Private Pay Practitioners Premium Podcast

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 makes you sound like everyone else, and the three-part structure that actually converts profile visitors into clients.Your profile has one job. Go find out if it's doing it.

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 connection into her clinical work because she believes talk therapy alone is not enough.Katie has been private pay since 2016 and got there the right way. Slowly, strategically, and without blowing up her caseload in the process. We talked about what finally pushed her off the panels, how she stayed full through the transition, where her referrals have actually come from over the years, and what it looks like to run a growing practice while also wearing every hat in the building.She also told me something that I think every therapist needs to hear.Take care of who is in front of you. The referrals follow.We also got into her newest project, The Menopause Talks, a two hour workshop on the neuroendocrine changes of perimenopause and the psychology of midlife. It is worth sticking around for that part of the conversation.If this episode got you thinking about your own referral strategy or how to build a practice that actually sustains you, let's talk. Book a 90-minute strategy session at privatepaypractitioners.com.Katie McKenna: mckennacounseling.com Instagram: @katie.mc.kenna TikTok: @katiemckennacounseling

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 Alma, he knows he wants to be strictly private pay by 2027, and he is doing the work to get there. We talked about what is actually standing in the way, why the platforms are not your friend, what it looks like to network when you are not sure what to even say, and why the question I keep coming back to is the same one I asked him.Where are you? Are you out there? Are you front and center? Are people finding you?We also got into the medical model, why requiring a diagnosis just to access therapy is a problem worth naming, the 30 day termination trap inside these platforms, and what Doin' The Work is building for justice-centered practitioners.This one is a real conversation between two people in recovery who both found this work the hard way.Shimon Cohen, LCSW: shimoncohentherapy.com Doin' The Work: dointhework.com LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/shimondcohen

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 on this show.We talked about how he built a full private pay caseload before he even got fully licensed, why he believes business is relational period, the dad's group he ran in a pink room on pink chairs, surf therapy, and what it actually means to stop letting the system decide what your work is worth.The through line of the whole conversation was this. When you are in private pay, you get to decide. Where your time goes, who gets a reduced rate, what risks you take. No one can tell you otherwise.Kyle is not on social media yet but you can find him at nextwavecounseling.com and reach him at [email protected].

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 workforce burnout, and teaching at Florida State.He came in with a lot of ideas and a lot of fear. We got into all of it. The niche question, the calendar problem, why high functioning is keeping your ideal client at bay, what it actually takes to make room for private pay clients when your schedule is already full, and why you cannot be the burnout therapist if you are burned out yourself.This one is as much a coaching conversation as an interview. And I think a lot of you are going to hear yourself in it.stillwatercounselingva.com | Instagram: @stillwatercounselingva

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 costing you connections, what your ideal client is actually looking for, and what to put first instead.Your letters got you in the room. Now say something that makes people want to stay.DJ

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 all of it. Where this work comes from, why men are still underrepresented in the therapy room on both sides of the couch, what private pay looks like when you're serving populations that have a lot of competing free resources, and what it really takes to build a practice that works for you and your clients.Here's who joined me:Dr. Ryan Tran, LMFT, PhD is the founder of Rise Family Counseling in California. He holds a PhD in Organizational Psychology and specializes in men and couples navigating identity, anxiety, and intimacy.Jake Ross, LISW-S is the founder of The Ross Wellness Group in Columbus, Ohio. He built his practice around men and is developing the Internal Operating System, a framework that treats therapy as finite and goal-oriented.DeAron Washington, LPC is an Assistant Professor of Counseling at Belhaven University and a certified Emotionally Focused Couples Therapist. He specializes in couples work, cultural humility, and faith integration.Dr. Eric A. Williams, PhD is a licensed therapist, Army veteran, and founder of Coastal Family Services. He is one of the few private practice owners who is both an African American male clinician and a veteran, and the author of "From ME to WE."We talked about everything from hybrid vs. full private pay to the business of therapy to what it actually means to create a space where men feel safe enough to put the armor down.Go listen. And share it.Dr. Ryan Tran: risefamilycounseling.com | @risefamilycounseling Jake Ross: @therosswellnessgroup | trwg.kit.com DeAron Washington: imis.counseling.org/store/detail.aspx?id=PEWEB25043 Dr. Eric Williams: ericwilliamsphd.com | coastalfamilyservicespllc.com | @purpose_n_hope_dealer

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 them.If your homepage opens with a forest photo, a candle, or a Rumi quote, this one's for you.

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, built a Wix website, and his first patient handed him a $250 check. He said it was off to the races ever since.Twelve years later, he has a practice with six psychiatrists, a business coaching company, a Substack called Psychiatrist General, and a lot to say about where this whole system is heading.Here's what we got into tonight:Why he calls it direct pay instead of private pay and why the language mattersHow the 1965 Medicare and Medicaid legislation created a pay disparity that still affects every therapist and psychiatrist todayWhy he thinks the insurance system will collapse within three to five years and what that means for private pay practitionersWhat VC companies are actually doing to the mental health industry and why he is not as mad about them as you might expectHow he coaches doctors to see their blind spots without telling them they have blind spotsThe Traction model by Gino Wickman and why he recommends it to every business ownerWhy people will save up from Medicaid to pay him out of pocket and what that says about valueHow he networks as a self-described introvert and why he goes into every room selling the whole industry instead of himselfThe marketing mistake he made for six years that cost him and what he finally did about itGo listen.Follow Dr. Dixon on LinkedIn: Brian J. Dixon MD Substack: Psychiatrist General Practice: findmindful.com Business Coaching: simplipsych.com

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.We get into where it comes from, how it shows up in your pricing decisions, and what to do instead.It's short. It's honest. Go listen.DJwww.privatepaypractitioners.com

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 country.Here's what we got into:What concierge therapy actually means and how it's different from just being private payHow he went from 12 clients to a full practice after relocating with zero local referralsWhy he texts clients back at 8pm and why that's by design, not accidentHow his niche shifted when he landed in Jupiter and realized Tiger Woods and Serena Williams are neighbors and every successful parent in town has a kid on a travel teamWhat's included in a $250-$300 session rate and what he refuses to nickel and dime forHow he collaborates with psychiatrists, couples therapists, and other providers as part of the serviceWhy the language "concierge" attracts exactly who he wants and filters out who he doesn'tWhat he sees therapists getting wrong when they rush to open a practice without a planWhy showing up consistently, never canceling, and walking the walk is his actual marketing strategyThis one is worth your full attention. Go listen.Follow Darius on Instagram: @DrPsychFitness Website: psychfitnessone.com

