Selling The Couch With Melvin Varghese, Ph.d. | Weekly Conversations To Build And Grow Your Counseling Private Practice

Today’s show is full of very practical tips that I hope will be helpful to you. We are talking about the nuances of building a sustainable practice with someone who has a wealth of knowledge. Laura Northrup is a Marriage and Family Therapist in Oakland, CA. She’s here to discuss a wide range of topics, including the biggest factors to consider before setting up a practice in a saturated area. We’ll discuss the most common mistakes new clinicians make when jumping into private practice, how to market and strategically build relationships with referral sources, and the struggles in niching. Laura also shares some top tips she’s learned along the way in her private practice journey. You can read the full show notes at: Session206 Support this podcast

Today’s topic is one that I’m excited to share with you. We are discussing using a combination of blogging and Pinterest to explode our website traffic. There is so much for us to learn! Daniel Fava is a previous guest on the show, and he’s become a good friend on whom I rely for input about website strategy and marketing. Many of us, as therapists, wonder how we can use Pinterest more effectively and utilize all that this platform has to offer. Daniel shares with us specific strategies like identifying your target audience, along with tips about the best ways to structure your Pinterest account. We’re discussing the best use of automation tools and keywords to maximize our use of Pinterest. Join me for a show that’s packed full of useful tips! You can read the full show notes at: Session205 Support this podcast

Welcome to a new season of STC! During the time off, I focused on rest, self-care, and family. I also spent time working on the STC Directory, trying to bring improvements that will benefit all of us. Today’s conversation is a relevant topic for every business owner. We’re discussing how to optimize your business in light of your tax situation. Opher Ganel is a previous guest on the show, as he was here last time to talk about setting fees. His wife is a therapist in private practice, so he has helped set up her practice and has vast experience in setting up small businesses. Opher has a wealth of knowledge, even though he is not an accountant. The information in today’s show is presented for educational purposes only. We are discussing why it is important to optimize our tax setup and whether you should be classified as a sole proprietor, an LLC, or an S-corp. I hope the show brings you helpful guidance and clarity. You can read the full show notes at: http://www.sellingthecouch.com/session204 (Session204)

As we wrap up this season, it’s a good time to evaluate where we are in our businesses. I thought it would be good to talk about how I structure my days and weeks to maximize productivity, focus on self-care, and stay intentional about working ON my business and not IN it. As a self-proclaimed productivity nerd, I’ve learned these things through trial and error and trying new things and tweaking them until they work best for me. I hope there are some good ideas here that will work for you! You can read the full show notes at: http://www.sellingthecouch.com/session203 (Session203) Support this podcast

How is your sleep? Sleep is a vitally important part of our lives that is often overlooked. We don’t usually think about the ways we cheat ourselves out of good sleep and how the quality of our sleep impacts every part of our day. Today’s show focuses on sleep as it relates to private practitioners and small business owners. Let’s explore how we can improve the quality of our sleep! Dr. Yishan Xu is a licensed psychologist in private practice in Los Altos, CA. She’s an expert on sleep and runs therapy groups on insomnia. Her podcast, Deep into Sleep, is launching soon, so she’s a great person to help us cover this topic. We’re discussing why sleep is so important and what an ideal night of sleep should look like. Yishan explains why people struggle with insomnia, how quality sleep impacts us as private practitioners, and the biggest mistakes small business owners make regarding sleep. She wraps up our conversation by giving us her best tips for great sleep from her work, training, and experience. You can re

As clinicians, we often think about creative outlets for our messages of hope and healing. One of those that you might not have considered is creating a conference. It may sound like an overwhelming task, but it’s one that can be effective and fulfilling. Let’s discuss it in today’s show! Mercedes Samudio, LCSW, does a lot of good work around all things related to parenting. She’s written Shame-Proof Parenting and has created The Diversity in Parenting Conference, which explores the diverse ways that clinicians work with parents and families. The conference is coming up soon on September 13-14 in Anaheim, CA. In today’s show, Mercedes takes us behind the scenes to learn what it takes to put together a conference of this magnitude. Mercedes is excited to share with all of us what she’s learned from this first-time experience. She’ll share about the planning process and why she chose a conference as the medium to share her message instead of a webinar. Mercedes also fills us in on how she selected speakers and

