Private Practice Elevation With Daniel Fava

Have you ever felt overwhelmed by the pressure to grow quickly, show up on every social platform, or chase bigger numbers just for the sake of it? If so, this episode is for you.  In this episode of the Private Practice Elevation Podcast, Daniel Fava welcomes back psychologist and entrepreneur Melvin Varghese for a heartfelt and insightful conversation about building a private practice (or any type of business) at a pace that aligns with your life and values. Melvin shares how he's intentionally slowed down his business growth to protect his well-being and stay grounded in what really matters: service, sustainability, and family. You'll hear how Selling the Couch grew into a successful course and podcast platform, and why Melvin chose not to scale rapidly, even when there was financial momentum.  Instead, he prioritized nervous system regulation, systems, and structure that would allow him to thrive for the long haul, not just sprint for short-term gains. Daniel and Melvin also talk candidly about how persona

In this episode of the Private Practice Elevation Podcast, you'll discover how the evolving world of SEO and AI is changing the way therapy practices grow online.  Daniel Fava sits down with Chris Morin of Moonraker AI to explore actionable SEO strategies, the future of search, and how to prepare your private practice website for the age of AI-powered discovery. Therapists are often overwhelmed by conflicting SEO advice and unsure how to adapt to the fast-changing world of online search.  Many feel stuck using outdated tactics or relying on blog content that takes too long to approve and publish. This episode demystifies what's working now in SEO and how therapists can keep their websites relevant, visible, and converting. You might think blog posts are the backbone of a strong SEO strategy.  But Chris and Daniel discuss why blog content may no longer be the best place to focus your energy, and what to prioritize instead to rank higher and connect with your ideal clients. Today Daniel is talking with Chris Mo

Is it possible to grow a thriving therapy practice while taking insurance? If you've ever wondered whether insurance billing is worth the headache, or how to do it right, this episode is for you. Today's guest, Jeremy Zug, co-founder of Practice Solutions, breaks down what private practice owners need to know about billing in order to be successful.  With over a decade in the healthcare industry and a team that manages billing for thousands of providers, Jeremy brings clarity and strategy to a topic that overwhelms a lot of therapists.  Whether you're solo and private pay or growing a group practice, you'll walk away with fresh insights, helpful mindset shifts, and even a few small changes that could dramatically improve your revenue. This episode answers... 1. Do I need to take insurance to grow my therapy practice? Not necessarily — but if you do, it needs to be intentional. Jeremy shares that some of the most successful practices limit themselves to one commercial payer and one government payer (like Medic

If you've ever tried Google Ads and felt like you were just lighting your money on fire, you're not alone.  This week, Daniel sits down with John Sanders, founder of RevKey—a digital advertising agency that works exclusively with therapists and mental health professionals—to unpack why so many private practices struggle to make Google Ads work, and what you can do differently. In their conversation, John and Daniel dig into the most common reasons therapists waste money on paid ads.  And it often starts with your private practice's website.  If your site isn't designed to engage visitors and guide them toward action, your ad spend will likely fall flat.  John shares how generic service pages, weak content, and outdated design can tank your results—even if you're paying top dollar for clicks. They also explore why therapists need to be wary of Google's automated campaign recommendations.  What's best for Google's revenue isn't always best for your practice. John explains how his team disables default settings

Your homepage isn't just a digital introduction to your private practice — it's one of the most powerful tools you have to build trust and convert visitors into clients.  In this solo episode, Daniel shares his top tips for creating a homepage that doesn't just look good, but actually works hard for your business. He breaks down exactly what makes a homepage successful, from layout and copy to emotional connection and mobile performance.  If you're redesigning your website or wondering why your homepage isn't pulling its weight, this episode will help you focus on what really matters. You'll learn how to speak directly to your ideal client, keep your design clean and purposeful, and use emotionally resonant language that invites visitors to go deeper.  Daniel also shares practical tips for showcasing services, streamlining calls to action, and optimizing for speed and mobile responsiveness. Whether you're building a site from scratch or want to improve what you already have, these tips will help your homepage

If you've ever felt frustrated by missed client inquiries or uncertain about whether your marketing is actually working, you're not alone.  Many practice owners rely on spreadsheets, sticky notes, and scattered inboxes to manage new leads — and the result is lost revenue, inconsistent follow-up, and plenty of sleepless nights. In today's episode, I'm joined by Brent Stutzman, founder of TheraSaaS, a HIPAA-compliant CRM built specifically for therapists in private practice.  Brent brings years of experience helping practices scale through smarter marketing systems, and he's here to share how a CRM can completely transform your sales and marketing process. You'll learn how to bring all your leads, communications, and marketing efforts into one central place, so nothing falls through the cracks and you can make confident, data-informed decisions about your practice's growth. In this episode, you'll learn: The three levels of CRM implementation that save hours each week and boost conversions How to track exa

