Fearless Practice - SoundSage

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Something has been bubbling up in me after watching a skit from Canada’s Baroness von Sketch show a couple of years ago. In this sketch, they highlight how land acknowledgment without material giving can often feel performative or incomplete.

So I decided to make a change in my own Canadian private practice. I have started donating a percentage of our monthly gross income to the Mi’kmaw Native Friendship Centre in Halifax, Nova Scotia.

In this episode, I’m sharing what “land tax” and “reparations” actually mean, why you may consider incorporating them into your private practice, and how you can start doing this in your practice or business. This may not be the whole answer, but it can be a meaningful step forward.

In this episode:

Putting my money where my mouth is
What “land tax” and “reparations” actually mean
Why you should consider donating
How I make the donations in my private practice

Putting my money where my mouth is

It’s one thing to say we care about something—but in a capitalist society, the reality is that money carries immense power. The good news is, we can choose to direct that power toward justice by being intentional about where and how we spend, invest, and give.

The issues of land reparations have always been close to my heart, and I am glad that I have started to practice this value instead of only talking about it.

What “land tax” and “reparations” actually mean

Reparations refer to intentionally giving back or redistributing resources, often financial, to communities that have been harmed or dispossessed. In Canada’s case, indigenous communities.

Reparations are also not just symbolic, they are material, consistent acts of accountability due to past colonization, land theft, and systemic harm.

Similarly, but distinct, land tax is a grassroots concept. It is not a government-enforced tax. Businesses and people can voluntarily donate money to indigenous communities, acknowledging that they are benefiting from living and working on indigenous land.

Why you should consider donating

Many people feel on the fence about contributing to something like land tax or reparations efforts because they believe that since they didn’t personally steal the land, they shouldn’t have to make amends for it.

To be honest, this is something I’ve thought about too. But even then, I knew the way things were didn’t sit right with me. Here’s why you may want to consider paying land tax and reparations too:

1 - You are benefiting from stolen land

‘Even if you didn’t take the land yourself, you are living and working on it. Land that was never sold or surrendered. That benefit: housing, business, income, stability, comes from a colonial system that displaced indigenous peoples.’ - Jules Smith

2 - It’s about responsibility, not guilt

Land tax isn’t about “feeling bad” or being blamed. It’s about recognizing that we all have a role in repairing harm — especially if we benefit from systems that were built through dispossession.

3 - It supports indigenous-led solutions

‘Your contribution helps fund community programs, housing, food security, cultural revitalisation, and other essential work - led by indigenous people for indigenous people!’ - Jules Smith

4 - It’s a form of reparative justice because it is one small step in a larger process of reconciliation

It’s one small, material step in a larger process of reconciliation. Words and land acknowledgments are important, but they don’t change material conditions. Consistent giving is a way to restore some measure of balance.

How I make the donations in my private practice

Each month, I head into my Jane App account and pull my monthly gross income report, which is created before business expenses are taken out.

I calculate the percentage I have committed to donating, and then I e-transfer that amount directly to a donation center I have chosen to partner with. It is that simple!

Connect with me:

Instagram

Website

Resources mentioned and useful links:

Ep 165: Jenny Jonker: Building a Canadian Group Practice with Purpose | EP 165

Learn more about the tools and deals that I love and use for my Canadian private practice

Jane App (use code FEARLESS for one month free)

Get some help and freebies on your website with WordPress!

Mentioned link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xlG17C19nYo

Rate, review, and subscribe to this podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon, and TuneIn

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Jenny moved to Canada with her family when she was five years old as a war refugee. As she grew up, she wanted to give back to the community that helped her and her family, and found herself becoming a mental health professional.

Now, as a boss and Canadian private practice owner, Jenny uses her principles and intentions as guideposts to keep her working with integrity and a steadfast commitment to her initial dreams and community. Listen in on our episode today to learn more about how you can build a private practice based on your values, too!

MEET JENNY

Jenny Jonker, MSW, RSW, is the founder of Dragonfly Counselling and Wellness, where a human-centered, trauma-informed approach is central to her work. With over 15 years of experience, she specializes in complex trauma and integrates EMDR, CBT, DBT, and ACT. A refugee of war from Nicaragua, Jenny draws on her own lived experiences with resettlement, grief, and PTSD to build authentic, compassionate connections with clients. She and her team are committed to creating safe, welcoming spaces for all, offering therapy, workshops, and clinical support in both local and Indigenous communities like Six Nations. At the core of her work is a belief in healing through connection, cultural humility, and empowerment.

Learn more about Jenny on her Psychology Today, Instagram profile, and practice website.

In this episode:

Jenny’s entry into therapy
First private practice experience
Marketing and building a group practice
Jenny’s advice to listeners

Jenny’s entry into therapy

Jenny’s first degree was actually in International Relations, and when she graduated, she began working with refugees and immigrants as a way of giving back.

From that inspirational meeting, Jenny went on to complete her BSW and MSW. She worked in school boards, a sexual assault center, and child welfare, and eventually went into private practice when she started working on reserves.

First private practice experience

So far, Jenny has really loved her group private practice work, even though it can be challenging. Her Canadian private practice is in various partnerships with other organizations.

These intentions have helped guide Jenny in her decision-making process, especially when it comes to hiring the right staff and offering the best services for their client base.

Marketing and building a group practice

One of Jenny’s best marketing practices has been relational marketing.

Jenny knows that when you are intentional and committed, people will find and come to you for help. Therefore, she and her team make it one of the practice’s missions to be connected with their community and get to know their client base intimately.

Doing good work and knowing that good people will come relates both to clients and to clinicians.

The future of Dragonfly counselling

Jenny has started to outsource work that she finds tough doing, such as her SEO and various aspects of running the business. Outsourcing marketing is a great way to save up your time to focus on what you love to do, and get your business seen without too much stress and worry.

In the future, Jenny still wants to keep Dragonfly more intimate and small, and would only grow it larger if she saw the need to do so.

Jenny’s advice to listeners

Don’t be afraid to lead with your story! Because your genuine stories are impactful for clients. Share ethically and openly, because it shows your clients that you are a fellow person going through life, just like they are.

Connect with me:

Instagram

Website

Resources mentioned and useful links:

Ep 164: Janet and Jasmine Melo-Thaiss: A Practice Run by a Mother-Daughter Duo | EP 164

Learn more about the tools and deals that I love and use for my Canadian private practice

Jane App (use code FEARLESS for one month free)

Get some help and freebies on your website with WordPress!

Learn more about Jenny on her Psychology Today, Instagram profile, and practice website

Rate, review, and subscribe to this podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon, and TuneIn

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What unfolds when a mother and daughter turn their lifelong bond into a shared practice? Would you be curious to know how they manage it while keeping their personal relationship secure?

In this podcast episode, I chat with Janet and Jasmine, two Canadian therapists from Ontario who have recently launched their private practice. We discuss what’s working, what’s not, what they are doing about it, and some advice for your Canadian private practice journey. Come sit in!

MEET THE SOUL TREE THERAPY TEAM

Soul Tree Therapy was born from the deep bond and shared vision of a mother-daughter duo who are passionate about personal healing, growth, and connection. As cofounders, they have combined their unique perspectives, experiences, and expertise to create a virtual therapy clinic that reflects their core values of compassion, nonjudgment, and collaboration. The team uses evidence-based therapeutic techniques to equip clients with the tools and insights necessary to navigate life’s challenges and cultivate emotional resilience.

Learn more about Soul Tree Therapy on the website, Instagram page, and Facebook.

In this episode:

The origins of Soul Tree Therapy
Running a family practice professionally
Setting boundaries between work and family time
Advice for listeners

The Origins of Soul Tree Therapy

Jasmine is a Registered Social Worker, and Janet, her mother, is a Registered Psychotherapist.

She and her mother began talking about the possibility of working together, and a few months after they both completed their Masters and PhDs, respectively, and opened up their private practice in December 2024!

Running a family practice professionally

Both Jasmine and Janet see their clients individually, either in person or virtually.

Interestingly, they don’t conduct client sessions together—a fact that often surprises people. However, this approach allows each of them to focus fully on their individual clinical work, while collaborating closely on the business side. They’ve found that this balance enables them to do their best work, both as therapists and as partners in running their practice.

In maintaining the practice, Jasmine runs its marketing aspect. As such, she’s often improving her marketing skills by learning new tools and trying out new strategies. Janet works on the administrative and managerial side of the business, so their team is balanced in skill and expertise.

Setting boundaries between work and family time

‘I think I was more nervous about how it was going to go than it actually went … We set healthy boundaries between work and family time, and honestly, I have to give Jasmine complete kudos because I’m a workaholic!’ - Janet Melo-Thaiss

The mother-daughter duo has mastered not working themselves to the bone, and also how to keep their personal and professional relationships separate. By being open and honest with one another, they keep each other accountable with honest compassion. They encourage and gently nudge each other to stick to their roles and grow within them, too.

‘We also disagree respectfully, which is also what I think has been working for us.’ - Janet Melo-Thaiss

Advice for listeners

If you can, when you notice any self-doubt creeping in, focus on what you can do and what is in your control.

A lot of things can be challenging, and there are many different types of fears which go around that people have in the field, but remember to stay consistent over time and be clear about who you want to help to keep yourself clear-headed and calm.

Connect with me:

Instagram

Website

Resources mentioned and useful links:

Ep 163: Gender Transitioning in Canadian Private Practice | EP 163

Learn more about the tools and deals that I love and use for my Canadian private practice

Jane App (use code FEARLESS for one month free)

Get some help and freebies on your website with WordPress!

Rate, review, and subscribe to this podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon, and TuneIn

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There are many changes that can happen in private practice, and they can range, depending on what happens in life, from getting married and changing your name, to rebranding your Canadian private practice and even to discovering more about yourself.

Sometimes, the transition is even more significant—and there's something I'd really like to share with you.

In this episode, I talk about transitioning in a Canadian private practice. This is, both personally and professionally, indeed a significant transition, and with everything so far in my private practice and podcast, sharing tips and advice with you is important to me, especially if you are in a similar boat. Join in to hear, learn, and know how to do more!

In this episode:

Let the necessary parties know
Update your photos and copy
Join a queer and trans therapist network!

Let the necessary parties know

‘If you decide to change your name, let the licensing parties that you are a part of know, even if you are not legally changing your name, it can be beneficial to let them know your preferred name so that they know how to address you.’ - Jules Smith

During your transition, it is essential that you continue to keep everything organized and aligned as best you can, since potential and current clients may be searching your name and your Canadian practice’s name. Doing this first can help you start the rest of the changes with ease.

Regarding essential communication lines that you may need to change, such as an email address, my provider Hushmail was great in helping me to change my email address without any hassle and they made sure that if someone emails my past email address—those emails will be forwarded to my new email address!

Update your photos and copy

When you start changing other essential information about you within your business, such as your:

Photos
Psychology Today profile information
Your name
The copy on your website
Social media platforms

Be prepared for a possible quiet drop in client outreach. Hopefully it will begin to slowly level out again.

‘I now present as masculine, so my updated photos look very different, as well as [the fact that] my copy now says that I am a part of the queer and trans community of Halifax—it may take time for clients to recognize and trust my new identity.’ - Jules Smith

Either way, before you begin to implement these changes on your website, diversify your income streams or build up an emergency savings fund to keep things financially stable until your Canadian private practice picks up again.

Join a queer and trans therapist network!

‘In Halifax, we have the Queer and Trans Therapists of Nova Scotia … And I really hope that every province has a queer and trans network. If your province doesn’t, this is your sign to start one!’ - Jules Smith

These networks are incredibly helpful for professional networking with other queer therapists, as well as building community and for possibly finding supervision.

There are more links to learn more below in these show notes. I’m so glad that you are here!

Connect with me:

Instagram

Website

Resources mentioned and useful links:

Ep 162: New Scheduling Tips for Private Practice in Canada | EP 162

Learn more about the tools and deals that I love and use for my Canadian private practice

Jane App (use code FEARLESS for one month free)

Get some help and freebies on your website with WordPress!

Mentioned links:

Hushmail link: https://www.hushmail.com/

How to queer your practice: https://www.amazon.ca/Queering-Your-Therapy-Practice-Identities/dp/036782020X

Biographies about trans identities:

https://www.amazon.ca/Me-Myself-They-Non-Binary-Life/dp/148700477X

https://www.amazon.ca/Redefining-Realness-Path-Womanhood-Identity/dp/1476709130

https://www.amazon.ca/Beyond-Gender-Binary-Alok-Vaid-Menon/dp/0593094654/

Fictional but informational stories:

https://www.amazon.ca/Detransition-Baby-Novel-Torrey-Peters/dp/0593133382/

https://www.amazon.ca/Felix-Ever-After-Kacen-Callender/dp/0062820265/

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Beyond the Gender Binary (Pocket Change Collective)

Redefining Realness: My Path to Womanhood, Identity, Love & So Much More

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The one thing I now know is that “The only constant in life is change!” I used to try to find the perfect scheduling system and the perfect way to manage my working hours. However, usually, as soon as I thought I found it, something in life would change, and the “perfect” schedule would no longer be suitable. At first, I thought I just had to keep pushing to find the “right” way to manage my time, but what I have been learning is that I can incorporate more flexibility into my working schedule and consider myself an important factor too.

In this episode, I’ll share with you my lived experience through the ordeal of scheduling that many therapists are familiar with, including my newfound knowledge, tips, and what I have decided to do going forward. It may be helpful to you as well!

In this episode:

The situation often changes
Practicing being flexible and fluid
What I am doing these days

The situation often changes

One of the things I came to learn about myself through private practice is that I used to think there was a perfect way of living. That somehow I could figure out the perfect system, and use it forever! However, that hasn’t turned out how I had imagined it would.

‘When I started private practice, I thought that there was this perfect way to schedule my work life, and that once I found this perfect schedule, I would be set for the rest of my career! That I’d be stress-free, happy, and satisfied … I’ve tried to find a permanent way to schedule my private practice time, but every time I try to find it … Things change!’ - Jules Smith

Once I seem to find the perfect system, life changes! My work or personal commitments change, my energy levels change, and the situation simply becomes different and unsuitable for the system I had thought was perfect.

Practicing being flexible and fluid

‘It has become so clear to me that the quote, “The only constant in life is change”, is so true! So this past year, as I have realised that things are always going to be changing and that I should be more fluid with my schedule, I’ve started to play around with it.’ - Jules Smith

Over this past year, I have changed, too. I decided to try incorporating the way I felt more into the work that I was doing instead of allowing the schedule to rule my days, and leave no room for my needs as they changed.

If you want the backstories, you can listen to episode 77 where I talk about trying a 50/50 work-week, and then it’s update at episode 97!

What I am doing these days

What has been working for me a lot of the time is still following a loose 50/50 work week, where I work Monday through Wednesday, and half of Thursday.

I’ve been doing this for a couple of years now, and I really enjoy this routine and type of scheduling system, where I complete admin in the morning, have lunch, work out in the afternoon, and then see clients in the evening.

However, even though I enjoy this system, I have been incorporating more flexibility into it, especially if I have some creative energy that I want to use in the business. As long as I can pay the bills, I have begun to give myself more freedom, and it has made a wonderful difference!

Connect with me:

Instagram

Website

Resources mentioned and useful links:

Ep 161: Suki O’Huallachain: Growing a Successful Private Practice in Canada | EP 161

Learn more about the tools and deals that I love and use for my Canadian private practice

Jane App (use code FEARLESS for one month free)

Get some help and freebies on your website with WordPress!

Rate, review, and subscribe to this podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon, and TuneIn

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You go to school, complete your Masters degree, and juggle multiple jobs while starting your Canadian private practice. What happens now?

Suki, my guest in today’s podcast episode, carried her childhood curiosity with her through her academic and professional journey, and it has served her well. Working in alignment with her inner values and principles has helped her stay true to the course.

Now, Suki’s practice is full, and she’s looking to hire an associate. In today’s episode, we discuss her journey and tips for having your own unique, great private practice experience. Listen in!

MEET SUKI

Suki O’Huallachain (o-who-la-hon) is a CCC therapist located in Port Coquitlam, BC. She has been a therapist since 2018 and has recently transitioned to private practice after working for almost 6 years in the Downtown Eastside of Vancouver. Suki is currently navigating hiring an associate and focusing on the “business” side of therapy as her practice is now full after 1 year.

Learn more about Suki on her practice website, Psychology Today, and LinkedIn profiles.

In this episode:

Suki’s therapist origin story
Going through university
Transitioning out of a government job
Becoming full in private practice
Suki’s advice to listeners

Suki’s therapist origin story

Suki had always been interested in people, how and why they act the way that they do, and this powerful curiosity came with her from childhood into her Canadian private practice.

When Suki went to university, she started with science. However, she soon discovered that it was not for her! So, she pivoted direction and completed her degree in health science and biology.

Going through university

Once Suki got into her Master’s program, she started having to balance her work life with her school responsibilities.

She worked in a recreational mental health program while studying different modalities and spent this time figuring out what she wanted her niche to be.

Suki thoroughly enjoyed her Masters because it allowed her the chance to try out different modalities until she found the one that she felt the most comfortable and best-fit with. It also taught her that she is allowed to change, both in specialty and modality, while still being experienced.

Transitioning out of a government job

Suki worked at a government job for a while when she was in the process of building up her private practice, and it was tough with 10-hour shifts! But now, she has fully transitioned into her private practice.

It was tough for Suki to leave her government job. Some of her clients had been clients of hers for five years, so leaving her position was difficult. Suki wanted to make sure that they got the care and attention they needed and wanted, especially those who have trauma with saying goodbye and changing therapists.

Becoming full in private practice

Initially, Suki was subletting an office space in a different community, but she knew that she wanted to be closer to home, and luckily, her clients decided to move with her! Now, in her new location, she’s full!

Currently, Suki is working five days a week and trying to find a balance. She wants to navigate the business part of it while still meeting her own needs and being her own boss.

To manage her schedule to her needs, Suki’s been using Jane App, and it has made managing her professional and personal life so much easier.

Now, Suki’s goals have turned toward hiring a great associate for her private practice. She wants to figure out what success means to her in private practice and then hire a Canadian therapist based on that conclusion. These principles keep her guided and grounded and help her to build a practice that she feels aligned with and proud of.

Suki’s advice to listeners

No fixed roadmap or plan will give you all the answers, but if you are eager and curious, you can create a practice that fits you like a glove and serves your clients the best. Remember, if it doesn’t work, you are allowed to change!

Connect with me:

Instagram

Website

Resources mentioned and useful links:

Ep 160: Lyba Sultan: From Idea to Private Practice in Canada | EP 160

Learn more about the tools and deals that I love and use for my Canadian private practice

Jane App (use code FEARLESS for one month free)

Get some help and freebies on your website with WordPress!

Learn more about Suki on her practice website, Psychology Today, and LinkedIn profiles

Rate, review, and subscribe to this podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon, and TuneIn

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Lyba’s niche, vision, and mission all revolve around authenticity, connection, and community. She uses community in her marketing networks and in the goals that she sets for herself, as well as a guiding principle for her practice to incorporate the future.

Having this vision in mind is a great guiding light that can help you keep yourself - and your Canadian private practice - on track toward your dreams.

In this podcast episode, Lyba and I talk about her new private practice, how she’s managing working in other practices and agencies while growing her business, and how helpful values are in helping you to build a strong, consistent practice.

MEET LYBA

Lyba is the founder of The Healing Mosaic, a private practice that integrates eco-somatics to help individuals achieve deep, transformative healing. Her work focuses on building a strong connection between the mind, body, and subtle body, fostering a holistic approach to wellness. Through somatic therapies, Lyba guides clients to become more attuned to their physical sensations, emotions, and energetic states, creating a deeper awareness of their internal world.

Learn more about Lyba on her Instagram, LinkedIn, and Psychology Today profiles and website.

In this episode:

Why Lyba became a therapist
Getting into private practice
Using the power of community
Advice to listeners

Why Lyba became a therapist

Before Lyba met her therapist, who also had completed her studies at Yorkville as Lyba would later do, she had not thought about becoming a therapist herself. Lyba was interested in mental health but was not yet sure what she wanted to do with it.

Lyba explains that she didn’t enjoy academia much as a child during school, but when she was completing her therapy training at Yorkville, she loved it!

Getting into private practice

Lyba went straight into private practice after graduating. She continued working at the private practice where she had completed her practicum, which made the transition earlier.

At the moment, Lyba explains that it is a little chaotic when it comes to trying to balance the schedules and getting overbooked, but it has been good for her. She says that it’s something that works for her because the agency provides stability while she builds up her practice.

Marketing the private practice

Along with having built her website, Lyba has been exploring different ways of marketing her practice and directing new clients toward it.

Lyba uses social media marketing strategies, as well as working with community networks. However, she has found it challenging! But she is making it work with her current schedule as best as possible.

Using the power of community

Lyba wants to use the power of community in her marketing as much as possible because it connects with her niche, which is to work with highly sensitive people, artists, and creatives.

Lyba wants to collaborate with a team in a physical space in the future to bring her mission to fruition in Hamilton, Ontario. She wants to take many steps to get there, but she’s not thinking about a timeline yet. Lyba wants to let things grow organically while balancing her current work obligations.

Advice to listeners

Slow down, and give yourself breaks. It can be challenging when you start, and give yourself the grace and space to let the progress develop instead of trying to get everything done in a day. It takes time to build a strong and dependable foundation for your practice, so take it slow and steady!

Connect with me:

Instagram

Website

Resources mentioned and useful links:

Ep 159: Mark Pioro: Ontario Psychotherapy Rules and Regulations

Learn more about the tools and deals that I love and use for my Canadian private practice

Jane App (use code FEARLESS for one month free)

Get some help and freebies on your website with WordPress!

Learn more about Lyba on her Instagram, LinkedIn, and Psychology Today profiles and website

Rate, review, and subscribe to this podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon, and TuneIn

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Today, Julia takes another trip down memory lane, revisiting a gem from the Fearless Practice archives. In this encore episode, Julia talks to Mark, the Deputy Registrar and General Counsel at the College of Registered Psychotherapists of Ontario (CRPO) about the rules and regulations that apply to registered psychotherapists in private practice.

You can find the show notes to the original episode here.

Connect with me:

Instagram

Website

Resources Mentioned and Useful Links:

Ep 158: Julia Smith and Jane Donovan: Inside Insight Mental Health Counselling | ep 158

Purchase the workbook on How To Start an Online Canadian Private Practice

Learn more about the tools and deals that I love and use for my Canadian private practice

Rate, review, and subscribe to this podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon, and TuneIn

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In 2016, Julia reached out to Jane in her search for a narrative supervisor. Both of them were drawn to narrative therapy - Jane already having many years of experience with the modality, and agreed to be Julia’s supervisor.

In 2020, when Julia was building up her virtual practice, she reached out to Jane to see if she would be interested in becoming an associate, and Jane agreed again! Now, their paths have shifted again, and they are colleagues and friends.

In this podcast episode, Julia and Jane discuss the origins of their professional connection, what it is like to work together, and the advice that they have for listeners who are curious about Canadian private practice.

MEET JULIA AND JANE

Julia Smith is a Registered Counselling Therapist and the Clinical Director at Insight Mental Health Counselling in Halifax. Julia specializes in working with teens and adults experiencing anxiety, depression, relationship issues, stress, life transitions, identity challenges, and burnout. They use narrative therapy to help clients find clarity and confidence in navigating life's challenges.

Jane Donovan is a Registered Counselling Therapist with over 15 years of experience supporting adults and couples in building healthy relationships. She works with clients experiencing communication difficulties, conflict, and feelings of disconnection. Jane utilizes evidence-based approaches, including narrative, solution-focused, and art therapy, to help individuals and couples develop stronger bonds and achieve their relationship goals.

Learn more about Julia on her LinkedIn and Psychology Today profiles, Jane on her Psychology Today profile, and both of them on the practice website.

In this episode:

How Jane and Julia met
Starting to work as a therapist
Guiding values
Advice for listeners in private practice

How Jane and Julia met

Jane and Julia have known one another from a long time back. Even though they are now colleagues and Jane is working at Julia’s Canadian private practice, a few years ago, Jane was Julia’s supervisor!

Now, they have spent years working together as colleagues and learning from each other in new ways.

Starting to work as a therapist

Jane's desire to work as a therapist started back in high school.

She did love art as well and took up pottery classes and ceramics. However, she later decided to pursue a career in therapy.

For Julia, the process was different.

As a teenager, she struggled with mental health issues and went to see a therapist, but it did not go well. That motivated Julia to learn more about mental health.

Guiding values

Both Jane and Julia have shared and complementary values that allow them to work together well as a team and to run the practice smoothly.

Values like authenticity and respect are important to Jane, especially as guiding lights for working with clients.

For Julia, one of the guiding principles of narrative therapy is viewing the person and the issue at hand as two separate things.

Since Jane and Julia share values and get along well as people and professionals alike, there is no urgent push to grow the practice just for the sake of growth.

Advice for listeners in private practice

Jane: Know what it is that you need and want, and go for it! Don’t let fear get in your way.

Julia: There are a lot of benefits that come from working with like-minded people.

Connect with me:

Instagram

Website

Resources mentioned and useful links:

Ep 157: Affordable Ways to Start a Canadian Private Practice in 2025 | EP 157

Learn more about the tools and deals that I love and use for my Canadian private practice

Jane App (use code FEARLESS for one month free)

Get some help and freebies on your website with WordPress!

Learn more about Julia on their LinkedIn and Psychology Today profiles, Jane on her Psychology Today profile, and both of them on the practice website

Rate, review, and subscribe to this podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon, and TuneIn

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Hey you! Are you thinking about starting a Canadian private practice in 2025? If so, what is going to help you achieve the first step of your dream affordably and hassle-free?

I know exactly what it is like to want to start a Canadian private practice but have no idea how to tackle it. It seems like a mountain of decisions and so many admin tasks. However, I went through it myself, and I’ve put all of my lessons, experiences, and advice into one comprehensive, simple, and free e-course - just for you! And I don’t hold back either. Everything is in there!

If you are curiously excited about the prospect of opening up your practice doors within 2025, listen and read on!

In this episode:

My journey
What you need to know before
Keep the bills in mind
Create your dream private practice
Get yourself affordable and effective support

My journey

Being my own boss meant to me that I had the freedom of choice. I wanted the freedom to set my own schedule, to counsel clients with therapeutic modalities that I was passionate about, and because I enjoy a bit of a challenge!

What you need to know before

Of course, before you start your private practice, you want to make sure that you have a Master’s degree in counselling and that you are either certified and/or licensed by your provincial college.

Then, you need to decide whether you want an online or an in-person private practice, or even a hybrid version of these two. If you are strapped for cash when you start out, consider starting with an online private practice to save you some money in the initial stages of your practice.

Or, if you are decided to start as an in-person counsellor, you can contact other practices and see if they are willing to rent out their office space to you on weekends or off-peak hours for you to see your clients.