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 conversation, how she structures her associate model, and what it actually looks like to wear every single hat in your practice while writing a dissertation and raising a kid.Good one. Go listen.Follow Keren on Instagram: @keren.k.goldenberg Free Depth-Oriented Journaling Guide: sunraypsychotherapy.com/free-journaling-guide Website: sunraypsychotherapy.com

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 for couples or family work? The rate went DOWN to $65.She lost 90% of her clients when she made the switch. Went from 19-22 clients a week to 4-6. But she didn't budge on her price.We got into:The rejection of hearing "it's too expensive" on consult calls - and how to respondWhy she now requires couples to do her 5-hour intensive before weekly sessionsThe moment a couple called and just said "we want to sign up" - no selling neededPreparing for maternity leave as a solo practitionerCreating a workbook as a passive income stream while she's outThe reframe: "I'm not closed, I'm booked until mid-June"Her current rates: $200 for individuals (60 min), $315 for couples (90 min), and $1,599 for her Couple Reset intensive.She's having her best month since going private pay - right before she takes leave. And she's not lowering her prices.Find her at MendingHeartsTogether.com or @drsheena_h on Instagram. Her workbook "Rebuilding Intimacy" is on Amazon.

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 American AASECT-certified sex therapist in both Wisconsin AND Arizona. And she had to stay ready with receipts because people constantly questioned her credentials. "I couldn't get ready, I had to stay ready."She started as a sex therapist helping people embrace, empower, and enhance their sex lives. But she kept running into the same wall: people didn't feel like they deserved pleasure. When she dug deeper, it was betrayal wounds. So she went deep into betrayal recovery work, partly from her own experience as a Black woman who was betrayed. In her community, "you didn't talk about what to do, it's just how to endure it."We got into:"I'm my own avatar" - creating content that speaks to yourself because you ARE the ideal client"Your relationship is not a community project" - protecting people who choose to stay after betrayalBeing challenged by her own community AND outsiders as a Black woman in a white-dominated fieldWhy the Black Private Pay Practitioners group is silent (and what that might mean)The difference between men and women as betrayers now ("almost neck-to-neck")Music as medicine AND as the thing that normalized unhealthy relationship patternsThe gem: Self-maintenance vs. self-care. "Care is what you need when you're already broken down. Maintenance is prevention."She's running groups for partners who decided to stay after betrayal, doing ketamine-assisted psychotherapy, and has products including planners, card decks, games, and candles.Find her at kaleidoscopeservicesllc.org for therapy (Arizona & Wisconsin) or renellenelson.com for products. On Instagram: @affairaftercarecoach and @noirsextherapist.Need a niche report to elevate your practice? Get it today at privatepaypractitioners.com.

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 (gut-brain connection), and eventually closed it two years ago due to burnout. Now she does coaching, clinical consultation, writing, and podcasting.She came with the business mindset from day one. When she was in sales, her boss would ask how she got meetings with executives and she'd say, "Well, Peggy the secretary has two kids with birthdays this weekend..." She wasn't good at sales. She was good at connecting with people.We got into:The saturation problem: it's not just physical anymore, it's psychological. AI therapy, BetterHelp ads, "just switch therapists if you don't like them" culture.Why Google Ads used to work ($300/month got her 3-5 calls per week) and why you can't compete with corporate ad dollars nowGoing back to basics: old-school networking, reaching out to doctors using the same pain-point messaging you'd use with clientsThe WIFM model (What's In It For Me) - always think about what's in it for the person you're reaching out toGetting off Aetna took 9 months, meticulous notes, blasting them on social media, and writing to corporateThe client who told her she was "too cheap" and it gave her pause - that changed everything about how Karen thought about perceived value"New level, new devil" - the reframe she uses with clients who feel like they've regressedShe closed her therapy practice but hasn't ruled out going back. Right now she's doing coaching, clinical consultation (she still loves supervision), Substack, and just launched her podcast on February 5th.Her episode with me is now available: Emotionally Wealthy.Find her at karenconlon.com.

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 therapist and consultant, certified EFT couples therapist and supervisor candidate, and a TBRI practitioner. She only sees clients two days a week, does intensives once a month in Buckhead and LA, supervises staff, and is working on her PhD.She left insurance because with only two client days, she needed to maximize income. "I'm not about to fight with insurance companies about my money." She's the only one in her practice not taking insurance - her staff still does.We got into:How she structures her week around school, clients, and supervisionRunning intensives in multiple cities using colleagues' office spaceHer PhD research on EMDR with Black clients and why representation in the literature mattersSecure Black Love - her second business focused on Black couples with bi-weekly Instagram/Facebook livesRecording trainings as evergreen products (and the CE credit considerations)The upcoming EMDR for the Culture Refresher course: April 2-3, 12 hours of EMDRIA creditShe got my Niche Positioning Report and called it "phenomenal" - said it reminded her she's an EMDR consultant and EFT supervisor and people need to hear more from her.Find her at dopetraumatherapist.com or nataliemilom.comEssentials & Founders grab your free Niche Positioning ReportNiche Report

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, her consulting company, and hosted a summit last fall with 120 attendees and 30 speakers.She started the practice in 2019 as an exit strategy from 10 years in state government child welfare. A friend told her: "You worked in child welfare for years. Think about everything you endured. If you can do that, you can probably do anything."We got into:The "bleeding heart part" that drove her to keep hiring during the COVID boomWhy she teaches her 1099 contractors to self-market (and why some group practices think that's controversial)The difference between post-COVID hiring and nowWhat it means when a therapist tells you "this is the first place I've ever felt safe to work"The parts that show up when you run a business: inner critic, perfectionist, fear of failure, people-pleaserHaving to take hard conversations about bad hires to her own therapyWhy "I want to start a group practice so I can make more money" is not a reason to start a group practiceHer biggest win wasn't revenue or headcount. It was a therapist writing on the office whiteboard: "I have never worked in a place where I felt so cared for and so safe."Find her at nextlevelprivatepractice.comComing Very Soon: The Playbook Workbook Group — 8 weeks working through The Private Pay Practitioners Workbook together. Live on Zoom. Small group, max 8 people.Most people buy workbooks and never open them. This group doesn't let you do that. You'll do the exercises. You'll get feedback. You'll actually build the thing.Details:Sundays, 1–2:30pm ETMarch 22, 29 | April 12, 19, 26 | May 3, 17, 24$400 (payment plan available)Founders: $280 through March 21BIPOC Access: $260 with code ACCESS35Register: https://www.privatepaypractitioners.com/services/p/playbook-workbook-group

