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

Have you ever neglected your own needs to work with your clients? Have you sacrificed time for personal self-care to squeeze in “one more client”? Most clinicians are probably guilty of this behavior, called Sacrificial Helping Syndrome. I know what it is because I have lived it, as most other clinicians have done also. Let’s address this common problem in today’s conversation. My guest is Katie Vernoy, LMFT, in Torrance, CA. Many clinicians struggle with giving so much of themselves because they see overexerting themselves and taking on too much as a badge of honor. They also see it as a measure of competence and success. Katie sheds insight on this common problem and how we can see it in ourselves and be honest in addressing it. We also discuss how to maintain the balance of being a helper and a healer with a kind heart and being a business owner at the same time. You can read the full show notes at: Session167 Mentioned in this episode: Today's Sponsor is Turning Point HQ Don't let your own money blocks

How can a clinician deal with chronic illness? Is it possible to continue running your business and furthering your career? This is a topic I’ve wanted to dive into because I know many of my private practice colleagues are dealing with some form of chronic illness or chronic pain. We all know that life and your business don’t stop when illness strikes, so let’s jump into this discussion. Daniela Paolone, MS, LMFT, is a counselor in Westlake Village, CA. She’s here to discuss her journey with chronic illness while maintaining her private practice and to teach us what she’s learned. There are some good pearls of wisdom in our conversation around having self-compassion and not falling prey to comparisons. You can read the full show notes at: Session166 Mentioned in this episode: Today's Sponsor is Turning Point HQ Don't let your own money blocks rob you of your future financial security. Turning Point HQ is a financial planning company specifically for therapists. They've created a free guide to help you avoid

What are your “money stories”? This is a topic many of us struggle with related to the stories we tell ourselves about money. Our money beliefs affect everything about our practice, our work as business owners, and how we view and work with our clients. Let’s dig in and address the issues around our money beliefs so that we can better serve our clients and ourselves. Deb Lyman, LCSW, has a private practice in Oakland, CA. She does a lot of work with clinicians, helping them work through their money stories to charge what they are worth. In today’s conversation, Deb explains why we need to understand our money stories and how to set private practice fees in order to honor our stories and our emotions. She shares an interesting conceptualization of money in the personal, business, and clinical realms. We wrap up today’s show with Deb’s helpful tips about money. Join us! You can read the full show notes at: http://www.sellingthecouch.com/session165 (Session165) Mentioned in this episode: Today's Sponsor i

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. http://www.sellingthecouch.com/session164 (www.sellingthecouch.com/session164) Mentioned in this episode: Today's Sponsor is Turning Point HQ Don't let your own money blocks rob you of your future financial security. Turning Point HQ is a financial planning company specifically for therapists. They've created a free guide to help you avoid the 7 money mistakes that most therapists make. Download the free guide today! https://selling-the-couch.captivate.fm/turningpointhq (Turning Point HQ)

Every once in a while, you’ll hear the success story of someone who breaks the mold and goes against the norms. Today’s show highlights the story of a therapist who bucks the trend of everything we normally learn on the podcast and is the direct opposite of what the experts say about building a private practice. Katie Zimmerman, LMFT, practices in Arroyo Grande, CA. She endured some crazy circumstances that led to her leaving one job and having to quickly figure out how to create and open her private practice---in about two weeks! She found office space that was appropriately perfect, established a name for her practice, and got it going with some foundational clients. It may sound impossible, but it speaks to the importance of intentionality and relationships. Katie shares reflections on the reasons for her success, the narratives we struggle with about what we can accomplish, and the importance of certain training modalities. Join us! You can read the full show notes at: http://www.sellingthecouch.co

What safety measures do you have in place? As clinicians, we may not think about personal safety as a concern, and we certainly hope it’s never an issue, but we should be proactive and prepared. We’ve never had safety issues as a podcast topic before, but there have been many conversations about this in the STC Facebook Community. Adriana Alejandre is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist in Porter Ranch, CA. She has learned some practical things related to safety, so she’s here to share about screening clients and staying present around safety concerns. She has also had conversations with law enforcement officials and gotten some great tips about using apps and technology to help with this very important topic. Join us! http://www.sellingthecouch.com/session162 (www.sellingthecouch.com/session162) Mentioned in this episode: Today's Sponsor is Turning Point HQ Don't let your own money blocks rob you of your future financial security. Turning Point HQ is a financial planning company specifically for thera

Have you considered online counseling? As clinicians, we all have questions and fears around this endeavor and how it works. We have discussed the practical aspects of online counseling on the show before, but today’s conversation focuses more on the day-to-day aspects of the therapeutic relationship. Shelley Smith and Jennifer Labanowski are LMFT’s who have a wealth of knowledge about online counseling. They worked in the same practice until moves to different places separated them in the workplace. This is when they first considered, researched, and implemented their online counseling practice. Today’s conversation with Shelley and Jen covers how to build rapport, the initial consult, questions to ask, and how to handle emergency psychosis situations---all through the medium of online counseling. Join us to learn more from Shelley and Jen! http://www.sellingthecouch.com/session161 (www.sellingthecouch.com/session161) Mentioned in this episode: Today's Sponsor is Wellerz Don't waste money on traditional of