Keep the bills in mind

Whether you are doing in-person or online therapy, it will help you tremendously to have savings in the bank before you embark on this journey.

If you don’t have a few months of savings in the bank, you can work part-time in another job or practice while you start your own on the side.

Create your dream private practice

Now the fun part begins! Once you have decided on the crucial business steps, you can now start to have some fun with the process and bring everything to fruition one step at a time.

Here are some of the necessary decisions you need to make:

Liability insurance
Your niche
Naming the practice
Registering your practice
Building the website
Choosing an EMR
Getting professional photos taken
Designing a logo
Deciding on the prices for your sessions
Installing a business phone
Opening a bank account

Get yourself affordable and effective support

When I started my private practice nine years ago, there was hardly any Canadian-focused content out there for me to learn from. I had to do it all myself from scratch, so I know the feeling of not knowing what to do or how to do it.

Now, after my nine years in private practice, I have put my ideas, experiences, and lessons learned into a free e-course for new Canadian private practice therapists like yourself! In it, you will find all the answers to the questions above and more.

So, if you want to start a private practice in 2025, I recommend you check out this course which will give you everything you need to know to have your practice doors ready to open in six months.

However, if you are eager to start sooner than six months, I have my purchasable workbook that gets you there faster - and it’s under $20 CAD!

Connect with me:

Instagram

Website

Resources mentioned and useful links:

Ep 156: Katie Lutes: School Therapist with a Weekend Private Practice | EP 156

Learn more about the tools and deals that I love and use for my Canadian private practice

Jane App (use code FEARLESS for one month free)

Get some help and freebies on your website with WordPress!

Rate, review, and subscribe to this podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon, and TuneIn

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Katie has been working full-time in two different schools with students as a counsellor, family and play therapist as well as has a part-time private practice on Saturdays. When she is not doing virtual sessions with her clients, she sees them outside in nature with her dog.

Since she has been working full-time in schools for the last 10 years, Katie is now starting to truly give her private practice the attention and energy it needs for her to develop it more fully. One day she hopes to work solely in her practice full-time, hire a team to work alongside her, and specialize in play therapy.

Join us for our conversation today, where we talk about her journey, struggles, and wins throughout this time!

MEET KATIE

Katie Lutes is a Registered Clinical Counsellor (RCC) with experience in education since 2003 and counselling since 2011. She specializes in working with children and adolescents aged 5-19, utilizing modalities like Solution Focused Therapy, CBT, Animal-Assisted Therapy, and Play Therapy. Katie’s part-time private practice offers individual, group, and family counselling sessions, both in nature and online. She is passionate about incorporating animals into the healing process Her practice is based in Victoria, British Columbia.

Learn more about Katie on her website, Instagram account, Psychology Today, and LinkedIn profile.

In this episode:

Katie’s experience with building a private practice
Seeing clients
Promoting nature therapy
Overcoming private practice struggles
Katie’s hope for the future

Katie’s experience with building a private practice

Katie started her private practice in 2015, but only seriously started giving it the attention it needs to grow from 2022 onwards.

Katie has been working in the school system for 10 years now, which is why she has decided to move from working in the school system to working more intentionally with her own clients in her practice. She explains that she wants to stay with clients for longer - to see them through their healing journeys for a longer time than she can with students in schools.

Seeing clients

While still working with students in one school full-time, Katie is seeing clients in her practice too. She usually takes one to two clients at a time.

Due to still working full-time, she sees her clients either on Saturdays or sometimes during weekday evenings when her schedule can fit them in.

At the moment, Katie is working on building up her virtual client base.

Promoting nature therapy

Katie shares a lot about her nature and animal therapy modalities through her Instagram profile. She’s used Facebook and Instagram paid ads through Meta.

Additionally, she has begun networking and connecting with doctors, pediatricians, and children-centered spaces to connect with kids and their families for therapy.

Overcoming private practice struggles

One of Katie’s main issues has been broadening her financial bandwidth so that she can put more money into building up her private practice.

She built her website herself and set up her Psychology Today profile from listening to this podcast but finding the motivation and the financial success to add the rest of the pieces is taking more time than Katie realized.

Katie’s hope for the future

Katie wants to be a full-time play therapist! And that is what she is working toward each year. She wants to work half-time, hire some other therapists into her practice with different modalities, and have everyone functioning under a holistic approach to working with their clients.

Connect with me:

Instagram

Website

Resources mentioned and useful links:

Ep 155: Amy Eriksson: Establishing a Successful Group Private Practice in Canada | EP 155

Learn more about the tools and deals that I love and use for my Canadian private practice

Jane App (use code FEARLESS for one month free)

Get some help and freebies on your website with WordPress!

Learn more about Katie on her website, Instagram account, Psychology Today, and LinkedIn profile

Rate, review, and subscribe to this podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon, and TuneIn

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Amy worked as a social worker for 20 years in crisis management in tandem with police and emergency services. She saw how intense and difficult the work could be, and wanted to create a place where her clients could receive their therapy that was softer, more welcoming, and curated to their requirements.

Now, Amy runs a large private practice in Canada with therapists and staff working together all under the same shared values and goals.

In this episode, we discuss building a practice from the ground up, how much therapy changes lives, and how we can create a practice that is tied in with our personal dreams while serving our client’s needs.

MEET AMY

Amy is a genuine, empathetic, and caring therapist capable of cultivating meaningful connections with people in an open, honest, and non-judgmental manner. She is a qualified and respected social worker with 20+ years of frontline community, hospital and clinical experience. Among the population that Amy has served include, youth, adults and seniors who struggle with mental health and addiction issues, relational, stress or crisis, trauma, physical health, diagnosis, and palliation.

Learn more about Amy on her practice website, Psychology Today, Instagram, and LinkedIn profiles.

In this episode:

Being a social worker for 20 years
Transitioning from full-time work into private practice
Hiring staff and building the practice based on values
Growing her practice
Amy’s advice to listeners

Being a social worker for 20 years

In March 2021, Amy decided to open up her own private practice after having been in the field for 20 years working for other mental health organisations in Port Hope, Ontario.

Before she opened her private practice, Amy was working full-time for a community hospital in crisis where she worked directly with a police service and attended the 911 mental health calls.

Transitioning from full-time work into private practice

Amy opened her private practice in 2021 but only committed to working in it fully in 2023 once she had built up her client caseload.

Amy knew that she had reached every goal she had wanted to as a crisis worker, and felt like she wanted to open up her professional career and reach by committing more fully to her private practice.

Hiring staff and building the practice based on values

Amy hired people that she had previously worked with into her new practice when she wanted to develop it further. She made sure to hire practitioners who shared the same or similar values that she had founded the practice.

Amy wanted a practice that felt like a well-loved home.

Growing her practice

Since her passion for her work has grown and she has started hiring more staff, Amy was able to level up her practice from solo to group. She credits part of this success with making the foundation of her practice rest upon the values and principles that she shares with her staff.

Now it’s been four years since Amy started her private practice as a solo therapist, and how she is currently hiring for therapist number 18!

She feels grateful for the success that started with her and that has now grown and been encouraged by her team. The practice has grown larger than her and is now supported and furthered by her staff, therapists, and the community around their practice.

Amy’s advice to listeners

Start your private practice with a solid business plan, consult with an accountant and lawyer, and go slow! Practice self-gratitude and celebrate your small wins.

Connect with me:

Instagram

Website

Resources mentioned and useful links:

Ep 154: Pacific Pines: Working as a Team to Fulfil a Private Practice Dream | EP 154

Learn more about the tools and deals that I love and use for my Canadian private practice

Jane App (use code FEARLESS for one month free)

Get some help and freebies on your website with WordPress!

Learn more about Amy on her practice website, Psychology Today, Instagram, and LinkedIn profiles

Rate, review, and subscribe to this podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon, and TuneIn

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Natasha and Cherise met on an internship, became friends, and decided to work together to open up a Canadian private practice that is based on their shared values; accessibility, equity, and transparency.

Working with a business partner in private practice is a great way to divide up the stress and double up the ideas. Together, they each handle specific roles, discuss new options, and help each other where they can.

MEET NATASHA AND CHERISE

Pacific Pines Wellness was founded with the mission to create a safe and nurturing space, Natasha and Cherise offer tailored counselling services to help individuals, couples, and families navigate life’s challenges. Committed to removing barriers to care, they provide solutions for equitable access, ensuring everyone has the opportunity to receive the support they deserve. They combine evidence-based approaches with a holistic perspective, empowering clients to achieve balance, resilience, and well-being.

Learn more about Natasha and Cherise on their practice website.

In this episode:

What made Natasha and Cherise become therapists
Funding an equitable cost of therapy
Building an accessible and equitable group practice
Working as a team
Advice to listeners

What made Natasha and Cherise become therapists

For Cherise, she started in applied behavioral analysis at the beginning of her studies. Later on, she became drawn to a more personal and collaborative approach to working with clients.

She completed her undergraduate degree in psychology, and while unsure of what to do after she graduated, she worked for a crisis line for a while. That is where she discovered her passion for making therapy more accessible to people who need it.

For Natasha, she actually wanted to become a police officer and completed her undergraduate degree in forensic science! However, during the program, Natasha was often more interested in what happened to the person.

Funding an equitable cost of therapy

Natasha and Cherise try to find the sweet spot between being able to afford their own bills while making their services affordable to a broader population.

A percentage of their caseload is reserved for low-cost counselling to service the populations who cannot afford most counselling services.

Both of them have conversations with their clients to figure out what they can each afford at that moment in a collaborative approach to find a comfortable price for everyone.

Building an accessible and equitable group practice

Natasha and Cherise are interested in building out the practice in a group setting.

They would like to one day hire more mental health professionals into the practice. The flat fee that they would offer is to allow the therapist to receive a higher income, instead of asking them to pay a percentage of their income.

Transparency, accessibility, and barrier-free care are the guiding principles and foundations on which Cherise and Natasha lay their practice.

Working as a team

Natasha explains that initially she wasn’t sure how to approach a private practice, but in meeting Cherise, they discovered a great team in one another and felt excited to approach the opportunity.

Cherise appreciated Natasha suggesting working together and it has been a great experience for them both!

Advice to listeners

It’s not going to be easy but it will be worth it! There will be doubt and you won’t always get a “yes”, but with a great business partner or support network, you can keep pursuing your goals. Be kind to yourself in the process!

Connect with me:

Instagram

Website

Resources mentioned and useful links:

Ep 153: An Update on Direct Billing | EP 153

Learn more about the tools and deals that I love and use for my Canadian private practice

Jane App (use code FEARLESS for one month free)

Get some help and freebies on your website with WordPress!

Learn more about Natasha and Cherise on their practice website, and individual Psychology Today (Natasha) Psychology Today (Cherise) profiles

Rate, review, and subscribe to this podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon, and TuneIn

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In this episode, I’ll update you on how direct billing is going in my Canadian private practice. If you have not yet listened to episode 141, I’d recommend that you start there and then return to this episode!

I was apprehensive at first to include direct billing, but now I enjoy using it and the benefits that come along with it!

In this episode:

What I love
What I had to change
What I don’t like

What I love

With Jane App (the EMR I use) direct billing works great. It is user-friendly for my clients and me since the platform offers direct billing.

‘For me what I’m really loving is how they organize claim submissions!’ - Julia Smith

A brief description of the parts I love include:

Claim submissions are tracked when they are submitted, unsubmitted, or approved
Direct links with insurance company websites on clients' insurance policy files
Access to the Telus Health integrated feature
You can add the direct billing feature to a client’s intake form that asks clients to upload their insurance cards (which automatically then go onto the client’s file)

‘[Uploading insurance card details] makes it really easy for you to get the information you need to submit the claim with the insurance company.’ - Julia Smith

The main thing that I love about direct billing so far is that clients are grateful and happy to have this option! It allows them to have easier access to therapy because they may not afford to put their therapy session cost on a credit card.

What I had to change

The biggest thing that I had to change was my pricing. In the past, I had different prices for my intake sessions since they often require a lot of energy to get to know the client and the intake notes can take more time, which means that intake sessions would be a bit more expensive than my standard subsequent session price.

But when I started with direct billing, my associate and I decided that we should have one price for our sessions to make it easier for clients and to cut down on admin time.

‘In making this decision, we decided to value consistency and peace of mind instead of charging for that energy and the extra time it takes to write an intake session note.’ - Julia Smith

What I don’t like

Direct billing does take extra time. Since I have a small practice and enjoy doing some admin work, I decided to take on the extra hours to direct bill.. I’m now adding around an extra hour a week of work to complete my direct billing duties, but that’s okay, it is worth it!

I also upgraded my plan so that I could have direct billing, but again, it is still totally worth it!

‘It feels so good to make my private practice more accessible, and it is totally worth the extra cost to do direct billing through Jane App because they make it so easy to do!’ - Julia Smith

Connect with me:

Instagram

Website

Resources mentioned and useful links:

Ep 152: Mastering Stress in Today’s Canadian Private Practice | EP 152

Learn more about the tools and deals that I love and use for my Canadian private practice

Jane App (use code FEARLESS for one month free)

Get some help and freebies on your website with WordPress!

Rate, review, and subscribe to this podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon, and TuneIn

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I think we can agree that stress is something we’d all like to reduce in private practice! For me, in 2024, I realized that my working life was too stressful. It was something I really wanted to change so that I could relax more and enjoy my work and life!

I’ve now come up with three strategies for 2025 that I’ll be implementing to see if I can decrease stress and increase a sense of contentment when I log on and off from my Canadian private practice.

In this episode:

A quick recap
Addressing the financial stress
Managing email checking
Changing my social media habits

A quick recap

If you haven’t listened to previous episodes, in 2024 I realized how stressed out I was feeling. If you want to learn more about how I got out of those stressful situations, you can listen to my podcast episodes 135 and episode 144.

We know, as therapists, that chronic stress is not good for a person’s mental or physical health and wellbeing. The goal for my life is to reduce stress as much as possible. I know that I got lost in the stress of private practice and forgot how great it feels to NOT be stressed often!

Addressing the financial stress

Over the holiday break, I took 2 weeks off to think about how I could better manage things that were often stressful in my private practice, allowing me to change my work routine for the better.

When I started my practice, a monthly budget worked well, since my clientele was still growing and sometimes unsteady. Some months I would have more personal bills and other months more practice expenses, so money was constantly being moved around, which was stressful to manage!

However, now that my practice has grown a bit more, this method was no longer working.

I worked out how much I generally spend, save, and pay for the year, divided it up to find a monthly figure, and now know how much I have to work with instead of leaving everything to the end of the month to figure out.

Basically, I gave myself a salary! And this has been so helpful in managing stress.

Managing email checking

I would check my emails pretty constantly and that led to burn out and also big dopamine hits when emails would come through. It made it harder to stay relaxed. What started as an effort to be efficient spiraled a bit into an unnecessary stressful situation.

So now, I’ve taken my email and slack accounts and hidden their bookmarks from my main view on my internet browser. I now only check them three times a day! So far, this is helping to feel less wired and anxious after a long day of working.

Changing my social media habits

We all struggle with balancing social media. It has become a part of our marketing and still remains, for many people, a standard form of communicating. However, I knew that I wanted to change my approach with it because I didn’t want it to be taking up so much of my energy.

I’ve even started reading a digital newspaper on my breaks (instead of getting my news from google or the internet), and it has been great! Sure, there’s stress with what’s happening in the world, but by managing information overload, it is becoming easier to manage digesting the news and stress.

Connect with me:

Instagram

Website

Resources mentioned and useful links:

Ep 151: Chanel Wainscott: Riding the Waves of Private Practice | EP 151

Learn more about the tools and deals that I love and use for my Canadian private practice

Jane App (use code FEARLESS for one month free)

Get some help and freebies on your website with WordPress!

Rate, review, and subscribe to this podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon, and TuneIn

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Do you sometimes feel overwhelmed by stress, from both inside and outside the private practice? How can you distinguish between fear, stress, and what is essential to do?

Chanel, my guest today, answers that question to remember and use the power of your “why”. Why did you start your private practice? Why are you working in counselling and therapy? These answers can help give you the fortitude to keep going.

In today’s episode, Chanel and I discuss the importance of “why” and how you can use it to ride the wave of private practice, reduce your stress, and work more closely and effectively with your values and passions.

MEET CHANEL

Chanel Wainscott is a Registered Psychotherapist (Qualifying) offering in-person and virtual therapy to clients in the perinatal period, helping them navigate the complexities of caregiving, self-identity, and mental health. She is passionate about guiding clients toward resilience against shame, identifying and communicating their needs to their support networks, and supporting the mental health journeys of postpartum fathers. With a focus on authentic self-expression and building strong support systems, Chanel empowers clients to navigate their unique stories.

Learn more about Chanel on her practice website, Psychology Today, Open Path Collective, and LinkedIn or Instagram profiles.

In this episode:

Why Chanel became a psychotherapist
When Chanel considered private practice
Developing and launching her private practice
Remembering your “why”
Chanel’s advice to listeners

Why Chanel became a psychotherapist

Due to her interest in high school, and encouragement from her doctor who knew her well, Chanel completed her Psychology Degree in undergrad - even though her school guidance counsellor told her that her marks were too low initially!

Chanel completed her placement at a community health center and became a mental health counsellor.

When Chanel considered private practice

In 2019, Chanel graduated and was placed in a crisis worker position within her agency.

However, her private practice was placed on the back burner since Chanel went on maternity leave. It wasn’t until her second maternity leave in 2022, that she decided to really give private practice a go.

Developing and launching a private practice

In January and February of 2023, Chanel decided to commit to trying out private practice. She did a lot throughout April and May to set up her business accounts and then in June 2023, she was ready to announce it to the world.

Chanel’s maternity leave ended in October 2022, but she didn’t go back to work at the agency. She used those months to brainstorm and network in preparation for her private practice at the beginning of 2023.

However, Chanel has slowly transitioned from working at the agency and is now in her practice full-time!

Remembering your “why”

Remembering and focusing on your “why” in private practice is essential because it helps you separate unnecessary stress from necessary to-dos. Your “why” makes it easier to distinguish between worries about what needs to get done, and knowing that getting them done is important for you, your practice, and the clients.

It can give you fortitude and ground you in your passion for this work, especially on tougher days.

Your unnecessary stressors often start with the “shoulds” and you can sift through them with a fine-tooth comb to take them off of your mind when you work through each day.

Chanel’s advice to listeners

Cultivate a growth mindset and train yourself to see mistakes as opportunities to further find your “why” and to bring you back to your values.

Connect with me:

Instagram

Website

Resources mentioned and useful links:

Ep 150: Delia Petrescu: Canadian SEO and Marketing Insights for Private Practice | EP 150

Learn more about the tools and deals that I love and use for my Canadian private practice

Jane App (use code FEARLESS for one month free)

Get some help and freebies on your website with WordPress!

Learn more about Chanel on her practice website, Psychology Today, Open Path Collective, and LinkedIn or Instagram profiles.

Rate, review, and subscribe to this podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon, and TuneIn

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If you are on a path for marketing your Canadian private practice, being mindful of your search engine optimization (SEO) may take some time to build momentum, but it is one of the direct routes to success.

In today’s episode, Delia and I discuss our interests in SEO, why it is important for marketing our practices successfully, and other topics - including growing a business with interns!

MEET DELIA

Delia Petrescu is a Registered Psychotherapist and founder of Get Reconnected Psychotherapy Services. She has over a decade of experience working in the mental health field, supporting clients facing mood disorders, anxiety, infertility, pregnancy loss, relationship difficulties, and stress management. Previously, she worked as a psychometrist in various clinical settings and at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH), conducting neuropsychological assessments in the Brain, Body, and Perception research department. Delia has specialized training from the American Society for Reproductive Medicine and is an active member of the Canadian Fertility and Andrology Society and Fertility Matters.

Learn more about Delia on her practice website, LinkedIn, and Psychology Today profiles.

In this episode:

What motivated Delia to work in therapy?
Starting a private practice
Going from solo to group private practice with interns
Building a practice based on values
SEO and marketing the practice
The dark side of AI in marketing and SEO
Delia’s direction for the future

What motivated Delia to work in therapy?

Even though Delia always had an inkling of working in therapy, she started her professional career as a psychometrist.

Starting a private practice

In 2021, Delia opened up her practice. As her journey as a business owner developed, she slowly began taking on more of an interest in the back-end of building a successful practice, alongside providing great therapy on the front end.

Going from solo to group private practice with interns

In 2022, Delia’s practice was steadily growing and she decided to help its development by purchasing paid ads. She also hired two interns.

To find her interns, Delia posted her job descriptions on Facebook groups and the Yorkville Practicum Portal that she is part of.

In September 2022, Delia hired her first interns. She also hired an administrative assistant who was a previous colleague, and another psychologist as an independent contractor.

Now her 2022 interns have graduated and work at her practice as therapists, and she has taken on two new interns!

Building a practice based on values

Curiosity is one of the guiding principles that Delia and her team use when working with clients.

Beyond curiosity, dedication is another value that Delia uses as a guiding principle in her practice.

SEO and marketing the practice

Delia tends to avoid using ChatGPT in her marketing efforts because she prefers to use organic content as her personal preference and to help boost her SEO.

Delia has also made sure to section up her website with relevant content in the form of blog posts.

The dark side of AI in marketing and SEO

However helpful AI tools can be, be careful in how much you rely on them. They are tempting, but practice using them as assistants to your work instead of allowing them to do the whole job.

Delia’s direction for the future

For her short-term goals, Delia wants to continue with her affordable therapy program by hiring interns into her practice. Over the next three to five years, Delia has her sights set on opening up more office space downtown.

Connect with me:

Instagram

Website

Resources mentioned and useful links:

Ep 149: Alexia Wensing: Can You Make a Brand Out of a “Vibe”? | EP 149

Learn more about the tools and deals that I love and use for my Canadian private practice

Jane App (use code FEARLESS for one month free)

Get some help and freebies on your website with WordPress!

Learn more about Delia on her practice website, LinkedIn, and Psychology Today profiles

Rate, review, and subscribe to this podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon, and TuneIn

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Alexia is Canadian, but spent time living and working in Norway, where she has learned about some of the Scandinavian ways of life, including “Hygge”, the feeling of being cozy and content and slowing down to make space for the enjoyment of life.

This principle has inspired Alexia in her private practice, and she incorporated these values into her daily sessions with clients, encouraging them to actively use gratitude where applicable in therapy. Join us for our cozy chat today about coming into therapy, working intentionally with principles in private practice, and how to find what works for you, whether it is work-life balance or marketing, and life beyond it.

MEET ALEXIA

Alexia Wensing is a registered psychotherapist who values the mind-body connection, emphasizing the importance of slowing down and optimizing mental health through physical wellness and fostering a healthy relationship with the body. She works with athletes, families of athletes, and individuals facing challenges such as anxiety, life transitions, and stress, utilizing a rooted, evidence-based approach to support clients.

Learn more about Alexia on her practice website and Psychology Today profile.

In this episode:

Why Alexia decided to become a therapist
Working in a hospital setting
Starting a private practice
Incorporating a Scandinavian lifestyle into private practice
Marketing the private practice
Going forward

Why Alexia decided to become a therapist

After completing undergrad, Alexia was interested in pursuing law and even studied for the LSAT exams for a brief period. She then pivoted into a more HR and cultural role in creating a healthy workplace environment for a few years, but again, she felt like something was still missing.

Therefore, Alexia returned to university again to pursue her master’s degree in Counselling Psychology. All of this experience had happened in Ontario, but in October 2020, Alexia decided to move to Norway.

Working in a hospital setting

Alexia worked as a psychotherapy intern.

Even though Alexia appreciated her hospital work experience, it also taught her the tough lesson of having clients come and go, since that was the nature of working in a hospital.

Starting a private practice

After Alexia’s practicum, she got a position at a multidisciplinary practice.

Even though she loved working there and being a leader running the telehealth team, she had to have a tough conversation with her bosses about her going in the direction of opening up her own private practice.

Incorporating a Scandinavian lifestyle into private practice

The cultural way of living in Norway gave Alexia firsthand experience and a new perspective on approaching wellness, mindfulness, and a healthy type of comfort when facing life’s challenges.

She wanted to share the Hygge ‘vibe with other people, whether they were athletes or an individual struggling with a personal issue in life.

Marketing the private practice

Even though marketing can be tricky, it is necessary, because it is the way that you are putting the word of your practice out there into the community.

You don’t have to be “salesy”. You can be authentic, and genuine, and just want to let people know who you are, what you do, and how you can help them.

Alexia uses Instagram, social media, and her website for marketing. To niche down her practice while simultaneously combining her experience, she brings in the ‘Hygge vibe’ as branding for her private practice.

Going forward

Alexia is in Alberta now, considering expanding her practice, where she can continue to apply the Norwegian principles that she loves!

Connect with me:

Instagram

Website

Resources mentioned and useful links:

Ep 148: Mark Pioro: Ontario Psychotherapy Rules and Regulations | EP 148

Learn more about the tools and deals that I love and use for my Canadian private practice

Jane App (use code FEARLESS for one month free)

Get some help and freebies on your website with WordPress!

Learn more about Alexia on her practice website and Psychology Today profile

Rate, review, and subscribe to this podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon, and TuneIn

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Are you a Registered Psychotherapist? Are you licensed through the College of Registered Psychotherapists of Ontario (CRPO)? Do you know what you’re allowed and not allowed to do in your private practice?

Today’s guest is Mark, the Deputy Registrar and General Counsel at the College of Registered Psychotherapists of Ontario. We discuss rules and regulations that pertain to registered psychotherapists in private practice.

MEET MARK

Mark Pioro is the Deputy Registrar & General Counsel at the College of Registered Psychotherapists of Ontario (CRPO). CRPO is the regulator, established by the government, which sets the standards for RPs. CRPO acts in the interest of the public, striving to ensure the competent and ethical practice of the profession.

Learn more about Mark and the CRPO on the CRPO website.

In this episode:

What is the CRPO?
Certification and residency
The CRPO and running private practices
Going from graduation into private practice
Do’s and don’ts in advertising
Managing fees and rates ethically
Handling complaints

What is the CRPO?

The College of Registered Psychotherapists of Ontario (CRPO) is one of the regulatory bodies for psychotherapy in Ontario. This means that only individuals registered with the CRPO are legally permitted to call themselves Registered Psychotherapists (RPs). But other mental health professionals may be regulated to provide psychotherapy services by different colleges.

In 2007, the Ontario government decided to allow the following to provide psychotherapy services:

Nurses
Occupational therapists
Physicians
Psychologists
Social workers
Registered Psychotherapists

Certification and residency

With Registered Psychotherapists (RPs) you can be a registered RP without having to be in Ontario. You can also easily become a RP if you are registered with another regulated province as a Registered Counselling Therapist.

The CRPO and running private practices

The College of Registered Psychotherapists of Ontario (CRPO) offers resources and information regarding regulations and laws related to the practice of psychotherapy. However, the CRPO does not provide training or guidance on the business aspects of running a private practice, including areas such as tax implications, insurance requirements, or other specific business-related advice.

