The Practice of Therapy Podcast

Private pay versus insurance is one of the biggest decisions therapists face, and honestly, it's also one of the most misunderstood. In this episode, we're breaking down what therapists often get wrong when thinking about these two models. It's not just about money or convenience. It's about how you want to run your practice, who you want to serve, and where you're willing to spend your time and e...

What happens when you open the floor and let your audience ask anything? That's exactly what we did in this episode, and the questions did not disappoint. We're diving into the big ones therapists are quietly asking right now. Is AI going to replace us? Are companies like BetterHelp helping or hurting the field? And how do you actually stand out when clients can talk to a chatbot instead of a huma...

Most of us know the feeling. You pick up your phone to check one thing and suddenly twenty minutes have disappeared. For many people, this has become a daily pattern, and it is starting to show up more and more in therapy sessions. In this episode, I sit down with Eli Singer to talk about digital overwhelm and the complicated relationship many of us have with our phones and devices. Eli has spent...

Marketing can feel uncomfortable for a lot of therapists. Most of us were trained to be neutral, private, and to keep the focus on the client. So when someone tells you that you need to show up on social media or talk about your work publicly, it can feel a little strange. But visibility matters more than ever when it comes to building a private practice. In this episode, I'm joined by Jazzmyn Pro...

Couples therapy can be some of the most rewarding work we do as therapists, but it can also be one of the most challenging. Many couples don't reach out for help until things feel like they're falling apart. By the time they sit down in your office, there are often years of resentment, hurt, and miscommunication built up beneath the surface. In this episode, I'm joined by Dr. Wyatt Fisher, a psych...

If you've ever thought about offering couples therapy in your private practice but felt intimidated by the complexity of it, you're going to love this conversation. In this episode, I'm joined by Kiana and Andrew Joyner, a married duo who run their practice together and specialize in couples work. Kiana is a licensed therapist, and Andrew is a certified professional coach, and together they bring...

If you've ever thought, "There has to be a way to make money in my private practice besides just seeing more clients," this episode is for you. In this conversation, I'm joined by Jenny Melrose, host of the Practice to Profit podcast, and we dive into what it really looks like to diversify your income as a therapist. We talk about moving from one-to-one work into one-to-many offers, creating resou...

Running a private practice usually means you did not set out to become a numbers person. You are trained to help people, not to read profit and loss statements or stress about tax projections. But the reality is this. If you own a practice, you are running a business. In this episode, I sit down with Gretchen Roberts of Red Bike Advisors to talk about the financial side of private practice in a wa...

What if chronic pain isn't a sign that your body is broken—but that your nervous system is trying to protect you? In this episode, Dr. Melissa Tiessen, a clinical psychologist and neuroplastic pain specialist, joins the show to unpack a paradigm-shifting way of understanding chronic pain and persistent physical symptoms. Drawing on neuroscience, trauma-informed therapy, and real-world clinical exp...

What if couples therapy isn't about fixing the other person at all? In this episode, Gordon sits down with Erin Valente, a couples therapist based in Los Angeles, to talk about one of the most common mistakes couples make when they come to therapy—and why real change doesn't live with one partner, but in the relationship itself. They explore why couples work can feel intimidating for therapists, h...

In today's episode, I'm excited to introduce you to Tobin Richardson, the founder of a platform called Save the Therapist . When I first learned about what Tobin is building, I knew this was something many of you would want to hear about. Continuing education is a requirement for all of us, but let's be honest. It can be expensive, time-consuming, and sometimes hard to fit into an already full sch...

There are some conversations you record where you know right away that they're going to land differently. In today's episode, I sit down with Dr. Julie Merriman, a therapist, professor, and longtime advocate for helpers who are quietly burning out. We talk about something that hits close to home for many of us in this profession: what happens when we're really good at helping everyone else, but do...

If you've ever found yourself thinking, "Why is this client so hard to reach?" or " Why does every conversation turn into a power struggle?" this episode is for you. Today, I'm joined by Dr. Anthony Mazzella, a psychoanalyst who specializes in working with narcissistic dynamics. We go far beyond surface-level conversations about narcissism. This isn't about labels, buzzwords, or quick fixes. It's...