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

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 energy back into the business. Didn't market. Didn't realize the landscape had changed.By 2025, her caseload had dropped and she was questioning everything. She even started substitute teaching to see if she wanted to keep doing therapy at all.That clarity came. She did want to keep doing this work - but differently.We got into:Why she wishes she'd never taken insurance, even for just one yearGoing from generalist to niched (chronic pain, religious/spiritual trauma, couples where trauma is the driver)Dropping free consultations - and what the EAPs taught her about that first sessionRaising rates from $100 to $250 - and now bumping to $300-$350Tightening her cancellation policy from 48 to 72 hours, weekdays onlyThe parallel process: her transformation mirroring her clients' growthWhat she wants beyond 1:1 (teaching, workshops, maybe an e-book on chronic pain)Her take: "You have to feel those nerves, feel that fear, and just do it. The more you keep doing it, you're like, okay, I got this."She's 10 months into the rebuild and about 80-90% back to where she wants to be.Find her at ingridjohnstontherapy.com or @ingridjohnstontherapy on Instagram.Ready for your Full Practice Review? Spots are filling up fast. Sign up today https://www.privatepaypractitioners.com/services/p/full-practice-review

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 like a business decision - not a dream.We got into:Her idea to give discounts to clients who stayed longer - and why I almost fell out of my chairPremium rates for evening and weekend sessions - and how nobody questioned itBuilding a YouTube channel to reach her ideal clientsChatGPT recommending her to potential clients - a whole different SEO strategyThe trap of hiring a social media manager before you understand your own business"If you're not running your business, somebody else will run your business"She works with multicultural couples and families navigating language, culture, and tradition - and she's not trying to keep them forever. Short-term therapy. Give them the tools. Shift and go.Find her at www.innazusman.comhttps://www.youtube.com/@CrossCulturalwithInnahttps://www.facebook.com/InnaZusmanRelationships/https://x.com/Healingbondsnow

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 (yes, legally - we get into that), Tiffany is building something unique: a practice serving expats navigating life abroad AND dentists - a profession with sky-high rates of depression, anxiety, and suicide that nobody's talking about.In this episode, we dig into:How she landed on two completely different niches (and why both work)The Spain licensing loophole that lets her practice without local credentialsWhy free consultations burned me out and what I do insteadThe mindset shift from "accessible to everyone" to "sustainable for me"What to do when clients are surprised by your rates (even when they're on your website)Why "works for now, can change later" is the best policy advice I can giveTiffany's only 4 months into private pay, but she's already doing the work - podcast appearances, articles, webinars, and collaborating with a UF professor researching dentist mental health. This is how you build a practice.Website: tiffanycastellanos.comInstagram: @tiffmarg

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 VA. She started her private practice in 2018 as a side gig while working full-time at the VA, working 65 hours a week for almost a year before she felt safe enough to make the leap.That scarcity came from growing up in a big, low-income family. She talked about being 20, working at Olive Garden, and not wanting to suggest appetizers because she didn't want to exploit people who might not have the money. That same energy followed her into building a business and setting rates.We got into:How scarcity from childhood shows up in your practice and your pricing, and the work it takes to combat thatThe "nurses eat their young" culture and the friction between NPs, physicians, therapists, and every other credential - and how financial stress brings out the worst in all of usNot everyone deserves to be in your network. If you wouldn't want to sit with someone, don't send your clients to them either.The concept of private pay as a corrective experience - rewriting past experiences of feeling controlled, trapped, and mistreated by organizations that only cared about volume and RVUsBeing authentic and neurodivergent in practice - she started out masking, wearing uncomfortable clothes and makeup she could feel on her face, and it took 20 years and therapy to finally show up as herselfHer take: "I'm not controlled. I'm not trapped. I don't feel like I'm in trouble. I go to sleep at night soundly because I know I'm doing a good job and giving it my all."She also said something that hit: "I've always had my own back. I didn't feel any loss. In fact, I felt a gain."Michele specializes in medication management for neurodivergent adults with trauma histories, including queer and transgender clients. She's accepting new clients in Washington - telehealth statewide and in-person in Bellingham.Find her at www.nwtelepsychiatry.com

Private Pay Isn't a Dream. It's a Decision.This one is short and direct.Every day I see therapists who treat private pay like a wish - hoping clients will show up, hoping the numbers will work out, hoping it gets easier.Hope is not a strategy.Private pay works when you stop waiting for permission and start building with intention. It works when you treat it like the business decision it is.You didn't get licensed to stay stuck. You got licensed to help people - and you deserve to get paid well for it.Private pay isn't a dream. It's a decision.You just have to make it.www.privatepaypractitioners.com for additional resources and consultations

This week I sat down with Anna Cimburek, a palliative care and hospice social worker turned grief therapist.Anna's dad died from pancreatic cancer in 2011 - 7 weeks from diagnosis to death. She was 27 and couldn't find any literature on adult child loss. That experience eventually led her to hospice social work, where she spent 4.5 years doing inpatient end-of-life care. After her brother also died from cancer in 2023, she moved from Seattle to Arizona and pivoted to private practice.She never wanted to be a therapist. Someone asked her: what's the difference between sitting with a dying patient and their family versus sitting across from someone on Zoom? She couldn't answer that. So she leaned in.We got into:Working with acute grief (right after loss) and delayed grief (2, 3, 15 years later when something triggers it)Ambiguous loss - I shared my own story of losing my foster daughter when family showed up right as we were filling out adoption paperworkWhy checking the "grief and loss" box on Psychology Today doesn't mean you actually know how to sit with someone in itThe business side being scarier than the clinical side - "2026 is my year to make it or break it as a business owner"How we worked through her pricing in December and she finally landed on a number she can look at and say "yes, I've earned every dollar of that"Anna's take on death: "You get one chance to die, and you have an opportunity to do it well. And by doing that well, you're giving a gift to your loved ones - giving them permission to grieve well."She's also thinking about grief intensives for people who are years out from their loss and want to do deep work without dragging it out over months of weekly sessions.Find her at https://kindwaterscounseling.com/

