Private Practice Skills

Marketing as a therapist can feel deeply uncomfortable — like you're trying to "sell" yourself in a way that doesn’t align with your values. In this episode, I explore why marketing feels gross (especially for therapists), and how to approach it from a more human, authentic place. We’ll talk about: The hidden fears behind showing up authentically Why feeling “not special enough” stop...

Let’s talk numbers — the honest, encouraging kind. In this episode, I’m joined by Michael Fulwiler, Director of Brand at Heard, to unpack the key findings from Heard’s 2025 Financial State of Private Practice Report. We dig into what therapists are actually earning, how much they’re spending on their practices, and the financial challenges (and wins!) that private practitioners are facing right no...

This episode explores the quiet — and sometimes chaotic — inner world of therapists after the session ends. From compassionate reflections to intrusive worries, “therapist brain” doesn’t always clock out at 5pm. I’ll share some common (and totally human) thoughts that might pop up after seeing clients, why they happen, and how we can meet them with compassion instead of shame. New episodes every w...

Therapists aren’t immune to tough days—or tough seasons. In this episode, I normalize the experience of being a therapist who’s not okay, and share practical strategies to help you navigate client work when your emotional reserves are low. From deciding whether to cancel a session to bigger questions about sustainability, we’ll explore what it means to show up for others without abandoning yoursel...

Can AI replace therapy? Probably not—and here’s why. In this episode, I take a deep dive into what AI can (and can’t ) do when it comes to mental health support. From helpful tools to serious limitations, we explore how therapists and clients might use AI platforms like ChatGPT—and where they should be cautious. We cover: How AI *could* (maybe?) support therapy work Why I think AI will never fully...

Why do therapy clients say “I don’t know” —and what should we do when they do? In this episode of Private Practice Skills, I explore six reasons clients might say “I don’t know” in session and name effective, compassionate responses that can help move the work forward. Because I know we've all been in the situation where a therapy client says "I don't know" and then we think: &qu...

Are you trying to market your private practice without spending a ton of money? You're not alone — and the good news is, there are plenty of ways to grow your therapy business on a budget. In this episode, I share marketing strategies for therapists that are free or affordable, the tradeoffs to be aware of, and how to choose the right path based on what you know right now. It's not about d...

In this episode, I unpack the 3 biggest mental blocks that hold therapists back from starting a private practice — from analysis paralysis to self-doubt. If you’re stuck, this one's for you. Thank you to Paubox for sponsoring this episode. Paubox makes HIPAA-secure email easy and streamlined. Check them out here: https://bit.ly/pps_paubox_spotify *Get $250 off your first year with Paubox with...

Wondering if your email setup is truly HIPAA compliant? In this episode, I sit down with Hoala Greevy, founder and CEO of Paubox, to break down everything private practice therapists need to know about HIPAA-secure email. We cover: -Why Gmail and Google Workspace aren’t automatically HIPAA-compliant -What therapists are doing wrong (without realizing it!) -How to easily set up HIPAA-compliant emai...

*Feeling anxious as a therapist?* You're not alone. In this episode, I’m sharing the one mindset shift that completely changed how I show up in sessions—and helped me overcome therapist anxiety, self-doubt, and imposter syndrome. Whether you’re a new therapist or a seasoned clinician feeling stuck, this shift can help you feel more confident, present, and grounded in your work. If you’ve ever...

I invited you to share on Instagram what your top marketing-related questions were in private practice. The most frequently asked question: What's the most effective marketing strategy in private practice? In this episode, I do my best to answer this question (spoiler: it's nuanced!). Most importantly, I hope you takeaway that you can make your marketing strategy your own, and find a path...

I thought it could be helpful to share a list of categories and questions to check in on for your practice on a semi-regular basis. If you've been running your practice on autopilot, or if something hasn't been quite working in your practice but you can't quite pinpoint it, I made this episode with you in mind :) Feel free to add to my list if I missed anything! Here are the steps I na...

