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Are you ready to make an impact? Andréa Jones helps coaches, consultants, thought leaders, and passion-led online business owners impact and empower more people through strategic social media marketing strategies. First, we talk about how to fight the overwhelm of social media. Then, we dive into the importance of starting small and staying consistent. Tune in as Andréa gives loads of social media tips, including the ABCs of writing captions. Meet Andréa Jones Andréa Jones is fiercely committed to empowering businesses to utilize the power of social media in a positive and impactful way, without being overwhelmed and drained by it. With over 7 years of experience in the game, Andréa hosts the acclaimed podcast Savvy Social Podcast, leads a team providing done-for-you service inside of her marketing agency that was named a Top Digital Marketing Agency in 2021, and serves over 200 students in her membership Savvy Social School. You can find her online at onlinedrea.com or @onlinedrea on Instagram. Fighting The Overwhelm of Social Media Feeling overwhelmed by social media is natural; social media can feel like another language sometimes. To fight the overwhelm, choose a platform that you are most comfortable with to get started. If you already have a personal Facebook account, then it can be easy to create a Facebook account for your private practice. Next, think about how you should spend time on these platforms. Andréa says you should focus on a time limit for social media. There's so much that goes into posts, and it may add to that overwhelming feeling when you spend too much time on one. So when you sit down to write those posts, try to spend one hour a week working on your social media content. Sometimes in that one hour, you may only put together one caption and snap a photo of your location, and that's okay. Throughout the week, check your account for ten minutes each day. Checking daily really helps build the muscle and the skills needed to do social media. Start Small With Social Media When we look at social media, sometimes we're looking at a team of people working on their social media accounts. People who are in private practice still hire a group of people to help them with their work. Even though you see a selfie, you see a video; sometimes, there's a team of people behind that. When you compare yourself to other people on social media, you're not giving yourself a fair chance. Overall, you will want to start small when it comes to your social media. Over time, you can add more people to help you out with your posts and your content. The Importance of Consistency First, start with one social media platform. Instead of having consistent posts, be consistent with the time that you spend on social media. You will get better at it naturally; just like anything, you will get better the more you practice. Focus on one platform and get consistent. Before you dive into social media, Andréa has an exercise that you can do. On one side of a piece of paper, write the word "before." On the other side, write the word "after." Now, think about your clients. What do they feel before working with you, and what do they feel after working with you. Write down all of these feelings. Later, these feelings can all be turned into social media posts. The ABCs of Writing A Caption Your captions on social media should follow the ABC rule. A: Grabbing attention in some way. Why would someone stop at your post when they are scrolling through social media? B: Benefit statement. Tell your followers why you want to help them and how you are going to do that. Focus on the feelings of your potential clients. C: Call to action. This is the part where we're extending our hands out; we're inviting them to take that next step with us. Being transparent… Some of the resources below use affiliate links which simply means we receive a commission if you purchase using the links, at no extra cost to you. Thanks for using the links! Andrea’s Resources Website Instagram Facebook Savvy Social School Social Media Rockstar Framework {Free Mini Course} Resources  Use the promo code "GORDON" to get 2 months of Therapy Notes free. Google Workspace The Webinar Solo to Group Practice: Adding More Therapists to Grow Your Time & Income Money Matters In Private Practice | The Course Get your FREE Financial Analysis Guide... Google Workspace for Therapists | The E-Course Purchase The Full Focus Planner™ Join my Focus Groups Session Note Helper 3.0 Join the Google Workspace for Therapists Users Group Cool Resources Follow @PracticeofTherapy on Instagram Meet Gordon Brewer, MEd, LMFT Gordon is the person behind The Practice of Therapy Podcast & Blog. He is also President and Founder of Kingsport Counseling Associates, PLLC. He is a therapist, consultant, business mentor, trainer, and writer. PLEASE Subscribe to The Practice of Therapy Podcast wherever you listen to it. Follow us on Twitter @therapistlearn, and Pinterest, “Like” us on Facebook.

This episode is all about having a marketing plan for your private practice. I am lucky to be joined by Lisa Noble; she is a Brand Strategist and Web Designer. First, we talk about how relationship-building can be one of your most significant assets for marketing and getting more clients into your practice. Then, Lisa dives into social media trends and answers the question: which social media platform should I be on? Later, Lisa gives the scoop on how she starts from scratch when building a successful marketing plan for private practice owners. Meet Lisa Noble I’m Lisa M. Noble and as a Brand Strategist and Web Designer, I work with female therapists and entrepreneurs who are eager to build and grow their client loads. I specialize in brand and marketing strategies to help my therapists get the traffic and marketing pieces to running a private practice. I started this business because as a professional web designer working in corporate I learned that a website with no strategy behind it is just a pretty brochure. In that role, I got an insider's look and saw exactly how to create strategies that help businesses grow and make websites that convert sales. For over 15 years I’ve worked with business owners, therapists, and private practice owners, confused, and frustrated about how to move forward with their businesses so I know exactly what works and what doesn't! I believe that every therapist should work with the clients they would love to work with. Relationship Building To Boost Marketing When starting a marketing strategy, talk with your colleagues. Talk with people who are in your niche as well as those who are outside of it. When you start talking to them, you can first find out what they've already done as private practice owners; they've already paved the way and done some of the marketing that you need to do. In addition, these people will be a good referral source because their private practice will get full, especially now with what's going on during the pandemic. Please send an email to other private practice owners and ask them to get coffee or send them a Zoom invite. When it comes down to it, marketing is about building relationships. Social Media Trends In Private Practice Video is massive on social media right now. Many people don't want to hear it, but it's time to step out of your comfort zone and start making videos. People are trying to connect and decide who they want to talk to. So, get on video and show your mannerisms, show what you look like, how you speak, tell them your philosophies about certain things, and reveal your formula to help them. That way, potential clients can get an idea of how you will talk to them. Videos are the very key to bringing business in the door. If you're not sure which social media platform to start on, that is okay! You'll want to be on the social media platform that your ideal client is on. So, think about who your ideal client is. What do they like to do? Where do they like to hang out? What is their favorite social media platform? Then, you can determine what kind of social media platform you need to be on. Also, remember that social media is constantly changing, and different demographics jump on trends at various times. So, be sure to keep up to date with what's going on in the virtual world. Starting Your Marketing Plan From Scratch First, you'll want to know who your ideal customer is and get to know them. You'll want to know what your professional goals are and the goals of your ideal client. Next, you can create a logo and start looking at your social media channels. After, make a brand style guide that will cover every aspect of your business. What mood will your brand give off? What colors do you want to use? What fonts will you write in? Later, you can create your website and add content. You'll want to make sure to set up pages; it's so helpful when you're thinking about SEO. Not many people realize that SEO needs to be part of their marketing strategy. Eventually, PR will come into play. Sadly, many times, people will try to do a marketing plan by just throwing darts at the board and not really having a good plan in mind. If you don't know where you're going, then how are you going to get there? It's critical to have a plan in mind! Being transparent… Some of the resources below use affiliate links which simply means we receive a commission if you purchase using the links, at no extra cost to you. Thanks for using the links! Lisa’s Resources Vivid Visual Solutions  Instagram Facebook LinkedIn  Resources  Use the promo code "GORDON" to get 2 months of Therapy Notes free. Google Workspace The Webinar Solo to Group Practice: Adding More Therapists to Grow Your Time & Income Money Matters In Private Practice | The Course Get your FREE Financial Analysis Guide... Google Workspace for Therapists | The E-Course Purchase The Full Focus Planner™ Join my Focus Groups Session Note Helper 3.0 Join the Google Workspace for Therapists Users Group Cool Resources Follow @PracticeofTherapy on Instagram Meet Gordon Brewer, MEd, LMFT Gordon is the person behind The Practice of Therapy Podcast & Blog. He is also President and Founder of Kingsport Counseling Associates, PLLC. He is a therapist, consultant, business mentor, trainer, and writer. PLEASE Subscribe to The Practice of Therapy Podcast wherever you listen to it. Follow us on Twitter @therapistlearn, and Pinterest, “Like” us on Facebook.

The sooner you start planning for retirement, the better off you're going to be in the long run. Even if it's just a tiny bit that you save towards your retirement, it's going to make a big difference! Judd Carlton is a financial advisor serving families, individuals, and businesses in Morristown, NJ. He explains the importance of thinking about retirement as soon as possible. Then, we dive into the more financial aspects of your practice. For instance, if you've got a group practice, Judd describes why you may want to create either a 401(k) for your employees or some other retirement plan within your practice. Plus, Judd reveals the differences between SEP IRA & SIMPLE IRA Plans. Meet Judd Carlton Judd Carlton is a financial advisor serving families, individuals, and businesses in Morristown, NJ, and beyond. He specializes in finance for business owners and mental health professionals, helping them align the finances of their practice with their long-term financial planning and investment objectives. Judd graduated Magna Cum Laude from New York University with a BA in Economics and has an MS in Accounting from the Silberman College of Business at Fairleigh Dickinson University. He also holds the CFP® and AIF ® designations. Judd is also a husband, father of three girls, and dog dad. He posts, blogs, and makes YouTube videos on financial subjects that may be of interest to business owners, psychologists, psychiatrists, and mental health group practice owners. Think About Retirement Early It's essential to start thinking early about retirement because, in the world of investing, time is on your side when you have a lot of it. The earlier you get started then, the better things will work out for you because of the power of compounding. Even starting five years or ten years sooner can make a huge difference. As you change and develop in your career, you might jump from an employee role to a self-employed role; then, the complication accelerates. The wise choice when it comes to investing in your retirement is to be conservative. You never want to have an issue or feel stressed about money. Once you cross those hurdles, it's good to start thinking about what's next. So that's often where Judd will offer some guidance about managing your cash flow while saving up for retirement. How To Approach Retirement There's a couple of ways to approach setting up the right retirement plan. First, you need to consider what kind of business structure you are working with. If you have a solo practice, saving for retirement will be a lot simpler to figure out. If you have a group practice, things are going to be more complicated. However, both will have great opportunities. A great way to start is with small and simple things. As time goes on, you can really be more methodical and look at every possibility. Hiring therapists can be challenging when there is a mental health crisis. So, you may want to offer therapists a 401(k) option as an incentive. Even as a small business, you can create a 401(k) that feels just like what a fortune 500 company might have. Later, you can start thinking about a pension plan. SEP IRA & SIMPLE IRA Plans Judd recommends a few different options when it comes to retirement plans. SEP (Simplified Employee Pension) plan provides employers a method to make contributions to the employees' retirement and their own retirement. The SIMPLE (Savings Incentive Match Plan for Employees) gives employees a way to make salary reduction contributions, and the employer makes matching or nonelective contributions. Each plan has a limit on how high you can go. SEP goes a little bit higher, and there's less flexibility with this plan – everyone is going to get the same percent. Any financial planner or accountant can help you figure out which plan is right for you and your practice. Why You Should Consider A Roth IRA The Roth IRA was introduced for people who are early in their career or for people who do not want to save. Some of the regular IRA plans are not that helpful when you are in a lower tax bracket. When you put money into the Roth, you don't get any deductions. However, that money is going to grow for years and years. When you take that money out, it's going to be completely income tax-free. That's going to be tremendous savings; it's a powerful tool. If you're newer to your career and you want to start saving money, Judd highly recommends starting a Roth IRA. Being transparent… Some of the resources below use affiliate links which simply means we receive a commission if you purchase using the links, at no extra cost to you. Thanks for using the links! Judd’s Resources Email Judd: jcarlton@royalnj.com Judd's Website Judd on LinkedIn Judd on YouTube Resources  Use the promo code "GORDON" to get 2 months of Therapy Notes free. Solo to Group Practice: Adding More Therapists to Grow Your Time & Income Money Matters In Private Practice | The Course Get your FREE Financial Analysis Guide... Google Workspace for Therapists | The E-Course Purchase The Full Focus Planner™ Join my Focus Groups Session Note Helper 3.0 Join the Google Workspace for Therapists Users Group Cool Resources Follow @PracticeofTherapy on Instagram Meet Gordon Brewer, MEd, LMFT Gordon is the person behind The Practice of Therapy Podcast & Blog. He is also President and Founder of Kingsport Counseling Associates, PLLC. He is a therapist, consultant, business mentor, trainer, and writer. PLEASE Subscribe to The Practice of Therapy Podcast wherever you listen to it. Follow us on Twitter @therapistlearn, and Pinterest, “Like” us on Facebook.

