ads for therapists

Ready to reach more of your ideal clients? Book a free call: privatepracticeelevation.com/kickoff

Alma simplifies access to high-quality, affordable mental health care by giving providers the tools to build thriving in-network practices. Learn more at helloalma.com/elevation.

Zanda gives practitioners simple, secure tools that reduce admin and strengthen operations. Start your free trial today.

Then something started to feel off. Pages load a little slower. A contact form stopped sending. An email showed up about an "update," and you have no idea what it means or whether clicking it will break something.

A website keeps needing work after launch, and nearly all of that work happens where you can't see it.

This episode covers what that work is, how your platform decides who does it, and what a WordPress care plan takes off your plate.

When was the last time you looked at your payment processing statement? A 3% flat rate on one session feels small. Across a full caseload, it adds up to thousands of dollars a year just to accept payments.

Helcim works differently. Instead of a flat rate, they use Interchange Plus pricing, which passes the real bank rate to you plus one clear margin. That cuts processing fees by about 25% on average. No monthly fees, no software fees, no contracts, and full HIPAA compliance. You also get digital invoicing, automatic payment reminders, and cards on file for easy post-session billing.

Start now and your first $5,000 in transactions is completely fee-free. Head to helcim.com/ppe or click the link in the show notes.

If you’d like help improving your website and turning more visitors into clients, you can schedule a Clarity Call here:

https://privatepracticeelevation.com/kickoff

They are scanning fast, a few seconds per site, and every one of those sites reads about the same. Warm, professional, safe space, judgment free, here to help you heal.

The site that gets the call is the one that named what this person is dealing with, in words that sounded like their own.

This episode is about the words on your page, where they matter most, and how to make one specific person feel seen.

Key takeaways

• Read the first 2 lines of your homepage, your service pages, and your about page. If they would fit any therapist in your city, that is the first thing to fix.
• Get the words right before you spend money on design or SEO. Copy that makes one specific person feel understood is what turns a visitor into a booked call.
• Writing this way about your own practice is hard when you are that close to it. The copywriting we do starts with one client and the exact words they use, and the Digital Trail Map session is where those details come out.

Links mentioned in this episode

• Digital Trail Map session: https://privatepracticeelevation.com/digital-trailmap-session/
• Free 15-minute Clarity Call: https://privatepracticeelevation.com/kickoff

This episode is brought to you by Helcim

When was the last time you looked at your payment processing statement? A 3% flat rate on one session feels small. Across a full caseload, it adds up to thousands of dollars a year just to accept payments.

Helcim works differently. Instead of a flat rate, they use Interchange Plus pricing, which passes the real bank rate to you plus one clear margin. That cuts processing fees by about 25% on average. No monthly fees, no software fees, no contracts, and full HIPAA compliance. You also get digital invoicing, automatic payment reminders, and cards on file for easy post-session billing.

Start now and your first $5,000 in transactions is completely fee-free. Head to helcim.com/PPE or click the link in the show notes.

Schedule A Call And Start Reaching More of Your Clients

If you’d like help improving your website and turning more visitors into clients, you can schedule a Clarity Call here:

https://privatepracticeelevation.com/kickoff

The hard part is that both paths can go wrong. You can lose a month of weekends to a DIY site that still doesn't bring in clients. Or you can hire on price alone and end up redoing the whole thing a year later.

You might think the deciding factor is a nicer template or a better designer. It's the strategy underneath the site, and that's true whether you build it yourself or hire out.

This episode gives you a simple way to know which option fits your practice today, so you can stop second-guessing and move forward.

Key takeaways

• The DIY site that never gets finished is the most expensive kind. It sits at 80% done for months and helps no one.
• Sending ads or SEO traffic to a site that doesn't convert just means more people landing and leaving.
• Picking a web designer on price alone often means paying twice, once now and again when you redo it in a year.
• "Looks good" and "gets clients" are two different goals. A pretty site that doesn't convert still isn't doing its job.
• Before you spend a dollar driving people to your site, make sure it's ready to turn that attention into inquiries.

This episode is brought to you by Helcim

When was the last time you looked at your payment processing statement? A 3% flat rate on one session feels small. Across a full caseload, it adds up to thousands of dollars a year just to accept payments.

Helcim works differently. Instead of a flat rate, they use Interchange Plus pricing, which passes the real bank rate to you plus one clear margin. That cuts processing fees by about 25% on average. No monthly fees, no software fees, no contracts, and full HIPAA compliance. You also get digital invoicing, automatic payment reminders, and cards on file for easy post-session billing.

Start now and your first $5,000 in transactions is completely fee-free. Head to helcim.com/PPE or click the link in the show notes.

Schedule A Call And Start Reaching More of Your Clients

If you’d like help improving your website and turning more visitors into clients, you can schedule a Clarity Call here:

https://privatepracticeelevation.com/kickoff

Get that part right and you build the site once, instead of paying to redo it in 18 months.

Many therapists treat a website like a one-time purchase. You pay for it, it launches, you move on. 

Then a year and a half later you're back where you started, writing another check for another site, because the first one never actually fit the practice.

You might think the fix is a better designer or a nicer template. It's not. The projects that work start with strategy, not design. 

This episode walks through what that planning looks like, and why it's the difference between a site that works and one you'll replace.

Key takeaways

• A homepage that tries to speak to everyone connects with no one. Name your priority client first.
• "Look professional" isn't a goal. A booked consult call is a goal.
• Words come before design. Design makes a message land, it can't create one.
• Your analytics already hold answers. Before rebuilding, check what's working and what isn't. Sometimes 2 pages are doing all the work.
• Client language belongs in your headlines. The exact phrases people use ("I feel stuck," "my nervous system feels broken") become the pages that answer them.
• Sequence matters. Build the pages that convert first, then add ongoing content. Publishing blog posts on a site that doesn't convert is a common way to waste money.

Links mentioned in this episode

• Learn about the Digital Trailmap Session: privatepracticeelevation.com/digital-trailmap-session
• Book a free 15-minute call to talk through your plan: privatepracticeelevation.com/kickoff

This episode is brought to you by Helcim

When was the last time you looked at your payment processing statement? A 3% flat rate on one session feels small. Across a full caseload, it adds up to thousands of dollars a year just to accept payments.

Helcim works differently. Instead of a flat rate, they use Interchange Plus pricing, which passes the real bank rate to you plus one clear margin. That cuts processing fees by about 25% on average. No monthly fees, no software fees, no contracts, and full HIPAA compliance. You also get digital invoicing, automatic payment reminders, and cards on file for easy post-session billing.

Start now and your first $5,000 in transactions is completely fee-free. Head to helcim.com/PPE or click the link in the show notes.

That's a problem if your practice depends on being found online. You can have a beautiful, well-written site and still get skipped, because people are getting their answers before they ever click.

The way people search for a therapist has changed fast. AI summaries now sit at the top of Google, and more people are skipping search altogether and asking ChatGPT for a name. Your future clients are forming opinions about you before they land on your site.

In this episode I break down what's happening with AI search, why it hits therapy practices harder than most local businesses, and what it takes to make your website one that AI can read and recommend.

If you've wondered whether your site is ready for how people search in 2026, this one's for you.

Key Takeaways:

• 68% of Google searches end without a click (SparkToro, June 2026)
• 45% used AI to find a local business last year, up from 6% (BrightLocal, 2026)
• AI Overviews on 92% of informational local searches
• Most therapy sites bury the facts AI needs
• AI-ready: plain facts up top, answer-style content, current GBP, schema, specific copy

Links mentioned in this episode:

• SparkToro zero-click study, June 2026 (via Search Engine Land) — the 68% zero-click stat
• BrightLocal 2026 Local Consumer Review Survey — the jump from 6% to 45% AI adoption
• How AI Is Impacting Local Search (ALM Corp) — the 68% local and 92% informational-search numbers (Whitespark data)
• How AI Overviews Impact Local Businesses (LocaliQ) — why pages that persuade instead of explain get skipped

Schedule A Call And Start Reaching More of Your Clients

If you’d like help improving your website and turning more visitors into clients, you can schedule a Clarity Call here:

https://privatepracticeelevation.com/kickoff

She built Alive Counselling in Kelowna, BC through a cold call, conversations at the hockey rink, and a lot of trial and error. In this episode she walks Daniel through the whole thing: from a career-ending hockey injury at Ohio State, to sole proprietor juggling nap times and clients during COVID, to an award-winning clinic with 19 therapists.

If you're a solo practice owner wondering whether to hire your first associate, or how to grow without losing what makes your practice yours, this one's for you.

Key Takeaways:

• Barbara's first hire came from a cold call. A therapist found her website, connected with a quote on it, and asked to move across the country to work for her.
• Most of her growth started with regular conversations at the rink and at school pickup, where people kept asking her for a trusted referral.
• People connect through pain, not highlight reels. Share the scar after it's healed, not while it's still raw.
• The business side isn't in the grad school curriculum. Barbara learned bookkeeping, contracts, billing, and hiring as she went.
• Her biggest lesson: delegate. A growing practice runs on a team, not the owner doing everything.
• What's next: a move to the US, a Tennessee license, and a new coaching business with her husband.

Links mentioned in this episode:

• Alive Coaching Group: alivecoachinggroup.com
• Alive Counselling: alivecounselling.com
• Barbara's free resource, Top 10 Tips for Mental Preparation (for athletes and their parents)
• Ready to reach more of your ideal clients? Book a free call: privatepracticeelevation.com/kickoff

Our Sponsors

This episode is brought to you by Zanda. Zanda is practice management software built for health and wellness practices, with scheduling, client records, billing, and telehealth in one place. Learn more at zandahealth.com/us.

This episode is also brought to you by Alma. Alma gives providers the tools to build thriving in-network private practices: insurance support, teletherapy software, client referrals, automated billing and scheduling, and a community of clinicians. Learn more at helloalma.com/elevation.

A lot of therapy websites have the same gap. No real logo. Just the practice name typed in a nice font, sitting up in the corner.

It feels like a small detail. It carries more weight than that. In this episode, we look at what a logo actually does for your practice, the mistakes most owners make when they try to fix theirs, and what a good therapy logo really needs to pull off.

If your site has a text-based logo right now, or no real logo at all, this one's for you.

Key Takeaways

A logo is a trust signal, not decoration

• It works in about 3 seconds — When someone lands on your site, a real logo tells them they've found a legit practice run by someone who pays attention to the details.
• It makes you memorable — Most people aren't looking at only your site. They've got 4 or 5 therapist tabs open and they're comparing. A clear logo makes you the one they remember.
• It ties your brand together — Your website, Psychology Today profile, Google Business profile, and directory listings all point back to one recognizable identity. That consistency reads as trust to clients, and it's a signal Google and AI tools notice too.

Typography is not a logo

• A name in a font is a starting point — A real logo pairs a mark, a color system, and a font that work together as a set.
• The opposite mistake is just as common — Some owners pay for an elaborate, over-designed logo before they have consistent branding anywhere else, so the fancy mark ends up on a site that doesn't match it.

What a good therapy logo needs to do

• It scales both ways — Simple enough to work as a tiny favicon and clear as a large header image.
• It works in one color — Print it in black and white. If it still reads, it's solid.
• It matches your practice — A trauma-focused practice and a couples intensives practice serve different people, so their logos should look different too.

The fix doesn't have to be expensive

• You don't need a full brand overhaul — A simple wordmark, a consistent color palette, and one supporting icon covers about 90% of practices.
• Typography is okay for now — Especially in your first 1 to 3 years. It beats a blank space. Getting a real logo sooner rather than later still pays off.
• Affordable options exist — Real designers on 99designs, Upwork, and Etsy can create a logo without a four-figure rebrand.
• We settle this before design starts — The brand details behind a logo are exactly what we map out in a Digital Trailmap Session, before any design work begins.

Links mentioned in this episode

• 99designs 
• Upwork.com
• Etsy.com
• Our Digital Trailmap Session

Schedule A Call And Start Reaching More of Your Clients

If you’d like help improving your website and turning more visitors into clients, you can schedule a Clarity Call here:

https://privatepracticeelevation.com/kickoff

Most therapists put real thought into their clinical skills, but what about the space a client walks into? 

Harsh lighting, a stiff waiting room, a cold and sterile feel. When a client shows up nervous and the space adds to it, you spend the first session rebuilding trust you didn't need to lose.

Samantha Barash is a registered dietitian and the founder of The Practice Collective, a shared office space for mental health providers in Metro Detroit. She's designed several offices around one question: how do I want people to feel when they walk in? In this episode she shares the small, low-cost changes that make a space feel warm and safe.

In this episode, you'll learn:

• Why the space sets the tone before the work even starts
• The lighting change that shifts the whole feel of a room
• Simple ways to make an office feel like a home, not a clinic
• The fastest, cheapest upgrades you can make this month
• Why your office should match what clients see on your website

Links mentioned:

• The Practice Collective: https://www.practice-collective.com/
• The Practice Collective on Instagram: @practice.collective
• Tap Into Nutrition on Instagram: @tap.into.nutrition

Our Sponsors

This episode is brought to you by Zanda. Zanda is practice management software built for health and wellness practices, with scheduling, client records, billing, and telehealth in one place. Learn more at zandahealth.com/us.

This episode is also brought to you by Alma. Alma gives providers the tools to build thriving in-network private practices: insurance support, teletherapy software, client referrals, automated billing and scheduling, and a community of clinicians. Learn more at helloalma.com/elevation.

Elevate Your Website with PPE

Ready to bring your brand to life on a website that matches the experience your clients get in person? Book a free call at privatepracticeelevation.com/kickoff.

Most practice owners track their website traffic, watch the number climb, and assume things are working. Then the schedule stays quiet.

Traffic is only the first step. Where most practices lose clients is everything that happens after someone reaches out.

Whitney Owens tracks all of it. She runs Water's Edge Counseling, a private-pay group practice in Savannah, and coaches practice owners through Wise Practice Consulting.

In this episode she shows you where the leaks really are, and what to do once you can see them.

A few things you'll learn:

• Why website traffic is the wrong place to stop looking
• The first thing to track when you feel overwhelmed
• How to find out which marketing actually brings clients
• The conversion gap between a phone call and a contact form
• Why no-show numbers matter more than you think
• How often to check your numbers without it eating your week

If you've got Google Analytics installed and haven't opened it in months, this one's for you.

Links:

• Wise Practice Consulting: https://wisepracticeconsulting.com
• Water's Edge Counseling: https://watersedgecounseling.com

Our sponsors:

Alma simplifies access to high-quality, affordable mental health care by giving providers the tools to build thriving in-network practices. Learn more at helloalma.com/elevation.

Zanda gives practitioners simple, secure tools that reduce admin and strengthen operations. Start your free trial today.

If that sounds familiar, this one's for you. A lot of practice owners hit a point where the numbers say "profitable" but the account always feels empty, and they can't figure out why.

My guest is Emily Bowie, a CPA and Cash Flow Strategist with more than 15 years of experience, including her time as an audit manager in Big Four accounting. She's the CFO at Thorne Advisors, where she helps therapists and other service-driven professionals find the money that's slipping out of their business.

We get into where practices quietly lose cash, why pricing is almost always the biggest leak, and what your balance sheet is telling you that your profit and loss isn't. Emily also shares the difference between the person who files your taxes and the person who actually helps you pay less. They're not always the same.

If you've ever looked at your books and thought "where did it all go," Emily will help you find the answer.

Key Takeaways:

• Get your books done monthly, not just at tax time. You can't fix leaks you can't see.
• Pricing is the biggest leak in most practices. If you've never checked your fees against your overhead, you're probably undercharging.
• Raise prices with new clients first, then bring existing clients up slowly.
• Run an expense audit at least once a year. For every expense, ask: what is this, do I still need it, and is it giving me a return.
• Keep personal and business spending separate. Mixing them muddies your numbers and adds liability risk.
• A tax preparer files your return. A tax strategist helps you lower the bill. They're not always the same person.

Links mentioned in this episode:

• Thorne Advisors
• Emily on Instagram: @emilyvbowie

Our sponsors:

Alma simplifies access to high-quality, affordable mental health care by giving providers the tools to build thriving in-network practices. Learn more at helloalma.com/elevation.

Zanda gives practitioners simple, secure tools that reduce admin and strengthen operations. Start your free trial today.

Daniel opens by sharing something that came up on a recent family vacation: his wife, who leads a team of 5 clinicians, often had to field texts and questions while trying to enjoy family time. It's a familiar pattern for a lot of practice owners, and Brittany Schank knows it well.

Brittany is the owner of Solace Counseling, a 13-clinician group practice in Fargo, North Dakota. She's also a mom of 4, a nearly 20-year member of the Air National Guard, and runs the business alongside her husband, who serves as COO. 

In this conversation, Brittany talks about why being needed feels good long before it starts costing you, and the real systems she put in place to change it.

This episode answers:

• Why do practice owners end up as the bottleneck by default?
• What made Brittany realize she needed to change this?
• What are the practical steps to build a team that doesn't need you for everything?
• Plus: why some tasks that drain you might genuinely fulfill someone else on your team, and how Brittany went from overseeing 13 clinicians directly to overseeing 2 team leads.

Our sponsors:

Alma simplifies access to high-quality, affordable mental health care by giving providers the tools to build thriving in-network practices. Learn more at helloalma.com/elevation.

Zanda gives practitioners simple, secure tools that reduce admin and strengthen operations. Start your free trial today.

Documentation, insurance, intake, session prep. For every 45 to 50 minutes of therapy, a clinician spends about 90 minutes total, and most of that is admin that eats into your evenings and weekends.

Daniel talks with Ian Knox, Chief Product Officer at SimplePractice, about the 4 places AI saves therapists the most time, why you don't need AI to start automating, and how to add these tools without losing the human side of care.

In this episode, you'll learn:

• You don't need AI to start. Appointment reminders, online scheduling, auto pay, and mass document sharing save real time and are already built into your tool.
• Note-taking is the biggest early win. SimplePractice sees an average of 5 hours saved per week and documentation done 40% faster.
• The 4 buckets where AI helps most: clinical support, insurance and billing, practice operations, and building your business.
• Beyond time, you get better care. When you're not writing notes mid-session, you're more present with the client.
• The next wave of AI does tasks for you: verifying benefits, catching claim errors before submission, and deciphering insurance denials.
• AI can fill cancelled slots, pull from your waitlist, and match new clients to the right clinician in a group practice.
• SimplePractice doesn't train its base model on your data. A clinical team grades notes to guide quality, and they just launched a Trust Center.
• AI supports clinical judgment. It never replaces it.

Links mentioned in this episode:

• SimplePractice Trust Center
• Book a free 15-minute call with Daniel: privatepracticeelevation.com/kickoff

Our sponsors:

Alma simplifies access to high-quality, affordable mental health care by giving providers the tools to build thriving in-network practices. Learn more at helloalma.com/elevation.

Zanda gives practitioners simple, secure tools that reduce admin and strengthen operations. Start your free trial today.

Then 6 months later, you realize you're not getting inquiries. What happened?

A lot of practice owners assume their website will just work once it's live. And the truth is, some parts of your website can absolutely be set up once and left alone. But other parts? They need consistent attention if you want the site to actually bring in clients.

In this episode, Daniel breaks down exactly which pieces of your website fall into the "set it" category and which ones you can't afford to forget about. He also talks about a pattern he's seen over the years with clients who come back months after launch wondering why the phone isn't ringing.

Key takeaways

• Your design, structure, and core pages are the foundation. Get them right at launch and they hold.
• Ongoing blog content builds your visibility over time. Google rewards consistency.
• Each article is a chance to rank for a new keyword and strengthen your service pages through internal linking.
• Traffic without engagement is a vanity metric. Check your analytics to make sure people are actually using your site.

Links mentioned in this episode

Schedule a free kickoff call: privatepracticeelevation.com/kickoff

For most therapists, burnout isn't about the sessions. It's the admin, the paperwork, the after-hours notes. You're working all the time and something feels off, but you don't have space to figure out why.

Damien Adler makes the case that a draining practice is usually a design problem, not an inevitability. And design problems can be fixed.

Damien is a registered psychologist and co-founder of Zanda, a practice management system used by tens of thousands of practitioners across more than 20 countries. He built a group private practice with his wife before turning to technology, so he's lived this himself and now sees the same patterns play out worldwide.

In This Episode, You'll Learn:

• Why your training prepared you for clinical work but not for running a business
• How "vanity metrics" like staff count and revenue pull you away from what you actually want
• Why a practice built around one key admin person is a hidden risk
• How most practice management systems can do far more than scheduling
• Where AI lightens the load, like drafting SOPs and writing clinical notes in your style
• Why you should block recurring quarterly time to work on the business, not just in it

Links mentioned in this episode:

• Episode 186. From Burned-out Psychologist to Software Entrepreneur with Damien Adler
• Zanda Health
• Damien on LinkedIn and X
• Damien's Substack

Our Sponsors:

Alma simplifies access to high-quality, affordable mental health care by giving providers the tools to build thriving in-network practices.

Zanda gives practitioners simple, secure tools that reduce admin and strengthen operations. Start your free trial today.

If you've ever come home from work so drained that all you can do is crawl into bed, this episode is for you.

Today's guest, Jenny Melrose, helps therapists stop trading time for money by turning the psychoeducation they're already teaching in session into digital products and services they can sell while they sleep.

Jenny isn't a therapist herself. She's a former inner-city teacher who built a successful food blog back in 2010 (before Pinterest and Instagram existed), sold it in 2019, and now helps practice owners apply those same marketing principles to grow their revenue without working more hours.

A lot of therapists assume that the only way to make more money is to fit more clients into the week. 

But that thinking is exactly what leads to seeing 36 clients, hitting a wall, and having to take two weeks off just to recover. 

Jenny shows you a different path. One built on niching down, creating supplemental resources, and building a real relationship with your audience through email.

This Episode Answers...

1. Why isn't getting more clients the answer to growing my practice?
2. How do I figure out what digital product or service to create?
3. Why does my email list matter more than my social media following?

In This Episode, You'll Also Learn:

• Why niching down attracts more clients, not fewer
• How to spot the "psychoeducation patterns" hiding in your sessions that could become a product
• Real examples of digital offers therapists have successfully created — courses, workbooks, journals, and group intensives
• How a supplemental resource can actually improve outcomes inside the therapy room
• Why your blog and website are the only platforms Google can find (and social media isn't)
• The simple monthly newsletter strategy that keeps you front-of-mind with past and potential clients
• How to use your email list for real-time market research before you build anything

Links mentioned in this episode:

• Jenny Melrose's Strategic Growth Guide
• The Practice to Profit Podcast
• Schedule a Free Clarity Call with Daniel

Our Sponsors:

Alma simplifies access to high-quality, affordable mental health care by giving providers the tools to build thriving in-network practices. Learn more at helloalma.com/elevation.

Zanda gives practitioners simple, secure tools that reduce admin and strengthen operations. Start your free trial at zandahealth.com.

Most therapists we talk to land somewhere between "nervous" and "fully avoiding it."

But AI isn't going away. And the therapists who learn to use it well are going to have a real advantage when it comes to marketing their practices.

In this episode, Daniel sits down with Dr. Carolyn Solo, PhD, LCSW, for an honest, behind-the-scenes look at exactly how she uses AI in her business every single week.

From writing blog posts and social media captions to optimizing her website, building courses, and creating freebies for her email list, Carolyn walks through the real workflows that have saved her hours of time.

Carolyn is an EMDRIA-approved consultant, the founder of Integritas Wellness and Recovery in Vermont, and the host of the Future Template Parent podcast.

She'll be the first to tell you she was skeptical of AI for a long time. But over the past year, she's built a thoughtful, ethical workflow that helps her show up across more platforms, without losing the voice that makes her work feel like hers.

If you've been hesitant to dip your toes in, this episode is your permission slip.

Other Key Takeaways:

• Why blogging isn't dead, and how 8 to 10 strong posts can carry your SEO
• How to use AI to repurpose one piece of content across blogs, social, and email
• Why a website alone isn't enough anymore for a premium-fee practice
• How in-person therapy is becoming a real asset again in the age of AI
• Why niching down matters more now than ever before
• How Carolyn used Claude to optimize a 12-hour video course and tighten it up without losing value
• A simple way to use AI to plan webinars and trim your slide decks
• Why your "marketing ecosystem" matters,and how AI cuts the blank-page overwhelm that stops most therapists from posting consistently

Links mentioned in this episode:

• Future Template Parent Podcast
• Integritas Wellness and Recovery
• Instagram: @futuretemplateparent and @integritas_intensive_emdr
• Free Intensive Workbook (available on Carolyn's website)
• Carolyn's freebie: "5 Things You Can Do to Start Marketing Intensives"

Our Sponsors:

Alma simplifies access to high-quality, affordable mental health care by giving providers the tools to build thriving in-network practices. Learn more at helloalma.com/elevation.

Zanda gives practitioners simple, secure tools that reduce admin and strengthen operations. Start your free trial at zandahealth.com.

It's exciting. It's also a little exhausting.

As a practice owner, you're already juggling a full caseload, managing your team, and trying to keep up with your marketing. The last thing you need is another shiny tool that takes weeks to figure out and never quite delivers on the promise.

Daniel's been deep in the AI world lately, testing tools, building automations, and figuring out what's genuinely useful for running a small business. And right now, there's one tool he keeps coming back to.

It's called Victor (spelled VIKTOR), and it's unlike most of the AI tools you've probably seen.

Instead of being another dashboard you have to log into and learn, Victor lives inside Slack, which is a communication tool a lot of small teams already use. You talk to it like you would a team member. You tell it what you need, and it gets to work.

The best part? It connects to over 3,000 platforms.

So if you're already using popular online services, Victor can start connecting the dots between them, and automate the tasks that are eating up your time.

In this episode, Daniel walks you through exactly how he set it up and what it's doing for him every single week — including how it now handles his entire podcast publishing workflow without him lifting a finger.

Key Takeaways

• Victor (VIKTOR) is an AI tool that lives inside Slack and connects to over 3,000 platforms — think Google Drive, Asana, WordPress, ConvertKit, YouTube, Spotify, and more.
• It works conversationally, like having a team member in Slack you can assign tasks to.
• Daniel used Victor to fully automate his Monday morning podcast publishing workflow — from pulling show notes out of Asana to embedding Spotify and YouTube links and publishing to WordPress.
• Victor also drafts the weekly email newsletter and drops a draft Google Doc, ready for Daniel to personalize before scheduling.
• The tool gets smarter over time. As you refine it, it updates its own "skills files" so it knows what to do next time.
• You don't have to be a developer. The whole thing is conversational, you just tell it what you need.
• Great use cases for practice owners: blog post ideation, content publishing workflows, social media post creation and scheduling.

Links Mentioned in This Episode

• Try Victor: privatepracticeelevation.com/viktor - (PPE referral link)

Schedule A Call And Start Reaching More of Your Clients

If you’d like help improving your website and turning more visitors into clients, you can schedule a Clarity Call here:

https://privatepracticeelevation.com/kickoff

But that's the wrong question.

In this episode of On The Trail, Daniel breaks down when Google Ads actually make sense, the one quiet mistake that drains ad budgets, and why the smartest practice owners run both, and shift the balance over time.

If you've been wondering whether to start ads, turn them off, dive into SEO, or some combination of all three, this episode will give you a clear way to think about it.

Key Takeaways

• Google Ads buy you speed. You can be in front of people searching for a therapist within days — useful when you just opened, a clinician left and you have openings to fill, you've added a new service or location, or your caseload dipped and you can't wait for SEO to catch up.
• Don't pour traffic into a leaky bucket. Ads only work if your website works. If someone lands on a confusing, slow, or unconvincing site, you've paid for that click and gotten nothing.
• Your website needs to do three things before you spend a dollar on ads: clearly explain who you help, build trust, and make it obvious how to get started.
• Work with someone who understands the numbers. Knowing whether ads are actually producing booked clients (not just clicks) requires someone who can read your analytics and tell the whole story.
• SEO is the long game — and it builds an asset you own. Ads stop the moment you stop paying. Organic rankings keep working and compound over time.
• The smart move is running both, then shifting the balance. Ads carry you through the months while SEO is still building. As your organic visibility grows, you can dial ad spend down — because clients are finding you for free.
• It's possible to grow on organic alone. Daniel's wife has run her practice since 2011 without ever running Google Ads — SEO and blog content are her primary driver for new clients.
• Think timeline, not either/or. Ads for now, SEO for later, both working toward the day you need ads less and less.

