Private Practice Elevation With Daniel Fava

Self-sabotage is something almost everyone experiences at some point, whether it’s procrastination, self-doubt, or avoiding opportunities that could lead to growth.  But why does it happen, and how can we break free from it?  In this episode, Daniel Fava sits down with Dr. Audrey Schnell to explore the deeper roots of self-sabotage and how to move past it. Dr. Schnell explains that self-sabotage isn’t a personal failing but a defense mechanism rooted in fear and past experiences, often dating back to childhood.  She shares how awareness, relationships, and small, intentional actions can help shift these patterns and foster growth. Dr. Schnell’s insights offer a roadmap for shifting away from self-doubt and into action. Whether it’s identifying hidden patterns, leaning on supportive relationships, or making small mindset shifts, this episode provides practical takeaways for anyone ready to move past self-sabotage and step fully into their potential. Key Takeaways: Self-sabotage stems from fear and past traum

Many therapists know that creating content can be a powerful way to build their practice, establish authority, and connect with potential clients.  However, the process can feel overwhelming—where do you start, what should you write about, and how do you stay consistent?  With the demands of private practice, it’s easy to put content creation on the back burner. But what if there was a way to simplify the process and make it work for you? In this episode, host Daniel Fava sits down with Annie Schuessler, founder of Rebel Therapist, to explore strategies for content creation that not only elevate an online presence but also nurture a devoted audience.  Whether you're looking to expand beyond private practice or simply strengthen your connection with clients, this conversation is packed with practical insights. What You’ll Learn in This Episode Annie and Daniel discuss the essential role of content creation in building trust and authority.  They highlight the importance of truly knowing your audience—understand

Marketing your private practice can often feel overwhelming — especially when you're trying every strategy out there and still not seeing results.  In this episode of the Private Practice Elevation podcast, host Daniel Fava chats with Valery Krieg, a therapist, private practice owner, and business coach, about why marketing struggles are rarely a reflection of the therapist — it's the strategy that's the issue. Valery shares her inspiring journey from community mental health to building her own successful private practice.  Along the way, she learned firsthand how personalized, client-focused marketing can transform a struggling practice into a thriving one.  This conversation is packed with practical insights for therapists looking to simplify their marketing, attract ideal clients, and build sustainable businesses without burning out. Whether you're just starting out or trying to revamp your practice's marketing approach, this episode will help you gain clarity on what truly works and how to create marketin

In this episode of The Private Practice Elevation Podcast, Daniel Fava explores the financial lessons every group practice owner needs to hear. Daniel sits down with Brittany Schank, a mental health therapist and owner of Solace Counseling, a thriving group practice with ten clinicians across two locations.  Brittany shares her journey of building a $1.5 million practice while navigating the challenges of managing a team and maintaining a sustainable business. What sets this episode apart is Brittany’s openness about the financial mistakes she’s made along the way. From overcompensating employees to neglecting proper tax planning, she offers valuable lessons for avoiding common pitfalls in practice ownership.  Whether someone is just starting out or already running a group practice, this episode provides actionable strategies for creating a balanced and profitable business. Brittany and Daniel also discuss frameworks like Profit First and strategies for preparing for deductible seasons, making this episode a

In this episode of the Private Practice Elevation podcast, we’re diving into the world of therapy intensives with Steffeny Feld, EMDR Certified Therapist, Consultant, and Creator of the Intensive Design Lab.  Steffeny is passionate about helping therapists transform their practices by offering therapy intensives—an approach that’s not only deeply impactful for clients but also allows clinicians to work less, earn more, and make a lasting difference. During our conversation, Steffeny shares her journey, the benefits of therapy intensives, and practical steps for incorporating them into your private practice.  We’ll explore what makes therapy intensives so powerful, common misconceptions therapists might have, and how they can help you grow your income, boost your energy, and expand your impact. Whether you’re new to the concept or curious about taking the next step, this episode is packed with actionable insights to help you reimagine your private practice. Key Takeaways: Therapy Intensives Defined: Therapy

In this episode, we’re talking about the financial mistakes that therapists often make in private practice—and how to avoid them.  Whether you’re just starting out or scaling your business, this conversation will help you manage your finances more effectively, save money, and reduce stress.  Our guest, Julie Herres, CEO of Green Oak Accounting and an experienced accountant who works with private practice owners, shares practical advice to help you feel confident about your numbers and make smarter financial decisions. If you’ve ever worried about tax surprises, felt unsure about when to hire a professional, or struggled to make your practice profitable, this episode is for you. What You’ll Learn in This Episode: Why saving for taxes is essential and how to avoid year-end financial panic. The key mindset shift you need to treat your practice as a successful business. How skipping professional help for accounting or legal advice can cost you big in the long run. Simple strategies, like Profit First, to