In this episode, Whitney Owens opens the show by explaining the importance of having grace and acceptance on your private practice journey. If you aren't as productive as you want to be, learn from your mistakes and make better choices moving forward. Whitney also explains why she does a time study to determine where she spends most of her working hours and what she can improve on in the future. Plus, Whitney reveals why learning more about Enneagrams has taken her business to the next level, and we chat about using faith in private practice. Meet Whitney Owens I enjoy working with both adults and adolescents on an individual basis. I have experience working with those suffering from depression, anxiety, self-harming behaviors, identity formation, relational issues, and other mood disorders. I use a variety of therapeutic models such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, and Interpersonal Therapy. I have been seeing clients since 2009 in a variety of settings. While earning my Master in Professional Counseling from Richmont Graduate University, I saw young adults at a residential treatment facility. In 2010 I moved to Colorado where I spent four years working at an inpatient and day treatment facility. Also while in Colorado, I joined a group practice and saw teenagers and adults. In 2014 I moved back to Savannah and started Water’s Edge Counseling. I am a Licensed Professional Counselor in Georgia and a member of the American Counseling Association and the Licensed Professional Counseling Association of Georgia. In addition to counseling, I also offer a number of other services including training and speaking engagements. I have been invited to local organizations such as churches and schools to educate on leadership, adolescent issues, parenting, family concerns, and mental health. As well, I have spoken at retreats focused on helping women heal and find themselves. I have also spoken at youth meetings to adolescents. Please let me know about your next event and how I can help. Practice Grace And Acceptance The most important thing is that private practice owners need to provide themselves is grace and acceptance. When a day doesn't go the way you want it to, or maybe you don't prioritize everything the way you would wish to, it's best to learn from it. Always take a lesson from the mistakes that you make and make better choices moving forward. Never beat yourself up for something! Delegating has been huge for Whitney as she works on managing more and more in her personal life and professional life. She relies on her husband tremendously when she needs help around the house and their children. Conduct A Time Study A time study is significant because our time gets away from us, and we have no idea where we spend it. From a financial standpoint, it's essential to know where your time is going. If you have a side hustle for your practice, think about where you spend your time and which one is bringing you more income. Also, think about where you can delegate more. If you're spending too much time in one area and not getting enough money, consider having more delegation efforts. That way, you can focus your time on the area that will bring you the most income. Making a list will help you see where you can save time throughout the day. Consider Joining A Mastermind Group Do you want to grow a faith-based group practice? Whitney's favorite thing about consulting is the group work that she gets to do with people. Specifically, she loves mastermind groups because you see these great connections come together in a small group of people working on their business. Whitney's mastermind group is for people who have a faith-based practice. In the group, they talk about religion when appropriate, but they also work on their businesses. Luckily, Whitney and her group get to pray for each other and use their faith to help make business decisions together. If you want to learn more about Growing Your Faith-Based Practice with Faith in Practice Mastermind, check out the link: https://practiceofthepractice.lpages.co/faith-mastermind/. Learn More About Enneagrams When Whitney learned that the Enneagram Type 1 has a critical voice in their head at all times, she was confused. Whitney thought that everyone had a critical voice in their head. Also, Enneagram Type 1 carries anger around with them; they are angry at the world for being so messed up. These simple things spoke to Whitney. After digging into the Enneagram Type 1, Whitney understands herself so much better. Now Whitney uses it to understand other people and help other people know themselves. In fact, Whitney is planning an Enneagram Type 1 training for all of her staff next week. Overall, Whitney does it with all her clients, and she does it with everyone she consults; it really helps move treatment and businesses along. Learn more about Enneagrams by checking out Ian Cron's work: https://ianmorgancron.com/. Being transparent… Some of the resources below use affiliate links which simply means we receive a commission if you purchase using the links, at no extra cost to you. Thanks for using the links! Whitney’s Resources Waters Edge Counseling  Grow Your Faith-Based Practice with Faith in Practice Mastermind! Practice of the Practice: Faith in Practice Podcast Whitney Owens | Starting Fresh & Growing Fast in Private Practice | TPOT Podcast 036 Whitney Owens | Contractors Vs. Employees In Group Private Practice | TPOT Podcast 091 Faith in Practice Consulting with Whitney @Practice of the Practice Group Practice Launch Membership Community Email: Whitney@practiceofthepractice.com Resources  Use the promo code "GORDON" to get 2 months of Therapy Notes free. Solo to Group Practice: Adding More Therapists to Grow Your Time & Income Money Matters In Private Practice | The Course Get your FREE Financial Analysis Guide... Google Workspace for Therapists | The E-Course Purchase The Full Focus Planner™ Join my Focus Groups Session Note Helper 3.0 Join the Google Workspace for Therapists Users Group Cool Resources Follow @PracticeofTherapy on Instagram Meet Gordon Brewer, MEd, LMFT Gordon is the person behind The Practice of Therapy Podcast & Blog. He is also President and Founder of Kingsport Counseling Associates, PLLC. He is a therapist, consultant, business mentor, trainer, and writer. PLEASE Subscribe to The Practice of Therapy Podcast wherever you listen to it. Follow us on Twitter @therapistlearn, and Pinterest, “Like” us on Facebook.

In this episode, Jessica from Simplified SEO Consulting joins the show. First, Jessica explains how she has learned to accept her imperfections when it comes to time management. Remember, therapists can't be all things to all people all of the time! Plus, Jessica tells us what she has done to make her email inbox so much more manageable. Tune in as Jessica gives loads of tips on SEO and how to get your counseling website to rank higher on Google.  Meet Jessica Tappana Jessica Tappana started her private practice on her maternity leave about 20 months ago. After filling up in only a matter of months, she decided to bring on other therapists as 1099s and transitioned Aspire Counseling into a group practice. Worried about how she would fill the caseloads of these new therapists, Jessica tried several different marketing strategies.  Ultimately, she decided to focus on getting her website to the first page of Google and began teaching herself SEO at nights after her kids were in bed. Slowly after gathering a couple of tips here and there, she got her website to the first page for nearly every keyword she targets.  Aspire Counseling has grown to now include five therapists and a virtual assistant! In fact, all of the therapists are nearly full, and Jessica hopes to find a few more quality team members in the months to come. Meanwhile, Jessica has discovered a passion for teaching other private practice owners what she has learned about website Search Engine Optimization.  As a private practice SEO Consultant, she has had the opportunity to work with therapists from around the country sharing her SEO secrets.  She’s both optimized websites for private practices AND has taught therapists how to do the SEO work themselves through Zoom meetings and enjoyed watching their sites begin to climb to the first page of Google even in larger metropolitan areas like Atlanta or Houston.  Recently Jessica released a FREE 7-day e-mail series that teaches therapists all the necessary information they need to know and has received positive feedback across the board from other practice owners who are raving about the vast amount of information covered in only seven e-mails. Accepting Imperfections Around Time Management Accepting your imperfections and accepting your reality will be critical when it comes to time management. Some people always think they can see one more client during the day. However, you’ll start to realize that’s not always practical. In reality, you can do better if you accept your limitations as a private practice owner and as a therapist. Drawing boundaries will help you stay more present in everything that you do. Remember, you can’t be everything to everyone all of the time. When you have healthy boundaries between work and your personal life, you will be a better therapist because of it. Managing Your Email Inbox Jessica has started getting some help with managing her email inbox. Many people find that they put incredible pressure on themselves to respond to emails immediately or within twenty-four hours. Depending on how full your inbox is, that can be impossible. That’s why Jessica is outsourcing help for her email work. Of course, there are emails that she needs to respond to personally. However, those go into a particular folder for her to check periodically. In fact, Jessica is getting help from Uriah Guilford, who made an appearance on The Practice of Therapy Podcast episode 176. His 7-Day Email Transformation Challenge has been a total game-changer for Jessica and how she runs her inbox.   Outsourcing Your SEO Jessica outsources a lot of her private practice SEO. Even though Jessica is knowledgeable in SEO, she has trained all her staff to do it. Jessica realized that she doesn’t need to be the one to optimize all of her blog posts. When Jessica first started her website, absolutely no one was clicking on it. However, Jessica learned everything she needed to know about SEO and applied it to her counseling website. Now, Jessica has a full practice and a thriving business. At Simplified SEO Consulting, Jessica helps her clients get to the top of search engines. That way, therapists can fill their caseloads and reach their ideal clients. If you’re looking to learn more about SEO, Jessica has Online SEO Courses for DIY Practice Owners. SEO Tip: Content Is Key Content will be your best asset when it comes to SEO for your private practice website. Therapists are always worried about writing the right thing. When you write a lot on your website, therapists often think that their potential clients aren’t going to read the content. Well, Jessica says a great way to improve readability is by creating subheadings for your content. That way, if someone is scanning the page, they can find exactly what they are looking for when reading the subheadings. You need enough information on your website for Google to know what your content is all about. If you don’t have enough content, Google won’t pull your website up when someone is making a search. Having A Niche Is Critical For Your SEO When you have a niche, SEO content will be a breeze. Instead of having fifty different specialties, you can narrow it down to a select few. When you narrow it down, you can write all sorts of things about those niches. If you niche down and write a whole page about depression, that’s a great start. Then, write blog posts on how to combat depression, tips for dealing with depression, what to know about depression. That way, Google starts to see that this website knows a lot about depression. When people search for help with depression, your website will pop up. Being transparent… Some of the resources below use affiliate links which simply means we receive a commission if you purchase using the links, at no extra cost to you. Thanks for using the links! Jessica’s Resources Aspire Counseling MO Simplified SEO Consulting  Email: Jessica@SimplifiedSEOConsulting.com Resources  Use the promo code "GORDON" to get 2 months of Therapy Notes free. Solo to Group Practice: Adding More Therapists to Grow Your Time & Income Money Matters In Private Practice | The Course Get your FREE Financial Analysis Guide... Google Workspace for Therapists | The E-Course Purchase The Full Focus Planner™ Join my Focus Groups Session Note Helper 3.0 Join the Google Workspace for Therapists Users Group Cool Resources Follow @PracticeofTherapy on Instagram Meet Gordon Brewer, MEd, LMFT Gordon is the person behind The Practice of Therapy Podcast & Blog. He is also President and Founder of Kingsport Counseling Associates, PLLC. He is a therapist, consultant, business mentor, trainer, and writer. PLEASE Subscribe to The Practice of Therapy Podcast wherever you listen to it. Follow us on Twitter @therapistlearn, and Pinterest, “Like” us on Facebook.