Links Mentioned in This Episode

• Last episode of On The Trail: How Long Does SEO Take to Work?
• RevKey: Our reccommended Google Ads management for therapists: https://www.revkey.com
• Book a free consultation with Private Practice Elevation: privatepracticeelevation.com/kickoff

Schedule A Call And Start Reaching More of Your Clients

If you’d like help improving your website and turning more visitors into clients, you can schedule a Clarity Call here:

https://privatepracticeelevation.com/kickoff

A lot of practice owners are feeling the pinch right now — fewer inquiries, quieter schedules, more pressure to keep clinicians busy. When things get quiet, SEO starts to look like the fix. But here's the honest truth: if you need clients this month, SEO probably isn't going to save you.

Daniel busts the biggest myth that frustrates practice owners — the idea that SEO delivers new clients in a few weeks. The reality is that meaningful results take 6 to 12 months, sometimes longer in competitive markets.

Google has to crawl your site, trust your content, and decide you deserve to rank above therapists who've been at this for years. There's no shortcut.

So why bother? Because SEO is like a 401k. The best time to start was a year ago, and the second best time is today. It compounds — one ranking page leads to more traffic, more visibility, more backlinks, and a stronger site overall.

The practices winning right now are the ones who started a year or two ago and stayed consistent.

If you need clients right now, you'll want faster tools: Google Ads to get in front of people actively searching, networking with referral partners, reactivating past clients through email, and dialing in your directory profiles.

The smartest move isn't SEO or ads — it's both. Ads and networking keep the lights on today, while SEO builds the steady, sustainable growth that carries your practice into next year.

Key Takeaways

• SEO takes 6 to 12 months to show meaningful results — sometimes longer in saturated markets like NYC or San Francisco.
• If an agency promises rankings in a month, be cautious. They may be overpromising or using risky "black hat" tactics.
• Think of SEO like a 401k: it compounds over time when you stay consistent.
• A realistic timeline: small movement around month 3, real traction by month 6, compounding results by month 12.
• If you need clients now, SEO isn't the answer — Google Ads and networking are.
• Don't treat SEO and ads as either/or. Stack them: ads for now, SEO for later.
• Simple short-term moves: network with referral partners, reactivate past clients, and update your directory profiles.
• Don't skip SEO just because it's slow. It's what keeps your practice sustainable when ad budgets tighten or referrals dry up.

Links Mentioned in This Episode

• Schedule a clarity call with Private Practice Elevation: privatepracticeelevation.com/kickoff

In this episode, Daniel sits down with Madeline Larsen, co-founder of PracticeVital, to talk about the KPIs every therapy practice should be tracking (but usually isn't).

Madeline and her team help hundreds of group practices turn their EHR data into clear, actionable insights. 

She breaks down which metrics actually matter, why retention is often the first red flag to watch for, and how to use data without drowning in spreadsheets.

If you've ever felt like more marketing should be solving your growth problems—but isn't—this episode will help you figure out what's really happening inside your practice.

Key Takeaways:

• Therapists often become business owners without formal training in operations or analytics
• Data helps practice owners move from gut decisions to informed decisions
• Retention is often the first "red flag" metric to investigate
• Low retention acts like a "leaky bucket"—clients come in but quickly drop out
• Utilization rates help determine whether it's time to increase marketing or hire new clinicians
• Tracking average revenue per session helps you understand client lifetime value and marketing ROI
• Data makes difficult conversations with clinicians easier by providing objective context
• Metrics are most powerful when used together, not in isolation

Links Mentioned:

• PracticeVital: https://www.practicevital.com (Use code PrivatePracticeElevation for $30 off your first month)
• Private Practice Elevation: https://privatepracticeelevation.com/

This Episode Is Brought To You By:

Alma is on a mission to simplify access to high-quality, affordable mental health care by giving providers the tools they need to build thriving in-network private practices. When providers join Alma, they gain access to insurance support, teletherapy software, client referrals, automated billing and scheduling tools, and a vibrant community of clinicians who come together for education, training, and events.

Learn more at helloalma.com/elevation.

That's a mistake, and it's quietly costing you traffic, time, and clients.

In this episode of On The Trail, the focus is on why the FAQ page might be one of the most underrated pages on your private practice website, and how to make it work harder for you.

People search Google in questions. 

They want to know if you take insurance, what a session costs, and what to expect before they ever pick up the phone. 

When your website doesn't answer those questions, visitors close the tab and Google someone else.

A good FAQ page solves three problems at once: it brings in SEO traffic from real searches, it cuts down on the same five questions hitting your inbox every week, and it builds trust with nervous therapy seekers who need a few answers before they feel safe reaching out.

This episode also covers the one upgrade most practices miss — putting service-specific FAQs on every service page, so a couples client and a trauma client each see the questions that matter to them.

Key Takeaways

• FAQ pages are some of the highest-intent pages on your website — the people reading them are close to booking
• Each question and answer is a chance to use the words your ideal clients are typing into Google
• Internal links from FAQ answers to service pages help both SEO and conversions
• A clear FAQ page means better-qualified consult calls and less back-and-forth in your inbox
• Adding FAQ sections to each service page lets you speak directly to that specific type of client

Links mentioned in this episode:

• Learn about PPE's SEO Services
• Get an SEO Assessment for your website
• Schedule a free 15-minute Clarity Call to get started

Schedule A Call And Start Reaching More of Your Clients

If you’d like help improving your website and turning more visitors into clients, you can schedule a Clarity Call here:

https://privatepracticeelevation.com/kickoff

In this episode, Daniel sits down with Dr. Charmain Jackman, award-winning psychologist, TEDx speaker, founder of InnoPsych, and author of The Black Therapist's Guide to Private Practice and Entrepreneurship. They unpack the mindset shifts that move therapists from "I can't run a business" to building a practice that actually supports their life.

You'll learn:

• Why grad school leaves most clinicians unprepared for the business side — and how to fix it
• How to uncover your "money story" and stop letting it limit your growth
• The three biggest mindset blocks that keep therapists stuck (and how to push through)
• Why launching imperfect almost always beats waiting for perfect
• The cultural messages around self-promotion that hold therapists back from marketing

Whether you're just starting out or trying to grow, this conversation will give you a fresh lens on what it takes to build a thriving practice.

Links mentioned:

• InnoPsych: https://www.innopsych.com
• Get your copy of The Black Therapist’s Guide to Private Practice and Entrepreneurship (20% Promo Code: 
• Download An Exerpt of the book
• Book a free Kickoff Call: https://privatepracticeelevation.com/kickoff

Sponsors: Alma (helloalma.com/elevation)

In this episode, Daniel sits down with Maria Szandrach, co-founder of Mentalyc, to talk about how AI can actually help clinicians without replacing the human connection that makes therapy work.

If you've been curious (or cautious) about AI, this conversation will help you sort out what's genuinely useful, what's risky, and what's worth paying attention to as the technology evolves.

In this episode, you'll learn:

• How AI can support therapists with documentation, pattern recognition, and tracking client progress
• Where AI falls short — and why it shouldn't replace the relational work of therapy
• What "insurance-ready documentation" really means (and how AI helps you stay compliant)
• The ethical questions every therapist should be asking before using AI tools
• Why data security and privacy matter more than ever in mental health tech

About our guest: Maria Szandrach is the co-founder of Mentalyc, an AI-powered documentation and insights platform built specifically for therapists. Her own experience as a teen in therapy sparked a mission to improve the mental health system using technology — without losing the heart of clinical care.

Links mentioned in this episode:

• Mentalyc Website

This Episode Is Brought To You By The Following Sponsors:

Zanda practice management software is excited to partner with Private Practice Elevation Podcast to support practitioners with simple, secure tools that reduce admin and strengthen practice operations. Together, we’re helping practitioners spend less time on paperwork and more time with clients. 

If you’re ready to spend less time on admin and more time with clients, visit zandahealth.com to start your free trial.

Alma is on a mission to simplify access to high-quality, affordable mental health care by giving providers the tools they need to build thriving in-network private practices. When providers join Alma, they gain access to insurance support, teletherapy software, client referrals, automated billing and scheduling tools, and a vibrant community of clinicians who come together for education, training, and events.

Learn more about building a thriving private practice with Alma at helloalma.com/elevation.

The problem may not be traffic. It might actually be conversion.

In this episode of On The Trail, Daniel Fava shares 5 simple ways to improve your website so more visitors become therapy clients. 

He explains how small changes to your website’s structure, messaging, and user experience can make a big difference in whether someone decides to reach out.

A good therapy website should make visitors feel understood, comfortable, and confident about taking the next step. 

That means having a clear call to action, making the website easy to navigate, using copy that speaks directly to your ideal client, building trust quickly, and making it simple for people to contact you. 

Daniel also shares a bonus tip about using Google Analytics to measure engagement and see what’s actually working on your website.

If your website is getting visitors but not generating many inquiries, this episode will help you understand what might be missing and what you can improve.

Key Takeaways

• Your website should have one clear call to action.
• A simple, easy-to-use website converts better than a complicated one.
• Website copy should speak to the client’s struggles and goals, not just your credentials.
• Building trust quickly is essential for therapy websites.
• Make it easy and comfortable for people to contact you.
• Google Analytics can help you measure and improve your website over time.

If you’d like help improving your website and turning more visitors into clients, you can schedule a Clarity Call here:

https://privatepracticeelevation.com/kickoff

In this episode of On The Trail, the focus is on how website speed affects both user experience and search rankings. 

Google wants to send people to the best websites. Ones that are helpful and easy to use. And website speed is one of the factors that influences how websites perform in search results.

Many private practice websites become slow over time without the owner realizing it. 

The site may still look great, but behind the scenes it may be loading slowly, especially on mobile devices. When that happens, visitors often leave before taking the next step, and search engines take notice.

This episode explains why website speed matters, how it impacts both visitors and SEO, and why performance is just as important as design when it comes to a successful private practice website.

Key Takeaways

• Website speed affects both user experience and SEO
• Slow websites often cause visitors to leave quickly
• User experience is an important part of how Google evaluates websites
• Many websites become slow over time without owners realizing it
• A successful website should be clear, helpful, and fast

If you’re not sure how your website is performing from an SEO and overall website health standpoint, Private Practice Elevation offers an SEO Assessment where your website, SEO, and online presence are reviewed and you receive clear recommendations for improvement.

Learn more about the SEO Assessment here:
https://privatepracticeelevation.com/assessment

Many therapists feel overwhelmed by social media. We know because we hear it all the time!

Maybe you're not sure what to share, or you feel drained by the thought of showing up on camera. Social media often feels like a black hole of energy with little return.

You don't have to be an influencer to use social media effectively. 

You don’t need to go viral or share every detail of your life. 

In fact, social media can work best for therapists when it’s intentional, strategic, and aligned with your values.

Today, Daniel is talking with Abbie Aragon, the founder of Abbie Shares, a social media management and design studio that supports therapists. With a background in psychology and years of experience helping mental health professionals, Abbie understands the nuances of building a social presence that feels human, ethical, and effective.

This Episode Answers…

1. Why should therapists even bother with social media if they don’t enjoy it? 

Abbie explains that social media is about building trust. Most potential clients will Google you and check your Instagram before booking a session. Showing up online, even in small ways, helps reduce the barrier to that first call.

2. What if you don’t want to be an influencer? 

Good news: You don’t have to be. Abbie shares how therapists can leverage their deep well of knowledge to create valuable content that educates and connects, not entertains.

3. How do you actually get started with social media without burning out? 

Start small. Try different content formats and see what feels right. Don’t overthink it. Abbie emphasizes finding a platform that aligns with your client demographic and your own energy.

Links mentioned in this episode:

• www.abbieshares.com
• abbieshares on Instagram
• Start your website project with PPE by scheduling a free call

This Episode Is Brought To You By The Following Sponsors:

Zanda practice management software is excited to partner with Private Practice Elevation Podcast to support practitioners with simple, secure tools that reduce admin and strengthen practice operations. Together, we’re helping practitioners spend less time on paperwork and more time with clients. 

If you’re ready to spend less time on admin and more time with clients, visit zandahealth.com to start your free trial.

Alma is on a mission to simplify access to high-quality, affordable mental health care by giving providers the tools they need to build thriving in-network private practices. When providers join Alma, they gain access to insurance support, teletherapy software, client referrals, automated billing and scheduling tools, and a vibrant community of clinicians who come together for education, training, and events.

Learn more about building a thriving private practice with Alma at helloalma.com/elevation.

You'll learn how the rules of SEO have shifted, why blogging is still relevant, and how to update your strategy so your website can continue to attract ideal clients in 2026 and beyond.

Many therapists are noticing a decline in website traffic and inquiries. The old way of blogging (focusing on quantity and keyword stuffing) just isn't cutting it anymore. 

If your organic reach has dwindled, you’re not alone. It’s time to rethink how you create content for your private practice website.

You might think that more blog posts automatically mean more traffic. But today, Google and AI search are prioritizing quality over quantity. That means it’s not about how much you write. 

It’s about how well your content showcases your expertise, experience, and trustworthiness.

This Episode Answers…

1. Is blogging still a useful marketing tool for private practice therapists? 

Yes, but only if you adjust your strategy. Blogging still builds connection, demonstrates expertise, and supports SEO, but it needs to be deeper, more thoughtful, and clearly aligned with client needs.

2. How has SEO changed in light of AI and new search features? 

Search engines now prioritize structured, high-quality content that demonstrates EEAT: Experience, Expertise, Authoritativeness, and Trustworthiness. That means your content needs a human touch and depth that AI just can’t replicate.

3. What should therapists focus on instead of keyword stuffing? 

Focus on topical depth. That means creating in-depth pillar blog posts supported by shorter, related articles. This structured approach helps AI and Google understand how your content fits together and who it helps.

Links mentioned in this episode:

• Learn about PPE’s SEO Services
• Schedule a free 15-minute Clarity Call to get started

This Episode Is Brought To You By The Following Sponsors:

Zanda practice management software is excited to partner with Private Practice Elevation Podcast to support practitioners with simple, secure tools that reduce admin and strengthen practice operations. Together, we’re helping practitioners spend less time on paperwork and more time with clients. 

If you’re ready to spend less time on admin and more time with clients, visit zandahealth.com to start your free trial.

Alma is on a mission to simplify access to high-quality, affordable mental health care by giving providers the tools they need to build thriving in-network private practices. When providers join Alma, they gain access to insurance support, teletherapy software, client referrals, automated billing and scheduling tools, and a vibrant community of clinicians who come together for education, training, and events.

Learn more about building a thriving private practice with Alma at helloalma.com/elevation.

If you’ve been wondering why your blog posts aren’t ranking… or why your beautifully designed website still isn’t getting traction… this conversation will help you understand what’s really going on behind the scenes. 

And, of course, what to do about it.

The Real Challenge Therapists Are Facing With Their Website Content

Therapists are in a unique position online.

You’re not just sharing general information, you’re offering guidance that impacts someone’s mental health, safety, and well-being. 

And because of that, Google holds therapy websites to a much higher standard than most other industries.

It’s no longer enough to just “write good content” or sprinkle in a few keywords like “anxiety therapy in Atlanta.” Google is evaluating:

• Who wrote this?
• Are they qualified?
• Is this advice trustworthy?
• Would showing this content potentially harm someone?

If your website doesn’t clearly demonstrate credibility and expertise, Google may quietly suppress it — even if your content is genuinely helpful.

The Myth: “If I Just Write More Blogs, I’ll Rank Higher”

A lot of therapists have been told that SEO is all about publishing more content.

But here’s the shift:

It’s no longer about how much content you produce — it’s about how trustworthy and experience-based that content is.

Google’s algorithm (and AI search tools) are now looking for real human expertise. Generic, textbook-style blog posts won’t cut it anymore. And content that could have been written by AI — without clear proof of credentials — often won’t get visibility.

For therapists, this actually works in your favor. Your lived clinical experience is your competitive advantage.

Meet Our Guest: Michael McDaniel

In this episode, Daniel is joined by Michael McDaniel, Lead SEO Specialist at Private Practice Elevation.

This Episode Answers…

1. What does “YMYL” mean, and why should therapists care?

YMYL stands for “Your Money or Your Life.” It’s a category Google uses for topics that can significantly impact someone’s health, finances, or safety. Mental health websites fall into this category — which means Google scrutinizes therapy content more carefully. If your site doesn’t clearly show you’re a qualified, licensed professional, it may not be shown in search results at all.

2. How does Google treat therapy websites differently?

Because therapy content can directly affect someone’s well-being, Google prioritizes accuracy, credentials, and trust signals. It’s not just looking for keywords anymore — it’s looking for proof of expertise. That includes visible credentials, clear authorship, linked professional profiles, and content that reflects real-world experience.

3. What kind of content is Google looking for in 2026 and beyond?

Google and AI search tools are prioritizing:

• First-hand clinical experience
• Clear authorship (real humans with credentials)
• Direct answers to real client questions
• Research-backed information
• Trust-building signals like crisis resources and professional affiliations

A call to action (often called a CTA) is simply the next step you want a visitor to take after landing on your website.

Without it, potential clients may read through your content and still feel unsure about what to do next.

In this episode of On The Trail, Daniel Fava explains what a call to action is, why it matters for therapist websites, and where it should appear throughout your site so visitors can easily take the next step toward working with you.

In This Episode

• What a call to action is and why every website needs one
• Why many therapy websites accidentally make it hard for visitors to take the next step
• Examples of common calls to action for private practice websites
• Where your call to action should appear on your website pages
• How a clear next step can lead to more consultation requests
  

Key Takeaway

A website shouldn’t just provide information — it should guide visitors toward becoming clients. A clear and consistent call to action helps people understand exactly how to move forward.

Need Help Improving Your Website?

If you're unsure whether your website clearly guides visitors to take the next step, a quick review can make a big difference.

Schedule a Clarity Call to talk through your website and explore ways to improve it:
privatepracticeelevation.com/kickoff

It’s more about building trust, increasing conversions, and positioning your practice as the clear choice in a competitive market.

If you’ve invested in a website but it’s not generating aligned inquiries… 

If you’re charging premium rates but your online presence doesn’t reflect that… 

Or if you’ve been trying to DIY your messaging late at night after sessions, this conversation will help you see what might be missing.

The problem is that many therapists treat website copy like a formality. They reuse old content, copy and paste from their Psychology Today profile, or keep things too vague, hoping clients will just “reach out to learn more.” 

But in today’s landscape, where potential clients are comparing dozens of therapists and AI is influencing search results, generic messaging simply doesn’t convert.

You might think that as long as your website looks nice and explains what you do, that’s enough. 

But good design without strategic copy is like cake without icing.

A pretty website can build credibility, but only powerful messaging creates connection, preference, and action.

Today Daniel is talking to Rebekah Hudson, professional copywriter and now part of the Private Practice Elevation team. With a background in corporate marketing, branding, SEO, and communications (and a deep understanding of the mental health space), Rebekah brings both the art and science of persuasive writing to therapists who want their websites to actually work.

Why would I need professional copywriting if I can just write my website myself?

Therapy and marketing are two different skill sets. A therapist helps clients feel safe in the room. A copywriter helps strangers feel safe enough to book the room. Strategic copy builds trust, reduces decision fatigue, and creates preference, which is what drives conversions in a competitive market.

How does copywriting impact premium fees and professional positioning?

If you’re charging premium rates, your marketing needs to reflect that. High-quality copy aligns your online presence with your pricing, helping prospective clients perceive your value before they ever speak with you. Premium therapy services deserve premium positioning.

What should I look for when hiring a copywriter?

Good copywriting is both an art and a science. It’s not enough to find someone who is “good with words.” You want someone who understands SEO (and AI search changes), persuasive structure, calls to action, your industry’s language, and how to convert clarity into action. Ask about their background, revision process, SEO strategy, and experience writing specifically for therapists.

This Episode Is Brought To You By The Following Sponsors:

Alma is on a mission to simplify access to high-quality, affordable mental health care by giving providers the tools they need to build thriving in-network private practices.

Learn more about building a thriving private practice with Alma at helloalma.com/elevation.

Many “all-in-one” marketing platforms promise an easy way to get your practice online. But while these services can be helpful for getting started, they sometimes limit what you can do with your website later — especially if you want to invest in SEO or work with other marketing specialists.

Daniel explains why control of your website matters, some of the limitations these platforms can create, and a few important questions to ask before signing up for one.

Key Takeaways

Why Website Control Matters

Your website is one of the most valuable marketing assets for your private practice. If you don’t fully own or control it, you may run into limitations when trying to grow your visibility, optimize for SEO, or hire outside experts to improve your site.

The Limitations of Some All-in-One Website Platforms

Some platforms restrict access to the backend of the website. This can make it difficult to add plugins, install tracking scripts, implement SEO tools, or make technical updates that help your website perform better in search results.

The Hidden Challenge of Leaving a Platform

If a platform controls your hosting or site infrastructure, moving your website elsewhere may require rebuilding the entire site. In some cases, content like blog posts must be manually copied over, which can increase the time and cost of migrating to a new platform.

Questions to Ask Before Signing Up for a Website Platform

Before committing to a website service, ask these key questions:

• Do I own the website once it’s built?
• Can I export or migrate my website if I leave?
• Can developers access the backend and add code when needed?
• Do I control the website hosting?
  

Understanding these details upfront can help you avoid costly limitations later.

If you’d like help improving your website or growing your visibility online, schedule a free Clarity Call with our team. We’ll take a look at your current website and marketing goals and help you identify the next best steps for your practice.

Schedule your call here:
https://privatepracticeelevation.com/kickoff

Maybe you’ve had that nagging feeling that your site just isn’t doing your practice justice anymore… or maybe you’re not even sure what should be working better. Either way, this episode will help you get clarity.

We’ll talk about some key signs that your website might be holding you back — from outdated design and tech limitations, to messaging that no longer reflects the work you actually do.

If your website doesn’t represent where your practice is heading — or worse, it’s not helping you attract the right clients — it may be time for a fresh start.

Key Takeaways:

Your Website Doesn’t Represent Your Practice Well, or Where Your Practice is Heading

• Your niche has shifted — Maybe you’ve gone from seeing “anyone who needs help” to now focusing on couples or trauma work. If your website still sounds like you’re a generalist, it’s not speaking to your ideal clients anymore.
  
• You've grown, but your site hasn’t — Whether you’ve added associate therapists, new services, or expanded locations, your website still looks like it’s just you doing everything — and that can create confusion.

Poor User Experience and Outdated Website Design

• Hard to navigate = lost clients — If people can’t find your contact page or understand what you do in under 10 seconds, they’ll likely click away and keep Googling.
  
• It looks old or clunky — A website that looks like it was built in 2010 (or even 2018!) may subconsciously signal to clients that your practice isn’t current, tech-savvy, or actively growing.

Limited Functionality and Scalability

• You can’t easily update it — If your website is stuck on a platform or template that makes changes feel like surgery, you’ll stop updating it — and it slowly becomes less useful.
  
• You want to add features, but can’t — Whether it’s online scheduling, adding a blog, or building out pages for a group practice, you’re hitting walls with what your site can do.
  

Technical Limitations

• It’s slow or not mobile-friendly — A slow-loading site or one that breaks on mobile is frustrating for potential clients (and bad for Google rankings too).
  
• Your SEO is suffering — Old tech can mean messy code, poor optimization, or a structure that makes it hard for search engines to understand what you do and where you are.
  

Your Website Doesn’t Actually Get You Clients

• It’s not converting — You’re getting traffic (maybe from Psychology Today or ads), but few people are reaching out. That’s a red flag your site isn’t doing its job.
  
• The message isn’t resonating — If your copy is vague or generic, it’s probably not connecting with visitors emotionally — and they’re not seeing that “this therapist gets me” feeling.
  

If you’re wondering how PPE can help you reach your ideal clients with a solid marketing strategy, schedule a free 15-minute call here: https://privatepracticeelevation.com/kickoff

Or visit our website to learn more: https://privatepracticeelevation.com

Many therapists settle for a basic headshot or outdated stock photos that don’t reflect their personality or the real experience of working with them. 

But in today’s market, where credentials are the baseline, it’s your personality and presence that help you stand out. And that’s where branding photography makes all the difference.

You might think a professional headshot is enough to market your private practice. 

But today, clients are looking for more than credentials — they want connection. 

Branding photography helps you show who you are beyond the bio and create that emotional connection right from your website and social media. It helps you attract clients that resonate with you and your personality, which makes them a better fit for your services.

Today, Daniel is talking to Jeremy Pentsil, Atlanta-based photographer and founder of Peak Focus Media Co. 

Jeremy specializes in branding photography for therapists and helps them create authentic, personality-driven visuals that build trust and connection with potential clients. 

With a background in counseling and a therapist wife, Jeremy brings a deep understanding of the private practice world and how to help therapists shine online.

This Episode Answers…

Include 3 specific questions that this episode answers.

1. What is branding photography, and how is it different from a standard headshot?

Jeremy explains that branding photography captures multiple facets of your personality and work — not just a polished portrait. Think warm smiles, candid office shots, and lifestyle elements that tell the full story of who you are as a therapist.

2. When should a therapist invest in branding photography?

Jeremy shares that a simple headshot is great when you're just getting started. But if you're growing your practice, launching a website, or planning to offer speaking or consulting, a branding session gives you a powerful library of images for ongoing marketing needs.

3. How do you make sure branding photos actually reflect your authentic self?

Jeremy walks through his process — from strategy calls and mood boards to props and music — that helps therapists feel comfortable and confident so their true personality can shine through in photos.

Other Key Takeaways:

• Clients connect with personality, not just credentials — branding photos help show who you are.
• Authentic images reduce bounce rates on websites and help potential clients picture working with you.
• Three essential photos every therapist needs: a warm headshot, an “at work” desk shot, and a staged therapy session with a friend.
• Props like journals, mugs, or favorite books keep photos real and relatable.
• Having a bank of diverse photos supports easier content creation across your website, social media, and beyond.
• Jeremy offers a free posing guide with seven go-to shots to help therapists prepare for a session.

This Episode Is Brought To You By The Following Sponsors:

Visit RevKey.com/podcasts for a free Google Ads consultation

Learn more about building a thriving private practice with Alma at helloalma.com/elevation.

You’ll hear from Uriah Guilford, founder of Productive Therapist and creator of Simple Intake, about how therapists can use these tools to respond faster to inquiries, improve the client experience, and book more consultations—all while keeping a personal feel.

Many therapy practices struggle to follow up quickly with new inquiries. 

Whether it's clunky forms, delayed responses, or confusing booking steps, these bottlenecks can cause practices to lose clients. 

AI intake systems aim to close the gap between first contact and first session, so potential clients don’t fall through the cracks.

Now, you might think adding AI to your practice means replacing the human experience. But this episode shows that when used right, AI doesn’t replace your team—it enhances them. 

These tools can screen inquiries, book appointments, and answer FAQs in a warm, conversational way, leaving your human team to focus on care.

Read the full show notes: privatepracticeelevation.com/200

Other Key Takeaways:

• The first practice to respond to an inquiry usually wins the client
  
• AI chatbots can pull from your website and FAQs to provide accurate answers
  
• Simple Intake combines chatbot, receptionist, calendar booking, and CRM tools
  
• Clients can connect via web chat, phone, SMS, or WhatsApp
  
• The system logs conversations, tracks sentiment, and allows for real-time handoff to human staff
  
• It’s designed to assist, not replace, your admin team
  
• Data shows many clients prefer quick answers over waiting for a call back
  

Links mentioned in this episode:

• Productive Therapist
• Simple Intake
• Test a chatbot: Intune Family Counseling
• Private Practice Elevation SEO Services

This Episode Is Brought To You By

RevKey specializes in Google Ads management for therapists, expertly connecting you with your ideal clients. They focus on getting quality referrals that keep your team busy and your practice growing.

Visit RevKey.com/podcasts for a free Google Ads consultation

Alma is on a mission to simplify access to high-quality, affordable mental health care by giving providers the tools they need to build thriving in-network private practices. When providers join Alma, they gain access to insurance support, teletherapy software, client referrals, automated billing and scheduling tools, and a vibrant community of clinicians who come together for education, training, and events.

Learn more about building a thriving private practice with Alma at helloalma.com/elevation.

