PODCAST · business
Private Pay Practitioners Premium Podcast
by DJ Burr
Private pay isn't a dream. It's a decision. And this podcast is for the therapists who are making it.Each week I sit down with private pay practitioners and industry experts who are actually doing the work -- building sustainable practices, ditching insurance, and creating businesses that don't require their burnout to survive. Real conversations. Practical strategies. Let's get to work. New episodes biweekly.Join 17,000+ therapists at privatepaypractitioners.com
Episodes
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S2E45 | You Don’t Know What’s Happening in Your Nervous System Until You Stop | Vickery Rendall, LICSW
Vickery Rendall was going to die in the ER. That was the plan. Then she ran out of PTO. She spent over a decade in emergency rooms and medical units across four Washington hospitals. Code blues. Sexual assault exams. Mental health evaluations at the most acute moments of people’s lives. She did…
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Bonus Episode - Member Spotlight - Tiffany Green
Tiffany Green has been in the Founders Circle for almost two years. Private pay in Chicago for five. In that time she raised her rates, started offering 90-minute sessions because her clients kept asking, and stopped doing Saturday morning consults she never wanted to do in the first place. My...
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S2E44 | I Can't Fight the System While Being in the System | Private Pay, EMDR Intensives & Getting Free | Anna Parker, LICSW
Anna Parker opened her practice last year and was full within two to three months. On insurance. She is a licensed independent clinical social worker based in Spokane, Washington, and the founder of Changing Tides PNW. She spent eight years in community mental health before going solo. She works...
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S2E43 | You Don't Have to Play by Other People's Rules | Private Pay, Neurodivergence & Building Your Way | Mattea LeWitt, LCSW
(Mattea rhymes with great idea.) Mattea LeWitt just launched her practice this year, went private pay from day one, and came in already knowing what she refuses to do. She is a licensed clinical social worker based in Philadelphia and the founder of Philadelphia Social Work. She specializes in...
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Member Spotlight: Dr. Lauren Chase on Less Insurance and More Income
Dr. Lauren Chase first came on the podcast in November 2025. She was seeing 20 to 25 clients a week, mostly insurance, with a plan to drop Blue Cross Blue Shield and Aetna in 2026. She joined our community that December. So I asked her back to tell us how it went. She dropped BCBS in April. She...
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S2E42 | Not Knowing Yourself Is the Main Mistake | Private Pay, Niche & Building With Intention | Gary Hominick, LPC, CSAT
Gary Hominick and I share a niche. He works with men navigating problematic sexual behavior and the betrayal it leaves in relationships. We do not talk to many people who do what we do, so this one was personal for me. He is a licensed professional counselor and CSAT based in Texas and the…
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S2E41 | Somebody Set That Rate and You Accepted It | Insurance, Boundaries & Taking Back Your Practice | Acelli Crippen-Kok, LPC-S
Acelli Crippen-Kok started private pay, got scared, and went back to insurance. She was honest about every bit of it. She is a licensed professional counselor and supervisor based in Cedar Park, Texas, and the founder of Solid Ground Counseling and Wellness. She specializes in working with women...
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S2E40 | First Brick | Private Pay, LGBTQ Affirming Care & Building From the Ground Up | Jay Hess, LCSW
Jay Hess named the practice First Brick as a nod to the Stonewall riots. If you know, you know. If you don't, now you do. Jay is a licensed clinical social worker based in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, and the founder of First Brick Counseling. The practice is fully private pay, in-person only, from...
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S2E39| Building Connections in Mental Health Care w/Dr. Brian Dixon, MD
Dr. Brian Dixon is back. He owns a seven-figure practice in Texas, built Feel Guide to solve the referral problem he kept running into, and has invested close to $100,000 in business coaching over his career. He knows what he is doing and he does not sugarcoat it. We talked about how to ask for a...