This week I sat down with Steffeny Feld to talk about intensives - what they are, who they're for, and what therapists get wrong about them.Steffeny started her practice during COVID and never touched insurance. A friend connected her with a business coach who said "you don't need to get on any panels" - even her clinical supervisor thought it sounded "sus." But it worked.She went from weekly sessions to adding intensives to intensives-only, and now she's fully serving therapists through her Intensive Design Lab.We got into:The restlessness that signals it's time to shift something in your practicePricing intensives: from hourly math to 40% markup to transformation-focused pricing (she knows people charging $700-900/hour)Why intensives aren't a life preserver for a struggling practice - you need a full caseload firstThe biggest mistake: treating intensives as "just longer sessions" instead of positioning them as a solution for a specific client's urgent problemIntensive math - clients guessing how many weeks of therapy they just skippedUsing AI scribes for intensive progress notesHer take on marketing intensives: "If someone says, hey, X, Y, and Z on the consult call, being able to say with confidence - yep, I can help you with that."Anna asked about organizing all her intensive ideas. Steffeny's advice: brain dump everything, rate each idea by energy and effort, narrow to 3, then pitch them and see who responds.Freebies from Steffeny:Client Intensive Script: https://www.intensivedesignlab.com/free-client-intensive-scriptThe Secret Podcast (behind the scenes of 5K intensives): https://www.intensivedesignlab.com/the-secret-podcastFind her at intensivedesignlab.com

This one's for everyone who's been spinning on the niche question.You don't need to have it all figured out. You don't need to pick the "perfect" niche. You just need to start somewhere.In this minisode, I break down how to approach niche selection without the spiral.Still stuck? I'm now offering Niche Positioning Reports. You tell me your niche, state, rates, and income goals - I send you a personalized report with ideal client profile, messaging angles, pricing recommendations, and referral source ideas. Starts at $67.https://www.privatepaypractitioners.com/services/p/niche-positioning-report

Everyone tells you that you MUST have a niche or your practice will fail. That’s not true. Some of you are thriving as generalists and should stay that way. In this episode, I’m helping you figure out if you’re a happy generalist who just needs better systems, or if lack of niche clarity is actually costing you money and clients. I cover: ∙ The signs you’re a “happy generalist” who doesn’t need to change anything ∙ The signs that lack of niche clarity is actually holding you back ∙ How to tell the difference between a niche problem and a systems problem ∙ What to do if you’re on the fence This isn’t the sexy answer business coaches want to give you. But it’s the honest one. Listen now and figure out which category you’re in.

This week I sat down with Jana Glass, a solo practitioner in Sandy Springs, Georgia who specializes in perinatal mental health, trauma, and addiction.Her insurance exit story is one of the wildest I've heard. She took insurance for 15 years. Then BCBS sent her a letter about a client she'd seen two years prior - a woman who'd been on short-term disability for anxiety. Jana saw her for 6 months, used Brainspotting, helped her get back to work. Did everything right. Billed on time. Got paid.Two years later, BCBS retroactively denied the disability and demanded Jana pay it back. When she appealed, they started taking money from her current clients' payments - she was getting EOBs showing $0 with deductions. The person at the insurance company finally told her: "You're not gonna win."They took $1,200 she'd already paid taxes on. That was her exit.We also got into:How she found her niche (hint: she moved her office near Northside Hospital - where more babies are born than anywhere else in the US - and clients started finding her)Brainspotting vs. EMDR and why she made the switchThe stats: 1 in 4 pregnancies end in loss, 1 in 5 birthers experience perinatal mood disorders, 1 in 10 non-birthing parents get postpartum depressionNetworking at group events instead of endless coffee meetingsWhy she does adjunct therapy alongside other therapists' clientsJana also trains therapists in Brainspotting (Phase 1 and 2) and offers a one-day perinatal training online.Find her at SupportiveSolutionsGA.com or on Instagram @rainbowconnector3Niche Positioning Report Now Available at www.privatepaypractitioners.com/services

You THINK you have a niche. But does it actually do what it's supposed to do?In this episode, DJ breaks down the five most common niche mistakes therapists make - using real examples from consultation calls. If your marketing feels exhausting, if consultation calls aren't converting, or if you're not getting the referrals you want, your niche probably isn't specific enough.What you'll learn:The five niche mistakes keeping you stuck (and how to fix them)What a niche is actually supposed to DO for your practiceHow to tell if your niche is working or just generic positioningReal examples of weak niches vs. strong nichesThe one question to ask yourself to know if your niche needs workFeatured mistakes:The "I Work With Everyone Who..." ProblemThe "Empowerment" ProblemThe "Life Transitions" ProblemThe "Anxiety Without Context" ProblemThe "I Work With Everyone In This Demographic" ProblemIf you recognized yourself in any of these, this episode is for you.NEW: Personalized Niche Positioning Reports now included FREE for Essential and Founders members ($67 value). Custom market research, ideal client profiles, messaging angles, pricing recommendations - all tailored to YOUR niche and market. Check your tier benefits to request yours.https://forms.gle/eKz4tT8Uf9yMzhhd8

NEW: Therapy for Therapists with Tiffany GreenFirst episode of 2026 is live.Tiffany Green is a solo practitioner in Chicago who's built a practice where a third of her clients are therapists. We talked about how that niche found her, what it's like to do deep work with people who do deep work for a living, and the three categories she sees therapist clients wrestling with: personal stuff, existential/meaning-making questions, and professional crossroads.One thing that stuck with me: "Therapists appreciate being therapized under the right conditions."We also got into burnout, compassion fatigue, the "am I really making a difference" spiral, and why therapists rarely ask for discounts (they value therapy).Plus Anna jumped in with a question about imposter syndrome as an associate - worth the listen if that's where you are right now.Find Tiffany at CharismCounseling.comlinktr.ee/charsismcounseling __________________________________________________________________________Speaking of niche...If you're still figuring out how to position yourself, I'm now offering Niche Positioning Reports. You tell me your niche, state, rates, and income goals - I research and send you a personalized report with ideal client profile, messaging angles, pricing recommendations, and referral source ideas. Starts at $67.https://www.privatepaypractitioners.com/services/p/niche-positioning-report

The Private Pay Practitioners Playbook is now on Audible. 20 five-star reviews. Amazon best seller. And I narrated every word myself — because no one else was going to tell this story with the same fire. I wrote this book for the therapists who are done letting insurance dictate their income, their schedule, and their clinical decisions. The ones who are ready to build something sustainable — on their own terms. If you've been waiting for the audiobook, here it is. Listen on your commute. In between sessions. While you're plotting your exit from the panels. And when it helps you take that next step? Leave a review. That's how other therapists find this. Private pay isn't a dream. It's a decision. https://a.co/d/arbPZ4q

This week I sat down with Emma Kobil, and we went somewhere I didn't expect.Emma built a successful coaching business helping therapists grow their private pay practices. Her clients got results. She was doing all the things — the Facebook group, the weekly lives, the sales funnels, the Instagram, the course.And then she walked away from it.Not because it failed. Because she was miserable.She told me: "I was tied to my computer all the time. I had trouble getting up to pee sometimes."The turning point? Her therapist asked if she was out of alignment with her values. And Emma realized — she loved her private practice. She didn't want to lose it chasing something else.We get into:The real cost of building a coaching business (it's not beach vibes)Why putting half the effort into your practice that you'd put into coaching would give you a beyond-full caseloadHow walking away gave her a renewed love for clinical workWhat her life looks like now — Mexico, intensives, $250/session, 3-day work weeksIf you've ever wondered whether you "should" be building courses or coaching on the side — listen to this first.🎧 Listen now.

