Empowered to Lead

The way people search for a therapist has changed — and if your website hasn't kept up, you may be invisible to the very people you're best positioned to help. Teddy Bezna of Searchlight Digital breaks down what group practice owners need to understand about SEO and AI search right now. What You’ll Hear: - Why AI search tools like ChatGPT and Gemini are changing how potential clients find therapis...

What does it actually mean to take care of yourself as a leader, not just as a therapist? In this conversation, Lisa sits down with longtime friend and colleague Jennifer Nagel to talk about congruence, self-leadership, and the retreat they are co-creating together in Costa Rica. What You’ll Hear: Why congruence is more than honesty and what it looks like when your values, mind, body, and spirit a...

In this honest and grounding conversation, Lisa sits down with Vancouver group practice owner Rebecca Rauscher , founder of Boundless Heart Counseling Group , to talk about what it really takes to grow a sustainable practice. From people-pleasing and painful leadership moments to stabilizing finances and learning to treat clinicians as “clients,” Rebecca shares the turning points that helped her s...

You can't lead a culture you haven't defined. This episode walks you through a practical three-layer checklist to help you get honest about whether your team culture is defined, communicated, and actually showing up in your practice day to day. What You’ll Hear: Why clarity is the root issue behind most team culture problems, and what it actually means to define your culture before you try to lead...

Leading a group practice is only sustainable when you genuinely enjoy the people you're leading. This solo episode picks up where the conversation with Kathryn Atkinson left off and gets honest about what it actually takes to build a team culture that works for you, not just your therapists. What You’ll Hear: Why your voice and enjoyment in leading your team matters just as much as your therapists...

In this episode of the Empowered to Lead podcast, host Lisa Catallo sits down with Kathryn Atkinson, a dynamic group practice owner from Vancouver Island. Kathryn shares her journey of building a thriving practice, emphasizing the importance of collecting the right people over expanding locations. She discusses her unique business model, leadership style, and the value of collaboration over compet...

Support is not just an admin hire. It is the full ecosystem that helps you lead with intention instead of constantly catching up. In this shorter, practical episode, Lisa walks you through a simple support mapping exercise to identify gaps across four key categories, operational, clinical, leadership, and personal. You will map what you are currently doing, what others are doing, what needs a plac...

As a group practice owner, it can feel like you are supposed to hold everything together. The clinical work, the leadership, the marketing, the finances, the emotional weight of your team. Somewhere along the way, “being a strong leader” can quietly turn into “doing it all alone.” In this episode, Lisa unpacks the myth of having to do it all. She explores the different types of support group pract...

In this inspiring conversation, Lisa sits down with Gisela Lamadrid , founder of Strong Ties Counselling in the Lower Mainland of BC. Gisela shares her journey from solo practitioner to intentional group practice owner, the lessons she’s learned about leadership, and the importance of surrounding yourself with the right support systems. Together, they explore what it really means to lead with care...

In this episode of Empowered to Lead , Lisa walks group practice owners through a powerful boundary audit designed to help leaders notice where overgiving, rescuing, and avoidance may be quietly draining their energy. This episode invites you to pause, reflect, and step more fully into your CEO role by strengthening boundaries that support sustainable leadership, clarity, and capacity. What You’ll...

If you listened to my conversation with Jessica Cowling and felt that “oh wow, that’s me” moment — this episode is your next step. We’re talking about two common crossroads for group practice owners: avoiding the numbers and leading from people-pleasing. I share my own experiences (including the resentment trap), and I walk you through five practical leadership steps you can take this month to pro...

In this heartfelt and practical conversation, Lisa sits down with Jessica Cowling , founder of Innerworks Counselling in London, Ontario. Together, they explore what it means to grow as a leader — from the early stages of group practice ownership to running a multi-layered organization with a leadership team, clear systems, and financial clarity. Jessica shares the lessons, mistakes, and mindset s...

