Starting a Counseling Practice Success Stories

Today, host Kelly Higdon sits down with Merrilee, an LMFT based in Los Angeles who’s carved out a truly unique and much-needed niche in the world of private practice. Merilee shares her journey from working in traditional treatment facilities to building a thriving practice focused on helping clients struggling with alcohol—not through abstinence, but moderation. She opens up about the challenges...

In this episode, your hosts Kelly Higdon and Miranda Palmer, along with guest Barbara Griswold, set aside industry talk to focus on the lived experience of therapists. Together, they explore how years in the mental health field can quietly disconnect practitioners from their intuition and authentic selves—thanks to pressures from training, organizational culture, and the demands of documentation a...

In this episode, Kelly and Miranda sit down with Erinn, the inspiring founder of Every Heart Dreams Counseling in El Dorado Hills, California. Erinn shares her journey from working in a group practice to launching her own private practice during the midst of the 2020 pandemic—all while welcoming her third child. Tune in as Erinn discusses the surprising influx of clients during uncertain times, na...

Today, host Kelly Higdon sits down with Jessica, an MFT from California, to talk candidly about her journey to building a private therapy practice from the ground up. Jessica opens up about what inspired her leap from agency work to entrepreneurship, navigating burnout, the realities of setting up her business, and what it’s really like to start with zero clients—while balancing family life with t...

In today’s episode, host Kelly Higdon and guest co-host Shani sit down with Megan, a Pennsylvania therapist and new author, to explore how her private practice evolved through unexpected personal loss and major life changes. Megan shares her journey from working with premarital couples and grief support to reimagining her practice after the deaths of her parents. She opens up about listening to he...

In this episode, Miranda Palmer interviews Shay (they/them), a San Diego-based anxiety and trauma therapist specializing in somatic therapy. Shay’s journey to private practice took them from working as a nanny and in the airline industry to finally becoming licensed at age 50—a testament to perseverance and dedication. Tune in to hear Shay discuss transitioning from nonprofits to private practice,...

In this episode, hosts Kelly and Miranda sit down for an honest, big-picture discussion about the challenges therapists face in private practice today. Sparked by a lively Reddit thread, they explore why even experienced clinicians sometimes struggle to achieve great client outcomes—and why the issues often run much deeper than individual skill. Kelly and Miranda unpack the systemic problems plagu...

In this episode, Kelly Higdon interviews Dawn-Petrice, an LPC and group practice owner in Texas. Dawn shares her path from education and hospital administration to building a successful, community-focused group practice. Listen in as Dawn discusses the power of leading with transparency, the importance of creating a diverse and supportive team, and how her background in education has shaped her ap...

Welcome to a special "State of the Union" episode of Starting a Counseling Practice Success Stories, hosted by Miranda Palmer and Kelly Higdon. In this engaging conversation, Miranda and Kelly tackle the rapidly evolving role of AI in mental health private practice. They explore real examples, like ChatGPT referring clients to therapists, and discuss the opportunities and challenges AI brings—from...

In this episode, Miranda Palmer sits down with Dr. Jamey, a New York-based psychoanalyst and therapist who made the bold switch from a career as a literature professor to private practice. Jamey shares how his love for the humanities infuses his therapy work, the challenges and rewards of starting over in midlife, and the nitty-gritty of building a thriving practice - including dealing with insura...

In today’s episode, host Kelly Higdon is joined by Alicia, a California-based Marriage and Family Therapist breaking new ground with ketamine-assisted psychotherapy (CAP). Alicia shares how she’s creatively structured her practice - from one-on-one sessions to dynamic groups and couples intensives - to deliver the most meaningful client outcomes while staying true to her own growth and passions. T...

In this episode, host Kelly Higdon is joined by Lauran, founder of a thriving trauma-focused EMDR group practice in downtown Orlando. Lauran shares her journey from solo practice to building a close-knit team, offering a behind-the-scenes look at how she’s navigated economic worries, private pay challenges, and the importance of staying true to her core values of collaboration, communication, comm...