This week I'm sitting down with Tony Rella — IFS-certified therapist, author, and someone I've known since our insurance-panel days in Seattle.Tony fully transitioned to private pay in October 2024, and this conversation gets into the messy middle of what that actually looked like: the panic of Q1 2025 when referrals dried up, the temptation to go back, and the moment he realized he couldn't.We talk about:Why seeing 22 clients/week still wasn't enough to make ends meetThe insurance clawback that became his final strawWhat it means to get paid as "the contract" in therapeutic relationshipsThe codependency trap of making financial decisions FOR your clientsWhat his schedule looks like now (spoiler: 18 hours, 4 days, long lunches, gym time)If you're in the thick of your own transition — or you're full private pay but still doing the mindset work — this one's for you.🎧 Listen now.

Hey everyone,Just dropped a bonus episode that I'm making FREE for everyone - members and non-members alike.This one's different. It's not an interview. It's not a teaching session. It's a raw, honest reflection on what happened at Saturday's Private Pay Practitioners Playbook crash course workshop.What I talk about:The Mistake - How I accidentally didn't record the first hour of the workshop (yes, really) and the panic that followedMoney Stories That Surprised Me - I went in expecting to hear about overspending. What I actually heard was the opposite - people stuck in NOT spending, NOT investing in themselves or their businessesThe Scarcity Mindset - Why we're threatened by each other's success when there are literally enough clients for all of usThe Power of Imperfection - How showing up as perfectly imperfect created the most psychologically safe, healing space I've experiencedWhat Made It Fire - The participants gave EVERYTHING. Vulnerability. Honesty. Support for each other. It was community at its best.One of the participants, Esther, jumped on live during the recording to share what it felt like to be in a space where she could show up imperfect and still be seen, affirmed, and supported. Her words are powerful.This episode is for:Anyone who thinks they need to have it all figured out before they startAnyone who's scared to invest in themselves or their businessAnyone who feels threatened by other therapists' successAnyone who needs permission to be perfectly imperfectI left that workshop changed. And I'm coming back with more.January 10, February 7, March 7 - dates are already set for 2026.Listen to the bonus episode now - it's available to everyone.This is what community looks like.DJ

This week I sat down with Kellyn McCullough, LMFT and EMDR-certified therapist in Washington State, who's navigating something so many of us are feeling right now.She took a year off for maternity leave, moved locations, and came back to a completely different landscape. The post-pandemic abundance? Gone. Now it feels like scarcity. And everyone - EVERYONE - does EMDR now.Sound familiar?We dug into:The post-pandemic shift: From abundance to scarcity mindsetThe differentiation problem: When your specialty becomes everyone's specialtyNiching down in 2024: How specific do you actually need to get?The rollercoaster: One week you're booked, the next week you're panickingNetworking that actually works: She's been meeting 2-3 providers a weekStanding out when everyone has the same trainingThe breakthrough moment? Kellyn does EMDR intensives and loves working with men who've experienced medical trauma (near-death experiences, high-risk professions). But she wasn't saying that anywhere. She was trying to be everything to everyone.I walked her through getting clear on who excites her, not just who calls her. Because when you're on insurance panels, you take whoever calls. But in private pay? You get to choose.Her homework: Narrow the niche by next week. Follow up with her October networking contacts about EMDR intensives. Get specific about who she wants to see walking through that door.If you're feeling like you're starting over, like everyone else has your specialty, or like you're in a scarcity spiral - this episode is for you.Find Kellyn McCullough at NewMoonCounselingSeattle.comWatch the full episode now.BONUS: I'm going LIVE tonight for an additional episode - see you at 7pm EST/4pm PST!

Dr. Lauren Chase joined me this week to talk about something so many of us face: the anxiety of leaving insurance panels.Lauren's a PhD-level provider (yes, insurance pays her master's-level rates - criminal), seeing 20-25 clients a week, and finally hit her breaking point. She regrets not starting private pay from day one, and now she's planning her full exit for 2026.We dug into:Why "disappointing clients" isn't abandonmentThe 60-90 day transition period (you have TIME)How to talk to clients about leaving panelsGetting what you NEED vs. chasing credentials to justify your rateWhy consistent schedules changed everything for her practiceThe big takeaway? Clients get to be disappointed AND they're going to be okay. Your job is to support them through the transition, not sacrifice your sustainability to avoid their discomfort.Lauren's dropping Blue Cross Blue Shield in March, Aetna in June, and building her premium private pay practice in the second half of 2026. She's also getting EMDR trained because she WANTS to, not because she thinks she needs it to charge more.Find Dr. Lauren Chase:Website: ClimbingHillsCounseling.comInstagram: @ClimbingHillsCounselingLicensed in: North Carolina, South Carolina, and FloridaWatch the replay now.

This episode hit different.We talked about something that shows up constantly in the community but doesn't get enough air time: the pressure of being the primary earner while building or sustaining a private pay practice.The reality that if clients don't show up, the money doesn't flow. The challenge of saving when income isn't consistent. The weight of managing a household while also holding people's trauma daily and running a business.We covered the practical stuff too:Using Profit First to build reserves that actually save your behindSetting cancellation policies you actually stick toCreating multiple income streams beyond clinical workRetirement planning when you're self-employedThe difference between wanting to be the primary earner and being tired of that roleSome folks are moving toward that position. Others have been there so long they're ready for something different. All of it is valid.This conversation is just the beginning. Running a business is challenging enough without the added layer of primary earner pressure. But sustainable private pay practice is possible, wherever you are in that journey.Access the full episode now in your Premium dashboard.See you next week.DJ

We're talking about the stuff that's making networking harder than it needs to be.What we're covering:The Cold Facebook Add - Why you need to introduce yourself before hitting "send" on that friend request (and what to do instead)The Salesy Networking Meeting - How to show up as a person, not a business card, and why pitching too early kills the relationship before it startsRate Shaming - Yes, private pay people do this to each other. And it needs to stop. Your rate is your business. My rate is mine. We're not competing.The Referral List Exchange - The right way to close out a good networking meeting so it actually leads to referrals (hint: it's reciprocal, not transactional)Bottom line: Networking is about relationships, not transactions. Introduce yourself before you ask to connect. Build trust before you ask for referrals. And stop judging other people's rates.One more thing: if you add me on social media and never engage, I'm removing you. Connection without engagement isn't connection. It's just noise.Till next time, DJ