In this episode, we’re diving into a question I’m hearing from a lot of therapists lately: Is it just me, or has my website traffic and inquiries dropped off a cliff? I’ll walk you through what’s happening behind the scenes in SEO and online marketing, and what you can do about it.

Therapists are seeing fewer website visitors, fewer calls, and wondering if something’s broken. It can feel isolating, like maybe your practice is doing something wrong. But you’re not alone — this is a trend we’re seeing industry-wide.

You might think the solution is just to post more on Instagram or start a blog. While those can help, they won’t fix the core issue. The truth is, search engine behavior and how people find therapists online is changing... fast.

Key Highlights:

1. What’s Changed in SEO Over the Last Year

• Google’s algorithm updates have prioritized helpful, original, and authoritative content.
• AI-generated content has flooded the web, so Google’s gotten stricter on quality signals.
• Local SEO results are more competitive — especially in saturated markets.
  

2. How AI is Changing the Game

• More people are using ChatGPT or AI tools to ask questions instead of searching Google.
• Google's AI snapshots (Search Generative Experience) are pulling answers right into results pages — meaning fewer clicks to websites.
  

3. It’s Not Just You — It’s a Landscape Shift

• Even well-optimized therapy websites are seeing fluctuations.
• Less organic traffic doesn’t always mean fewer clients — but it does mean we need to be more strategic.

So what can you do about it?...

✅ 1. Get an SEO Assessment of Your Website

Before you start making changes, it's essential to understand why traffic has dropped. An SEO assessment can reveal:

• Technical issues (like slow load times, broken links, poor mobile experience)
• On-page optimization gaps (are your keywords still relevant?)
• Local SEO visibility (are you showing up in Google Maps for your city?)
  

This gives you a clear baseline and prioritizes what to fix — instead of guessing. (This is exactly what we do with our SEO assessments at Private Practice Elevation.)

✍️ 2. Update or Create One Piece of High-Intent Content

Choose one key service (like EMDR therapy or couples counseling) and ask:

• Does your website have a page that clearly explains what this is, who it helps, and how someone can get started?
• Is that page optimized for local search terms (e.g. "EMDR therapy in Denver")?
  

Focus on creating or refreshing one solid, helpful page — rather than trying to write 10 blog posts.

📍 3. Claim and Optimize Your Google Business Profile

Google is still the #1 way most people find a therapist. Make sure your Google Business Profile:

• Is verified
• Has current photos, hours, and contact info
• Includes detailed services (with keywords!)
• Has recent reviews from happy clients
  

This one step can often help you get found more often without having to touch your website.

You could spend thousands of dollars or thousands of hours and have the most beautiful, well-designed website on the planet.

But if you do nothing with it, no one is going to see it. And more traffic to your private practice website means more potential clients are seeing your services and the chance to convert them into paying clients is greater.

In this episode I'll share with you 15 FREE ways you can start driving traffic to your therapy website.

The episode focused on the importance of bringing fun and self-compassion into the process of building a business. 

While building a business can be hard and challenging, finding ways to make it fun is essential to avoid burnout and maintain motivation. 

Throughout the conversation, Jane and Daniel discussed the significance of self-awareness, reframing negative thoughts, and seeking support from others in navigating the ups and downs of entrepreneurship. 

The themes discussed in this conversation provide valuable insights and strategies for entrepreneurs to build successful businesses while maintaining their well-being and sense of self. 

Key Takeaways:

• Building a business should be fun, as it helps solopreneurs avoid burnout and stay motivated.

• Storytelling is an effective marketing strategy that can make business more engaging and enjoyable.

• Solopreneurs should practice self-compassion and separate their own responsibility from unnecessary blame or shame.

• Having a support system of friends, coaches, or therapists can provide empathy, reflection, and encouragement to solopreneurs.

• Solopreneurs can reframe their stories and approach problems as leaders, taking ownership and finding solutions.

The conversation kicks off with a glimpse into Joshua's background and how Therapy Flow evolved from a marketing agency into a specialized service for therapists. The company now offers a "done for you" practice development program that focuses on implementing digital strategies like Google Ads and Facebook ads, along with a HIPAA-compliant CRM system.

Their discussion covers crucial elements for success in paid advertising, emphasizing the importance of a website that converts traffic effectively. 

They highlight the need for clear tracking mechanisms to gauge the return on investment (ROI) from ads. Joshua stresses the significance of having a solid sales process in place before diving into paid advertising to ensure that potential client inquiries translate into actual conversions.

The conversation extends to the expectations from the initial phase of running paid ad campaigns. They spotlight the learning period of 3-7 days where data acquisition occurs, advising patience and observation before making adjustments. They also explore the calculation of ROI from ads, emphasizing the importance of understanding the lifetime value of a client to accurately gauge the success of ad campaigns.

Joshua emphasizes that while paid ads require meticulous attention to detail, they can serve as a powerful growth accelerator for practices, offering a rapid influx of inquiries and clients when managed effectively. He presents paid ads as a "dial experience," a tool that allows practices to control and intensify their referral volumes swiftly, complementing long-term strategies like SEO.

In conclusion, the episode emphasizes the symbiotic relationship between long-term strategies like SEO and short-term boosts from paid ads, advocating for a strategic balance between the two for sustained practice growth.

In This Episode, You'll Learn:

• The big picture of paid ads and user intent.

• Evolution and competition in paid ad platforms.

• Joshua Brummel's experience with managing ad spend.

• Recommended starting budget for Google Ads for therapy practices.

• Using Facebook and Instagram ads for lower budgets.

• Importance of having a website that converts before investing.

• Importance of website conversion for successful Google ads

• Evaluating the effectiveness of ads and sales process

• New, more, better framework for website and ads

• Learning period of 3-7 days for ads

• Tracking conversions and intake process for success

• Google ads work best for practices with existing clients

• Calculating return on investment for ads

• Determining lifetime value of therapy clients to determine ad budget

• Ads as a profitable source for consistent client acquisition

• How paid ads can provide a quick return on investment for therapy practices

• Technical details of running ads can be complex and time-consuming

• How using both paid ads and SEO can provide stability and growth

In the world of SEO (Search Engine Optimization), text-based content often takes center stage. 

Those who have done any work on their website's SEO, you likely have spent a significant effort in crafting compelling articles, adding content to your pages, and optimizing keywords. 

However, in the pursuit of improving website rankings, one vital element is often overlooked—images. 

In this episode of The Private Practice Elevation Podcast, we'll explore the importance of optimizing images for SEO and provide you with tips and tricks to ensure your visual content doesn't go unnoticed by search engines.

Why Image Optimization Matters for SEO

1. Enhanced User Experience: High-quality, well-optimized images can significantly enhance the user experience on your website. Fast-loading pages with attractive visuals keep visitors engaged and reduce bounce rates, which are crucial ranking factors for search engines.

2. Ranking in Google Images: Google Images is a popular search engine in its own right. Optimized images have a better chance of ranking here, driving additional organic traffic to your website. This is particularly advantageous if your site relies heavily on visual content, such as e-commerce stores or photography portfolios.

3. Page Loading Speed: Image optimization plays a crucial role in improving page loading speed. Slow-loading pages can result in a poor user experience and negatively affect your SEO rankings. Compressed and properly sized images can help mitigate this issue.

4. Mobile Optimization: With the increasing use of mobile devices for web browsing, image optimization becomes even more critical. Smaller file sizes ensure faster load times on mobile networks and better performance for mobile users.

Tips and Tricks for Optimizing Images for SEO

1. Choose the Right File Format: The most common image formats are JPEG, PNG, and GIF. JPEG is ideal for photographs and complex images, while PNG is better for images with transparency. Use GIFs for animations. Choosing the right format can significantly impact image quality and file size.

2. Resize Images: Before uploading, resize your images to the exact dimensions needed for your website. This reduces unnecessary file size and ensures a faster loading time.

3. Compression: Use image compression tools or plugins to reduce file sizes without sacrificing quality. There are many online tools and WordPress plugins available for this purpose.

4. Descriptive Filenames: Give your image files descriptive filenames that include relevant keywords. For example, instead of "IMG001.jpg," use "red-convertible-car.jpg" if the image depicts a red convertible car. This helps search engines understand the image's content.

5. Alt Text: Always include descriptive alt text for your images. Alt text not only improves accessibility for visually impaired users but also provides search engines with context about the image. Use relevant keywords naturally within the alt text.

6. Image Titles: Consider adding titles to your images, but use them sparingly and make sure they are concise and descriptive.

7. Monitor Performance: Regularly monitor your website's performance, including image load times. Tools like Google PageSpeed Insights and GTmetrix can help identify areas for improvement.

Conclusion

Optimizing images for SEO on your private practice website is a crucial yet often overlooked aspect of digital marketing. By following these strategies, you can enhance your website's user experience, improve page load times, and increase your visibility in search engine results, including Google Images. 

Remember that SEO is an ongoing process, and regularly optimizing your images is essential to maintaining and improving your website's performance in the ever-competitive online landscape. Start prioritizing image optimization today and reap the benefits of improved search engine rankings and user engagement.

Your private practice website is more than just an online presence or an online business card. It is your gateway to connecting with clients, helping them find the support they need, and ultimately growing your private practice. 

At the heart of this journey lies your contact page, a crucial element in the conversion process on your website. 

Your contact page is where visitors take that crucial step of reaching out and booking appointments or learning more about your practice. 

It is not just about design; it is about creating a seamless, inviting experience that encourages visitors to take action. 

In this episode, Daniel Fava explores ten tips to help you create a seamless and inviting contact page that encourages visitors to take that crucial step of reaching out and booking appointments or learning more about your therapy practice.

Key Takeaways:

• Keep the contact page simple and inviting to avoid overwhelming visitors.

• Prioritize the contact form by prominently displaying it above the fold.

• Create an engaging headline that incites action and leads visitors to the contact form.

• Provide multiple contact options, such as phone, email, and a contact form, to cater to different preferences.

• Add trust-building elements, such as testimonials or certifications, to instill confidence in visitors.

• Use a clear call to action on buttons to let visitors know what will happen when they click.

• Optimize the contact page for mobile devices to accommodate the majority of users.

• Ensure privacy and security by mentioning your commitment to privacy and using SSL encryption.

• Implement CAPTCHA or other spam protection measures to prevent unwanted submissions.

• Test and monitor the contact page to track conversions and make improvements over time.

This Episode Is Brought To You By

Alma is on a mission to simplify access to high-quality, affordable mental health care by giving providers the tools they need to build thriving in-network private practices. When providers join Alma, they gain access to insurance support, teletherapy software, client referrals, automated billing and scheduling tools, and a vibrant community of clinicians that come together for education, training, and events.

Alma gives clinicians the tools they need to build thriving private practices. When you join their insurance program, you can get credentialed within 45 days, and access enhanced reimbursement rates with major payers. They also handle all of the paperwork, from eligibility checks to claims submissions, and guarantee payment within two weeks of each appointment. 

In addition to their insurance program, Alma offers timesaving tools and administrative support — so you can spend less time on paperwork, and more time delivering great care to your clients. 

Learn more about building a thriving private practice with Alma at helloalma.com/elevation.

10 Tips For Crafting an Effective and High Converting Contact Page for Your Private Practice Website

1. Keep it Simple and Inviting

The first rule of an effective contact page is to keep it simple. 

We want to create a clean and uncluttered design that invites visitors in and makes it clear what they need to do on the page. Look at other websites, both within your industry and outside of it, to get ideas on how to create a simple and inviting contact page. 

The goal is to make it easy for visitors to understand what they need to do and to lead them into taking that next step.

2. Prioritize the Form

The contact form is the main attraction of your contact page. It should be prominently displayed, preferably above the fold, so that visitors can easily find it without scrolling down. Include fields for name, email, phone number, and a message box for longer messages. 

Over time, you can customize the form to fit the specific needs of your practice, such as asking for the best time to call back for a consultation. The key is to keep the form simple and efficient for your practice.

3. Create an Engaging Headline

At the top of your contact page, create an engaging headline that invites action. This could be something like "Ready to take the first step towards a happier you?" or "Get in touch to schedule your free consultation." 

The goal is to incite action and lead visitors to the contact form, which should be prominently displayed right below the headline.

4. Provide Multiple Contact Options

While the contact form is the main focus of your contact page, it is important to offer multiple contact options to cater to different preferences. 

Some visitors may prefer speaking directly, while others may be more comfortable with written communication. 

Along with the contact form, include options such as phone, email, and even a link to your Google Business profile. This allows visitors to choose the method of contact that they are most comfortable with.

5. Add Trust Building Elements

Building trust is crucial in encouraging visitors to take that next step and reach out. Consider adding trust-building elements to your contact page, such as testimonials, certifications, or social proof. 

Testimonials from past clients can help potential clients feel more confident in reaching out, knowing that others have had positive experiences with your practice. 

Certifications and social proof, such as being featured on reputable websites or podcasts, can also help build trust.

6. Use a Clear Call to Action

Your contact page should have a clear call to action on the button that leads visitors to take the next step. 

Use phrases like "Get started" or "Request an appointment" to make it clear what will happen when the button is clicked. Avoid being too creative or fancy with the call to action; simplicity is key. 

Make sure the button stands out against the rest of the page and is easy to click, especially on mobile devices.

7. Optimize for Mobile

With the majority of people accessing websites from their smartphones, it is crucial to optimize your contact page for mobile devices. 

Ensure that your contact page and the form are fully responsive, easy to navigate, and function seamlessly on mobile devices. 

Test the contact form on your own phone and ask others to do the same to ensure a smooth user experience.

8. Privacy and Security

Visitors to your website need to feel confident that their information is secure and will not be shared without their consent. Mention your commitment to privacy and include a link to your privacy policy under the contact form. Additionally, make sure your website is secure with an SSL certificate to encrypt information that is submitted through the contact form.

9. CAPTCHA and Spam Protection

Implementing CAPTCHA or other spam protection measures on your contact form is essential to prevent unwanted submissions and maintain the quality of inquiries. CAPTCHA helps filter out bots that try to spam your contact form by requiring users to complete a simple math equation. This ensures that only genuine inquiries are submitted through the form.

10. Test and Monitor

After implementing these tips, it is important to test and monitor the performance of your contact page. 

Use tools like Google Analytics to track user behavior and conversion rates. Monitor how many people land on your contact page and how many actually submit the form. 

This data will give you insights into the effectiveness of your contact page and help you make any necessary adjustments.

Conclusion

Crafting an effective and high-converting contact page is crucial for growing your private practice. 

By keeping it simple and inviting, prioritizing the form, providing multiple contact options, adding trust building elements, using a clear call to action, optimizing for mobile, ensuring privacy and security, implementing CAPTCHA and spam protection, and testing and monitoring the performance, you can create a contact page that encourages visitors to take that crucial step of reaching out. 

Continuously evaluate and improve your contact page to maximize conversions and grow your practice.

Whether you've got an outdated private practice website that's just begging for a makeover or you just know that your current website could be better, this episode is going to help you prepare.

And it will be extremely applicable because we'll be using a real-life example: my friend, Gordon Brewer, from The Practice of Therapy.

Listen in now!

This week, Daniel sits down with John Sanders, founder of RevKey—a digital advertising agency that works exclusively with therapists and mental health professionals—to unpack why so many private practices struggle to make Google Ads work, and what you can do differently.

In their conversation, John and Daniel dig into the most common reasons therapists waste money on paid ads. 

And it often starts with your private practice's website. 

If your site isn't designed to engage visitors and guide them toward action, your ad spend will likely fall flat. 

John shares how generic service pages, weak content, and outdated design can tank your results—even if you're paying top dollar for clicks.

They also explore why therapists need to be wary of Google's automated campaign recommendations. 

What's best for Google's revenue isn't always best for your practice. John explains how his team disables default settings that typically waste money and instead builds tightly targeted campaigns focused on real conversions—not just traffic.

This episode also covers the strategic role Google Ads can play for growing group practices. Whether you're launching a new service or need to quickly fill a clinician's caseload, ads can help bridge the gap while your SEO builds momentum. 

And with the right tracking and targeting—like setting income levels or geographic focus—you can get more value from every click.

If you've been burned by ads before or are thinking about using them to grow your practice, this episode will help you avoid common mistakes and make smarter, more strategic decisions.

What You'll Learn in This Episode

1. Why do so many therapists waste money on Google Ads?

Many therapists dive into Google Ads without a clear strategy or a website that's designed to convert. Often, the problem isn't the ads themselves—it's that clicks are being sent to generic service pages or poorly designed sites that don't guide visitors toward taking action. Another big issue is relying on Google's default settings, which prioritize Google's revenue over your results. John shares how to avoid these common traps and make sure every dollar is working toward bringing in actual clients.

2. How can I tell if my website is helping or hurting my ad performance?

Your website is a critical part of your ad strategy—because if it doesn't connect with your ideal client or clearly guide them toward booking, even the best ad won't convert. John explains how to evaluate time-on-site metrics, user experience, and page content to know whether your site is supporting your ad goals. In competitive markets, the margin for error is smaller, so having engaging, specific, and fast-loading pages is key.

3. When should I use Google Ads vs. investing in SEO?

John and Daniel break down how SEO and Google Ads can work together strategically. SEO is a long-term game—it can take months to see results—but it's incredibly valuable for sustainable growth. Ads, on the other hand, can generate leads quickly, which is especially useful when launching new services or hiring new clinicians. The key is understanding your goals and timeline, so you can decide when to run ads, when to focus on organic traffic, and when to do both.

Links mentioned in this episode:

•  Previous Episode with John: 41. Everything You Need to Know About Google Ads for Therapists with John Sanders

• Revkey.com 

Watch The Video:

This Episode Is Brought To You By:

RevKey specializes in Google Ads management for therapists, expertly connecting you with your ideal clients. They focus on getting quality referrals that keep your team busy and your practice growing.

Visit RevKey.com/podcasts for a free Google Ads consultation

Alma is on a mission to simplify access to high-quality, affordable mental health care by giving providers the tools they need to build thriving in-network private practices. When providers join Alma, they gain access to insurance support, teletherapy software, client referrals, automated billing and scheduling tools, and a vibrant community of clinicians who come together for education, training, and events.

Learn more about building a thriving private practice with Alma at helloalma.com/elevation.

About John Sanders

John Sanders is the founder of RevKey, a digital advertising agency that exclusively helps therapists and mental health professionals grow their practices using Google Ads. With a deep understanding of the unique challenges facing this audience—especially in regulated, HIPAA-sensitive environments—John built RevKey to be the go-to partner for private practices that want measurable results, not marketing fluff. What began as a solo operation in 2018 has grown into a thriving team of ten, all united by a belief in clarity, simplicity, and transparency in digital marketing. John's insights are trusted by leading therapy podcasts and conferences, and his team regularly talks with clients, ensuring every campaign stays aligned with their goals. His mission: to make sure therapists don't waste money on click metrics, but invest in strategies that bring real people through their doors.

About Daniel Fava

Daniel Fava is the owner and founder of  Private Practice Elevation, a website and SEO agency focused on helping private practice owners create websites that increase their online visibility and attract more clients. Private Practice Elevation offers web design services, SEO (search engine optimization), and WordPress support to help private practice owners grow their businesses through online marketing. 

Daniel lives in Atlanta, GA with his wife Liz, and two energetic boys. When he's not working he enjoys hiking by the river, watching hockey, and enjoying a dram of bourbon.

Most therapists would agree that they need a website to market their private practice online and help them gain clients.

The problem is that most private practice websites lack the proper pages and content to make a big impact on the business.

And it's this lack of content that is one of the biggest things I see holding back most therapists who want to get organic traffic and clients using their therapy website.

I see it often when I perform website audits or coaching calls… the website just doesn't have enough content to resonate with the ideal client and allow Google to pick up the website and rank it high in search results.

So, let's talk about your website content and make sure you have what you need in order to hit your goals for online marketing.

In This Episode, You'll Learn:

• How to define what makes your website "successful" and how knowing this can help you make important decisions with your online marketing
• The content and pages that I recommend as a bare minimum for a therapy website in order for it to be effective
• A basic sitemap for a therapy website for those who are just getting started
• How to expand your sitemap over time in order to improve your search engine optimization and get more organic traffic in the future

This Episode Is Brought To You By

Alma is on a mission to simplify access to high-quality, affordable mental health care by giving providers the tools they need to build thriving in-network private practices. When providers join Alma, they gain access to insurance support, teletherapy software, client referrals, automated billing and scheduling tools, and a vibrant community of clinicians who come together for education, training, and events.

Learn more about building a thriving private practice with Alma at helloalma.com/elevation.

I'm sure you know that the copy on your website has the power to connect with your ideal client.

And when a potential client feels connected, and that you understand their challenges on a deep level, they're more likely to take that next step and actually become a client of yours.

But most therapists struggle with what words they should actually use that will resonate with those potential clients.

What are the words you can use to connect with them?

How do you create an entire website that speaks to them?

And if you don't know those words, how can you find out what they are?

Our guest, Laura Long LMFT/S, is going to teach you her 3 C's of copywriting for your private practice website: Clear, Compelling, and Conversational.

As a business coach, Laura has been teaching therapists how to create copy for therapist websites for years.

If you've been wondering or struggling with the words you need to use on your own private practice website, this episode will give you exercises, tips, and simple actions you can take to write copy that truly resonates with your ideal client. 

In This Episode, You'll Learn:

• Laura's 3 C's of copywriting
• How to avoid watering down your copy so that it speaks directly to your ideal clients
• The difference between your ideal client and a niche
• Exercises to help you get into the mind of your ideal clients' fears, hopes and expectations
• How to write copy for your ideal client even if you haven't worked with them or are changing niches
• Four places you can go to do market research and uncover the exact words your ideal clients are using so you can write copy that connects with them
• Mindset shifts to help you get unstuck and kill writer's block

This Episode Is Brought To You By

Alma is on a mission to simplify access to high-quality, affordable mental health care by giving providers the tools they need to build thriving in-network private practices. When providers join Alma, they gain access to insurance support, teletherapy software, client referrals, automated billing and scheduling tools, and a vibrant community of clinicians who come together for education, training, and events.

Learn more about building a thriving private practice with Alma at helloalma.com/elevation.

Whether you're a solo practitioner or building a group practice, this conversation offers fresh insight into using technology to simplify the business side of therapy.

Daniel Fava chats with Damien Adler, a clinical psychologist turned tech entrepreneur and co-founder of Zanda Health. 

Damien shares the story behind Zanda's development—from managing a busy practice in Australia to launching a software solution that now supports clinicians across the globe. 

With a strong focus on user experience, innovation, and solving real-world problems, Damien and his team are transforming how therapists manage their practices.

What You'll Learn in This Episode:

• The Origin of Zanda: How Damien's firsthand experience in private practice inspired the creation of a more efficient and integrated practice management system.

• A Global Solution: Zanda now serves practices in Australia, the UK, the US, and Canada—showing how universal the need is for better admin tools.

• Built for Therapists, by Therapists: Damien shares how clinician feedback plays a key role in shaping the platform's evolution.

• AI in Practice Management: Learn how Zanda leverages artificial intelligence to automate tasks like note-taking and reporting.

• Lessons in Scaling: Damien opens up about the challenges and rewards of building a health tech company while staying grounded in the therapy world.

This episode is a must-listen for therapists, group practice owners, and anyone curious about the intersection of mental health and technology.

Links mentioned in this episode:

•  Zanda Health Website 

This Episode Is Brought To You By

Alma is on a mission to simplify access to high-quality, affordable mental health care by giving providers the tools they need to build thriving in-network private practices. When providers join Alma, they gain access to insurance support, teletherapy software, client referrals, automated billing and scheduling tools, and a vibrant community of clinicians who come together for education, training, and events.

Learn more about building a thriving private practice with Alma at helloalma.com/elevation.

About Damien Adler

Damien Adler is a registered psychologist, entrepreneur, and co-founder of Zanda Health, a global practice management software company. He has a background in health administration, having held senior positions in the public health sector. He later founded a successful group private practice, and it was here that Damien discovered his passion for using technology to make life easier for health practitioners.

These days, Damien dedicates his time to improving healthcare practices through technology. His unique insights stem from working closely with thousands of practitioners worldwide, from hospital settings to private practices, allowing him to identify universal challenges and opportunities within allied health. Damien's unique blend of practical experience and technological insight makes him a respected figure in advancing healthcare practice efficiency and effectiveness.

About Daniel Fava

Daniel Fava is the owner and founder of  Private Practice Elevation, a website and SEO agency focused on helping private practice owners create websites that increase their online visibility and attract more clients. Private Practice Elevation offers web design services, SEO (search engine optimization), and WordPress support to help private practice owners grow their businesses through online marketing. 

Daniel lives in Atlanta, GA with his wife Liz, and two energetic boys. When he's not working he enjoys hiking by the river, watching hockey, and enjoying a dram of bourbon.

Between managing a full caseload, trying to keep up with social media trends, and maintaining a personal life, blogging often ends up at the bottom of the priority list—or gets abandoned altogether. 

And with the rise of video, reels, and short-form content, it's easy to wonder: Is blogging even still worth it?

In this episode of the Private Practice Elevation Podcast, host Daniel Fava sets the record straight. 

He dives into the current state of blogging in 2025 and why, despite the ever-evolving digital landscape, blogging remains one of the most effective and underutilized marketing tools for private practice owners.

Daniel explores how blogging supports your long-term marketing strategy by improving SEO, keeping your website active and visible in Google, and helping potential clients connect with your voice and expertise. 

He breaks it down in simple, therapist-friendly terms, making it clear how blogging actually works to drive traffic and build trust over time.

Listeners will also learn practical ways to overcome common blogging roadblocks—like lack of time, perfectionism, and not knowing what to write about. 

Whether you're new to blogging or you've let it fall by the wayside, this episode will give you the motivation and tools to use blogging more effectively—and without the overwhelm.

What You'll Learn:

• Why blogging is still one of the best ways to build trust with potential clients

• How blogging improves your website's SEO by keeping it fresh and keyword-rich

• The importance of internal linking for both user experience and search rankings

• Tips for coming up with blog post ideas and staying consistent

• How blogging fits into a long-term content strategy that drives sustainable growth

Key Takeaways:

• Blogging isn't dead—it's still highly relevant and effective when done intentionally

• Fresh, consistent content signals to Google that your website is active and useful

• AI tools like ChatGPT can help generate ideas and outlines to save you time

• Internal linking from blog posts boosts both navigation and SEO performance

• Your blog can help potential clients build a connection with you before they reach out

Links mentioned in this episode:

• 163. SEO Success Story: How One Therapist Achieved a Fully Booked Calendar with Steve Cuffari

• Monthly SEO for Private Practice

The conversation kicks off with a thoughtful question from a member about staying on top of SEO trends without getting lost in constant updates and shiny new strategies.

Brian, a private practice owner, asks: "How do you stay up-to-date with all the SEO changes without feeling overwhelmed or distracted from your main work?" 

Many therapists struggle with the need to ensure their marketing efforts are effective without being pulled in too many directions.

As therapists and private practice owners, it's easy to feel overwhelmed by the endless stream of marketing advice, AI advancements, and industry changes. You want to do things right—show up online, reach more clients, and see results. But with everything else on your plate, how do you stay consistent and actually make progress?

Daniel dives into his personal journey of building SEO expertise over the years, starting from a simple blog to running a successful web design and SEO agency. Along the way, he's learned what to focus on, what to ignore, and how to strike a balance between learning and taking action.

If you've ever felt torn between trying to keep up with the latest SEO trends and just wanting someone to handle it for you, this episode will provide clarity and direction.

Key Takeaways:

• Consistency is Key: Understand the importance of writing valuable content regularly for effective SEO rather than getting overwhelmed by constant updates in the industry.

• Client-Centric Websites: Create websites that serve as helpful resources for clients to ensure long-term success and visibility.

• Balancing Learning and Application: Keeping abreast of SEO advancements without getting distracted from core business activities is essential for long-term growth.

• Delegation in SEO: Knowing enough about SEO allows practitioners to delegate tasks effectively while maintaining control over their digital marketing strategy.

• Professional Networking: Building connections through podcasts and other mediums can enhance authority and aid in successful SEO strategies.
  

However, the process can feel overwhelming—where do you start, what should you write about, and how do you stay consistent? 

With the demands of private practice, it's easy to put content creation on the back burner. But what if there was a way to simplify the process and make it work for you?

In this episode, host Daniel Fava sits down with Annie Schuessler, founder of Rebel Therapist, to explore strategies for content creation that not only elevate an online presence but also nurture a devoted audience. 

