Fearless Practice

As the saying goes; "the only constant thing is change", and it's true for Canadian private practices too. Sometimes you will set up a system that works well, but after months or years the practice has changed, and so the systems need to be updated.  Or, the offering that you used to love doing with your clients is no longer something that used to light your spark - because you've most likely chan...

Do you feel pressured to always be scaling and growing your Canadian private practice? In modern business, the idea is usually to push growth - but that's not always the case! Sometimes not growing can also help private practice.  Every now and then you need to intentionally stop growing and instead focus on the foundations of your private practice, so that any future growth down the line actually...

Do you sometimes feel lonely working as a therapist? Do you have an online practice, and sometimes wish you could chat with a colleague between sessions to let off some steam or to get an ethical second opinion? How do you deal with isolation as an online therapist?  Working as a therapist can be an isolating experience in and of itself, since you can't talk about the details of your work with fri...

Have you ever been to a counselling conference? Are you considering going to one this year for the first time, or are you a regular attendee?  Whether you are more introverted or an extrovert, conferences offer spaces for both! Not just quiet workshops or long tables filled with fascinating people, but also where you can learn and develop your skills as a professional while enjoying time spent wit...

Many counsellors may enter into private practice without expecting to open it into a group practice, since it can be a journey that develops as you explore your niche, assess the needs of your community, and as you develop as a person. However, if you find yourself on the entrepreneurial path, don't doubt that it can work! Even though many counsellors are not taught business skills in school, they...

There are many different ways in which you can instill and live out the values that you have founded your Canadian private practice on.  For Courtney, the value of community is a driving factor that positively impacts the work that she and her colleagues do. So much so, that her private practice offers a scholarship for students doing their bachelors in social work or psychology!  In this podcast...

Building a practice is a tricky task because we know that it is going to be difficult sometimes. The question is, when have we gone too far and are perhaps risking burnout? It can feel difficult to maintain your personal and professional boundaries when you are the boss and things depend on you, but in essence, your business does depend on you, so it's important to take care of yourself.  Whether...

Jasmine is a great example of; working to live, not living to work. You do not have to grow your business exponentially just because you can. If you are doing well in your Canadian private practice, but the idea of owning a huge business is daunting to you - you don't have to take it that far!  One of the ways of building a truly successful business that serves your clients - and you - is to struc...

How can you market your practice successfully in a big city? Do you have a specific niche that you want to figure out how to use well to connect with your best-fit client? Are you on the verge of considering to open two practices? Everyone talks about niching down, but it's always helpful to speak to someone that did it and made it work well!  In this podcast episode, Imogen and I discuss the entr...

When we want to do something really well, we may pick one path and stick to it, but hyperfocusing can cause us to develop blind spots to where we could improve. Sometimes there is success and new possibilities available to you when you try new things, diversify your approach, and look at things differently - without a fear of failure!  There are multiple ways of helping  your community, creating s...

Do you know some of the sweet spots to streamline your business processes? Is your Canadian private practice set up to support you, while you support your clients? Are you looking for some tips and tools that you can use to simplify your practice needs?  There are so many different platforms and apps out there that it can seem overwhelming. If you are looking for some guidance and advice from live...

A lot of counsellors may start private practices because they want flexibility and autonomy in their professional lives, as well as for the fact that they have noticed a direct need that they feel passionate about serving. Marlee, today's guest, decided to go into private practice for those reasons. In this podcast episode, Marlee and I discuss private practice, supporting mental health practition...

Are you having trouble deciding on a starting rate for your private practice?  There are so many ways to figure out how to start off. For example, your college or association may have a recommendation, or basing your rate on what other therapists are charging in your area - but these guidelines may not be enough to allow you to be profitable!  You may need to look at your budget to know where to s...

As a Canadian therapist, one of the things that you know needs to get done is to build a website. It's part of the deal of being a business owner, and having a great website is the cornerstone of being seen by your local community and getting your Canadian private practice noticed.  I think everyone has one or two horror stories about trying to get everything up and running when you are launching...

How knowledgeable are you on current counselling ethics? How regularly do you follow up on changes and fluctuations in ethics and the recommended practices as times go on? Where should you start?  As we know how society and the general public changes over the years, it makes sense that the recommended counselling practices and ethics would too. What you might have learned five years ago, even two...

We all know that working as a therapist can be a lonely job. When we work together, we can help one another reach higher heights in our Canadian practices, grow as professionals, and share the success with more people.  This is what Richard and Esther have found on their journey so far. Richard hired Esther as an administrative assistant in the early months of 2020 as his solo practice was full, a...

Have you worked in a not-for-profit organization before? Do you tend to steer clear from not-for-profit counselling positions due to common bad stories from what it could be like?  So many therapists go into therapy because they feel a need and a desire to support and serve their communities. However, it can become tough, expensive, and challenging - but this is not the case across the board! If y...

Many of the skills that you learn from all your experience throughout  your mental health career can be brought into the session room with a client - when done ethically and when asked for!  Ashley worked as a nurse for many years in public health before deciding to return to university to get her masters, and move into Canadian private practice. She now uses both psychotherapy and nursing skills...

What works for you one day, one year, or one decade may not stay the same. As you change and develop as a person, so will your needs, and what you need from your environment to feel supported and to offer your best work.  In this podcast episode, I talk with Angela who used to have zero interest in running a Canadian private practice but who is now on track to hit her second year of being a solo p...

Do you often let fear stop you from taking a break and resting when you know you need it? Are you often pushing yourself beyond your limits but haven't stopped to wonder why? Have you been feeling resentful towards work that you used to enjoy in the past?  Taking the time to properly rest is something that can help you to feel more present with your clients during sessions, and to enjoy what you d...

If you had a tough experience as a counselling intern, you might feel inspired to create a space where future interns could have a different experience. It's sometimes a healing response to turn the lemons of the past into the lemonade of the present, and that's exactly what Nicole did.  From her practicum, Nicole had a very challenging experience as a counselling intern in a private practice, and...

Which skills do you have that could be carried over into your private practice? Today's guest Olivia Grigg, who works as a therapist, used to spend her summers running camps, and now she hosts successful wellness retreats!  If there is something that you would like to do, whether start a podcast, create an e-course, or even host and launch a retreat, these options are all possible for you. Even if...

100 episodes! What a milestone. In the beginning, I really wasn't sure what would happen. I knew that I wanted to try podcasting but I had no idea what to expect. However, once I knew that it would be something I would enjoy and that it would be a great way to connect with you, I committed, and here we are two years later!  In this episode, I talk about the whole experience from the start to the p...

Has your road to private practice been rocky? Do you struggle with settling into your niche because you feel like you have to be applicable to every person? Do you feel that you need to add more specialities to be more complementary?  There are so many different types of niches, and so many people that are looking for help. You may feel like you have to see them all and maybe you want to help them...

Even though you might be hearing about how private practices are all the rage, it is still a choice of preference. Owning and running a private practice may not be well-suited to you, or your goals for your work, and that's okay.  Your work in the mental health industry does not need to look the same as others. If you haven't felt a pull to start a private practice but you can't pinpoint why, or i...