Going from graduation into private practice

Essentially, it depends on the therapist. In Ontario, if the student has completed the course work and feels confident enough to run a private practice, they could start a private practice while finishing their degree. However, the psychotherapist would still need to have supervision and oversight. Remember that every provincial college may have different regulations for when a therapist can start private practice!

Do’s and don’ts in advertising

Make sure your advertising is;

Truthful
Accurate
Verifiable

Some inappropriate advertising may include;

Promising results
Using comparisons or superlatives
Concealing advertising
Advertising in a regulated province where you are not licensed

Be clear and honest with your advertising. Be ethical, and don’t try to sell your services as a fix-all to potential clients in order to get more business. Talk with a Canadian consultant to make sure that you remain ethical while still effective.

Managing fees and rates ethically

An RP cannot lure in a client with a low rate and then suddenly increase it once the therapeutic relationship has been established. However, you can raise your fees and rates ethically, since your expertise levels may increase and inflation is an issue sometimes.

Handling complaints

Check your insurance policies, since some insurance companies may offer you a lawyer for the process while others might not
Have a network of support for this challenging time
The most serious complaints may go public, but those are very rare and may need evidence and legal findings
Most complaints and investigations are resolved without a disciplinary hearing which has to go public

Connect with me:

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Website

Resources mentioned and useful links:

Ep 147: Encore episode | EP 147

Learn more about the tools and deals that I love and use for my Canadian private practice

Jane App (use code FEARLESS for one month free)

Learn more about Mark and the CRPO on the CRPO website

Rate, review, and subscribe to this podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon, and TuneIn

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Today, Julia takes another trip down memory lane, revisiting a gem from the Fearless Practice archives. In this encore episode, Julia talks to Alison Puryear, a US therapist and consultant, about how to market a new private practice.

You can find the show notes to the original episode here.

Connect with me:

Instagram

Website

Resources Mentioned and Useful Links:

Ep 146: Deanna Desantis: Being a Nurse, Psychotherapist, and Equestrian Counsellor | EP 146

Purchase the workbook on How To Start an Online Canadian Private Practice

Learn more about the tools and deals that I love and use for my Canadian private practice

Rate, review, and subscribe to this podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon, and TuneIn

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My guest today, Deanna, has followed her passions to a place where she now runs a Canadian private practice, working with horses and their riders while still being a nurse. She has combined her expertise and personal experience so that she can work and make a difference in the lives that she is most drawn to.

In today’s episode, Deanna and I discuss her entry into psychotherapy, how she manages to be a nurse while running her practice, and how she has integrated her love for horses and the life of being a rider, including its challenges, into her practice as her professional niche.

MEET DEANNA

Deanna is both a Registered Nurse and Psychotherapist! At Evolution Counselling, her mission is clear: to assist individuals in overcoming day-to-day concerns and to empower athletes, especially equestrians, to better understand and manage their mental health. Whether they are striving to excel in their sport or simply seeking support in navigating life’s challenges, she is there to provide a safe space and compassionate guidance every step of the way.

Learn more about Deanna on her website, Psychology Today, and Facebook profiles.

In this episode:

Deanna’s career in therapy
The desire to open a practice
An equestrian therapist
Deanna’s advice to listeners

Deanna’s career in therapy

Deanna completed her nursing degree right after completing high school. She had her sights set on being an ICU nurse. Once she graduated, Deanna had a mental health position as a nurse when she worked with cancer patients in Hamilton.

While Deanna was completing her Masters in Counselling Psychology, she switched between working full-time and part-time as a nurse to support what she needed to do to complete her degree.

She hopes to transition to full-time therapy one day soon, and to grow her Canadian practice into a group private practice.

The desire to open a practice

Deanna wanted to open her own private practice rather than work as a therapist in a hospital setting because she wanted to be her own boss.

The flexibility of running her personal and working schedule, and the ability to be in charge of her day, was something that she wanted to align her professional career with.

An equestrian therapist

Deanna has the skills and understanding to be a great equestrian therapist.

She had personal experience as a competitive horse rider, and so knew first-hand what the challenges were that many riders faced, both inside and outside of competitions. The stress, the fatigue, and putting themselves last, were all aspects that she had experienced and wanted to help other riders with.

Deanna wanted to encourage riders to also take time and care for themselves, and not to give absolutely all of their attention to their horses so that they can continue to compete and be well overall.

‘I think one of my biggest successes [has been] the long-term clients that I have, and just [to see] the progress that they’ve made … Just knowing that I am that person who they can reach out to [is amazing].’ - Deanna DeSantis

Deanna’s advice to listeners

Make connections! Talk with people, ask questions, and don’t be afraid to reach out to someone that you look up to. There is a lot of insight available to you when you place yourself in the right circles with the right people.

Connect with me:

Instagram

Website

Resources mentioned and useful links:

Ep 145: Lauren Mallon: Why Niching is a Practice-Boosting Superpower | EP 145

Learn more about the tools and deals that I love and use for my Canadian private practice

Jane App (use code FEARLESS for one month free)

Learn more about Lauren on her website, Instagram, and Psychology Today profiles.

Rate, review, and subscribe to this podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon, and TuneIn

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When you establish your private practice in an underserved specialty, you increase your chance of being placed under the spotlight.

A great niche could offer you an immediate step-up in getting noticed, help to connect with clients, and with potential referral sources. You may also feel that you enjoy your work much more and are more fulfilled when you position the focus of your practice amongst the niche that you are most passionate about working with.

In this podcast episode, my guest Lauren and I discuss her entry into psychotherapy and her Canadian private practice which offers her clients sports-related therapy and mental health services.

MEET LAUREN

Lauren Mallon is a Registered Psychotherapist offering in-person and virtual therapy sessions in Burlington and Hamilton, Ontario. She provides a safe and compassionate space for individuals and families facing a range of challenges, specializing in anxiety, sports performance, and self-esteem. Lauren utilizes a variety of evidence-based therapeutic approaches, empowering clients to take an active role in their journey toward positive change.

Learn more about Lauren on her website, Instagram, and Psychology Today profiles.

In this episode:

Why Lauren became a therapist
From being a contractor to opening a practice
Niching in psychotherapy
Can you be successful without a website?
Lauren’s advice to listeners

Why Lauren became a therapist

Lauren completed her undergraduate degree in psychology in Ireland, where she’s from, and then moved to Canada for employment.

While in Canada Lauren decided to pursue her dream of becoming a therapist and learned that she had to complete a Masters degree to be able to counselling or psychotherapy. She ended up completing her MA in Canada and set out to become a counsellor.

From being a contractor to opening a practice

Working as a contractor first in another private practice gave Lauren a sense of the type of work and environment that a therapist usually works in, which made her more sure that she wanted to open a private practice of her own.

Lauren asked herself; “What’s the point in waiting?” Once she knew that this was something she wanted to try out. Financially, Lauren wanted to increase her salary since she had personal commitments to take care of.

Niching in psychotherapy

Lauren specialized in sports psychology. She was a dancer herself for 15 years and has always gravitated towards learning more about and working with athletes and their mental health. So, she looked into this niche and found that there weren’t many other therapists serving it.

On Psychology Today, Lauren was able to specifically identify that sports is one of her specialties. She also pursued additional courses on her own time to further develop her understanding and ability to treat and work with people in this niche.

Can you be successful without a website?

For Lauren, networking with your community and local doctor’s offices and therapists has been a big referral source too. Because she has such a specialized niche, she’s able to attract a lot of attention and word-of-mouth marketing without having to put an extensive amount of effort into standard marketing strategies.

She has therefore put off creating an official website because she is currently doing well getting referrals and clients through her referral network system and social media.

Lauren’s advice to listeners

Ask for help! Talk to people, network, and be proactive in establishing supportive professional relationships. Learn from others while focusing on your practice so that you can learn vicariously while building a practice that will fit you and your clients like a glove.

Connect with me:

Instagram

Website

Resources mentioned and useful links:

Ep 144: Changing My Mindset in Private Practice : Year 8 | EP 144

Learn more about the tools and deals that I love and use for my Canadian private practice

Jane App (use code FEARLESS for one month free)

Learn more about Lauren on her website, Instagram, and Psychology Today profiles.

Rate, review, and subscribe to this podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon, and TuneIn

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This year has been characterized by personal changes in mindset and approach to my practice, and professional development within my Canadian private practice and podcast.

Today’s episode will be a deep dive into my personal story, in celebration and reflection of year eight in private practice!

In this Episode:

November 2023
The beginning of 2024
Spring and summer of 2024
Towards the end of this year
The struggles of year eight
Cultivating a “maintain mindset” over a capitalist-growth mindset
The future of the Fearless Practice podcast

November 2023

Eight years ago, I started my Canadian private practice in November. Now, every November, I reflect on how far I've come.

A lot of my time and energy at the beginning of this year was focused on finalizing that website. Unfortunately around this time, along with the struggle of the website situation, I had to hire a new admin staff, which added a lot more work to my plate.

The beginning of 2024

I sunk deeper and deeper into a work hibernation for the first few months of this new year. I just focused on the basics which allowed my creativity and urge to work harder to slowly appear again in the Spring, instead of forcing myself to keep pushing when I was feeling burned out.

Spring and summer of 2024

One of the biggest changes was that therapy for registered counselling therapists and psychotherapists became tax-free in the spring of 2024!

Going into the summer of 2024, I began to feel the burnout creeping up on me again, so I decided to switch things up and pursue a solo project, which was to get involved in the SEO of the backend of my website.

Towards the end of this year

As you may know from episode 141, I took up the project of adding direct billing in the private practice, which so far has been going really well!

And to end it off, a wonderful twist this year was that my first admin - who had been with me since the beginning - came back!

It’s been great to have the three of us back together again, working in private practice as a close-knit and content team.

The struggles of year eight

Even though this year has been lovely on many levels, there have been some tough moments. One of them is that Jane, my associate, and I have yet to complete a second season of our private practice’s podcast.

Managing stress has also been another hurdle. Specifically, financial stress has been a concern.

Running a podcast is expensive! And it got even tougher when the usual financial pattern of the year was different.

Cultivating a “maintain mindset” over a capitalist-growth mindset

Due to money stress, I focused on ways to grow my practice and income but that mindset ended up not being helpful. What this experience has taught me is that adopting a perpetual-money-growth mindset can cause you even more anxiety.

Now, I’m approaching my work as maintenance of my professional and personal dream life that is based on satisfaction and peace.

The future of the Fearless Practice podcast

We're thrilled that Jane App is sponsoring the podcast for another year!

This means there will be a whole other year of the Fearless Practice podcast! Thank you to my podcast editing team along with Joel, Niam, Brittany, Claire, and you, our audience! We look forward to another year of sharing stories and knowledge about Canadian private practice.

Connect with me:

Instagram

Website

Resources Mentioned and Useful Links:

EP 143: Jillian Bagan: Growing a Queer-Informed Practice | EP 143

Learn more about the tools and deals that I love and use for my Canadian private practice

Article: How to Set Up a Canadian Private Practice Website

Jane App (use code FEARLESS for one month free)

Listen to my private practice story and journey here!

Rate, review, and subscribe to this podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon, and TuneIn

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Sometimes, the most successful path that someone can take is the one that comes organically.

By following your passions, seeing what works and what doesn’t, and taking your personal and professional preferences into account, you can make it easier for yourself to develop a balanced lifestyle that fulfills you both inside and outside the counselling room.

For my guest today, Jillian did (and is doing) just that. Jillian works closely with their values, knows how to structure the workday to align with their personal and professional goals, and structures private practice around their needs as well as the needs of their clients, to work and enjoy a balanced lifestyle.

MEET JILLIAN

Jillian Bagan (they/she) is a strong advocate for mental health and wellness, infusing their expertise in the field with a queer-identified perspective. As a Registered Clinical Counsellor, Registered Canadian Art Therapist, and Certified Canadian Counsellor with a Masters in Art Therapy from Concordia University, they bring over 7 years of experience to their private practice in Vancouver. Jillian's expertise extends to direct support for the LGBT2SQ+ community, addressing trauma and other mental health challenges across diverse economic and ethnic backgrounds.

Learn more about Jillian on their Instagram and Psychology Today pages, and their website.

In this episode:

What motivated Jillian to become an art therapist
Opening a private practice
Incorporating values into private practice
Advertising the practice
Jillian’s goals for the future

What motivated Jillian to become an art therapist?

Jillian developed their understanding of art therapy by first applying its principles and practicing alone before she felt capable enough and ready to begin working with clients.

They graduated in 2019 and started working in a private clinic to work with children in the welfare system. When the pandemic hit in 2020, they had to go online, which allowed Jillian to learn how to use tools of art therapy online.

Opening a private practice

Jillian moved to Vancouver because it had a bigger queer population, which allowed Jillian to work more directly with her niche, which is art therapy with a queer-centered focus.

While Jillian was working in their private practice, she was still taking up some contract work here and there, some virtual and some in-person. So in April of 2023, Jillian became her own boss!

These days, Jillian works with clients in their private practice both in-person and virtually.

Incorporating values into private practice

Creativity is a core value for Jillian, and it is utilized throughout the private practice. Jillian puts effort into the visual aspects of the private practice creatively, and then also practices creative problem-solving when coming to grips with the nuances of running a business.

Advertising the practice

Jillian was approached by a local charity to do an interview.

It was a great experience that happened organically and allowed them to get the word out about their practice.

At the moment, Jillian is using Instagram ads and Psychology Today. They’re also thinking about applying for Canada’s Grow Your Business Online grant - which you can also research and see if you’re eligible to apply for as well!

Jillian’s goals for the future

At the moment, Jillian wants to maintain the private practice as it is. She’s just enjoying the work and allowing it to grow organically.

As for their professional expertise, Jillian has a goal of becoming a supervisor in the next few years to support other therapists in their area.

Connect with me:

Instagram

Website

Resources mentioned and useful links:

Ep 142: Flora Gerlai: Hiring the Right Fit for Your Practice | EP 142

Learn more about the tools and deals that I love and use for my Canadian private practice

Jane App (use code FEARLESS for one month free)

Learn more about Jillian on their Instagram and Psychology Today pages, and their website

Listen to the episode on the Canada Grow Your Business Online Grant!

Rate, review, and subscribe to this podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon, and TuneIn

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Many therapists may struggle with finding and hiring the best-fit staff for their private practice, and that may include hiring interns and students who want to complete their practicums. So, how do you go about finding them?

My guest Flora in today’s episode interviewed more than 30 different candidates for a position at her practice! There’s some trial and error, but once you know more about what you are looking for and what the vision is that you have for your practice, it can help to make things easier.

MEET FLORA

Flora Gerlai is an RP and founder of Flora Psychotherapy. She provides a safe space for clients to navigate life's challenges using an active, empathetic, and detailed approach. Flora believes all behaviors reflect underlying needs and tailors her integrative techniques to each client, drawing on various therapeutic models like CBT, Narrative Therapy, and Mindfulness. She's also a Certified Mental Health and Nutrition Clinical Specialist, passionate about the connection between food, mood, and mental well-being.

Learn more about Flora on her website, Psychology Today, and Instagram profiles.

In this episode:

How Flora became a psychotherapist
Launching a private practice
Adding staff and clients to the practice
Finding a good practicum fit for your practice
Flora’s advice for listeners

How Flora became a psychotherapist

Flora noticed that in the mental health services field, especially when it came to psychotherapy, there can be long wait lists and a large number of clients looking for a way to access care.

This realization and observation sparked Flora’s transition into psychotherapy specifically. Once she finished her Masters degree, Flora remained working in the foster care system for a while before transferring to a group private practice.

After working there for a while and trying out this new work experience, Flora opened her own virtual private practice.

Launching a private practice

Currently, Flora is in her second year of running her own virtual Canadian private practice, while she continues working part-time at another in-person clinic.

For Flora, opening up her own Canadian private practice was a large learning curve. There were many aspects of running a business that she had to learn from scratch, especially as the boss.

Adding staff and clients to the practice

Finding clients ebbs and flows, but most of the time Flora finds new clients through either word-of-mouth, through existing clients, or her Facebook and Instagram ads. Once she felt steady enough running her private practice, she hired another therapist from outside Toronto to also see clients online.

Flora reminds herself that the busyness comes and goes. For many therapists this year, September has been uncharacteristically quiet, and this was the case for Flora as well. She reminds herself to stay in the present and keep going, even when it’s tough.

Finding a good practicum fit for your practice

Flora knew that she wanted to work with students. When it came to hiring, it has been a trial and error process that has taught her what to look out for; the good, the bad, and the potential. She tries to have a blend of questions that are both clinically significant and others more open and low-key, while in a professional setting.

Flora’s advice for listeners

Hone in on what your core values and beliefs are for your practice because they will help to inform your niche.

Take your time in figuring out your niche, and be okay with the nature of the field, and how much it can change and fluctuate.

Connect with me:

Instagram

Website

Resources mentioned and useful links:

Ep 141: Adding Direct Billing to Your Canadian Private Practice | EP 141

Learn more about the tools and deals that I love and use for my Canadian private practice

Jane App (use code FEARLESS for one month free)

Learn more about Flora on her website, Psychology Today, and Instagram profiles

Rate, review, and subscribe to this podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon, and TuneIn

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If you have been a long-time listener, you’ll know that ever since I started my Canadian private practice, I have never offered direct billing to clients.

There were many reasons for this, such as when I started eight years ago, there weren’t many insurance companies covering registered counselling therapists. Plus, each insurance plan seemed to have a different rule or agreement on whether a registered counselling therapist could be covered, and if so, by what percentage.

Until now! In 2024, there’s been a big change where TELUS Health is now allowing registered counselling therapists and psychotherapists to be part of their platform, and the TELUS platform offers many different types of insurance companies. Listen in to find out more!

In this Episode:

TELUS Health and Jane App
Discovering the offered insurance companies
How to integrate direct billing with your Jane App

TELUS Health and Jane App

‘TELUS Health is now allowing registered counselling therapists and psychotherapists to be a part of their platform, and on their platform [are] many different types of insurance companies … Which makes it so much easier to direct bill.’ - Julia Smith

I really started to think about offering direct billing once I heard that TELUS Health integrates with Jane App.

I knew that if I could offer direct billing through my EMR, Jane App, and it would only take a couple of minutes that it would be worth looking into, and adding into my practice structure.

‘The last thing I want to do is add another 15-30 minutes to each session having to deal with billing, but if it’s only going to take five minutes to do direct billing, I know my clients would really appreciate that, and therapy would become more accessible for people that are looking for direct billing and therapy services!’ - Julia Smith

Discovering the offered insurance companies

From talking with clients, I know that the three main insurance companies that people use are;

Sun Life
Manulife
Blue Cross

Unfortunately, TELUS Health only has Manulife, but then a tonne of other insurance companies. I started to talk with other therapists about Blue Cross to see if it’s worth it to apply for direct billing with them, even though they’re not part of the TELUS Health system.

Then, I started the process of adding direct billing to my private practice through TELUS Health and Blue Cross.

‘Luckily in Canada as therapists we don’t have to apply for an insurance panel, like therapists do in the states, as long as you have the degrees needed you can just apply to TELUS Health, to Blue Cross, and then any insurance program that offers therapy and accepts registered counselling therapists or psychotherapists, you’ll be covered!’ - Julia Smith

How to integrate direct billing with your Jane App

‘Luckily, Jane App did not disappoint!’ - Julia Smith

There were two videos that answered all of the pressing questions that you may have about linking insurance with your Jane App EMR - you can watch these videos here, and here, and learn how to integrate insurance with your Jane App as well! If you’re ready to give Jane App a go, use my code FEARLESS to receive one month free!

‘With your schedule, Jane App also shows a little insurance badge with the clients who are using insurance, so that can make it a lot easier to know which client’s are going through insurance and which clients aren’t.’ - Julia Smith

With Jane App, you can reduce the amount of admin that you will have to do with each client!

Connect with me:

Instagram

Website

Resources Mentioned and Useful Links:

EP 140: Blackcy Placidass: Developing a Value-Based Practice | EP 140

Learn more about the tools and deals that I love and use for my Canadian private practice

Article: How to Set Up a Canadian Private Practice Website

Jane App (use code FEARLESS for one month free)

Rate, review, and subscribe to this podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon, and TuneIn

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One of the great benefits of building a value-based practice is that it makes it easier for you to return to work each day, remembering why you do the work that you do. It also allows your clients to know exactly what you stand for, and how they can best connect with you and your mission.

Join us for today’s podcast episode, where Blackcy and I discuss why we both came into the helper’s profession, how to curb burnout when managing workloads, and why incorporating our values into our practices is a good idea for anyone to consider!

MEET BLACKCY

Blackcy Placidass is a registered social worker and psychotherapist with 14 years of experience. She has served a multitude of populations across the GTA in Ontario. Currently, Blackcy is a care coordinator with Ontario Health atHome and has been running a part-time private practice for the past seven years. Her specialties include addictions, trauma, and grief and loss.

Learn more about Blackcy on her Psychology Today and Instagram pages, or her website.

In this episode:

Why Blackcy decided to become a social worker
Opening a private practice
Avoiding burnout
Developing a value’s based practice
Blackcy’s advice to listeners

Why Blackcy decided to become a social worker

For Blackcy, she always had volunteering and helping people as something at the back of her mind when she started thinking about going to university.

When she completed her undergraduate degree for Psychology, she discovered how competitive it is to be accepted into a Master’s degree and further studies for Clinical Psychology. Therefore, she decided to try a different route, and in 2010 she started studying addiction and completed her certificates.

She decided to complete her Master’s in Social Work to see where it would take her.

She made the transition to become a care-coordinator, and in this field she saw that this type of work had a lot more to do with the social worker skills that she felt she innately had, and could bring to the table.

Opening a private practice

In 2017, Blackcy opened up her Canadian private practice. She learned early on about the importance of networking, and so has become proficient in it.

Blackcy made sure to connect with other therapists who were running private practices and asked them about their experience, and for any advice or tips.

By working with universities, other therapists, and even medical practices, Blackcy is able to welcome in many new clients and keep her Canadian private practice full and well.

Avoiding burnout

Blackcy is working full-time while building up her private practice on the side, and managing both work loads can be challenging, as most private practitioners will know.

For her, Blackcy has been in communication with her husband to plan their homelife better a week in advance when she knows that the upcoming week is going to be full of clients.

Developing a value’s based practice

Much of Blackcy’s private practice is built up from the metaphor of an oak tree, and the values that you can learn from it, such as remaining strong with deep roots, how the wind may blow you at different times, how there are seasons to life, and so forth.

Using this imagery allows you to express values in a way that connects you with your clients, and makes the work that you do more easily understood.

Blackcy’s advice to listeners

If you are considering starting your own Canadian private practice, take the leap!

Connect with me:

Instagram

Website

Resources mentioned and useful links:

Ep 139: Darbey Carlson: Why Authenticity is a Secret Sauce to Marketing and More | EP 139

Learn more about the tools and deals that I love and use for my Canadian private practice

Jane App (use code FEARLESS for one month free)

Learn more about Blackcy on her Psychology Today and Instagram pages, or her website

Rate, review, and subscribe to this podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon, and TuneIn

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Everyone knows about authenticity, but if you stop and think about it, why would clients trust a private practice that doesn’t act with integrity, or that comes across as insincere in their marketing?

People who are looking for therapy are more likely just looking for professionals who have the skills and expertise that they need, someone they feel they trust and can help them.

So, when you bring your authenticity into your marketing, work, and in your relationships with your clients and staff, that genuine care comes across in bounds, often leading to growth as a side effect!

In this podcast episode, Darbey and I discuss her entry into private practice, and how being authentic for her has been the one thing which has boosted her private practice successfully.

MEET DARBEY

Darbey is a Registered Psychotherapist with a focus on trauma, attachment and ADHD. She is EMDR Certified and has a passion for creating a treatment space that connects the mind and body and avoids band-aid interventions. Darbey is also owner of FIKA mental health, an online Canadian pp where values building confidence in other clinicians and being a lifelong learner.

Learn more about Darbey on her practice website, LinkedIn, and Psychology Today profiles.

In this episode:

Why Darbey pursued therapy
Starting a private practice
Leading a group practice
Looking to the future
Authenticity for marketing an online private practice
Darbey’s advice to listeners

Why Darbey pursued therapy

For Darbey, she always felt drawn to therapy as a way of understanding human behavior and it held a strong point of interest for her.

Additionally, she went through a difficult period as a teenager and went to therapy herself, which showed her how impactful psychology and supportive therapy can be.

Starting a private practice

Darbey had the feeling that she would like and be good at being her own boss, and so naturally being a therapist, opening up a private practice was a great way to do that.

She loved the idea of flexibility, the challenge of problem-solving and building a business.

Leading a group practice

At first, she was happy to work on her own but she started to consider having a team of clinicians around her, since she had begun to also feel lonely which is a common struggle for solo practitioners.

Now, Darbey is managing eight clinicians in her virtual Canadian private practice!

Looking to the future

Growth at the moment is not a big goal for Darbey, since she’s focused more on building up a strong foundation of her practice.

On a more personal note as the boss, Darbey is also motivated to be a continual learner and is also taking on additional courses herself to develop her expertise, such as doing a yoga teacher training course to bring in an additional layer of somatic treatment into her practice’s services.

Authenticity for marketing an online private practice

Darbey’s “secret sauce” to marketing her Canadian online private practice well is simple; authenticity. It’s something that you clients can pick up on, when you are being genuine, and it carries over in your marketing efforts.

On a more personal level, this authenticity can often bring in more business, since people are drawn more to sincerity.

Darbey’s advice to listeners

Know your boundaries! Recognize what you feel comfortable with when it comes to your time management or schedule, and what you aren’t comfortable with, and then hire people to fill those roles, instead of forcing yourself to do everything even when help is available.

Connect with me:

Instagram

Website

Resources mentioned and useful links:

Ep 138: Build a Canadian Values-Based Practice | EP 138

Learn more about the tools and deals that I love and use for my Canadian private practice

Jane App (use code FEARLESS for one month free)

Learn more about Darbey on her practice website, LinkedIn, and Psychology Today profiles

Rate, review, and subscribe to this podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon, and TuneIn

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Do you want to build a values based private practice? And are you thinking; “What does that actually mean?”

Many people may shy away from the business-aspect of running a practice because they feel awkward following the standard, capitalistic model of working with employees and clients, and where the goal is solely to maximize profits. I’m here to tell you that you don’t need to do it this way!

You can run a Canadian private practice that you are proud of, that makes you enough money, and that does good work in your community. Listen in on this episode to find out how!

*Insert the JANE App logo and sponsorship script linking to www.jane.app/mentalhealth

In this Episode:

What is a value based practice?
With clients
Incorporating other values

What is a value based practice?