Whether you're looking to expand beyond private practice or simply strengthen your connection with clients, this conversation is packed with practical insights.

What You'll Learn in This Episode

Annie and Daniel discuss the essential role of content creation in building trust and authority. 

They highlight the importance of truly knowing your audience—understanding their struggles, addressing their misconceptions, and providing content that meets their needs. The episode dives into:

• Why content creation matters – How building a body of work helps with SEO, audience engagement, and long-term visibility.

• Overcoming content overwhelm – The power of breaking things down, identifying key audience struggles, and using that as inspiration for content.

• Developing a content creation ritual – Finding a rhythm that fuels creativity and consistency without feeling like a chore.

• Finding your voice – The more content you create, the clearer your unique expression becomes.

• Less is more – Each piece of content doesn't have to be exhaustive. Focus on delivering one impactful idea at a time.

Annie reassures therapists that content creation gets easier over time: "Luckily, the more content we create, the more ideas we get." This growth mindset helps therapists step into content marketing with confidence and clarity.

If you've been struggling with content creation or looking for a way to make it more manageable and effective, this episode is for you. Tune in and learn how to create content that not only helps grow your practice but also fosters a community of engaged and loyal followers.

Listen on Apple Podcasts

Many practice owners rely on spreadsheets, sticky notes, and scattered inboxes to manage new leads — and the result is lost revenue, inconsistent follow-up, and plenty of sleepless nights.

In today's episode, I'm joined by Brent Stutzman, founder of TheraSaaS, a HIPAA-compliant CRM built specifically for therapists in private practice. 

Brent brings years of experience helping practices scale through smarter marketing systems, and he's here to share how a CRM can completely transform your sales and marketing process.

You'll learn how to bring all your leads, communications, and marketing efforts into one central place, so nothing falls through the cracks and you can make confident, data-informed decisions about your practice's growth.

In this episode, you'll learn:

• The three levels of CRM implementation that save hours each week and boost conversions
  
  

• How to track exactly where your best clients come from — and why a 50/50 Google-to-referral ratio signals a healthy practice
  
  

• The difference between a CRM and your EHR, and why they're not interchangeable
  
  

• Why consistent, value-based follow-up sets your practice apart from the competition
  
  

• Simple automation ideas to respond faster, build trust, and stay connected with potential clients
  
  

Links mentioned in this episode:

• TheraSaaS: therasaas.com

• 157. How to Position Yourself As the #1 Trusted Practice In Your Community Brent Stutzman

Watch The Video:

This Episode Is Brought To You By:

RevKey specializes in Google Ads management for therapists, expertly connecting you with your ideal clients. They focus on getting quality referrals that keep your team busy and your practice growing.

Visit RevKey.com/podcasts for a free Google Ads consultation

Alma is on a mission to simplify access to high-quality, affordable mental health care by giving providers the tools they need to build thriving in-network private practices. When providers join Alma, they gain access to insurance support, teletherapy software, client referrals, automated billing and scheduling tools, and a vibrant community of clinicians who come together for education, training, and events.

Learn more about building a thriving private practice with Alma at helloalma.com/elevation.

About Brent Stutzman

After helping his wife successfully launch her counseling practice in 2016, Brent Stutzman saw a need to help other practice owners build powerful sales funnels to grow their brand and practices. Since then he's launched over 12 private pay practices across the country, a CRM software for therapists called TheraSaaS, and an eCourse called Private Pay Practice Program.

His mission is to help 30,000 private practice owners launch, grow, or scale their practices by 2030.

He's a former Storybrand Guide and lives in Chicagoland with his wife of 21 years, and their 4 beautiful children.

About Daniel Fava

Daniel Fava is the owner and founder of  Private Practice Elevation, a website and SEO agency focused on helping private practice owners create websites that increase their online visibility and attract more clients. Private Practice Elevation offers web design services, SEO (search engine optimization), and WordPress support to help private practice owners grow their businesses through online marketing. 

Daniel lives in Atlanta, GA with his wife Liz, and two energetic boys. When he's not working he enjoys hiking by the river, watching hockey, and enjoying a dram of bourbon.

In Thursday is the New Friday, author Joe offers the exercises, tools, and training that have helped thousands of professionals create the schedule they want, resulting in less work, greater income, and more time for what they most desire.

If you're feeling burned out and in need of a fresh take on your work schedule so you can get more rest, listen to this episode.

But take it from me, copywriting is like a muscle. The more you exercise it, the stronger it will get- but it does take practice!

If you're feeling like you're consistently cursed with that blank screen of copywriter's death and writer's block each time you go to write your therapy website copy, then this episode is for you.

Use this strategy as a starting point the next time you need to write copy for your private practice.

Most of us have taken heed and have shifted to a shelter-in-place lifestyle and adjusting to this strange new "normal'. 

With so much confusion and uncertainty it can be difficult to to remain steadfast in your private practice.

In this episode I'm going to outline opportunities that you can be working on now to improve your private practice marketing in the future.

Let's use this time as an opportunity to invest our businesses and make them more resilient, shall we?

When building a therapy practice, it's important to have the right tools to help you create systems and be organized within your business.

This helps keep you focused and not inventing the wheel every time you get a new client, need to send a form or perform other repetitive tasks in your business.

The trouble is that practice organization software can be expensive, especially if your private practice is in the early stages of existence.

G Suite (Googles suite of tools) can be an excellent way to get started with systems in your business.

They offer a huge range of applications and tools you can use to make your therapy life much easier.

Most people think that using Google services for their private practice will not be HIPAA compliant, but as our special guest explains, that's not the case.

Gordon Brewer, Jr., MEd, LMFT is a  licensed marital and family therapist and an AAMFT Approved Supervisor. Gordon is the person behind The Practice of Therapy Podcast and Blog. 

At The Practice of Therapy, Gordon provides information and resources for clinicians starting, growing or scaling private practices.

Gordon has personally built his own private practice while relying heavily on G Suite in order to get it all done.

He knows the ins and outs of G Suite tools and, as you'll hear in the interview, he loves to teach everything he knows.

So if you're looking for the technical tools you need to run your practice, without breaking the bank, listen in to my conversation with Gordon.

In This Episode, You'll Learn:

• How to set up an office management system within Google Suite to run your practice on about 5 bucks a month
• Using Gmail while still having an email address at your website's domain
• What you need in order to make Google Suite and Gmail HIPAA compliant so that you can use it in your therapy practice

As a result of Coronavirus, there has been a major shift in how your clients are using Google and the types of information they are searching for.

Our guest today, Jessica Tappana, is going to help you understand the new landscape of SEO for therapists during COVID-19.

Jessica not only runs her own group therapy practice, but she also runs an SEO consulting agency as well.

If you've seen your search traffic and clients drop over the last few months, Jessica is here to help you understand the WHY and then unpack some great tips so you know WHAT to do about it.

Many therapists build a website and put a lot of time and effort into it, only to wonder why it's not actually getting them any clients.

They think, "if I build it, they'll come, right?"

Not always.

In this episode, I'll share 5 simple things that many therapists are missing on their websites. Things that will help you get more clients in your own private practice.

In his book, My Digital Practice: The Therapist's Guide to Digital Marketing, Dr. Christopher shares his tried and true method to take you from scrappy marketing to a value-focused online marketing strategy that reflects your identity and attracts only the best clients for you and your practice.

This episode is jam-packed with tips to help you with your digital marketing, whether you're new to private practice or you're an established therapist looking for ways to refine your marketing and get better results!

However, not everyone knows how to utilize this platform to its full potential effectively. 

In this episode of The Private Practice Elevation Podcast, we will delve into the insights shared by Omar Ruiz, a therapist and business coach, on maximizing your Psychology Today profile. 

By following his tips and strategies, therapists can improve their online presence and generate more client referrals.

What You'll Learn About Maximizing Your Psychology Today Profile:

• Omar's private practice journey and the ups and downs that led him to become an expert in using Psychology Today to get clients

• The difference between browsers and buyers on Psychology Today

• Tips for optimizing the profile picture and first four lines on Psychology Today

• The importance of evoking emotion and offering hope in the profile description

• Providing concrete value in the profile description instead of focusing on certifications

• Including a call to action in the profile description

• Tips for using an intro video, additional photos, and keywords on Psychology Today

• Strategic use of keywords from the issues section in the personal statement

• Importance of optimizing Psychology Today profile for visibility

• Adding italicized snippets to your profile for increased visibility

• Strategic use of location to improve visibility

• Choosing less saturated and competitive areas for visibility

• Using Psychology Today as a supplemental referral source

• Private pay clients may have different experiences with Psychology Today

• Investing in SEO and having a website for long-term marketing

This Episode Is Brought To You By

Alma is on a mission to simplify access to high-quality, affordable mental health care by giving providers the tools they need to build thriving in-network private practices. When providers join Alma, they gain access to insurance support, teletherapy software, client referrals, automated billing and scheduling tools, and a vibrant community of clinicians that come together for education, training, and events.

Alma gives clinicians the tools they need to build thriving private practices. When you join their insurance program, you can get credentialed within 45 days, and access enhanced reimbursement rates with major payers. They also handle all of the paperwork, from eligibility checks to claims submissions, and guarantee payment within two weeks of each appointment. 

In addition to their insurance program, Alma offers timesaving tools and administrative support — so you can spend less time on paperwork, and more time delivering great care to your clients. 

Learn more about building a thriving private practice with Alma at helloalma.com/elevation.

Links mentioned in this episode:

• Psychology Today

• Online Private Practice Website

• Omar's YouTube channel

• Facebook

Get More Views of Your Psychology Today Profile: Key Takeaways

Psychology Today is a directory site that connects therapists with potential clients. It is essential to understand the behavior of clients using this platform in order to effectively market your services. Ruiz categorizes clients into two groups: browsers and buyers. 

Browsers are simply scrolling through the search results, while buyers are using the filtering options to find a therapist who can address their specific needs.

4 Tips To Improve Your Psychology Today Profile

To capture the attention of buyers, therapists must optimize their profile in several key areas. Ruiz provides a step-by-step guide to help therapists create a compelling profile that resonates with potential clients.

1. Profile Picture

The profile picture is the first impression potential clients have of you. It is crucial to present yourself professionally and authentically. Ruiz advises therapists to use a high-quality headshot, taken with a good camera or smartphone. 

The photo should be well-lit, with the therapist looking directly at the camera and smiling confidently. Avoid using selfies or pictures with pets, as this is a professional platform and not a dating site.

2. The First Four Lines

The first four lines of your profile are crucial for capturing the attention of potential clients. Ruiz suggests using two questions and a leading statement to evoke emotion and curiosity. By addressing the client's pain points and offering hope, therapists can entice potential clients to click on their profile. 

For example, if you specialize in couples therapy for infidelity, you might ask, "Are you thinking about filing for divorce after discovering your partner's infidelity? Are you finding yourself stressed out or in crying spells because you can't stop thinking about the text message you found? If you're struggling to trust and have faith in your relationship, it might be best..."

3. The Profile Content

The content of your profile should provide value to potential clients. Instead of focusing on your credentials and certifications, emphasize how you can help them. Offer concrete statements about the issues you address and the solutions you provide. 

For example, instead of saying, "I am Gottman Level 2 certified," you can say, "I help couples repair trust, resolve communication issues, and rebuild intimacy as a result of the betrayal." By focusing on the client's needs and offering tangible solutions, therapists can demonstrate their value.

4. Call to Action

The final paragraph of your profile should include a clear call to action. Tell potential clients what they need to do next, whether it's submitting a request on Psychology Today or visiting your website for more information. Be transparent about your availability, fees, and any other relevant details. By providing a clear call to action, therapists can guide potential clients towards taking the next step.

Additional Tips for Maximizing Your Profile

In addition to the key areas mentioned above, Ruiz shares several additional tips for optimizing your Psychology Today profile:

1. Intro Video: Psychology Today allows therapists to upload a 15-19 second intro video. This video is an opportunity to showcase your personality and connect with potential clients on a deeper level. Use the video to greet viewers, introduce yourself, and highlight how you can help them. A warm and authentic video can make a lasting impression.

2. Additional Photos: Include additional photos in your profile to give potential clients a sense of your environment. If you have an online practice, consider including a photo of yourself in a telehealth session. If you have an office, take photos of the space, the entrance, and any other relevant areas. Visuals can help potential clients feel more comfortable and confident in choosing you as their therapist.

3. Strategic Keywords: Psychology Today offers a list of specialties and issues that therapists can select for their profile. However, not all of these issues are visible to clients in the filtering options. To ensure that potential clients can find you, strategically incorporate relevant keywords from the visible list into your personal statement. This will increase your visibility when clients search for specific issues.

4. Location: Choose your primary and secondary locations strategically. Consider selecting areas that are less saturated and competitive, as this can increase your chances of being found by potential clients. Research the search results for your desired location and identify areas where the competition is lower. By targeting specific locations, therapists can improve their visibility and attract more clients.

Conclusion

By following the strategies and tips shared by Omar Ruiz, therapists can maximize their Psychology Today profile and increase their chances of generating client referrals. 

The power of a compelling profile cannot be underestimated, as it is often the first point of contact between therapists and potential clients. By addressing the pain points of clients, offering hope, and providing valuable solutions, therapists can create profiles that resonate with their target audience.

It is important to note that Psychology Today should be viewed as a supplemental referral source, especially for therapists who operate on a private pay or self-pay model. While Psychology Today can generate traction for your practice, it should not be relied upon solely for referrals. Therapists should also invest in a website and consider implementing SEO strategies to further enhance their online presence.

In conclusion, therapists can leverage the power of Psychology Today by optimizing their profiles to attract potential clients. By following the tips and strategies shared by Omar Ruiz, therapists can create compelling profiles that resonate with their target audience. By addressing the pain points of clients, offering hope, and providing valuable solutions, therapists can increase their visibility and generate more client referrals. 

As the field of therapy continues to evolve, it is essential for therapists to adapt their marketing strategies and embrace online platforms like Psychology Today to reach a wider audience and make a meaningful impact on the lives of their clients.

Join me as we explore the challenges therapists face when discussing fees, insurance, and rate increases with clients. 

We'll uncover strategies to navigate these conversations with confidence and compassion.

To help us do that, we'll be talking with Mor Goldberger. By day Mor leads Therapist Experience and Growth for Mentaya and by night she works as a couples therapist. 

Introduction: The Uncomfortable Reality of Money in Therapy

As a therapist, discussing money with clients can be an uncomfortable and challenging task. Many therapists find themselves ill-equipped to handle these conversations, as there is often a lack of business training in the field of therapy. 

This can lead to feelings of discomfort and uncertainty when it comes to setting fees, discussing insurance, and addressing rate increases.

In this episode, we will delve into the world of awkward money moments in therapy. We will explore the experiences of therapists and the strategies they employ to navigate these conversations effectively. 

Through the help of our guest, Mor Goldberger, we will gain a deeper understanding of the complexities surrounding money in therapy and discover practical tips to handle these situations with confidence.

In This Episode, You'll Learn:

• Why therapists often struggle with discussing money with clients

• How to maintain your boundaries around money so that you avoid getting into awkward conversations that display a lack of confidence

• Tips for discussing sliding scale fees with prospective clients

• Scripts to use when letting your clients know that you're no longer accepting insurance

• Things you can do for framing conversations about raising rates

• Tips for sounding confident during consultations such as breathing and slowing down your pace of speaking

• Why being willing to refer poor-fit potential clients shows a high level of care

• Try Mentaya for free with promo code: PPE

Links mentioned in this episode:

•  Mentaya.com (Try Mentaya for free with promo code: PPE)

Subscribe & Review in Apple Podcasts

If you're not yet subscribed to the podcast I want to encourage you to do that today. This is the best way to make sure you don't miss an episode! Click here to subscribe on iTunes.

And if you're feeling extra generous, I'd love to hear what you think about the podcast. Reviews help others find the podcast plus I'd really love to hear what you think! Click here to leave a review. Just click on "Ratings & Reviews" then "Write a review." Let me know what you like best about the podcast. Thank you!

Writing copy for our websites or online marketing doesn't come easy for most of us.

The majority of therapists don't have any training in marketing in business building.

So when you've got a website that your need to fill up with a bunch of words that are somehow going to get you more clients, that can be a daunting task.

What happens often is that we end up filling our therapy websites with therapist speak and information from the DSM.

But the trouble is that this type of language is not the language your ideal client uses to describe their feelings and the challenges they face.

So how can you create content that feels authentic to YOU and who you are, while also relatable to your ideal client?

How can you stand apart from other private practices so that you attract the best-fit clients to work with?

Patrick Casale is a Licensed Clinical Mental Health and Addictions Therapist in Asheville, NC, who helps mental health entrepreneurs break the mold, work through their fears and insecurities, and to embrace their Authenticity.

Listen in as he shares tips, exercises, and strategies you can use to  help you get past your copywriting roadblocks and create the best content for you and your clients 

In This Episode, You'll Learn:

• Why "relatability is accessibility" and the key to connecting with potential clients and getting them to take the next step

• Overcoming imposter syndrome in your copywriting

• How your niche can actually be a version of you and how you can use your story to create content

• Tips for niching down so you can begin writing content with a specific client in mind

• Why new environments can help spark creativity and write your best content

• Exercises to help you get out of your head and just start writing creative and captivating content

• How movie characters can help you write amazing content

• The reasons why launching a website when it isn't perfect is a key to success with your marketing

• How to make time for content creation

Links mentioned in this episode:

• All Things Private Practice

• Divergent Conversations Podcast

• Free impostor syndrome workbook + narrow down your niche guide + private practice startup guide

Top 3 reasons to listen to the entire episode:

1. Understand the difference between a good and bad therapist website and what key things to watch out for when developing your online presence. 

2. Identify ways to make your website a safe space and establish a connection with potential clients.

3. Learn how to create captivating content on landing pages, utilizing keywords and internal linking, as well as understand the impact of SEO on website visibility and attracting clients.

If you take the time to structure and maintain your therapist website in a strategic, authentic, and ethical way, you'll be more likely to see your ideal clients finding and choosing you as their therapist while knowing that you're going to be the best fit.

Listen Here.

This Episode is Brought To You By

Alma is on a mission to simplify access to high-quality, affordable mental health care by giving providers the tools they need to build thriving in-network private practices. When providers join Alma, they gain access to insurance support, teletherapy software, client referrals, automated billing and scheduling tools, and a vibrant community of clinicians that come together for education, training, and events.

Alma gives clinicians the tools they need to build thriving private practices. When you join their insurance program, you can get credentialed within 45 days, and access enhanced reimbursement rates with major payers. They also handle all of the paperwork, from eligibility checks to claims submissions, and guarantee payment within two weeks of each appointment. 

In addition to their insurance program, Alma offers timesaving tools and administrative support — so you can spend less time on paperwork, and more time delivering great care to your clients. 

Learn more about building a thriving private practice with Alma at helloalma.com/elevation. 

Subscribe & Review in Apple Podcasts

If you're not yet subscribed to the podcast I want to encourage you to do that today. This is the best way to make sure you don't miss an episode! Click here to subscribe on iTunes.

And if you're feeling extra generous, I'd love to hear what you think about the podcast. Reviews help others find the podcast plus I'd really love to hear what you think! Click here to leave a review. Just click on "Ratings & Reviews" then "Write a review." Let me know what you like best about the podcast. Thank you!

Now, you may be wondering how social media marketing works when it comes to ethics… 

Don't worry, our conversation has that one covered.

But the main issue is that using social media for lead generation for therapy is ethically frowned upon.

Not so with coaching services though!

So how can you add coaching to your therapy practice and open a whole new world of potential with your social marketing - and really all your marketing?

I know from my conversations with many therapists that social media is often a love-hate relationship, with the majority of people hating it.

I myself have backed down from social media for a while due to my own fatigue and, to be honest, lack of understanding of how to make it all work.

So to help us iron this stuff out, answer the big questions about using social media ethically, and start getting results from this avenue of marketing, is our guest, Carly Hill.

I first began following Carly on Instagram because I was so impressed with her content and her consistency. I knew she was doing it well and I wanted to learn from her.

So I'm super excited to have her on the Private Practice Elevation Podcast and pick her brain.

Carly is an LCSW and business strategist for clinicians. She specializes in helping overworked and underpaid female clinicians make more money and more impact by teaching them to build the online coaching business of their dreams.

In This Episode, You'll Learn:

• The ONE THING you need to understand in order to be successful with social media marketing
• The subtle difference between marketing/social media for a therapy practice vs a coaching business
• Using social media for lead generation for coaching vs therapy-ethics
• Why conversations are more important than likes and followers
• How to use the Pain-Agitate-Solve copywriting framework to craft any social post that will stop your ideal client in their scroll and get them to take action
• How to provide value to your audience and develop your like, know, and trust factor
• Why you shouldn't be afraid to promote your offer and services
• How to keep things simple and just get started with social media marketing

Subscribe & Review in Apple Podcasts

If you're not yet subscribed to the podcast I want to encourage you to do that today. This is the best way to make sure you don't miss an episode! Click here to subscribe on iTunes.

And if you're feeling extra generous, I'd love to hear what you think about the podcast. Reviews help others find the podcast plus I'd really love to hear what you think! Click here to leave a review. Just click on "Ratings & Reviews" then "Write a review." Let me know what you like best about the podcast. Thank you!

Links mentioned in this episode:

• Carly Hill Coaching
• Therapist To Coach Accelerator Facebook Group
• Carly on Instagram

About Carly Hill

Carly Hill is an LCSW and business strategist for clinicians. She specializes in helping overworked and underpaid female clinicians make more money and more impact by teaching them to build the online coaching business of their dreams.

She helps clinicians break free out of the 1:1 model to leverage their time, get paid for their knowledge, and live a life of true freedom. She helps clinicians to find their coaching niche, develop their high ticket offer, and organically call in their ideal clients easily and effortlessly using her unique modern marketing masterplan.

How To Create Effective Social Media Content: Key Takeaways

Start with a system.

Do you have a love-hate relationship with social media marketing? It can be overwhelming, especially when we don't have a system in place to help us manage it. Today, we're talking with Carly Hill, an LCSW and business strategist for clinicians, about how to create effective social media content.

Carly Hill specializes in helping overworked and unpaid female clinicians make more money and more impact by teaching them to build the online coaching business of their dreams. She helps clinicians break free out of the one-to-one model to leverage their time, get paid for their knowledge, and live a life of true freedom.

Carly helps clinicians to find their coaching niche, develop their high ticket offer, and organically call in their ideal clients easily and effortlessly using her unique modern marketing master plan.

When it comes to social media, Carly recommends starting with a system. Having a system in place will make it easier to post consistently on social media. It can also help you to stay organized and make sure that you're not overwhelmed by the task of creating content.

She suggests starting with a platform that you enjoy, like Instagram. Instagram is simpler and more fun than other platforms like Facebook. It's also easier to manage and can help you get started on social media marketing.

Once you've chosen a platform, it's important to have a system in place to help you create and post content. A system can help you stay organized and make sure that you're consistently creating content that connects with your ideal clients. It can also help you create content that leads them to take action.

Having a system in place can make social media marketing less of a chore. When you see it working, staying motivated and creating content is easier. With a system in place, you can start to see the potential of social media and use it to reach your ideal clients.

Discern between therapy and coaching.

However, when it comes to therapy and coaching, there are some key differences that need to be taken into account. Therapy and coaching can be used together, but they are not the same. It is important to understand the differences between the two in order to use social media effectively and ethically.

Therapy is a medical treatment that is used to treat mental health disorders. It is regulated by the government and requires a license to practice. The goal of therapy is to treat a mental health disorder and help the patient manage their symptoms.

Coaching, on the other hand, is a more general approach to helping people. Coaching does not require a license and is not regulated by the government. The goal of coaching is to help people reach their goals, such as career advancement or personal development. Coaching can also be used to help people who are struggling with mental health issues, but it is not a replacement for therapy.

When it comes to social media, it is important to discern between therapy and coaching. Therapists are not allowed to use social media for lead generation purposes, as this is not ethical. However, coaches can use social media for lead-generation purposes and have engaging conversations with their followers. Coaches can also share testimonials, which is not allowed for therapists.

It is also important to note that if you have both a therapy practice and a coaching practice, and your niche is the same, you don't need to have two separate social media accounts. You can use your coaching social media for lead generation and promotion, and if someone is interested in your coaching services, you can discern if they are a fit for your therapy practice or if they can be coached through their issue.

In conclusion, it is important to understand the differences between therapy and coaching in order to use social media effectively and ethically. Therapists must use social media for educational purposes only, while coaches can use it for lead generation purposes. If you have both a therapy practice and a coaching practice, you can use your coaching social media for lead generation and discern if someone is a fit for your therapy practice.

Know your ideal client.

When it comes to social media, it is important to know your ideal client. You need to understand their pain points and what their living hell is, as well as what their heaven is. Knowing your ideal client allows you to create compelling hooks that will stop the scroll and grab their attention. You also need to be speaking to them in their language and not using clinical jargon. Finally, you need to have clear and concise call to actions that direct them to the next step.

It is also important to assign value to what you are offering. Invite your ideal client to a free training or a free Facebook group as if you are inviting them to a dinner party. This will help build trust and show them that you understand their needs.

Overall, it is essential to know your ideal client when it comes to using social media. Knowing their needs, pain points, and language will help you create effective posts that will capture their attention and lead them to the next step.

Be consistent and inviting.

Consistency is key when it comes to social media marketing. You have to be present and be seen in order to get noticed. This means posting regularly and creating content that your ideal client can relate to. You want to create a presence on social media that will capture your audience's attention and make them want to engage with you.

It is also important to be inviting and engaging. You want to make sure that your audience knows that you are here to help them and that you understand their pain points. Start off by calling out to your ideal population and their pain, and then agitate their pain and let them know that there is a solution. Invite them to take the next step, whether it be a free guide, a training, or a call. This will help move them along in the journey and create a relationship with them.

Finally, don't be afraid to put yourself out there. You have to invite people to take that next step and create these posts. It can be intimidating, but it is important to be seen and be heard in order to be successful. Start with something simple and ease into your voice and your face.

Overall, being consistent and inviting are important when it comes to using social media. Knowing your ideal client and creating content that speaks to them will help you create relationships and move them along in their journey. Don't be afraid to put yourself out there and invite people to take the next step.

Promote yourself and your offer.

When it comes to creating content, having a system is key. This system should involve figuring out who your ideal client is and talking to their pain and their "heaven". Break these topics down into five different buckets, such as burnout, energizing, mom guilt, etc. Plug these topics into copywriting frameworks or create a calendar to keep yourself organized. On Mondays, you can promote yourself and invite people to free trainings, on Tuesdays ask them what they want you to teach on, Wednesdays do free training, Thursdays do a PAS post, Fridays talk about fun facts about you behind the scenes. This will help you batch your content and save time.

Reusing content is also important. If you are talking about burnout on your blogs for one week, you can hyperlink the posts you did on Instagram and your blog about burnout. This will also save you time.

Don't be afraid to share your offer. You are using social media to convert and get a paying client. Invite them to take the next step and let them know what you have to offer. It can be uncomfortable to promote yourself, but you are doing a disservice if you don't share what you have to offer. Give them permission to raise their hand and let them know that it is okay to promote yourself and share your offer.

Connect with ideal clients.

It is important to connect with your ideal clients on social media. You can use social media to reach a wider audience and to help your ideal clients find you. You can also use social media to create conversations, generate leads, and educate your ideal clients on the value of your services. You can share stories about how you have helped your clients and to showcase what you have to offer.

When you are creating content for social media, think about what your ideal clients need to know. What do they need to understand about your services and how you can help them? What kind of stories can you tell that will help them understand the value of working with you? Share tips and resources that will help them solve their problems.

When you are creating content, remember to be authentic and relatable. Make sure that you are using language that your ideal clients understand. Speak to them in a way that will make them feel comfortable and connected to you.

It is also important to be consistent with your content. Post regularly and create a schedule for yourself. You want to make sure that you are putting out content that is helpful to your ideal clients and that you are keeping them engaged.

By connecting with your ideal clients on social media, you can help them understand the value of working with you and you can create relationships with them. 

You can use social media to create conversations, generate leads, and educate your ideal clients on the value of your services. By being consistent with your content and being authentic, you can create relationships and help your ideal clients find you.

