The Private Practice Academy Podcast

There’s something that all business owners fear… and that’s negative reviews. At my practice, we recently received a 1 star review on Google. We’re not the first practice to receive one, and we won’t be the last, so I wanted to share about our experience so that you know what to do if you’re ever in the same situation. In this episode, I’ll share: The reason AHPRA doesn’t want psychologists to hav...

What would happen to your practice if something happened to you? It may feel like a dark question, but it’s one that most psychologists aren’t asking ourselves. We have an ethical obligation to consider the impact on our clients if we are suddenly absent, and Robyn Miller is ensuring that more practice owners are aware of this. In this episode, we speak about: What is a professional will? How we c...

Today, I’m sharing one of the most challenging things that’s happened to me as a group practice owner. Honestly, I’m uncomfortable about sharing this, but I think it’s important for all practice owners to hear! In this episode, I’ll share: The time our practice had $8k of cancellations in one week How this changed the structure of our assessments and our policies What I learnt from this experience...

My group practice has a policy and procedure around overtime now, but that wasn’t always the case. Once, a staff member did 16 hours of unapproved overtime, and it showed me that I needed to rethink the way I’d set things up (or should I say: hadn’t set things up!).  In this episode, I’ll share: The exact moment I realised our contracts and policies needed a serious upgrade How to rethink overtime...

A few weeks ago, I had an incident that threw me for a loop. As psychologists, we’re encouraged to market ourselves online - especially on social media - but there’s a dark side that isn’t spoken about enough. In this episode, I’ll share exactly what happened to me and the lessons I learnt from it. Find out how to work with me: https://www.privatepracticeacademy.com.au/services FREE content ideas...

Before you expand or scale your practice, it’s important to consider what expectations you have for your staff members. This helps to set the tone for your practice and your team. In this episode, I’ll share: My top two expectations that I have in place within my practice Why you should consider your values within your expectations How to determine what your expectations should be Find out how to...

Are you prepared for when ‘life things’ show up in your practice? Maybe it’s a staff member who gets pregnant, someone going on leave or a clinician transitioning away from the practice. In this episode, I’ll share: Whether you should hire a replacement The importance of having multiple people who can fulfil a role My process to follow when someone tells you they’re leaving for a time period Find...

A PA may feel like an indulgence to some, but if you really want to move the needle in your practice then they can be a worthwhile investment. In this episode, I’ll share: The path that led me to choosing to hire a PA Why you need a PA Is a PA a good business investment? When you should hire a PA Find out how to work with me: https://www.privatepracticeacademy.com.au/services FREE content ideas fo...

Have you ever seen posts from psychologists saying that their practice is making 7 figures, and felt like you’re miles behind them? That figure may not be as impressive as you think it is! The reason? It all comes down to profit vs. revenue. In this episode, I’ll share: What profit and revenue actually mean Why the practices making 7 figures may not be that impressive The percentage of profit vs....

How comfortable are you with change? Many psychologists don’t like it, and this can inhibit us from being able to pivot for change within our practices when it’s required. Donna Dupont is the Founder and Chief Strategist for Purple Compass, and she helps organisations to navigate change. In this episode, we’ll talk about: What is future literacy? Why practice owners seeking sustainable growth need...

We're going on season break! Find out how to work with me: https://www.privatepracticeacademy.com.au/services FREE content ideas for psychologists: https://www.privatepracticeacademy.com.au/content-ideas Send me a DM @kerstin_anderson_ridge: https://www.instagram.com/kerstin_anderson_ridge Make sure you click subscribe to be notified of all new episodes!

“You need a niche!” It’s the statement that many psychologists don’t want to hear, because they believe that it will make it harder to find clients. Today, I’m busting that myth, as I believe all private practice owners need to find their niche! In this episode, I’ll share: What does nicheing actually mean? Why psychologists are often scared to niche What a niche is vs. what it’s not How finding y...