‘It focuses more on integrating personal and ethical values into your private practice, rather than focusing on profit-driven motives [only].’ - Julia Smith

What this means in my Canadian private practice is that any support staff that I hire, like my admin assistant, that they start off working with me for a living wage and for my associates I offer them a percentage split that is above market. If you want to hear more about this topic, I encourage you to listen to episode 135.

‘Does this mean that I have to spend more for an admin assistant? Of course! But my decision isn’t based on that profit-driven motive of, “How cheaply can I hire someone for this position?” because it doesn’t align with my values.’ - Julia Smith

With clients

A value based practice also takes clients into consideration. As much as I am not trying to pay my contact employees as little as legally possible, I am also not trying to charge my clients as much as legally possible.

‘It is also now how we are basing our rates, of, “What is the lowest rate that we can charge without resenting this work?” as well as making sure that we can pay our bills and have a happy, healthy life, and not be burned out!’ - Julia Smith

Now, I base my decisions on “How low can I go without resenting the work?” instead of, “How high can I go?”

Incorporating other values

Of course, you can bring in other important values that resonate with you and your vision and mission into your practice, such as;

Offering equitable access to therapy through providing opportunities for sliding scale payments or pro-bono services
Hiring an intern who can charge a very reduced rate for more accessible therapy
Practicing what you preach by getting involved in social justice issues
Participating in community initiatives to create broader, social change

‘We are therapists, we’re here to help people! Yes, we deserve to be paid a wage that reflects the work that we do and we deserve to not get burned out. But … we do value making ethical decisions! We do need to make profits in private practice, but capitalism should not be running the show - at least that’s my personal opinion!’ - Julia Smith

So, I encourage you to reflect on your personal and ethical values. How can you brainstorm in small or larger ways of bringing these values to fruition in your Canadian private practice?

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Ep 137: Dr. Stacey Hatch: Research, Private Practice Tips, and Seeing Clients at Home | EP 137

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Article: How to Set Up a Canadian Private Practice Website

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Mentioned episode: https://www.fearlesspractice.ca/podcasts/raising-and-lowering-rates-ep-135/

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Life can take us in many different directions, and what helps is how we can make use of the knowledge that we acquire when exploring these routes.

For today’s guest, Dr. Stacey Hatch followed her passion for psychology and working with people all the way from her near two-decade work experience in television to now running her own successful Canadian private practice!

In this podcast episode, we talk about her journey into counselling, how she managed to complete her studies while teaching and working, and advice on seeing clients directly out of your home.

MEET STACEY

Stacey is a clinician-educator-researcher. She is a registered psychotherapist and worked in primary mental healthcare at the Prince Edward Family Health Team for ten years, where she saw patients across the lifespan. She also served as the mental health lead and coordinator of the Mint Memory Clinic for seven years. She has a private practice in Prince Edward County where she sees clients in person and virtually. She provides psychotherapy within a trauma-informed approach in inclusive and equitable spaces. Dr. Hatch also holds adjunct professor positions at Athabasca University and Yorkville University and is a post-doctoral fellow at the Canadian Institutes of Health Research.

Learn more about Stacey on her website and Psychology Today profile.

In this episode:

Stacey’s career
Pursuing a private practice while researching and teaching
Balancing work commitments
Offering therapy from your home
Marketing tips
Dr. Hatch’s private practice advice

Stacey’s career

Stacey’s successful therapy career that she’s thriving in now started many years ago as a job in television!

Dr. Hatch’s journey to her private practice today has been a roundabout route, but she took many of her lifelong inspirations and interests forward and brought her experience together to now do what she is passionate about.

After her years working in television, Stacey began doing volunteer work in her local hospice, and that’s when the desire to work in therapy really clicked into place for her.

From launching the hospice with the board, Stacey started taking psychology classes and completed her Master’s Degree in Counselling Psychology. Afterward, Dr. Hatch spent time working in a primary care clinic, and it’s an experience that she recommends to every therapist and counsellor.

Pursuing a private practice while researching and teaching

Even though some things ended up coming together serendipitously, many of the threads that wove Dr. Stacey Hatch’s career up until now did support one another and were built into her career together.

Balancing work commitments

Slowly but surely, Dr. Hatch is finding her work/ life balance.

It may have taken some time, but she is discovering that the more she puts in systems and helpful routines or mindsets, the more that she can do without becoming overly stressed or pressured.

Stacey also offers virtual sessions, and she even takes clients for sessions in a home office room.

Offering therapy from your home

Marketing tips

Some of Dr. Hatch’s most used marketing tools are;

A website that she loves and that showcases her Canadian private practice well
Uploading up-to-date blogs for new potential clients to read over
Connecting her website with her consultation platform to allow clients to book an initial consultation immediately
Maintains a Psychology Today profile and updates it regularly

Dr. Hatch’s private practice advice

Find out when you feel the brightest and work the best! Pace yourself, and work in the periods throughout the day when you are excited and open to working with them, rather than forcing yourself to work in periods when you struggle to do any work at all.

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Ep 136: Maureen Codispodi: Building an Accessible Virtual Private Practice with Reduced Rates | EP 136

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Jane App (use code FEARLESS for one month free)

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Are you interested in offering affordable and accessible therapy in your private practice? We all know that one of the main barriers to care is cost, and it is an issue that many Canadians face.

However, there are ways to incorporate low cost fees in your private practice! In this podcast episode, I talk with Maureen, who owns Help Clinic Canada. She noticed a strong need across her community, and brought her passion from her decades of working in mental health along with her to serve this need as best she could.

Now with a powerful vision, Maureen and her team are trying to make a difference in therapy accessibility.

MEET MAUREEN

Maureen Codispodi, founder and director of Help Clinic Canada, is a force of change in the landscape of mental health support in Canada. As a seasoned mental health and education professional, she is committed to breaking down barriers to mental health services and, with the support of her team, is making an impact in the lives of Canadians.

Learn more about Maureen on her website, business website, Psychology Today, and LinkedIn profiles.

In this episode:

How Maureen got into therapy
Starting a private practice
Growing a private practice
What’s working and what’s not working

How Maureen got into therapy

After Maureen completed her undergraduate degrees, she worked with brain injuries and other brain-related issues for about five years as a front line worker. However, in these roles she experienced a lot of burnout.

She then transitioned into case management, but it was. At this point, she trained again and decided to become a teacher, and got her Masters in teaching and worked as an international school teacher.

After teaching for almost 20 years, Maureen transitioned into special education where she was leading teams and managing cases again.

‘Whenever I’ve had breaks in work … I’ve always gone back to mental health work as opposed to education because back then there weren't a lot of teaching jobs … Only very recently I retrained to become a therapist, but I felt like I had walked the path for a long time and I was ready to take on more clinical-based work.’ - Maureen Codispodi

Starting a private practice

Apart from Maureen’s inner knowing and passion to open a private practice, she also knew that she had a lot of life experience that she could bring into her practice and in working with her clients. So, she felt confident and inspired to go into this space.

Even while she was working on her private practice, her early ideas for Help Clinic Canada were already on her mind.

Growing a private practice

Primarily, Maureen wanted to break down barriers to therapy and counselling for Canadians. So in her private practice, they decided to offer therapy at the low price of $25!

Maureen and her team are excited to support people in their communities across Canada, and to give people access to therapy virtually, no matter where they are.

What’s working and what’s not working

Help Clinic Canada is growing and gaining recognition as fellow practices, therapists, counsellors, and clients begin to network with them; however, progress is slow, and Maureen needs to find the right people to outsource tasks and secure funding for marketing, though she has started to find great people for the team.

While there have been bumps in the road, Maureen says that they have been lucky so far and they are excited about the road ahead!

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Ep 135: Raising and Lowering Rates | EP 135

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Today we’re going to get a little more personal! I’m going to share more about my Canadian private practice and how I run it, especially when it comes to raising and lowering my rates.

In the spirit of integrity and authenticity, I want to share these things with you! In this episode, I’m going to be talking about how I raised my rates and then lowered them, and the reasons why I chose to do this, and what I have learned along the way.

In this episode:

Playing the market
Managing the stress of raising rates
Staying connected with community
The unexpected solution!

Playing the market

Around eight years ago, I started at $125 per session. At this point that price was considered high for a Registered Counseling Therapist, let alone a candidate, which I was at the time. Over the years, I got up to $300 for intake and $275 for subsequent sessions, and I had remained at this price for the past two years.

The reason why I wanted to play the market was because I was curious to see what my worth was financially. I had gotten burned out a few years ago, and was encouraged to raise my rates so that I could see fewer clients but still pay the bills.

Managing the stress of raising rates

I noticed that I felt a significant amount of stress each time I decided to raise my rates but was not sure why.

What I noticed in the beginning was that I would slowly adjust and feel more comfortable with the new price, and then the stress would reduce. But as my rates got higher and higher, I was unable to destress from the price increase.

Staying connected with community

I realized I started to feel disconnected from my community because, as you raise your rates, fewer and fewer people can afford your services

There are other ways to help community, such as hiring other therapists who can see clients at a lower rate or referring to other awesome therapists. But I love being a therapist and doing the work with clients. I wanted to help my community in a way that worked for me as well as for them.

The unexpected solution!

In the spring, I realized that I wanted to lower my rates. I was scared to do it though, because I was nervous that I would reduce my income too much and I wouldn’t be able to afford the bills. However, the solution to my problem arrived unexpectedly!

I received news that Registered Counselling Therapists and Registered Psychotherapists in Canada no longer have to charge tax! This meant that I could adjust and lower my rates more easily and become more accessible to my community.

My associate and I wanted to find a price range that would be more affordable for clients, enable us to cover our expenses, and allow us to maintain a balanced work schedule without needing to work five days a week. Within one day of the tax being taken off, we decided our range and posted it on our Instagram and website, and emailed our clients to let them know, and jumped right in!

It's a great feeling to know that you could charge more but you choose not to because you want to live and work in alignment with your values.

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Ep 134: Encore episode

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Join Julia for an encore presentation of her 2022 conversation with Heidi Sturgeon. It's a thought-provoking episode that has an unexpected twist at the end! You can find the show notes here.

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Ep 133: Canada’s new tax exemption on regulated therapy services | EP 133

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Article: How to Set Up a Canadian Private Practice Website

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Today we are celebrating that Registered Counselling Therapists and Registered Psychotherapists no longer have to charge tax!

There are decades of work behind the scenes to bring this to fruition, so it is a big deal! Thank you to the CCPA for making this happen!

In this podcast episode, I’ll give you all the information about what this means and what you should do next so that you’re in the loop and on the right track.

In this Episode:

Who doesn’t have to charge tax anymore?
What does this mean?
Addressing the change with clients

Who doesn’t have to charge tax anymore?

Last month in June 2024, Bill C59 received royal ascend and that means that GST and HST can successfully be removed from counselling and psychotherapy services in provinces that regulate the profession.

What does this mean?

What this means for therapists across Canada is that if you are in a province that regulates psychotherapy or counselling therapy, which includes;

Ontario
Quebec
New Brunswick
Nova Scotia
Prince Edward Island

You no longer have to charge tax on therapy services! However, if you are certified in an unregulated province, it can be a little tricky. You may or may not be able to take tax off of your services, because it depends on if you have the relevant qualifications with a regulated province, what your provinces rules are specifically, and other factors.

‘So before taking off tax in an unregulated province, you will want to speak to your MPs [and] to the board where you are certified just to make sure that you can legally do that.’ - Julia Smith

The CCPA is still advocating for those unregulated provinces so that Canadian Certified Counsellors (CCC) may become included in not having to charge tax anymore, because this is currently not the case.

No matter what, you should still contact the CRA to discuss your individual situation on whether or not to deregister your HST or GST number. Click here to find the CRA link!

Addressing the change with clients

Are you going to take the tax off of your therapy fee? Or are you going to keep the therapy fee the same and give yourself a little bit of a raise? There’s no judgment if you do decide to go with the latter, since inflation has been tough these last few years.

First and foremost, you may want to put yourself in your client’s shoes because by not taking the tax off your fee and keeping it the same - depending on how you word it - your clients may not appreciate that, especially since for them it has also been difficult with inflation and rising costs.

‘If you do decide to give yourself a raise, you want to explain to your clients why you are doing this, so that they understand and can respect it!’ - Julia Smith

Some therapists may not tell the clients that they are doing this because the final fee includes the tax in the price, so the tax could be removed without the clients noticing. But by not informing your clients of the change, it may bring up big issues in the therapeutic alliance if a client finds it out and feels cheated or lied to, so being transparent is usually the best route!

In my private practice, we’ve decided to pass the benefits to our clients.

With Jane App, it is super simple to do to change this feature!

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Resources Mentioned and Useful Links:

Ep 132: Destin Jones: Creating Canadian Therapist Communities | EP 132

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Article: How to Set Up a Canadian Private Practice Website

Jane App (use code FEARLESS for one month free)

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Do you have a community of clients, peers, or professionals that you work alongside? How can communities open up new opportunities? Have you considered starting a community that isn’t focused solely on sales?

Community is a bit of a buzzword in marketing and private practice these days, but it’s still truly valuable and a worthwhile investment to make.

In this podcast episode, I chat with Destin, the Director of Community at Jane App, about everything to do with community and what every Canadian therapist needs to know to start, find, and support one!

MEET DESTIN

Destin is the Director of Community at Jane.app, an online platform for health and wellness practitioners that makes it simple to book, chart, schedule, bill, and get paid. Destin has been working in tech and community for over 15 years and is a passionate advocate for community-led growth and how community can help businesses big and small connect with their customers in a real, human way to build authentic relationships while also achieving their goals.

Learn more about Destin on her LinkedIn Profile.

In this episode:

How Destin joined Jane App
The benefits of multidisciplinary communities
How therapists in Canada can build community online
Which communities you can create
Destin’s advice to listeners

How Destin joined Jane App

For Destin’s philosophy, being part of the Jane App team inherently means to value community, and bring in community principles into the work that the Jane App team does with their customers.

Destin started working in marketing and communications and various agencies, which all showed Destin that she really liked to work with people, and in positions where client relationships are at the forefront of the business.

After a few years, social media began taking off for business as a marketing tool, around 2008 and 2009, and this is where Destin’s epiphany and understanding of the value of community in business became apparent, to unite and grow a bigger customer base.

The benefits of multidisciplinary communities

Something unique about Jane App is that it offers a community space for you to tap into where all the business owners can share and learn from each other about how to personalize the app for their practices.

You can work with the Jane App team, and learn from other people who are using it too, because the platform in itself is inherently creative and customizable.

How therapists in Canada can build community online

It can be tricky to navigate building an online community if you’re a therapist since there are different rules and regulations across colleges and provinces.

The landscape for building community is big since you can include so many different platforms, so just pick one and start small to build up that momentum.

Additionally, Destin recommends starting a professional profile instead of merging your personal social media with a new professional branch to it.

And remember to add a disclaimer that your professional social media community isn’t a substitute for formal, in-session therapy.

Which communities you can create

Apart from the more obvious communities that you can create with your audience and client base, Destin wants you to consider building up a community that’s based on your fellow practitioners, peers, and professional network.

Destin’s advice to listeners

If you’re not ready yet or you don’t have the time, don’t force it, but do consider it in the long-run since communities are keys to greater success, networks, income, and friendships along the way too.

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Resources mentioned and useful links:

Ep 131: Paige Abbott: Taking Private Practice at Your Own Pace| EP 131

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It can be easy to get caught up in looking at everyone else’s journey when instead it’s important to focus on your own. When you take private practice at your own pace, and when you incorporate your talents and passions and allow yourself to be guided from one spot to the next, you can more easily find your way in private practice instead of trying to do what everyone else has done with theirs.

In this podcast episode, Paige and I discuss her journey into private practice, how she overcame impostor syndrome, and how she’s bringing in her personal passions into her Canadian practice.

MEET PAIGE

Paige Abbott is a Registered Psychologist and founder of Sana Psychological in Alberta. Paige has been a Psychologist since 2009 and running her private practice since 2019. Paige expanded from solo to group practice in 2023.

Learn more about Paige on her practice website, Psychology Today, and LinkedIn profiles.

In this episode:

Paige’s interest in and pursuit for psychology
Heading towards private practice
Overcoming impostor syndrome
Marketing authentically and successfully
Paige’s goals for the future
Advice for listeners

Paige’s interest in and pursuit for psychology

For Paige, becoming a psychologist was a collection of different circumstances that stretched over a few years. Initially, she wanted to be a writer, and was passionate about the written word and she knew that it was something she wanted to take forward into a future career.

In her undergrad, Paige took psychology and really enjoyed it, and it came to feel like “a match made in Heaven”. Afterward, Paige got her Masters in Psychology and began her career as a psychologist in Alberta.

After the assistance program, Paige worked as an outpatient psychologist for almost a decade and after that she began to dip her toes into private practice in 2020, where she is now, with her own fully established private practice!

Heading towards private practice

Even though Paige always wanted to work for herself, she got caught up working in agencies for many years before finally listening to the inner call to open up her own practice.

Once she committed to being her own boss and working on her private practice, she found that she enjoyed the daily tasks and inner workings of managing and taking care of a business.

Paige also uses Jane App, and it allows her to streamline her practice with more efficiency as well as allowing her that sense of creativity and ownership to set things up as she likes!

Overcoming impostor syndrome

Paige initially held back from expanding her solo practice into a group practice because she felt unsure.

Often with impostor syndrome, it helps to remind yourself of all the times you have succeeded in the past.

Marketing authentically and successfully

Paige prioritizes digital marketing since for her it’s the thing that works. It’s more than having the profile on Psychology Today, it’s about showcasing your business truly in an effort to find the best-fit clients.

Paige’s goals for the future

In the upcoming months, Paige is looking to scale down on the amount of hours she spends in session so that she can find a more holistic work/ life balance.

Paige wants to move from more direct client work to more mentorship, as both a change in her hourly work and as a progress that she wants to experiment with in her career.

Advice for listeners

Do it! Get into private practice. There’s never going to be a perfect moment, so if you hear the call, honor it and get started.

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Ep 130: How to Create a Summer Schedule that Works for You! | EP 130

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As many therapists may have experienced with their practices, there’s usually a summer slump. Everybody is either away on vacation or taking time off work, and as such their schedules have changed, albeit temporarily, and this can make it challenging for therapists to maintain their usual steady stream of clients.

More than that, you also want a holiday! It’s important for everyone, including therapists, to enjoy the nice weather and to take time off, wherever applicable and useful.

In this podcast episode, I share with you some of the tips and approaches I use to make sure that I can also relax and take a breather, without

In this Episode:

Some ideas to deal with a summer slump
What I’m trying this year!
Managing my time
Slowing down

Some ideas to deal with a summer slump

While everyone is outside and enjoying the warmer weather after winter, businesses and practices can suffer a little financially.

Luckily, there are some things that you can do to help keep your business afloat and top of mind, such as:

Increased marketing your business leading up to the summer
Adding a niche with a summertime focus
Saving money throughout the year to help you manage the slower summer months
Adding an additional stream of income
Hiring new therapists to your practice

What I’m trying this year

From the suggestions I’ve given above, there are a couple of things that I am trying this year for summer 2024.

What I’m doing;

1 - Reminding myself that this is a phase. I know that there are trends of busyness that come and go throughout the year, and to keep calm and make adjusted actions is the best way to go.

2 - Be proactive and productive. I use the client summer slump to work on my business in other ways, making tweaks and adjustments where it may be needed that I might not have the time to do during the rest of the year.

3 - You can network too. Networking is an ongoing investment that you are making in your business, and these ring true and could bring you some valuable clients before, during, and after the summer months.

Managing my time

So, the way that I manage my time over these summer months with my other work priorities is to simply slot them into my usual clinical working hours, where I would’ve been clients. This way I maintain my usual schedule, keep my own routine, and still work within the hours that I am used to.

Blocking out that time in my own schedule means that I keep working, and I don’t see an empty client slot as “free” time.

Slowing down

Another thing that I am doing this summer is slowing down, and taking time off as well! One of the most annoying things of the summer is having one client booked on a clinical day, and no one else.

When that happens, I book the rest of the hours off to focus on that one summer work priority, and also to relax! Where possible, I’ll bunch those client hours onto a day or two so that I work in batches, and can then manage my time so that I’ll have a solid block of working time, and then rest.

If you want to hear more about how I portion out my time so that I can enjoy both my clinical work and enjoying my personal life, listen to this episode for some tips and advice!

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Resources Mentioned and Useful Links:

Ep 129: Rhea Bridge: Niching in a New Practice to Reduce Burnout | EP 129

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Article: How to Set Up a Canadian Private Practice Website

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In the beginning of starting a new practice, being a generalist seems like a good idea, especially when you want to welcome clients through the door and the idea of turning away new potential clients seems counterintuitive.

However, niching down is not only helpful regarding your marketing or your skill set: niching down is also important for you! It helps you to enjoy your everyday work instead of feeling unnecessarily drained.

In this podcast episode, I chat with Rhea, who started her virtual Canadian private practice after graduating, and who has built her success around focusing on her ideal clients and in the future hopes to build connections with her community, of both clients and therapists.

MEET RHEA

Rhea is a Registered Psychotherapist in Ontario, mom of 2 and business owner. Her practice is focused on mood and anxiety disorders, life transitions, BIPOC and cultural issues, as well as the perinatal period.

Learn more about Rhea on her website, Instagram, and Psychology Today profiles.

In this episode:

How Rhea developed her career in therapy
Starting a solo practice
Marketing the practice
Overcoming issues
Thinking on the future

How Rhea developed her career in therapy

In Rhea’s previous work life she was working with clients with autism. She ended up leaving the field, and wasn’t sure what to do.

When she was working with patients with autism, she did feel like she wanted to do more for them but felt constrained by the role that she was employed under.

So, after Rhea left that job, she took some time to think about what she wanted to do and considered the things that she enjoyed doing to shift these passions into a career. She ended up finding a masters program that enabled her to unite her interests with counselling in a way that she was excited about.

Starting her solo practice

Even though Rhea was uncomfortable and a little scared about the unknown, she started exploring what she needed to do to set up a new practice. She started looking for only a few clients in the beginning to get a feel of what it would be like.

Rhea worked part-time and had some financial support from her husband while she was launching her practice, both of which helped her to navigate the uncertainties in the beginning before her practice was more fully established.

Marketing the practice

Rhea launched a Psychology Today profile for herself and her practice to advertise herself and her business.

She also opened up accounts on a few other free platforms where clients often may search for therapists, as well as launching a small Instagram account.

Within her community, Rhea’s practice is starting to gain some traction by word-of-mouth as well.

Overcoming issues

For Rhea, a common problem that she is working on resolving is the issue of scheduling, and of finding a time that works well for her and for clients to have a session.

Additionally, niching was something that Rhea had to work on and to find the right fit. Once she niched down, things became easier.

A powerful bonus of working within your niche and within your skill set and with the clients that you want to work with also reduces your risk of burnout.

Thinking on the future

Rhea is focused on making more connections in her community within the next six months to a year. Having one or two specific goals can help you to figure out your direction..

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Resources mentioned and useful links:

Ep 128: Christina Page: Transitioning from Agency to Private Practice | EP 128

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Jane App (use code FEARLESS for one month free)

Learn more about Rhea on her website, Instagram, and Psychology Today profiles

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With private practice, Christina, our guest today, went through a challenging experience and found it difficult herself to find the therapy that she needed.

When she registered as a social worker and later as a perinatal therapist, she knew that she wanted to fill the niche in the market by serving the families in her community.

Today, we discuss her journey into social work, her time working at a hospital, and how she started her thriving, mostly virtual Canadian group practice, and how she incorporated her own values and passions into building a successful practice that meets her client’s needs!

MEET CHRISTINA

Christina Page is a Registered Social Worker, Certified Perinatal Therapist and the owner of Whole Family Psychotherapy, a primarily virtual Ontario based group practice specializing in perinatal mental health. Christina and her team of RSW’s are also parents themselves, and believe supporting parents in all stages of their journey allows for family systems to thrive.

Learn more about Christina on her practice website, Psychology Today, and LinkedIn profiles.

In this episode:

How Christina became a social worker
Opening up a private practice
Developing the solo practice into a group practice
A client login for Jane App

How Christina became a social worker

Initially in school, Christina really wanted to be an actor!

Upon coming to this life changing realization, Christina dropped out of acting school and spent a couple of years getting to know herself while working different jobs here and there. She went to therapy herself, and discovered that it was something that she felt a natural calling to do too.

Opening up a private practice

Christina spent a while working in the hospital system as a social worker, however she knew that there was something else that she wanted to try. While Christina was still on maternity leave, she decided that she wanted to move out of working in the hospital system and to open up her own practice.

Christina wanted to gain more expertise, and found some Canadian perinatal mental health trainings in Toronto that she loved, and where she completed a bunch of certificates with course work and supervision which helped her to feel competent and ready to market herself in her new practice.

Developing the solo practice into a group practice

In 2022, once Christina’s children were in school and daycare, she really committed to networking in her area and meeting every midwife and doctor that she felt fit with her niche and approach.

Once 2023 came around, Christina felt the need to expand her solo practice into a group practice.

Even though Christina didn’t initially want to be a boss, she found herself warming up to the idea. Now, it’s been a year since Christina has been running her group practice.

Christina was motivated to lay a strong foundation for her practice that wasn’t only solid on operation, skill sets, expertise, and student services for affordable therapy, but also on ethics. She hired an attorney to make sure that everything was done by the book.

A client login for Jane App

Having a client login option for your practice website so that your existing clients can have access to their receipts or other documentation is a great way to keep the client journey piece in mind within your business operations.

It shows your clients that you are considering their needs too, and that you are incorporating their experience into how you structure your services to serve their needs.

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Website

Resources mentioned and useful links:

Ep 127: Being Intentional when Starting a Group Private Practice | EP 127

Learn more about the tools and deals that I love and use for my Canadian private practice

Jane App (use code FEARLESS for one month free)

Learn more about Christina on her practice website, Psychology Today, and LinkedIn profiles.

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For many Canadian therapists, the trajectory seems to be that once you start getting full with clients that you should open a group private practice.

However, if you blindly consider opening a group private practice without evaluating whether or not it is truly something that you want, then you may end up in a very stressful situation, feeling burned out and confused as to how this happened!

Therefore, when you think that it is time to consider this next phase of your career and you are drawn to the idea of growing your solo a Canadian private practice into a group private practice, really give it some intentional thought, so that you can make a decision that is good for YOU!

So, if you are trying to weigh up your options, listen to this podcast episode where I ask you a couple of important questions to use when deciding which path to take.

In this Episode:

Is it your passion?
Do you like managing people?
Will it impact your work-life balance?
Are you following the crowd?

Is it your passion?

There are so many reasons why people decide to open a group private practice, so make sure that if you are considering this path it is something that you are prepared to do because YOU have the desire to do it!

A lot of people will encourage private practice owners to open a group private practice as a ‘natural next step’, when this isn’t necessarily a formulaic process, because it has to be intentional.