As we step into a new year, many of us feel it—that quiet but persistent pressure to do more, fix more, and somehow have everything figured out right now. New goals, new systems, bigger numbers—and for practice owners, that pressure can feel especially heavy and often pretty lonely. In today's episode, I want to invite you to think about January differently—not as a month for pushing harder or bec...

I am so excited for today's episode because we're diving into one of the most transformative tools in private practice right now: AI. And joining me is someone who has been living at the intersection of mental health, creativity, and digital marketing for nearly two decades—Greg Goodman of Goodman Creatives. Greg isn't a therapist, but his story is rooted deeply in the world of mental health. Insp...

If you've ever ended a workday wondering, "Where did all my time go?"—this episode is going to change the way you run your business. In today's conversation, I sit down with executive coach Samantha Perinello, a powerhouse in helping business owners reclaim their time, streamline their operations, and finally build the kind of practice that doesn't rely on them for every little task. Samantha has...

In today's episode of The Practice of Therapy Podcast, I'm excited to introduce you to someone who made a big impact on me at the Wise Practice Conference—Derrick Boger. Derrick is a licensed clinical mental health counselor, military veteran, former firefighter, and the founder of Transformation Christian Counseling in Greensboro, North Carolina. His journey into the therapy world is rooted in a...

Welcome back to the Practice of Therapy Podcast! I'm Gordon Brewer, and I am so glad you're here today because we're diving into a topic that every private practice owner needs to be thinking about—whether you're brand new or decades into the work. I'm thrilled to welcome back my friend and financial powerhouse, Carla Titus. Every time Carla joins us, she brings clarity, strategy, and a whole lot...

Today's episode is one I've been looking forward to for a long time. We're diving into a topic that doesn't get talked about nearly enough in our field—men's mental health—and why so many traditional therapy approaches miss the mark when it comes to helping men heal. My guest is Marc Azoulay, LPC, LAC, CGP, ACS—the founder of Men's Therapy Online and host of The Men's Therapy Podcast. Marc brings...

​​In today's episode, I am sitting down with Darshana Avila for a truly fascinating and important conversation about the intersection of sexuality, somatic work, and trauma healing. As therapists, we often talk about the mind and body connection, but many of us shy away from exploring how that connection relates to our clients' sexuality, intimacy, and sense of pleasure. Darshana brings a deeply t...

Well, y'all are in for a treat today. My guest, Dr. Jason Branch, brings some serious fire and fresh perspective to this conversation. He's been in the counseling world for over two decades, as a clinician, educator, and entrepreneur, and what I love most about him is how real he gets about the struggles we all face in private practice: imposter syndrome, perfectionism, and finding the courage to...

When I first connected with Wendy Pitts Reeves, I knew she was someone who truly gets it — the ups, downs, and constant balancing act of running a private practice. In this episode, Wendy joins me to share her powerful framework, The Seven Pillars of a Thriving Private Practice, and it's one you'll want to take notes on. Wendy has spent decades building her own successful practice in Tennessee and...

Today's episode is one I've really been looking forward to because we're diving into something that's transforming the way we think about mental health treatment: low-dose ketamine therapy.  My guest, Dr. Sharon Niv, is the co-founder of Joyous, a public benefit company helping make this kind of care more accessible and affordable than ever before. Sharon brings a fascinating background in cogniti...

I'm so glad to welcome Julie Herres back to the podcast! Julie is the founder of GreenOak Accounting, the host of the Therapy for Your Money Podcast, and the author of Profit First for Therapists. This time, she's joining me to talk about her brand-new Profit First for Therapists Workbook — a hands-on companion to her original book that helps you actually implement the Profit First system in your...

What if private practice wasn't the end goal but the launchpad? In this episode, Gordon talks with Carly Hill, LCSW, business strategist and host of The Thriving Therapreneur Podcast, about how therapists can outgrow the office by adding coaching, creating digital offers, and building freedom-based businesses. Carly shares her journey from burnout to building a seven-figure coaching brand and brea...