Fearless Practice

We all have intentions for the new year when it begins, and ideas of what we'd like to do differently or in a new way.  And it's often the case that things don't go as planned! However, it can be part of the overall process, and in the end new lessons are learned and new skills are acquired.  At the beginning of my seventh year in Canadian private practice, I had a vision for the year and how I wa...

How do counsellors get into the profession? Have you had an idea hanging around your thoughts for the last couple of years about trying something new? Has your mindset held you back from attempting to create some of your new dreams or ambitions?  It takes courage for a person to try something new. But education, finances, family, time and so much more can also get in the way of starting. This mean...

Do you have a wide and varied range of experience from your years in the helping profession? How can you bring these skills and life experiences together into a Canadian private practice that you can run as your own boss? Are you worried about walking the right path?  You can always learn how to incorporate your mental health field experience! Your years working as a student, abroad, or part-time...

Do you ever feel a call to reorganize, restructure, and get things back in order when a new season begins? Is your mind feeling refreshed and full of ideas after your summer break to relax?  It's officially fall, and these beginnings can sometimes provide you with a great opportunity to begin afresh, anew, or something different, and get to working on these ideas that you've been developing.  But...

What does the life look like that you have envisioned for yourself? Are you your own boss with time flexibility and autonomy? Or working in an agency with paid vacations and sick days?  There is no right or wrong answer when it comes to choosing whether or not you want to start your own Canadian private practice. The yardstick that you could use is whether or not your future decisions are putting...

Have you heard of the marketing rule of seven? How can you build your "marketing house" from the ground up? What is the best sequence that you need to organize your marketing strategy into for authentic success?  Marketing is a necessary strategy and tool that's relevant across the board, for all businesses, including therapy. You need to focus on your message first before you put it out into chan...

Are you working on your masters degree? How can you plan your practicum and private practice journey at the same time? Which great benefits can you enjoy from working with supervisors and counsellors when starting your new practice?  There is so much to learn about Canadian private practice! There is no "right" way to go about it, because - as long as it's legal - you can go about creating your ow...

Do you love being in nature for your mental health? Have your clients expressed interest in nature walks to clear the mind and process their difficult emotions? Could you combine these two aspects into a service in your private practice?  Ecotherapy is a great modality for therapy, and some practices are warming up to it! Of course, with it being outdoors and in an environment that is not easily c...

It's September, the start of a new season! If you've been reflecting over summer and you are coming up into the warmth of change with a desire to do something different, then consider this the time where you can get your own business going.  Even though there are challenges, don't let them get you down. There are going to be challenges no matter which way you turn, so choose to work in a direction...

Are you searching for ways to save money in your private practice? Have you considered looking into the grants that you could qualify for? Have you heard of the micro-grant  "Canada's Digital Adoption Program" (CDAP) that's specifically for small businesses?  I decided to find out some more information about the CDAP grant after it came up in conversation a couple of times in podcast episode 85 an...

Ursula Kerr took many risks and leaps of faith, and through those moments of struggle and uncertainty, she has now created a thriving private practice that she enjoys working in each day. Life is not about working, but creating a job that you love doing is a great way to add value (and income) to your life! By hiring a consultant, getting professional help or advice, and working in your passion an...

What are the essential fundamentals of setting up a private practice while you finish grad school? How can you use QR codes in your marketing to make it easier for your clients to find you? When is the right time or the best-suited time for you to step into Canadian private practice?  In this episode, Allyson and I discuss navigating how to structure the approach to working, setting up a new priva...

Are you thinking about starting an art therapy private practice? Do you struggle with getting clients? Have you tapped into the resources within your network and direct community?  The great thing about private practice is that even though the process of building it is unique to you (with your preferences and niche), there are so many things that you can learn from your fellow clinicians. In this...

Do you enjoy the work that you do? Are you working in a field or with a group of clients that are the best-fit group for you? Is it possible to combine your passions with your work in a way that supports them both without burning you out in the process?  You don't need to use all your hobbies and passions as work ideas. However, it can help you – and your business – to work in an area that you are...

For anyone who is building their Canadian private practice, or is thinking about starting, one of the most helpful things that you can do is listen to other therapist's stories who have gone on this exact journey before you.  Learning from others is a great way to give you ideas, help you think things through, and see what might – and might not – work for you.  In this podcast episode, Amber and I...

What is your goal with your work? If you could set it up in the way that would best suit you and your long-term future ambitions, what would it look like? How can you create a work-life balance that is personalized to your life, needs, and desires?  One great way to learn is to listen to other people's journeys and stories. You may be in a similar place with your Canadian online private practice;...

Are you going into your master's degree knowing that you want to start a private practice as soon as you have graduated? Be assured – and inspired – that this is totally possible! With your master's degree and clinical supervision, you can be well on your way toward your Canadian private practice.  There are a couple of things you can do for your private practice while you are in grad school to bu...

Does your branding need a little refresher? When last did you make sure that your branding is consistent across all the branches of your business?  Branding is more than just the colors you pick or the layout of your website. It's the feeling that you want your clients to have when they interact with you or your business materials. To create cohesion and maintain professionalism while attracting y...

Social media is here to stay, but it doesn't have to be difficult for you to do.  There are enough people out there with all sorts of skills that you don't have to bootstrap it and do everything – frankly, it's better if you hire out and let someone do what they're good at so that you can focus on providing great therapy!  So, do you want to expand your Canadian private practice by connecting with...

What are the long-term benefits of raising your rates? Why does raising your rates ultimately help your clients as well as your work-life balance?  Many therapists are nervous about raising their rates and so continue to work for the same pay for years. Ultimately, raising your rates can make you a better therapist, and your clients will come to see that.  If you know that you want to raise your r...

Do you feel satisfied with your current work-life balance? Does your current work routine work for you, or does it feel a little misaligned with your rhythm? Are you wanting to shake up your work routine? I've been experimenting with changing my professional hours because everyone deserves to do the work they enjoy without having to sacrifice their mental, physical, or emotional well-being.  If th...

Do you want to make sessions available to the clients that you know need them the most? Have you often wondered how you can contribute to making therapy more accessible, but have the ethics left you feeling uncertain of how to do that?  The business world is loud with different ideas, tips, and tricks on how to "grow" your business and reach your audience, like the famous price-bundling marketing...

In the past, Dr. Marlene Taube-Schiff never imagined that she would one day create and own a thriving, online Canadian private practice. She worked full-time in hospitals and in Universities, content with her work and the way her professional life was laid out.  However, when covid began and new online options for therapy started, she realized that she wanted to try something different because whe...

I recently found out that Brighter Vision has started to create their websites on their own proprietary platform instead of on WordPress. This also means that if your Brighter Vision website was created on WordPress, any switch to a different Brighter Vision template will require you to move your website to their new proprietary platform (and off of WordPress). Proprietary platforms can make creat...

Have you been stalling on your private practice dream? What holds you back from starting your own Canadian private practice? What does the first step look like?  Whether you are concentrating on levelling up your marketing efforts, honing in on your niche, or launching a sustainable private practice, making an investment in that future can feel scary – but in reality it is completely doable. The m...