Remember that passion and an active drive to pursue something are powerful ingredients for success. So don’t follow the crowd just because everyone else is, and take your genuine interests and passions into account when figuring out your next steps.

Do you like managing people?

Do you want to add more therapists to your private practice so that more people in your community can receive help? Do you want to make passive income? Even more so, do you want to be a boss and a manager?

Being a manager is a skill that has to be developed, and something that you can learn from consultants or courses.

Will it impact your work-life balance?

If you are considering changing your solo practice into a group practice, imagine your current life and what it could be changed into if you do make this switch.

In the book, The Top Five Regrets of the Dying: A Life Transformed by the Dearly Departing by Bronnie Ware, a palliative care nurse who noted the top five regrets that people had as they were passing away, and they are;

I wish I had the courage to live a life true to myself, not the life others expected of me
I wish I hadn’t worked so hard
I wish I had the courage to express my feelings
I wish I had stayed in touch with my friends
I wish I had let myself be happier

Are you following the crowd?

Do you want to open a Canadian group private practice only because that is what consultants and supervisors say is the next step?

Sure, it can be difficult to untangle what you want alone instead of what you think you want from looking at what worked for others. Figure out what works for you, and develop that!

Connect with me:

Instagram

Website

Resources Mentioned and Useful Links:

Ep 126: Celissa Vipond & Melissa Lindstrom: From Friendship to Successful Practice | EP 126

Learn more about the tools and deals that I love and use for my Canadian private practice

Article: How to Set Up a Canadian Private Practice Website

Jane App (use code FEARLESS for one month free)

Books mentioned in this episode: The Top Five Regrets of the Dying: A Life Transformed by the Dearly Departing by Bronnie Ware

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Celissa and Melissa noticed the clear need for mental health services in Ontario over the pandemic, and decided to team up to put their expertise and skills to use to serve the community.

As a team, Celissa and Melissa were able to balance starting a practice between the two of them while continuing their social work positions that they love. Their Canadian private practice has now grown into a successful group private practice where they have the benefits of running their own practice while still working jobs that they cherish.

In this podcast episode, I chat with the two of them about their progress, their ups and downs, and what they recommend to you for your Canadian private practice career!

MEET CELISSSA AND MELISSA

Celissa and Melissa are the owners of Virtual CBT, a private psychotherapy practice specializing in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy for clients in Ontario that are struggling with symptoms of depression, anxiety, phobias, OCD, and trauma.

Learn more about Celissa and Melissa on their practice website and Instagram profile.

In this episode:

How Celissa and Melissa found their niche
Working as a team
Using Jane App
The future of Virtual CBT
Melissa and Celissa’s advice to listeners

How Celissa and Melissa found their niche

Both Celissa and Melissa are social workers. Between the two of them, they had dabbled in different sectors trying to find what suited them both best before specializing further.

Melissa thoroughly enjoyed working within CBT and she found it effective and helpful for both her services as a therapist and for her client’s needs.

For Celissa, the path was a little different in that she only knew that she wanted to become a social worker after she graduated.

Celissa’s expertise has become more narrow as the years have passed, from CBT and DBT to specialized CBT and others.

Working as a team

Over the pandemic, both Celissa and Melissa were working for a not-for-profit organization when the public mental health system was being flooded with referrals.

Also, over the pandemic they went from working completely in person to completely virtual almost overnight.

One day, a doctor connected with Celissa asking if she had a private practice, and she ended up texting Melissa to see what she thought about it. They decided to work together to launch their own private practice since they could see that the need was there.

Using Jane App

Melissa recommends to all practice owners that Jane App is a great investment to commit to early on in your private practice journey since it streamlines so many processes in a way that they complement one another, helping you to stay organized and helping your clients to easily book appointments.

Jane’s intuitive and automatic systems that you can customize to your needs allows it to help you with what you want help with.

The future of Virtual CBT

Since September 2023 their practice has grown so much, which is why they have decided to take a step back and rest a bit before continuing to expand their practice together.

Diversifying your practice is also a good idea to consider because it can take away some of the stress and allows for the owners and staff to engage with clients and modalities in new and innovative ways.

Melissa and Celissa’s advice to listeners

Be willing to invest in your business, whether it is finances or time and effort, if you want to have a strong foundation and a successful practice. Be patient with the process as well!

Connect with me:

Instagram

Website

Resources mentioned and useful links:

Ep 125: Kelly Hoskin: Trusting the Process for Success in Canadian Private Practice | EP 125

Learn more about the tools and deals that I love and use for my Canadian private practice

Jane App (use code FEARLESS for one month free)

Learn more about Celissa and Melissa on their practice website and Instagram profile

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Sometimes people can feel nervous to start their careers since they don’t know where it will end up. We may feel like we need to know exactly how the journey will look before we head towards a new destination.

In this podcast episode, Kelly and I discuss how she had no intention of working in psychotherapy initially after grad school, but found her way there. She discovered more of what she loved along the way!

MEET KELLY

Kelly Hoskin (BSW, RSW) is a registered social worker and psychotherapist passionate about supporting teenagers and adults, Indigenous peoples, and those grieving the loss of a pet. Kelly lives in Angus, Ontario and provides sessions virtually and in-person, including walk and talk therapy. She feels strongly in meeting clients where they’re at and staying flexible to their needs. The client is the expert in their own life, and Kelly helps them to navigate their healing journey.

Learn more about Kelly on her Instagram and Psychology Today profiles.

In this episode:

Kelly’s entrance to social work
From social work into private practice
Working in NIHB
Kelly’s advice for listeners

Kelly’s entrance to social work

Kelly got her bachelor’s degree after high school, and then she worked for a few years at an employee assistance program. Eventually, she decided to complete her bachelors of social work.

After she graduated from her bachelors of social work, it took her another few years to figure out what to do with her degree.

From social work into private practice

Kelly worked as the coordinator in a collective of therapists, and she was well-known there. She did potential client’s risk assessments and recommended them to a therapist in the collective.

Kelly was then motivated to start a private practice, with just a Bachelors of Social Work. She wanted to make sure that there wasn’t a specific rule stating that she wasn’t allowed, and within her province, it is allowed - but maybe not always recommended! Since further studying is often encouraged or required. Always check with your college!

Kelly approached the team as joining a psychotherapist, and was met with a warm welcome. They were supportive of her trying it out, and it just took time, her confidence, and support from other psychotherapists - with peer supervision - but Kelly did get there!

Working in NIHB

People who have status, either Inuit or indigenous, can access this service and they can receive up to 22 counselling sessions per calendar year. The therapist is paid directly from the government, so the client doesn’t have to pay at all.

In order to be a part of this program you can fill out an application as to why you would be competent to be part of this program.

You can learn more about this service on their official website. Kelly markets to her clients via her social media platforms, as well as receiving clients through her referral network.

Additionally, Kelly hosts a networking event each month for both fellow practitioners as well as clients, which allows more people to find out about her work, as well as allowing her to provide a platform for more therapists and clients to meet.

Kelly’s advice for listeners

You are not the only one who doesn’t know what they are doing with the business side of private practice!

Connect with your community of fellow therapists and practitioners, so that you have people to learn from and lean on, this is not a journey that you have to walk alone.

Connect with me:

Instagram

Website

Resources mentioned and useful links:

Ep 124: Seeking Out and Mastering Work/ Life Balance | EP 124

Learn more about the tools and deals that I love and use for my Canadian private practice

Jane App (use code FEARLESS for one month free)

Learn more about Kelly on her Instagram and Psychology Today profiles

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We always hear about “optimization”, and to the extent that many folks may be influenced to outsource everything possible so that they have more free time.

But imagine this; if you had all this extra free time, after the time to rest, exercise, and spend time with loved ones, what would you be doing? If you had more free time and the mental capacity for tasks that you enjoy, what would they be?

You don’t have to outsource all the parts of your private practice, maybe only the parts that you either need help with, or that you really don’t like doing. If you’re a great therapist, but you also love marketing or SEO (like me!) then there’s nothing wrong with structuring your tasks so that you still get to do these tasks that you enjoy doing in your practice.

Work-life balance is just that, a balance that you have to test out to discover where it lies for you. This is what I’ve done, listen in to learn more!

In this Episode:

Some background on my experience so far
The reality of my choices
Do things because you love doing them

Some background on my experience so far

Sometimes therapists can only stay in the profession for a while because they can get severely burnt out, and I didn’t want that to happen to me.

When I started my Canadian private practice part-time, I was still working at university as a therapist. Even though I loved both jobs, I could tell that I was getting burnt out.

So, once I fully transitioned into private practice, things started to slowly get better! And I started to finally achieve some more work-life balance. I share more about this on this podcast episode; a 50/50 work week. Additionally, I share how having more free time helped me to overcome some obstacles that cropped up during this time.

The reality of my choices

At a time, this 50/50 work week split was great because it provided me with the chance to get to everything I needed to in my practice while allowing myself to rest on the off days.

However, with this additional extra time, I was getting a little bored.

I started to ask myself what fills my soul, beyond doing the therapy work that I love. I could sense that there was something more that I wanted to do and contribute to with my time and energy; I just had to figure out what that was.

What I came to understand was that by outsourcing everything that I possibly could, there were types of work that I was no longer doing that I did enjoy doing.

Do things because you love doing them

So, even though a business owner could technically outsource every single thing in their business to someone else - besides only what they can do - that’s not something that you have to do!

You can still find the balance between hiring outside assistants and help, and still doing the tasks that you enjoy doing!

Remember that you don’t have to follow everyone else’s example. Take advice and learn from other people’s experience, but at the end of the day, you are the one who can build a system that is best-suited for your needs and desires.

Some questions for you to think about could include:

What do you enjoy doing?
How do you make time for it?
What can you outsource so that you have the time to do these things?

Connect with me:

Instagram

Website

Resources Mentioned and Useful Links:

Ep 123: Michelle Ham: Joining a Collective to Build a Successful Practice | EP 123

Learn more about the tools and deals that I love and use for my Canadian private practice

Article: How to Set Up a Canadian Private Practice Website

Jane App (use code FEARLESS for one month free)

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Many therapists may feel daunted by the idea of returning to school to get their masters or a PhD, especially after they have settled into their adult lives. However, it truly is never too late!

If you have a desire to take your Canadian private practice to the next level, or you feel frustrated working on someone else’s schedule, and you desire more professional autonomy, taking a step forward with additional training may be very helpful to you.

In this podcast episode, I chat with Michelle who did just that.

MEET MICHELLE

Michelle Ham, C.C.C., is a compassionate and dedicated psychotherapist based in Winnipeg, Manitoba. With a Bachelor's Degree in Family Social Sciences and a Master's in Counselling Psychology, Michelle brings over a decade of experience in social work to her practice. She is committed to creating a safe and inclusive space. Michelle's therapeutic approach is rooted in a holistic, integrative, and person-centered framework, allowing her clients to collaboratively navigate their pathway to change. Through evidence-based modalities such as Internal Family Systems, somatic-based work, narrative therapy, EMDR, and mindfulness, Michelle provides personalized therapy sessions that empower her clients to find healing, understanding, and growth.

Learn more about Michelle on her website, Instagram account, and Psychology Today profile

In this episode:

Michelle’s journey into psychotherapy
Michelle’s steps into private practice
The lessons learned thus far
Marketing a private practice
Michelle’s advice for new therapists or practice owners

Michelle’s journey into psychotherapy

Michelle graduated with an undergraduate degree in family social sciences in 2008. She then started working in the social work world, holding various different positions.

Following this desire to have more autonomy over her time, Michelle returned to school in 2021. She took her masters in counselling psychology online so that she could manage her course work, while continuing with her job, and being a mom.

Michelle’s steps into private practice

Once Michelle graduated, she opened up a sole-proprietorship for her own private practice, and she rents office space in a local collective. The office space is shared with other therapists, and Michelle is able to reap the benefits of an extensive referral network through her collective’s director, as well as enjoying the professional company of others while scheduling and working her own hours.

The lessons learned thus far

Even though there has been so much change and trial and error moments, as Michelle explains, she also says that she enjoys having the chance to set her own hours, set her own schedule, and to see the clients that she wants to.

Marketing a private practice

Even though Michelle’s only been in private practice for a few years, her caseload is already filling up. She credits this partially to the well-connectedness of the collective, which networks with the local community.

Additionally, when Michelle was still a student, she was intentional about working on her social media platform to slowly and organically begin growing an online presence.

Michelle’s advice for new therapists or practice owners

Michelle encourages listeners to explore what is most suitable for them in terms of whether they want to do a sole-proprietorship or to take another approach. You can tailor the way your business works to your preferences - that’s important to do!

Whether you want to open an in-person Canadian private practice or offer therapy services online, make sure that it is what you want to do, feel qualified in doing, and that you have a strong support network around you.

Connect with me:

Instagram

Website

Resources mentioned and useful links:

Ep 122: Embracing the Dynamic Nature of Niching | EP 122

Learn more about the tools and deals that I love and use for my Canadian private practice

Jane App (use code FEARLESS for one month free)

Learn more about Michelle on her website, Instagram account, and Psychology Today profile

Rate, review, and subscribe to this podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon, and TuneIn

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As the saying goes; “the only constant thing is change”, and it’s true for Canadian private practices too. Sometimes you will set up a system that works well, but after months or years the practice has changed, and so the systems need to be updated.

Or, the offering that you used to love doing with your clients is no longer something that used to light your spark - because you’ve most likely changed as a person and a therapist along the way - so you decide to change it up.

The point is that niching can be a great way to build your business, but it can also be necessary to change your niche over time. It’s something that I have experienced as well, so listen in on this episode if you’re searching for some guidance!

In this Episode:

Why niching is important
How to niche
My experience with niching

Why niching is important

If you want a further, more in-depth episode into niching in Canadian private practice, I recommend that you listen to my previous episode on this topic! However, for a short recap, niching is important because it:

Helps you to stand out from the crowd
Helps you to focus on the issues that you are passionate about serving

How to niche

Some of the factors that you can keep in mind when you are figuring out your niche may include:

The size of the population of this niche
What you like working with clients through
What you are qualified to do

My experience with niching

Private Practice

With my website: I actually had a little mis-step with niching in my own private practice this past year! When I was redoing my website, I hired a website developer to give it a full make-over, as well as a copy editor. Overall, I realized that I had become way too excited about all the possibilities with the new website and adding services. I hadn’t niched down enough, which made it overwhelming for a potential client to browse through.

In the end, I reduced the specialty pages on the menu so that they only relate to our main private practice focuses.

Fearless Practice

With my consulting: over five years ago I started my private practice consultation because I couldn’t find any in Canada.

So, I started Fearless Practice to help other Canadian counsellors get the help that they needed with their private practices. Over the years, I created the workbook about how to start an online Canadian private practice, as well as scripts to send clients, private practice paperwork, an e-course, and more!

‘But as I continued to create these things, my consulting became irrelevant, because it’s all in the workbook! As well as with the podcast … There have been so many episodes where I have interviewed other Canadian counsellors … There’s just so much information that I have now on my website for Canadian counsellors, where you don’t have to pay extra to have a one-on-one with me.’ - Julia Smith

Additionally, I nowadays direct people to take courses from LinkedIn and Google since they offer insightful and helpful courses for therapists to take. So, my consulting days have changed, and I niched down - again! I now focus specifically on helping Canadian private practice owners recover from burnout by helping them to restructure their practice so that it suits their needs and desires.

Connect with me:

Instagram

Website

Resources Mentioned and Useful Links:

Ep 121: Mila Arsenijevic: Balancing Growth in a Canadian Private Practice | EP 121

Learn more about the tools and deals that I love and use for my Canadian private practice

Article: How to Set Up a Canadian Private Practice Website

Listen to my previous episode on niching, why it is important, and how to do it!

Jane App (use code FEARLESS for one month free)

Rate, review, and subscribe to this podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon, and TuneIn

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Do you feel pressured to always be scaling and growing your Canadian private practice? In modern business, the idea is usually to push growth - but that’s not always the case! Sometimes not growing can also help private practice.

Every now and then you need to intentionally stop growing and instead focus on the foundations of your private practice, so that any future growth down the line actually holds and sticks because growth for growth’s sake is not necessarily everyone’s preference.

In this podcast episode, Mila and I discuss how she launched her practice and how sometimes not aiming for growth is the best way to success!

MEET MILA

Meet Mila, the driving force behind Toronto Therapy Practice. With over a decade of experience specializing in perinatal mental health at esteemed institutions such as Mount Sinai Hospital in Toronto, Mila is a compassionate and dedicated therapist committed to fostering trust and connection with her clients. Her journey in the mental health field began as a social worker, evolving into her role as the founder of Toronto Therapy Practice.

Learn more about Mila on her Psychology Today profile and her Canadian practice website.

In this episode:

How Mila became a social worker
Getting into private practice
Mila’s advice on scaling via hiring
Dreams and aspirations for a growing practice

How Mila became a social worker

Since Mila had experience traveling internationally, she decided to study International Relations in Canada. She didn’t enjoy it as much as she thought she would, but Mila did take psychology as a minor and ended up loving it enough to focus on social work in her masters.

In her second year of placement in the masters program, Mila was at Sunnybrook hospital providing counselling. The job that she worked there went well enough that once she completed her studies, she decided to get a more permanent position and started her work experience.

However, she was offered a position in England which she ended up taking, and went to London to live and work. Mila was in England for some time before returning to Canada.

Getting into private practice

While Mila was working at the hospital, she was doing outpatient counselling.

She experienced some limitations in terms of how she was able to provide therapy within the hospital system. Mila noticed long wait lists, loads of people seeking access and care, and within the specific hospital rules, she thought that she could offer these necessary services in another way.

Mila’s advice on scaling via hiring

One associate hired was a friend of Mila’s, one was through word of mouth, and the other two were through Indeed.

With a flexible schedule system that all her associates have, Mila is able to connect clients and clinicians on schedules that suit both of their needs. Additionally, Mila’s practice and her associates have a hybrid model of offering in-person and online therapy.

Dreams and aspirations for a growing practice

Even though Mila has a lot of dreams for her private practice, she wants to make sure that she firmly establishes it now.

With appropriate scheduling, processes, and systems in place, Mila wants to give her private practice the best shot at success as she can, and that means taking the time and making the effort to lay strong yet flexible foundations for it - and her - to depend on.

There are also so many ways to get to the same place, so explore to find out what works well for you!

Connect with me:

Instagram

Website

Resources mentioned and useful links:

Ep 120: 5 Ways to Tackle Isolation with an Online Private Practice | EP 120

Learn more about the tools and deals that I love and use for my Canadian private practice

Jane App (use code FEARLESS for one month free)

Learn more about Mila on her Psychology Today profile and her Canadian practice website

Rate, review, and subscribe to this podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon, and TuneIn

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Do you sometimes feel lonely working as a therapist? Do you have an online practice, and sometimes wish you could chat with a colleague between sessions to let off some steam or to get an ethical second opinion? How do you deal with isolation as an online therapist?

Working as a therapist can be an isolating experience in and of itself, since you can’t talk about the details of your work with friends or family. If you work from home like me, then I’m sure that you know that the isolation can be two-fold!

In this episode, I share with you some tips that I have figured out to help myself - and you - enjoy your work as a therapist while still making time for life beyond it. If you are stuck trying to choose between how to handle the challenge, I invite you to listen in!

In this Episode:

Be intentional
Get out of your apartment
Create peer-to-peer consultations
Meet with your assistants
Make time for a weekly activity

Be intentional

Between your work days and work weeks, it can be so tempting to just unwind alone at home, without having to exert yourself further by going outdoors and trying something new after a potentially challenging or long day.

However, don’t isolate yourself further just because you may be nervous about going outdoors. Find hobbies that you enjoy that get you outside of your home - and that are separate from therapy - so that you can unwind and relax in the company of like-minded people while doing something that you enjoy.

Get out of your apartment

Sure, you can enjoy hosting friends at your home. However, if you also work from home and then you socialize at home, there is very little variation in your routine, and you may begin to feel a bit suffocated!

This is even more important if you live alone at home, because staying connected with your friends and with your personal life beyond just working from home is important.

Create peer-to-peer consultations

If you have associates in your Canadian private practice, make sure to schedule a monthly peer-to-peer meeting so that you can consult together to stay connected and on the same page about the practice, and as well as about what’s happening in your lives.

Connect with your team to talk about client cases or maybe have some fun! Having and maintaining relationships with other therapists can help to ease that isolation since they know what it feels like to work in the profession.

Meet with your assistants

If you have a virtual assistant, schedule a 30-minute meeting weekly with them.

This is not only important to discuss business issues, but also to stay connected to your staff so that you don’t pass one another by like ships in the night.

Make time for a weekly activity Something that I do which I love is going to the gym in the afternoon. It’s a lovely way to get out of the apartment, exercise, and to be around other people!

No matter which one you choose, there will be challenges, so you just need to figure out which challenge is the one that you feel most comfortable to work with so that you can make the most of your obligations while enjoying yourself.

Connect with me:

Instagram

Website

Resources Mentioned and Useful Links:

Ep 119: What I Learned from Going to the CCPA Conference | FP 119

Learn more about the tools and deals that I love and use for my Canadian private practice

Article: How to Set Up a Canadian Private Practice Website

Jane App (use code FEARLESS for one month free)

Rate, review, and subscribe to this podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon, and TuneIn

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Have you ever been to a counselling conference? Are you considering going to one this year for the first time, or are you a regular attendee?

Whether you are more introverted or an extrovert, conferences offer spaces for both! Not just quiet workshops or long tables filled with fascinating people, but also where you can learn and develop your skills as a professional while enjoying time spent with other interesting therapists.

I got out of my comfort zone a bit and went to a CCPA conference last year, and it was great! Going forward, I know what I’m looking for now, and how to find other great therapists. If you’re interested in finding out how, listen in!

In this Episode:

What is the CCPA?
Conferences can be a lot of fun!
Choosing conferences going forward

What is the CCPA?

‘If you don’t know, CCPA stands for Canadian Counselling and Psychotherapy Association, and usually the conference that they have each year is in the springtime, but last year in 2023 they had it in October in Toronto.’ - Julia Smith

Usually, going to a conference for me is nerve wracking on a couple of levels! I was going alone to this conference, and I wasn’t sure if I was going to enjoy it or not. However, I was able to select the speakers that I was interested in, but it can be a hit-and-miss!

However, going to conferences also contributes to your CEC credits that all members of the CCPA need to get each year. So, keeping all this in mind, I pushed myself to go!

Conferences can be a lot of fun!

‘With the CCPA conferences, you’re expected to network. It is encouraged to talk to other counsellors. You don’t look silly going up to people and starting conversations … Once I got into the swing of things, it was really fun to have conversations with counsellors from all over Canada!’ - Julia Smith

If you felt like you were getting a little over socialized, you could go see some of the workshops and talks that were happening around at any given time.

I really liked that there were options to be silent and listen, or to put yourself out there and socialize! Even during lunches, it felt comfortable to sit down at a table with people that I didn’t know and to strike up a conversation, since this is encouraged by the CCPA conference guidelines. Everyone’s in the same boat!

Choosing conferences going forward

Despite the great time I had, I know that I want to be intentional about choosing the future conferences I’ll go to. Specifically, I want to be mindful about going to conferences which will give certain information that I want to learn about.

The CCPA conference is great for learning about many different things in the counselling world, from research to different types of therapy techniques to private practice information. Although, I know what I love! And so I would love to go to a conference on narrative therapy for therapists, because that is what I want to learn more about.

‘So for you, as you’re considering your budget for this year, I’d highly recommend budgeting some money for going to a conference, and honestly I’d really just start with the CCPA conference! The workshops are so diverse, everybody is a Canadian counsellor, and you get CECs for going!’ - Julia Smith

Connect with me:

Instagram

Website

Resources Mentioned and Useful Links:

Ep 118: Brittany Wells-Pantaleo: Growing a Group Practice Virtually and Ethically | EP 118

Learn more about the tools and deals that I love and use for my Canadian private practice

Article: How to Set Up a Canadian Private Practice Website

Jane App (use code FEARLESS for one month free)

Rate, review, and subscribe to this podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon, and TuneIn

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Many counsellors may enter into private practice without expecting to open it into a group practice, since it can be a journey that develops as you explore your niche, assess the needs of your community, and as you develop as a person.

However, if you find yourself on the entrepreneurial path, don’t doubt that it can work! Even though many counsellors are not taught business skills in school, they can be learned, and you can work as an expert in your niche while being profitable and building your dream virtual group practice!

In this podcast episode, I chat with Brittany about her experience of launching, managing, and working in her group practice that’s virtual across Canada. She shares her advice and experience from starting without knowing to confidently planning for her future.

MEET BRITTANY

Brittany Wells-Pantaleo, MSW, RSW, is the Founder and Clinical Director of Moncton Counselling and Wellness. With a Master's degree in Social Work and as a Registered Social Worker, she has dedicated my career to supporting individuals in their mental health journeys. In 2021, she established Moncton Counselling and Wellness with the goal of providing compassionate and effective counselling support. Her organization has since grown, serving individuals and couples across Canada.

Learn more about Brittany on her LinkedIn profile, practice website, and Instagram page.

In this episode:

Why Brittany became a social worker
Starting a private practice
Developing a group private practice
Using Jane App for a virtual practice
Navigating virtual counselling ethically

Why Brittany became a social worker

Brittany’s social work journey began in Ontario in 2016. While she was completing her undergrad, she began working in social worker positions. Brittany worked in the shelter system with a women’s shelter and a youth shelter.

Brittany applied and luckily got in the first round for her masters, and started in-person, but with the COVID-19 pandemic she had to move online for the last six months of her two and a half year program.

Even though it was an intense experience, Brittany explains that it provided her with invaluable experience and skills which she brought with her on her journey to today.

Starting a private practice

In 2021, Brittany moved to Moncton, New Brunswick and began working for another private practice before venturing out on her own.

By connecting with a fellow therapist, Brittany began receiving some referrals and building up her referral network and learning from this more experienced practitioner.

However, Brittany’s father was diagnosed with cancer, and she decided to take a risk and go out on her own so that she could stay closer to family during this time.

Developing a group private practice

Once Brittany understood what the mental health landscape looked like in Moncton, she came to find that there were lots of people seeking therapy and that there were a lot of waitlists.

Since no other therapists were taking clients and Brittany’s waitlist also began to grow, she considered opening up a virtual wing of her private practice.

Using Jane App for a virtual practice

Brittany highly recommends Jane App for managing her virtual group practice. Technology is all-encompassing these days, and so choosing a software managing system is important because it becomes an integral part of what your Canadian private practice develops around.

Navigating virtual counselling ethically

Since starting her private practice, Brittany has learned that it is slightly different for social workers.

It is always good practice to work with your attorney or legal advisor, and get in touch with the relevant associations or colleges before you start working in a province, in-person or virtually.