In this episode, Uriah of Productive Therapist joins the show. Uriah thinks that life is too short to burn out early. So, Uriah gives us tips on conquering the overwhelm and growing your practice seamlessly with the least amount of stress possible. First, we chat about how you can conquer the email overwhelm by using the inbox zero method and only checking your inbox three times a day. Later, Uriah reveals the three keys to productivity, and we talk about personal knowledge management. Meet Uriah Guilford I am a licensed therapist & group practice owner. I want to help you be more productive, profitable & happy with your business and your life. Basically, work less and get more done! If you have achieved any level of success in your private practice then you can relate to the following. You have more tasks to complete than hours in the day. You work super hard because you are passionate and want to grow. Sometimes you neglect your self-care and other important things in your life. Not so great right!? That is why I have built a team of amazing virtual assistants for practice owners just like you! Hiring a virtual assistant in 2012 was one of the best decisions I ever made. It allowed me to double my business income without feeling like I was losing my mind. Actually, go on vacation and not be tied to my iPhone the whole time. And serve my clients better! It made such a massive difference for me and it can for you as well! If this sounds interesting, check out our services page and the most frequently asked questions we get all the time. Helping Therapists Conquer Email Overwhelm Do you feel frustrated and overwhelmed with your email inbox? In Uriah's 7-Day Email Transformation Challenge, there are basically seven days of tips that have pretty quick action steps. On day two, he talks about batching; it's the simple idea of taking similar tasks, putting them together, and doing them simultaneously. So when you apply that to email, it means checking and processing email at certain times, but not throughout your day, not constantly. Uriah has made a massive change just this week - whenever his workday is done, he will close his email so that when he gets back to the computer the next day, he won't see his emails right away. Uriah created a schedule to process emails three times a day: nine, twelve, and three. Uriah hasn't been perfect. However, this week has made a huge difference so far because he is getting a lot more things done when he is spending hours away from his inbox. Typically, when someone has an email – they feel the urge to respond to it right away. Take away the urge! Reaching Inbox Zero Inbox zero means processing all your emails to the point where there are zero emails left. Uriah personally likes to be at inbox zero. Whether you have ten emails or one hundred emails, responding to the essential people and taking care of the things that are top priorities will be crucial. When you pay less attention to your inbox, you may not process every email you have. However, you can snooze the emails that are not urgent for you to respond to that day. Gmail has the most powerful tools for organizing – it lets you create filters and sort messages to prevent inbox overload. The Three Keys of Productivity Uriah highly recommends checking out Michael Hyatt's book, Free to Focus A Total Productivity System to Achieve More by Doing Less. In the book, Michael speaks about the three keys of productivity: elimination, automation, and delegation. So, Uriah likes to strategize with therapists to remove things from their calendar and their to-do list. We automatically add things that we think we need to be doing to our calendar. So whatever you can eliminate from your schedule and your to-do list is going to help you free up your time and let you focus on the important stuff. Also, automate anything that you can! For instance, Gmail has filters that you can help automate your email process. Lastly, delegation is Uriah's favorite productivity hack. Anything that you can get off your plate and have somebody else take care of for you will immediately free up your time and help you be more productive. The Problem Of Success When you start a private practice, you have a revenue goal. However, you don't know what it will feel like you when you get there. Handling all the calls while seeing clients while updating QuickBooks is going to be overwhelming. Also, we may not be the best person to be taking on all of these different tasks. You can find a competent person, whether it's a virtual assistant or somebody you hire, that comes into your office to take over that role. If you are busy seeing clients, then your phone is going to be sent to voicemail. In the meantime, those people are calling other counselors and shopping around. So, it's critical to have someone answer your phones while you're in session – you simply cannot do both! Most people wait too long to hire someone to help with their phones. Personal Knowledge Management Personal knowledge management encompasses how we take in, collect, and access all kinds of information. If you just think about it as a therapist, all of the CPUs, training, and information that we collect over time becomes hard to organize and find when you need it. Uriah has been actually using Evernote, it's been around for a long time. He uses that for basically everything. Whenever Uriah has an idea, he writes it down! The nice thing is that a lot of them are tagged, and they're easily searchable. He uses Evernote to track his goals, it's basically his second brain. Another app that Uriah loves is Todoist – it's a task manager you can trust for life.   Being transparent… Some of the resources below use affiliate links which simply means we receive a commission if you purchase using the links, at no extra cost to you. Thanks for using the links! Uriah’s Resources LinkedIn Productive Therapist Guilford Family Counseling  Facebook Instagram Resources  Use the promo code "GORDON" to get 2 months of Therapy Notes free. Win at Work and Succeed at Life: 5 Principles to Free Yourself from the Cult of Overwork Solo to Group Practice: Adding More Therapists to Grow Your Time & Income Money Matters In Private Practice | The Course Get your FREE Financial Analysis Guide... Google Workspace for Therapists | The E-Course Purchase The Full Focus Planner™ Join my Focus Groups Session Note Helper 3.0 Join the Google Workspace for Therapists Users Group Cool Resources Follow @PracticeofTherapy on Instagram Meet Gordon Brewer, MEd, LMFT Gordon is the person behind The Practice of Therapy Podcast & Blog. He is also President and Founder of Kingsport Counseling Associates, PLLC. He is a therapist, consultant, business mentor, trainer, and writer. PLEASE Subscribe to The Practice of Therapy Podcast wherever you listen to it. Follow us on Twitter @therapistlearn, and Pinterest, “Like” us on Facebook.

Are you ready to go from burnt-out to connected and confident? Kathryn Esquer created a professional organization for the next generation of therapists called the Teletherapist Network. We chat about how her group has evolved during Covid and current concerns about the mental health crisis. We speak about the problem with mobile mental health apps and what you need to know about the open note policy that started on April 21st. Tune in as we talk about the importance of consultation on your private practice journey.   Meet Kathryn Esquer Kathryn Esquer is a Clinical Psychologist and MBA graduate. She currently works in her rural hometown in central Pennsylvania providing outpatient mental health services integrated into primary care. She loved her career, but COVID helped her realize that something was missing from her private practice. The clinical work was rewarding, but she felt professionally isolated and uninspired. She also knew consultation was a critical part of the ethical practice but didn’t know where to find it. So, Kathryn created the Teletherapist Network for modern therapists to crowdsource the knowledge and experiences of other private practice teletherapists so that members can develop their clinical and business skills, all while staying connected to their mission and preventing burnout. The Teletherapist Network During Covid Kathryn didn't want to practice teletherapy alone. That's why she created a premier organization for the next generation of therapists in private practice at Teletherapist Network. It has been really great to have that support throughout Covid from other therapists. Luckily, Kathryn has been able to rely on her newfound peers in a way that she was not able to do remotely at the start of Covid. Kathryn says it's impeccable to hear all different perspectives from around the United States. Plus, there are even international members. So hearing what's going on in India, Australia, or the UK has been fascinating. Connecting across vast distances and time zones has been a humbling experience. Find A Community For Referrals One of the biggest things Kathryn hears is that a lot of us are entirely full and above capacity as private practitioners. Everyone has a massive waitlist. Plus, therapists are having trouble finding referrals of therapists who are not full. While on the other hand, there are therapists that are having difficulty filling their caseload. For Kathryn, she wants to figure out how to reduce the gap. How do we help the clinicians looking for clients and match them to the appropriate referral? We need to figure out how to get the people who are overbooked and overworked less stressed. At the Teletherapist Network, they have been working on referrals every single day. There needs to be a better system. Kathryn says it’s so important for therapists, psychologists, and counselors to tap into our communities. That way, we can refer to each other and help build each other's practices. A lot of people seeking mental health treatment are falling through the cracks. Sadly, they don't know where to turn. Therapists can't save the world. However, if you can come up with a system or a community to find and give referrals, then it will be a massive help. Mobile Mental Health Apps The advent of mobile and mental health apps has been a huge pain point. New clinicians or clinicians who have moved states need income but don't have time to wait. Sometimes these clinicians feel their only options are these companies that pay horrendously. However, these companies might be great for clients and connecting them with easily accessible mental health resources. However, they're diluting and bringing down the value of our services. People going into private practice undervaluing what they are worth. Therapists need to realize that their services are worth a lot more than they think. Open Note Policy Any certified EHR system needs to grant access or remove any barriers from the patient to access their health records for their clinical notes. Starting April 21st, you will need to reduce the obstacles for your clients to see their notes. This brings up a whole new dynamic in terms of clinical documentation for mental health. There is utility in a client reading their notes. For instance, they will see what their doctor recommended in case they forget. Therapists should proceed with caution on how we document things and how we communicate with our clients about what's being documented. Ultimately it will help us have greater transparency and accountability in the field. However, it's such a significant shift right now that many people are having a hard time with that. The Importance Of Consultation Kathryn didn't realize how much she was missing until starting the Teletherapist Network. She had no idea what was going on in the world of therapy until she began to hear from other therapists around the country and around the world. Consulting with peers is essential for clinical work. It is the best quality control we have for clinical services. Also, it's great for our energy levels. That way, you don't feel like you are missing something, and you don't have to be checking for resources constantly. It's great for your peace of mind. Lastly, consulting is excellent for your burnout control. It's so helpful to talk to other people about your experiences. We underestimate the power of community in our burnout. Ultimately, consulting is helping us be better people and better clinicians.   Being transparent… Some of the resources below use affiliate links which simply means we receive a commission if you purchase using the links, at no extra cost to you. Thanks for using the links! Kathryn’s Resources Teletherapist Network Teletherapy Podcast Kathryn@teletherapistnetwork.com Instagram Resources  Use the promo code "GORDON" to get 2 months of Therapy Notes free. Solo to Group Practice: Adding More Therapists to Grow Your Time & Income Money Matters In Private Practice | The Course (Use Code: April2021) Get your FREE Financial Analysis Guide... Google Workspace for Therapists | The E-Course Purchase The Full Focus Planner™ Join my Focus Groups Session Note Helper 3.0 Money Matters in Private Practice | The Course Join the Google Workspace (formerly G-Suite) for Therapists Users Group Cool Resources Follow @PracticeofTherapy on Instagram Meet Gordon Brewer, MEd, LMFT Gordon is the person behind The Practice of Therapy Podcast & Blog. He is also President and Founder of Kingsport Counseling Associates, PLLC. He is a therapist, consultant, business mentor, trainer, and writer. PLEASE Subscribe to The Practice of Therapy Podcast wherever you listen to it. Follow us on Twitter @therapistlearn, and Pinterest, “Like” us on Facebook.  

Dr. David Geier is a double-board certified orthopedic surgeon and sports medicine specialist, media medical expert, and host of the new podcast, The MEDIA PROS Show. Dr. Geier has the formula to make it into the media. As private practice owners, you want to establish yourself as an expert and be well-known. Plus, it would be best to make sure that the people who need your help can find you. So, the media is a great way to do that! Tune in to learn quick, simple tips to grow your business by serving as an expert on your topic in the media.  Meet Dr. David Geier In his practice and on his online platform, he helps people feel and perform their best, regardless of age, injuries, or medical conditions. Having done well over 2,500 TV, radio, podcast, newspaper, magazine, and online publication interviews, he now coaches experts to help them grow their practices by getting interviewed as an expert in the media. Media For Beginners Where you want to start depends on what you are trying to achieve. First, Dr. David says to figure out what you want to accomplish by doing media appearances. What's your message going to be? You'll want to narrow down who you want to help and why you want to help them. Brainstorm everything that comes to mind for your message. It can be based on your ideal patient, problems you like to solve, and what you are looking to attract. Your message should be one or two sentences. It will help media and reporters think of you when a topic comes up. Sure, you're a therapist, but are you known by a specific niche? If you specialize in divorce, then people in the media will remember that you're a person that knows everything about divorces! Reaching Out To The Media Dr. David is a big believer in developing relationships with writers, reporters, and journalists. These relationships can be with people in newspapers, magazines, radio shows, TV shows, and reporters. The value of the media isn't in being seen one time. The value of media is repetition. When you make a media appearance, that person is already thinking of other stories they will use you as an expert. Overall, the value of the media is in developing those relationships. That way, the media will ask you back when your niche comes up again in the news. So, identify the types of media that would help build your practice, where you can contribute information that would be helpful, and then start to build those relationships. When you make those relationships, it will pay off for years to come. Help A Reporter HARO is a great way to start a relationship with reporters. There are 800,000 + HARO users connecting with journalists. The website will send you emails three times a day (5:35 a.m., 12:35 p.m., and 5:35 p.m. ET), Monday through Friday. Check the emails and look out for source requests relevant to your industry, expertise, or personal experience. Dr. David says the trick with HARO is responding to those emails quickly. Most likely, you won't get picked unless you respond within thirty minutes to an hour of their request. You may be wondering how this can help your therapy practice. If you can put that you were used as a resource for USA Today, it will help you build your credibility. Patients can see that on your website and know that you are the real deal! Relationships With The Media Are Key Relationships are the key! You won't get media appearances unless you can show how you're helping. The reporter wants to know that you're an expert in your field. That's the actual value of media over advertising. When you watch an ad, you know that somebody is trying to sell you something. There is nothing inherently wrong with selling things. However, people generally trust what they hear in the context of a news show much more than advertising. A good goal would be to get a media appearance at least once a month. Offer simple tips to help people. It may not be something they need now, but it can be something they need down the road. That way, when the situation does arise, they will think of you first. Being transparent… Some of the resources below use affiliate links which simply means we receive a commission if you purchase using the links, at no extra cost to you. Thanks for using the links! Dr. David Geier's Resources Website MEDIA PROS Coaching Facebook Twitter YouTube The MEDIA PROS Show Resources  Use the promo code "GORDON" to get 2 months of Therapy Notes free. HARO Solo to Group Practice: Adding More Therapists to Grow Your Time & Income Money Matters In Private Practice | The Course (Use Code: April2021) Get your FREE Financial Analysis Guide... Google Workspace for Therapists | The E-Course Purchase The Full Focus Planner™ Join my Focus Groups Session Note Helper 3.0 Money Matters in Private Practice | The Course Join the Google Workspace (formerly G-Suite) for Therapists Users Group Cool Resources Follow @PracticeofTherapy on Instagram Meet Gordon Brewer, MEd, LMFT Gordon is the person behind The Practice of Therapy Podcast & Blog. He is also President and Founder of Kingsport Counseling Associates, PLLC. He is a therapist, consultant, business mentor, trainer, and writer. PLEASE Subscribe to The Practice of Therapy Podcast wherever you listen to it. Follow us on Twitter @therapistlearn, and Pinterest, “Like” us on Facebook.  