If you're like many therapists or private practice owners, marketing can be somewhat of a four-letter word.

You're not too sure how to talk about yourself or your services without making it all about you.

You want to reach more of your ideal clients, but struggle to find the right words on your website, social media, or other marketing collateral.

The truth is, we tend to complicate marketing and get all mixed up with the emotion of running a business and trying to get more clients.

To help us simplify things and create more confidence in marketing a private practice, we're chatting with my friend, Jane Carter.

Jane has a beautiful way of teaching through storytelling and helping us think of how we do marketing and business in new ways.

Listen up where she breaks down how you can think about marketing in new ways to help you break through your roadblocks and move toward your goals.

In This Episode, You'll Learn:

• The four roles you play as a marketer: storyteller, farmer, miner, and rancher
• What do these roles mean and how do they apply to marketing a therapy practice
• How to reframe what it is you're doing when your marketing so that you create more momentum, confidence, and results in your private practice
• Marketing tips to help you grow in each of these roles so that you can create more success in your therapy business

Subscribe & Review in Apple Podcasts

If you're not yet subscribed to the podcast I want to encourage you to do that today. This is the best way to make sure you don't miss an episode! Click here to subscribe on iTunes.

And if you're feeling extra generous, I'd love to hear what you think about the podcast. Reviews help others find the podcast plus I'd really love to hear what you think! Click here to leave a review. Just click on "Ratings & Reviews" then "Write a review." Let me know what you like best about the podcast. Thank you!

Links mentioned in this episode:

•  The Moth Podcast
• Jane Carter's Website
• 5 Smart Ways to Make More Money in Your Business Now

About Jane Carter

Jane Carter is a counselor and business coach who is committed to helping therapists and other solopreneurs have more money, fun, and freedom in their businesses. She lives in the mountains of Asheville, NC, where she's an outdoorswoman, food-and-wine lover, and coffee-shop connoisseur. Jane can be reached at janecartercoaching.com, where she offers a free consultation.

The ups and downs. The good, the bad, and the ugly!

When it comes to marketing your private practice or new business online, it can often be so overwhelming to know where to start and what to focus on.

You could put a bunch of time and energy into one thing and still wonder where your ideal client is and why are they not showing up.

But over time, as you flex your marketing muscles and begin to see what's working and what isn't, your focus gets more refined and growth begins to occur.

I think one of the most helpful ways to learn about marketing a business online is to hear from people who have gone before you.

When you listen to someone explain their stories of what worked, what didn't, and the mistakes and successes they had, you can take those lessons and apply them to your own private practice.

That's exactly what we're doing with my conversation with Maelisa McCaffrey from QA Prep.

She's been marketing her business, QA Prep, online since 2014, so you'll be sure she's got a lot of marketing stories to tell.

Give a listen as she lays it all out there and shares tons of tips you can apply to your own marketing efforts.

In This Episode, You'll Learn:

• Online marketing tips from Maelisa, who has been running a successful business online since 2014
• The ups and downs of online marketing
• The most important things you can do at the very beginning of launching your business online that can pay huge returns in the future
• Tips for building an email list and reaching your ideal clients
• The importance of blogging and how it can impact your business for years to come
• Tips for writing blog posts consistently to improve your SEO and get more traffic
• More about my own story with blogging and reaching my audience online

Subscribe & Review in Apple Podcasts

If you're not yet subscribed to the podcast I want to encourage you to do that today. This is the best way to make sure you don't miss an episode! Click here to subscribe on iTunes.

And if you're feeling extra generous, I'd love to hear what you think about the podcast. Reviews help others find the podcast plus I'd really love to hear what you think! Click here to leave a review. Just click on "Ratings & Reviews" then "Write a review." Let me know what you like best about the podcast. Thank you!

Links mentioned in this episode:

• QA Prep 
• Free Crash Course

About Maelisa McCaffrey

Dr. Maelisa McCaffrey is a licensed psychologist, nail design enthusiast, and multi-passionate entrepreneur. With her business QA Prep, she empowers therapists through trainings and consultation on clinical documentation. Maelisa focuses on the "why" behind the usual recommendations and encourages clinicians to think outside the box, while also keeping their ethics intact. As someone with ADHD who's had to figure out what works through trial and error, Maelisa aims to make sure her trainings are practical, while also allowing for plenty of laughter and fun.

The trouble is, with the current associations available to therapists and confusing state licensing protocols, it can be hard for supervision-seekers to find a supervisor with whom they resonate.

After all, new graduates are looking to start their careers off on a solid foundation, and a great supervisor can truly impact the trajectory of their careers as mental health professionals.

But someone is solving the problem by connecting supervision-seekers with supervisors across the United States…

Enter Dr. Amy F Parks.

Dr. Parks is a licensed therapist with more than 35 years of experience in the mental health field. She is an LPC and a Nationally Accredited ClinicalSupervisor.

She's also the creator of The Clinical Supervision Directory.

The Clinical Supervision Directory (CSD) is the first directory of its kind in the mental health profession. Previously, mental health professionals like LMFTs, LCPs, and LCSWs relied on inadequate, often piecemeal, information when searching for a clinical supervisor to begin practicing therapy

The CSD changes the old ways of searching for supervision completely by providing a one-stop-shop for supervision-seekers to research and find the supervisors that are best for them.

In This Episode, You'll Learn:

• The story behind The Clinical Supervision Directory and why Dr. Amy created it
• The biggest challenges new therapists face when trying to find the right clinical supervisor
• How clinical supervision can be the next step for your career development
• Ways to get your name out there so you can find supervisees and grow your clinical supervision
• How joining The Clinical Supervision Directory can help improve your SEO and social proof, helping you be seen as an expert in your field

Email Dr. Amy for A Discount Code

If you'd like to list yourself as a supervisor on The Clinical Supervision Directory, email hello@the-csd.com for a special discount code available for The Private Practice Elevation Podcast listeners.

Subscribe & Review in Apple Podcasts

If you're not yet subscribed to the podcast I want to encourage you to do that today. This is the best way to make sure you don't miss an episode! Click here to subscribe on iTunes.

And if you're feeling extra generous, I'd love to hear what you think about the podcast. Reviews help others find the podcast plus I'd really love to hear what you think! Click here to leave a review. Just click on "Ratings & Reviews" then "Write a review." Let me know what you like best about the podcast. Thank you!

Links mentioned in this episode:

•  The Clinical Supervision Directory

About Dr. Amy F Parks

Dr. Parks is a licensed therapist with more than 35 years of experience in the mental health field. She is an LPC and a Nationally Accredited Clinical  Supervisor.

• Areas of Interest: Children, Teens & Families
• Owner/Clinical Director @ The Wise Family, Counseling, Assessment &Education in Northern Virginia www.thewisefamily.com
• Licensed Professional Counselor, Virginia
• PhD, Educational Psychology, specialty Developmental Neuroscience
• Adjunct Professor, TCSPP 
• Clinical Supervisor, HCA Health Systems 
• Chief Executive Office, CSD Launched July 1, 2021 (conceived Nov 2020)Planned partnership with ACA's 55,000 members and 460 CACREPUniversities nation-wide
• hello@the-csd.com

Many private practice owners build their solo practice one step at a time. 

Perhaps they start out with little to no business experience and slowly get the pieces in place in order to get clients, make the business profitable and grow.

And then, they decide the next stage of growing their business will be to build a group practice by adding more therapists into the mix. So they start hiring and figuring out this new phase and all the challenges that go along with it.

The trouble is that there are many key steps that are missed way back in the solo practice phase that can make building a profitable and sustainable group practice even more difficult.

This means that many therapists end up just doing the best they can instead of setting their private practice up in such a way that they can scale in the future.

And when you add more clinicians into the practice, things get more complicated, and those steps missed at the solo practice stage can turn into big headaches and liabilities.

You can end up with a "full" private practice with 5 employees and only making $20k a year (a common occurrence!). 

To help you avoid these missteps and start creating a sustainable practice that sets you up for future success, we're talking to Miranda Palmer.

In This Episode, You'll Learn:

• The foundational principles you need in place to create a profitable, sustainable group private practice that works for you, the team, and clients
• How many private practice owners end up with group practices that are not profitable and don't allow them to make the income they want or take the time off they need
• How to create a livable wage for your solo private practice and the numbers you need to know
• Why you need to disconnect from your fee so that you can pay yourself what you need in order to have the life you want
• Understanding your limits and how to give yourself permission to work in a way that makes sense for your life
• How to decide whether a group practice model is even right for you so that you don't go down the wrong path or get burnt out

Links mentioned in this episode:

• ZynnyMe
• Free Training: How To Have A Group Practice that Pays You and Your Employees Well

About Miranda Palmer

Miranda Palmer, LMFT loves helping therapists bridge the gap between what it takes to be a great therapist who gets great clinical outcomes and what it takes to run a successful therapy practice. She has helped thousands of therapists from around the world make the mindset shifts that allow a more effortless application of marketing strategies that grow a private practice that is not just financially sustainable, but that gets great clinical outcomes. 

Subscribe & Review in Apple Podcasts

If you're not yet subscribed to the podcast I want to encourage you to do that today. This is the best way to make sure you don't miss an episode! Click here to subscribe on iTunes.

And if you're feeling extra generous, I'd love to hear what you think about the podcast. Reviews help others find the podcast plus I'd really love to hear what you think! Click here to leave a review. Just click on "Ratings & Reviews" then "Write a review." Let me know what you like best about the podcast. Thank you!

Have you ever wondered how some of the top business leaders are able to do what they do, build what they build, and create such growth in their businesses?

Or maybe you've seen the growth of other private practices in your area and thought "hmm, what are they doing that's helping them grow?"

Now, this isn't about comparison, which can lead you down a counter-productive path.

But it's about recognizing that there are certain traits or internal inclinations that many successful people have that help them achieve business growth.

To help us understand these three internal inclinations and apply them to your therapy practice, we're chatting with Joe Sanok, author of Thursday is the New Friday.

In his book, Joe examines how the four-day workweek boosts creativity and productivity.

But the only way to achieve those things is to first examine what's going on internally so that our inner game can help improve our outer game.

If you're looking to grow your therapy practice, reach more of your ideal clients, or launch a new business or stream of income, this episode will help you understand your internal inclinations and how you can lean into them to reach your goals.

In This Episode, You'll Learn:

• How your internal wiring can impact your business growth and why it's so important to start improving your internal world before you work on your business
• The three internal inclinations that all high-achievers possess and how they help them perform at the highest level
• How to extract lessons from your failures and apply them to grow your private practice in the future
• Why stepping away from your business challenges can actually help you solve them
• The benefits of thinking like an outsider and inviting outsiders into your business
• Tips for overcoming ruts or creative blocks in our businesses and lives
• How to create boundaries and block time so that you can focus on your most important work and hit your private practice goals faster
• How taking imperfect action can be the fastest way to grow your business

Get Started on Your Website Project

If you're ready to elevate your online presence, reach more of your ideal clients, and grow your private practice, you can schedule a free 15-minute Clarity Call. 

During this call, we'll uncover the issues holding you back and start putting together a plan to help you reach your goals.

Subscribe & Review in Apple Podcasts

If you're not yet subscribed to the podcast I want to encourage you to do that today. This is the best way to make sure you don't miss an episode! Click here to subscribe on iTunes.

And if you're feeling extra generous, I'd love to hear what you think about the podcast. Reviews help others find the podcast plus I'd really love to hear what you think! Click here to leave a review. Just click on "Ratings & Reviews" then "Write a review." Let me know what you like best about the podcast. Thank you!

Links mentioned in this episode:

• Joesanok.com
• Thursday is the New Friday (affiliate link)
• Free access to the Internal Inclinations Assessment (usually $49): use code TITNF to get it free 

About Joe Sanok

Joe Sanok is the author of Thursday is the New Friday: How to work fewer hours, make more money, and spend time doing what you want. It examines how the four-day workweek boosts creativity and productivity. Joe has been featured on Forbes, GOOD Magazine, and The Smart Passive Income Podcast. He is the host of the popular The Practice of the Practice Podcast, which is recognized as one of the Top 50 Podcasts worldwide with over 100,000 downloads each month. Bestselling authors, experts, scholars, and business leaders and innovators are featured and interviewed in the 700 plus podcasts he has done over the last six years.

But many people either have not enough information on this page to be effective, or they try and cram everything into one place and end up losing visitors and potential clients.

So, how can you make the most of this strategic web page and make sure that you're getting your potential clients to where they need to be in order to convert them to a new client?

This short episode is packed with simple tips and things you can do today to improve the homepage on your therapy website. 

She is also the owner of a group practice in Chicago, Urban Wellness, where she employs 40 of her own clinical staff.

So, Maureen knows a thing or two about scaling a private practice and leading a team of clinicians that share her vision for her business.

If you want some key lessons to help you can start and continue to grow your own group practice, listen up!

No matter what your private practice business goals are, keeping track of certain metrics - not only pertaining to your website but your entire business - is paramount to moving your practice toward reaching those goals.

How will you know you hit a goal unless you actually measure the results of your actions?

In this episode we'll go over four basic metrics around your private practice website that you should be tracking. Knowing these metrics will help you understand what you can focus on in order to see growth in your therapy business.

For full show notes and links from this episode, visit https://privatepracticeelevation.com/01

She emphasizes that most people have experienced some form of insecure attachment or emotional abandonment in their early family life, which can influence decision-making and the way we show up in our careers. 

Christy explains that these patterns can manifest in various ways, such as struggling with boundaries, handling money, and feeling reactive rather than responsive in professional settings. 

She highlights the importance of doing our own healing work and cultivating self-compassion and curiosity to overcome these patterns. 

Christy also emphasizes the role of the body in healing and suggests that accessing our unconscious material is crucial for aligning our thinking brain with our emotional and physical memory.

If you're feeling stuck, under-confident as a leader, or you've seen how certain situations trigger you in your private practice, this episode will help guide you toward healing and growth.

Key Takeaways:

• Unresolved emotional patterns from childhood can impact decision-making and the way we show up in our careers.

• Many people are surprised to discover that these patterns also affect their professional lives.

• Doing our own healing work is essential for showing up in a grounded and present manner.

• Cultivating self-compassion and curiosity can help us overcome negative self-talk and shame.

• Accessing our unconscious material is crucial for aligning our thinking brain with our emotional and physical memory.

Links Mentioned in This Episode:

• www.christiepearl.com

This Episode is Brought To You By

Alma is on a mission to simplify access to high-quality, affordable mental health care by giving providers the tools they need to build thriving in-network private practices. When providers join Alma, they gain access to insurance support, teletherapy software, client referrals, automated billing and scheduling tools, and a vibrant community of clinicians that come together for education, training, and events.

Alma gives clinicians the tools they need to build thriving private practices. When you join their insurance program, you can get credentialed within 45 days, and access enhanced reimbursement rates with major payers. They also handle all of the paperwork, from eligibility checks to claims submissions, and guarantee payment within two weeks of each appointment. 

In addition to their insurance program, Alma offers timesaving tools and administrative support — so you can spend less time on paperwork, and more time delivering great care to your clients. 

Learn more about building a thriving private practice with Alma at helloalma.com/elevation. 

About Christie Pearl 

Christie Pearl is a Certified EMDR Therapist and EMDR Consultant in private practice with over 18 years of experience in the mental health field. She specializes in EMDR Intensive Therapy for Adult Children of Alcoholics and Dysfunctional Families who are struggling with work stress and performance anxiety. She helps Adult Children create a healthier relationship with work so that they can own their brilliance and be who they want to be today, instead of who they had to be as children. Her mission is to inspire, encourage and equip Adult Children on their journey to reconnecting with their authentic selves. 

The Impact of Childhood Emotional Patterns on Professional Life

The Impact on Parenting and Personal Relationships

Pearl highlights that these unresolved emotional patterns not only affect our professional lives but also spill over into our parenting and personal relationships. 

She explains that many individuals who have experienced emotional immaturity or dysfunction in their own upbringing struggle to show up as the parents they want to be. They may feel guilt and shame for not being able to break free from these patterns and may find themselves repeating the same dynamics with their own children.

"The best thing you can do for your kids is what you're sitting here with me doing right now for yourself. And in my experience, most people, at least most adult children that I work with, have an easier time accessing that inner loving place within themselves for their kids or for other people. And it's a matter of learning how to turn some of that compassion and grace towards yourself." - Christy Pearl

Navigating Emotional Patterns in the Professional World

Pearl acknowledges that running a business can be a catalyst for uncovering and addressing these emotional patterns. As business owners, we are faced with various challenges, including client relationships, financial decisions, and time management. 

These challenges often trigger our unresolved emotional wounds and can lead to reactivity, self-sabotage, and difficulty in setting boundaries.

"I think there's a really good reason for that, which is we might have adapted early on in our early life by really learning how to compartmentalize... So we grow up and we continue functioning like that in our work. And whether you leave the house or not to go to your job at this point, we bring it all to work with us." - Christy Pearl

The Importance of Self-Awareness and Reparenting

To navigate these emotional patterns in the professional world, Pearl emphasizes the importance of self-awareness and doing our own inner work. She encourages individuals to cultivate curiosity and gentleness towards themselves, recognizing that healing is a process that requires patience and self-compassion. 

By addressing the unconscious material stored in our nervous systems, we can align our thinking brain, emotional memory, and physical sensations to respond from a grounded and authentic place.

"I think it's about doing your own work... It's not just a mental exercise. We've got to get into the body because part of what our brain can do is conscious. And then we've got all this unconscious stuff that's hanging around in our nervous system... If we don't get down into that unconscious material and allow ourselves to bring that up into our conscious minds where we can deal with it, then our thinking brain and our emotional physical memory never match." - Christy Pearl

Conclusion

In conclusion, addressing childhood emotional patterns and their impact on our professional lives is a transformative journey that requires self-awareness, self-compassion, and a commitment to doing the necessary inner work. 

By recognizing and healing our unresolved emotional wounds, we can break free from repetitive patterns, set healthy boundaries, and show up authentically in our careers. The process of reparenting ourselves and cultivating emotional safety within can lead to profound personal and professional growth.

As we continue to explore the intersection of our personal and professional lives, it is essential to approach our careers with curiosity, gentleness, and a willingness to confront our emotional patterns. By doing so, we can create a more fulfilling and authentic professional journey, one that aligns with our true desires and values. 

The path to healing and growth may be challenging, but it is also incredibly rewarding. Let us embrace the opportunity to transform ourselves and our professional lives, one step at a time.

Whether you've experienced burnout in your past, feel like you're on the edge of it now, or have moved past burnout, you're going to learn some great tips to help you - no matter where you're at on your journey.

Most people think that just rest is the key to avoiding burnout. While rest is important, it's so much more than just a work-life balance. 

There are some key activities that you can do to help you avoid burnout altogether.

And our guest today suggests that you begin NOW, even if you don't feel burnout at the moment.

To help us understand more about burnout and how clinical support can specifically help you overcome or avoid burnout altogether, we're chatting with Shannon Heers

Shannon Heers is a therapist, Approved Clinical Supervisor, and founder of Firelight Supervision. 

Firelight Supervision provides clinical supervision to counselors and social workers pursuing licensure, as well as clinical consultation for post-licensure professional growth and development.

Because of the supervision work Shannon and her team do with so many clients, she's got a wealth of experience and wisdom when it comes to burnout.

In This Episode, You'll Learn:

• What burnout looks like, including details from Shannon's own burnout story

• Why it's so important to have a burnout prevention plan even if you don't feel burnt out now

• Activities that you can do daily, weekly, monthly, and yearly in order to prevent burnout

• Why community is so powerful and the ways it helps you avoid burnout

I know many therapists that want to integrate their faith into the work that they do - both clinically and in how they run their practice.

My wife happens to be one of them!

But one thing that can be a challenge is understanding how to position your practice from a faith-based perspective without excluding other clients that don't adhere to a certain faith.

You may want to bring faith into the work you do, but you may be afraid it will turn other clients off.

So how can you create a practice that stays true to who you are and the faith that's important to you in such a way that will help you grow your business?

Today we're speaking with my friend, Whitney Owens, all about building a faith-based private practice.

She's sharing her wisdom about what she's learned both firsthand from building her own practice as well as the business owners she consults with.

There are a few key decisions and questions you can answer before starting your own faith-based therapy practice, and Whitney is here to help us unpack them.

In This Episode, You'll Learn:

• What it means to have a faith-based practice and how it can apply to all walks of faith
• Practical ways that you can bring more of your faith into your clinical work and business-building
• The difference between an "overt" faith-based practice and a "covert" one and what that means for your marketing
• Examples of marketing a faith-based therapy practice
• Tips for branding your faith-based private practice that will help you with your messaging and what you put on your website
• Why it's so important to track your marketing numbers and return on investments
• Why having a community around you while you build your practice is so important

This Episode Is Brought To You By

Managed WordPress Hosting by Flywheel

If you're looking for a hosting company that will not only host your website but also supports you with some of the best customer support I've ever received, then Flywheel is for you. We've partnered with Flywheel to host all of our clients' WordPress websites because their speed, security, and extremely responsive customer service is the best in the business.

Learn more about hosting with Flywheel (affiliate link)

Subscribe & Review in Apple Podcasts

If you're not yet subscribed to the podcast I want to encourage you to do that today. This is the best way to make sure you don't miss an episode! Click here to subscribe on iTunes.

And if you're feeling extra generous, I'd love to hear what you think about the podcast. Reviews help others find the podcast plus I'd really love to hear what you think! Click here to leave a review. Just click on "Ratings & Reviews" then "Write a review." Let me know what you like best about the podcast. Thank you!

Links mentioned in this episode:

• Whitneyowens.com
• Waters Edge Counseling (Whitney's group practice)
• Abundant Living Rome
• Fava Counseling Associates

About Whitney Owens

Whitney Owens is a licensed professional counselor, group practice owner, and faith-based private practice consultant. She is located in Savannah, Georgia, where she manages a private pay group practice with 10 plus clinicians. Along with running her practice, she consults practice owners around the country on how to start and grow a successful faith-based practice. She hosts summits, a weekly podcast, and a membership community for faith-based practice owners called Wise Practice. She has spoken at numerous events such as both the Georgia and Maryland annual professional counselors conferences as well as trainings for Florida's Counseling Association. In 2023 she will be speaking at Meet you in Kentucky, which is for group practice owners, as well as hosting her own summit in Savannah. In her free time, Whitney enjoys spending time with her husband and two girls, running, reading, and relaxing in the backyard.

With the power of simple online platforms like Teachable and Kajabi, it's no wonder why so many entrepreneurs and private practice owners are shifting their energy toward creating courses.

It's a great way to reach more people with your expertise and generate income for something that you're passionate about.

But one of the biggest challenges to creating a course is nailing down a topic that you're confident will actually sell.

Because no one wants to pour time, money, sweat, and tears into building an online course just to have it fall flat and have no one buy it.

Validating your course topic is the best way to ensure you're on the right track toward a course that sells.

James Marland from Course Creation Studio joins me to share 4 steps you can take to validate your profitable course idea.

James is on a mission to support therapists in creating life-changing and profitable online courses. And he believes each therapist has at least one course within them. 

In This Episode, You'll Learn:

• How you can validate your course idea in 4 steps
• The 4 things you need to do before you begin creating your course
• How to deal with imposter syndrome if other people have created similar courses
• Why it's ok if someone else has already created a similar course to yours
• Real-life examples and lessons I (Daniel) have learned from launching courses

Download James' Free Resource

Download Now

Subscribe & Review in Apple Podcasts

If you're not yet subscribed to the podcast I want to encourage you to do that today. This is the best way to make sure you don't miss an episode! Click here to subscribe on iTunes.

And if you're feeling extra generous, I'd love to hear what you think about the podcast. Reviews help others find the podcast plus I'd really love to hear what you think! Click here to leave a review. Just click on "Ratings & Reviews" then "Write a review." Let me know what you like best about the podcast. Thank you!

Links mentioned in this episode:

• Course Creation Studio
• Amy Porterfield
• How To Start A Movement YouTube Video
• The PsychCraft Podcast Network

About James Moreland

James Marland is the founder of Course Creation Studio. He has a master's degree in Ministry from Lancaster Bible College as well as a Master's of Business Administration from Shippensburg University. He has worked in mental health and social services for the last 18 years. He was a youth minister for two years and spoke weekly to teens and college-age students. From 2019 to 2022 he was the chief operating officer of Moved Forward Virtual Assistants, a company that provided support services for therapists and private practice offices. He is a Faculty Member at Lorman Education Services. 

James is on a mission to support therapists in creating life-changing and profitable online courses. He believes each therapist has at least one course within them. Unlocking that course will help many people. James believes if you help enough people you will all make it to the top.  

James is an avid reader and board game player. He hosts a monthly community game night for the people in his church and town. He still meets regularly with a group of friends he has been playing online games with for the past 7 years. In the summer you will find him at a Pennsylvania State Park campground where he likes to take pictures, hike, and burn things in the fire.

It's a typical business model in private practice: you start out on your own, fill your schedule, then decide to hire more clinicians to start taking on more clients.

However, it's a big shift to go from running a business with one employee (yourself) to growing and managing a team.

And hiring a team can be an extremely challenging part of making that leap to group practice.

Many therapists struggle to find great clinicians that are a good fit for their group practice.

But when you hire the right people - people who are committed to seeing your private practice succeed - it can make a huge difference in how well and how fast you grow your business.

Today we're talking with Amanda Landry from My Private Practice Collective and she's laying out the mistakes therapists make when transitioning from solo to group practice.

She also shares a ton of helpful tips and strategies for marketing your group practice and hiring great therapists to join your team.

In This Episode, You'll Learn:

• Why you should be thinking about your group practice even if you're just starting out as a solo practitioner
• The mistakes people make in their solo private practice that can be a challenge when transitioning to a group practice model
• Tips for attracting and hiring clinicians as you build your group practice
• Ideas for what you can offer your team, beyond compensation, so that you can be competitive and build a place that therapists love to work at
• Business tasks that you should no longer be doing as you make the shift to group practice owner 
• How to know when the time is right to hire another therapist
• How to market your group practice so that you can confidently attract more clients
• Website and SEO tips for group therapy practices

Subscribe & Review in Apple Podcasts

If you're not yet subscribed to the podcast I want to encourage you to do that today. This is the best way to make sure you don't miss an episode! Click here to subscribe on iTunes.

And if you're feeling extra generous, I'd love to hear what you think about the podcast. Reviews help others find the podcast plus I'd really love to hear what you think! Click here to leave a review. Just click on "Ratings & Reviews" then "Write a review." Let me know what you like best about the podcast. Thank you!

Links mentioned in this episode:

• https://caringtherapistsofbroward.com/
• Free resources from My Private Practice Collective  

About Amanda Landry

Amanda Landry is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor, Certified Addictions Professional, National Certified Counselor, and private practice consultant.  She's the owner of a group practice, Caring Therapists with several locations in Florida.  Caring Therapists specializes in working with children through adults.  They treat individuals, couples, and families.  

Amanda is the author of Guided Journal for Women with Anxiety on sale on Amazon and wherever books are sold.  

Amanda is trained in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Emotionally Focused Couples Counseling, Trauma-Focused CBT and Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing.  Amanda specializes in treating anxiety and depression in teens and adults through a holistic and evidence-based practice.    

Amanda is the founder of My Private Practice Collective, an online community for therapists in private practice.  She is a private practice consultant who helps solo and group practices build smart practices.  

When it comes to creating content for your services and specialties, one issue comes up time and again.

So we'll also be answering the age-old question, "is it ok to have multiple ideal clients?".

Listen to this quick episode for my answer to these questions so that you can make sure your website reaches the clients you love.

In this episode of The Private Practice Elevation Podcast, I'll share with you some of the key things you'll want to look for when choosing a reliable host for your WordPress website.

Like any service that you invest in for your business, your hosting company should serve YOU and empower you to focus more on your business and make it easier for you to succeed.

So how can you avoid choosing a WordPress hosting company that sucks the life out of you and the money out of your wallet?

Give a listen to this week's episode!

Your online presence is one of the best investments you can make when you're marketing your therapy practice.

The trouble is, many therapists don't know the right questions to ask.

So, in this episode, I'm putting myself on the other side of the table and thinking about what I'd want to know if I was hiring someone to design a website for my business.

Listen in, take notes, and use these questions to help facilitate your conversations when talking with a therapy website design company.