Welcome to another episode of "Starting a Counseling Practice Success Stories"! Today, host Kelly Higdon is joined by her friend and breath work mentor, Zach Raider, for a unique conversation about the power of breath work in both personal healing and professional practice. Together, they unpack how breath work can help therapists navigate stress, uncertainty, and change, offering a path to deeper...

Welcome to "Starting a Counseling Practice Success Stories"! In this State of the Union episode, hosts Kelly Higdon and Miranda Palmer tackle the latest shifts in mental health care and how they affect private practice owners. From the push toward value-based care and what that means for therapist pay and accountability, to the personal impact of working in an increasingly profit-driven system, Ke...

In this special new series of Starting a Counseling Practice Success Stories , Kelly Higdon and Miranda Palmer are switching things up with their very first “State of the Union” episode! Once a month, they’ll hit pause on the usual interviews and have real, unfiltered conversations about what’s going on in the mental health world—and what that means for anyone running (or dreaming about) a private...

Bridgette shares her experience of building a successful private pay therapy practice in rural Montana in less than a year. She discusses the challenges she faced, including concerns about client volume and the viability of a private pay model. Bridgette highlights the importance of strategic planning, creating a positive client experience, and utilizing resources like zynnyme.com. She offers valu...

Welcome back to the podcast! This week, we're talking about a topic that resonates with so many therapists: navigating the often-turbulent waters of insurance and private practice. We're thrilled to have Chelsea, MFT, join us to share her inspiring journey of transitioning away from insurance panels and building a thriving private pay practice. Chelsea's story exemplifies the power of self-reflect...

Guest: Raffi, LCSW-C Location: Baltimore, Maryland Practice: Baltimore Therapy Center Topics Covered: Unconventional Career Path: How Raffi transitioned from computer science at Brown University to therapy, finding his true calling. Starting a Private Practice : The decision to open a practice after moving to Maryland and how a parallel job reduced stress during the early days. Organic growth : Bu...

Guest: Anna, Licensed Clinical Social Worker Location: Lakewood, California Practice: Thrive Therapy and Couples Counseling Topics Covered: The transition to private practice: From working in a group setting to starting her own business after the birth of her first child. Challenges and growth: Learning business skills, building a website, and finding pride in each step of her entrepreneurial jour...

Guest: Ross, Licensed Professional Counselor Location: Berkley, Pennsylvania Practice: Mr. Ross Private Practice Topics Covered: From Group Practice to Private Practice: Ross's journey from feeling undervalued in a group setting to building his own successful private practice. Finding Your Niche: How Ross chose addiction therapy as his primary focus and leverage his experience to help others. Chal...

Guest: Patricia, Stanford-trained psychiatrist Location: San Diego, California Practice: Patricia Pop MD Topics Covered: Childhood curiosity: Patricia's dream of becoming an astronomer and her interest in theological studies led her to psychiatry. The Journey to Private Practice: Patricia's journey through mentorship, exploring different jobs in the field, and her decision to prioritize autonomy i...

Guest: Robin, Licensed Clinical Marriage and Family Therapist Location: Kensington, Maryland Practice: Better Together Family Therapy Topics Covered: A Natural Listener: How Robin’s gift for understanding others inspired her career in therapy. The Journey to Family Therapy: Robin shares her unconventional path from challenging psychology classes to finding her calling. The Private Practice Pivot:...

In this episode, Caleb shares how he transformed his personal struggles—like unpaid internships and low wages—into a supportive network for new therapists. He discusses his commitment to creating paid internship opportunities that prioritize fair compensation and work-life balance. Caleb’s approach empowers recent graduates to pursue their passion while building sustainable careers and maintaining...

In this episode, Shani shares her inspiring journey from feeling undervalued in demanding work environments to becoming an entrepreneur dedicated to empowering women of color. She reflects on the challenges she faced and the lessons learned along the way, highlighting the importance of self-worth and resilience. Tune in for valuable insights on overcoming burnout and perfectionism, and to hear how...

In this episode, we’re joined by Jennifer, a specialist in Accelerated Resolution Therapy (ART) as she shares her inspiring journey of transforming her experience of overworking during the pandemic into a thriving full-time private practice. Jennifer discusses her focus on anxiety, trauma, and PTSD while achieving a fulfilling balance in her personal life and quadrupling her patient base in Connec...