Have you done your taxes yet? My guest, Danielle Hayden, created The Profit Planner to help business owners know how to analyze their business correctly, generate more profits easily, and gain greater confidence in business and by getting really intimate with their financials. Lucky for us, this episode is all about knowing your numbers. Danielle explains exactly which numbers you need to know and where you can get started. Plus, we chat about accounting software, the importance of building a financial reserve, and what you need to know about self-employment taxes. Meet Danielle Hayden Danielle Hayden is a reformed corporate CFO (chief financial officer) who is on a mission to help rule-breaking female entrepreneurs understand their numbers so they can gain the confidence needed to create sustainable profits. After spending 10+ years in the boardroom as a corporate finance officer, Danielle is now in her sweet spot as the co-owner of Kickstart Accounting, Inc. where she helps business owners with bookkeeping, financial analysis, and education and as the author of the Profit Planner book series. Know Your Numbers What numbers do you even need to know? Danielle says she could spend one hour on this question. When someone says, "know your numbers," they want you to understand your financial statements at a high level. Many people are big fans of profit first; so, you can have a combination of knowing your numbers and the profit first allocation. You should also understand your profit and loss statement and how you can prepare for tax season. When you have these things down, that means you are making smart business decisions all year long. When you're making smart business decisions, then you are maximizing your tax deductions. Overall, we need to pay ourselves as business owners and invest enough money in the business, but not too much money. Where Private Practice Owners Can Start The very first place you want to start is by having accounting software set up. So you'll always have your client management software, and then you'll have accounting software. It doesn't matter where you are in your journey – it's never too early or too late to get the accounting software you need to thrive. Give yourself grace! Tax management is a critical long-term business decision. Next, you'll need to do "catch up." You'll want to put all your expenses into this software. Once all the data is in, you have a starting point. Think about how much money you brought in, where you spent the money, and any surprises in the process. Accounting Software To Consider QuickBooks is an excellent place for private practice owners to work on their accounting. Danielle loves QuickBooks so much that she includes it in her costs. Xero is another popular system, and it's easy to use. Plus, Wave Accounting is free software. It is award-winning financial software designed for entrepreneurs. However, there are some limitations. Danielle says that you should plan for where you want to be. Eventually, you will outgrow a system like Wave because you will want more reporting as you get bigger. Sadly, Wave doesn't have all the reports that you need. Whereas QuickBooks will grow with your practice. Start where you're at and then build on more sophisticated software. Stay away from invoicing software that has turned into accounting software like GoDaddy. How Often You Should Check Your Numbers With Danielle, there are three options: weekly, monthly, and quarterly. If you can be in tune with your financials every week, that is the gold standard. That might mean a weekly dashboard of where your cash balance is at. It would help if you also double-check your collection issues on a weekly basis. If weekly feels like a big ask, you will want to look over your finances every month. Check your sales for the previous month and compare them to past months. Once we have the basic financial information, you can also know how much money is set aside for taxes. Looking at your finances monthly, you can make quick and better financial decisions. If you are paying for software that doesn't make you money, you can quickly decide to get rid of it. Building A Financial Reserve When you know your numbers and your financials in front of you, you can start to look at how much you need to reserve. Some people say to save three to six months of your expenses. However, do you even know what that number is? Your numbers are trying to tell you a story, it's your job to read the story. Know your expenses and slowly transfer money over to a savings account. Your savings account will be your rainy day operating fund. Start moving that money over there so that you can build three to six months' worth of savings. Also, it's critical to know your slow times; most people will have a slow time of the year. Self-Employment Taxes The mental health crisis is causing a tremendous amount of growth for therapists. Danielle says to watch your growth. It is imperative to monitor your development and to decide how you're paying yourself. If you are structured as an LLC and take owner's draws today, that means you're just a cash expense of your business. So, you will pay self-employment tax on that profit or loss. If that number is getting close to $50,000, it's time to really start to think about an S Corp. You grew fast last year, and you're growing fast this year – it's time to reconsider how your finances are set up. Make sure you're structured right for the next year so that you can maximize how much money you're taking home in your pocket.   Being transparent… Some of the resources below use affiliate links which simply means we receive a commission if you purchase using the links, at no extra cost to you. Thanks for using the links! Danielle's Resources Profit Planner Email: danielle@kickstartaccountinginc.com Call: 216-310-8299 Instagram Resources  Use the promo code "GORDON" to get 2 months of Therapy Notes free. Money Matters In Private Practice | The Course (Use Code: April2021) Get your FREE Financial Analysis Guide... Google Workspace for Therapists | The E-Course Purchase The Full Focus Planner™ Join my Focus Groups Session Note Helper 3.0 Money Matters in Private Practice | The Course Join the Google Workspace (formerly G-Suite) for Therapists Users Group Cool Resources Follow @PracticeofTherapy on Instagram Meet Gordon Brewer, MEd, LMFT Gordon is the person behind The Practice of Therapy Podcast & Blog. He is also President and Founder of Kingsport Counseling Associates, PLLC. He is a therapist, consultant, business mentor, trainer, and writer. PLEASE Subscribe to The Practice of Therapy Podcast wherever you listen to it. Follow us on Twitter @therapistlearn, and Pinterest, “Like” us on Facebook.  

In this episode, Marisol talks about the significance of having a niche as it relates to getting more clients. Also, having a niche can improve your SEO results. For Marisol, she enjoys having sex therapy as her niche. We talk about her journey to becoming a sex therapist and advice for people who are venturing into this space. Later, we chat about the importance of outsourcing when it comes to saving time and money – plus, it can even make you money in the long run! Meet Marisol Westberg Hi, I am Dr. Westberg and I am a sex therapist and couple’s counselor in Portland, OR. I am a board-certified sexologist (ACS), certified sex educator (AASECT), and a licensed couple’s counselor (LMFT). I am a former Professor in the Marriage, Couple, and Family Therapy Program at Lewis and Clark College in Portland, Oregon. I coordinated the Sex Therapy Track and supervised students in their clinical training. I have offices in both Portland and Seattle but am doing only virtual sessions at the moment. Sex Therapy As A Niche Marisol says that the sex therapy niche landed on her lap rather than looking for it. It just started because she was teaching a course on sex therapy. Marisol had never done one case of sex therapy. Interestingly, she began teaching as she was starting out her private practice journey. As soon as she started to focus on sex therapy, her practice started to flourish. With a sex therapy niche, Marisol had a lot more people contacting her; she realized creating that niche was really a way to grow her practice. Sadly, there's a lot of stigma and shame and all that kind of stuff around the sex therapy niche. When we're training, or when we're going to school, they do teach us a minimal amount of what we should do with human sexuality. Most of the courses in person or online on sex therapy still continue to expand on the human sexuality piece. However, they don't really focus on the therapeutic part, like how we get people to move through their issues? Moving To Telehealth During Covid Marisol is a fan of the business side of things. She likes to expand on different aspects of her private practice. So when Covid hit, Marisol saw that everything was going to Zoom. So, it made business sense to stop paying rent. Marisol decided to cut her costs, leave the city, and live on a beach. If you do go out of the country, you save yourself from paying a lot of the income tax because the income you're getting is from a different country. It's $100,000 that you don't have to pay income taxes on. Making Sex Therapy Effective It is a complicated piece in sex therapy to address sexual desire. All the interventions presented out there are counter-therapeutic. Actually, it creates more of a problem. Sadly, the solution creates more of the problem. For example, some people with low sexual desire say you just have to push yourself more. They think you just have to find ways to increase your sexual desire and just go do it. The reality is that these solutions are mostly very gendered. Women are constantly pushing themselves to be more sexual. However, that's just not how desire works. When women push themselves, it creates trauma. In reality, a lack of sexual desire is affected by being tired and being stressed. To solve the problem, women should work on being less tired and less stressed. Women can light candles and do yoga. Slowly touching your partner will also help. Make sure there is nothing forceful going on. Outsourcing SEO Work Marisol saw a significant shift in the private practice world with outsourcing. She does all her own website design and social media. However, when she hired somebody to do the actual SEO stuff, that pulled her up in the search results. Some people are just straight out of school and haven't had a lot of time with their website. Yet, they are still number two in Google. There's a lot more to website work than some people can even imagine. A little money will go a long way when it comes to getting your website found. When running a business, it's important to recognize when you can bootstrap and when you can outsource. Sometimes, outsourcing will save you a lot of time and money. Plus, in the long run, it can even make you money! Being transparent… Some of the resources below use affiliate links which simply means we receive a commission if you purchase using the links, at no extra cost to you. Thanks for using the links! Marisol's Resources Website LinkedIn Resources  Use the promo code "GORDON" to get 2 months of Therapy Notes free. Money Matters In Private Practice | The Course Google Workspace for Therapists | The E-Course Purchase The Full Focus Planner™ Join my Focus Groups Session Note Helper 3.0 Money Matters in Private Practice | The Course Join the Google Workspace (formerly G-Suite) for Therapists Users Group Cool Resources Follow @PracticeofTherapy on Instagram Meet Gordon Brewer, MEd, LMFT Gordon is the person behind The Practice of Therapy Podcast & Blog. He is also President and Founder of Kingsport Counseling Associates, PLLC. He is a therapist, consultant, business mentor, trainer, and writer. PLEASE Subscribe to The Practice of Therapy Podcast wherever you listen to it. Follow us on Twitter @therapistlearn, and Pinterest, “Like” us on Facebook.  