Connect with me:

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Resources mentioned and useful links:

Ep 117: Courtney Vezina: Incorporating Community Values into Private Practice | EP 117

Learn more about the tools and deals that I love and use for my Canadian private practice

Jane App (use code FEARLESS for one month free)

Learn more about Brittany on her LinkedIn profile, practice website, and Instagram page

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There are many different ways in which you can instill and live out the values that you have founded your Canadian private practice on.

For Courtney, the value of community is a driving factor that positively impacts the work that she and her colleagues do. So much so, that her private practice offers a scholarship for students doing their bachelors in social work or psychology!

In this podcast episode, Courtney and I discuss her entry into private practice, why she decided to do her doctorate, and how she has found ways to bring the sense of community into her private practice.

MEET COURTNEY

Courtney is a Registered Psychotherapist who owns a group clinic; Courtney James Counselling and Psychotherapy, with locations in Kemptville and Brockville, Ontario. Courtney is currently completing her Doctorate of Counselling and Psychotherapy and is excited to engage in the further development of this amazing field of work. In her clinical work, Courtney uses a humanistic, trauma-informed lens and specializes in relational difficulties and developmental trauma. Courtney’s clinical work and Doctoral studies are focused on her work within the foster care and adoption community.

Learn more about Courtney on the practice website, Psychology Today, and Instagram profiles.

In this episode:

Why Courtney decided to become a psychotherapist
Starting a doctorate
Courtney’s private practice
Growing the private practice
Offering group sessions
The mental health scholarship!

Why Courtney decided to become a psychotherapist

Right after high school, Courtney started her psychology studies and then went into the field to gain frontline experience after graduating.

Afterward, she shifted into the mental health field with a position in a school board. It was during one of her maternity leaves that she started her masters program in Counselling Psychology in 2017.

Starting a doctorate

Most counsellors can open a Canadian private practice with only a masters degree, but Courtney went further and is working towards completing her doctorate.

For Courtney, the doctoral program that she’s in is not specifically research-based, and it encourages a different style of approaching this field that’s specific to psychotherapy.

Courtney’s private practice

While Courtney was completing her masters program, it was her intention to start a private practice.

Even though Courtney began as a solo practitioner, she quickly hired colleagues into her private practice.

Growing the private practice

Courtney was mindful of where the needs were in her community, and so she therefore decided to open a second and third location in areas of her city where she knew that the population didn’t have as much access to mental health care.

The point is to take calculated risks for your business. You don’t have to know if something is going to work before you try it - sometimes you have to try first to gain insight, and to then take informed action moving forward.

Offering group sessions

Courtney’s practice is creating emotional regulation groups that she brainstormed with a few of her colleagues.

Even though there is an interest in offering group therapy, Courntey and her team are working on the fine print and structural components of it before they fully provide this additional service to their clients.

The mental health scholarship

For students that are accepted into undergraduate programs in psychology or social work, Courntey’s practice is offering a scholarship!

This will be the fourth year that the scholarship is being offered, and her intention behind offering it comes from the same community piece that is vital to her and is one of the foundational pillars of the practice.

Connect with me:

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Resources mentioned and useful links:

Ep 116: Samantha Sarty: Setting Business Boundaries to Grow Private Practice | EP 116

Learn more about the tools and deals that I love and use for my Canadian private practice

Jane App (use code FEARLESS for one month free)

Learn more about Courtney on the practice website, Psychology Today, and Instagram profiles

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Building a practice is a tricky task because we know that it is going to be difficult sometimes. The question is, when have we gone too far and are perhaps risking burnout? It can feel difficult to maintain your personal and professional boundaries when you are the boss and things depend on you, but in essence, your business does depend on you, so it’s important to take care of yourself.

Whether you are a part-time Canadian private practice owner, or you work full-time, there’s always something that you can learn from another counsellor’s story. On today’s episode, I chat with Samantha and we discuss growing your business without compromising on your boundaries, marketing with social media, and giving back to the therapeutic community.

MEET SAMANTHA

Sam Sarty is a Registered Social Worker and Registered Nurse practicing in Dartmouth, NS, Canada - the land of the Mi'kmaq people. She specializes in working with trauma particularly in the first responder and veteran population. She is currently working in solo private practice (Following Seas Psychotherapy) after working in the public mental health system for the last decade as well as part-time work for a group practice.

Learn more about Samantha on her Psychology Today and LinkedIn profile, and private practice website.

In this episode:

How Samantha became a social worker
Using Jane App for managing a business
Expanding the business with boundaries
Using social media in private practice
How Samantha offers sliding scale

How Samantha became a social worker

After completing university, Samantha pursued nursing but didn’t want to go through the traditional route, and instead completed a mental health course, and then found her passion with that type of nursing work.

Once Samantha completed nursing school, she went onto working at the local children’s hospital before coming back to adult mental health in 2016.

Using Jane App for managing a business

Samantha uses the Jane App in her private practice, and for her it’s incredibly useful and helpful.

Without any associates or admin assistants, Samantha does all the work in her private practice currently, from taking the calls, replying to emails, and billing.

Expanding the business with boundaries

Samantha wants to grow the business while being mindful of her own personal boundaries at the same time.

Since the business depends on her effort, she knows that it’s important to scale the business while doing it intentionally with her needs so that she doesn’t have to exchange the success of the business on a loss of her health or wealth.

Using social media in private practice

For Samantha, it was important to use social media as a tool to spread knowledge and information instead of disinformation. Not to give her clients or audience therapy through social media, but actionable tools, awareness, and information.

In this way, social media can become a way to not only market your Canadian private practice, but it also becomes a way to serve the community.

Even though Psychology Today is currently one of her strongest referral sources that brings her the most clients, Samantha has found that word-of-mouth referrals as well as referrals from doctors have been the most successful.

How Samantha offers sliding scale

Samantha does clinical supervision, and offers sliding scales for other therapists because she wants to help invest in the profession itself.

Looking to the future

With regards to what’s up ahead, Samantha is considering the possibility of offering intensives to future clients.

She’s found that they can be incredibly helpful to clients looking to process traumatic events, so Samantha is wanting to incorporate this into the future of her Canadian private practice.

Connect with me:

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Resources mentioned and useful links:

Ep 115: Jasmine Bird: Defining Your Success to Live Authentically | EP 115

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Jasmine is a great example of; working to live, not living to work. You do not have to grow your business exponentially just because you can. If you are doing well in your Canadian private practice, but the idea of owning a huge business is daunting to you - you don’t have to take it that far!

One of the ways of building a truly successful business that serves your clients - and you - is to structure it around your needs, as well as theirs. Be mindful of your values and intentionally incorporate them into your choices, both personally and professionally, so that you can wake up each day looking forward to your schedule instead of dreading it.

In this podcast episode, Jasmine and I discuss her entry into private practice, what she did that worked well and how she’s managing her success into the future.

MEET JASMINE

Jasmine Bird is the Founder of SOAR Counselling - Group Practice - located in South Surrey, British Columbia. She is a passionate and dedicated Registered Clinical Counsellor (RCC), who specializes in working with children, youth, caregivers, and families impacted by mental health challenges. Jasmine has over a decade of experience working across various mental health settings, such as Child and Adolescent Inpatient Psychiatry with BC Children’s Hospital and Surrey Memorial Hospital and Community Child and Youth Mental Health Outpatient Programs with Vancouver Coastal Health Authority and Fraser Health Authority.

Learn more about Jasmine on her website, Psychology Today profile, and Instagram account.

In this episode:

Why Jasmine became a therapist
Starting and growing a private practice
What’s on the horizon?
Jasmine’s advice for listeners

Why Jasmine became a therapist

Ever since Jasmine was young, she was intrigued by people. She was curious about how they thought about life, the way that they approached it, and their stories and experiences.

Jasmine completed her counselling education in B.C. and worked in organizations before starting her own private practice. She knew that she loved helping youth and their families and wanted to make a difference.

Starting and growing a private practice

Jasmine built her Canadian private practice in South Surrey. She felt lucky in the fact that her practice has been successful from when it opened its doors, so she was able to continue developing it over the years, with some minor financial dips here and there.

Jasmine was also able to get some advice and help from her husband, who has completed a masters degree in business.

In terms of building a successful business, Jasmine noticed a desperate need in an area of her community and decided to set up her practice there.

Now Jasmine has five associates, and everyone is fully booked, including her!

What’s on the horizon?

After Jasmine’s business quickly scaled, she noticed that something wasn’t feeling quite right.

Now that her business has grown and is on the path to continue doing so, Jasmine wants to be intentional about structuring her business so that it doesn’t get overwhelmingly busy and run away with her.

Therefore, Jasmine’s now decided to actually scale back a bit and to not continue growing the business, without intention. Her Canadian private practice is successful now, and she’s focusing on maintaining that success at this level so that she can remain a successful niche business without getting swept away.

Jasmine’s advice for listeners

Remember the power of vulnerability and the importance of being authentic, especially as a leader. And bet on yourself!

Connect with me:

Instagram

Website

Resources mentioned and useful links:

Ep 114: Imogen McIntyre: Using Your Niche to Build a Private Practice | EP 114

Learn more about the tools and deals that I love and use for my Canadian private practice

Jane App (use code FEARLESS for one month free)

Learn more about Jasmine on her website, Psychology Today profile, and Instagram account

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How can you market your practice successfully in a big city? Do you have a specific niche that you want to figure out how to use well to connect with your best-fit client? Are you on the verge of considering to open two practices?

Everyone talks about niching down, but it’s always helpful to speak to someone that did it and made it work well!

In this podcast episode, Imogen and I discuss the entry into becoming a clinical social worker, launching and running two Canadian practices, and really knuckling down into a niche to allow the business to flourish.

MEET IMOGEN

Imogen Mcintyre is a Registered Clinical Social Worker who has founded two private practices, one focused on LGBTQ and neurodivergent issues, the other focused on couples therapy for sticky topics: the ones that can be hard to talk about with friends or family (think infidelity recovery, mismatched libidos or sexual preferences, shifts in gender or sexual identity, mental illness and relationships, and many more). Imogen practices from IFS, Gottman, and EFT informed approaches and strives to provide couples therapy without shame or blame.

Learn more about Imogen on their Psychology Today profile, and private practice website.

In this episode:

Why Imogen decided to become a clinical social worker
Building your own Canadian private practice
A clinical social worker as opposed to a social worker
Imogen’s unique service offering
Marketing in a big city

Why Imogen decided to become a clinical social worker

In 2015, Imogen got their Bachelors of Social Work. At the time, Imogen was a single mom and decided to go into social work.

Imogen started in Vancouver before practicing in other places, and also worked for the government at the start of their career. They worked in youth work for a year, and even though it was an enjoyable experience, it wasn’t financially sustainable, so Imogen went back to school to complete a masters degree.

After completing their masters, Imogen was hired by a health authority and greatly enjoyed working with the team, but then went on maternity leave.

Building up your own Canadian private practice

One of the drivers for Imogen to open and pursue their own business was to have more freedom and autonomy with time.

Now, Imogen has more autonomy in terms of time, and is working in an environment where they can meet their needs as well as the needs of their family.

A clinical social worker as opposed to a social worker

The clinical social worker designation is new in Canada, so it’s not widely known yet, sometimes even in professional circles.

With the RCSW, Imogen can diagnose things like ADHD and anything within the DSM, although there are some things that Imogen won’t diagnose for due to not personally feeling fully qualified yet.

Imogen’s unique service offering

Imogen noticed with their existing clients that people were asking for letters for different purposes, and Imogen wanted to figure out a way to offer clients this service while still being billed for the time and effort it takes to write them.

Doing it through the Jane App platform means that the time during the sessions is dedicated specifically to the clients needs, and not for writing the letter itself.

Marketing in a big city

Imogen was able to build up their clientele in Vancouver relatively quickly, which is a challenge!

Therefore, having a very in depth niche is what greatly helped Imogen to build their practice up relatively quickly and successfully.

Connect with me:

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Website

Resources mentioned and useful links:

Ep 113: Veronica Loffreda: Why Diversifying Brings You Success in Private Practice | EP 113

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When we want to do something really well, we may pick one path and stick to it, but hyperfocusing can cause us to develop blind spots to where we could improve. Sometimes there is success and new possibilities available to you when you try new things, diversify your approach, and look at things differently - without a fear of failure!

There are multiple ways of helping your community, creating strong referral networks, and finding clients. When you diversify your private practice, success and new opportunities may more easily find their way to you.

By being brave in your actions and trying lots of new things, you can develop your skills as a counsellor and a practice owner! In this podcast episode, I chat with Veronica about her amazing experiences - and how being diverse helped her to succeed!

MEET VERONICA

Veronica is a licensed psychologist and certified counsellor with 20 + years experience. She owns a private practice in Quebec and specializes in complex trauma, multicultural groups, and immigrant populations.

Learn more about Veronica on her LinkedIn profile and her website

In this episode:

Veronica’s journey into counselling
Starting a private practice
Diversifying your clientele in private practice
Learning a new language to work with clients

Veronica’s journey into counselling

Veronica completed her bachelor's degree in psychology, and it encouraged her to finish her masters degree in psychology, which is where she got her certification.

Afterward, Veronica got her licensing as a psychologist and went to a university in Montreal to finish her doctorate degree.

Veronica wanted to make sure that she wouldn’t accidentally close herself off from opportunities. Therefore, to have more opportunities for clinical work, Veronica made sure to get the correct licensing and certifications.

Starting a private practice

In the beginning of Veronica’s career after her bachelor years, Veronica worked in a community centre.

Even though she was so excited and resolved on opening her own Canadian private practice, Veronica felt strongly that she first had to gain more experience in the field.

After many years, Veronica was working with a boss that she fundamentally disagreed with when it came to providing the right care for clients. So, Veronica decided to put her efforts elsewhere.

Diversifying your clientele in private practice

In the beginning of her private practice, Veronica had an “open door” policy.

Veronica built up her referral network, and she was fully booked. She worked from 09:00 to 21:00 in her first year, and even though she had $0 profit, all her debts were paid off.

When Veronica is working with government groups, she learnt to work with multiple groups at once since their payments don’t always come in at the same time. So, you need to be working with different entities so that you can often have an income stream. Veronica’s advice is that you need to fulfil your client base with different areas, because this is what will keep your Canadian practice afloat.

Learning a new language to work with new clients

Apart from developing herself with professional skills, Veronica went the extra mile and learned an additional language to be able to work with clients who were seeking counselling that could not speak English or French.

As a fluent polyglot, Veronica understands the power of a mother tongue, and the emotional language that a bi- or multilingual person has. To understand a person also means to speak to them in their language, and that’s what Veronica did.

Connect with me:

Instagram

Website

Resources mentioned and useful links:

Ep 112: Great Platforms You Can Use in Your Private Practice | EP 112

Learn more about the tools and deals that I love and use for my Canadian private practice

Jane App (use code FEARLESS for one month free)

Learn more about Veronica on her LinkedIn profile and her website

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Do you know some of the sweet spots to streamline your business processes? Is your Canadian private practice set up to support you, while you support your clients? Are you looking for some tips and tools that you can use to simplify your practice needs?

There are so many different platforms and apps out there that it can seem overwhelming. If you are looking for some guidance and advice from lived experience, listen and read on!

In this podcast episode, I share the different services and platforms that I personally use and recommend in my practice with you.

In this Episode:

Slack
Hushmail
Google Drive
Jane App

Slack

You probably already receive loads of emails each day, and it can be frustrating when admin emails get lost in between client emails, and all the rest. With Slack, you can keep any and all business-related topics, queries, requests, and ideas in one place.

Some of the great features of Slack include:

Using it as a quick easy way to chat with colleagues and staff
Video calls that you could use for monthly meetings
Quick ways to tell your staff that you are unavailable, or on vacation
Option to have specific group chats

If you decide to get the paid plan, you then get access to the video calls feature, as well as control of when you want communication to be deleted. Since Slack messages are not encrypted, using this option for added security can be useful.

Hushmail

If you are emailing sensitive information then you should definitely consider using Hushmail! With their opt-in or -out encryption feature, you can either select that someone receives an email with a link to open it, or not.

It’s great for sending sensitive information because it’s hack-proof!

‘As a therapist, I believe that you really need to have that option of having emails encrypted. Sometimes we have to send things to insurance, sometimes we have to send things to an employer, or sometimes we have to send things to clients, and if you don’t have any options for encrypting emails, that can be unethical and dangerous.’ - Julia Smith

Hushmail offers affordable pricing, for only 11.99 USD a month. If you want to check it out, learn more and sign up here!

Google Drive

I’ve used Google Drive to write manuals for all of my assistants.

It’s a great tool because they are essentially “living” documents that can be edited by the owner as well as whoever you decide to share it with, meaning that the information can always be updated and shared.

‘One tip is every year I would copy that doc and save it on your computer … So that you have a document that isn’t online in case something were to happen with Google Drive, that you have that document on your computer so it’s not only living on the internet.’ - Julia Smith

Jane App

‘This is the number one thing and the first thing that you should invest in. It is private practice in a box!’ - Julia Smith

Jane App can do your:

Billing
Invoicing
Bookings
Charting
Group private practice feature - for an extra 15 CAD (plus tax) a month

Their in-platform video service is included in their monthly subscription price, which is 79 CAD (plus tax). Their features are also customizable, like their online-booking platform, so you can change things to complement your Canadian practice!

If you are ready to try it, use my code FEARLESS to that you can receive your first month for free when you sign up!

Connect with me:

Instagram

Website

Resources Mentioned and Useful Links:

Ep 111: Marlee Rubel: Building an Online Private Practice in Toronto

Learn more about the tools and deals that I love and use for my Canadian private practice

Article: How to Set Up a Canadian Private Practice Website

Jane App (use code FEARLESS for one month free)

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A lot of counsellors may start private practices because they want flexibility and autonomy in their professional lives, as well as for the fact that they have noticed a direct need that they feel passionate about serving.

Marlee, today’s guest, decided to go into private practice for those reasons.

In this podcast episode, Marlee and I discuss private practice, supporting mental health practitioners, and why building up a strong network - and resting! - are important.

MEET MARLEE

Marlee Rubel (she/her) is a Registered Psychotherapist offering clinical consultation, supervision, trainings, and program development to individuals, hospitals and various agencies within Toronto. Operating from a social justice oriented and trauma-informed lens, she specializes in complex trauma, queer experience, and relationship therapy in her clinical practice. She is the Clinical Director of Soft Landings Psychotherapy.

Learn more about Marlee on her website, LinkedIn profile, and practice website

In this episode:

How Marlee started her private practice
Supporting the not-for-profit sector with consulting
Owning a virtual practice
Marlee’s tips for listeners

How Marlee started her private practice

After completing her counselling degree, Marlee started working in a hospital as well as working part-time in a group private practice.

Marlee only worked in the hospital for a year before changing to work in an addiction treatment program with a great team, but it was tough and challenging work to do.

When Marlee was working in the addiction program and before in the hospital, she found that most people she worked with were burned out, and she knew that for her career that she wanted to do something different so she could provide care while also caring for herself.

Supporting the not-for-profit sector with consulting

One of the aspects of Marlee’s work is that she supports and helps counsellors working in the not-for-profit sector to not get burned out.

Counsellors and therapists know how strained the mental health system is, and so many workers get burned out so easily since the need is so great but the system isn’t designed to support mental health practitioners when the strain inevitably gets too much.

Owning a virtual practice

Marlee hasn’t had many clients be upset or leave the practice due to it being a virtual business. In many ways, the virtual therapy offers additional support, such as:

Accessing therapy when they are ill at home
Attending a session if a child is at home sick
Not having to pay for gas or travel expenses
If a client is dealing with anxiety about leaving their home

After some time, Marlee decided to develop her Canadian private practice into a group practice by listing her business on job platforms and hiring new clinicians.

Since Marlee had some experience working previously in group private practices, she knew both what she wanted (a sense of community and professional respect and support amongst staff), and what she didn’t want (for burnt out to be rampant or the expected norm).

Marlee’s tips for listeners

Don’t operate from a scarcity mindset. The need for mental health is increasing, and there will always be people that require and seek help. So, know that your skills and your work will always be needed, you just need to show up, be authentic, and build the foundation of your business on your mission and values.

Additionally, network! Build up your network as soon as you can.

Connect with me:

Instagram

Website

Resources mentioned and useful links:

Ep 110: What to Consider when Setting Your Private Practice Rates | EP 110

Learn more about the tools and deals that I love and use for my Canadian private practice

Jane App (use code FEARLESS for one month free)

Learn more about Marlee on her website, LinkedIn profile, and practice website

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Are you having trouble deciding on a starting rate for your private practice?

There are so many ways to figure out how to start off. For example, your college or association may have a recommendation, or basing your rate on what other therapists are charging in your area - but these guidelines may not be enough to allow you to be profitable!

You may need to look at your budget to know where to set your rates in order to give your Canadian private practice the best shot at being successful. In this podcast episode, I talk you through a basic exercise that you can do to help you decide what your rate should be.

In this Episode:

Make it personal
How to find your starting rate
Final thoughts

Make it personal

You have to personalize your budget, and therefore your therapy rate. Sure, you can look at what other therapists in your area are charging to make sure that you’re not pricing yourself too high or too low, or you could check in with your associated college to see what they say.

However, whatever advice you get, you need to tailor it to what your personal and professional needs are. There is no one-size-fits-all approach to budgeting; you’re going to have to understand your numbers and you’re going to understand your needs!

It is a bit of a dance to figure out what to do in this situation, and I know because I’ve been there! If you want some more in-depth advice, you can download my free e-course or purchase my workbook.

How to find your starting rate

One of the main reasons why people start private practices is because they want work-life balance. So, let’s say:

At a maximum that you want to see four people a day for five days a week, that’s 20 people per week
You want to take four weeks of vacation
You take 10 sick or personal days
There are five holidays

With these calculations, you’ll probably be working around 45 work weeks per year. Now, a common rate is $150 CAD, which I’ll use in this example. If you charge:

$150 CAD x 20 clients, that is $3000 per week
$3000 CAD x 45 weeks, that is a total of $135,000

This may seem like a lot of money, but you have to take income tax into account, as well as your business expenses. I recommended subtracting 50% right away for income tax and business expenses, and whatever is left is your bonus for the year.

‘But, for that 50%, it would go towards rent if you’re seeing people in person, your practice management software and I use Jane App for that - it’s fairly affordable, around $80 CAD a month … You may have hired VAs, clinical insurance, clinical supervision, accountants, website development … So many things that you have to pay for!’ - Julia Smith

So, once you subtract this 50%, you could be left with $67,500 CAD.

With retirement, it’s recommended that you put away 10-15%, and now you are left with a total of: $57,375.00 and divided by 12 months, that is $4,781.25 CAD.

Final thoughts

In Canada, $150 CAD may not be enough to charge for a session, but I know that it can be difficult to charge more. There are lots of factors to consider, but don’t lose hope! There is a sweet spot that you can find with your numbers when you start working with them.

So, consider doing this exercise to get clarity about the rate that you would like to get to!

Connect with me:

Instagram

Website

Resources Mentioned and Useful Links:

Ep 109: How to Build a Private Practice Website | EP 109

Learn more about the tools and deals that I love and use for my Canadian private practice

Article: How to Set Up a Canadian Private Practice Website

Jane App (use code FEARLESS for one month free)

Rate, review, and subscribe to this podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon, and TuneIn

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As a Canadian therapist, one of the things that you know needs to get done is to build a website. It’s part of the deal of being a business owner, and having a great website is the cornerstone of being seen by your local community and getting your Canadian private practice noticed.

I think everyone has one or two horror stories about trying to get everything up and running when you are launching your Canadian private practice, or your latest marketing campaign - I’ve had some as well! But a great website is necessary, and it’s not as impossible (or expensive) as you may have thought!

I’ve partnered with an incredible company that offers you easy, affordable, and professional website packages. Depending on your needs, budget, and desires, there will be an option that fits your budget and business like a glove. Keep listening to be introduced!

In this Episode:

Re-building my website
Choosing your website journey
Meet Your New Website!

Re-building my website

Last year I decided to completely redo my website, perhaps you have an idea of how much work that can be! If you have ever been in this situation - or you are in this situation now, read on!

WordPress websites are open-source, they offer design flexibility, and excellent SEO capabilities. On the other hand, website builders that create using their own proprietary platform (like Wix, Squarespace, Clinic Sites, and now Brighter Vision) make creating a website easy BUT there are limits to the design of your website and limits to SEO, because the websites are built on their private platform.

Choosing your website journey

I decided to switch from my previous website host to one that suited my preferences and needs, and I found an amazing Canadian company that ticked all the boxes!

So, you may be thinking that instead you could build your own website. You might imagine that it would be cheaper, and that you could do it your own way. You could do that, but I would recommend you try something else!

Because I tried to build my own website, it took almost 10 months, and it felt like a second job.

Meet Your New Website!

So if you don’t want to spend months working with a team to build your own website, doing edits, and paying thousands of dollars - I have found a solution for you!

Before any confusion sets in; WordPress.org is where you can purchase your own hosting and develop your website. However, now there is a WordPress website that provides you with turn-key solutions; WordPress.com!

So if you want to build it yourself in an easy way, they offer that function. However, if you don’t want to build it yourself, they do offer website design services - all you have to do is choose one of their monthly plans, choose a template that you love, and submit your content.

And, if you want to transfer later and stop working with the company, you can switch your website to another WordPress hosting site!

You can start with this company for 0 Canadian dollars! Or, I’d recommend starting with their Creator Plan, which is only $33 CAD a month, plus tax, which includes:

Free domain for one year
Premium website themes
Unlimited Pages
WordPress Plugins
Live Chat Support
Website Security
Real Time Website Backups
Website Performance Boosters

To start building your private practice, click here and by next week you could have your website built!

Connect with me:

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Website

Resources Mentioned and Useful Links:

Ep 108 Michael Sorsdahl: CCPA’s New Ethics Case bOok and Why You Must Read It | EP 108

Learn more about the tools and deals that I love and use for my Canadian private practice

Article: How to Set Up a Canadian Private Practice Website

Jane App (use code FEARLESS for one month free)

Rate, review, and subscribe to this podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon, and TuneIn

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How knowledgeable are you on current counselling ethics? How regularly do you follow up on changes and fluctuations in ethics and the recommended practices as times go on? Where should you start?

As we know how society and the general public changes over the years, it makes sense that the recommended counselling practices and ethics would too. What you might have learned five years ago, even two years ago, may have changed recently. Part of being a clear, conscientious, and responsible therapist is taking the time to keep up to date with current ethics.

In this podcast episode, I talk with Michael who’s recently just finished co-authoring and editing the new CCPA revised ethics case book.

MEET MICHAEL

Michael Sorsdahl is a practicing psychologist in BC and Alberta, and is currently the ethics chair for the Canadian Counselling and Psychotherapy Association Ethics Complaints Division.

Learn more about Michael on his practice website, LinkedIn and Psychology Today profiles.

In this episode:

Why the new ethics case book is important for counsellors
The four sections of the book
Ethics have to be current
Multiple relationships

Why the new ethics case book is important for counsellors

This book is a complement to the standard ethics of practice that the Canadian Counselling and Psychotherapy Association (CCPA) created.