"Niching down" tends to be a buzz word we hear a lot in Facebook groups, marketing articles and Instagram.

But the truth is, there may be times where "niching down" may actually not be a good idea for your therapy practice.

To help us unpack the niching myth and understand how we should go about the niche question, we have our special guest, John Clarke, LPC.

In it, you'll learn a simple four-step process that you can use to begin getting results from social media marketing for your private practice.

To help you get some traction with your social media and get started with a plan, we've got a social media pro, Jennifer Sneeden from Thriving Therapy Practice.

Jennifer is an author, speaker, therapist, business owner, mentor and visionary with one goal: helping entrepreneurs around the globe build thriving businesses and make a bigger impact on the world. 

Listen in now!

One of the challenges of private practice is getting your office space furnished and decorated in a way that's functional for you and helps your clients feel comfortable and at ease.

I remember when my wife got her first space with multiple offices a few years ago.

The time it took to find the right furniture, choose complementary colors and decor and put it all together. 

It's a lot of work!

In this episode, I speak with Alison Pidgeon, who has created a website and service called TheraSuite, to help with all these challenges.

From the TheraSuite website: 

TheraSuite provides professionally developed style boards that were created with a therapy office in mind. Their interior designers seek out the best therapy office furnishings– like soundless clocks, art that functions as sound panels, and more– that enhances the space in which the therapeutic work happens.

You've got the option to work with an interior designer or purchase style boards with all the links to the decor and furniture to help you put your office together.

If you've struggled to create that dream therapy office space or need some inspiration for that future space you're putting together, you're going to love my conversation with Alison.

In This Episode, You'll Learn:

• How Alison successfully manages the running of her 4 businesses so that she can balance her responsibilities and life
• The challenges of decorating a therapy office so that it's functional and looks great
• How Alison got the idea for Thera-suite and the steps she took to bring her idea to life
• How TheraSuite can help you DIY your interior decorating of your therapy office
• The best places you can shop at for furniture and decor for your therapy office
• What type of decor works best to help your clients feel calm when they're in your therapy office
• Ideal colors for your therapy office
• Other tips and things to think about when decorating your private practice office

Receive $20 off TheraSuite with the coupon code "launch20" (Expires June 2022)

Subscribe & Review in Apple Podcasts

If you're not yet subscribed to the podcast I want to encourage you to do that today. This is the best way to make sure you don't miss an episode! Click here to subscribe on iTunes.

And if you're feeling extra generous, I'd love to hear what you think about the podcast. Reviews help others find the podcast plus I'd really love to hear what you think! Click here to leave a review. Just click on "Ratings & Reviews" then "Write a review." Let me know what you like best about the podcast. Thank you!

Links mentioned in this episode:

• https://thera-suite.com 
• Wayfair.com
• Havenly.com

About Alison Pidgeon

Alison Pidgeon, MA, LPC, is the founder and CEO of Move Forward Counseling LLC, a group practice in Lancaster County, PA. She currently has 16 employees and 3 locations. In addition, she works as a business consultant for Practice of the Practice where she specializes in helping therapists transition from a solo business to a group practice. She also founded a virtual assistant company called Move Forward Virtual Assistants LLC, which specializes in providing well trained VA's for therapy practices.

In this episode, we're going to talk about 5 simple things you need to have on your therapy website in order to get more clients.

Many therapists build a website and put a lot of time and effort into it, only to wonder why it's not actually getting them any clients.

They think, "if I build it, they'll come, right?"

Not always.

In this episode, I'll share 5 simple things that many therapists are missing on their websites. Things that will help you get more clients in your own private practice.

Living in these modern times, I think we sometimes forget about the tried and true methods that can be used to build a business.

Often we turn to our computers and social media feeds and think "this is how I'm supposed to market my private practice."

The problem is that in order to build a successful private practice, you may need to think outside of the box.

Clients won't just show up unless you go out and look for them. They need to know you exist!

So what are some creative ways to increase your visibility, share your expertise, and attract more of your ideal clients?

Our guest, Dr. Larry Waldman is on the show today to share some of the creative ways he marketed a successful private practice - one he had for over 45 years!

Dr. Larry is a psychologist, professor, speaker, and author who is passionate about helping private practice owners think outside the box and market their practices in creative and exciting ways.

In This Episode, You'll Learn:

• Questions to ask yourself before you begin marketing your practice
• The difference between a niche and your ideal client
• How to look for opportunities to get in front of your ideal clients
• The importance of relationship building and the impact it can have on your referrals
• How to use current events and media to reach more clients
• Creative ways to get in front of your audience
• Other ideas for non-traditional marketing for your private practice

Links mentioned in this episode:

•  Dr. Larry's Website

Huge Sale On My Favorite WordPress Theme

You may already know this, but Divi is my favorite WordPress theme for building beautiful therapy websites. Every year, Elegant Themes, the makers of the Divi WordPress theme do a huge Black Friday sale. And this is year is no different. If you're looking for a great theme to build a new website for your private practice, one that comes with easy-to-use templates and features right out of the box, definitely check out Divi. (affiliate link)

About Larry F. Waldman, Ph.D., ABPP

Dr. Waldman is a recently semi-retired licensed clinical, forensic psychologist in Phoenix, Arizona.  He conducted a highly successful private practice of 45 years working with children, teens, parents, couples, and adults in a solution-focused manner.  He also consulted with family, personal injury, immigration and estate planning attorneys.  His BS in Education/Psychology was from the University of Wisconsin; his MS in School Psychology was at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee; his Ph.D. in Educational/School Psychology was earned at Arizona State University; and his Diplomate (ABPP) was received in 2003.

Waldman was the past president of the Maricopa Psychological Society, the Director of Psychological Services for Charter Psychiatric Hospital of Glendale, an "Official Guide" (top expert) on Parenting for SelfGrowth.com and was a Medical Consultant for the Social Security Office in Phoenix. He continues as an adjunct graduate professor in counseling and serves on the professional advisory board of Stepping Stones of Hope, a charitable organization serving children who have lost a parent.  Waldman also was the co-chair of the Early Career Psychologists Committee with the Arizona Psychological Association (AzPA) for five years.   He is certified by the American Council on Exercise (ACE) as a (senior) fitness specialist and is a yoga instructor.  

In addition to numerous articles which have been published in the local Phoenix media and in the national press, Waldman has (thus far) written seven books:  Who's Raising Whom?  Coping with Your Adolescent; How Come I Love Him But Can't Live with Him? The Graduate Course You Never Had, 2nd Edition; Too Busy Earning a Living to Make Your Fortune? Overcoming Your Negotiaphobia: Negotiating Through Your Life; and Love Your Child More Than You Hate your Ex.

Dr. Waldman trained as a public speaker and presents for PESI.  His signature presentations are: The Business of Private Practice—The Graduate Course You Never Had and Teaching Parents to Parent.  He has made over 150 paid presentations in his career to attorneys, chiropractors, psychologists, family therapists, counselors, social workers, school psychologists and school counselors. To the community Waldman speaks on parenting, marriage, stress, depression and anxiety, wellness, grand parenting and psychotherapy.  He also is a seasoned podcast guest.  His seminars are organized, practical and entertaining—offering "edutainment."

Subscribe & Review in Apple Podcasts

If you're not yet subscribed to the podcast I want to encourage you to do that today. This is the best way to make sure you don't miss an episode! Click here to subscribe on iTunes.

And if you're feeling extra generous, I'd love to hear what you think about the podcast. Reviews help others find the podcast plus I'd really love to hear what you think! Click here to leave a review. Just click on "Ratings & Reviews" then "Write a review." Let me know what you like best about the podcast. Thank you!

If you've ever wondered whether insurance billing is worth the headache, or how to do it right, this episode is for you.

Today's guest, Jeremy Zug, co-founder of Practice Solutions, breaks down what private practice owners need to know about billing in order to be successful. 

With over a decade in the healthcare industry and a team that manages billing for thousands of providers, Jeremy brings clarity and strategy to a topic that overwhelms a lot of therapists. 

Whether you're solo and private pay or growing a group practice, you'll walk away with fresh insights, helpful mindset shifts, and even a few small changes that could dramatically improve your revenue.

This episode answers...

1. Do I need to take insurance to grow my therapy practice?

Not necessarily — but if you do, it needs to be intentional. Jeremy shares that some of the most successful practices limit themselves to one commercial payer and one government payer (like Medicaid or Medicare). This approach reduces administrative overwhelm and allows you to stay aligned with your clinical mission. 

Trying to accept every insurance plan in your area can actually slow your growth, especially as your practice scales. Instead, focus on which payers make the most sense based on your long-term goals, who you serve, and what the reimbursement rates look like in your region. 

Insurance can absolutely support practice growth, especially when it's chosen strategically.

2. When should I outsource my billing — and when should I bring it back in-house?

Outsourcing makes the most sense when your caseload is full. That's usually around 25 to 30 active clients. At that point, billing becomes a time-consuming task that pulls you away from clinical work or team leadership. Jeremy recommends outsourcing to save time and reduce stress, which ultimately helps you grow faster. 

But once your practice reaches about $2.5 to $3 million in revenue, it may be time to bring billing back in-house with a full-time hire. At that stage, having someone on your team who's dedicated to billing can help you scale more efficiently. 

It's not a one-time decision. It's about matching your billing approach to your practice's size and complexity.

3. How can I improve my billing process and increase revenue?

Even small tweaks to your billing workflow can make a big difference. Jeremy explains how simply reordering certain steps, like reviewing payment posting before resubmitting claims, can dramatically reduce denials and speed up revenue. 

Many practices waste time by resubmitting the same flawed claims without resolving the underlying issue. He also stresses the importance of reviewing your insurance aging report regularly, which shows you what claims are still unpaid and where you might be losing money. Billing isn't just about submitting claims; it's about building a system that supports healthy cash flow. 

The more visibility and control you have over your billing process, the more financially stable your practice becomes.

 In This Episode, You'll Also Learn:

• Why less is more when it comes to insurance plans
  
  

• How your geography and demographics should shape your billing strategy
  
  

• The six key steps of billing, and which one to do before submitting claims
  
  

• When to outsource billing (and when to take it back in-house)
  
  

• How to use insurance aging reports to track lost revenue
  
  

• Why clean billing processes can boost staff retention
  
  

• The right way to negotiate insurance rates using data
  
  

• Real examples of practices recovering thousands of dollars

Links mentioned in this episode:

• Practice Solutions Website

• Insurance Rate Increase Request

Watch The Video:

This Episode Is Brought To You By:

RevKey specializes in Google Ads management for therapists, expertly connecting you with your ideal clients. They focus on getting quality referrals that keep your team busy and your practice growing.

Visit RevKey.com/podcasts for a free Google Ads consultation

Alma is on a mission to simplify access to high-quality, affordable mental health care by giving providers the tools they need to build thriving in-network private practices. When providers join Alma, they gain access to insurance support, teletherapy software, client referrals, automated billing and scheduling tools, and a vibrant community of clinicians who come together for education, training, and events.

Learn more about building a thriving private practice with Alma at helloalma.com/elevation.

About Jeremy Zug

Jeremy Zug has over a decade of experience in the healthcare industry. Jeremy is known for his expertise in insurance billing, and frequently writes and speaks on topics that support mental health professionals in achieving financial health and operational excellence. He co-founded Practice Solutions with his wife Kathryn in 2017, relying on their combined knowledge from private practices they had worked at while in college. 

Practice Solutions is an expanded medical billing company offering billing services, professional services, and educational resources to thousands of mental and behavioral healthcare providers for optimal revenue cycle management.

About Daniel Fava

Daniel Fava is the owner and founder of  Private Practice Elevation, a website design and SEO agency focused on helping private practice owners create websites that increase their online visibility and attract more clients. Private Practice Elevation offers web design services, SEO (search engine optimization), and WordPress support to help private practice owners grow their businesses through online marketing. 

Daniel lives in Atlanta, GA with his wife Liz, and two energetic boys. When he's not working he enjoys hiking by the river, watching hockey, and enjoying a dram of bourbon.

If you don't know what the real monetary impact of your investments is (whether that's money, time, marketing focus), you'll have trouble knowing what's working and what isn't. 

So listen is as we go through some key metrics that you'll want to know in order to help you decide whether investing in your online presence makes sense for you.

But why does it happen, and how can we break free from it? 

In this episode, Daniel Fava sits down with Dr. Audrey Schnell to explore the deeper roots of self-sabotage and how to move past it.

Dr. Schnell explains that self-sabotage isn't a personal failing but a defense mechanism rooted in fear and past experiences, often dating back to childhood. 

She shares how awareness, relationships, and small, intentional actions can help shift these patterns and foster growth.

Dr. Schnell's insights offer a roadmap for shifting away from self-doubt and into action. Whether it's identifying hidden patterns, leaning on supportive relationships, or making small mindset shifts, this episode provides practical takeaways for anyone ready to move past self-sabotage and step fully into their potential.

Key Takeaways:

• Self-sabotage stems from fear and past trauma, not a lack of willpower.

• Trusted relationships provide valuable feedback for overcoming b lind spots.

• Small, manageable steps help break self-sabotaging patterns without overwhelm.

• Curiosity—rather than self-judgment—is key to overcoming self-doubt.

• Self-love isn't always a prerequisite for growth—sometimes, being supported by others is what helps us heal.

But the truth is that no one is more qualified to become a coach than mental health therapists.

As you'll see in my conversation with our guest, Katie Read, therapists are already coaching! 

Katie has a beyond impressive resume and tons of experience, but currently, she's obsessed with helping therapists get profitable doing the creative, out-of-the-box, authentic work they're called to do. 

If you've ever felt like there's got to be more than one-on-one therapy and you're ready to make a big impact in the world… this one's for you!

Daniel Fava sits down with Chris Morin of Moonraker AI to explore actionable SEO strategies, the future of search, and how to prepare your private practice website for the age of AI-powered discovery.

Therapists are often overwhelmed by conflicting SEO advice and unsure how to adapt to the fast-changing world of online search. 

Many feel stuck using outdated tactics or relying on blog content that takes too long to approve and publish. This episode demystifies what's working now in SEO and how therapists can keep their websites relevant, visible, and converting.

You might think blog posts are the backbone of a strong SEO strategy. 

But Chris and Daniel discuss why blog content may no longer be the best place to focus your energy, and what to prioritize instead to rank higher and connect with your ideal clients.

Today Daniel is talking with Chris Morin, the founder of Moonraker AI, an SEO agency that helps therapists build visibility and client trust through smart, user-focused online strategies. 

Chris brings years of experience, a personal connection to mental health work, and a wealth of insight into the future of search.

This Episode Answers…

1. What are the most important elements of modern SEO for therapy websites?

Chris breaks down the pillars of effective SEO today: fast, secure websites; clear site structure with specialty, modality, and location pages; and a focus on relevance over keyword stuffing. He explains how Google rewards clarity and penalizes outdated tactics.

2. How is AI changing the way people find therapists online?

AI-generated answers and voice search are reshaping how people search for help. Chris explains how modular, conversational content (like expanded FAQs) can help your website appear in AI-generated results, even if you're not on page one of Google.

3. Should therapists still prioritize blogging for SEO?

Not necessarily. Both Daniel and Chris talk about why blog posts aren't the silver bullet they used to be, and how homepage optimization, clear service pages, and press mentions can have a greater impact on SEO and conversion.

Other Key Takeaways:

• Clear, structured content is essential: one service per page, with a focused keyword.

• Over-optimized pages may now hurt your rankings.

• Aligning your website with your Google Business Profile is more important than ever.

• Apple Maps and Bing Places are critical for visibility (not just Google Maps).

• Press releases and consistent citations build trust with search engines.

• AI chatbots (like Moonraker's Engage) may soon replace contact forms, boosting conversion.

• Therapists must embrace a conversational, user-centered tone online to connect and convert.

Links mentioned in this episode:

• Moonraker Website

• Get an SEO Assessment for your website

Watch The Video:

This Episode Is Brought To You By:

RevKey specializes in Google Ads management for therapists, expertly connecting you with your ideal clients. They focus on getting quality referrals that keep your team busy and your practice growing.

Visit RevKey.com/podcasts for a free Google Ads consultation

Alma is on a mission to simplify access to high-quality, affordable mental health care by giving providers the tools they need to build thriving in-network private practices. When providers join Alma, they gain access to insurance support, teletherapy software, client referrals, automated billing and scheduling tools, and a vibrant community of clinicians who come together for education, training, and events.

Learn more about building a thriving private practice with Alma at helloalma.com/elevation.

About Chris Moran

Before marketing, I was a massage therapist for over 15 years, providing chair massage to local businesses. That work connected me to countless wellness providers and I had the opportunity to experience firsthand their deep desire to be of service in a world that desperately needs healing.

I also witnessed how so many amazing practitioners struggle to connect with the clients who need their services the most. A highly intuitive group, many feel that digital marketing is overwhelming, causing them to avoid the necessary steps to establish an online presence.

My goal is to help therapists and wellness providers boost their online visibility and connect with their ideal clients so they can build the practice of their dreams.

About Daniel Fava

Daniel Fava is the owner and founder of  Private Practice Elevation, a website and SEO agency focused on helping private practice owners create websites that increase their online visibility and attract more clients. Private Practice Elevation offers web design services, SEO (search engine optimization), and WordPress support to help private practice owners grow their businesses through online marketing. 

Daniel lives in Atlanta, GA with his wife Liz, and two energetic boys. When he's not working he enjoys hiking by the river, watching hockey, and enjoying a dram of bourbon.

Steffeny is passionate about helping therapists transform their practices by offering therapy intensives—an approach that's not only deeply impactful for clients but also allows clinicians to work less, earn more, and make a lasting difference.

During our conversation, Steffeny shares her journey, the benefits of therapy intensives, and practical steps for incorporating them into your private practice. 

We'll explore what makes therapy intensives so powerful, common misconceptions therapists might have, and how they can help you grow your income, boost your energy, and expand your impact.

Whether you're new to the concept or curious about taking the next step, this episode is packed with actionable insights to help you reimagine your private practice.

Key Takeaways:

• Therapy Intensives Defined: Therapy intensives are extended sessions ranging from two to eight hours, offering a deep dive into therapy work over a few consecutive days, providing significant transformational benefits.

• Transition to Intensives: Therapists can start integrating intensives by experimenting with current clients, choosing time slots that suit both parties, and setting a price reflective of the enhanced focus and outcomes.

• Expanding Therapeutic Practice: Intensives offer therapists an opportunity to reduce client loads while maintaining income, offering a path to prevent burnout and enhance professional fulfillment.

• Marketing Insights: The intensive model can be marketed effectively by addressing specific client needs, using terms like "intensive" or "therapeutic retreat," and highlighting distinctive benefits to attract clients.

• Community and Resources: Steffeny's Intensive Design Lab and related Facebook group provide valuable support and resources for therapists looking to explore the intensive therapy model.

Links mentioned in this episode:

• https://intensivedesignlab.com    

• www.kaleidoscopecounselingstl.com

• https://www.kaleidoscopecounselingstl.com/free-crafting-an-intensive-package

• @steffenyfeld

• @intensivedesignlab

• https://www.facebook.com/groups/therapyintensivecommunity

• https://www.youtube.com/@SteffenyFeld

SEO can feel like a moving target, especially with the constant changes in Google's algorithm, but understanding the basics can make a big difference in your online visibility.

For private practice owners, having a strong online presence is essential to attracting the right clients. However, navigating SEO often feels overwhelming. 

That's why this episode is packed with practical tips to help therapists assess their current SEO strategies and identify opportunities for improvement. 

From understanding key metrics in Google Analytics to optimizing Google Business Profiles for local search, Daniel covers the essentials to help you elevate your online presence and grow your practice.

Why Perform An SEO Assessment?

Many therapists struggle to understand why their website isn't generating enough leads or why they aren't ranking higher in Google searches. Daniel emphasizes that an effective SEO strategy starts with understanding where your website stands today. 

By assessing your current performance, you can create a clear path toward improving your rankings, driving more traffic, and ultimately attracting more of the clients you want to work with.

Episode Highlights

• 0:01 – Boosting Private Practice Growth Through Effective SEO Strategies
  Daniel begins by discussing how SEO is a powerful tool for growing your practice and why it's worth the investment.

• 3:35 – Join Our SEO Basecamp Live Training Group for Private Practices
  Learn about a new training program designed specifically to help therapists gain a deeper understanding of SEO.

• 7:49 – Understanding SEO Baselines and the Importance of Google Analytics
  Daniel explains the importance of setting a baseline for your SEO performance and tracking critical metrics like website traffic and bounce rates.

• 10:41 – Essential Tools and Strategies for Effective SEO Management
  Discover some of the must-have tools, including Google Search Console and Ubersuggest, to assess and manage your website's SEO.

• 16:18 – Mastering SEO: From Technical Aspects to Content Strategy
  A step-by-step guide to addressing technical SEO, from fixing broken links to improving website speed.

• 22:27 – Optimizing Website Content and Structure for Better SEO
  Tips for improving your site's navigation and creating service-specific content that resonates with potential clients.

• 26:29 – Optimizing Google Business Profiles for Enhanced Local SEO
  Daniel shares actionable advice on improving local SEO by enhancing your Google Business Profile and collecting reviews.

• 29:43 – Elevate Your Practice With SEO Strategies and Alma Support
  Wrapping up with how Alma, an SEO agency, can support therapists in taking their SEO to the next level.

Key Takeaways

• SEO Assessments are Crucial: Regular assessments reveal your website's strengths and areas for growth, setting the stage for improvement.

• Optimization Tools are the Foundation: Tools like Google Analytics, Google Search Console, and Ubersuggest provide invaluable data for guiding your strategy.

• Four Mountains of SEO: Daniel highlights technical SEO, on-site optimization, content creation, and off-site strategies as essential pillars.

• Content is King: Quality, client-centered content positions your site as a trustworthy resource and boosts rankings.

• Local SEO is Key for Growth: Optimizing your Google Business Profile and gathering reviews can drastically improve your visibility in local searches.

It's no secret that a lot of therapists shy away from new digital tools, whether it's due to fear of change, lack of time to learn, or simply feeling like technology doesn't fit into their practice. But what if embracing tech could make therapy more efficient, engaging, and accessible? 

Daniel chats with Amity Cooper to explore this, who shares her insights on how therapists can leverage technology like AI and virtual reality to enhance their work and improve client care. 

Amity is a professional counselor with a diverse background in business and mental health. Holding dual master's degrees in Clinical Mental Health Counseling and Conflict Resolutions, she has traversed a career path from marketing and product development to the mental health field.

Her entrepreneurial background has not only given her a fresh perspective on therapy but also led her to coin the term "Therapreneur," which describes therapists who embrace both clinical work and entrepreneurship.

Throughout the episode, Amity shares how therapists can benefit from thinking like business owners while still delivering high-quality care to clients. She believes that combining therapeutic expertise with smart business practices can help therapists run thriving, sustainable practices.

But the conversation doesn't stop there! Amity and Daniel dive into some cutting-edge topics like AI (artificial intelligence) and VR (virtual reality) and how these technologies are starting to transform the therapy space. 

While technology can feel intimidating to some, Amity encourages therapists to push past their fears and embrace the future. Whether it's using AI-powered chatbots or note-taking tools that simplify admin work or introducing clients to VR experiences that create immersive therapeutic environments, there's a lot of potential for these tools to elevate therapy practices.

This conversation will help you shift your mindset and see how integrating these tools can empower both you and your practice.

Key Takeaways:

• Innovation in Therapy: Amity Cooper wants therapists to think beyond the therapy room and adopt a "Therapreneur" mindset. By blending therapy skills with business know-how, therapists can build successful and innovative practices.

• AI as a Co-Pilot: AI isn't something to be afraid of! Amity talks about tools like ChatGPT and Decipher AI, which can help therapists manage their workload by automating tasks like writing, engaging with clients, and even creating content for blogs or social media. This frees up time for therapists to focus on what matters most—helping clients.

• The Power of VR: Imagine being able to take your clients into a fully immersive environment where they can safely confront their fears or practice new skills in a controlled space. That's the power of virtual reality in therapy, and it's opening up new possibilities for enhancing client experiences.

• Bridging the Tech Gap: The mental health industry has been slow to adopt new technologies, and Amity believes it's crucial to close that gap. By staying current with tech advances, therapists can improve their services and meet clients' evolving needs.

• Empowering the Profession: One of the biggest takeaways from this conversation is that therapists should be part of the technological revolution in mental health. If clinicians don't embrace these changes, there's a risk that tech companies might take the lead and leave therapists out of the equation. Amity's message is clear—therapists need to be involved in shaping the future of their field.

Links mentioned in this episode:

• Clinical Career Collective Website

• Do This First Bootcamp

• Clinical Career Collective on Facebook

• Connect with Amity on LinkedIn

• Amelia by XRhealth

With Google's algorithms constantly shifting and new technology—like AI-powered search engines—coming into play, keeping up with SEO trends can feel overwhelming for private practice owners. However, understanding these changes is essential for staying visible online and continuing to attract new clients.

For many therapists, the world of SEO can feel like a maze of ever-changing rules and best practices. 

Google's algorithms now analyze everything from page load times to user experience and even the expertise of content authors. This means that simply having a website or using a few targeted keywords is no longer enough to achieve high rankings. 

Staying on top of SEO requires not only understanding what Google's search engine is prioritizing but also adapting content and website strategies to match those priorities.

In this episode, we'll cover five major SEO trends predicted to dominate 2025. 

Each prediction is meant to help you reach more of your ideal clients and understand the shifting  landscape of SEO for your private practice. With clear explanations and straightforward action steps, you can learn what's coming next—and what you can do to stay ahead.

Key Takeaways:

• AI in SEO: AI-powered search engines are set to revolutionize SEO strategies in 2025, demanding conversational and precise content in addressing user queries.

• Search Intent over Keywords: Emphasizing the importance of understanding and responding to search intent, rather than focusing solely on keywords, for enhanced user engagement.

• Visual and Interactive Content: Incorporating engaging visual and interactive content, such as videos and images, into websites to better captivate audiences and improve search rankings.

• Voice Search Optimization: Adapting for voice search use by making content more conversational and ensuring websites are mobile-friendly to capture on-the-go users.

• E-A-T Principle: Strengthening the trustworthiness and authority of content through consistent, high-quality, expert-backed articles and displaying credentials effectively on websites.

This inefficiency can lead to burnout and suboptimal care. 

In this episode, Ryan Fuller, co-founder of My Best Practice, discusses these challenges and how their electronic health record (EHR) system addresses them. 

Ryan shares his journey from juggling multiple systems for clinical work, research, and administrative tasks to creating a seamless, integrated solution for mental health professionals. 

We discuss the challenges faced by therapists and the significant improvements My Best Practice brings to clinical practice, administration, and research.

Ryan explains the early stages of developing My Best Practice, outlining the key functionalities they aimed to address—clinical documentation, research integration, and business administration. 

The discussion moves to the onboarding process, emphasizing the platform's user-friendly migration services, which make it easy for practices to switch from other popular EHR systems like Simple Practice. 

As the conversation progresses, Ryan touches on future advancements, including AI-driven progress notes, and why user feedback is crucial in shaping these features.

If you're curious about what thought, planning, and ideas go into creating an EHR platform, and how it can help you streamline your private practice, listen up!

Key Takeaways:

• Unified EHR System: My Best Practice integrates clinical, research, and administrative functionalities into one seamless platform.

• White Glove Migration Service: The platform offers an extensive and supportive migration process to help practices switch EHR systems smoothly.

• Evidence-Based Focus: Developed with a strong emphasis on evidence-based care, the system supports therapists in delivering high-quality treatment.

• AI-Driven Progress Notes: Upcoming features include AI-generated progress notes designed to save therapists significant time while maintaining data security.

• User-Centered Development: My Best Practice continually evolves based on user feedback to enhance functionality and ease of use.

Links mentioned in this episode:

• Get 3 months free of My Best Practice

• Survey About Using AI in Therapy Practice

Nate shares his background as a former teacher and how his passion for personal finance led him to start his own bookkeeping business. 

With an empathetic understanding of the struggles private practice owners face, Nate breaks down key strategies for understanding and improving their financial stories.

Nate delves into the importance of having a clear financial story and how it can alleviate stress and confusion for practice owners. 

He emphasizes the need for tracking essential metrics and creating a dashboard to maintain a comprehensive view of the business's financial health. 