Nearly 1 in 5 adults experience a severe mental illness in their lifetime. Dr. Tom Young is a physician, and he has developed a screening tool for other professionals in the health industry. The tool helps physicians realize when they need to refer out to mental health providers. I'm looking forward to you hearing from Dr. Tom and learning about the technology that he's put together with his team at nView Health. Plus, we chat about the use of innovative technology and data insights to positively impact all those who serve this vulnerable population. Meet Dr. Tom Young Dr. Tom Young is the co-founder and chief medical officer of nView Health, an innovative software company that helps you better identify, treat and monitor patients with behavioral health conditions, featuring the world’s most trusted digital assessment – the M.I.N.I. Primary care physicians make 80% of diagnoses and decisions around behavioral health and get it wrong 92% of the time. nView’s suite of online behavioral health solutions empowers primary care physicians, pediatricians, behavioral health practices, psychiatrists, therapists, and counselors who specialize in identifying and treating patients with mental health, substance abuse, and other behavioral health disorders to get it right 98% of the time. Intersecting Mental & Physical Health Most family physicians find that there is so much more to their patients than physical health. Of course, there is always the mental aspect of our health. Like most young physicians, Dr. Young was not taught much about mental health back in those days. However, Dr. Young taught medicine for several years, and in those adventures, he began to think more about it. All along the way, he started to understand the depth of opportunity that needed to happen between primary care providers and people's mental health providers. So, Dr. Young began his journey on finding ways to intersect those two worlds, hence nView Health.  The Mental Health Covid Crisis The concept of mental health has really changed over the last 12 months because of the pandemic. The mental health tsunami behind the pandemic increased anxiety and increased depression. Now, mental health professionals are trying to keep up with the demand. Sadly, it's affecting all ages of people, and we're seeing children needing mental health assistance now a lot more than before. Unfortunately, more than 5 million children in America have some serious mental illness that significantly interferes with their daily lives. The critical issue for primary care is getting the proper initial assessment. However, if a doctor doesn't know what to look for, they will not be able to spot an issue. So, Dr. Young provides a tool that's quick and easy. It only takes a couple of minutes for the patient to fill out, and it really lets the primary care provider decide where they should focus their energy. Dr. Young's Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview (M.I.N.I.) — has been used in patient care and clinical research for more than 25 years. Coordinating Mental & Physical Care For the most part, primary care providers want to understand how their patient is doing. Like any other referral process in medicine, doctors will send their patients to you with the hopes that you're able to help them. Then, the patient will come back in between for something medical. That doctor should be able to converse with them about their progress with you in that visit. However, if the doctors don't know what's going on, they will feel left out of the healing process. Then, that's where some of the fractured relationships occur. Sadly, doctors will send a patient for care and then never hear back. Some ways to coordinate care are through phones, tracking tools, and assessments.  Using Data As A Therapist Dr. Young's daughter is a therapist; she found that this assessment tool was great for her work. First, she gets to provide data back to her referring physicians. Plus, she can see how her practice is doing. As she grew her practice using the interview tools, it gave them greater confidence in each therapist's diagnostic skills. It's a beautiful tool because therapists want to know if their patients are getting better. Well, how do you know that? If you use a tracking tool attached to the right assessment tools, you have the data that shows you what's going on. While on the other hand, you'll have the data to know if your patient is, in fact, not getting better and maybe needing more assistance.  Being transparent… Some of the resources below use affiliate links which simply means we receive a commission if you purchase using the links, at no extra cost to you. Thanks for using the links! Dr. Young's Resources nView Health LinkedIn Young Healthcare Consultants Resources  Use the promo code "GORDON" to get 2 months of Therapy Notes free. Google Workspace for Therapists | The E-Course Purchase The Full Focus Planner™ Join my Focus Groups Session Note Helper 3.0 Money Matters in Private Practice | The Course Join the Google Workspace (formerly G-Suite) for Therapists Users Group Cool Resources Follow @PracticeofTherapy on Instagram Meet Gordon Brewer, MEd, LMFT Gordon is the person behind The Practice of Therapy Podcast & Blog. He is also President and Founder of Kingsport Counseling Associates, PLLC. He is a therapist, consultant, business mentor, trainer, and writer. PLEASE Subscribe to The Practice of Therapy Podcast wherever you listen to it. Follow us on Twitter @therapistlearn, and Pinterest, “Like” us on Facebook.

Welcome back to the Website Redesign Series - this is part two. If you haven't already, I invite you to go back and listen to the previous episode. I have my good friend and website guru Daniel Fava with me. He is from Private Practice Elevation, and I am so grateful for his assistance! We are chatting all about the website redesign project that I have started. In part two, we walk through the nuts and bolts of what needs to get done to take your private practice website to the next level. If you want to see the final product, check out Kingsport Counseling here: https://kingsportcounseling.com/. Meet Daniel Fava Daniel Fava is a father, husband, podcaster, website consultant, and founder of Create My Therapist Website and Private Practice Elevation. He helps therapists create websites and attract more clients online. After building a website for his wife’s private practice and seeing the impact it had on her business, he became passionate about helping others achieve the same. Daniel offers web design services, SEO services, consultations, and online training to help therapists grow their business through online marketing. You can get free access to his library of PDFs, cheatsheets, and ebooks by clicking here. The Importance of a Website for Your Private Practice The importance of having a website is so critical for your private practice's health - we can't emphasize that enough. As we said in the previous episode, it's more important than the building you work in and your office location in terms of bringing in new clients. Your website is the front of your private practice. When people ask you, what's the face of your business? Well, it's your website! It's the face of your brand. Often, the first interaction that someone's going to have with your private practice is on your website.  Even when someone gets a referral from a friend, they will still check out your website. Why Your Website Could Use A Redesign Is your website already working? If you get loads of referrals from your website, then that means it's working well!  Daniel loves to work with clients that already get referrals from their websites. If that’s you, it means your online presence is already working in some sense. There are all these little things that we can do that will make your website even better. For instance, it can always look better on mobile devices. When it looks better, it will then convert better because we can focus on making sure that your contact information is in the right place. Also, a website facelift can make you look more professional, so that can help increase conversions. Keep Your Website Active Daniel always receives this question first, "what's going to happen to my current website while you're building the new website?" The good news is your current website can stay up and stay alive. We don't want to take it down while you're working on this new project because maybe that new project will take you about six weeks to complete. If you DIY your website, it may take even longer depending on how much time you devote to it. So, obviously, we want to keep business coming in; we want to make sure that your website is still there. Get Help For Duplicating Your Website To keep your website active, you will need to duplicate it. There can be issues that arise when duplicating a website because you have different hosting environments and PHP languages. It's great if you have the money to invest in getting professional help for your website because receiving help will save you loads of time, and it will save you headaches. No one wants to be on Google to figure out why something isn't working or spending time on support chat. However, if you know to get this done on your own, then there are WordPress duplication plugins that you can use. Make sure you follow their instructions! Otherwise, it can get messy quickly. Redesigning Page-By-Page A website facelift will start to get a little complicated when it comes to the design part of it. Many people think they can get a new theme, turn it on, and it's going to look great. However, that's not the case, especially if your website is pretty old. Each WordPress theme has a different way of showing your content, displaying images and headers. Divi is the theme that Daniel likes to use with his custom design clients. So, you migrate the website over, and then you install the Divi Theme on WordPress. Next, turn it on!  When you look at your pages, you'll probably see all this short code. There is still plenty of work to do when you're redesigning the website, and it has to be completed page-by-page. That's where it can be a time suck for many people. Tune in as we chat about the difference between Squarespace, WordPress, and Wix. Plus, we talk about website plugins, design tips, and SEO. Being transparent… Some of the resources below use affiliate links which simply means we receive a commission if you purchase using the links, at no extra cost to you. Thanks for using the links! Daniel Fava's Resources Daniel Fava | Redesigning Your Private Practice Website - Part 1 | TPOT 169 5 Ways to Improve Your Website- PDF Download Create My Therapist Website Private Practice Elevation Apply For Private Practice Elevation Daniel Fava on Effective Private Practice Website Design 5 Ways To Improve Your Private Practice Website Resources Use the promo code "GORDON" to get 2 months of Therapy Notes free. Google Workspace for Therapists | The E-Course Purchase The Full Focus Planner™ See The Website Redesign: https://kingsportcounseling.com/ Join my Focus Groups Session Note Helper 3.0 Money Matters in Private Practice | The Course Join the Google Workspace (formerly G-Suite) for Therapists Users Group Cool Resources Follow @PracticeofTherapy on Instagram Meet Gordon Brewer, MEd, LMFT Gordon is the person behind The Practice of Therapy Podcast & Blog. He is also President and Founder of Kingsport Counseling Associates, PLLC. He is a therapist, consultant, business mentor, trainer, and writer. PLEASE Subscribe to The Practice of Therapy Podcast wherever you listen to it. Follow us on Twitter @therapistlearn, and Pinterest, “Like” us on Facebook.  

Your website is ground-zero for marketing your private practice and fueling your business with new leads and clients. In this particular interview, we chat all about my private practice website redesign. Daniel Fava has been just gracious enough to partner with me and hold my hand as we go through this. This episode is part one of a two-part series – we examine the questions you need to ask yourself before starting a website redesign. Be sure to listen next week for the second part of this series. We will dive into the nuts and bolts around this particular project. If you want to see the final product, check out Kingsport Counseling here: https://kingsportcounseling.com/. Meet Daniel Fava Daniel Fava is a father, husband, podcaster, website consultant, and founder of Create My Therapist Website and Private Practice Elevation. He helps therapists create websites and attract more clients online. After building a website for his wife’s private practice and seeing the impact it had on her business, he became passionate about helping others achieve the same. Daniel offers web design services, SEO services, consultations, and online training to help therapists grow their business through online marketing. You can get free access to his library of PDFs, cheatsheets, and ebooks by clicking here. Why Do You Want To Redesign Your Website?  Why do you want to redesign your private practice website? Especially, think about why you want to switch it up right now. Most people will say that their website is pretty old and outdated. However, it goes a lot deeper than that. A website is and should be an investment into the future of your business. It's the way that people will find you, and it can be just a great tool to bring lots of traffic to your practice and convert that traffic into new clients. So, if you are interested in a private practice redesign, then think about your why. Your Business Goals Will Drive The Website Redesign  Once you know your 'why,' then it's time to think about your business. If your private practice needs a new website, it will help clean up the front of your business. With a clean website, you can be responsive to your clients. Also, when redesigning your website, it's critical to increase your visibility in Google search engines. However, we also need to think about your goals when it comes to private practice. So, now you need to think about the most crucial aspect of your website and the most important goals you have for your business for the next 12 months. For instance, many people have the goal to get more telehealth clients. Then, we need to make sure that people are aware on your website that you offer telehealth and in which states. Consider Hiring A Website Professional  As far as a redesign goes, the best place to start is with the why. Before starting your redesign, it will be critical to think about the goals you want to hit next year. When you start looking at your goals and vision, you might need to think a little bit bigger when it comes to your redesign. If your goals are big enough, Daniel highly recommends getting help with your website. Reach out to a professional to build the website because you might end up spending a ton of time and some money on trying to put it all together on your own. Making a website without any help can be very time-consuming. You may have better luck investing in someone that's going to increase those conversions. Working With Daniel Fava If you're looking for some professional help with your website redesign, I highly recommend working with Daniel. To get the process started, Daniel will have a 15-minute call to uncover the issues holding you back and put together a plan to help you reach your goals. If you're not ready for a complete redesign, Daniel has loads of free website and SEO resources to help you elevate your online presence and market your private practice. You can check those out HERE. Lastly, be sure to check out the redesign we did on Kingsport Counseling, and let me know what you think! Being transparent… Some of the resources below use affiliate links which simply means we receive a commission if you purchase using the links, at no extra cost to you. Thanks for using the links! Daniel Fava's Resources 5 Ways to Improve Your Website- PDF Download Create My Therapist Website Private Practice Elevation Apply For Private Practice Elevation Daniel Fava on Effective Private Practice Website Design 5 Ways To Improve Your Private Practice Website Resources  Use the promo code "GORDON" to get 2 months of Therapy Notes free. Google Workspace for Therapists | The E-Course SALE! Purchase The Full Focus Planner™ See The Website Redesign: https://kingsportcounseling.com/ Join my Focus Groups Session Note Helper 3.0 Money Matters in Private Practice | The Course Join the Google Workspace (formerly G-Suite) for Therapists Users Group Cool Resources Follow @PracticeofTherapy on Instagram Meet Gordon Brewer, MEd, LMFT Gordon is the person behind The Practice of Therapy Podcast & Blog. He is also President and Founder of Kingsport Counseling Associates, PLLC. He is a therapist, consultant, business mentor, trainer, and writer. PLEASE Subscribe to The Practice of Therapy Podcast wherever you listen to it. Follow us on Twitter @therapistlearn, and Pinterest, “Like” us on Facebook.  