DARVO was coined by Dr. Jennifer Freyd in the 1990s and stands for “Deny, Attack, and Reverse Victim and Offender.” DARVO is a common defense strategy by perpetrators, narcissists, and offenders of both criminal and noncriminal harm when they wish to deflect accountability for their actions. Despite how common DARVO is both individually in relationships as well as on a larger scale (e.g., corporat...

I had thought that in-person therapy was going out of style. But after doing a little research, it looks like it's coming back into fashion. But given that there's evidence showing that virtual therapy is just as effective as in-person therapy, plus the convenience and cost-effectiveness of being remote, why the movement back to meeting in person? We dig into this question a little more in...

We all have moments with clients where they just can’t seem to crack into the deeper layers of their emotions. Sometimes, it can be tempting to try to convince our clients to lean into their emotions. But I've learned over the years that often emotions are difficult to access because they're too intense. So in today's episode, I share some of my favorite tools to help reduce the emotional charge o...

I invited you all to share your advice to your younger self as a therapist trainee on Instagram and compiled your responses in today's episode. Tune in if you need a little encouragement as a trainee, or just a little pick-me-up regardless of where you're at in your career as a therapist. Thank you to everyone who submitted their responses! LINKS *Some links are affiliate links. A percenta...

Today I wanted to *genuinely* & curiously tackle the question: is it helpful to diagnose our clients? Of course, the answer to this question isn't black-and-white. So in today's episode, I take a look at comments from the r/therapists subreddit exploring this question and offer some of my own thoughts. What do you think? Do you diagnose after your first session with every client? Have...

Let's dive into treatment planning, shall we? ;) Somehow I haven't made an episode about treatment planning in the 6+ years of making private practice content. It's time! In this episode, I share some more nuanced thoughts beyond the typical assessment tools and SMART goals that we usually learn about when talking about treatment planning. I hope some of you find this useful. Keep in m...

I got the itch to tackle “academese” today and advocate for more plain speak in our professional interactions. I share reasons why I’m advocating moving away from overly academic language in this episode and also offer some tools to help you shift your language to be more accessible to folks. Thank you to Paubox for sponsoring this episode. Paubox makes HIPAA-secure email easy and streamlined. Che...

Hi Friends! Normally I put a bit more time into filling in the description box, but as of the time of this upload, there is a fire about a mile away from my house. Currently the winds are blowing the other way, but I'm wrapping up just in case. Wishing all those affected by our SoCal fires well ❤️ Thank you to Paubox for sponsoring this episode. Paubox makes HIPAA-secure email easy and streaml...

Obviously therapists are allowed to have problems. But, is it okay to have…any problem? Are there specific problems that we’re not supposed to have as therapists? In this episode we tackle this question. I compiled your responses to the question: "What problems/struggles are therapists not ‘supposed' to have?” We also take a look at relevant available evidence to answer whether therapists...

Since it’s common for therapists to feel unhappy or burdened by various aspects of our work and our jobs, I thought it would be helpful to make a little triage checklist of sorts help correct course. Please note that this episode does not constitute clinical or professional advice. I’m just sharing the steps I would run through if I were feeling unhappy as a therapist. Thank you to Paubox for spon...

Howdy and happy 2025! I thought it would be fun to kick off the new year by reacting to the top posts of 2024 in the r/therapists subreddit. It’s a roller coaster ride of funny memes, critiques of health insurance carriers, story times of mental health stigma and more.  FREE Guide: Start a Private Practice in Counseling: https://tinyurl.com/y9ek9en8 General link for r/therapists: https://www.reddi...

As I look at how things have gone for my business in 2024 it really stands out just how much things have slowed down for Private Practice Skills. I’ve been pretty intentional about this change, and in today’s episode I share the reasons why I opted to pump the breaks on my business a little bit this year. FREE Guide: Start a Private Practice in Counseling: https://tinyurl.com/y9ek9en8 Video: "How...

I've always wondered what therapists are up to when they have their doors closed between sessions. It's so elusive. I mean, I often do the same thing. But are other therapists really just plunking away at their notes and having a great zen moment? Or is there more going on between sessions? Today, I took to Instagram to find out, and y'all didn't disappoint. I compiled your 53 responses and share...