In this episode of Private Practice Elevation, Daniel dives into the world of search engine optimization (SEO). He explains how therapists in private practice can perform a basic SEO assessment of their websites.  SEO can feel like a moving target, especially with the constant changes in Google's algorithm, but understanding the basics can make a big difference in your online visibility. For private practice owners, having a strong online presence is essential to attracting the right clients. However, navigating SEO often feels overwhelming.  That’s why this episode is packed with practical tips to help therapists assess their current SEO strategies and identify opportunities for improvement.  From understanding key metrics in Google Analytics to optimizing Google Business Profiles for local search, Daniel covers the essentials to help you elevate your online presence and grow your practice. Why Perform An SEO Assessment? Many therapists struggle to understand why their website isn’t generating enough leads

In this episode of the Private Practice Elevation Podcast, Daniel dives into the fast-paced, ever-evolving world of SEO and what therapists can expect as we look toward 2025.  With Google’s algorithms constantly shifting and new technology—like AI-powered search engines—coming into play, keeping up with SEO trends can feel overwhelming for private practice owners. However, understanding these changes is essential for staying visible online and continuing to attract new clients. For many therapists, the world of SEO can feel like a maze of ever-changing rules and best practices.  Google’s algorithms now analyze everything from page load times to user experience and even the expertise of content authors. This means that simply having a website or using a few targeted keywords is no longer enough to achieve high rankings.  Staying on top of SEO requires not only understanding what Google’s search engine is prioritizing but also adapting content and website strategies to match those priorities. In this episode, w

In this episode of Private Practice Elevation, we're diving into one of the most important yet often misunderstood aspects of online marketing: blog SEO.  You’ll learn five actionable steps to optimize your blog posts for search engines, helping you rank higher in search results and reach more potential clients.  Whether you’re just starting out with blogging or you’ve been at it for a while, this episode will give you clear, easy-to-follow strategies for improving your blog’s visibility without getting overwhelmed by technical jargon.  From keyword research to writing compelling titles to structuring your posts for better readability, we’ve got you covered. Many private practice owners and therapists struggle with getting their content seen by the right people. You might be writing fantastic blog posts, but if those posts aren’t optimized for search engines, they’re likely not reaching your target audience.  This can lead to frustration as you’re putting in the effort but not seeing the results. The issue of

In this episode, Daniel Fava addresses a common concern many therapists have—technology.  It's no secret that a lot of therapists shy away from new digital tools, whether it’s due to fear of change, lack of time to learn, or simply feeling like technology doesn’t fit into their practice. But what if embracing tech could make therapy more efficient, engaging, and accessible?  Daniel chats with Amity Cooper to explore this, who shares her insights on how therapists can leverage technology like AI and virtual reality to enhance their work and improve client care.  Amity is a professional counselor with a diverse background in business and mental health. Holding dual master's degrees in Clinical Mental Health Counseling and Conflict Resolutions, she has traversed a career path from marketing and product development to the mental health field. Her entrepreneurial background has not only given her a fresh perspective on therapy but also led her to coin the term "Therapreneur," which describes therapists who embrace

In this episode of the Private Practice Elevation podcast, we delve into the significant recent changes in the SEO landscape due to Google's latest core update.    If you've relied heavily on optimizing for specific keywords or building backlinks, sorry, but it's time to reevaluate your strategy. Google's new focus pivots towards content that is genuinely useful, relevant, and expertly crafted to serve users' needs.   Understanding these shifts is crucial for private practice owners aiming to maintain or improve their website rankings.    Daniel provides an in-depth look at how these updates could affect your SEO efforts and offers expert advice on adapting to these changes.    By emphasizing the importance of creating high-quality, relevant content and a seamless user experience, he guides listeners through what it takes to stay ahead in the evolving SEO game. Key Takeaways: Relevance Over Keywords: Google's algorithm now prioritizes understanding the user's intent and providing relevant answers over just

In this episode of The Private Practice Elevation Podcast, Daniel breaks down an important but often overlooked topic: why you should register your domain separately from your website builder. First, he explains the difference between a domain and web hosting in easy-to-understand terms.  Think of your domain like the address of your practice online, while your web hosting is like the actual building where everything is stored.  Keeping your domain registration separate from your website builder (like Squarespace or Wix) is a smart move, giving you more control over your online presence. Daniel shares why using a dedicated domain registrar, like GoDaddy or Namecheap, is better than bundling everything with your website platform.  The biggest reasons? You’ll have more flexibility to switch platforms when your practice grows or changes, and you’ll get better security and support along the way. He also shares a real-life story about a client who ran into big problems when they needed to move their domain. Their

In today’s fast-paced world, therapists often find themselves juggling various systems for billing, progress notes, treatment planning, and administrative tasks.    This inefficiency can lead to burnout and suboptimal care.    In this episode, Ryan Fuller, co-founder of My Best Practice, discusses these challenges and how their electronic health record (EHR) system addresses them.  Ryan shares his journey from juggling multiple systems for clinical work, research, and administrative tasks to creating a seamless, integrated solution for mental health professionals.  We discuss the challenges faced by therapists and the significant improvements My Best Practice brings to clinical practice, administration, and research. Ryan explains the early stages of developing My Best Practice, outlining the key functionalities they aimed to address—clinical documentation, research integration, and business administration.  The discussion moves to the onboarding process, emphasizing the platform's user-friendly migration ser