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. http://www.sellingthecouch.com/session160 (www.sellingthecouch.com/session160) Mentioned in this episode: Today's Sponsor is Turning Point HQ Don't let your own money blocks rob you of your future financial security. Turning Point HQ is a fina

Have you found yourself intimidated, but still curious, about using Google AdWords? Maybe you’ve wondered how it really works and if it would be helpful for you as a clinician. I’m in this category also, as I’ve wanted to know more and learn the ins and outs from a knowledgeable person. Today is the day! Join us to learn more! John Sanders is an expert in the field of Google AdWords, as he has been in the field for many years and helped healthcare providers use wise marketing dollars to increase web traffic and convert those clicks into clients. On an interesting side note, his significant other, Laura, and I were in grad school together. Since she is a therapist in private practice, John has a handle on the nuances of how this concept applies to clinicians, and I’m excited to hear what he can teach us. http://www.sellingthecouch.com/session159 (www.sellingthecouch.com/session159) Mentioned in this episode: Today's Sponsor is Turning Point HQ Don't let your own money blocks rob you of your future financial

How do clinicians hone in on a particular niche? Is it important to focus on a specific ideal client? Our conversation today is one that’s needed in today’s world because it’s a focus on developing a niche in supporting gender-questioning or transgender clients. There aren’t a lot of therapists who focus solely on helping with these issues. Dara Hoffman-Fox, LPC, is located in Colorado Springs, CO. Dara works exclusively with people in the LGBTQI population. We’re discussing Dara's journey and what they learned along the way. Dara shares the importance of languaging in dealing with marginalized communities, even down to the questions on your intake paperwork. Dara's background in videography and communications has allowed them to utilize YouTube videos in a big way to market their practice. We talk about Dara's website and how the words and images are used in a practical way. This episode is helpful for all clinicians, and not just those focused on gender issues. http://www.sellingthecouch.com/session158 (w

What are the nuances to consider if you want to make the transition from therapy to coaching? It’s something that many therapists think about and wonder if it would work for them and their practice. We cover the ins and outs in today’s episode! Mary Bicknell, LCSW, moved to Portland and wanted to start a coaching practice. As she made the move, she thought a coaching practice would be more family-friendly and match up better with what she wanted to accomplish. We’re discussing how she made the decision and transitioned from a therapy model to a coaching model. We go deep into pricing and marketing, and why pricing is a monumental struggle for so many in this field. Mary helps us with some “out-of-the-box” thinking that may help other clinicians and business owners. Join us! http://www.sellingthecouch.com/session157 (www.sellingthecouch.com/session157) Today’s Awesome Sponsor: http://sellingthecouch.com/theranest (TheraNest) helps behavioral health professionals manage their practice with ease

What happens if you receive a serious diagnosis or injury that puts you out of work? It’s obviously something that we don’t want to think about, but the reality is that any of us could face this situation and be forced to step away from our regular income. What happens to your family? How do you deal with the sudden loss of income for your business? We’re discussing these topics and more in today’s show, focusing on disability insurance. http://www.sellingthecouch.com/session156 (www.sellingthecouch.com/session156) Mentioned in this episode: Today's Sponsor is Turning Point HQ Don't let your own money blocks rob you of your future financial security. Turning Point HQ is a financial planning company specifically for therapists. They've created a free guide to help you avoid the 7 money mistakes that most therapists make. Download the free guide today! https://selling-the-couch.captivate.fm/turningpointhq (Turning Point HQ)

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to be a millionaire? Most of us have probably spent some time dreaming about how we would use that kind of wealth, but you might be surprised to learn that millionaires don’t live and spend the way we think they do. The show will take a short break for the month of April. This is because I like to practice what I preach about self-care; to stay at my optimal health, I’ll take this break and then return with more shows in May. Today’s show centers around topics presented in a book I read recently, The Millionaire Next Door: The Surprising Secrets of America’s Wealthy, by Thomas J. Stanley and William D. Danko. Let’s dive into the best takeaways from this book! http://www.sellingthecouch.com/session155 (www.sellingthecouch.com/session155) Mentioned in this episode: Today's Sponsor is Turning Point HQ Don't let your own money blocks rob you of your future financial security. Turning Point HQ is a financial planning company specifically for therapists. They've create

Niching, SEO, blog and website design----these are concepts we need to be familiar with as clinicians, but don’t they tend to be confusing? How do they fit together—or do they? Today’s show will break down the terminology and answer your questions about how these aspects of your practice can work in your favor. We’re talking all about niching and how it connects with our website and how everything factors into search engine optimization. My guest is Paul Steinke, LPC in Colorado, and the owner of the Karibuni Center. If you know Swahili, then you know that “karibuni” means “welcome.” Paul has created a private practice where he works with people and their relationships around marriage and couple issues. Interestingly, Paul is a former wedding photographer who transitioned into the therapist’s chair, and his former career taught him a lot about marketing, web design, and visual images. Now Paul is all about helping couples in crisis, especially through affair recovery and divorce. Don’t miss my amazing convers