If you've ever felt unsure about what SEO really is — or why your website isn't getting the traffic or clients you expected — this episode is for you.  Daniel pulls back the curtain on the most common misunderstandings therapists have about SEO and shares what's actually working in today's digital landscape. This episode was born out of behind-the-scenes conversations with our Lead SEO Specialist — and the real, recurring questions and roadblocks we see come up with our clients.  Whether it's confusion about how SEO works, frustration over slow results, or the instinct to write your website like a clinical bio, we get it.  We've been there with so many therapists, and we wanted to create an episode that clears the air and sets the record straight.  In this conversation, Daniel unpacks the top things we wish every therapist understood about SEO — so you can stop second-guessing the process and start seeing how strategy, clarity, and patience lead to real growth. The Key Takeaways: Therapists fall under the Y

In this episode of the Private Practice Elevation Podcast, we’re joined by Michael Diettrich-Chastain, founder of Arc Integrated — a leadership development consultancy that helps teams and leaders around the world create cultures of engagement, sustainability, and purpose. Michael brings a unique background that blends psychology, therapy, and organizational development.  He’s worked in everything from community mental health to corporate coaching and now supports leaders in shaping healthier workplace dynamics.  His insights have been featured in Time, Entrepreneur, and The Washington Post, and his bestselling book Changes explores how individuals and teams can navigate growth more effectively. Whether you're a group practice owner, leading a small team, or simply looking to strengthen your leadership mindset, this episode will give you practical frameworks to improve communication, foster autonomy, and influence your team without micromanaging.  Michael shares why curiosity — not control — is the key to eff

If you've ever thought, "Just build me a website," and assumed it was a straightforward process, this episode is for you! Daniel is joined by Paula Allera, Private Practice Elevation's own project manager, for a behind-the-scenes look at what really goes into website project management.  With a background in web design, development, and digital marketing, Paula brings a rare blend of technical knowledge and operations savvy that helps keep projects on track. In this conversation, Daniel and Paula unpack the often-invisible side of website development — from estimating timelines to handling revisions and communicating with multiple stakeholders.  You’ll learn why timelines can shift, how a single project can involve dozens of communication touchpoints, and why having one main point of contact can save weeks of time.  Paula shares the tools she uses to create realistic projections (including the beta distribution method) and why even the most well-planned projects need buffer time. If you're planning a website

Many therapists in private practice want to run a solid, ethical business—but the idea of “compliance” can feel confusing, overwhelming, or even downright scary. Between HIPAA requirements, proper documentation, and ever-changing policies, it’s tough to know what you don’t know… and easy to put it off for another day. In this episode of the Private Practice Elevation Podcast, Daniel Fava sits down with Dr. Tiana Kelly to demystify compliance and make it feel manageable—even if you're just getting started. Tiana shares how she built the compliance program at Move Forward Counseling (with over 60 therapists!) and now helps other private practices do the same through her consulting business, Private Practice By Design. You’ll learn why compliance is not a one-time checklist but an ongoing process—and how to prioritize the most important changes without overwhelming your team. Tiana also explains: Why “go slow” is key when rolling out compliance updates The biggest mistakes she sees practices make (and how to

Optimizing Operations: Building a Strong Foundation for Private Practice Growth Running a private practice often means wearing multiple hats—therapist, admin, marketer, and CEO. Without the right systems in place, the behind-the-scenes responsibilities can quickly become overwhelming, leading to burnout and limited growth.  This episode of Private Practice Elevation explores how creating strong backend systems can help practice owners move from survival mode to sustainable growth. Daniel Fava is joined by Bri Chrisman, founder and CEO of BossCo, an operations-focused agency that partners with mental health practices to improve internal workflows and strategy.  With a background in event management and marketing, Bri shares how she transitioned into the mental health space to help therapists build more efficient, profitable businesses. The conversation dives into the most common operational challenges private practice owners face—especially when scaling—and how systems, automation, and clear processes can dram

Therapists spend years building relationships with their clients—but what happens if a therapist suddenly can't show up anymore due to illness, injury, or even death?  This episode of the Private Practice Elevation Podcast tackles a topic that’s often overlooked but absolutely vital: how to prepare your practice and protect your clients in case of an emergency.  While many therapists focus on running their practice day-to-day, far fewer have a plan in place for what happens if they suddenly can’t be there.  This episode explores the difference between professional and business wills, the ethical and legal implications of emergency planning, and the practical steps therapists can take to create a secure plan. With expert insight from Dr. Robyn Miller, co-founder of Thera Closure, this conversation shines a light on ethical responsibilities and offers real, practical solutions to ensure continuity of care, peace of mind, and protection for both clients and families. Dr. Miller shares how her own personal loss s

