Ideal Practice

If a client cancels at the last minute, or worse, doesn’t show up at all - it doesn’t feel so great, does it? And even when you understand why they had to miss, you can still be left feeling frustration, disappointment - or, if it happens often, even resentment. And I know that's not how you WANT to feel about your work, or your client. So what do you do? Do you charge them for that time? If...

Whether we recognize it or not, there are countless hidden rules and unconscious scripts that keep us from attaining financial freedom. But learning to recognize those rules, and rewrite those scripts can be done.   Learn how with Lisa Michaud, an international success coach who identified those barriers in her own life, and broke through them. Hailing from Vancouver, Canada, Lisa's inspiring...

Would you like to hear some of the secrets behind a thriving private practice? That’s what you’ll get in today’s episode. When I started my private practice, I had a strong, clear and powerful vision for what I wanted to build. That, I now know, was a key driver in my success. I’ll tell you more about what that vision was and how it guided every decision I made. (This is so important.) But we won’...

Whooo boy.  Sometimes, it’s a miracle this business of mine ever worked…. but it did, in SPITE of what I’m going to share with you today, lol.  When I started my practice, I had to figure out everything on my own. With no such thing as coaches, masterminds, online courses, or even a business class in grad school, no one taught me how to run a business.  Looking back, I can see at least 7 big mista...

What a story - and what an incredible conversation. In this episode, you get to meet Maira Holzmann, LCSW - a somatically trained therapist, group practice owner, and business coach out of Denver, Colorado. And I promise you, by the end of our conversation,  you will adore her! Although today she's playing big - it wasn't always that way. In fact, she'll tell you that she 'fail...

🙋‍♀️Hey there!  Looking to boost your online profile and connect with your ideal clients? 🤝  Check out the 5 quick tips I'm sharing on the podcast today to create a profile that leaves a lasting impression on the right people. In this episode, you’ll learn…  How to make MUCH better use of this important marketing real estate. How to sharpen you message so that you stand out from the 100s yo...

When you start your private practice, there are so many details to sort out that it can be daunting at first. How the heck do you even know where to start?  Well my friend -  I think I can help. In this episode, we’ll cover 5 key decisions you need to make up front, the absolute core aspects of your practice that you’ll want to figure out first.  All of these come from my own experience, and all a...

Today, y’all, we’re talking about the guys. :) I met Shawn Helvey when he reached out to me in advance of a move to our area. In true proactive form, he was trying to get the lay of the land so he could understand the mental health culture in our area. I liked him immediately. So of course, it was only a matter of time before I invited him to join me on the podcast. Shawn Helvey is a licensed psyc...

Do you dread having certain conversations with your clients? We've all been there.  Whether it's talking about something as simple as your upcoming vacation or as hard as confronting their overdue account - we hate feeling like the bad guy with our clients. But mastering this skill is critical to the success and sustainability of your business. So in this episode, we'll dive into th...

Almost everything will work if you unplug it for a few minutes…including you. - Anne Lamott What do you call a “real vacation”? And when was the last time you had one? If it’s really a long weekend, then you and I need to talk. If you can’t remember the last time you took a full week off, or more, then you and I (really!) need to talk. :) The ugly truth is that way too many healers in private prac...

This was SO much fun!  In this episode I had such a fun interview with Kym Tolson, AKA “The Traveling Therapist”. You may recognize her, since she was on Ideal Practice back in Episode 30, talking about everything related to managing your own billing. In fact, she’s the first person I’ve ever invited back for a second visit.  Because this is the conversation I really wanted to have. :)  Dreaming o...

Something short and sweet for you today! Being an entrepreneur is never for the faint of heart, my friends. In many ways, running your own business will challenge you like nothing else. #truth Still, I’ve found that certain principles help me stay steady, and stick with it. They keep going AND growing no matter what kind of craziness, chaos, and curveballs come my way. Today, I’m sharing 4 of my f...

