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

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

Today’s topic is one that puzzles many clinicians and leaves us feeling uncomfortable. We’ve approached setting fees on past episodes, but today we are diving deeper into setting fees that ensure our profitability. How do we make sure our business is growing, thriving, and allowing for future expansion? Join us as we learn more with today’s guest. Reina Lombardi is an art therapist based in Florida. She has a wealth of experience and knowledge about debt, building a business, and setting fees. Reina understands the many challenges in owning a private practice, and she knows that we need to be profitable. I hope our conversation gives you a practical perspective on using objective data, and not emotions, to figure out where your numbers should be.   Support this podcast

Today’s show is about something a bit different, even though we’re in the middle of the coronavirus crisis. I’ve learned that we should have a virtual aspect of our business in place for scenarios like this. I’ve also learned how important diverse income streams can be when your regular practice is interrupted. I can’t maintain my business health if I rely solely on my clients. Five years ago, I launched my first online course, so now I’m sharing lessons learned over that time, especially about gear. Remember, though, that gear should help you achieve your goals and not just be another way to spend money. www.sellingthecouch.com/session233   Support this podcast

Today’s show is one that I’ve looked forward to for a long time. We are covering a topic that comes up frequently in the STC community, which is the process of hiring a virtual assistant. I’ve been through this process more than once, and it was a rocky road before finding Nicole three years ago. Hiring a VA teaches you about your strengths, weaknesses, and communication skills. I’ve learned what tasks I can delegate and what help I need for long-term sustainability in my business. Today you’ll meet Nicole Denison, who is my awesome VA. I found her through my colleague, Laura Reagan, who raved about Nicole and her abilities. I’m so thankful to have found Nicole three years ago, and I can honestly say that STC wouldn’t exist as it does today without Nicole’s hard work and dedication. www.sellingthecouch.com/session232     Support this podcast

Today’s show is about a topic I’ve wanted to cover for a while. It’s about something many of us might have wanted to do in our practices. We are talking about retreats and mini-retreats, and I have the perfect person to fill us in on the details. Mikella Millen is an art therapist in NYC. She has taken a great idea and made it reality by creating retreats focused on self-care for clinicians. She’s sharing with us how she developed this idea and validated the fact that people would want to sign up. We’ll talk about what went well and what didn’t go well, along with Mikella’s lessons learned along the way. www.sellingthecouch.com/session231     Support this podcast

Today’s topic is a new one in the STC community. Have you ever thought about renting or subleasing extra office space? Whether you might be a prospective owner or renter, today’s show has great wisdom about how that extra office space can be put to good use in serving other clinicians and your community. Elena Clemente has a practice in North Tampa. She has learned many lessons through renting out parts of her four-person office suite. In today’s show, Elena shares how she found this office space and what kinds of contracts she uses with colleagues who are interested in leasing the space. She’ll also share lessons learned along the way, specifically about features of the office and managing busy schedules. If you’ve thought about sharing office space in this way, then this podcast might be helpful for you. A Special Thank You to Today's Sponsor: To check out the brand new FREE 4 Part Masterclass offered for therapists by ZynnyMe, go to http://sellingthecouch.com/zynnyme (sellingthecouch.com/zynnyme) www.s

As STC has grown, I’ve been wanting to address this topic of getting on other podcasts as a guest. In a typical week, I receive several requests from people wanting to be a guest on STC.  There are several reasons why I cannot accept every one of those requests, and there are things to consider in remaining authentic while seeking podcast appearances. In this solo episode, we discuss some tips to follow if you want to increase your exposure by appearing on podcasts. www.sellingthecouch.com/session229     Support this podcast

Today’s conversation focuses on an interesting topic. We’ve often discussed the nuances of a private pay practice, but today we are going deeper. Is it possible to build a successful private pay group practice in an area where most other clinicians take insurance? Join us as we explore this question together. Deborah Duley has a practice in Maryland, which she manages remotely from her new home in Atlanta. Deborah has learned a lot along the journey in which she began as a solo practitioner in a private pay practice in 2013. She then went to a group practice where she niched down to work with women and girls. Deborah shares some of the mistakes made and lessons learned, her biggest fear in the transition from solo to group practice, and whether certain niches are better suited for private pay. She tells us how she focuses on self-care to combat the unique stressors of being a group practice owner. www.sellingthecouch.com/session228     Support this podcast

Today’s show covers an interesting topic that has come up in the STC community. We discuss multiple income streams frequently, but what is the best way to put those in place? Do I need to build my therapy practice before I launch a second income stream? Let’s answer these questions and more with today’s guest. Annie Schuessler lives in the San Francisco Bay area. She’s been in private practice for 20 years, and she’s mentored other therapists for 10 years. She has insights learned along the way in her journey, and she’s here to share those secrets with us. We’ll discuss why it’s important to have additional income streams as a clinician, and Annie shares the three minimum steps to take before launching into other income streams. Join us for more from Annie! www.sellingthecouch.com/session227 Support this podcast

Today’s topic is one that puzzles many clinicians and leaves us feeling uncomfortable. We’ve approached setting fees on past episodes, but today we are diving deeper into setting fees that ensure our profitability. How do we make sure our business is growing, thriving, and allowing for future expansion? Join us as we learn more with today’s guest. Reina Lombardi is an art therapist based in Florida. She has a wealth of experience and knowledge about debt, building a business, and setting fees. Reina understands the many challenges in owning a private practice, and she knows that we need to be profitable. I hope our conversation gives you a practical perspective on using objective data, and not emotions, to figure out where your numbers should be. www.sellingthecouch.com/session226 Support this podcast