As therapy practices grow, Nate highlights the challenges of optimizing clinician pay structures and provides practical tools and tips to ensure that practices remain profitable and sustainable. 

Knowing some of the blind spots and things to avoid can help therapists step confidently into scaling their business and growing their team.

If you own or manage a private practice and are looking to scale effectively, this episode is packed with actionable insights and expert advice from Nate Hendrikse.

Key Takeaways:

• Understanding Your Financial Story: Learn how to identify and interpret the trends in your practice's financial data to make informed decisions.

• The Importance of Data: Utilizing financial reports and dashboards can help track essential metrics and uncover financial blind spots.

• Optimizing Clinician Pay Structures: Discover strategies for creating fair and profitable pay structures for clinicians to ensure sustainability as your practice grows.

• Creating a Financial Dashboard: Simple yet effective ways to track financial health metrics to keep your business on course.

• Navigating Growth Challenges: Practical advice on managing the nuances and complexities that come with scaling a private practice.

Links mentioned in this episode:

• Navigator Bookkeeping Website

• Clinician Profitability Tool 

• Nate's LinkedIn

• Navigator Bookkeeping YouTube Channel

Daniel seeks to remove the confusion that many people face when choosing between these two WordPress platforms.

In fact, some don't even know that WordPress has TWO options for building a website with their platform.

But there are, and many folks get confused or choose the wrong platform when building their first website for their private practice.

In this episode, Daniel demystifies WordPress by breaking down the four main differences between Wordpress.com and Wordpress.org: ownership and control, cost, customization and flexibility, and maintenance and security. 

Each aspect is crucial for private practice owners to consider as they plan their online presence. 

With insightful comparisons and real-world examples, he guides listeners through the complexities of WordPress choices, making the decision clearer and more strategic for long-term practice growth.

Key Takeaways:

• Ownership and Control: WordPress.org offers full control over customization, themes, and plugins, while WordPress.com provides a more managed but restrictive environment.

• Cost Considerations: WordPress.org requires paying for hosting and domain services, whereas WordPress.com uses a tiered pricing model with different levels of functionality.

• Customization and Flexibility: WordPress.org allows unlimited customization, making it ideal for growing practices, while WordPress.com is limited to predefined themes and plugins.

• Maintenance and Security: WordPress.org demands active management of updates and security, but offers complete control, while WordPress.com handles this for you in exchange for reduced flexibility.

• Future Proofing Your Practice: Starting with WordPress.org provides room for growth and prevents the need for future platform shifts, making it a robust option for long-term private practice elevation.

Links mentioned in this episode:

• Article: What's the Difference Between WordPress.com & WordPress.org?

• Episode 131. Secure, Reliable, and Fast: The Benefits of Managed WordPress Hosting for Your Private Practice Website

• Our WordPress Care Plans & Hosting

• Get started with our services by scheduling a call

Daniel and the Private Practice Elevation team have been helping Steve expand his practice's visibility through SEO (Search Engine Optimization) for about two years now. 

Steve shares his journey of transitioning from working at an organization to starting his own private practice - without taking insurance from the get-go. 

He discusses the importance of investing in a website and SEO to attract clients and shares valuable insights on honing your message, tracking numbers, and staying competitive. 

Steve's story is a testament to the power of facing fears and investing in yourself to achieve success in private practice. 

Tune in to learn from his experiences and gain valuable tips for your own practice.

In This Episode, You'll Learn:

• What led Steve to invest in a new website and especially place a high emphasis on SEO

• Why he chose to work with Private Practice Elevation

• The importance of facing his own fears and realizing that his own growth was worth investing in

• What made Steve stay the course and continue working on SEO for two years running

• The challenges he faced over the course of long-term SEO strategy building

• How we had to pivot his SEO approach at times to make sure his ideal local client could find him

• How SEO has impacted Steve's business for the better

• The key lessons Steve learned and things you need to know before you invest in SEO for your private practice

• The importance of knowing your numbers and tracking the data related to your website and conversions

This Episode Is Brought To You By

Alma is on a mission to simplify access to high-quality, affordable mental health care by giving providers the tools they need to build thriving in-network private practices. When providers join Alma, they gain access to insurance support, teletherapy software, client referrals, automated billing and scheduling tools, and a vibrant community of clinicians who come together for education, training, and events.

Learn more about building a thriving private practice with Alma at helloalma.com/elevation.

Links mentioned in this episode:

• In Touch Family Counseling - Steve's Private Practice

• Private Practice Elevation's SEO services

• Book - Donald Miller's Building A Storybrand (affiliate link) 

In this episode, I sit down with Amy Dover, a seasoned therapist and successful group practice owner. 

Amy has an inspiring story of transitioning from various practice settings to building her own flourishing group practice in Enterprise, Alabama.

Throughout our conversation, Amy opens up about the rapid growth of her practice and the different seasons she's experienced as an entrepreneur. 

We dive into the challenges of maintaining a healthy work-life balance and why Amy prefers to think in terms of finding a rhythm rather than balance. Because, honestly, balance never comes and only creates frustration. 

She shares her insights on how to adapt to the changing demands of personal life and business, providing valuable advice for anyone looking to grow their practice while staying grounded.

Key Takeaways

• Rethinking Balance: Amy encourages us to move away from the rigid idea of work-life balance and instead find a rhythm that works for both our personal and professional lives.

• Embracing Seasons: Understanding and embracing different seasons—whether it's a time of rapid growth or a slower period—can help in managing personal and business development effectively.

• Managing Growth: Amy's journey emphasizes the importance of being a savvy businessperson. Knowing the financial and administrative aspects of your practice is essential for success, and requires a mindset shift from therapist to business owner.

• Leadership Lessons: Transitioning from a solo practice to a group practice requires continuous learning and adaptation in leadership styles and team dynamics.

• Consulting and Support: Having a mentor or joining a consulting group can provide crucial support and guidance through the stages of growing your practice.

Amy's experience and wisdom offer a roadmap for navigating the complexities of practice growth while staying true to your values. 

Links mentioned in this episode:

• Wise Practice Consulting

• FREE Webinar: Is It Time To Grow? Should I Start a Group Practice?

This Episode Is Brought To You By

Alma is on a mission to simplify access to high-quality, affordable mental health care by giving providers the tools they need to build thriving in-network private practices. When providers join Alma, they gain access to insurance support, teletherapy software, client referrals, automated billing and scheduling tools, and a vibrant community of clinicians who come together for education, training, and events.

Learn more about building a thriving private practice with Alma at helloalma.com/elevation.

Dr. Rosenthal shares his pearls of wisdom on leadership, emphasizing the importance of clarity in your professional and personal goals. He advocates for creating roles that align with your passions and strengths, a strategy that has proven successful for both him and his team.

Discover how Dr. Rosenthal navigated the complexities of scaling a business, from the inception of the Big Apple Day program—a summer camp for children ages 6-12 with developmental, social and/or learning difficulties.—to fostering a culture of continuous improvement and reflection within his team of over 300.

 He candidly discusses the challenges of retention and the financial balancing act required to sustain growth.

Dr. Rosenthal also unveils his evolved leadership approach, where he focuses on growth and empowering a core leadership team, ensuring that the quality of service remains consistent across the board. This top-down approach underscores the critical role of leadership in shaping employee experiences and, by extension, customer satisfaction.

Join us in this episode as we unpack the highs and lows of growing in leadership as you step into private practice growth. Dr. Rosenthal's story is not just about the success of his practice but also about the resilience, adaptability, and strategic thinking that are the hallmarks of effective leadership.

Key Takeaways:

Joshua Rosenthal, PsyD, shares several key takeaways from his experience in building and managing his private practice, then a summer camp, and later, his role as a CEO. Here are the main points:

• Difficulty and Opportunity: Rosenthal emphasizes that the difficulty of starting a venture is essential, as it allows for the discovery of opportunities and growth. He acknowledges that the process was hard and that he could not replicate it now, but at the time, it was the right fit.

• Staff Retention and Financial Challenges: Hiring good people was only part of the challenge; retaining them as the camp grew and expenses increased became a significant issue. Despite increasing costs, there was a limit to how much the camp fees could be raised, leading to financial strain.

• Leadership and Team Dynamics: Rosenthal learned about leadership, team cohesiveness, and the importance of reflecting on what works and what doesn't. This iterative process was crucial for personal growth and improving the camp each year.

• Trust and Business Relationships: He discusses the importance of trust in business relationships, even though it comes with the risk of being hurt. His experiences shaped his decision-making and ultimately contributed to his success.

• CEO Role Evolution: Rosenthal's role as CEO evolved from micromanaging to focusing on supporting his leadership team. He stopped seeing patients to concentrate on business growth, profitability, and new service lines. He also highlights the importance of having a leadership team that can manage different aspects of the business, allowing him to focus on growth and strategic planning.

• Importance of Leadership: The CEO's mood and approach can significantly impact the entire company. Rosenthal stresses that leadership starts at the top and that the experiences customers have are a reflection of the company's leadership.

• Starting with an MVP: The camp began with a minimal viable product and evolved significantly over time. Rosenthal followed an organic growth approach, letting the project develop naturally without forcing it.

Free Guide From Our Sponsor: Building Your Dream Caseload

Growing a caseload of clients you're passionate about working with can help you build a career that's both impactful and sustainable. But it's often easier said than done — which is why our sponsor, Alma, has created a guide to help you identify and connect with clients who fit your practice.

Both professionals share their journeys, showing how their careers transitioned towards serving the mental health community.

David provides insights into his role in assisting therapists with their financial planning, covering both personal finance and business structures.

Throughout the episode, David Frank delves into the psychology of money and common mindsets that arise for business owners, particularly therapists. 

He explains how deep-seated beliefs and patterns from childhood influence financial behaviors and decisions. David also discusses the crucial role of conversation and speaking with trusted individuals in overcoming financial shame and anxiety. The importance of community, having professionals like financial planners on your team, and maintaining a stance of curiosity and non-judgment about financial matters are emphasized. 

The episode wraps up with actionable advice for therapists and business owners on managing their financial lives more effectively and with greater insight.

Key Takeaways:

• Influence of Childhood on Money Mindset: Childhood experiences significantly shape financial behaviors and attitudes. Awareness and exploration of these can help in overcoming financial blocks.

• The Role of Community and Conversation: Sharing financial concerns with trusted individuals or professionals can alleviate shame and provide new perspectives, reducing anxiety.

• Curiosity and Non-Judgment: Adopting a curious, non-judgmental approach to financial issues can foster better understanding and more effective decision-making.

• Investing and Patience: Success in investing often requires patience and the ability to endure market fluctuations without reactive decision-making.

• Financial Planning for Therapists: Tailored financial planning services can bridge the gap between personal and professional finances, providing clarity and reducing stress for therapists.

Links mentioned in this episode:

• Turning Point Financial Life Planning

The journey from being an agency therapist or employee to becoming a business owner of your private practice is filled with unique challenges and opportunities. 

For therapists considering this path, understanding the nuances of business, the value of time and money, and the intricacies of marketing can be the difference between thriving and merely surviving.

David Sturgess has a compelling background in mental health, with over 16 years of experience in the field. His journey began as a 911 operator and first responder, which unfolded into a strong interest in psychology and led his current career. 

David worked for several years in youth residential treatment facilities and transitioned into private practice six years ago as a result of desiring to be more present for his family and to alleviate burnout. 

Currently, David is a consultant with Wise Practice Consulting, where he focuses on helping solo practice owners navigate the transition from clinical work to business ownership.

In this episode, David imparts his insights on three major changes that are crucial for therapists ready to delve into the entrepreneurial world and see lasting success.

Key Takeaways:

• Recognizing the need for assistance in business matters is critical for therapists transitioning into business ownership.

• Clinicians must adopt a realistic approach to time management and financial planning, ensuring their practice remains profitable.

• Investing in professional services such as website design can have a significant ROI and is essential for effective marketing.

• Understanding the role of a quality website as an always-on marketing tool can help improve visibility and attract potential clients.

• A niche focus can evolve and needs to be communicated effectively to reach the intended audience.

Links mentioned in this episode:

• http://www.wisepracticeconsulting.com 

• Schedule a free 30-minute consultation with David

With around seven years of experience, Brent ventured into the marketing realm when his wife, a therapist, decided to start her own private practice. 

His journey began with branding and marketing, which he mastered through self-learning due to budget constraints. He successfully launched 'Kid Matters Counseling' with his wife, achieving a waiting list status before its onset. 

Eventually, Brent expanded his expertise to help other therapists establish and grow their practices, learning the critical importance of positioning as a trusted authority in the market. He also has launched TheraSaas, a powerful CRM for private practices.

His work is significantly impacted by the StoryBrand framework, which he has adeptly applied to launch over twelve practices across the country. As a certified Storybrand Guide, Brent emphasizes the power of storytelling and how therapists can become trusted guides for their clients. 

Brent states that this transition - moving from YOU being the center of your marketing to having your clients be the hero - has the potential to help take your marketing to a new level of success.

In this episode, Brent provides five steps to establish yourself as a guide, including demonstrating empathy, providing a sense of safety, demonstrating authority, illuminating the problem, providing a plan, and calling the hero to action. 

Tune in to learn how to position yourself as the go-to practice in your community.

In This Episode, You'll Learn:

• The brain's role in survival and calorie conservation - and what this means for your marketing

• The Importance of clear and simple communication to engage potential clients

• The importance of storytelling in building trust and positioning oneself as a guide for your ideal clients

• The shift from telling your own story to inviting clients into a story where they are the hero

• The need for clear and simple communication to capture and maintain attention

• Brent's five steps to establish trust and position oneself as a guide

• Examples of guides in literature and movies, such as Dumbledore in Harry Potter and Gandalf in Lord of the Rings.

• Brent Stutzman highlights the importance of guides demonstrating empathy and providing a sense of safety

• How to be the guide while still demonstrating authority and expertise

• Brent Stutzman shares how to position yourself as a guide.

• Website and copywriting tips to position yourself as a guide and call your clients to action

• The ultimate transformation in your marketing: when heroes become guides

This Episode Is Brought To You By

Alma is on a mission to simplify access to high-quality, affordable mental health care by giving providers the tools they need to build thriving in-network private practices. When providers join Alma, they gain access to insurance support, teletherapy software, client referrals, automated billing and scheduling tools, and a vibrant community of clinicians who come together for education, training, and events.

Learn more about building a thriving private practice with Alma at helloalma.com/elevation.

Links mentioned in this episode:

• Brandyourpractice.com

• TheraSaas Website 

• Free Course: How to Turn Calls Into Clients

• Ultimate Guide to Growing a Private Pay Practice

• Building A Story Brand by Donald Miller (affiliate link)

• Kid Matters Couseling

Crafting core values goes beyond traditional marketing—these guiding principles shape the culture, decision-making, and strategic direction of your therapy practice.

After sharing about what core values are, Daniel transitions into a solo discussion on the essence of core values and their profound impact on business operations. 

He delves into the purpose of having core values, including aligning your team's actions, enhancing company culture, and influencing how you serve clients. 

Through three main tips, Daniel illuminates the process of creating actionable and meaningful core values. 

In the candid sharing of Private Practice Elevation's own set of core values, you'll gain insights not only into building your own values but also into the ethos that guides Daniel's successful team at PPE.

Tune in to the full episode for a dive into the world of private practice core values with Daniel Fava, and stay connected with Private Practice Elevation for more invaluable lessons to take your practice to new heights.

Key Takeaways:

• Core values are the fundamental beliefs that guide your private practice's culture, decision-making, and actions.

• The process of creating core values should involve reflecting on your practice's mission, involving your team, and striving for simplicity and actionability.

• Private Practice Elevation's core values include striving for excellence, leading with authenticity, being creative, displaying kindness, and ensuring accountability.

• Core values are crucial not only for internal governance but also for building trust with clients and setting a standard in the industry.

• Regular review and adherence to core values are essential for business growth and team leadership.

Have you launched a website but you're not exactly sure what content needs to be on there in order to attract your ideal client?

In this episode of the Private Practice Elevation Podcast, you'll learn what content you'll need on your therapy website to generate more traffic and bring more clients into your business.

When we talk about content, we're referring to the way you share your expertise and resources on your website.

And when it comes to your private practice website, content serves two very important functions:

1. Content helps your ideal client connect with you, your services, and what you have to offer and hopefully positions you as the best one suited to help with their challenges

2.  Content helps search engines pick up your website and index it so that your ideal clients can find you

You need content in order to get organic traffic to your website and, once there, you need content to connect with that traffic.

But how do you get started identifying the content necessary to reach and convert your ideal clients?

How can you be strategic in what goes on your website, making sure you continue to provide value and resources that will impact your business?

In this episode, we're going to walk through some steps to help you evaluate your current website, look for the gaps in your content, and begin to fill them in.

You'll learn a simple starting point to start creating your own content strategy to help your website rank well in search results and connect with your audience.

In This Episode, You'll Learn:

• The 4 qualities of great content that will help improve your SEO

• Why consistency is important to improve your keyword rankings

• How to find the low-hanging fruit of your content strategy by expanding what's already on your website

• Simple things you can add to your website to improve the content and help it rank higher in search results

• Ideas for new content you can add to your website

• Tips for brainstorming articles you can add to your website to help attract more traffic and turn your website into a valuable resource for potential and current clients

This Episode is Brought To You By

Alma is on a mission to simplify access to high-quality, affordable mental health care by giving providers the tools they need to build thriving in-network private practices. When providers join Alma, they gain access to insurance support, teletherapy software, client referrals, automated billing and scheduling tools, and a vibrant community of clinicians that come together for education, training, and events.

Alma gives clinicians the tools they need to build thriving private practices. When you join their insurance program, you can get credentialed within 45 days, and access enhanced reimbursement rates with major payers. They also handle all of the paperwork, from eligibility checks to claims submissions, and guarantee payment within two weeks of each appointment. 

In addition to their insurance program, Alma offers timesaving tools and administrative support — so you can spend less time on paperwork, and more time delivering great care to your clients. 

Learn more about building a thriving private practice with Alma at helloalma.com/elevation. 

Or are you finding it incredibly difficult to create a balance between caring for others' needs and caring for yourself?

In this episode of The Private Practice Elevation Podcast, you're going to receive a framework that you can apply to your life so that you can embrace self-care in a way that works for you.

Let's face it… incorporating self-care into our daily lives is hard.

It seems so counterintuitive to take time out of your day to focus on yourself, do things that bring you joy, or just slow down.

And we can often deal with feelings of guilt for putting our own needs above others.

I know I've struggled with this.

Today we're speaking with Dr. Karen Dyck and Dr. Melissa Tiessen about what it means to embrace self-care and the positive impact it can have on our lives.

They've developed a framework, called The 4 'C's", that is going to help you identify where life has gotten off-balance and give you a road forward toward creating a life you love.

In This Episode, You'll Learn:

• The 4 'C's' of Self-Care: Connection, Compassion, Courage, and Creativity

• How the 4 'C's' are connected and how to move between them to embrace self-care in a way that helps you thrive

• The shared challenges we all face when it comes to taking care of ourselves

• How our brains are wired in a way that actually makes self-care counterintuitive

• How the 4 'C's' can be cultivated and developed in order to help us to create the life we want to live

This Episode is Brought To You By

Alma is on a mission to simplify access to high-quality, affordable mental health care by giving providers the tools they need to build thriving in-network private practices. When providers join Alma, they gain access to insurance support, teletherapy software, client referrals, automated billing and scheduling tools, and a vibrant community of clinicians that come together for education, training, and events.

Alma gives clinicians the tools they need to build thriving private practices. When you join their insurance program, you can get credentialed within 45 days, and access enhanced reimbursement rates with major payers. They also handle all of the paperwork, from eligibility checks to claims submissions, and guarantee payment within two weeks of each appointment. 

In addition to their insurance program, Alma offers timesaving tools and administrative support — so you can spend less time on paperwork, and more time delivering great care to your clients. 

Learn more about building a thriving private practice with Alma at helloalma.com/elevation. 

Google is always making changes to their algorithm. It's something that happens almost weekly to make search results even more useful for visitors.

But every so often they make bigger updates that include new ranking factors.

Google has announced that in 2021 they will be making updates to their algorithm to include what they call "Core Web Vitals".

So, what the heck does that mean and how will impact your website?

Well, Core Web Vitals are basically what Google is now considering as vital to providing a good experience to users of your website. This way, they're showing Google users only the best websites out there.

Listen up as I explain what Core Web Vitals is and it means for the SEO of your private practice website.

If you haven't listened to that episode yet, check it out here: Episode 74: A Complete Strategy for Marketing Your Private Practice Online

In this week's episode, we're diving deep into the first phase of marketing your practice online: your website. And I'll go over the various tasks and strategies that go into creating a therapy website that speaks to your ideal client and converts traffic into warm leads and new clients. 

Listen in now!

"There's so much I feel like I should be doing. What's the right thing?"

As a business owner, it can often be difficult to understand what we should focus on and when in order to generate more revenue and reach our business goals.

In this episode, I'm going to give you an overview of an entire online-marketing strategy that you can use to guide you as you grow your private practice.

It can be easy to feel fully at home as a therapist and a total imposter as a business owner.

But the truth is, your skills as a therapist is exactly what makes you qualified (even more than others!) to run and grow a successful private practice.

That's what Kasey Compton, author of the book Fix This Next for Healthcare Providers, wants you to know.

Join me in our conversation as we unpack the why behind her book and how it's going to help you gain more business confidence and create a plan for growth.

Recently on the podcast, we spoke about how COVID-19 has changed SEO strategy for therapy practices, how to do Google ads during the pandemic, and the new opportunities therapists can work on during quarantine. 

This week we're talking to Alison Pidgeon, a consultant from Practice of The Practice, all about the specific things she's done in her own group practice to keep her business growing and booking new clients during COVID-19.

Listen in as we talk about what group practice owners can do to market their private practices during this pandemic!

Whether you're just starting out or scaling your business, this conversation will help you manage your finances more effectively, save money, and reduce stress. 

Our guest, Julie Herres, CEO of Green Oak Accounting and an experienced accountant who works with private practice owners, shares practical advice to help you feel confident about your numbers and make smarter financial decisions.

If you've ever worried about tax surprises, felt unsure about when to hire a professional, or struggled to make your practice profitable, this episode is for you.

What You'll Learn in This Episode:

• Why saving for taxes is essential and how to avoid year-end financial panic.

• The key mindset shift you need to treat your practice as a successful business.

• How skipping professional help for accounting or legal advice can cost you big in the long run.

• Simple strategies, like Profit First, to allocate your income and keep your practice financially secure.

• Tips for scaling your practice while staying on budget and avoiding common pitfalls.

Key Takeaways:

• Prepare for taxes: Set aside money regularly to avoid unpleasant surprises during tax season.

• Adopt a business mindset: Treat your therapy practice as a business to ensure its long-term success and impact.

• Get expert help: Hiring professionals for accounting and legal needs can save you time, money, and headaches.

• Plan ahead: Consult with experts before making significant business changes to avoid costly mistakes.

• Profit First strategies: Use intentional income allocation to maintain financial stability and growth.

Tune in to learn how to avoid common financial pitfalls and build a thriving, profitable private practice.

Links mentioned in this episode:

• Profit First For Therapists Facebook Group 

• Therapy For Your Money Podcast 

• Green Oak Accounting Website 

In this episode of The Private Practice Elevation Podcast, you're going to learn 5 simple things you can do to optimize your Google Business Profile and maximize your local SEO potential.

Local SEO involves the steps you can take to make sure that when potential clients are searching for therapy services in your area your website and practice come up in the search engines.

For example, if you offer couples therapy and are located in Atlanta, you want your website to come up when clients type "Couples therapy" in a search engine, while they are located in Atlanta.

Google looks for local signals, such as business directories to get a better understanding of where your private practice is located.

At the heart of this local SEO ecosystem is your Google Business Profile.

While setting up a Google Business Profile is often the first thing therapists do when opening their private practice, these profiles are often not optimized.

So we're going to go over 5 simple things you can do to optimize your profile.

Whether you don't have a Google Business Profile already, or have one set up that you need to revisit to improve your local SEO, this episode will give you some simple steps to help.

Download the Free Google Business Listing Optimization Checklist

Get on the Waiting List for the Next Class of Our SEO Training Group!

On January 30, 2023, I'm opening the doors to our SEO Basecamp Live Training Group. This will be an online course and small group live training over the course of 9 weeks to help you create and implement and simple SEO strategy for your private practice. 

To be the first to get access (and at a discount!), join our waiting list here.

Links mentioned in this episode:

• Google Business Profile
• SEO Basecamp Live Training Group
• Episode 18. What is Local SEO and how Can You Use it in Your Private Practice?
• Episode 78. Google My Business For Therapists: 7 Tips To Optimize Your Listing with Craig Alsup
• Blog Post: A Guide to Optimizing a Google Business Profile for Private Practice

Most therapists would agree that they need a website to market their private practice online and help them gain clients.

The problem is that most private practice websites lack the proper pages and content to make a big impact on the business.

And it's this lack of content that is one of the biggest things I see holding back most therapists who want to get organic traffic and clients using their therapy website.

I see it often when I perform website audits or coaching calls… the website just doesn't have enough content to resonate with the ideal client and allow Google to pick up the website and rank it high in search results.

So, let's talk about your website content and make sure you have what you need in order to hit your goals for online marketing.

In This Episode, You'll Learn:

• How to define what makes your website "successful" and how knowing this can help you make important decisions with your online marketing
• The content and pages that I recommend as a bare minimum for a therapy website in order for it to be effective
• A basic sitemap for a therapy website for those who are just getting started
• How to expand your sitemap over time in order to improve your search engine optimization and get more organic traffic in the future

Subscribe & Review in Apple Podcasts

If you're not yet subscribed to the podcast I want to encourage you to do that today. This is the best way to make sure you don't miss an episode! Click here to subscribe on iTunes.

And if you're feeling extra generous, I'd love to hear what you think about the podcast. Reviews help others find the podcast plus I'd really love to hear what you think! Click here to leave a review. Just click on "Ratings & Reviews" then "Write a review." Let me know what you like best about the podcast. Thank you!

These are a couple of key questions we talk about in Episode 10 of the Private Practice Elevation Podcast. 

In today's interview with Kate and Katie of The Private Practice Startup you'll learn how it's impossible to separate the life you want to create from the business you desire.

If you don't spend the time up front to think about the BIG questions and BIG goals you have for your life and private practice, you may find yourself working harder, attracting the wrong clients and creating something you never intended.

Kate and Katie share some of their top marketing tips to get you started with a brand that represents you and your private practice.

These tips are going to take the mystery out of marketing and help you learn how to craft marketing messages that deeply resonate with your ideal clients.

But as time goes on and your practice grows, you're sure to attract some clients that may not be a great fit for you. 

Remember, you can't be all things to all people.

As you grow, you'll want to repel the types of clients that you know won't be a good fit for you. It's the only way you'll fill your practice with the clients you love and get into that flow of doing the type of work that brings you to life.

So in this episode of The Private Practice Elevation Podcast, I share 5 ways you can repel clients that aren't a good fit for your private practice.

The simple math shows that as traffic increases, some of that traffic will reach out to you about your services, and some of those leads will turn into clients.

That's exactly why traffic-building is a big part of our process here at Private Practice Elevation.

In this episode we'll discuss the pros and cons of both strategies and why SEO is a fantastic long-term investment into your business.

Now, I know a lot of you have added or thought about adding online counseling to your private practice.

The problem with online counseling is that there are some nuances to marketing a practice that is different from the typical, in the room type of therapy, your clients may be used to.

That's why I've brought in online therapy expert, Clay Cockrell, to share what he's learned from years of marketing and growing a successful online practice.

Clay is the founder of Onlinecounseling.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.

A lot of our conversation focused on the type of content he created on in order to pull that off.

And the strategy he used is one that I often talk about...

It's about creating specific pages for each and every service or specialty you have within your practice.

In this episode, I want to break down this strategy to give you an outline of the type of content you should be creating for these types of pages.

When we're in charge of creating our copy and marketing message we often run the risk of over-complicating things.

But how do you craft a clear and concise marketing message that your ideal clients can't resist? One way is to use the power of story.

You may have heard of Donald Miller's process for writing marketing copy called StoryBrand. 

In this podcast episode, you'll get a little help from my good friend and business bff, Danny Peavey.

Danny has built a successful online marketing company and he just so happens to be a StoryBrand Certified Guide.