I'm glad you're with me for this particular episode with Lisa Mustard. Lisa is a great person to get to know, and I'm excited about what she is doing, which is pretty unique - she is offering podcourses. Lately, I've been working on getting some continuing education credits online. Well, Lisa has built an entire business around that. So, we talk all about how podcourses could be a great way to diversify income in your private practice. Tune in as we also touch on imposter syndrome, marketing, and navigating NBCC credentialing. Meet Lisa Mustard My name is Lisa Mustard and I am a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist in South Carolina. I am also a wife to Billy, mama to two daughters, puppy wrangler, lover of health, wellness, and fitness, and personal development junkie. I started this show because I was bored with the traditional modes of continuing education and professional development. I yearned for convenient education that was fun, interesting, inspiring, helpful, and easily accessible anywhere, anytime. And I couldn’t find what I was looking for, so I decided to create it. When I am not podcasting or seeing clients, I am in the gym, on a run or walk, spending time with my family, or wrangling the lovable, yet incorrigible Lulu, our Australian Shepherd/Pitbull puppy. The Therapy Show The Therapy Show with Lisa Mustard provides value by bringing in-depth and exciting interviews with experts, experienced practitioners, and other interesting people within the world of talk therapy. Lisa's hope is that her guests positively impact you, your work and career, and ultimately your clients. Guests range from specialists and experts in the clinical world, as well as those who have pivoted their skill sets and are doing something different and unique now, like writing books, motivational speaking, creating an online business, doing consulting work, health and wellness coaching, life coaching or they are other helping professionals who can give a different perspective when working with specific issues or populations. Creating Podcourses In January 2020, Lisa put together a packet and sent it off to NBCC. People told Lisa that it would take a couple of months for them to approve her. Well, because of Covid, it took them ten months to get back to Lisa. During this time, Lisa started to doubt herself and her abilities. Eventually, imposter syndrome kicked in. However, Lisa was approved! Next, Lisa needed to hire people to help her with all the techie stuff that makes her head want to explore. Overall, Lisa loves creating podcourses. To get started, Lisa reached out to people who she knew personally that are experts in their field. She told them to throw together three to five objectives; she interviews them and even pays a small fee. The rest is history!  Getting NBCC Credentials Getting NBCC credentials can be complicated. Let's say you already have a course. Next, look at how the NBCC needs your course to fit their model. If you already have a course, you can just look at it and retool it. Otherwise, you need to figure out how to meet their requirements. If you don't have a course already, it may be easier to check the requirements first and then create your course around the types of things they are looking for. The most challenging part for Lisa was making sure that what they needed from her was on the website. There's a lot of work to be done, and it needs to be consistent. For instance, your evaluation survey needs to be specific, or else it won't get approved. They pretty much tell you what you need to have on there, but they work with you. NBCC will help you massage it to get it to where it needs to be. Another challenging part of the process is marketing; when you create something, you have to figure out how to get it out in the world. Imposter Syndrome Every single day Lisa has thoughts about being an imposture. After taking a strengths test, Lisa found that she's really good at connecting with people and achieving things. That totally makes sense because Lisa enjoys connecting with people. She loves to listen, and that's what makes her a great therapist. Plus, Lisa likes to help other people shine their light. Basically, she is looking for those people that are the experts that want to get out there and shine their light and share what they know. Of course, Lisa will make sure that everything they're presenting is research-based and have references. Now, Lisa comes from a place of needing to be the conduit of the information, not so much the expert. That way, the imposter syndrome tends to go to the back-burner. Being transparent… Some of the resources below use affiliate links which simply means we receive a commission if you purchase using the links, at no extra cost to you. Thanks for using the links! Lisa Mustard's Resources Lisa's Website  Facebook Instagram You can listen to The Therapy Show with Lisa Mustard here: http://bit.ly/TherapyShowApple Resources  Use the promo code "GORDON" to get 2 months of Therapy Notes free. Google Workspace for Therapists | The E-Course Purchase The Full Focus Planner™ Join my Focus Groups Session Note Helper 3.0 Money Matters in Private Practice | The Course Join the Google Workspace (formerly G-Suite) for Therapists Users Group Cool Resources Follow @PracticeofTherapy on Instagram Meet Gordon Brewer, MEd, LMFT Gordon is the person behind The Practice of Therapy Podcast & Blog. He is also President and Founder of Kingsport Counseling Associates, PLLC. He is a therapist, consultant, business mentor, trainer, and writer. PLEASE Subscribe to The Practice of Therapy Podcast wherever you listen to it. Follow us on Twitter @therapistlearn, and Pinterest, “Like” us on Facebook.

Business ownership can be challenging, but it's not that different than treating patients. Your business is like a patient, and Fix This Next for Healthcare Providers by Kasey Compton will teach you to treat it that way. We talk all about the inspiration behind this book and why Kasey thinks healthcare providers are the best suited for entrepreneurship. Plus, we dive into everything you need to fix in your private practice and how to finally get closer to professional goals while building a strong foundation.  Meet Kasey Compton Kasey built a million-dollar practice with over seventy-five staff members in less than two years from the ground up. She is the President/CEO of Mindsight Behavioral Group with multiple offices located in Kentucky.  Kasey says, “it definitely wasn’t easy but I learned a lot scaling a practice”. She is now in year three and her business with basically running itself; largely due to the systems and processes we put into place. Now, Kasey is a behavioral group consultant (www.consultwithkc.com) and author that helps practices avoid mistakes by cleaning up their systems, implementing better processes, and understanding what to do with their money. Kasey says, “ I take so much pride in my own practice and now I feel honored to help others grow too.” About Fix This Next  When Fix This Next: Make the Vital Change That Will Level Up Your Business came out; Kasey loved it! It is based on Maslow's hierarchy of needs. Well, our private practices have tons of needs. We can't act like a firefighter in private practice. Every time our business has a problem, we need a system for addressing the issues rather than just willy nilly solving things. When Kasey read that book, she thought this was meant for mental health. Kasey knew that mental health professionals needed something similar. After talking to so many other practice owners, Kasey learned that they loved the book. However, something was missing – they didn't know how to apply those principles to their private practice. Kasey knew that it was just something she had to fix; she felt like she was responsible for writing this book. Treat Your Business Like You Treat Your Patients  In many ways, private practice consultants have a responsibility to help people feel confident in the way that they're spending their time and feel like they don't need an MBA to run a therapy practice. Throughout Kasey's book, that's a running theme that therapists, in her opinion, are better-suited business owners than anybody else out there. She truly believes that our businesses are much like our patients. If we treat our businesses like we treat our patients, everything becomes much smoother, and everything becomes much more efficient. Overall, we will have better outcomes. So, that is what Kasey teaches in Fix This Next for Healthcare Providers is how to treat your business like you do your patients. How To Assess Your Business One of Kasey's strategies within Fix This Next for Healthcare Providers is all about assessing your business. Basically, you would do a diagnostic assessment of a client or a patient. Kasey teaches therapists how to evaluate the business in the same way. There are three foundational levels in your business, which are sales, profit, and order. We have core needs within each of those levels. Next, we ask ourselves the fifteen questions in the book. Based on that simple assessment, we're able to determine what our business's biggest priority is and where we should start. If you have a client coming in to see you, and they're having panic attacks. What you're going to do first is you're going to gather information. We're going to ask them all these questions to try to determine what is at the core. Panic and anxiety are a direct result of fear. So, fear is just manifesting itself into anxiety and then ultimately into a panic attack. What we have to do is identify the fear and treat that. This method is exactly how we get back our time, and that's how we make our business better. It will help us reach more confidence in our decisions and what we decide to work on by fixing the core of our issues. Fixing Your Level of Sales  One of the most significant issues for practices is having too many clients and not enough clinicians. Of course, there will be issues with this because you cannot serve the clients in your practice properly. While on the other hand, some practices have too many clinicians and not enough clients. The foundational level of sales is sort of like the bloodline for the practice. It's the creation of cash; if we don't have sales, we can't have a business. Sales will be the most critical thing to look at in your business. Tune in as we dive into all the other aspects of your business that need to be fixed.  Being transparent… Some of the resources below use affiliate links which simply means we receive a commission if you purchase using the links, at no extra cost to you. Thanks for using the links! Kasey Compton's Resources Kasey’s Website Pre-Order Fix This Next Kasey on TPOT 47 Kasey on Instagram Kasey on Facebook Resources  Use the promo code "GORDON" to get 2 months of Therapy Notes free. Purchase The Full Focus Planner™ Profit First Fix This Next: Make the Vital Change That Will Level Up Your Business Learn more about Mike Michalowicz Getting Things Done Join my Focus Groups Google Workspace for Therapists | The E-Course Session Note Helper 3.0 Money Matters in Private Practice | The Course Join the Google Workspace (formerly G-Suite) for Therapists Users Group Cool Resources Follow @PracticeofTherapy on Instagram Meet Gordon Brewer, MEd, LMFT Gordon is the person behind The Practice of Therapy Podcast & Blog. He is also President and Founder of Kingsport Counseling Associates, PLLC. He is a therapist, consultant, business mentor, trainer, and writer. PLEASE Subscribe to The Practice of Therapy Podcast wherever you listen to it. Follow us on Twitter @therapistlearn, and Pinterest, “Like” us on Facebook.

Margarita Khosh joins for a lively and fun conversation. We talked about expanding your niche beyond state lines; it's time that you become available to more clients than you could have ever imagined! Plus, Margarita gives us the scoop on navigating regulatory compliance, licensing regulations, and the importance of niche branding to reach underserved and underrepresented communities. Lastly, we chat about how Covid and 2020 had a massive impact on getting telehealth to become universally accepted and finally lowering the stigma around mental health. Meet Margarita Khosh Margarita Khosh, MBA, LSSGB, GHAC, is a healthcare industry implementation consultant who works with health care professionals to strengthen the patient-provider relationship. Leveraging her 20-year healthcare operational experience, international training, Healthcare MBA,  fluency in insurance terminology, licensing, and regulatory compliance, she launched MK Medical Solutions, LLC to shift the mindset of providers and health systems to understand that the patient is a consumer. Through this lens, and motivated by overcoming trauma and burnout, she propels the implementation of a modern patient-centric experience that funnels to benefit all healthcare stakeholders by reducing cost, decreasing burnout, and contributing to a health system that works for all.  Margarita serves on the Board of Directors of Women’s Healthcare Executive Network of South Florida and teaches a Facebook community of 12K therapists while interviewing industry-leading authors. She has been featured on Sabrina Runbeck’s Powerful and Passionate Healthcare Professionals, The Mighty Pete Lonton’s Fire In The Belly, The B2B Podcast by The App Guys,  The Practice Of Therapy Podcast with Gordon Brewer, and Coming Out Loved and Supported Podcast. She is also a contributing author and columnist. In a recently cited article at awarenow, she spoke about the importance of leveraging technology to make the health system work better for everyone.  Covid's Impact On Telehealth Before Covid, therapists were not leveraging technology the way that other industries leverage technology. When Covid happens, all of a sudden, it helped therapists propel the adoption of technology in a way that we never imagined. The entire healthcare industry has been turned upside down (for the better)! During this time, Margarita learned everything that she needed to know about how the new policies, rules, and regulations worked. So, she started helping therapists launch private practices beyond state lines. Plus, she can inform therapists on how to utilize the executive orders and treat patients. 2020 and 2021 are all about helping therapists expand their practice beyond state lines for Margarita. It is a total game-changer for both therapists and clients. Plus, it's helping lift the stigma that people have around mental health issues. Covid has been extremely stressful, and we are lucky to help patients in the virtual world.   Why You Should Get Licensed In Another State It has been exciting for many therapists - you can get licensed in another state and grow your practice. There is value in niche branding and lived experience. When you expand your practice beyond state lines, think about how that will impact a population that has traditionally had a different viewpoint on therapy. So, this is how you heal even more people. With telehealth, we can bring therapy to people regardless of where they are. Sadly, there is stigma and shame associated with mental health in specific communities; nobody will talk about it the importance of therapy. That's why it will be critical to get your practice across state lines.   How Licensing Works In Other States There are resources out there to empower therapists to understand how licensing works in different states. Therapists might not be aware of specific questions they need to ask, especially given the executive orders. Margarita will help clinicians figure out interstate licensing. She has all of the resources for a therapist to do it themselves. Her goal is to empower and educate professionals to make educated decisions and understand the process themselves. If someone doesn't have time to make it work, then Margarita will offer additional support. She understands which questions to ask to get to the bottom line and move the process along.   Florida Telehealth Registration There are certain states that therapists can explore in terms of getting to take their practice to where they don't need to become credentialed fully. If you would like to start seeing patients in Florida, there is a Florida Telehealth Registration. It is not a licensing, it's a registration. Simply put, it allows you to be registered in the state of Florida to treat patients, and it had nothing to do with the executive order because it's been in place for two years now. So it means that you can solicit patients in Florida that are not your patients, and you could practice there. It only takes a couple of days. Plus, the registration is free. To complete the registration application, click the link labeled "Documents" at the bottom of the homepage HERE.   Being transparent… Some of the resources below use affiliate links which simply means we receive a commission if you purchase using the links, at no extra cost to you. Thanks for using the links! Margarita's Resources MK Medical Solutions MK Medical Solutions on Facebook Margarita's Instagram MK Medical Solutions on LinkedIn Florida Telehealth Certification Resources  Use the promo code "GORDON" to get 2 months of Therapy Notes free. Purchase The Full Focus Planner™ Free to Focus: A Total Productivity System to Achieve More by Doing Less The Free to Focus Course Join my Focus Groups Google Workspace for Therapists | The E-Course Session Note Helper 3.0 Money Matters in Private Practice | The Course Join the Google Workspace (formerly G-Suite) for Therapists Users Group Cool Resources Follow @PracticeofTherapy on Instagram Meet Gordon Brewer, MEd, LMFT Gordon is the person behind The Practice of Therapy Podcast & Blog. He is also President and Founder of Kingsport Counseling Associates, PLLC. He is a therapist, consultant, business mentor, trainer, and writer. PLEASE Subscribe to The Practice of Therapy Podcast wherever you listen to it. Follow us on Twitter @therapistlearn, and Pinterest, “Like” us on Facebook.