This ethics case book that Michael and his team have developed is focused on bringing to life our code of ethics and standards of practice that are new.

Although there are best practices and recommendations that are more in alignment in the codes based on historical precedence, there is more no “this is the only way” to do something, and that’s what this book is teaching.

The four sections of the book

1 - Foundational aspect

The history of ethics and how it evolved
The legal intersectionality of ethics and society
That ethics isn’t directed by law but is influenced by law

2 - Sections of the codes

The sections that each code falls under which is represented by different chapters in the book
Historical elements of the codes and the societal considerations to be aware of
Any pitfalls that counsellors could be mindful of

3 - Complex cases studies without solutions

Complex case studies that you or your students could practice with in any case
Work on your own problem-solving skills for these
Michael’s team are going to work on putting a team together to solve these and put the solutions forward to the CCPA

4 - The solutions to the case studies

There are solutions in a separate chapter so that the case studies can be studied by students without spotting the answers on the same page

Ethics have to be current

Ethics will naturally evolve with time because it is the study and practice of handling people and situations correctly, and people are constantly changing too.

As a responsible and compassionate counsellor, it is part of your job to know how the lines shift, change, or blur and how to navigate those changes effectively.

Read more about the new CCPA ethics book at this link.

Multiple relationships

The ethics of multiple relationships between counsellors and clients can often be brought into discussion, especially when offering therapy in small towns or rural areas.

For example, someone may be the therapist of their pharmacist! Which is of course a nuanced situation to navigate.

If you are in a situation where you have multiple relationships, you need to take notes. Have clear boundaries and capture records of your choices.

Connect with me:

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Website

Resources mentioned and useful links:

Ep 107: Ester Chu and Richard Tatomir: Working As a Team to help Canadian Therapists | EP 107

Learn more about the tools and deals that I love and use for my Canadian private practice

Jane App (use code FEARLESS for one month free)

Learn more about Michael on his practice website, LinkedIn and Psychology Today profiles

Learn more about the CCPA ethics discussed in this podcast here

Watch this video to learn more about the CCPA’s Ethics CaseBook

Rate, review, and subscribe to this podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon, and TuneIn

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We all know that working as a therapist can be a lonely job. When we work together, we can help one another reach higher heights in our Canadian practices, grow as professionals, and share the success with more people.

This is what Richard and Esther have found on their journey so far. Richard hired Esther as an administrative assistant in the early months of 2020 as his solo practice was full, and together they have developed a thriving practice, and even started a Collective to help therapists do the same.

In this podcast episode, I chat with the both of them about their journey, the work that they do, and to show the value of professional partnership and the rewards it can offer.

MEET ESTHER AND RICHARD

Esther is a therapist and the owner of Sandigan Wellness. She also is the practice manager at Relationship Experts Vancouver (a group private practice) where she’s responsible for establishing and maintaining the community culture, operations, and seeking out opportunities for clinicians to gain experience in areas they wish to grow in.

And Richard is a Practitioner-Instructor, Clinical Supervisor, and PhD student at Simon Fraser University. He is the President of the BC Chapter of the Canadian Counselling and Psychotherapy Association; Speaker and Consultant to organizations, professionals, and the public, and founded Relationship Experts Vancouver.

Learn more about Esther on her Psychology Today profile, her website, and the practice website

Learn more about Richard on his LinkedIn, the practice website, and his Psychology Today profile

In this episode:

How Esther and Richard came to work together
The benefits of working in a team
The Collective program

How Esther and Richard came to work together

For Richard, who was looking for help and ended up hiring Esther as an admin virtual assistant, he was working as a solo practitioner and getting full, even before COVID.

To hire Esther, Richard was trusting his gut and hired her also due to the fact that Esther’s interests and skill aligned with the role that he was searching for someone to fill.

The benefits of working in a team

For both Esther and Richard, working in a team offers both of them so many benefits.

Esther sees a few clients now as well and works alongside Richard. However, since Esther has taken over most of the practice management roles, Richard as the owner is now working more on the business instead of in the business.

The Collective program

When Richard and Esther decided to create the collective space, they wanted it to be a place where counsellors could gain access to supervision, referrals and community. Like Fearless practice, they also hope to help launch counsellors into private practice so that they don’t have to settle for a position that does not pay well.

‘So, people that are wanting to develop their own private practices and their own brands … We have created this start-up accelerator, membership community model, where I know the cost of supervision is going to be covered, the other basic costs are going to be covered, and if they really like it … They’re inviting their friends who could also potentially become members.’ - Richard Tatomir

Even though the collective has an open policy, they are still selective of who they invite into groups because they want to make sure that the people who are working together are properly aligned.

Connect with me:

Instagram

Website

Resources mentioned and useful links:

Ep 106: A Dr. Chandra Ashton: Working in a Canadian Not-for-Profit and Enjoying It! | EP 106

Learn more about the tools and deals that I love and use for my Canadian private practice

Jane App (use code FEARLESS for one month free)

Learn more about Esther on her Psychology Today profile, her website, and the practice website

Learn more about Richard on his LinkedIn, the practice website, and his Psychology Today profile

Rate, review, and subscribe to this podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon, and TuneIn

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Have you worked in a not-for-profit organization before? Do you tend to steer clear from not-for-profit counselling positions due to common bad stories from what it could be like?

So many therapists go into therapy because they feel a need and a desire to support and serve their communities. However, it can become tough, expensive, and challenging - but this is not the case across the board! If you’re lucky, you can find Canadian not-for-profit practices that are aligned with your values, and you can see clients and do work that feels fulfilling to you.

In this podcast episode, I chat with Dr. Ashton about her experience running her own solo private practice while working full-time for a not-for-profit practice.

MEET CHANDRA

Dr. Ashton has worked as a therapist and parent coach in private practice and not-for-profit settings, and through contracted service for various agencies. She values creating a culturally safe and self-empowering practice. She has found her greatest joy when adapting mainstream interventions in creative ways to best walk alongside marginalized and underserved populations.

Learn more about Dr. Ashton and connect with her on her website or via her email address

In this episode:

Be intentional about working as a therapist
Working in a not-for-profit practice
Handling work without burning out
Pros and cons of being a not-for-profit therapist

Be intentional about working as a therapist

For Dr. Ashton, her journey into Canadian private practice has been deeply informed by her desire to be aware of her position, ancestry, the land that she occupies, and how she wants to serve and assist her community.

Working in a not-for-profit practice

Dr. Ashton had gone through an 11-year journey in working through agencies and other private practices before being hired as a full-time therapist at Terra Centre in Edmonton.

When Dr. Ashton first started working through an agency in private practice, she started in a not-for-profit.

However, once she started doing her P.h.D and had children, she knew that she needed to start looking out for her family by finding work that was more reliable.

Handling work without burning out

Working as a therapist can be incredibly taxing as it is rewarding, and you need to have strong boundaries in place with yourself and others so that you don’t lose yourself in the lives of others, or bring work home with you.

However, if you like what you do and you enjoy the work - besides the few very tough days here and there - it is easier not to burn out.

Pros and cons of being a not-for-profit therapist

For Dr. Ashton, working in her private practice means building a working relationship with her clients where she knows that they are receiving what they need and she is able to structure her job in the way that she wants to do it.

Sometimes when you work for another practice, you may have to:

Limit how many sessions you can have with a client
Stick to the modality that they want you to use so you cannot always change or adapt your therapeutic approach
Deal with burnout from having to work a job that you haven’t structured yourself

Having that autonomy over your work is invaluable.

Even though Dr. Ashton has a small pay cut for her work in the not-for-profit practice, she feels that she gains so much because the work that she is doing feels important, sustainable, and appreciated by her clients and community.

Connect with me:

Instagram

Website

Resources mentioned and useful links:

Ep 105: Ashley Schofield-McEachern: Transitioning from Nursing into Therapy | EP 105

Learn more about the tools and deals that I love and use for my Canadian private practice

Jane App (use code FEARLESS for one month free)

Learn more about Dr. Ashton and connect with her on her website or via her email address

Rate, review, and subscribe to this podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon, and TuneIn

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Many of the skills that you learn from all your experience throughout your mental health career can be brought into the session room with a client - when done ethically and when asked for!

Ashley worked as a nurse for many years in public health before deciding to return to university to get her masters, and move into Canadian private practice. She now uses both psychotherapy and nursing skills in private practice!

In this podcast episode, Ashley and I discuss her journey into Canadian private practice, as well as how she works with clients, offering walk and talk therapy, and how she brings in all her expertise in a way that allows her to do her best work with her clients.

MEET ASHLEY

Ashley is a Registered Nurse and Registered Psychotherapist (Qualifying) in Ontario, Canada, and Certified Perinatal Mental Health Professional. She owns a private practice, Whispering Pines Counselling & Wellness, dedicated to women’s health and wellness. Ashley's mission is to help women feel empowered to prioritize their wellbeing, know their worth, and live unapologetically.

Learn more about Ashley on her practice website, Instagram, or LinkTree page.

In this episode:

From nursing to therapy
Going into private practice
Dual licenses
Offering walk and talk therapy
Ashley’s advice to listeners

From nursing to therapy

Ashley had worked as a nurse in public health, and during the last five years, she started doing home visits with clients, which encouraged her to return to university to learn how to become a therapist.

As Ashley explains, in nursing school they are taught a baseline of counselling skills in all areas to prepare them. But to help people more professionally and effectively, Ashley knew that she needed - and wanted - to get a further education.

Going into private practice

Although Ashley left public health in 2021, she had already started working on her masters degree in 2020.

At the end of 2022, Ashley completed her masters, and started in private practice in April of that year. She recently signed up with a local university to be a part-time clinical instructor.

Dual licenses

Because Ashley is a licensed nurse and psychotherapist, she can draw on both professions and experiences to help clients.

For her clients, they charge their insurance for her psychotherapy and then add in elements of nursing, if any was given or was applicable.

During sessions, Ashley will inform her clients that she’s “putting on her nurse hat” when wanting to discuss certain questions.

Offering walk and talk therapy

From June 2023, Ashley started offering walk and talk therapy services to her clients, and it’s been successful so far!

The trails that they take are often more private, so they know that the sessions can be conducted without much interference from others.

Ashley has structured her online booking with Jane App so that her clients can easily contact her and mention for which service they would like to see her through, whether that’s virtual or for a walk and talk session.

Her official office space opens up in early January so that she can begin seeing clients in-person. To save on expenses, Ashley is sharing the office space with a massage therapist.

Ashley’s advice to listeners

Listen to your heart and your gut, because sometimes your head can turn you into a different direction due to fear or nervousness. The whole point of private practice is doing what you want to do, and making it work for you!

Connect with me:

Instagram

Website

Resources mentioned and useful links:

Ep 104: Angela Bishop: Build Your Career in Canadian Private Practice | EP 104

Learn more about the tools and deals that I love and use for my Canadian private practice

Jane App (use code FEARLESS for one month free)

Learn more about Ashley on her practice website, Instagram, or LinkTree page.

Rate, review, and subscribe to this podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon, and TuneIn

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What works for you one day, one year, or one decade may not stay the same. As you change and develop as a person, so will your needs, and what you need from your environment to feel supported and to offer your best work.

In this podcast episode, I talk with Angela who used to have zero interest in running a Canadian private practice but who is now on track to hit her second year of being a solo practitioner! We discuss how she got into therapy, the challenges she faced, and how she is overcoming them.

MEET ANGELA

Angela is a Registered Social Worker and perinatal mental health provider, specializing in maternal mental health and all things parenthood. She has a wealth of experience in helping individuals move through transitions, worries, low mood and general day to day struggles. She opened up her own private therapy practice "Bloom & Thrive Therapy" in 2022 where she has a strong focus on Perinatal Mental Health.

Learn more about Angela on her practice website, Psychology Today, and LinkedIn profiles.

In this episode:

Recognizing and honouring the desire to change
Becoming a therapist
Creating a job that you like doing
Offering in-person and virtual therapy
Networking with fellow therapists

Recognizing and honouring the desire to change

Angela got her Masters of Social Work in 2008. She worked for a counselling agency for a short period of time before getting a long term job at a hospital where she worked for 14 years.

Then, when Angela had her second child in 2021 and went on maternity leave, she felt that she was ready for something new in her professional life.

Becoming a therapist

Angela extended her maternity leave and began dipping her toes into private practice by working as an associate.

In January 2022, Angela started learning more about private practice. By March she was working as an associate, and then registered her own practice in May 2022.

Creating a job that you like doing

Angela describes the things that she misses from working in the hospital, such as:

Bouncing ideas off of other clinicians
Chatting with other medical staff to better understand a diagnosis
The community of working as a team

All these aspects can be implemented into a private practice over time.

There are ways to create the job that you enjoy working and want to do because, even though there are benefits to contract work, there are downsides too.

Starting up a private practice gave Angela the opportunity to create a work environment where she could have a professional career that wasn’t intruded on my politics or issues from a contract or agency job.

Offering in-person and virtual therapy

Nowadays, people are used to virtual therapy and are okay with it. It can be expensive to have an in-person space and to rent an office to use for therapy, however, Angela knew that she wanted to invest in one.

Offering in-person therapy has become a great way for new clients to first meet Angela and get to know her before moving to virtual therapy.

Networking with fellow therapists

Angela shares an office space with another therapist who she used to work with back at the hospital. They see different client groups and can refer to one another.

Having this type of small camaraderie is incredibly useful and supportive for therapists, to help one another out and to share the load, since it can feel lonely from time to time.

Connect with me:

Instagram

Website

Resources mentioned and useful links:

Ep 103: Why Taking Breaks is Important in Private Practice | EP 103

Learn more about the tools and deals that I love and use for my Canadian private practice

Jane App (use code FEARLESS for one month free)

Learn more about Angela on her practice website, Psychology Today, and LinkedIn profiles.

Rate, review, and subscribe to this podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon, and TuneIn

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Do you often let fear stop you from taking a break and resting when you know you need it? Are you often pushing yourself beyond your limits but haven’t stopped to wonder why? Have you been feeling resentful towards work that you used to enjoy in the past?

Taking the time to properly rest is something that can help you to feel more present with your clients during sessions, and to enjoy what you do. Resting allows you to tap into your creative energy and appreciate your daily tasks, as well as your needs, instead of only chasing deadlines.

In this podcast episode, I share my history with overcoming the fear when I know I need to settle down for some time.

In this Episode:

Why I started private practice
Signs I need a break
Being Fearless
Going forward

Why I started private practice

One of the reasons why I started my own Canadian private practice was because I was getting burned out and I knew that for me to be successful I would need to have more breaks.

However, even when I got to that place, I found myself struggling to give myself the chance to rest and take breaks because I felt I:

Needed to push myself. I didn’t feel like I could ever fully “earn” my rest because in our modern capitalist society, we’re taught that time means money, so resting could feel like losing money
Had to continuously earn an income because, another symptom of a largely capitalist society, hustle culture is so ingrained in our world that not actively doing something insinuates that you are not driven
Could lose out on working with new clients if I wasn’t always available because I decided to take a break

So, during this first year of trying to take more breaks, I had to focus on listening to myself and what my body and mind were telling me when I knew that I needed to take breaks, even if I had fear.

Signs I need a break

I’ve come to notice personal signs of when I need to have a break, because I don’t want to wake up dreading work. I enjoy what I do, but if I don’t give myself time to rest, then that joy could turn into resentment or frustration, and I don’t want it to.

I know that I need to step back when I:

Heave a big sigh of having to do any admin, marketing, or tasks for my practice
Feel more anxious or panicky
Become overwhelmed or easily stressed out by emails and additional requests

This approach to my work has drastically helped me to reduce that “ugh” feeling toward my work, and keep the burnout at bay. If you are interested in trying out a 50/ 50 workweek split, you can listen to my podcast episode about it here.

Being Fearless

After seven years of private practice and getting to know myself in this setting, I can no longer imagine working like how I used to!

Now, I have a deeper understanding of what it means to be a “fearless” practitioner! It can mean saying “yes” to things that can feel scary and knowing when to push yourself, but at the same time also knowing when to say “no” and focus on self-care.

Going forward

In saying this, I’m going on a two-week hiatus for December! I’m going to unwind, enjoy the holiday season, and I’ll return back in January for another awesome year of the Fearless Practice Podcast!

Connect with me:

Instagram

Website

Resources Mentioned and Useful Links:

Ep 102: Nicole Lobo: Turning Lemons into Lemonade in Private Practice | EP 102

Learn more about the tools and deals that I love and use for my Canadian private practice

Article: How to Set Up a Canadian Private Practice Website

Jane App (use code FEARLESS for one month free)

Rate, review, and subscribe to this podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon, and TuneIn

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If you had a tough experience as a counselling intern, you might feel inspired to create a space where future interns could have a different experience. It’s sometimes a healing response to turn the lemons of the past into the lemonade of the present, and that’s exactly what Nicole did.

From her practicum, Nicole had a very challenging experience as a counselling intern in a private practice, and vowed to do things differently once she was able to open her own practice.

MEET NICOLE

Nicole is a Registered Psychotherapist of 5 years, Clinical Supervisor and founder of Be Well Therapy Studio; a boutique private practice operating in Ontario. Nicole’s goal is to make coming to therapy something to look forward to. She values authenticity, transparency, and a person-centred approach to care that aims to neutralize the stigma of accessing mental health care.

Learn more about Nicole on her website, LinkedIn and Instagram profiles.

In this episode:

Nicole’s journey into psychotherapy
Learning from past experiences going forward
Nicole’s success of getting busy in her practice
Discounted therapy with interns
Offering monthly texting subscriptions
Nicole’s advice to listeners

Nicole’s journey into psychotherapy

In college, Nicole already had a passion for psychology.

Nicole made sure to keep a finger on the pulse of what therapy would be like to stay in contact and conversation with her professors. In her fourth year, she took part in an experiential learning course that was offered by her college.

Learning from past experiences going forward

During her masters, Nicole completed her counselling practicum in a private practice setting to gain experience in the field. However, the private practice offered free therapy which was great for making it accessible to the community, but she was exposed to communities of people that had a desperate need for mental health which she felt underprepared to provide for.

After Nicole’s counselling practicum was completed and while she was working full-time at a local hospital, she opened her own small private practice part-time.

Nicole’s success of getting busy in her practice

One of the things that Nicole did was to prioritize slow organic growth. She started her practice as a side-job about two and half years before the pandemic started while working full-time in a hospital, so these pre-COVID years helped her to have an idea of the busy seasons in private practice versus slow seasons.

Discounted therapy with interns

Due to Nicole’s difficult entry into private practice when she was a new student and completing her practicum, it was important to her to create a space where she could rectify that issue for others.

She offers this in her practice so that she knows she is providing new therapists with the guidance and support that she didn’t have when she started.

Offering monthly texting subscriptions

Nicole works hard to creatively meet the needs of the client, depending on where they are at.

This service developed into Nicole’s idea for offering her clients a monthly text subscription which allows a client a way to connect with their therapists between sessions.

Nicole is part of the College of Registered Psychotherapists of Ontario, and she made sure to read through their standards of practice and technological access standards to make sure that she was on the right side of the regulatory framework.

Nicole’s advice to listeners

Take it slow. Follow your interests, and gently get out of your comfort zone! Take learning risks and expose yourself to new areas of work so when you really invest your time and energy into an area of work you know that it’s what you want to do.

Connect with me:

Instagram

Website

Resources mentioned and useful links:

Ep 101: Olivia Grigg: How to Host a Wellness Retreat | EP 101

Learn more about the tools and deals that I love and use for my Canadian private practice

Jane App (use code FEARLESS for one month free)

Learn more about Nicole on her website, LinkedIn and Instagram profiles.

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Which skills do you have that could be carried over into your private practice? Today’s guest Olivia Grigg, who works as a therapist, used to spend her summers running camps, and now she hosts successful wellness retreats!

If there is something that you would like to do, whether start a podcast, create an e-course, or even host and launch a retreat, these options are all possible for you. Even if you love counselling but you still feel like there’s something else out there that you want to combine with your standard hours in session, you can find it, and make it happen.

In this podcast episode, Olivia and I talk about her journey from working in another group practice to starting her own Canadian practice, and hosting wellness retreats that keep getting full!

MEET OLIVIA

Olivia is an RSW in London, Ontario. She has three young kids who keep her busy. Olivia supports clients 1:1 as well as hosting wellness retreats regularly throughout the year. Olivia focuses on somatic approaches as well as inner child and self compassion strategies to help clients move towards self trust.

Learn more about Olivia on her website, Psychology Today, and Instagram profiles.

In this episode:

Why Olivia started a private practice
Hosting retreats
Retreats could help you get clients
Advertising retreats
Handling insurance

Why Olivia started a private practice

Before starting her own practice, Olivia was working at another group practice offering one-on-one counselling.

Although Olivia enjoyed her time at the group practice where she previously worked, she felt a strong pull to expand on her own desires and skills as a therapist. For her and her journey, it made sense for her at that point to continue the journey on her own.

Olivia knew that she wanted to spend more time with clients that were going through a religious transformation or deconstruction, or had a desire to reconnect with their faith in a new way, but these weren’t the clients that she could see while working at the other group practice.

Hosting retreats

Since Olivia has had experience in both improvising through handling big groups of people - and from playing music - she felt comfortable organizing and leading a wellness retreat.

Even though there are some differences, the similarities are far more and far greater.

Retreats could help you get clients

For some of Olivia’s clients, they often come to her retreats first before signing on as an official client since it allows them to indirectly work with her and experience her counselling before making the commitment.

Of course, not all participants are looking for a therapist, but some do, and so retreats could function like a soft-meeting.

Advertising retreats

In terms of advertising the retreats that Olivia hosts, she usually uses:

Instagram as her main platform
Her website
Her network of therapists in the community to pass the information onto their clients, but often the therapists themselves join the retreats too!

Since retreats are becoming more popular and people are more familiar with what they are, the need has adjusted and grown. So, Olivia often finds clients and participants relatively easy. She’s hosted retreats as small as five to as large as 20.

Handling insurance

Even though insurance is not as big of an issue as you might think, it is still advised to purchase top-quality insurance, like Olivia does, for her retreats.

For herself and her brand, she purchases high-quality liability insurance so that in case an accident does occur, her business won’t suffer for it.

For anyone who is looking to host retreats, get advice that will suit what you want to do.

Connect with me:

Instagram

Website

Resources mentioned and useful links:

Ep 100: What I’ve Learned about Podcasting | EP 100

Learn more about the tools and deals that I love and use for my Canadian private practice

Jane App (use code FEARLESS for one month free)

Learn more about Olivia on her website, Psychology Today, and Instagram profiles

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100 episodes! What a milestone.

In the beginning, I really wasn’t sure what would happen. I knew that I wanted to try podcasting but I had no idea what to expect. However, once I knew that it would be something I would enjoy and that it would be a great way to connect with you, I committed, and here we are two years later!

In this episode, I talk about the whole experience from the start to the present moment. I share my learning curves, my process, and any tips for you - if you are thinking about doing this too. Thanks for joining me on this journey, and here’s to another year of the Fearless Practice podcast!

In this Episode:

Why I started this podcast
Creating the podcast
The pros and cons
Lessons I have learned

Why I started this podcast

There were many reasons why I was considering doing this podcast:

Would it help my consulting business?
Would I enjoy recording every single week?
Finding other like-minded therapists to connect and talk with

Creating the podcast

Once I experimented a little, I knew that I was ready to give it a try! So I:

Took a course in podcasting
Decided on the intro music
Found a sound editor
Hired a designer for the podcast cards
Hired a copywriter to write show notes

In many ways, running this podcast is like a second job. In order for me to publish the podcast episodes that you listen to each Wednesday, the process looks a little like this:

Brainstorming the idea for each episode
Finding counsellors to interview
Organizing points for each topic per episode
Recording the podcast either as a solo show or in an interview
Sending the the sound editor the audio
Listening to the podcast myself to make my own edits
Sending the audio to the copywriter for the the show notes to be written
Editing the show notes myself
Sending quotes and titles to my designer for the cards for the episode
Having the social media manager create posts for the podcast
Sending the final products to my editor to schedule it for publishing

The pros and cons

When I started this podcast I thought it would take maybe an hour or two a week, but as you can see, it’s a much longer process!

Despite the long hours and financial investment, I’m so glad that I also get the chance to meet so many great Canadian therapists! And I’m grateful to those who have invested in my work and purchased from my store.

Lessons I have learned

Some of the things I now know about podcasting are that:

It really helps to have a great team around you
You will need to put in effort and energy to make it great
It’s going to be an investment so make sure you have money saved up or coming in so that you can make it work
You can create community through a podcast, and it’s a wonderful way to connect with other therapists in your area!

On the note of community, I want to know how I can help you so that I can keep creating content that serves your needs. Reach out to us with your suggestions!

Connect with me:

Instagram

Website

Resources Mentioned and Useful Links:

Ep 99: Christine Olsen: How to Settle into Your Niche with Confidence | EP 99

Learn more about the tools and deals that I love and use for my Canadian private practice

Article: How to Set Up a Canadian Private Practice Website

Jane App (use code FEARLESS for one month free)

From the very first episode, I've trusted East Coast Studio to help ensure my podcast sounds great. They'll help you streamline the podcasting process so you can focus on running your practice. Schedule a no-pressure conversation with East Coast Studio today and save $50 off their Podcast Pro Trial by using code FEARLESS at checkout!

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Has your road to private practice been rocky? Do you struggle with settling into your niche because you feel like you have to be applicable to every person? Do you feel that you need to add more specialities to be more complementary?

There are so many different types of niches, and so many people that are looking for help. You may feel like you have to see them all and maybe you want to help them all, but being a one-size-fits-all therapist might leave you feeling burned out and clients not sure if you truly understand their needs.

Don’t be afraid to niche down, and be clear on who you serve and what you serve them with. This can make you a more attractive therapist, because it shows clients that you see them, and that you know how to help.

In this podcast episode, Christine and I discuss her entry into Canadian private practice, as well as the importance of niching down - and sticking to it. Her advice is this; don’t try to be good at everything! Listen in to find out more.

MEET CHRISTINE

Christine Olsen is a Registered Social Worker and Psychotherapist from Thunder Bay, ON. Christine specializes in therapy for men and anger management. She provides online therapy for those in the province of Ontario.

Learn more about Christine on her website, Open Path and Psychology Today profile.

In this episode:

Why Christine decided to become a Social Worker
Getting into private practice
Christine’s niche of working with men in therapy
Experimenting with effective marketing strategies
Doing a four-day work week
Open Path
Christine’s advice to listeners

Why Christine decided to become a Social Worker

Christine felt a draw to working with people. In the midst of feeling uncertain about what she wanted to do as a profession, she drew on what she knew her likes and dislikes were, and that guided her to wanting to work with people and become a social worker.

And not only that, but because Christine was an empathetic child, she knew that she wanted to see how the world looks different to each person due to their realities.