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S2E38 | Get Out of Your Own Way | Private Pay, 37K Followers & Two Books Sitting on the Shelf | Alinne Butcher, LMFT
I sat down with Alinne Butcher, a licensed marriage and family therapist and founder of Over The Rug Therapy based in Granada Hills, California. Alinne is a trauma-informed, antiracist, attachment therapist who has been in practice for three years and is also a new mom doing all of this with a…
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S2E37 | I Never Set Out to Build a Business | 20 Years, Private Pay & Delivering What You Sell | Lynn Zakeri, LCSW
This week I sat down with Lynn Zakeri, a licensed clinical social worker based in the Chicago area who has been in private practice for over 20 years. She is the 2022 Illinois NASW Social Worker of the Year, has been featured in over 100 national media outlets, and runs a hybrid group practice...
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S2E36 | We Make Spectacular Friends | Provider Community, CE Training & Bringing Bodies Together | Elena Khazanova
This week I sat down with Elena Khazanova and I did not expect to almost cry. Elena has been doing this work for over 25 years. She started as a massage therapist and craniosacral therapist, went back for her counseling degree, and built a practice that now centers entirely on provider wellbeing....
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S2E35 | Career Trauma Is Real and Nobody Is Talking About It | Amanda Chenkin, LPC
This week I sat down with Amanda Chenkin, a licensed professional counselor and certified career counselor based in Baltimore, Maryland. Amanda specializes in career trauma and has been private pay from day one because she was not going to let an insurance company decide whether her work was...
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S2E33 | 50 Minutes Is Not Enough | 90-Minute Sessions, Intensives & Building a Practice Around the Work | Sarah Benitez Zandi, LCSW
This week I sat down with Sarah Benitez Zandi, a licensed clinical social worker and founder of Trauma Wise Healing, a virtual private pay practice serving clients across 12 states. Sarah specializes in helping Cycle Breakers, people who are done repeating the patterns they inherited and ready to...
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S2E32 | I Don't Like to Be Put in a Box | Sex Therapy, Private Pay & Building on Your Own Terms | Malia Scott, LPC, CSCT
This week I sat down with Malia Scott, a licensed professional counselor and certified sex and couples therapist based in Lubbock, Texas, and the founder of Rewilding Relationships. Malia specializes in relationship and erotic recovery and has been private pay from day one. She started her PLLC…
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S2E30 | Research Is Me Search | Niche Clarity, Networking & Building a Practice Around Who You Are | Dr. Matt Richardson
This week I sat down with Dr. Matt Richardson, a psychologist based in Boston licensed in Massachusetts, New York, Maine, and Florida. Matt specializes in high-achieving millennial gay men navigating body shame, disordered eating, and anxiety. When I saw that niche I knew immediately that this...
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S2E31 | The Nudge | Private Pay, Trust & Building a Practice That Feels Like Yours | Jacqui Nelson, LMHC
This week I sat down with Jacqui Nelson, a licensed mental health counselor and founder of Liminal Psychotherapy in Spokane, Washington. Jacqui specializes in religious trauma, faith deconstruction, identity reconstruction, and childhood trauma. She is also an approved supervisor and is hosting…
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S2E29 | My Worst Day in Private Pay Beats My Best Day Working for Someone Else | Amanda Morris, LCSW
I sat down with Amanda Morris, a licensed clinical social worker with 25 years of experience based in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Amanda specializes in emotional abuse recovery with a particular focus on autistic, AuDHD, and neurodivergent women, many of whom are late-diagnosed or self-suspected and...
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S2 | Minisode | Why Therapists Apologize for Their Rates
You did not set your rate to hurt anyone. So why does it feel like you need to apologize for it? In this one I am getting into where that apology comes from, what it is costing you, and what changes when you stop leading with sorry. Maybe it's time to explore in a 1:1! Book today at...
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S2E27 | Your Genius Is Already There | Groups, Private Pay & Building a Practice That Lights You Up | Melissa Guttman, MT-BC, LCAT
I sat down with Melissa Guttman, a licensed creative arts therapist, music therapist, and founder of IFS Witch in New York. Melissa specializes in trauma therapy for highly sensitive women in midlife recovering from narcissistic abuse. She uses IFS, Brainspotting, music therapy, and spiritual...