Do you need help with your private practice website? Jenn Fredette joins to talk about the power of strong copywriting on your website. First, it's essential to have a niche when thinking about copywriting. That way, it will be seamless to market to your ideal client. Jenn gives loads of copywriting tips for your private practice website. Plus, we talk about the importance of community and mentorship, especially when it comes to your copywriting. Meet Jenn Fredette Jenn journeys with others to develop a deep understanding of themselves and the world around them.  She is passionate about connecting the curious and brave with therapeutic guides who can lead the way into the wild adventure of self-knowledge. As a former minister, practicing psychotherapist, adjunct graduate professor, and host of “A Thinker’s Guide to…” Podcast, Jenn brings a wealth of knowledge and experience in translating the profound into everyday language. Learn more at therapyforthinkers.com or follow her on Instagram at @athinkersguide. The Importance of Copywriting Jenn realized the importance of finding a niche in terms of who she wants to serve. However, a niche is also helpful in terms of what marketing does and doesn't work for you. There are 20 billion options when it comes to marketing your practice. We need to think about how we speak about who we are and who we want to serve. Online speak is also known as "copy" or written content that we've created. However, our marketing copy doesn't even have to be in writing; it can also include a podcast or a networking conversation. Basically, how do you articulate who you are serving, who you are, and who want to work with? Plus, Jenn speaks about her copywriting journey; she loves to write. So, Jenn set out to learn how actually to write copy that is captivating and is converting clients. Your copy needs to be representative of who you are as a clinician. Sometimes, marketing can feel kind of shallow and feels a little slimy. As therapists, we're not wanting to manipulate people. In addition, a lot of marketing techniques sometimes don't integrate our clinical depth or clinical awareness, which is a real shame. Jenn feels passionate about helping people translate their voice and the knowledge they already have into the copy on their website. Copywriting Tips A lot of therapists are resistant to the essence of marketing, which is niching down. You have to niche down for your marketing to work. However, many therapists don't want to exclude someone from their niche. When you're trying to accommodate many different people, then often this leads to a lot of blocks when writing. Then, it will be challenging to write either your therapy directory profile or website. When we try and write to everyone, then we need to write to Jim, as well as Karen, and Bob. Also, you don't want to leave Jane out either. So, it's hard to distill down what you want to say in your website copy. Plus, Jenn says that sometimes a therapist will lose themselves; you lose your desire of what you want your practice to be. If you're so focused on accommodating others, you're maybe not getting your own needs met. So the first step is to really get in touch with your own desire. Who do you want to sit with who would light you up? When you know who your ideal client is, it will be super easy to start copywriting for your website! If you're not sure who your ideal client is, then think about the people that you are most excited to work with! Can We Really Say That? Therapists will think some of their copy might sound too edgy for their website. For instance, a therapist's ideal client may smoke marijuana. The therapist says: "I know that you just smoked three bowls of marijuana back to back to numb the pain." Your copy should always start with the problem in mind. Then, you get into where you can go from the problem. It's a basic copywriting formula that works well for websites. Next, you will describe what the client has tried in the past that hasn't worked for them. Overall, therapists need to write a copy that reflects who they are and who they want their ideal person to be. We Can't Copywrite Alone Unfortunately, writing copy alone doesn't work. The solution is having formulas and frameworks for your copywriting process. Also, have people that can partner with you as you write your copy. These people can be in a mastermind group, a business group, or a Facebook group for private practice owners. Also, you could find a coach or consultant that can walk you through the process. You need a coach anyway- therapists need a coach so they don't have to go out there and get a business degree.  Often, therapists want to rewrite their website completely – Jenn says that's not a good idea! Instead, start with your directory profile. That way, you can do some trial and error and find out what is working.   Being transparent… Some of the resources below use affiliate links which simply means we receive a commission if you purchase using the links, at no extra cost to you. Thanks for using the links! Jenn's Resources athinkersguide.com athinkersguide.com/diagnosis athinkersguide.com/attune therapyforthinkers.com Jenn's Podcast: A Thinker's Guide To... Resources  Use the promo code "GORDON" to get 2 months of Therapy Notes free. Purchase The Full Focus Planner™ Free to Focus: A Total Productivity System to Achieve More by Doing Less The Free to Focus Course Join my Focus Groups Google Workspace for Therapists | The E-Course Session Note Helper 3.0 Money Matters in Private Practice | The Course Join the Google Workspace (formerly G-Suite) for Therapists Users Group Cool Resources Follow @PracticeofTherapy on Instagram Meet Gordon Brewer, MEd, LMFT Gordon is the person behind The Practice of Therapy Podcast & Blog. He is also President and Founder of Kingsport Counseling Associates, PLLC. He is a therapist, consultant, business mentor, trainer, and writer. PLEASE Subscribe to The Practice of Therapy Podcast wherever you listen to it. Follow us on Twitter @therapistlearn, and Pinterest, “Like” us on Facebook.  

I am grateful to be joined by two private practice rock stars, Kelly Higdon and Miranda Palmer, in The Practice of Therapy's latest episode. Our conversation revolves around the money mindset that we should have as therapists and as private practice owners. The one silver lining that has come out of Covid is that people are finally starting to understand mental health services' true value. So, join me, Kelly, and Miranda as we talk about what you should be charging, why you should consider outsourcing, and the reason therapists should never compare fees. Meet Kelly Higdon, LMFT Kelly Higdon, LMFT is the co-founder of ZynnyMe and co-creator of The Business School Bootcamp for Therapists, a flagship course that helps therapists in all parts of their private practice journey solidify their business foundation and growth. When she isn’t coaching or hosting retreats for her clients, you can find her playing roller derby or spending time with her family. To learn more about Kelly check out kellyhigdon.com and zynnyme.com On any given day you will find her writing, meeting with her psychotherapy or coaching clients, running a webinar for therapists, providing consultation with private practice owners, and making lots of room for playtime with her family. Kelly's hair constantly changes. She cares about the people that she works with. AND her most FAVORITE THING is to push, educate and inspire in the Business School Bootcamp. Meet Miranda Palmer, LMFT Miranda Palmer built a cash-based private practice during the recession. But, she is most proud that she did it to take care of her family and created a work-life balance that allowed her to avoid the all too common burn-out a lot of therapists experience. As the co-creator of ZynnyMe.com, she provides how-to articles, free monthly webinars, and co-leads the Business School Bootcamp for Therapists. Today her primary business is inspiring and teaching therapists private practice marketing. Miranda teaches them business skills, and not because she is all about money. Miranda sees how clinical outcomes, burnout rate, and overall passion can be impacted positively or negatively by how our businesses run.  How Much Is Therapy Worth? How much is therapy worth? Most of us know that it's a silly question! Well, people are priceless, and you cannot put a value on a therapy. How are you going to monetize transgenerational trauma and healing? So then that brings us back to, well, how do we know what to charge? What do we need to do good work and to live the life we teach our clients? Money is a resource; that is part of the outcome that we are working towards. We're working towards an outcome with our clients, a clinical outcome, and we want them to have a great experience. We want to be able to be present to provide that outcome. So we need to look at our outcome; money is just one resource that we need to get there. Time and energy are also resources that we require as therapists. Now, we start to calculate, what does that number really come out to? When you take all of this into account, then you no longer feel shame or guilt about how much you charge for your services. When you think about running a business, you need sick time; you need to pay your rent, you need to pay your mortgage, health insurance, vacation, technology, and utilities. All of these things that are part of being a business owner we need to consider. Most of us did not learn how to be business owners in graduate school, we have nonprofit training, and we have this nonprofit mindset. Nonprofit organizations will get grants for millions of dollars; then, they can use that money to pay for their positions. You never really get to see where all of the other money goes. Stop Comparing Fees The mental healthcare system is not doing well. Access is challenging. As therapists, we are one part of that system. In order for that system to exist, to be sustainable, we all have to operate from that place of our highest and best. Then, we can raise the bar for these other systems, maybe to change with us. We should not be looking at our peers and saying, "you charge too much; why are you doing that?" Because at the end of the day, you don't know someone else's situation. You don't know what that therapist needs to run their business. It can be totally different than what you need to run your business. A lot of us live paycheck to paycheck. Would you want your clients to live paycheck to paycheck? No! So, you shouldn't have to live paycheck to paycheck either. Private Practice During Covid Our relationship to money has a lot to do with self-care. Many private practice owners are starting to see their phones ring off the hook because of Covid. However, the clinician will not be able to see everyone that calls their practice. It wouldn't be fair to the patients or fair to the clinician. The pandemic has only highlighted the issues we have had as a system. Now, we see the cracks in mental healthcare widen. We will be treating anxiety, depression, agoraphobia, medical trauma, and all sorts of things in the next years to come. As therapists, we feel like we have a duty to do extra work during these times because it is such a crisis. However, don't forget about self-care! The Importance of Outsourcing When we get into private practice, we have to look at the bookkeeping, answering the phones, maintaining the website, and dealing with loans. If you are the business owner, you have to budget for those things that you're outsourcing, or you have to have time for those things that should be outsourcing. Clinicians think private practice will be great because they are only going to see thirty clients a week. However, they find themselves working sixty or seventy hours a week because of all the extra tasks they have taken on. Unfortunately, Clinicians are a lot of times too slow to outsource stuff. When you don't outsource things, you'll be saving money. However, when you do outsource things, it will allow you to enjoy your life. Make outsourcing part of your business plan and charge a fee that covers that instead of stressing out about small things that don't necessarily matter. Reevaluate What You Charge During Covid One silver lining that has happened through Covid that a lot of the stigma around mental health and mental wellbeing is starting to lower. So many of us have experienced anxiety on different levels. More than ever, people are beginning to understand the value of therapy, and they need to pay for what the services are truly worth. We hope that therapists are really looking at those numbers and reevaluating what to charge. For instance, it's time that therapists start saying no to insurance contracts that are paying $25 or $35 for a session. It's appalling that those contracts are still out there, and therapists are still signing them. Therapists need to do the math - we have to do the math for ourselves and figure out what works. Being transparent… Some of the resources below use affiliate links which simply means we receive a commission if you purchase using the links, at no extra cost to you. Thanks for using the links! Kelly & Miranda's Resources ZynnyMe ZynnyMe’s Worksheet on Setting Your Fees ZynnyMe’s Amazing Free Trainings Business School Bootcamp Resources  Use the promo code "GORDON" to get 2 months of Therapy Notes free. Listen to Kelly Higdon on Episode 16 of The Practice of Therapy Podcast Join my Focus Groups Google Workspace for Therapists | The E-Course Session Note Helper 3.0 70. Your Successful Therapy Website Redesign: Understanding When & Why Kingsport Counseling Money Matters in Private Practice | The Course Join the Google Workspace (formerly G-Suite) for Therapists Users Group Cool Resources Follow @PracticeofTherapy on Instagram Meet Gordon Brewer, MEd, LMFT Gordon is the person behind The Practice of Therapy Podcast & Blog. He is also President and Founder of Kingsport Counseling Associates, PLLC. He is a therapist, consultant, business mentor, trainer, and writer. PLEASE Subscribe to The Practice of Therapy Podcast wherever you listen to it. Follow us on Twitter @therapistlearn, and Pinterest, “Like” us on Facebook.  