In this episode of the Private Practice Elevation Podcast, Daniel Fava welcomes Nate Hendrikse, founder of Navigator Bookkeeping, to discuss the journey of scaling a private practice from a financial perspective.  Nate shares his background as a former teacher and how his passion for personal finance led him to start his own bookkeeping business.  With an empathetic understanding of the struggles private practice owners face, Nate breaks down key strategies for understanding and improving their financial stories. Nate delves into the importance of having a clear financial story and how it can alleviate stress and confusion for practice owners.  He emphasizes the need for tracking essential metrics and creating a dashboard to maintain a comprehensive view of the business's financial health.  As therapy practices grow, Nate highlights the challenges of optimizing clinician pay structures and provides practical tools and tips to ensure that practices remain profitable and sustainable.  Knowing some of the blind

In this episode of the Private Practice Elevation podcast, Daniel Fava sits down with Michael J. Silva to discuss strategies for building a successful private practice without heavily relying on low-paying insurance contracts.    Silva shares his journey from experiencing early career burnout in corporate healthcare to establishing a flourishing cash-based sports medicine practice.    Alongside offering practical advice for navigating the transition to a cash-based model, Silva highlights the importance of finding your niche and over-delivering value to clients.   Michael details his process of identifying and eliminating unprofitable insurance contracts, emphasizing the importance of knowing your numbers.    By focusing on a motivated and health-conscious clientele, Silva and his team were able to build a thriving practice with a low cancellation rate and highly satisfied clients.    Silva’s insights provide valuable lessons for mental health therapists, physical therapists, and other healthcare providers ai

In this episode of the Private Practice Elevation podcast, host Daniel Fava sits down with Dr. Elisabeth Morray to delve into the critical topic of niching in therapy.  As they discuss the journey from being a generalist to identifying and embracing a niche, Elisabeth provides actionable insights for private practice owners looking to grow their businesses authentically.  They explore the balance between general practice and specialization, how continuing education plays a critical role, and the fear of potentially losing clients by narrowing one’s focus. Throughout the conversation, Elisabeth shares her career journey, from her early focus on eating disorders and women's health to her current roles at Alma and her private practice.  This episode is packed with website ideas and insights related to niching down in therapy, the importance of finding a niche that resonates deeply with one's values, and how to market authentically.  By highlighting real-world applications and personal experiences, Daniel and Eli

In this episode of The Private Practice Elevation Podcast, Daniel Fava chats with David Frank, founder of Turning Point Financial Planning, about the intricate relationship between money and psychology.    Both professionals share their journeys, showing how their careers transitioned towards serving the mental health community.   David provides insights into his role in assisting therapists with their financial planning, covering both personal finance and business structures.   Throughout the episode, David Frank delves into the psychology of money and common mindsets that arise for business owners, particularly therapists.    He explains how deep-seated beliefs and patterns from childhood influence financial behaviors and decisions. David also discusses the crucial role of conversation and speaking with trusted individuals in overcoming financial shame and anxiety. The importance of community, having professionals like financial planners on your team, and maintaining a stance of curiosity and non-judgment a

In this episode of the Private Practice Elevation podcast, host Daniel Fava dives deep into the differences between WordPress.com and WordPress.org, helping private practice owners make informed decisions about their website platforms.    Daniel seeks to remove the confusion that many people face when choosing between these two WordPress platforms.   In fact, some don’t even know that WordPress has TWO options for building a website with their platform.   But there are, and many folks get confused or choose the wrong platform when building their first website for their private practice.   In this episode, Daniel demystifies WordPress by breaking down the four main differences between Wordpress.com and Wordpress.org: ownership and control, cost, customization and flexibility, and maintenance and security.    Each aspect is crucial for private practice owners to consider as they plan their online presence.    With insightful comparisons and real-world examples, he guides listeners through the complexities of Wo

In this episode of the Private Practice Elevation podcast, your host, Daniel Fava, dives deep into the simple essence of content marketing plans tailored for private practice growth.    In the ever-evolving landscape of private practice, engaging with and attracting clients goes beyond face-to-face therapy sessions.    An integral part of this modern approach to building a successful practice lies in a solid content marketing strategy. This means that you’re consistently publishing and sharing new content on your website.   But content marketing is not just about producing content; it's about creating a strategic roadmap to reach and engage with your target audience effectively.    Daniel breaks down the concept into an easily digestible 3-step plan, showcasing the importance of having a structured approach to increase website traffic and highlight your services.   Daniel underscores the key reasons for adopting a content marketing plan, emphasizing trust-building, client education, attracting the right clien