You have two choices when it comes to marketing your private practice: 1) Do the same old marketing that every other therapist does, and get lost in a sea of ‘sameness’ 2) Create a branding strategy that helps you stand out and build a high-value brand If you want to choose option 2, today’s guest will help you get there! Emma Gage is a brand strategist who has worked with businesses like Nike, Go...

If you follow me on Instagram, you’ll know that I’m not afraid to share a silly reel, dance on camera or even dress up for a video. Yet many therapists can’t imagine ever feeling confident enough to show their face on Instagram, let alone to embrace reels! Can you relate? If so, that ends today! In this episode, I’ll share: What types of content you should be posting on social media My tips for cr...

As a psychologist, you learnt how to write a report for an assessment at university - but what about a blog? Website copy? A sales email?  There are many spaces for us to use the written word when marketing our practices, yet it’s not something we were ever taught how to do in this context! While there are many wonderful copywriters out there who can take the task off our hands, it’s good to know...

I took 6 weeks off at the beginning of the year, and I still made money while I was away (even when my practice was closed for 2 weeks!).  I’ve had a few questions about how I did it, and why I didn’t post about it on social media. Today, I’m answering those questions. I’ll share: The three ways I make money while on leave My tips for being financially prepared for your break How to make money pas...

We all want to increase profits in our private practice, yet many recommended strategies involve more work which leads to more overwhelm, so we put off starting them in the first place. Yet there is a side to business that many practice owners aren’t utilising effectively, which will drive profits whilst also making our lives easier and more fulfilled. That’s what Brie Chrisman, founder and CEO of...

Marketing is a subject that stumps many practice owners. There are so many different ways to market your practice, so it’s difficult to know where you should focus your attention. Luckily, I’ve tried many of them and can give you some guidance! In this episode, I’ll share 5 tools you can use when marketing your private practice, including: Visiting GPs Relational marketing A marketing plan Social...

One of the big questions I get from my mentoring clients around online programs is… “But what topic would I choose?” Marie Vakakis is an Accredited Mental Health Social Worker and therapist who expanded from the 1:1 therapy model to offer online programs, and she has some fantastic advice for anyone struggling with this question! As someone who has done it all before, in this episode Marie shares:...

After many years of operating as a sole trader, my practice has become a company. This is a process that confuses many practice owners - which model should they choose? As an ex-accountant, I’m a little more familiar with the pros and cons of each option than most! Today I’ll help you make the decision about which is right for you. In this episode, I’ll share with you: The differences between a so...

Do you wish that you had a steady stream of ideal clients, converted the people who visit your website, could scale your practice AND focus on what you love? That’s what Chris Morin from Moonraker is here to help with! Moonraker is a marketing system that helps practice owners boost their online presence and visibility, and connects them with ideal clients. In this episode, Chris and I chat about:...

Have you been wondering how many clients you should be seeing per day in your private practice? Some people see 8 or 9 clients per day, and others see 3 or 4. So what should you be doing? That’s what I’ll share in today’s episode. You’ll learn about all of the things you need to consider to determine the right number for you, with advice for both solo practice owners and group practice owners. Fin...

The mental health industry is changing, and it’s leading therapists to diversify their income streams beyond the 1:1 model. At the forefront of this movement is Dr. Hayley Kelly, a trailblazer in adapting to industry changes to avoid burnout and better serve clients. In this episode, we’ll speak about:  How Hayley transitioned from traditional therapy to coaching and online programs after burnout,...

One of the questions that I get asked all of the time is: “When should I scale my practice?” Scaling my practice has allowed me to make more income, more impact and have more freedom, so I am passionate about teaching others to scale. But how do you know if it’s the right time to do so? In this episode, I’ll share: Working in the practice vs. working on the practice My story and how I decided it w...

After rotating through five different therapists during her eating disorder and noticing that she had to repeat her story over and over (or that the clinicians would forget things she’s said), Maria Szandrach realised that something needed to be done. That’s why she created Mentalyc - an AI-powered platform that automates note-taking for therapists, streamlines administrative tasks, and personalis...