What are the essential elements in creating a successful private practice? We all know the list of things to consider and plan goes on and on and on! Everywhere we turn, there are new challenges to meet and new details to handle. Today’s show features a clinician who has navigated this journey, faced the ups and downs, and created a beautiful practice that focuses on relationships. Shirani M. Pathak, LCSW, practices in the Bay area of the Silicon Valley of California. She has created a successful private practice that focuses on helping women who struggle in relationships. We discuss how she intentionally chose the phrasing on her website, how she took a step back to learn to “speak her clients’ language,” and the lessons she has learned in her practice-building journey. Shirani explains how she uses her mission statement and email newsletter for a deeper purpose beyond the walls of her practice. http://www.sellingthecouch.com/session153 (www.sellingthecouch.com/session153) Mentioned in this episode: Today'

How are you at thinking outside the box? As private practitioners, that kind of creative thinking is vital, but we know that any journey has its bumps in the road. This episode is perfect for everyone who has thought about creating, marketing and selling a product. What is the process like? How do you take care of all the little details? What about the marketing piece of your product? We’re diving deep into these questions and more on today’s show. My guest is Rosanne Marmor, LCSW, in Portland, Oregon. She created a Feelings Wheel as a way for clients to identify their feelings both inside and outside the therapy room. Rosanne went on a journey that took almost two years of gathering data, development, and production. She was finally able to put this tool in the hands of her clients and has been overwhelmed by its success. http://www.sellingthecouch.com/session152 (www.sellingthecouch.com/session152) Mentioned in this episode: Today's Sponsor is Turning Point HQ Don't let your own money blocks rob you of your

What if your clients did their homework? Wouldn’t it be great if you could keep your clients engaged in- between sessions? These questions are behind the development of Therachat, a HIPAA-compliant, encrypted app that helps with the process of therapy homework. Join us to learn more! Kouris Kalligas is the founder and CEO of Therachat. When I heard that Kouris was developing this app and I understood the immense research that went into its development, I knew I had to have him on the show to tell us more. This is a practical topic, and our discussion of client homework involves how to assign the work and how to motivate clients to complete it. Kouris interviewed over 500 clinicians about their homework practices and has developed new ideas about incorporating homework into a therapy practice. The challenge is how to keep the homework short, sweet, intentional, and customized, and Kouris has helpful tips to share. http://www.sellingthecouch.com/session151 (www.sellingthecouch.com/session151) Mentioned in thi

Have you ever thought about starting your own online community? You’ve heard me talk often about the STC Facebook Community and the many questions and show topics that spring from that group. In fact, the idea for today’s show comes from emails I recently received about our online community. I hope this show gives you the information you need if this is something you’ve been thinking about doing! Today’s show is a solo episode, which I try to do once a month. I love teaching and sharing transparently about the mistakes I’ve made and what I’m learning. The STC Facebook community now numbers over 7,000 members, and with that unexpected growth come many issues in its day-to-day management. Our group began in March 2015, and our members are known as “Couchies.” It’s a gathering place for members to share and reflect, so let’s talk about Growing an Online Community. Join us! http://www.sellingthecouch.com/session150 (www.sellingthecouch.com/session150) Mentioned in this episode: Today's Sponsor is Turning Point

How do you build a successful private pay practice in an area heavily dominated by insurance pay practices? It’s a question that many clinicians either struggle with, or think about, and this is our topic for today’s show. This topic has been frequently discussed in the STC community, so I know it will be impactful for you, regardless of which kind of practice you currently find yourself. Dr. Erika Martinez is a psychologist in the Miami area, and she set out to build a private pay practice in 2015. She’s learned many lessons about what to do and what not to do, and she’s here to share with us. Her initial journey into this kind of practice was based on her circumstances, and she certainly could have given up with the mental anguish she had to endure, but she kept working hard to make her dreams become reality. She’s sharing how she found her niche and overcame the struggles she faced. She also talks about how to navigate the conversation with a client who wants to use your services but also wants to use insu

Today’s show highlights a common problem for clinicians, especially those in a private pay practice. How do we get clients’ out-of-network claims paid? Rachael Norman is here from Better; their mission is to help providers not lose patients because of not accepting insurance. Better is an app for filing out-of-network insurance claims. They are a free resource for clinicians and they help in an ongoing effort to help reduce medical costs to patients. Rachael is sharing practical tips that she’s learned and explaining more about the concept of “out-of-network” benefits. We’re discussing the basics of superbills, wording, and coding, along with common mistakes clinicians make with superbills and the next big changes to come regarding claims and coding. Join us! http://www.sellingthecouch.com/session148 (www.sellingthecouch.com/session148) Mentioned in this episode: Today's Sponsor is Turning Point HQ Don't let your own money blocks rob you of your future financial security. Turning Point HQ is a financial pla