Hufsa Ahmad (2x TEDx speaker, EMDR specialist, 13 years in practice) joined me to talk about the networking mistakes we ALL make in early practice - and honestly, mistakes some of us are still making.What we dug into:Why "networking for referrals" backfires every single timeNot having your pitch down (and how it makes you look inexperienced even when you're not)Dealing with therapists who don't ask about YOUR practiceWhen your own mood/symptoms mess with your networking gameThe weird irony: crushing it with consultation calls but bombing at peer networkingPlus: Hufsa's now getting more speech coaching referrals than therapy clients - we talked about what that means for diversifying your offers and finding unexpected revenue streams.Connect w/ Hufsa on social mediaInstagramLinkedInWatch her TEDxIf you are interested in Virtual Assistant services, Hufsa's provider is offering a discount to our listeners. Reach out to Strategic Beasts for $15/hr VA services if you mention Hufsa's name!

Hey there,If you missed last night's Wednesday check-in, you missed one of the most powerful conversations we've had.Dr. Dominique Pritchett joined me to talk about evolving from therapist to paid speaker, and she brought ALL the wisdom.Here's what we covered:On Building a Speaking Business:How she went from finishing her postdoc to building a global speaking career (Spain, Ireland, Italy, South Africa)Why she loves "traveling on other people's money" and how speaking pays way more than therapy sessionsThe difference between networking for referrals vs. networking for speaking opportunitiesHer secret: "I'm the woman companies call when they're going through high demand and high stressful situations. My goal is to prevent a crisis."On Creating Your Own Stage:Why waiting for someone else to validate you as an expert is the most dangerous thing you can doHow she built her own retreat and spoke to 5 people like it was 1,000 (after refunding most attendees due to the Asheville flooding)The power of micro-clips and leaving a digital blueprint so people can find youWhy you can't showboat and serve at the same timeOn Positioning Yourself:Stop doing the "alphabet soup" introduction at networking eventsLead with transformation, not credentialsBuild partnerships for speaking, not therapyHer mission: Creating cultures of wellness where people are valued as souls, not statisticsThe Most Powerful Moment: Dr. Dominique shared how she opened Beloved Wellness Center during civil unrest in Kenosha, Wisconsin. Her building got broken into, but every single client still showed up. She and one social worker set up outreach tables and milk stations on the front lines. That's when she realized: "I can't showboat and serve at the same time."Key Pricing Insight: When asked about speaking fees, she said: "I'm not walking in for less than $10K." And she breaks down exactly how to position yourself to command those rates.Want to Learn More?Dr. Dominique is speaking at the Sessions to Stages Summit (October 20-22) alongside me and 25+ other mental health professionals who've built successful speaking platforms.Register FREE: https://djburr--dominiquepritchett.thrivecart.com/sts-aap-fastaction/Connect with Dr. Dominique:Website: https://www.dominiquepritchett.com/Speak to the Soul PodcastBeloved Wellness CenterThis conversation reminded me why I love doing these Wednesday check-ins. We're not just building practices. We're building movements.Speaking of building your platform: I'm hosting a 3-hour intensive workshop on Saturday, November 15 (12-3pm EST) for therapists ready to stop spinning their wheels. We're tackling money mindset, ideal client clarity, and pricing strategy - the stuff that keeps you stuck. Cameras on, real work, no theory. Early bird pricing ($300) ends November 8, then it goes to $350. If you need accountability and implementation, this is for you.Workshop Registration: https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/5wTiYcekRjGoPA1sRkqRyAPayment: https://square.link/u/XZ7JzwN3This conversation reminded me why I love doing these Wednesday check-ins. We're not just building practices. We're building movements.See you in two weeks (taking next Wednesday off for my birthday), DJ

If you missed last night's call, you missed some REAL talk about what it takes to build a profitable practice without sacrificing your life.Maren Londahl-Smidt (Balance & Beyond Coaching, Profit for Keeps® Coach) and Denielle Rigoglioso (9-Thrive Private Practice Accelerator, Salt Water Coaching) joined me to break down:✅ Why the "therapists can't make money" narrative is BS✅ How Profit for Keeps connects your personal AND business finances (spoiler: you only need ONE bank account, not 10!)✅ Moving from insurance to private pay strategically✅ Why "charge what you're worth" is problematic - and what to do instead ✅ Building teams so you can actually scale✅ Why relationship building is THE foundation of private practice growthKey Quote from the Night: "Therapists are allowed to make money. Period. End of story." - DenielleReplay Access: Premium members - the recording is in the vault NOW with unlimited access (as always!).Connect with Maren & Denielle:Maren Londahl-Smidt:FREE Facebook Group (Profit for Keeps® for Therapists): https://www.facebook.com/groups/pfkprofitableclinicianLearn more about Profit for Keeps®: https://www.balanceandbeyondcoaching.com/pfkFinancial Clarity Retreat (October 21): https://www.balanceandbeyondcoaching.com/financial-clarity-retreat - Use code CLARITY100 for $100 offFREE Webinar with Mentaya (October 22): "How to Navigate the Dreaded 'Do You Take Insurance?' Question" - https://calendly.com/mentaya/webinarDenielle Rigoglioso:FREE Facebook Group (9 to Thrive Therapist Private Practice Accelerator): https://www.facebook.com/groups/therapyceo/about/Pura Vida Private Practice Retreat in Costa Rica (January 12-16, 2026 - only 4 spots left!): https://saltwatercoachingandconsulting.com/puravidaprivatepracticeretreatThis conversation reminded me why I started this community - we ALL need to know there are different ways to do this work. Stop arguing about what other people charge. Figure out what YOU need. Build YOUR practice around YOUR life.Not a Premium member yet? Premium is 35% off this month: patreon.com/privatepay

Last night's conversation with Kirk Perry delivered exactly what we needed - practical insights about AI without the hype or fear.Kirk (former Meta AI leader, now founder of BrandNeue Archetypes) joined us to discuss how AI is changing therapy practices and what that means for you.What we covered:Why generic AI prompts give you generic (robotic) resultsHow to use AI without losing your authentic voiceThe connection between SEO and being discoverable in AI searches (I tested it live - I'm 3rd when searching ChatGPT for "therapist in Seattle sex addiction")Why knowing your archetypes helps you train AI to sound like YOU, not like ChatGPTThe importance of being specific in your AI promptsWhy credentials matter less than clarity about who you serveKirk shared personal stories, including using AI to write his father's eulogy during grief. The conversation addressed both the opportunities and the real concerns about AI in our field.Replay is available now.Kirk's archetype assessment: BNA72.com