If you've felt unsure about what to say on your website or you don't know where to begin to craft a clear and successful marketing message for your private practice, listen up! 

Over the years, I've spoken to many private practice owners who are interested in getting started on their therapy website - they're excited to reach their ideal clients and start getting some visibility.

But the conversation comes to a rather quick end when they tell me that they were hoping to launch their website in about a month.

Now, I believe your website is the most important part of your online marketing and can make all the difference in you actually reaching the goals you have for your business. 

If your goal is only "get the website live", well there are plenty of freelancers out there who I'm sure could help you do that quickly.

But if you've got many goals that you're looking to reach in the next 1 - 3 years, then your project may not be as simple as just getting a website up on the internet.

And when you take your goals into account, set a strategy that fuels the decisions you make surrounding your website and content… well, that takes time.

So join me as I share more about our website design process here at Private Practice Elevation so you can understand how long it takes to create a private practice website that is strategically built for your business.

I'll take you behind the scenes of the different stages to help you understand how long a website project typically takes.

In This Episode, You'll Learn:

• The different phases your therapy website project will go through on the way from onboarding to launch
• How long each of those project phases will take and what to expect from them
• Go behind the scenes of Private Practice Elevation as I share how we schedule our website projects and why

Subscribe & Review in Apple Podcasts

If you're not yet subscribed to the podcast I want to encourage you to do that today. This is the best way to make sure you don't miss an episode! Click here to subscribe on iTunes.

And if you're feeling extra generous, I'd love to hear what you think about the podcast. Reviews help others find the podcast plus I'd really love to hear what you think! Click here to leave a review. Just click on "Ratings & Reviews" then "Write a review." Let me know what you like best about the podcast. Thank you!

If you're building your own website for your practice, you can get quite overwhelmed quite fast when trying to narrow down what theme and plugins to use.

So listen up as I share the very small list of plugins we install on each of our website builds and the theme we recommend!

One thing I've learned from watching my wife build and grow her own group practice is that, well, it's hard!

It can be a struggle to find great therapists to join your team and then provide enough benefits to ensure they stay.

Not only that, it can be hard to find others who share your vision and values for this practice that you're building.

So what can you do to begin building a team culture at your private practice?

How do you nail down your hiring process from start to finish so that at the end of it, you know you're hiring someone who cares about your vision and the impact you want to create through your private practice?

Today we're speaking with Dawn Gabriel.

Dawn is the founder and CEO of Authentic Connections Counseling Center, a group practice consultant, and host of Soul Care for Therapists podcast. She is passionate about helping people achieve freedom from what is keeping them stuck and invites others to take a non-judgmental look deeper into their spirituality and faith.

Whether you're just starting to build your private practice team or you've got a team already, you're going to get some great advice from an experienced group practice owner on creating deep connections with your team so that you can build a team you love that cares about your vision.

In This Episode, You'll Learn:

• How to hire therapists that share your values and your vision, not just to fill a chair

• Ideas and examples for creating a mission statement that can guide you through the interview process

• The importance of screening candidates before even thinking about inviting them in for an interview

• Creative perks you could offer your therapists and how to incorporate them into your job description and attract better candidates

• Exercises and resources you can use to foster connections between team members and support one another

• The Ennigram and how it can help you understand your team's strengths and personalities better

• Steps for building your leadership team so that you can focus on what you love and what you're good at

Links mentioned in this episode:

• Faith Fringes

• Soul Care for Therapists

• Authentic Connections Counseling Center

The COVID-19 pandemic has spread around the world, destroying the economy and taking lives in its wake.

If you're like most therapists, you probably have found yourself needing to transition your entire practice to an online one as we all work together to stem the spread of this virus.

We're certainly not immune over here in the Fava household.

The day I'm writing this, our county has issued a state of emergency and all non-essential businesses are closing by the hour. I just got a text from my mechanic saying they're cutting down their hours. Sorry, Rocco!

My wife and I have been working out a schedule as we watch our 3-year-old son and balance keeping our businesses moving forward as best we can.

What's been amazing though is the sense of community that has grown out of actually NOT being able to meet in person!

Who would have thought?

So many people have banded together to share resources and help you make some difficult transitions in order to continue providing great therapy services to your clients.

Some of you may have already had a full or semi-online practice, so you may not have skipped a beat as you entered quarantine.

For others, it may have been (or continues to be) a scramble.

To help you out, we've collected many of the great resources out there to help your private practice survive the Coronavirus pandemic so that you can keep moving forward. Find them at http://privatepracticeelevation.com/covid

8 Private Practice Consultants Share Their Advice For How Therapists Can Succeed During the Coronavirus Pandemic

I was so inspired by all the resources and support that so many folks have been putting out in order to help therapists weather this storm.

So I reached out to a few private practice consultants and asked them to record their response to this one question:

"What's one thing therapists can do to help them adjust/plan/succeed during COVID-19?"

Listen to their responses in this bonus episode.

The goal of Private Practice Elevation is to help you elevate your online presence, no matter what level your private practice is currently in.

But what if you find yourself at those lower elevations, where you're looking to establish your business online and create some momentum?

You need a foundation - a place where potential clients can find you and where you can send your referral sources as you build those relationships.

In an attempt to save some money, most people turn to DIY platforms like Wix and Squarespace to get their business online. While that can be a great starting place to generate some clients, it often comes with a cost…

Those DIY websites look, well, DIY.

This could mean missed opportunities plus time and money wasted as you try and learn website design yourself.

You need a great website that won't be a distraction as you build and grow your business.

That's why we've created a new website package - The Website Basecamp Package.

To help therapists on a budget create a website that can be a foundation for their online marketing and get the ongoing website support they need for growth.

Listen up to learn more about why we created this package, what's included, and how it works.

In this Episode You'll Learn:

• The trouble with DIY therapist websites and I don't recommend that route
• Why we created this new website design package
• How the process works
• The importance of website care and support
• What's included in the Website Basecamp Package

Join The Website Basecamp Package Waitlist

Be one of the first to know when we're accepting applications for our newest website package. We'll be limiting this package to only a few projects so we can work closely with our clients through this new process.

Join the waitlist here >>

Links mentioned in this episode:

• Preview the Website Basecamp Package template website here
• Learn more about what's included in this package

And if you've ever felt a little afraid of coming off as too "salesy" in your therapy practice or on your website, well we're gonna hit that too!

To help us get to the bottom of this, I'm chatting with Amira Alvarez.

Amira is the founder and CEO of The Unstoppable Woman, a global coaching company helping entrepreneurs, empire builders, athletes, creatives, and rising stars in all fields achieve their dreams and goals in record time.  

As a private practice owner, you may often focus on the clinical side of your business, providing quality care to your clients and helping them on their journey to wellness. However, it's crucial not to overlook the financial aspects of running a private practice. 

It may not be sexy, but accounting, bookkeeping, and tax management are essential components of a successful business, and neglecting them can lead to unnecessary stress and financial difficulties down the line.

In this episode, I speak with Andrew Riesen, co-founder of Heard, a platform that offers accounting and bookkeeping services for clinicians in private practice. 

Andrew shares valuable insights and advice on accounting and tax-related matters that are often overlooked by small business owners. He emphasizes the importance of separating personal and business finances, setting aside money for taxes, and tracking income and expenses. 

Andrew also discusses various deductions that clinicians can take advantage of, such as professional development expenses, home office deductions, and retirement contributions. 

He highlights the significance of planning for time off and taking care of mental health as a business owner. Andrew also provides an overview of the services offered by Heard, including software, reporting, and access to a team of professionals who can provide guidance and support throughout the year.

In This Episode, You'll Learn:

• The importance of separating your business accounts from your personal accounts

• How much should you save for taxes?

• Some expenses you maybe didn't realize you could write off on your taxes

• Lessons I (Daniel) have learned from working with my own accountant

• Some of the accounting nuances therapists think about when setting up a private practice

• Retirement Accounts and why you should be thinking about retirement now

• How to plan for PTO in your business so that you can avoid burnout and feeling guilty about time off

Perhaps you've had an idea for an online course, ebook or training you could create and sell online?

With so many tools and opportunities at your disposal, it's easier than ever to reach an online audience of the clients you love to serve and actually make money with products they need.

In this episode of the Private Practice Elevation podcast I chat with Marissa Lawton about her step by step process for creating "passive income" for your private practice.

Marissa comes with a wealth of value and information on this topic because she's done it all herself.

Validating ideas and creating sales funnels can seem overwhelming at first, but using Marissa's Passive Income Roadmap cheatsheet, she breaks it all down for you so you can get started on your idea today.

Having great photos of yourself on your website can be a simple but impactful way to make you stand out as an expert, professional and, well, friendly therapist.

Portraits of yourself can either distract or add to the design of your private practice website.

So, how do you avoid just slapping an iPhone selfie up on your professional private practice website and start creating connection and beautiful website design?

In this episode of the podcast I'll share with you 5 quick tips you can use when getting photos taken for your website and other marketing materials.

Podcasting can be an amazing way to create relationships, add new income streams to your business and position you as an authority in your niche.

But going from that "someday I'll start a podcast" dream-stage to actually recording and launching it to the world can be a big project.

To help you navigate all this podcasting overwhelm with ease, I sat down with Melvin Varghese from Selling The Couch.

And in this week's episode, Melvin shares the top 5 mistakes that therapists make when launching a podcast.

Listen in now and get started!

Did you know that FUN can actually increase your bottom line?

It's true.

When you're excited about the work you're doing and the business you've created, you actually show up in a new way that can help you reach your biggest goals.

So how can you be a better support to yourself, introduce more fun into practice-building AND see your private practice grow?

Business coach and our special guest, Jane Carter, has the answers to those questions, and more, in this week's Private Practice Elevation Podcast episode.

If you missed the first two episodes of this series, you can check them out here:

• Episode 74: A Complete Strategy for Marketing Your Private Practice Online
• Episode 75: Online Marketing Strategy for Private Practice: The Website Phase

In this episode, we'll dig into the second phase of your online marketing plan: The Traffic Phase.

Once you've successfully established your private practice online with a great website filled with the right content to attract and convert your clients, the time has come to amplify your traffic.

So, let's dig into some strategies behind getting people to show up to your website.

The problem that many therapists have when they begin working on their website and SEO is that they just don't know which keywords to use.

So they may try and just use a handful of keywords that may or may not work.

They end up spending time writing website copy that may or may not actually bring organic traffic to their website.

Many people also think that if they just add a few keywords sprinkled around their website that they'll start to get traffic from search engines.

But keyword research is one of the most important pieces in a complete search engine optimization strategy because it will inform and power many of the future steps in your SEO process.

Before we put the keywords on your website, we need to know which keywords are "good" keywords.

In other words, which keywords are your audience and ideal clients using that are related to your therapy services.

So listen up as we dive into keyword research for your private practice.

In This Episode, You'll Learn:

• The importance of keyword research
• The 3 qualities of a great a keyword or phrase
• A 5 step process for keyword research

Links mentioned in this episode:

•  Ubersuggest.com 

Get on the Waiting List for Our SEO Training Group!

On October 3, 2022 I'm launching the first ever SEO Basecamp Live Training Group. This will be an online course and small group live training over the course of 7 weeks to help you create and implement and simple SEO strategy for your private practice. 

To be the first to get more information about what's involved, join our waiting list here.

Your private practice website exists to help you grow your business, right?

The problem is that many websites are not built with conversions in mind.

If you've built your own private practice website or you've gotten your first website up just so you can let clients know you exist, you may not have some of the key elements in place that will help you get clients from your website.

It's not as simple as just having a phone number on your website… but it's also not rocket science either.

If you're curious about some simple things you can improve and some mistakes to avoid so you can get more clients from your website, give a listen to this episode.

In particular, I'm going to share what the world-rocking, life-changing transition of raising our boy, Samuel, has taught me about entrepreneurship.

So join me as I share some of my biggest lessons from fatherhood and how my boy has made me a better entrepreneur.

You may also get to hear a little bit from Samuel ;)

ROI stands for Return on Investment, which refers to the benefit that you expect from an investment activity. 

In the context of marketing, ROI measures the effectiveness of your marketing efforts and helps you determine whether your investment is generating the desired results. 

Our guest today is Carla Titus, the founder and CEO of Wealth and Worth Within, a fractional CFO firm that provides consulting and advisory services to growing businesses, especially in the mental health space. 

Carla has extensive experience in finance and has helped numerous businesses improve their financial planning and decision-making.

In This Episode, You'll Learn:

• The importance of financial knowledge for small business owners

• The need to outsource and delegate financial tasks

• Definition and importance of ROI (Return on Investment)

• Mindset challenges and the need for cash reserves

• The importance of discipline and consistency in marketing

• Tracking and measuring ROI through data analysis

• The importance of conversion rates in marketing strategies

• Tips for tracking ROI and projecting future growth

• The role of financial planning in business growth

Many therapists and private practice owners have heard of content marketing.

To help us answer all of our questions and unpack all things content marketing, we're going to chat with Michael Fulwiler.

Michael is the former CMO of the Gottman Institute and brings over 10 years of content marketing experience to the table.

Now he's helping therapists level up their marketing and become more educated about how to market a private practice successfully! 

"Who am I to raise my therapy rates?"

"Who am I to launch an online course?"

"Who am I to build a group practice and lead a team?"

In this week's episode of The Private Practice Elevation Podcast, we're talking all about imposter syndrome.

Imposter syndrome is that little voice that pops up whenever you dare to do something creative or take bold action towards your dreams.

It can keep you from moving forward in your private practice and it can keep you playing small, never stepping into those big dreams you've had for yourself.

In this episode, I'm chatting with Ernesto Segismundo about all things imposter syndrome.

From what it is, what it feels like, to practical ways you can overcome it.

If you missed the first three episodes of The Online Marketing Summit series, you can check them out here:

• Episode 74: A Complete Strategy for Marketing Your Private Practice Online
• Episode 75: Online Marketing Strategy for Private Practice: The Website Phase
• Episode 76 - Online Marketing for Private Practice: The Traffic Phase

This week's episode is all about strategies that can be a major catalyst to getting traffic to your website, growing an audience and establishing you as an expert in your niche.

Listen up as I break down the ways you can increase your authority and reach more of your ideal clients.

The hope of passive income is that you'll put in the time, money or effort in TODAY so that you can generate more income in your business for days and years to come.

There are SO many ways you can add more revenue to your life and business.

And to prove just that, our special guest on the Private Practice Elevation Podcast, Jeff Guenther, LPC, is giving you 24 passive income ideas to get your entrepreneurial juices flowing.

In our chat, you'll get a first-hand glimpse into what successful passive income can do in your private practice.

First, he explains the difference between a domain and web hosting in easy-to-understand terms. 

Think of your domain like the address of your practice online, while your web hosting is like the actual building where everything is stored. 

Keeping your domain registration separate from your website builder (like Squarespace or Wix) is a smart move, giving you more control over your online presence.

Daniel shares why using a dedicated domain registrar, like GoDaddy or Namecheap, is better than bundling everything with your website platform. 

The biggest reasons? You'll have more flexibility to switch platforms when your practice grows or changes, and you'll get better security and support along the way.

He also shares a real-life story about a client who ran into big problems when they needed to move their domain. Their website and email went offline for days because they had everything tied to their website builder. This could have been avoided with a simple change.

By the end of the episode, you'll have a clear plan for how to set up your domain and website the right way, helping your private practice run smoothly from the start.

Key Takeaways:

• Register your domain separately from your website builder to stay in control.

• It's easier to switch platforms, like moving from Squarespace to WordPress, when you use an independent domain registrar.

• Don't use your business email to set up your domain accounts. It's better to use a personal email so you can always access it.

• Companies like GoDaddy and Namecheap offer better security and support than bundling with website platforms.

• Real-life examples show the problems that can happen if you don't separate your domain and website accounts.

Links mentioned in this episode:

• My Best Practice (EHR platform): privatepracticeelevation.com/mbpractice  (with free 3 months offer)

Private Practice Elevation Kickoff Call (Clarity Call for website or SEO help): privatepracticeelevation.com/kickoff

In this episode of the Private Practice Elevation podcast, host Daniel Fava chats with Valery Krieg, a therapist, private practice owner, and business coach, about why marketing struggles are rarely a reflection of the therapist — it's the strategy that's the issue.

Valery shares her inspiring journey from community mental health to building her own successful private practice. 

Along the way, she learned firsthand how personalized, client-focused marketing can transform a struggling practice into a thriving one. 

This conversation is packed with practical insights for therapists looking to simplify their marketing, attract ideal clients, and build sustainable businesses without burning out.

Whether you're just starting out or trying to revamp your practice's marketing approach, this episode will help you gain clarity on what truly works and how to create marketing that feels aligned with your strengths and vision.

Key Takeaways

• Building a successful therapy practice requires focusing on personalized marketing strategies that truly resonate with your ideal client.

• Identifying and understanding your "zone of genius" can lead to a more sustainable business model that avoids burnout.

• Marketing strategies need to be tailored to the unique needs of your practice and clients, rather than following generic advice.

• The importance of meeting clients where they are, especially during crucial decision-making moments, such as booking consultations.

• Actionable, no-fluff advice can help therapists feel more confident and intentional in their marketing efforts.

However, so far we've only discussed the strategies you can use to rank your therapy website for those keywords that your clients may use to find you.

How can you help ensure that when your perfect client - who lives near your practice - searches Google for therapeutic services, that your website will come up?

You do this through an extra level of search engine optimization: local SEO.

Give a listen to this episode to learn more about local SEO and how you can use it in your own marketing strategy for your private practice.

Many people think that SEO and great design are mutually exclusive. 

If you want your website to look stunning, well, you'll have to give up on SEO.

But you need SEO in order for your clients to find you, right?

In this week's Encore Episode of the Private Practice Elevation Podcast, we're going to get to the bottom of the relationship between SEO and website design and usability.

How do you set goals that will actually move your business forward?

And once you set those goals, well, how do you break that down into actual STEPS to reach them?

Well, to help us navigate the challenge of focusing on the right things in private practice and reaching goals, we're chatting with Nicole Liloia.

In this episode, Nicole pulls back the curtain on her own story where she went from complete burnout in her agency job, to mildly motivated therapist and coach, to a now successful business consultant.

A great-looking website can also give your practice a professional edge, helping you to stand out as an expert in your field, fully qualified to lead your clients through the transformation they seek.

So in this episode, I share my thoughts about some of the reasons why you'd either want to build a website yourself or hire a professional. Listen in now!

These elements play a crucial role in on-page optimization, helping your website rank higher for the keywords you are targeting. 

In this episode, we will explore the best practices for crafting effective titles and meta descriptions, and how they can impact your search engine rankings.

Your title tags and meta descriptions are the very first thing that users will see in those Google search results. It's not only important to optimize them so that you improve your ranking, it's equally important to make them enticing to users.

We want people to go from Google to your website right? 

Well, listen up as we break down these crucial SEO factors and give you a quick rundown on titles, meta descriptions and how you can optimize them.

In This Episode, You'll Learn:

• What are titles tags and meta descriptions

• The importance of optimizing titles and meta descriptions on websites

• Best practices for creating optimized title tags for your website to help boost search engine rankings

• Tips for writing great meta descriptions to help your SEO

Maybe you're passionate about a topic and you want to build a community of people you can serve with your expertise?

In this episode of the Private Practice Elevation Podcast, I interviewed my good friend, Dr. Ili Rivera Walter.

Ili has built an extremely popular blog, Family Therapy Basics, that has allowed her to take steps to go beyond her one-on-one client work as an LMFT and build a business that suits her life.

This has allowed her to build a massive email list, grow an online membership program and create a platform that she loves, helping people with her expertise and passions.

If you're thinking about starting that blog, creating that course or doing something new in your business, listen to this one!

That's why it's so important that you find new and fresh ways to market your private practice and reach your goals.

That's where innovation comes in.

To help us unpack these myths that steal innovation from many a therapist, we have expert consultant Joe Sanok.

He's done a bit of innovation in his own career and helps therapists do the same through his speaking, writing, retreats and consultation business.

This episode is guaranteed to inspire you to think bigger and look for ways you can breathe new life into your private practice marketing and business growth.

At Private Practice Elevation, we believe the most successful projects are the ones we plan for. 

That especially includes the launch of your private practice website (or a redesign of your old one). 

One section of that task list is the number of things that needs to be done way before any design has even started.

So in this episode, we'll discuss those tasks and what you can do before you build any page or even purchase a domain for your private practice.

You may have heard these terms before: downloadable freebie, a lead magnet, or a free opt-in.

To help us understand how you can use digital products to create more referral traffic to your website, we've got Lisa M. Noble from Vivid Visual Solutions as our guest.

Lisa is a brand strategist and web designer who works with female therapists and entrepreneurs who are eager to build and grow their client loads. Listen in now!

As they discuss the journey from being a generalist to identifying and embracing a niche, Elisabeth provides actionable insights for private practice owners looking to grow their businesses authentically. 

They explore the balance between general practice and specialization, how continuing education plays a critical role, and the fear of potentially losing clients by narrowing one's focus.

Throughout the conversation, Elisabeth shares her career journey, from her early focus on eating disorders and women's health to her current roles at Alma and her private practice. 

This episode is packed with website ideas and insights related to niching down in therapy, the importance of finding a niche that resonates deeply with one's values, and how to market authentically. 

By highlighting real-world applications and personal experiences, Daniel and Elisabeth offer valuable guidance for therapists looking to elevate their practice.

Key Takeaways:

• The Power of Continuing Education: Investing time in ongoing learning, both in familiar areas and new fields, can bridge the gap between interest and expertise.

• Importance of Community: Building a network of professionals with shared interests can expand perspectives and provide support.

• Balance Between Personal and Professional: Utilizing one's lived experiences and personal journey can deeply enhance professional practice and authenticity.

• Flexibility in Niching: Adopting a niche doesn't have to be an all-or-nothing approach—therapists can pivot and evolve based on their experiences and seasons of their life.

• Authentic Marketing: Sharing relatable, educational content on your website can resonate more with potential clients and help normalize their experiences.

Links mentioned in this episode:

• Alma Website

• Elisabeth's LinkedIn Profile

How would you rate the quality of your sleep?

Do you consider sleep an integral part of your physical health as well as your mental health?

I don't know about you, but when I don't get enough sleep (or enough quality sleep) it can throw off my entire day.

I'm less motivated and less productive, and my creativity and joy seem to falter.

Sleep is extremely important to me because I've seen the impact it can have on my daily life.

I'm also a very light sleeper so I have to go through a lot of measures to ensure an optimal sleeping environment.

So, as one who's nerded out on ways to sleep better before, I'm super excited to talk about sleep on the podcast.

Today we're speaking with Terry Cralle, MS, RN, a Registered Nurse based in Washington, DC, and an expert on sleep health.

Our conversation covers a ton of topics from how to get better sleep to the positive impact that great sleep can have on your quality of life and your clinical work as a therapist.

If you'd like to get better rest, listen up.

In This Episode, You'll Learn:

• The suggested number of hours of sleep you should be getting each night

• The common misconceptions about sleep and how much you need

• How the lack of sleep can be tied to so many issues including physical, health, and mental

• Tons of tips for improving your sleep

• What to do when you wake up in the morning but don't feel well rested

• Why having a nighttime routine is so important to a good night's sleep and some of the things you should and should not be doing to help set you up for sleep success

• When you should reach out to a sleep expert to better understand why you're not consistently getting a good night's sleep

Links mentioned in this episode:

•  www.TerryCralleRN.com

• https://bettersleep.org 

This is where you hire other clinicians underneath the umbrella of your own practice and essentially get a cut of the revenue they bring in.

But usually, when we think of group practices, we think of a group of people in one physical location.

Well, today we're talking with Dr. Lisa Lovelace, founder of Synergy eTherapy, a group practice that has been solely online since starting in 2016. 

Today, Lisa's group practice has 12 clinicians and is serving clients in 14 states.

If you're curious - as you can hear I was when you listen to our conversation - in creating an online group therapy practice, I know this episode will be helpful to you.

We're going to be talking all about the goals you have for your life and how those goals can actually drive the financial decisions you make in your private practice.

Navigating the financial planning side of running a business can take time and effort.

From bookkeeping to taxes, to whether you should be an S Corp or an LLC. There are so many questions to answer.

Well, today we're talking with Ryan Derousseau and he helps us unpack the nitty gritty of getting started with your financial plan and increasing your returns in your private practice.

Ryan Derousseau is a fee-only financial planner based in Long Island, New York. He has a background in writing and has worked for publications such as Fortune, Money, and the New York Times. Ryan specializes in working with therapists to help them manage their finances and achieve their life goals.

Whether you're just starting your private practice or looking to elevate your financial game, this episode is packed with tips to lead you toward financial success. 

In This Episode, You'll Learn:

• The importance of understanding your business and life goals

• The importance of having emergency funds for personal and business

• How to balance business savings and retirement savings

• When does a S Corp make sense for your private practice?

• The business advantages of S Corps and the process to transition

• The importance of avoiding debt and tips to keep you safe

• Why ignoring the value of your private practice can impact retirement security.

Links mentioned in this episode:

• https://thinkingcapfinancial.com/

• The Financial Planning Checklist

Not only that, but a podcast can help you create a positive impact in your community and even the world.

In 2021 over 82 million people said that they listened to podcasts. This number is estimated to rise even further, reaching over 100 million listeners in 2024. (Statista)

This means that your ideal clients or the population you feel called to make an impact with are likely already listening to podcasts.

But there are many ways to reach your audience, podcasting being just one of them.

While podcasting may not be for everyone, I know many of you feel you have a voice and are thinking about what it would be like to have your own podcast.

So what are some of the things you need to think about when starting a podcast?

And what benefits can a podcast have on your business and your impact?

Today we're talking with my long-time friend, Gordon Brewer, all about podcasting.

Gordon hosts a successful podcast, The Practice of Therapy, and he currently has over 200 episodes under his belt.

He's been able to use this podcast to provide valuable resources for the mental health community, network with other influencers, and create new streams of income.

In our conversation, Gordon takes us back to when he first had the idea to start a podcast and walks us through some of his own reasons for starting a podcast and some of the challenges he's had along the way.

In This Episode, You'll Learn:

• Gordon's story from starting the Practice of Therapy website to launching and growing a podcast

• The benefits and drawbacks of blogging in your marketing and how it differs from podcasting

• How podcasting can help you reach more of your ideal client by networking with other podcasters and influencers

• How podcasting can help you get more SEO traffic to your website

• What are some of the basic necessities in order to start a podcast

• Some of the challenges Gordon faced while starting and growing his podcast and how he overcame them

Daniel sits down with Brittany Schank, a mental health therapist and owner of Solace Counseling, a thriving group practice with ten clinicians across two locations. 

Brittany shares her journey of building a $1.5 million practice while navigating the challenges of managing a team and maintaining a sustainable business.

What sets this episode apart is Brittany's openness about the financial mistakes she's made along the way. From overcompensating employees to neglecting proper tax planning, she offers valuable lessons for avoiding common pitfalls in practice ownership. 

Whether someone is just starting out or already running a group practice, this episode provides actionable strategies for creating a balanced and profitable business.

Brittany and Daniel also discuss frameworks like Profit First and strategies for preparing for deductible seasons, making this episode a helpful guide for therapists who feel overwhelmed by financial planning.

What Listeners Will Learn in This Episode:

• The top five financial mistakes Brittany made and how to avoid them.

• Why an effective pay structure is essential and how overcompensating employees can impact sustainability.

• The value of seeking business consultation early to avoid costly missteps.

• Tips for managing taxes and maintaining cash flow during deductible seasons.

• The importance of hiring the right people and addressing performance issues to build a positive workplace culture.

Links mentioned in this episode:

• www.consultationandsupervision.com (Use coupon code "FREE3" for 3 free months)
• https://www.instagram.com/solacecodirectory/

• https://www.facebook.com/SolaceCoDirectory

• Profit First For Therapists

I've seen this topic over and over in the Facebook groups…

Therapists are starting their journey into private practice and they know they need a website.

So the first question always seems to be… "what platform is best? Wix? Squarespace? WordPress?"

And that question is frequently followed up with... they all give me the same thing, so why not just choose the cheapest and easiest one and call it a day? 

Because I know you're better than that, friend!

In this episode of the Private Practice Elevation Podcast, I share with you a new way to look at this old question of website platforms to help you find the best one for you and your situation.