In this episode, Colleen Hilton joins the show to talk about our marketing mindset in private practice. Many therapists think that marketing is icky. However, marketing is actually essential to get clients the help that they need. The more effective your marketing efforts are, the better you can help the right people. Tune in as we talk about finding your ideal client and how Thrivelution can be a win-win for both therapists and clients. Meet Colleen Hilton Colleen Hilton is the founder & CEO of Acuity Counseling, Acuity Consulting and Thrivelution LLC. She is also a licensed Marriage & Family Therapist & an AAMFT approved Supervisor, with over 14 years of experience in the industry. Since 2016, Acuity Counseling has been providing boutique therapy services, with a retail-style model, making high-quality mental health available to the general public. With 3 brick and mortar locations and a strong online presence throughout the state via telehealth, Acuity is seeking to make a difference across all of Washington state. Acuity Consulting focuses on creating change in the business world by offering leadership coaching, and organizational mental health training. By supporting individuals and organizations in personal and professional change, believing in the systemic impact we will have together. Colleen co-founded Thrivelution LLC in 2020, amidst the unprecedented circumstances of the Covid-19 pandemic. Thrivelution is disrupting the current market space by throwing out the antiquated practice of directory style searches, focusing on the quality of matches, and demonstrating a return on investment for small business owners. Colleen is outspoken as a leader and educator on the business side of the mental health industry. She is active in coaching private practice owners, as well as new group practice owners, in how to align their values as a helper, with their role as a business owner to assist them in creating successful, profitable businesses. Personally, Colleen is a wife and the proud mother of two inspiring young women. She is passionate about warm weather (still missing SoCal), boating, and finding great food wherever she is at. Colleen loves people and making new connections, finding great joy in learning from others, and hearing the amazing stories every person has to share. Success Mindset Many therapists think that marketing is icky or too salesy. Colleen is working on debunking that marketing mindset for private practice owners. Instead, we should use marketing to create a mindset for success. Marketing and advertising get an awful rap in the mental health industry. We feel like somehow being a helper doesn't align with marketing and advertising, but Colleen honestly believes that our professional ethics require that we do beneficial marketing and advertising. Charge What You're Worth Your marketing mindset has a lot to do with finances too. If you don't have enough money, then you are struggling. How will that impact the work that you do for clients? If you can hone in on marketing, then you can market to your ideal client and attract the person into your practice. That is why it's essential to have an exact brand. Then, the feedback loop just starts to work in a beautiful way where the clients are coming to us. We can charge what we're worth! Market To Your Ideal Client When we do effective marketing, we reach our ideal client and provide the most qualified help. While on the other hand, if our net is too broad or there is no net at all, we can't help our ideal clients. Clients will not magically find you when you build a website. We should be practicing from an abundance mindset - there are many clients out there, and you really should be helping the people you are passionate about supporting. Colleen will reverse engineer her marketing. So, think about your ideal client and answer these questions: What do they do for a living? What gender do they identify as? Where do they hang out? What are their problems? How can you solve their problems? Then, start thinking about ways you can engage with your ideal client. We are not selling something. Instead, we are communicating the value that we have and how we can provide help. Marketing is the ability to help people find you. Potential clients are out there, and they are struggling. By using doing effective marketing, we can provide them the exact solution that they are looking for. Get More Clients Through Marketing What if your ideal client is out there with the wrong therapist? They have a terrible experience, so they visit another therapist. Yet again, they have a terrible experience. Sadly, this keeps happening to your ideal client. Eventually, they give up on therapy altogether. Now, their problems keep getting worse and worse. They are digging a hole for themselves, and they can't figure out how to get out. Maybe ten years pass by, and they finally find you. If you could find that ideal client ten years ago, they would be in a much different place today. Give your clients what they are looking for in the first place. When you find your ideal client, you help them, and they get to help you. Working with our ideal client allows us to be supported financially. When we are supported financially, then we can do our best work. After grad school, we have the hopes and dreams to open a private practice. Like any business, marketing is a crucial component to getting more clients. For therapists, it's no different – we need to practice effective marketing techniques! About Thrivelution Colleen stumbled with her marketing at first. She didn't know how to communicate with potential clients. She had referral relationships, the directory listing, yet she didn't find herself with the right clients. Unfortunately, when you don't have the right clients, then you need to turn them away. It's a shame for the client because they ask for help, yet they find themselves with a roadblock. So, Colleen wanted to know why there wasn't a "dating app" for finding a therapist. Clients should go on the app and ask for what they want. Then, therapists should advertise their services. We need a matching system that focuses on clinical fit. Thrivelution is an algorithm that will present options to clients and clinicians. That way, they can mutually agree to the relationship. Once it's a good fit, the clinicians can take it from there. Clinicians can build thriving private practices, and clients can find the best therapist for them – it's a win-win! Being transparent… Some of the resources below use affiliate links which simply means we receive a commission if you purchase using the links, at no extra cost to you. Thanks for using the links! Colleen's Resources Colleen's LinkedIn Thrivelution.com Code: "MATCH21" For 2 months free! Thrivelution on Facebook Download Our Thriving Practice Checklist Now! Resources Use the promo code "GORDON" to get 2 months of Therapy Notes free. Learn more about GreenOak Accounting  Join my Focus Groups Money Matters in Private Practice | The Course Google Workspace for Therapists | The E-Course 70. Your Successful Therapy Website Redesign: Understanding When & Why Kingsport Counseling Session Note Helper 3.0 Join the Google Workspace (formerly G-Suite) for Therapists Users Group Cool Resources Follow @PracticeofTherapy on Instagram Meet Gordon Brewer, MEd, LMFT Gordon is the person behind The Practice of Therapy Podcast & Blog. He is also President and Founder of Kingsport Counseling Associates, PLLC. He is a therapist, consultant, business mentor, trainer, and writer. PLEASE Subscribe to The Practice of Therapy Podcast wherever you listen to it. Follow us on Twitter @therapistlearn, and Pinterest, “Like” us on Facebook.  

In this episode, I am joined by Susan Orenstein, who works with individuals and couples to pursue a more peaceful, purposeful, and passionate life. Susan speaks about the process behind starting a podcast and what she has learned so far. We chat about creating content outside of the therapy room to help people on their healing journey. Tune in as we discuss other ways to expand your niche and turn your passions into creative and useful content. Meet Susan Orenstein Hi, I’m Susan Orenstein, Ph.D. For over twenty-five years, I’ve worked with individuals and couples that come to my counseling office in pursuit of a more peaceful, purposeful, and passionate life. Relationships are integral to that rich, fulfilling existence we all desire. Healthy relationships bolster our well-being while unhealthy relationships hinder our ability to thrive. That’s why I’m passionate about helping couples to either optimize their relationship or learn to let each other go so they can develop a nourishing, intimate connection elsewhere. Making Content For Clients Susan wants her work to be accessible to more people. So, she developed a podcast - it's called After The First Marriage. Plus, Susan has a free e-course that goes with it. She is creating a lot of content because Susan particularly loves the work that she does. In addition, Susan loves going online and looking at worksheets, reading, and joining groups. There are so many ways people can heal outside of the therapy room, and Susan wanted to help develop those things for her clients. Creating A Podcast In Susan's podcast, she gets to bring more of herself in. Susan gets to think about who interests her, who she wants to learn from, what she is reading, and who she wants to interview. Plus, Susan gets to create fun materials with her content. Also, Susan is learning that there are parts of her that she can bring into this process to expand her ability to be a therapist. For instance, Susan has learned about the effectiveness of self-disclosure when working with clients because it gives you more credibility when they can hear that a therapist has gone through similar struggles. Overall, with a podcast and creating content, it's fun to shake it up and to learn new things all the time. Normalizing Therapy Next, Susan speaks about working on tearing down the stigma that's still attached to being a therapy client. She wants to normalize these processes for people because almost everybody cares about having healthy relationships. Therefore, getting the skills to learn about this and making it approachable and accessible to people is critical to Susan. One way Susan helps people for free is through her podcast and social media. Plus, podcasting is more personal than blogging or written material because it's a better way to connect with the person on the other end. Even though you're just listening to a recording, you still make a connection through voice. Choosing Divorce As A Niche Professionally, Susan's favorite clients have been people who have been kicked to the curb. They are so down; they cannot get their head up, and they are so grateful to have therapy and have someone believe in them and have someone help them. That way, Susan can help her clients figure out what happened, so it doesn't happen again. Through therapy, Susan's clients regain self-esteem and gain some tools for intimacy in the future. Some of her very favorite clients have been people going through a divorce. Luckily, Susan can't say that she knows personally what divorce is like. However, she can say that she has never taken her husband for granted, and he has never taken Susan for granted. Client Themes Around Divorce When Susan sees somebody going through a divorce who didn't choose divorce, they are often very wounded, have hurt self-esteem and depression. Plus, there is anxiety, they question their attractiveness, and they question their desirability. After divorce, many people will suffer from self-doubt, low self-esteem, and even revenge fantasies. In addition, many times these people are angry, and they are bitter. Also, these people will look for ways to numb themselves so they may start drinking heavily, eating more, turning to relationships that aren't good for them in order to dull their feelings. While on the other hand, for the person who is initiating the divorce, there can be guilt and shame. Usually, these people want to know how they can help their children through the divorce process. Mainly, people want to be proactive, which is terrific. Lastly, another category is people that want the divorce, but don't think it's possible. For instance, someone might be staying in the marriage because of financial issues, or they are worried about their children's wellbeing. These are the trickiest and saddest situations because these people are almost like hostages. Expand Your Practice Outside The Therapy Room When expanding your practice, find some issues and topics that fascinate you that you want to learn about no matter what. That way, you can't go wrong. When you enjoy the information, you'll become an expert, and it will help fuel your energy. Also, when you love what you do, it will be harder to burnout. Another piece of advice is having a colleague help you. For instance, talking it out with someone can be a massive asset to your endeavors. It's also critical to have a set of trusted peers and colleagues that you can share information with.   Being transparent… Some of the resources below use affiliate links which simply means we receive a commission if you purchase using the links, at no extra cost to you. Thanks for using the links! Susan's Resources After The First Marriage After The First Marriage Podcast After The First Marriage Instagram  After The First Marriage Twitter Resources  Use the promo code "GORDON" to get 2 months of Therapy Notes free. Learn more about GreenOak Accounting  Join my Focus Groups Money Matters in Private Practice | The Course Google Workspace for Therapists | The E-Course Session Note Helper 3.0 Join the Google Workspace (formerly G-Suite) for Therapists Users Group Cool Resources Follow @PracticeofTherapy on Instagram Meet Gordon Brewer, MEd, LMFT Gordon is the person behind The Practice of Therapy Podcast & Blog. He is also President and Founder of Kingsport Counseling Associates, PLLC. He is a therapist, consultant, business mentor, trainer, and writer. PLEASE Subscribe to The Practice of Therapy Podcast wherever you listen to it. Follow us on Twitter @therapistlearn, and Pinterest, “Like” us on Facebook.