Anne Pleas just delivered the networking masterclass we all needed 🔥Tonight's Wednesday check-in with my colleague Anne Pleas was absolutely packed with actionable wins. Here's what happened when she put ALL our premium networking tools into action:The Wake-Up Moment: Someone in our content said "you can't have a Psychology Today page and sit around and wait" - and that changed everything for Anne.The Summer Marketing Builder Results:6 Zoom meetings with treatment center reps1 coffee meeting, 1 lunch (with another lunch pending)ALL generated using our "offering value first" language and referral network approachThe Numbers Don't Lie:Took on 6 new clients in one wave4 were private pay, 2 insurance (higher-paying panels)When asked "how did you find me?" - ALL said Google, NONE from Psychology TodayCurrent roster: 29 clients total (14 private pay, 17 insurance - working toward flipping this ratio)The Systems That Worked:Used our CEO Time Blocker to prevent burnout (no more exhausted Thursday afternoons doing admin)Therapist Capacity Calculator to optimize her scheduleOur networking scripts gave her confidence: "Hey, would you like to know the kind of clients I work with that might be a good referral fit for you?"Treatment center reps were saying "thank you, you're making my job so easy, we need you"The Mindset Shift: Anne talked about moving from fear to confidence - recognizing that "fear creates fear" and instead getting grounded and taking action. She's now holding spots for private pay clients instead of filling them with insurance.Bonus: She's launching therapist consultations for colleagues who need substance use support AND writing an e-book on relapse prevention tools. The growth is real.This is what happens when you implement rather than consume. Anne took our tools, printed them out (in a green notebook, naturally), and put them to work.Ready to get similar results? All these resources are waiting for you in the premium library.Check out Anne's website and schedule that networking lunch with her! Playbook Cohort Application: https://forms.gle/4LT8pZpbRTVgpwEj6

This Wednesday's check-in with Kate Littlefield was pure fire!Kate shared her incredible journey from community mental health burnout to building a thriving private pay practice in Vermont - completely from day one, no insurance transition needed.Key highlights from our conversation: ✓ How she saved for a year and gave herself 3 months to make private pay work or leave the field entirely ✓ Going from "no market for private pay in Vermont" to fully booked in ONE MONTH with just a single Facebook group post ✓ Building multiple revenue streams through self-published workbooks and online courses while maintaining work-life balance ✓ The $6,000 marketing program mistake (so you don't have to make it) ✓ How professional organization involvement led to opportunities with the Clinton Foundation and Harvard's Brazelton InstituteKate's wisdom that hit different: "I don't have great executive functioning skills, and so I was like, I don't know how I'm gonna manage, like, running a practice that's insurance-based and, like, submitting claims... that whole process felt so inaccessible to me.""Self-care for me was making these books, making these online classes... There's... self-care can look a lot of different ways. And sometimes self-care can be your building your business."This interview is available to the entire community through Sunday, making it perfect timing to share with colleagues who are still on the fence about private pay.Next Wednesday: Another game-changing conversation you won't want to miss.DJ

Last night's Wednesday check-in was exactly why I love doing these sessions. Brandon Vazquez from We Up Counseling joined us to share his journey transitioning from insurance panels to private pay, and the conversation was packed with insights that apply to anyone making this leap.Key Takeaways from Our Session:The Strategic Approach Works Brandon started smart - dropping his lowest-paying panel (Cigna) first while building his private pay caseload. He's currently 70% insurance, 25-30% private pay, with a goal of flipping those numbers. This gradual approach lets you test the waters while maintaining financial stability.The Calendar Reality Check We had a breakthrough moment when I asked: "If your calendar is full of insurance clients, where are the private pay people going to go?" Sometimes you need to clear space before you can fill it with what you really want. Strategic planning means thinking about capacity, not just marketing.Networking Is Everything Brandon's been doing LinkedIn outreach (5 therapists per week for 2 months), building relationships through virtual coffee chats, and maintaining those connections. The Chamber of Commerce suggestion from our community member Zeruah was gold - it's not just therapists, it's the whole business community.Groups = Consistent Income When Brandon mentioned his monthly men's group, we dove deep into the power of structured group work. My weekly men's groups at $100/week with 3-month commitments create predictable income streams. The difference between drop-in groups and commitment-based groups is the difference between variable income and consistent revenue.The Community Advantage Brandon said doing telehealth felt solitary because he didn't have coworkers to chat with, and he felt like he was "reinventing the wheel with every move." That's exactly why communities like ours exist. You have 14,000+ colleagues in the main group, the Black private pay group, and this Premium community for deeper support.Resources That Came Up:Review your platform contracts (Alma, Headway) for de-paneling requirementsConsider higher-paying EAP work while transitioningUse "reduced rate" language instead of "discount" (mindset matters)Focus on relationship-building beyond just shop talkThe transition to private pay isn't just about money - it's about professional sustainability, clinical freedom, and building a practice that serves both you and your clients at the highest level.What questions do you have about the transition process? Drop them in the comments and let's keep the conversation going.Next Wednesday Check-In: September 17th at 7 PM ET. Bring your practice challenges and let's solve them together.

Tonight's Wednesday Check-in was EVERYTHING! 🔥Shoutouts to Michelle, Adele, Shay and Z for jumping in and sharing their multiple streams journeys. Hearing Shay talk about cutting her "think time" down to 3 days before acting on ideas? That hit different.And Adele - girl, I see you with that "quit standing in the way of your own success" reminder. We ALL needed that.What we covered:Why your therapy skills translate to WAY more than you thinkThe multiple streams bundle that's helping folks map their next movesPremium members - you already have access to the Multiple Streams Foundation Bundle we talked about. Non-members can grab it for FREE for the next 48 hours at patreon.com/privatepayGrab the Multiple Streams Bundle too! Free until Friday Sept 5 at 11:59pm. Plus - the book is officially out! "Private Pay Practitioners Playbook" hit #1 bestseller in practice management (still pinching myself). Rolling out to more platforms soon - I'll keep you posted on availability.Next Wednesday: Special guest joining us for live coaching around making the leap to private pay. You don't want to miss this one.See you there!