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S2E28 | We Be Feeling It | EMDR for the Culture, Black Trauma & Building While Healing | Natalie Milom, LCSW
Natalie is back. And this one went somewhere I did not expect. Natalie Milom is a licensed clinical social worker, EMDRIA certified EMDR trainer, ICEEFT certified EFT therapist, the first Black EFT supervisor in Georgia, and the CEO of Potential Realized. She also just got approved to offer her…
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S2 | Minisode | Your Photo Matters
Your headshot is doing something on your website and your directories right now. The question is whether it is doing something good. In this one I am getting into why your photo is part of your marketing, what it communicates before anyone reads a single word, and what to do if it is not working...
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S2 | Minisode | What to Say When A Client Says They Can't Afford That
Most therapists freeze when a client pushes back on the rate. In this one I am getting into why that moment does not have to derail you, what is actually happening when a client says they cannot afford it, and what to say that is honest, boundaried, and does not send you into a spiral. Enjoy!
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S2E26 | Courage | Kayla Schubert Wirth, LCSW
This episode contains strong language This week I sat down with Kayla Schubert Wirth, a licensed clinical social worker, EMDR therapist, and founder of Grit and Grace Psychotherapy in Pennsylvania. Kayla opened her practice, was full before she unlocked the doors, hired five W2 staff four months...
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S2E25| People Over Profits | Building a Group Practice on Values | Dr. Matthew Strobel
I sat down with Dr. Matthew Strobel, a licensed clinical psychologist and founder of Navesink Psychological Services in Red Bank, New Jersey. Matt has built an 11-clinician group practice from the ground up, starting from a misunderstanding about office space that accidentally launched his career...
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S2E24 | When You Know the Number, Everything Changes | Money, Private Pay & Profit for Keeps | Amber Dugger & Maren Londahl-Smidt
This week I had two guests at the table and we went deep on the one topic most therapists avoid until it becomes a crisis. Money. Amber Dugger is the founder of Profit for Keeps, a system that combines personal finance and business cash flow strategies using Profit First and YNAB to help...
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S2E23 | Make Room for More | Building Multiple Income Streams Without Losing Your Clinical Identity | Shajuan Alexander, LCSW-S
I sat down with Shajuan Alexander, a licensed clinical social worker and supervisor based in Houston, Texas, and the founder of The Culture of Health. Shajuan specializes in therapy for Women of Color in healthcare, runs three clinical supervision groups with 16 supervisees, teaches immigration...
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S2E22 | Your Website Works While You Sleep | SEO, Private Pay & Getting Found by the Right Clients | Danielle Sampson, LCSW, PMH-C
This week I sat down with Danielle Sampson, a licensed clinical social worker, perinatal mental health certified therapist, group practice owner, and the creator of Small Town SEO and the Private Practice Visibility System. Danielle is based in Buffalo, New York. You know, the place where…
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S2 Bonus | What Psychology Today Wants You to Write vs. What You Should Actually Write
Most Psychology Today profiles say the right things in all the wrong ways. Warm. Empathetic. Collaborative. Safe space. And somehow, none of it tells anyone whether they're in the right place. In this minisode, I break down exactly what PT prompts therapists to write, why following those prompts...
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S2E21 | Take Care of Who's In Front of You | Private Pay, Referrals & Building a Practice That Lasts | Katie McKenna, LMHC, CN
This week I sat down with Katie McKenna, a licensed psychotherapist and master's level nutritionist with over 22 years of experience based in Seattle. Katie specializes in eating disorders, chronic illness, anxiety, and trauma. She also integrates nutrition, the nervous system, and the body-mind...