I can’t believe it’s here----Episode 200! I’m thrilled to have made it this far in my journey and to have so many of you along with me. Podcasting has made me more confident as a person and a speaker, and I’m thankful for the ways I’ve grown on this path. Today’s topic is one I’m very passionate about, and you’ve heard it mentioned many times on the show. We’re discussing what a clinician needs to have in place before scaling to multiple income streams. Nicole Liloia, LCSW, practices in New Jersey. She’s someone whose advice I trust regarding creating multiple income streams, which is becoming more and more common for those in private practice. We don’t often think about the groundwork that needs to be laid before we take that step, but systems and processes must be in place for things to flow smoothly. Each income stream brings its own level of stress, which must be managed. In today’s conversation, we’re discussing the biggest advantages to creating additional income streams, things to be aware of, and the

I never thought I’d have to do an episode like this one, but unfortunate events have brought me face-to-face with reality. One of my team members, Karen, was diagnosed with an aggressive form of cancer earlier this year. Although she was undergoing chemo and radiation, she passed away a few weeks ago. Karen was an important part of the STC team who helped me a lot, especially in handling Facebook ads. The challenge for me has been balancing the grieving process while trying to carry on and pick up the pieces of Karen’s work. In this solo episode, we’re looking at things I’ve had to consider in new ways that might spur you to think about planning ahead in very practical ways. You can read the full show notes at: http://www.sellingthecouch.com/session199 (Session199) Support this podcast

Today’s topic is one that I’m very passionate about, and I’m finding more and more clinicians who are making lifestyle changes and getting on board with self-care. Specifically, today’s show covers how we make self-care a regular and necessary part of our lifestyle. Lanie Smith is an integrative art therapist who is the perfect person with whom to have this discussion. It’s so easy for clinicians to think of self-care as an afterthought, especially during stressful times, but how do we go about integrating self-care into our lifestyle and not have it as just another item on the to-do list? Join us for more with Lanie! You can read the full show notes at: http://www.sellingthecouch.com/session198 (Session198) Support this podcast

Today’s show covers a topic that is very important to clinicians, but it’s one that we don’t often talk about. We’re focusing on how we survive the day-to-day grind of private practice both as clinicians and business owners. I think the best way to face these struggles is to talk about them with colleagues and realize that we aren’t alone in whatever we face. Chris Griffin, LPC, went from solo to a group practice with five clinicians in the Greater Hartford, CT area. Chris joins me for an honest conversation about the day-to-day grind of private practice and the emotional ebbs and flows of the business. We discuss staying in the middle and how Chris stays hyper-focused, not getting too high with the highs or too low with the lows. We also discuss the vital importance of self-care for clinicians and what Chris does to keep up his self-care commitment. You can read the full show notes at: http://www.sellingthecouch.com/session197 (Session197) Support this podcast

Today’s show is a little different than normal. We’re highlighting the first online marketplace exclusively for mental health professionals to buy and sell their original products. We’re talking to one of the founders of Practikat about her journey--and how this platform might be just what you’re looking for! Katie Englert has a group practice in Paducah, Kentucky, and fills her time with counseling, consulting, and public speaking. Today’s show focuses on her newest endeavor, Practikat, which came about because Katie was looking for a hub of resources for clinicians. She shares how she came up with the name and the branding advice she received from experts and attorneys. Katie explains how to go about setting up something like Practikat, how revenue is generated, how to test it out, and the logistics of the development process. Katie wraps up our time by sharing the advice she would give to herself in the past and the future. You can read the full show notes at: http://www.sellingthecouch.com/session196 (S

In today’s solo episode, I’m sharing a book that has stood out in my life and might be helpful to you. Reading books about leadership and business is a cost-effective way to expand my knowledge and improve myself. I’ve set monthly reading goals for myself, and my Audible subscription has been a huge help in reaching those goals. See the Resources section for a link to give Audible a try. This book that I’ve read several times and is the topic of today’s discussion is The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership by John C. Maxwell. You can read the full show notes at: http://www.sellingthecouch.com/session195 (Session195) Support this podcast

The concept of “niching down” in your private practice is one we frequently discuss on STC. With that discussion come the questions about being specific enough---or maybe too specific. Is there such a thing? Today’s conversation is with someone who has wisdom to share from her own practice journey, which includes building a practice focused on treating self-harm in teens. Bess Child, LICSW, practices in Northborough, Massachusetts. She shares what she has learned on her journey to private practice and how she decided to work with teens who struggle with self-harm. We also discuss the marketing mistakes that some clinicians make, where she focuses her energy in terms of referrals, and how she employs out-of-the-box thinking to market her services. You can read the full show notes at: http://www.sellingthecouch.com/session194 (Session194) Support this podcast