Just uploaded my conversation with Allyson Clemmons, LCSW - and this one's about more than just business strategies.What We Explored:Her realization that graduate school prepared her to be a therapist, not a business ownerManaging the loneliness of solo practice while wearing multiple hatsThe entrepreneurial brain differences that help some of us take risks others won'tHow living in Greece for 2 years shaped her multi-state licensing strategyWhy she gives away free therapy sessions because her rates allow her toThe Real Talk: Allyson shares her journey from someone who knew she was "too feral" to be a W-2 employee to building a sustainable practice that works with her life, not against it. Learn more from Allyson: https://www.bridgetownclinical.com/ and allysonclemmons.comPremium Members - this adds to your growing library of real practitioner stories and strategies. It's the kind of honest conversation about the challenges and breakthroughs that help you navigate your own path.Not a Premium member? This interview shows the mindset shifts and practical lessons that separate therapists who struggle with the business side from those who make it work for them.Ready to stop feeling like you're winging the business parts of practice?

Fall energy is hitting DIFFERENT this year! 🍂Just finished our Premium Weekly Check-In and I'm buzzing with excitement about what this season holds. There's something magical about fall - maybe it's my birthday month bias, but clients always seem to show up with this renewed commitment to change.Real talk: Fall is prime time for launching something new.Whether it's a group, intensive, or workshop - this is when people are ready to invest in themselves. They're done with the summer distractions and ready to get serious about their healing.I've been thinking a lot about what makes someone say "yes" to joining a group or booking an intensive. It comes down to one thing: Are you addressing their deepest fear?For my folks, it's usually the terror of losing everything - relationships, careers, family connections. When you can speak directly to that pain point, that's when the magic happens.Here's what I'm planning for fall:Launching my new book - The Private Pay Practitioners Playbook (September can't come fast enough!)Recording more meditations for Insight TimerMaybe a weekend workshop (still deciding...)But the real secret sauce? Never stop networking. I don't care if you're booked solid - keep those relationships warm. Your future self will thank you.The Fall Launch Prep is ready and waiting in the Premium vault. It's packed with strategies for identifying your clients' pain points, pre-qualifying prospects, and setting up offerings that actually fill.What's cooking in your practice this fall? Drop a comment - I love seeing what y'all are creating!Non-members: You can grab the guide without committing to another subscription (because Lord knows we all have enough of those! 😅) It's in Vault Vol 5!

🚨 The Burnout Warning Signs Every Private Pay Therapist Needs to KnowReal signs that networking burnout is creeping in:Dreading your Facebook groups or CE events (even when you need them!)Getting defensive about your private pay rates when colleagues question themFeeling low self-esteem and questioning your worthResentment toward clients, yourself, or colleagues"If you're getting really defensive about your rates all the time, that's a sign of potential burnout because you're overworking and probably over-tolerating someone else's BS." - DJ💡 Game-Changing Mindset ShiftsStop Over-Explaining Your WorthOwn your private pay decision without apologySimple script: "I choose to be private pay because it's sustainable for me, my practice, and my family."No more leading with "I know I should probably take insurance, but..."The 99% Rule DJ networks almost exclusively with other private pay practitioners now - and for good reason. Insurance-based therapists want to network with other insurance providers, so why force a mismatch?🛠 Practical Strategies That Actually WorkFor the Overwhelmed:Don't over-follow up - One email, maybe check in 6 weeks later when you have something meaningful to shareSet timers when working on projects to prevent those 6-hour spiralsHave an exit strategy for networking calls that aren't a good fitFor Introverts (We See You!):Scale it back: One-on-one chats over big groupsVirtual coffee dates on Zoom work perfectlySchedule when your bandwidth is high, not when you're forcing itEmail/text only networking is totally validGive yourself permission to leave early and schedule downtime after🎯 Red Flags in Networking ConversationsMy "one red flag is enough" rule - Exit immediately if they:Only talk about themselves, ask zero questions about youPush back on your model or ratesMake inappropriate comments about clients or your specialtyExit script: "It doesn't sound like you and I would be a good fit for sending referrals to one another, but I really appreciate the time you've taken to meet with me."🌟 Community Wisdom: What's Working NowAdventure-based networkingChamber of Commerce connectionsCalendly systems that let networking contacts choose the meeting format and locationReaching out with value - sharing relevant resources, not asking for referrals💪 The Bottom Line"We gotta be able to do this thing, right? Being able to take care of ourselves and get the energy flowing that's going to support us in showing up and being present is necessary." - DJYour sustainable networking approach should:Fit YOUR energy and availabilityBuild genuine relationships, not transactional connectionsProtect your boundaries while staying open to opportunitiesGenerate referrals without burning you out🎁 Grab Your Free Networking Without Burnout HandoutDJ is sharing a comprehensive handout with all these strategies plus actionable steps you can implement immediately. This is pure gold for building a referral network that sustains rather than drains you.What resonated most with you from this talk? Drop a comment and let us know which strategy you're implementing first! 👇And don’t forget to Pre-Order my new book, The Private Pay Practitioners Playbook!

If you missed our powerful live conversation, you can now watch it anytime! Black therapists from across the country shared their authentic experiences navigating private practice and private pay systems.What you'll hear: ✨ Raw, honest stories - From growing up with messages like "we don't do therapy" to building thriving practices ✨ Insurance reality check - Why practitioners are leaving panels (spoiler: it's not just the money) ✨ Transition strategies - How therapists successfully moved to private pay ✨ Marketing gold - Including one practitioner's game-changing podcast outreach strategy ✨ Microaggressions exposed - Real experiences with companies trying to change authentic voices ✨ Community wisdom - The power of networking and supporting each otherPowerful moments you'll experience:"I don't need anyone else to tell my story. I will tell it." - DJ on taking control of his narrative"Rest is actually resistance. And it's your birthright. You know what I mean. Like you get to rest. You deserve to rest." - Natalie on breaking conditioning and overwork culture"They're not going to look at us as an expert unless they can hear that we sound like an expert to them... I'm gonna show up with my hoops on a podcast I'm gonna show up with my locks on the podcast I'm gonna talk just like I'm talking to y'all, because this is the same way I talk to my clients." - Meghan on authentic marketingFeatured voices include:Natalie sharing her trauma work and insurance exit storyElisha discussing generational perspectives (her mom was the only Black psychologist in her county in the 80s!)Angela navigating social work training that discouraged private practiceNia explaining the importance of culturally appropriate therapyMeghan dropping serious podcast marketing knowledgeAnd more incredible practitioners sharing their journeysThis isn't just another business talk - it's about lived experience, professional growth, and building generational wealth in our community.Perfect for:Black practitioners considering private payAnyone wanting to understand the real challenges we faceTherapists looking for authentic marketing strategiesThose seeking community and connection in this workWATCH FOR FREE - No paywall. No restrictions. Just real conversation from real practitioners.Come for the business insights, stay for the community wisdom. 💪🏾