The Right Tack

What’s the real difference between hiring contractors vs. employees in private practice? In this episode of The Right Tack, Paul and Jim sit down with Sam Major of Apollo Counseling and Fenris Inc. to unpack the legal, financial, and cultural trade-offs practice owners need to understand. From control and flexibility to misclassification risk and team dynamics, this conversation offers a practical...

In this episode of The Right Tack , Paul and Jim sit down with licensed therapist and practice owner Sarah Leitschuh for an honest conversation about burnout, boundaries, and building a sustainable private practice through structured flexibility. Together, they explore how burnout shows up for therapists — from sleep disruption to irritability — and why balancing clinical work with the demands of...

In Episode 14 of The Right Tack , Paul and Jim Jonas are joined by licensed therapist, practice owner, and business coach Amber Priestley for a candid conversation about therapy practice models and what it really takes to grow sustainably. Together, they explore the key differences between solo practices, small collectives, and agency or group models, breaking down how each structure impacts auton...

In this episode of The Right Tack , Paul and Jim Jonas are joined by returning guest Dr. Talha Baloch , a triple board–certified psychiatrist in general psychiatry, addiction psychiatry, and addiction medicine. The conversation focuses on the role medication plays in mental health management, including when it may be helpful, when it may not be necessary, and how thoughtful evaluation and diagnost...

In Episode 12 of The Right Tack , Paul and Jim sit down for a hosts-only conversation about something every behavioral health practice owner needs to consider early and often: your values . Drawing from their experiences at BreezyBilling, Phoenix Credentialing, and The Jonas Center, they explore how to define your values, communicate them clearly, and actually use them as a guide for decisions, le...

In this episode of The Right Tack , Paul and Jim sit down with Sara Ranssi, Owner and Mental Health Therapist at Hope and Healing Family Counseling. Sara is a Registered Play Therapist who has spent nearly two decades serving children, families, and the deaf community. Sara shares how defining a clear clinical niche helped her build a meaningful and sustainable practice. She walks through her earl...

What does it take to build a thriving group practice while staying grounded in your values? In this episode of The Right Tack , Paul and Jim Jonas talk with Kelly Evans , Founder of Down to Earth Therapy , about the art of hiring, supervision, and leadership in behavioral health. Kelly shares honest advice for practice owners—especially those hiring for the first time—on navigating difficult conve...

In this follow-up to our popular business banking episode, hosts Paul and Jim Jonas sit down with Tim Sery (VP Commercial Lender) and Kari Schurmann (SVP SBA Officer) from BankVista to talk about what behavioral health practice owners need to know about SBA loans, conventional loans, and financing strategies for sustainable growth. You’ll learn: The key differences between SBA and conventional loa...

It’s one of the most common sources of confusion for mental health professionals:  What’s the difference between credentialing and contracting? In this episode of The Right Tack , hosts Paul Jonas and Jim Jonas explain how these two processes work together (and why mixing them up can lead to serious payment delays). From managing CAQH profiles to understanding payer denials and supervision rules,...

What was it like to start a private practice decades ago — and how has it changed today? In this episode, Jim (therapist) and Paul (business leader) Jonas explore the history of private practice ownership, from billing by paper form and battling HMOs, to today’s compliance-heavy environment. They share personal stories, struggles, and insights that highlight how much the field has evolved — and wh...

Should your private practice rent office space or take the leap into ownership? In this episode of The Right Tack , we sit down with real estate expert Nils Snyder to unpack the shifting landscape of commercial real estate and what it means for behavioral health providers. Nils explains how the office market has evolved since COVID, why renting offers flexibility while ownership builds long-term w...

Where you work from as a private practice owner is more than just a location — it’s a strategic decision that can shape your budget, workflow, and client experience. In this episode of The Right Tack , Paul and Jim Jonas are joined by Dr. Talha Baloch, Psychiatrist, practice owner, and co-founder of Mindful Spaces, a coworking and office share community for mental health professionals. Talha share...

In this episode of The Right Tack , Paul and Jim sit down with Tim Sery, Vice President and Commercial Lender at BankVista, to talk about what private practice owners need to understand when it comes to working with a bank. Whether you’re looking to expand your practice, refinance existing debt, or simply build a stronger relationship with your financial institution, Tim shares candid insights fro...

Starting your own private practice? You’ll need more than just clinical expertise—you’ll need a solid business foundation. In this episode of The Right Tack , BreezyBilling CEO Paul Jonas and Co-Founder Jim Jonas sit down with CPA and Attorney Devon Liljenquist to unpack one of the biggest early decisions practice owners face: choosing the right business structure. Devon shares expert guidance on...

Thinking about starting your own behavioral health private practice? In this episode of The Right Tack , hosts Paul and Jim Jonas are joined by BreezyBilling’s Director of Operations and Phoenix Credentialing President and Co-Founder Carrie Ripley to walk through the 10 essential steps to getting your practice off the ground. From finding office space and setting your rates to getting credentialed...

In this inaugural episode of The Right Tack , host Paul Jonas, CEO and Co-Founder of BreezyBilling and Phoenix Credentialing, is joined by Therapist and BreezyBilling Co-Founder Jim Jonas. Together, they reflect on the foundational "Ground Rules" that shape how they operate and what it really takes to thrive in the behavioral health space. From lessons learned through years of working wi...