Welcome to a solo episode! I wanted to take this opportunity to discuss how I’ve revamped my private practice website. The process has been very intentional for me, and I’ve enlisted the help of several other people. Maybe you are considering changes to your website, but you aren’t sure where to begin. I hope today’s “inside look” at a private practice website is helpful to you. www.sellingthecouch.com/session225   Support this podcast

Have you felt the pull of private practice? Maybe you’ve considered taking the leap into private practice, but are hesitant about the first steps to take. Today’s show takes an authentic look at the big picture, along with basic procedures to get you started. Our guest shares how she followed her intuition and took the risk that comes with starting a business. Montoyia McGowan is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker in the Memphis, Tennessee area. She and I have connected online for about four years, since the early days of the STC community. Montoyia left a job she loved at the VA to go into private practice, and she celebrates four years in that practice this year. We are discussing what made her start her private practice, how she honed in on a niche, and how she networked and found referral sources. We’ll wrap up with an honest analysis of what has gone well for Montoyia and what she wishes she had done differently. I hope you enjoy this action-packed episode with many pearls of wisdom and insights. www.se

With today’s technology, most people rely on online reviews when it comes to products, services, restaurants, hotels, and much more. When it comes to clinicians and clients, online reviews can reveal a lot, but is that a good thing? Do people mainly leave online reviews when they are upset or dissatisfied with the service they have received? Join us for a deeper look at this issue on today’s show. Dr. Keely Kolmes is a Licensed Psychologist in California. They did research via anonymous surveys about the experience of therapy clients who had accessed personal or professional information about therapists. We’re taking a close look at the results of the survey, how these results are interpreted, and how these results can help improve your private practice. http://www.sellingthecouch.com/session223 (www.sellingthecouch.com/session223)     Support this podcast

Many clinicians think about creating online courses, and some may even feel pressured to take this step. Online courses are sometimes portrayed as the “golden egg” for clinicians and the pinnacle of achievement. While this is certainly a product with much potential, the key is in balancing online courses with the other aspects of your practice while making sure you are motivated by the right reasons. Learn more in today’s show! Miranda Palmer is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist from ZinniMe.com. She’s a good friend who is very knowledgeable about the transition from clinical work to online courses. Miranda has helped develop three online courses, so we are having an honest conversation about the good, the bad, and the ugly of online courses. It’s easy to get sucked into feeling obligated to create online courses, but there are unique challenges to be faced. We’ll also get Miranda’s perspective on the hazards and roadblocks inherent in this transition. www.sellingthecouch.com/session222   Support t

Welcome to the first episode of 2020! It’s been nice to have some extra time for rest and family time around the holidays, but now I’m ready to get going again with wonderful guests and helpful episodes as we step into a new year. Curt Widhalm, LMFT, is a friend based in Los Angeles. He works with high-achieving teens in his practice. I wanted Curt to share how he chose this niche and what he’s learned along the way. It’s also cool that Curt is a marathon runner who ran competitively in high school and now works as a trainer with US Track & Field. In this conversation with Curt, we talk about the power of sub-niching within a niche, lessons learned by Curt along the way, and how he discusses his $225/hr fees with parents. www.sellingthecouch.com/session221 Support this podcast

Do you “have it all together” when it comes to your business finances? My hat’s off to you if you do, but for most of us, the painful truth is that any business journey comes with its own set of challenges and lessons, some of which must be learned the hard way. Like many of you, I like to pretend that I have it all together, but today’s show is all about transparency and baring it all---the good, the bad, and the ugly. Every few weeks I like to a solo session to share with you what I’m learning along with my business journey because I believe my experiences--the good AND the bad--can help others. I’ve learned what works and what doesn’t, and I’m willing to share those lessons with you with humility. Let’s talk about the money pitfalls that come with business success. www.sellingthecouch.com/session220   Support this podcast

Today’s guest is Debra Roberts, LCSW, who is in private practice specializing in relationship therapy. Our topic today is one that many clinicians have probably pondered at one time or another. We’re discussing how to take our clinical expertise and turn it into some kind of digital product that extends far beyond the therapy room. Over 20+ years in private practice, Debra realized that she was having success with her clients and finally mustered the courage to write a book that has since branched into a course, training, webinars and more. Debra shares her journey, what she’s learned about her strengths, and some practical aspects to consider about creating a webinar. Join us! www.sellingthecouch.com/session219   Support this podcast

When you’ve talked with as many people as I have, you tend to learn a lot of lessons and gain great insights into what it takes to build a successful private practice. Today’s show is a solo episode inspired by a presentation I did recently. We are focusing on three lessons I’ve learned, along with key takeaways and the biggest mistake for each lesson. www.sellingthecouch.com/session218   Support this podcast

Welcome to this solo episode! I’m talking today about all the things I thought I knew about podcasting that turned out NOT to be true. I want to help you avoid these mistakes if you’re considering embarking on your own podcasting journey. My podcasting journey spans almost 2-1/2 years now, which is still hard for me to believe. So, here we go; let’s jump right into Five Podcasting Myths and How to Avoid Them. www.sellingthecouch.com/session217   Support this podcast

Welcome! Can you build a private pay counseling private practice in this day and age? That is the question that therapist and business coach Keri Nola and I explore in Session 4 of the Selling the Couch podcast.    www.sellingthecouch.com/session216     Support this podcast