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S2E20 | Where Are You | Private Pay, Visibility & Showing Up for the Practice You Want | Shimon Cohen, LCSW
This week I sat down with Shimon Cohen, a licensed clinical social worker, trauma therapist, and creator of Doin' The Work, a continuing education platform for social workers and helping professionals doing justice-centered work. Shimon is in the middle of the transition. He is on Headway and…
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Bonus: You Get to Decide Now | Private Pay & the Practice You Actually Want | Kyle Harwick, LMFT -S2E19
I sat down with Kyle Harwick, a licensed marriage and family therapist and founder of Next Wave Counseling in Newport Beach, California. Kyle specializes in working with men navigating stress, anxiety, and the pressure of everyday life. He is also one of the most relational clinicians I have had…
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If You're Burned Out, They Can't Come In | Building a Sustainable Private Pay Practice | Joshua Robinson, LCSW
This week I sat down with Joshua Robinson, a Navy veteran, licensed clinical social worker, doctoral candidate, and founder of Stillwater Counseling. Josh is building a private pay practice across five states while working full-time as a psychotherapist at the VA, finishing a doctorate on…
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Stop Leading with Your Credentials
LCSW. LPC. EMDR-trained. IFS Level 2. You worked hard for every single one of those credentials. But if they're the first thing people see when they land on your profile, you may be losing clients before they even read the next line. In this minisode, I break down why leading with credentials is...
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Where Are the Men? | A Private Pay Roundtable on Men, Couples & Clinical Identity
This week's episode is one I've been wanting to do for a while. And I'm making it free for everyone from day one because this conversation needs to be heard. I put together a roundtable of four male clinicians who are all doing meaningful work with men and couples in private pay, and we got into...
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The 5-Second Test: Is Your Homepage Working?
You have five seconds. That's how long someone stays on your homepage before deciding whether to keep reading or leave. In this minisode, I break down the three questions every therapist website needs to answer immediately, why most homepages fail the test, and how to find out if yours is one of...
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"You Pay for What You Value" | Direct Pay Psychiatry & the Future of Mental Health | Dr. Brian J. Dixon
Tonight's episode is live and this one is going to make you think. Dr. Brian J. Dixon is a psychiatrist out of Fort Worth, Texas, who has been direct pay since day one. No insurance. Never. He started in 2014 after being called into HR for calling out his medical director, put in his notice…
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Minisode! Codependency in Pricing
This one might sting a little. In this minisode I'm talking about one of the patterns I see most in therapists -- deciding on behalf of your clients what they can afford before they ever have the chance to tell you themselves. That's not generosity. That's codependency wearing a helper costume.…
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S2E15| "You Pay Premium, You Get a Premium Experience" | The Concierge Model Explained | Dr. Darius Fathi
Dr. Darius Fathi is a licensed clinical and sports psychologist running a concierge-style private pay practice in Jupiter, Florida. He moved there in 2024 with a 3-month-old, left his behavioral health director role, and had to build fast in one of the most saturated therapy markets in the…
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Go Boutique or Go Home | Building a Private Pay Associate Practice w/ Keren Khait Goldenberg
Tonight's episode is live. Keren Khait Goldenberg joined me to talk about building a boutique private pay practice with three associates in LA, leaving the VC platforms behind, and what happens when you break your own boundaries with clients. We also got into the sliding scale vs. reduced rate...
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S2E13| Not Closed, Just Booked- with Dr. Sheena Horsford, LMFT
I sat down with Dr. Sheena Horsford, a licensed couple and family therapist in Virginia who went full private pay in September. Dr. Sheena has a doctorate - and insurance paid her at a master's level rate. Started at $80. Got up to $130 by the end. And when she added another person to the room…
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Self-Maintenance Over Self-Care - with Renelle Nelson, LMFT, CST
I am feeling so good this week that I am dropping ANOTHER BONUS! I sat down with my dear friend and play cousin Renelle Nelson, a licensed marriage and family therapist, AASECT certified sex therapist, and infidelity recovery coach in Arizona and Wisconsin. Renelle is Black history. First African...