In this episode of The Private Practice Elevation Podcast, we’re going to talk about your website content and specifically, what content and pages need to be on your website in order for it to be successful. Most therapists would agree that they need a website to market their private practice online and help them gain clients. The problem is that most private practice websites lack the proper pages and content to make a big impact on the business. And it’s this lack of content that is one of the biggest things I see holding back most therapists who want to get organic traffic and clients using their therapy website. I see it often when I perform website audits or coaching calls… the website just doesn’t have enough content to resonate with the ideal client and allow Google to pick up the website and rank it high in search results. So, let’s talk about your website content and make sure you have what you need in order to hit your goals for online marketing. In This Episode, You’ll Learn: How to define

In this episode of The Private Practice Elevation Podcast, you’re going to learn how to write copy for your website that speaks directly to your ideal client. I’m sure you know that the copy on your website has the power to connect with your ideal client. And when a potential client feels connected, and that you understand their challenges on a deep level, they’re more likely to take that next step and actually become a client of yours. But most therapists struggle with what words they should actually use that will resonate with those potential clients. What are the words you can use to connect with them? How do you create an entire website that speaks to them? And if you don’t know those words, how can you find out what they are? Our guest, Laura Long LMFT/S, is going to teach you her 3 C’s of copywriting for your private practice website: Clear, Compelling, and Conversational. As a business coach, Laura has been teaching therapists how to create copy for therapist websites for years. If you’ve been wonderin

In this episode of The Private Practice Elevation Podcast you’re going to learn 7 simple things you can do to help you get more conversions from your website. Your private practice website exists to help you grow your business, right? The problem is that many websites are not built with conversions in mind. If you’ve built your own private practice website or you’ve gotten your first website up just so you can let clients know you exist, you may not have some of the key elements in place that will help you get clients from your website. It’s not as simple as just having a phone number on your website… but it’s also not rocket science either. If you’re curious about some simple things you can improve and some mistakes to avoid so you can get more clients from your website, give a listen to this episode.

Many therapists in private practice feel overwhelmed by all the marketing options available today.  Between managing a full caseload, trying to keep up with social media trends, and maintaining a personal life, blogging often ends up at the bottom of the priority list—or gets abandoned altogether.  And with the rise of video, reels, and short-form content, it’s easy to wonder: Is blogging even still worth it? In this episode of the Private Practice Elevation Podcast, host Daniel Fava sets the record straight.  He dives into the current state of blogging in 2025 and why, despite the ever-evolving digital landscape, blogging remains one of the most effective and underutilized marketing tools for private practice owners. Daniel explores how blogging supports your long-term marketing strategy by improving SEO, keeping your website active and visible in Google, and helping potential clients connect with your voice and expertise.  He breaks it down in simple, therapist-friendly terms, making it clear how blogging a

In this episode, listeners will discover how one psychologist’s frustration with practice management sparked the creation of Zanda—a platform designed to streamline operations and reduce burnout for mental health professionals.  Whether you're a solo practitioner or building a group practice, this conversation offers fresh insight into using technology to simplify the business side of therapy. Daniel Fava chats with Damien Adler, a clinical psychologist turned tech entrepreneur and co-founder of Zanda Health.  Damien shares the story behind Zanda’s development—from managing a busy practice in Australia to launching a software solution that now supports clinicians across the globe.  With a strong focus on user experience, innovation, and solving real-world problems, Damien and his team are transforming how therapists manage their practices. What You’ll Learn in This Episode: The Origin of Zanda: How Damien’s firsthand experience in private practice inspired the creation of a more efficient and integrated pra

Growing a private practice can be incredibly rewarding—but it can also feel really lonely.  When you’re the one making all the decisions, managing a team, and trying to grow your business, it’s easy to feel isolated and overwhelmed.  And without a trusted community to lean on, progress often feels slow, confusing, and more challenging than it needs to be. In this episode of the Private Practice Elevation Podcast, host Daniel Fava chats with two powerhouse group practice owners, Christy Pennison and Steph Korpal, who know firsthand how transformational it can be to have the right people in your corner.  As the co-founders of The Practice Collab, Christy and Steph are on a mission to help practice owners find connection, collaboration, and clarity through community. They dive into the power of building meaningful business relationships, joining mastermind groups, and having honest conversations with people who just get it.  Whether you're just starting to grow your team or already leading a multi-location pract

In this episode of the Private Practice Elevation podcast, Daniel Fava shares a behind-the-scenes snippet from a live coaching call inside his SEO Basecamp program.  The conversation kicks off with a thoughtful question from a member about staying on top of SEO trends without getting lost in constant updates and shiny new strategies. Brian, a private practice owner, asks: “How do you stay up-to-date with all the SEO changes without feeling overwhelmed or distracted from your main work?”  Many therapists struggle with the need to ensure their marketing efforts are effective without being pulled in too many directions. As therapists and private practice owners, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed by the endless stream of marketing advice, AI advancements, and industry changes. You want to do things right—show up online, reach more clients, and see results. But with everything else on your plate, how do you stay consistent and actually make progress? Daniel dives into his personal journey of building SEO expertise ove