It’s always interesting to learn how clinicians bring themselves into alignment with their deeper purpose and values. When this happens, the clinician will feel greater satisfaction and fulfillment in the work they do. Today’s show is another that focuses on ACT (Acceptance and Commitment Training) as we talk to today’s guest about his experience as he transitioned into private practice. David Teachout is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor in Seattle, Washington, although he has branched out to a full-service online practice that incorporates acceptance and commitment therapy. We’re discussing his journey and how he transitioned into private practice from community mental health. David shares what it was like for him to take an uncertain leap from something familiar and comfortable, and how he incorporates ACT into his conversations with clients in big and small ways. David also tells about starting his online counseling practice and how that aligns perfectly with his values. You can read the full show note

Being a private practice owner and running your own business can be a daunting process with many things to learn. We are diving into the nuances of entrepreneurship today with someone willing to take the risk of failure and learn the lessons there. Lee-Chaix McDonough, LCSW, is here to discuss the mindset required to be a private practice owner and business owner. Lee’s book, Act on Your Business, is Amazon’s #1 new release in business entrepreneurship. In this episode, she explains the fear of failure and the fear of success, because success brings with it the fear of not being able to sustain it. Lee discusses the integration of our skillset and mindset and how to bring mindfulness into the entrepreneurial journey, through her “3 M’s of Entrepreneurship.”  You can read the full show notes at: http://www.sellingthecouch.com/session192 (Session192) Support this podcast

It’s a new season for Selling the Couch, and I’m excited to be back after a few weeks off! We have a cool topic to discuss today, and it’s one we see frequent questions about in the STC Community. We’re discussing how to use G Suite as a tool for managing a private practice. Join us to learn more! Gordon Brewer, LMFT, is based in Kingsport, TN. He has a wealth of knowledge and experience with G Suite. We are discussing the G Suite tools available, best ways to use them in private practice, and Gordon’s course for training therapists to use G Suite to their advantage. You can read the full show notes at: http://www.sellingthecouch.com/session191 (Session191) Support this podcast

This episode features . . . .you! Nineteen of our listeners took the time to record their tips for getting referrals, which just happens to be the most-asked question for clinicians. This episode is bittersweet for me because it’s the last one of this season. I’m taking some time off to focus on being a husband and daddy and to take some much-needed time for self-care. But before I say goodbye, for now, let’s listen to these great ideas for getting those coveted referrals! You can read the full show notes at: http://www.sellingthecouch.com/session190 (Session190) Support this podcast

Have you ever been called a perfectionist? It’s admirable to have high standards and be highly motivated, but perfectionism is a trap that many clinicians fall into. In today’s show, we’ll talk about how perfectionism impacts us in private practice and as business owners. Sharon Martin, LCSW, was a previous guest on the show, but that was WAY back in August 2015 (Episode 37), where she talked about blogging. Sharon revisits today to talk about her recent book, The CBT Workbook of Perfectionism. We’ll discuss how Sharon defines perfectionism and why so many in our field struggle with it. We’ll talk about some overt and covert ways that perfectionism shows up, and get Sharon’s tips and strategies for working through perfectionism and becoming more aware of it. You can read the full show notes at: http://www.sellingthecouch.com/session189 (Session189) Support this podcast

Today’s topic is one that you’ve probably not considered, but it’s immensely relevant in many areas of the US today. I’m excited to explore with you the ins and outs of establishing a bilingual practice, and we’ll consider what goes into that process with someone who has successfully navigated through it. Dr. Carmen Roman is a psychologist in San Jose, CA. She has an amazing story in that she has been a psychologist for over 25 years in an established group practice in Mexico. She then came to the US, went to grad school, and opened a practice in CA. We’re taking an interesting look at some of her insights from her practice in Mexico and the nuances of starting practices in two different countries. We’ll discuss how she markets a bilingual practice and what she enjoys about being a bilingual clinician, along with her perspective on niching. You can read the full show notes at: http://www.sellingthecouch.com/session188 (Session188) Support this podcast

Chances are you’ve thought about today’s topic at least once, or you may have your own similar experience. Many clinicians have gone through the transition from a full-time job into private practice. Today’s show is all about navigating the ups and downs of this important move. Tricia Miller is a LIcensed Professional Counselor in Houston, Texas. She has a unique background, with an undergrad degree in business, a job as a business analyst, and a stint as a school counselor. It was here that she realized she wanted to take the next step and start her private practice. Today’s show covers the steps in Tricia’s journey, what she’s learned along the way, and what the transition looked like for her. Tricia also shares how she worked through the fine line of disclosure. You can read the full show notes at: http://www.sellingthecouch.com/session187 (Session187) Support this podcast