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Go Back to Basics - with Karen Conlon, LCSW
This week I went live with Karen Conlon, therapist turned coach, author, and host of the brand new Emotionally Wealthy podcast. Karen spent 20+ years in corporate sales before becoming a therapist. She built a group practice in NYC (7 therapists at its peak), specialized in psychogastroenterology...
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Building a Legacy - with Natalie Milom, LCSW
Natalie Milom and I have been friends in the private pay circle for a minute, and I finally got her on the show. Natalie runs Potential Realized, a group practice in the Atlanta area, and she's licensed in Georgia, California, Indiana, Vermont, Florida, and South Carolina. She's a certified EMDR...
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Creating a Safe Place to Work - with Rachel Bentley, LPC
Rachel Bentley jumped on last minute when my scheduled guest got sick, and I'm glad she did. Rachel owns COR Counseling in Michigan - a group practice that grew from 3 therapists sharing one crappy office to 35-40 clinicians serving about 1,000 clients. She also runs Next Level Private Practice,...
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You Don't Need to Be on Every Platform
I keep seeing therapists spread themselves thin trying to post on Instagram, TikTok, LinkedIn, Facebook, YouTube, Threads, whatever new thing just launched. You don't need to be everywhere. You need to be where your people are - consistently. Pick one. Maybe two. Get good at it. Let the rest go. DJ
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Feel the Fear and Just Do It w/ Ingrid Johnston, LMFT
This week I sat down with Ingrid Johnston, a marriage and family therapist in Washington State who's been in private practice for almost 10 years. Ingrid had a decade of steady growth. Then she took a 3-month sabbatical after burnout - and when she came back, she just... coasted. Didn't put…
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Running a Business, Not Just a Practice w/ Inna Zusman, LGPC, NCC
This week I sat down with Inna Zusman, a bilingual couple and family therapist in Maryland who specializes in multicultural relationships. Inna came back to therapy after 20+ years in corporate HR. She'd been recruiting therapists for years, so when she decided to make the switch, she treated it...
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Two Niches, Two Continents, One Practice w/Tiffany Castellanos, LCSW
Tiffany Castellanos has been in private practice since 2009, but everything changed when her husband became disabled and she became the primary breadwinner. Add in clawback horror stories from colleagues, and she knew it was time to drop the insurance panels. Now practicing from Madrid, Spain…
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Private Pay as a Corrective Experience w/ Michelle Tulk, PMHNP-BC
This week I sat down with Michele Tulk, a psychiatric nurse practitioner running a solo private pay telehealth practice in Washington state. Michele's path: stocking shelves at Target, pharmacy tech, CNA, RN in the ICU and ER for years, then psych NP on a specialized inpatient PTSD unit at the…
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ABOUT THIS SHOW
Private pay isn't a dream. It's a decision. And this podcast is for the therapists who are making it.Each week I sit down with private pay practitioners and industry experts who are actually doing the work -- building sustainable practices, ditching insurance, and creating businesses that don't require their burnout to survive. Real conversations. Practical strategies. Let's get to work. New episodes biweekly.Join 17,000+ therapists at privatepaypractitioners.com
HOSTED BY
DJ Burr
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does Private Pay Practitioners Premium Podcast have?
Private Pay Practitioners Premium Podcast currently has 96 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is Private Pay Practitioners Premium Podcast about?
Private pay isn't a dream. It's a decision. And this podcast is for the therapists who are making it.Each week I sit down with private pay practitioners and industry experts who are actually doing the work -- building sustainable practices, ditching insurance, and creating businesses that don't...
How often does Private Pay Practitioners Premium Podcast release new episodes?
Private Pay Practitioners Premium Podcast has 96 episodes. Check the episode list to see recent publication dates and frequency.
Where can I listen to Private Pay Practitioners Premium Podcast?
You can listen to Private Pay Practitioners Premium Podcast on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
Who hosts Private Pay Practitioners Premium Podcast?
Private Pay Practitioners Premium Podcast is created and hosted by DJ Burr.
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