What if you could make $19,000 from a FREE talk given to a small room of less than 25 people? Well - I’ve had that kind of experience - and so can you. In this episode, I’ll show you exactly how to leverage your trademark talk in a way that gives you greater engagement with your audience. And when you do, that will also lead to more income for your business. Here’s the thing. Anyone can learn to b...

If you met her on the street, you’d never know how much Sarah McNamara has had to work through over the past few years to grow her business, nor how much she’s grown inside . All you might see is a sweet therapist with a dazzling smile, who is now the successful owner of a group practice specializing in perinatal mental health services for those journeying to and through the many challenges of mot...

🎉 Happy Birthday to IDEAL PRACTICE! 🎉  We’re celebrating our 1st anniversary with you sweet people!  In this special episode I took a moment to reflect a bit on a year of change, what it’s been like to commit to this crazy new craft, and what it means to find the fun in the work. In this episode, you’ll hear:  3 big lessons I’ve learned in my first year of hosting a podcast 3 things I’d like to...

Today we’re talking about one of THE most effective ways you can connect with your ideal clients. This is one way you can show up as a real live human being who totally gets who they are , knows how to help, and is worth reaching out to. We’re taking a look at public speaking as a key marketing strategy. And hold on a minute:  If you’re one of those who thinks you would never ever ever ever ever b...

When you unlock the power of your own voice with authentic marketing, you connect with clients at a much deeper level. And in this episode, message strategist and all ‘round marketing expert, Barbara Govednik, will help you figure out how to do exactly that. Among other things, you’ll learn:  What we really mean when we talk about messaging at all. Some of the most common mistakes practice owners...

In this week’s episode on Ideal Practice , I’ve got a personal story to share about an experience I had a few years back. It showed me why my thinking about the flow of abundance into and out of my life had to change, and helped me realize, perhaps, how much it already had… We need to raise our own vibrations. We need to explore the transformative power of allowing ourselves to want more in our pr...

In this episode of Ideal Practice, I’m digging into the importance of investing in your private practice and yourself as a healing arts professional and business owner.  We just don’t think this way as healers - but we need to.  So I want to talk about how investing in your business is such a key factor in building a strong foundation for your long-term success. It’s made a huge difference for me...

Linzy Bonham, host of the podcast, Money Skills for Therapists , has noticed a new pattern among the therapists she coaches - and it’s not one I expected to hear her talk about. She says too many of us are living from fear, holding a little too tightly to the money we earn, choking off the flow of abundance and blocking our own joy. And - perhaps - it’s time to lighten up just a little.  Don’t thi...

Truth >> I’ve been advised to go this route for a very long time, but stubbornly resisted it every step of the way.   I mean - like - for years …. Today, I’m changing my mind.  More and more, I find myself being completely impressed by the strategic power, and even the energetic wisdom, of establishing a niche practice.  In this week’s episode, I’ll explain why - and why you might want to ex...

No one tells you this, but your ability to step into the energy of leadership is critical to an effective private practice.  You simply can not be a passive participant - not when you’re the one whose name is on the door.  So let’s talk about that.  In today’s episode, we’ll explore three of the most important areas where leadership is called for. Among other things, you’ll learn: What it means to...

I’ve got a heck of an episode to share with you today… But let’s start with a question. What  would happen if you took on one of the toughest areas of practice there is, all by yourself, in your one person office?  What if you tried to ignore it, but the calling to serve these people was too strong, and you had to say yes to this work?  Can you even do that and make a living?  Or have a life? Turn...

Let’s talk about a dirty little secret in the private practice world that no one talks about.  Running a practice can be lonely.  Suddenly you’re the one with all the freedom, all the big ideas, AND all the responsibility. It can be both really exciting and really overwhelming at the same time.  And if your practice is full it is a lot to handle.  Enter: the mastermind . ;) Have you ever heard any...

Happy Valentines Day! ❤️  In today’s episode, I’m sharing a few things I’m proud of from my time as a group practice owner - and one or two, not so much.  I built a group counseling practice from the ground up, and there were a lot of things we (my colleagues and I) got right - even without a coach or business training of any kind.  It was a really special place, with the kind of professional supp...