In this episode, Lisa explores the idea that group practices move through distinct seasons —and leadership looks different in each one. Whether you're planting, growing, tending, or harvesting, knowing your current season helps you lead with clarity, reduce pressure, and stop comparing your practice to others. Lisa walks through practical markers to identify your season, common leadership traps to...

We’re kicking off Season 2 with a grounded, intentional reset for group practice owners. This episode invites you to slow down, take stock of the past season, and step into the next quarter with clarity, energy, and purpose—without the pressure or hustle culture vibes. You’ll hear reflections on wintering, the natural seasonality of practice ownership, what’s ahead for the podcast, and a simple th...

In this reflective season finale, Lisa looks back on the first four months of the Empowered to Lead podcast — the growth, the surprises, the learning curves, and the themes that kept surfacing across every conversation. She shares what she’s learned as a leader, a coach, and a new podcast host, and invites listeners to consider where they’re being stretched and how they might “winter” in their own...

In this episode of Empowered to Lead , Lisa sits down with Lucinda Bibbs and Stefanie Iverson, co-founders of New Ground Wellness, to explore what it takes to build and sustain a group practice in partnership. From defining roles to building trust, they share candid insights into navigating challenges, staying aligned with values, and leading with vision and collaboration. What You’ll Hear: The st...

People pleasing shows up in almost every group practice owner — even the ones who look calm, confident, and steady on the outside. In this episode, we explore why it’s so common for therapists-turned-leaders, how it quietly erodes clarity and confidence, and what you can do to shift into grounded, assertive leadership that protects your time, your energy, and the long-term health of your practice....

In this episode of the Empowered to Lead podcast, Lisa Catallo interviews Wendy Huang, a group practice owner, about her journey in starting and managing a group practice. They discuss the challenges and rewards of leadership, the importance of having a vision and mission, and the common misconceptions about running a group practice. Wendy shares her experiences, insights on marketing, and the sig...

In this episode of Empowered to Lead , Lisa sits down with Madeline Larsen , co-founder of Practice Vital , to talk about how data can empower group practice owners to make confident, informed decisions. Together, they unpack how understanding your metrics can strengthen leadership, improve team conversations, and help you step fully into your CEO role—without drowning in spreadsheets. What You’ll...

In this solo episode, Lisa dives into one of the most underrated leadership habits for group practice owners — quarterly meetings. Whether you have two team members or twenty, regular one-on-one meetings can help you build connection, boost engagement, and strengthen your team culture. Lisa shares practical strategies, common objections, and her own lessons learned (the good, the awkward, and the...

In this episode, Barbara Brown shares her experiences and insights as a group practice owner. From the unexpected challenges to the rewarding moments, Barbara discusses the importance of building a supportive team, staying true to one's values, and the continuous journey of leadership and growth. What You’ll Hear: The transition from solo practice to group practice ownership can be challenging but...

In this episode, Lisa chats with Registered Clinical Counsellor Becky Palmer, who brings a unique blend of experience as a former pharmacist, military leader, and now clinical director at OK Clinical in BC. Together, they dive into the intersection of ethics, leadership, and sustainability in private practice — and how those principles play out when you’re leading a team. Becky also shares about h...

I just returned from a powerful retreat in Greece that reminded me why stepping away is essential for growth. In this episode of Empowered to Lead , I share what retreats have taught me about connection, clarity, and leading with intention—whether you travel across the world or take a solo weekend close to home. When we give ourselves space to reflect, we return stronger, clearer, and ready to lea...

In this episode of Empowered to Lead , I chat with Marshall Stern, a leadership coach and longtime small business owner, about the power of embracing leadership in your business. We explore how to move from working in your business to leading it, why building a team of leaders is essential, and how small business owners can create vision, ownership, and success without doing it all alone. What You...

In this episode of Empowered to Lead , Lisa explores one of the biggest questions group practice owners face: Do I really need a business partner, or do I just need more support? Drawing from her own experiences (including both successful and challenging partnerships), Lisa unpacks the risks, benefits, and alternatives to bringing on a partner. She also highlights the power of building a “village...