Getting into private practice

Initially, Christine only thought that she would start a private practice toward the end of her career. She felt that it needed so much experience to do well, and so she thought that she had to have more years under her belt - even though she already had 10!

However, due to changing circumstances in her life, Christine decided to give it a shot earlier than she had initially anticipated.

Christine couldn’t find daycare for her child and her previous job didn’t offer her flexibility, so she decided to take the financial hit and jump straight into a private practice instead of scrambling for another job in a difficult work environment. It was tough, but she made it work!

Christine’s niche of working with men in therapy

It felt natural and easier for her to work with men in therapy. She had experience working with men who experience irritability and anger and enjoyed that work.

Outdated societal expectations can make it difficult for male individuals to seek out therapy willingly, and it can cause their struggles or pain to intensify, which can lead to damage and suffering in their relationships.

Experimenting with effective marketing strategies

First and foremost, Christine set up a website for her Canadian private practice. She markets only in Ontario. She uses search engine optimization (SEO) for both Ontario and Thunder Bay, including online therapy, and therapy for men.

Her marketing goal right now is to show up more on Google, so Christine prioritizes her writing, especially since she’s done it over the last couple of years, so it does go faster. She writes what flows to her on a day-to-day basis, relating to her niche, and makes it something that she enjoys.

Doing a four-day work week

After her previous years of working experience, Christine knew that she wanted to make a shift in her life. She wanted to structure her work life around her personal life so that they complimented one another, instead of feeling like everything revolved around her working hours.

A four-day work week lets Christine see her clients, take care of her family, and spend time on her hobbies and other things that she wants to pursue outside of her counselling hours.

Open Path

Open Path is a great directory to be part of. It is a not-for-profit organization where you can offer discounted therapy to clients that need it without having to negotiate reduced rates or a sliding scale within your own private practice.

Christine discovered Open Path on Instagram, and offering it as an option to her clients has allowed her to assist those that need help who can’t afford her full fee. If you would like to create an Open Path account, use my code!

Christine’s advice to listeners

You won’t be for everyone, and that’s okay! It’s actually good, because it means that you are settled into your niche.

You’re not going to be good at everything either, and that’s okay. That’s why building up a great referral network is beneficial to you and others, because what you may do is what another therapist can’t.

Connect with me:

Instagram

Website

Resources mentioned and useful links:

Ep 98: Why You Shouldn’t Start a Private Practice | EP 98

Learn more about the tools and deals that I love and use for my Canadian private practice

Jane App (use code FEARLESS for one month free)

Learn more about Christine on her website, Open Path and Psychology Today profile

Rate, review, and subscribe to this podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon, and TuneIn

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Even though you might be hearing about how private practices are all the rage, it is still a choice of preference. Owning and running a private practice may not be well-suited to you, or your goals for your work, and that’s okay.

Your work in the mental health industry does not need to look the same as others.

If you haven’t felt a pull to start a private practice but you can’t pinpoint why, or if you think you’d like to try one but you’re not sure if it will suit you, then listen in on this episode.

In this Episode:

Not being properly certified or licensed
Needing full income immediately
Don’t want to work alone
If you don’t feel confident in your skills
If you have a low stress tolerance
Lacking motivation
Being disorganized

Not being properly certified or licensed

You need to have your correct paperwork in order and filed properly before you ethically begin a private practice. If you open one without it, you risk legal damages and/or providing a service that you are not capable of doing (which could harm clients).

Needing full income immediately

One of the most common aspects of owning and running a private practice is that it can take a while for it to become profitable. If you are strapped for cash or you need stable and reliable income, then starting a private practice won’t be a great plan for you.

Don’t want to work alone

Running a private practice can be a lonely experience. For the first few months or years it is often just you behind the desk, or in sessions with clients, and it can be rare for you to work in close quarters with another counsellor.

Many private practice owners actually seek out memberships or communities to join if they yearn for some professional friendships or connection.

If you don’t feel confident in your skills

If you don’t yet feel confident in your skills as a therapist, hold off on starting a practice until you have reached a more capable level.

Consider taking extra time to do more coursework, study with other great therapists, and get certifications so that you can feel more confident to provide effective and wonderful therapy.

If you have a low stress tolerance

Starting a private practice is stressful! There are many changing and unexpected variables that can throw you off course, as well as the fact that there are lots of responsibilities that will sit squarely on your shoulders.

I recommend hiring a consultant if you struggle with managing stress but you are excited to start a private practice.

Lacking motivation

If you lack motivation, it will feel like a constant uphill battle to keep working on your private practice. Rome was not built in a day, and neither are private practices!

Are you excited about the journey ahead of you, despite the challenges that you will surely face? If you are not in love with this idea, then wait a bit. Don’t start something that you are dreading doing even before it’s been launched.

Being disorganized

There are so many things that you need to do when you run a private practice, especially as a solo owner!

However, there are ways to get around this! Speak to a consultant about the basics of organizing and running a private practice to manage it with great systems. Consider outsourcing tasks to people as well, so that everything doesn’t sit on your plate.

Connect with me:

Instagram

Website

Resources Mentioned and Useful Links:

Ep 97: Overcoming Sudden Obstacles in My Private Practice: Year Seven | EP 97

Learn more about the tools and deals that I love and use for my Canadian private practice

Article: How to Set Up a Canadian Private Practice Website

Jane App (use code FEARLESS for one month free)

Rate, review, and subscribe to this podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon, and TuneIn

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We all have intentions for the new year when it begins, and ideas of what we’d like to do differently or in a new way.

And it’s often the case that things don’t go as planned! However, it can be part of the overall process, and in the end new lessons are learned and new skills are acquired.

At the beginning of my seventh year in Canadian private practice, I had a vision for the year and how I wanted it to go. Of course, it wasn’t what I expected, but now I have better systems, a strong team, and new strategies for handling stress and the unexpected.

In this podcast episode, I recount my year, what I went through, and how I ended up feeling more confident and ready for what will come my way.

In this Episode:

The aim to slow down
Expanding my team
Completing the trilogy
A sudden website change
Another year of Sponsorship!

The aim to slow down

Almost every week, month, and year I remind myself why I started my Canadian private practice, which is to have more freedom and autonomy over my time, counsel clients with therapeutic approaches that I value, and to not get burnt out.

It’s easy for life to get busy and for the schedule to get full before you know it, and so one of my commitments for this past year was to be more intentional with my time.

Expanding my team

During this past year, I launched a podcast series for my private practice with my associate, and even though it was a great experience, it took a huge amount of effort to manage, structure, and launch.

I also ended up hiring a social media manager to help me handle social media for both my private practice and consulting business, and it turned out to be a great choice to have made!

Completing the trilogy

In the new year (at the beginning of 2023) I was feeling refreshed and excited to work on a project that I had been looking forward to, which was to complete the third installment of my trilogy for the private practice start-up package.

This last piece was communication scripts. For me, it was a big learning curve to figure out what to say to clients when they enquired about certain aspects of my services and what I offered or didn’t. I wanted to share my knowledge with my audience, because I knew that my scripts could help them too.

A sudden website change

Just as I thought that I could slow down after finishing these few projects, I had to scramble for a new plan because the website hosting company I used was changing. If you want the full details, you can listen to this podcast episode.

I wanted to update my website, but I wouldn’t have been able to since Brighter Vision would have moved my website to their proprietary platform and out of WordPress, and I didn't want to do that because I wanted to own my website even if I chose to no longer work with Brighter Vision.

Another year of Sponsorship!

Despite the challenges of the year, it has turned out to be great. I’ve learned, grown, and changed in ways that I’m grateful for. And better yet, I’m so glad that Jane App and I will be working together for another year as my official podcast sponsor!

If you are looking for a great EMR, I highly recommend Jane App. Click this link and use the promo code FEARLESS to receive a grace period!

Connect with me:

Instagram

Website

Resources Mentioned and Useful Links:

Ep 96: Shannon Smith: Starting a Second Career as a Therapist | Ep 96

Learn more about the tools and deals that I love and use for my Canadian private practice

Article: How to Set Up a Canadian Private Practice Website

Jane App (use code FEARLESS for one month free)

Rate, review, and subscribe to this podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon, and TuneIn

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How do counsellors get into the profession? Have you had an idea hanging around your thoughts for the last couple of years about trying something new? Has your mindset held you back from attempting to create some of your new dreams or ambitions?

It takes courage for a person to try something new. But education, finances, family, time and so much more can also get in the way of starting. This means it could be years before beginning to build your dream Canadian private practice.

In this podcast episode, Shannon and I talk about her process of opening up her Canadian private practice piece by piece, day by day, and step by step. Starting a practice doesn’t have to feel so far away when you allow yourself to try, and to start small. Join us and be inspired!

MEET SHANNON

Shannon Smith is a Registered Counselling Therapist (candidate) and a certified Intuitive Eating Counsellor. Her background is mental health nursing; she worked in Halifax’s Eating Disorder Program for 15 years.

Shannon believes when we lose sight of who we are, several common issues can arise, including anxiety, disordered eating, and negative body image. She works with clients who want to feel more comfortable in their own skin, and more connected to themselves and others.

Learn more about Shannon on her website and Instagram page.

In this episode:

Doing an MA during the pandemic
Launching a private practice
Using social media wisely
Doing in-person versus online
Setting rates that align
Shannon’s advice for listeners

Doing an MA during the pandemic

In August 2020, Shannon began looking into various masters programs to become a therapist. The program that she ended up choosing had its deadline within that week, so she spent a couple of days rushing to get everything ready to apply to begin that September.

She studied online for most of her degree and completed her practicum in person over the last eight months.

Launching a private practice

On March 1st Shannon opened her Canadian private practice, on March 2nd she had her first client, and on March 3rd her second client, and it slowly continued to steadily grow from there on out.

Shannon has noticed that the majority of her clients are coming in through her website, through her previous connections from her years working in the eating disorder field, and also through Instagram.

Using social media wisely

Because so many people use social media daily, it is a great tool for businesses to use to connect with their ideal clients because the digital world has become like another marketplace for sharing and finding information.

However, it can be a taxing environment, both for a person’s mental health and energy, and also for counsellors that try to find the right ways to market themselves and their practices ethically.

Doing in-person versus online

Shannon chooses to only do online virtual therapy with her clients.

She works on Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays. She has young children that she wants to take to and from school, be around for, and also make time for her personal hobbies and routines.

Setting rates that align

Setting rates is a common struggle amongst counselors and workers in the mental health field. One of my podcast episodes goes over how to ethically set and raise rates for new and current clients, and you can get the full information there.

However, consider setting your rates in a way that allows you to be financially taken care of and consider offering Open Path services for clients that require some additional financial assistance or donating to mental health organizations each year.

Connect with me:

Instagram

Website

Resources mentioned and useful links:

Ep 95: Shelly Qualtieri: Using Lifelong Experience in a New Private Practice | EP 95

Learn more about the tools and deals that I love and use for my Canadian private practice

Jane App (use code FEARLESS for one month free)

Learn more about Shannon on her website and Instagram page

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Do you have a wide and varied range of experience from your years in the helping profession? How can you bring these skills and life experiences together into a Canadian private practice that you can run as your own boss? Are you worried about walking the right path?

You can always learn how to incorporate your mental health field experience! Your years working as a student, abroad, or part-time can all lead you to the path that you want to be on. With intention and passion, you will create a life that feels right for you when you take the action to create it.

In this podcast episode, Shelly and I discuss how she came to start her own private practice after 30+ years of working in and around the helping profession. She trusted the path and followed her heart, and it brought her to a place where she enjoys doing her daily work.

MEET SHELLY

Shelly is the owner of Shelly Qualtieri & Associates Counselling & Coaching. Her goal is to create a safe and supportive space for teens and adults to feel a little lighter after each session, empowered and more in control of their life - with understanding the root cause of the challenges while providing practical tools and strategies to implement in their lives.

Learn more about Shelly on her website, Facebook, LinkedIn, and Psychology Today profiles.

In this episode:

How Shelly became a social worker
Taking the leap to start a private practice
Building up the business
Julia’s tips for filling up your associates’ schedules
Shelly’s advice to private practitioners

How Shelly became a social worker

In university, Shelly started out working on a sociology degree and by her third year, she was working full-time nights and volunteering for seven years.

Shelly then worked and studied for some time in Australia before moving back to Canada, working with people that struggled with severe mental illness in relation to addiction.

After working for universities, Shelly then spent five years working with domestic violence victims and survivors. And finally, Shelly has now opened her own practice!

Taking the leap to start a private practice

Shelly had struggled with a challenging manager, and she got to a point where she knew that she needed a change.

Once she decided to quit and do something different, Shelly reconnected with a friend that had been working in private practice as a side hustle for years before recently going full-time, and she felt ready to do the same.

Within 14 months, Shelly had a full-time schedule and was working out of an office.

Building up the business

Shelly has been able to learn the entrepreneurial skills that it takes to start, run, and maintain a successful Canadian private practice.

Shelly’s assistant was the first person that was a part of her team, and it was a huge help for her. Additionally, this is where she also learned about the importance of having great systems.

Julia’s tips for filling up your associates’ schedules

If you can, avoid naming your practice after yourself. Consider finding a name that is not identifiable completely to you.

Once you separate your name from your practice name, referrals that come through would most likely be more open to seeing your associates, since your name is not the business name.

Shelly’s advice to private practitioners

Ask lots and lots and lots of questions! Especially those that you look up to and know have had experience in the field that you are entering into.

Connect with me:

Instagram

Website

Resources mentioned and useful links:

Ep 94: Get Free Consultations for Your Private Practice! | EP 94

Learn more about the tools and deals that I love and use for my Canadian private practice

Jane App (use code FEARLESS for one month free)

Learn more about Shelly on her website, Facebook, LinkedIn, and Psychology Today profiles.

Rate, review, and subscribe to this podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon, and TuneIn

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Do you ever feel a call to reorganize, restructure, and get things back in order when a new season begins? Is your mind feeling refreshed and full of ideas after your summer break to relax?

It’s officially fall, and these beginnings can sometimes provide you with a great opportunity to begin afresh, anew, or something different, and get to working on these ideas that you’ve been developing.

But I know that money can sometimes be a little sparse after the summer holidays - I’ve been there myself! That’s why I want to offer my audience the opportunity to have a free consultation with me, as well as a chance to win a grant that can change the trajectory of your private practice, because I want to help you create a strong, profitable practice that fits with your values and serves your community. Listen to the episode to find out how!

In this Episode:

How to do more with less
Apply for the Canada’s Digital Adoption program
What to do if you don’t qualify?

How to do more with less

Even though you may be feeling inspired and refreshed after some holiday time over the summer, and you’re entering into fall season with a renewed sense of purpose and passion for your private practice, finances can be tight - especially after the vacation season.

This can make it tough to put your new ideas, aspirations, or dreams into action for your private practice. How can you make things work if you have fewer resources available to you? I know this feeling because I’ve been there before.

That’s why I’m offering my audience a way to get free consultations with me, where we work one-on-one to really launch your private practice into action!

Apply for the Canada’s Digital Adoption program

If you haven’t heard of this yet, I highly recommend that you listen to my podcast episode on the microgrant to get a better picture of what this is, if you are eligible, and how to apply.

Essentially, it’s a microgrant of $2,400 for eligible Canadian private practices and other businesses that make over 30k a year, or have hired employees. If you are approved, you can use this grant to grow your Canadian business online. Some of the ways that you can use this grant include:

Installing an e-commerce platform like an online booking page s
Updating your website
Optimizing your social media

And, you can use this money to hire a consultant!

‘If you are approved to receive this grant money, you can use up to $1000 of it to speak to a consultant, like me! Doing consultation with me can really help you to clarify how you want to spend that grant money, what areas of your practice you want to focus on and optimize.’ - Julia Smith

To get started on your application for the grant, click this link to find out more.

What to do if you don’t qualify?

However, not all Canadian private practice owners would qualify for this grant. If you are one of these few, you can still get a chance to have a free consultation with me! With my podcast as a resource, I offer free consultations.

Once you know that you want to apply to be on the Fearless Practice Podcast with me, you can apply through this link to start the conversation!

‘I would love to meet with you and help you start or grow your Canadian private practice!’ - Julia Smith.

Connect with me:

Instagram

Website

Resources Mentioned and Useful Links:

Ep 93: Alanna Beitner: Create the Life You Want Through Private Practice | EP 93

Learn more about the tools and deals that I love and use for my Canadian private practice

Article: How to Set Up a Canadian Private Practice Website

Jane App (use code FEARLESS for one month free)

Rate, review, and subscribe to this podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon, and TuneIn

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What does the life look like that you have envisioned for yourself? Are you your own boss with time flexibility and autonomy? Or working in an agency with paid vacations and sick days?

There is no right or wrong answer when it comes to choosing whether or not you want to start your own Canadian private practice. The yardstick that you could use is whether or not your future decisions are putting you closer or further away from creating the life that you want.

In this podcast episode, Alanna and I discuss how starting private practices helped us to create the lifestyle that feels the most authentic to ourselves, our desires for the future, and how we wanted to improve our lives. If you’re trying to decide whether to start a practice or not, give this podcast episode a listen!

MEET ALANNA

Alanna is a compassionate registered social worker with a decade of valuable experience in the field. Her unwavering dedication to assisting others has led her to work in diverse community settings, including community shelters, drop-in centers, residences, and non-profit community agencies. Recently, Alanna made the decision to transition from community work to establishing her private practice in Ottawa, Ontario.

Learn more about Alanna on her Psychology Today profile, LinkedIn, and at her Trauma Clinic profile.

In this episode:

How Alanna got into private practice
Advertising and marketing
Lessons learned from starting a private practice

How Alanna got into private practice

Due to the fact that Alanna initially struggled to find a full-time position after graduating, she worked a couple of contract jobs mostly within her community. She worked in different agencies with different areas of the population until last November when she started her own Canadian private practice.

Alanna spent time listening to podcasts and learning from her community how to set up her new Canadian private practice the right way. She also signed up for my free e-course and bought the workbook to help her! Finding the right information for you will help you to launch your private practice in the best way possible.

Advertising and marketing

Alanna connected with another practitioner to market herself and her services on website directories. Being part of directories is a great way to put yourself out there and to make it easier for your clients to find you.

Through directories such as Ottawa Counselling and Psychotherapy, Psychology Today, and the Trauma Clinic directory, as well as word-of-mouth, Alanna has been able to connect with and see clients. In the future, she is considering getting a website.

If you still want to build your website, or give a boost to your marketing efforts, listen to my podcast episode on applying for the Canada’s grow your online business grant.

Lessons learned from starting a private practice

One of the main aspects of running a private practice that Alanna is still trying to figure out is how to structure her caseload and the amount of clients that she can see without burning out while still remaining profitable.

There are pros and cons to any situation; working in an agency, or starting your own practice. Some days, many therapists might miss having a paid vacation or getting paid sick days, which are not always possible when you are your own boss.

However long the list of pros and cons would be for working either in private practice or in an agency, at the end of the day, you have to decide what works best for you and the lifestyle that you want to create for yourself.

Connect with me:

Instagram

Website

Resources mentioned and useful links:

Ep 92: Masami Hirata: Use Marketing to Bridge the Gap Between Like, Know, and Trust | EP 92

Learn more about the tools and deals that I love and use for my Canadian private practice

Jane App (use code FEARLESS for one month free)

Learn more about Alanna on her Psychology Today profile, LinkedIn, and at her Trauma Clinic profile.

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Have you heard of the marketing rule of seven? How can you build your “marketing house” from the ground up? What is the best sequence that you need to organize your marketing strategy into for authentic success?

Marketing is a necessary strategy and tool that’s relevant across the board, for all businesses, including therapy. You need to focus on your message first before you put it out into channels to connect with your audience, and to successfully “lift the veil”.

In this podcast episode, I chat about everything to do with marketing with one of the most experienced professionals who works on the topic, Masami Hirata, the chief marketing officer for Jane App.

MEET MASAMI

Masami is Chief Marketing Officer at Jane (jane.app), a customer-adored practice management software company. She is passionate about building collaborative, customer focused marketing teams that drive high growth for mission-driven companies.

Learn more about Masami on her LinkedIn profile.

In this episode:

Marketing as a creative outlet
The best sequence for successful marketing
Finding your blueprint
Some of the current top marketing strategies
Network!

Marketing as a creative outlet

Masami’s a natural creative, and being the Chief Marketing Officer of Jane App is precisely the best place for someone that loves to be innovative and explorative in their ideas and approaches on connecting with the ideal customers of the company.

The best sequence for successful marketing

It’s great if you have the intention and the drive, and your efforts will be even more successful if you place them in the best order.

Before you pick a channel, start with your message. What do you want to say? Who are you saying it to? What is the outcome that you are expecting? What is the solution that you can offer?

Getting your strategy in order first before you pick a channel and create content will help that content to be much more effective once you publish it.

Finding your blueprint

Look for commonalities between the things that are helping your clients
What are the themes and problems that they all face?
What solution can you deliver that will help them to resolve their problems across the board

Consider marketing as a way to “lift the veil of the unknown” as Masami explains. Your marketing efforts make your clients feel more drawn to you because they feel like they know you.

Some of the current top marketing strategies

The marketing rule of seven is a classic strategy that’s been effective for almost one hundred years! Essentially, a client needs to see and interact with seven touchpoints about your product or service before they generally feel comfortable enough to buy it.

Network!

It’s no secret that networking is one of the cornerstones to a successful business. It’s you going out into the world and telling people that you are there! Share your business with the other practitioners and organizations that you know it will connect well with.

Consider joining the Jane App Facebook Group to meet with other practitioners and share the wisdom! Additionally if you want to learn more about the best practices for marketing, telehealth, and more, join the Jane App Front Desk!

Connect with me:

Instagram

Website

Resources mentioned and useful links:

Ep 91: Luc Grey: Following Your Entrepreneurial Calling as a Therapist | EP 91

Learn more about the tools and deals that I love and use for my Canadian private practice

Jane App (use code FEARLESS for one month free)

Learn more about Masami on her LinkedIn profile.

Jane Facebook Community Group: A great place to network with fellow practitioners and ask any question. You don't need to be a Jane user to join, and anyone can request membership at https://www.facebook.com/groups/janerunsclinics/

Jane's Front Desk magazine:

The first ever Clinic facing magazine that is full of great articles to help you grow your practice. You can subscribe to a free printed copy here: https://jane.app/frontdesk

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Are you working on your masters degree? How can you plan your practicum and private practice journey at the same time? Which great benefits can you enjoy from working with supervisors and counsellors when starting your new practice?

There is so much to learn about Canadian private practice! There is no “right” way to go about it, because - as long as it’s legal - you can go about creating your own private practice in a way that suits you.

In this podcast episode, I chat with Luc and their experience as a working student and how he started his private practice journey while finishing his practicum, and what he did to succeed in both.

MEET LUC

Luc is a counsellor and qualifying psychotherapist in Ontario that values offering counselling that is person-centred, trauma-informed, and anti-oppressive. His experiences working in participatory research and mental health education with youth, gender, and sexually diverse populations helped inform his decision to open a private practice and contribute to accessible mental health services.

Learn more about Luc on his LinkedIn profile, website, and Psychology Today profile.

In this episode:

Finding a supervisor and consultant in one!
Building a business as a student in Ontario
Become Licensed
Follow your entrepreneurial calling
Luc’s advice for listeners

Finding a supervisor and consultant in one!

While Luc was doubling up while doing his practicum and starting a private practice, they also found a supervisor that doubled up as a consultant as well.

As a supervisor, the person was able to review case studies and give feedback on modalities, and as a consultant, they were able to help Luc set up a small private practice while completing his practicum.

Luc then gets the great experience of getting first-hand experience with two practices, and whether it fits with him.

Building a business as a student in Ontario

The College of Registered Psychotherapists of Ontario allows its qualifying members to start seeing clients in private practice once they have completed the coursework (90% of the degree).

You get your designation, liability insurance, begin the practicum and get started with practicing psychotherapy in the community. Knowing what you can and can’t do and what you are getting yourself into are very important to doing good work that benefits the community.

Additionally, knowing where you want to go will help you to understand which team you need to build for yourself, like building a network and finding supervisors and consultants.

Become Licensed

If you are licensed then more insurance companies will be able to cover your services, which makes you available to more clients that would want to have you as their counsellor.

If you do your masters degree and get your license, many more insurance companies will accept you, and therefore many more people can afford to see you.

Follow your entrepreneurial calling

While Luc is working on his practicum, with Blueprint Counselling, he wants to continue working in his own private practice.

To run their own private practice, Luc feels much more empowered to continue giving out the best therapy that he knows his clients need and that he feels he is the best at providing.

Luc’s advice for listeners

Stay connected with your community and pursue education and growth! Intentionally put effort into embettering yourself and making a difference in the lives around you as well as your life as a therapist.

Connect with me:

Instagram

Website

Resources mentioned and useful links:

Ep 90: Michelle Kent: Offering Ecotherapy in Your Canadian Private Practice | EP 90

Learn more about the tools and deals that I love and use for my Canadian private practice

Jane App (use code FEARLESS for one month free)

Learn more about Luc on his LinkedIn profile, website, and Psychology Today profile.

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Do you love being in nature for your mental health? Have your clients expressed interest in nature walks to clear the mind and process their difficult emotions? Could you combine these two aspects into a service in your private practice?

Ecotherapy is a great modality for therapy, and some practices are warming up to it! Of course, with it being outdoors and in an environment that is not easily controlled, it does call for sensitivity around the admin and ethics.

In this podcast episode, Michelle and I discuss her approach to ecotherapy and how she offers it to her clients as well as her experience as a new private practice owner.

MEET MICHELLE

Michelle is a registered social worker and psychotherapist running her own private practice in Toronto, Ontario. She loves supporting caregivers, millennials and first responders as they develop self-compassion and grow into their most authentic selves. Michelle tends to use a person-centred, trauma-focused and feminist lens.

Learn more about Michelle on her practice website, LinkedIn, and Psychology Today profiles.

In this episode:

Michelle’s entry into private practice
Handling the finances
Julia’s tips for getting started
Offering ecotherapy
Michelle’s advice to listeners

Michelle’s entry into private practice

Michelle began her journey as a counsellor working in agencies in Toronto. Even though she enjoyed the work, the amount of work that is required when working in an agency was becoming overwhelming.

From the encouragement of her loved ones to the good results and transformation that she was seeing in her clients, Michelle decided to take the leap to launch her private practice and become her own boss.

Handling the finances

Michelle had some money set aside. Even though there are savings, Michelle is getting married this year as well! So launching a business as well as planning a wedding would make any launch year an expensive one.

It can take a while to get the numbers balanced in a private practice, especially in the beginning, since you might still be building up a reliable client caseload and paying off the initial expenses.

Julia’s tips for getting started

These three keys are helpful for any Canadian private practice owner as they launch their business:

1 - Networking

2 - Blogging

3 - Building dynamic content

If you are starting a Canadian private practice, listen to my podcast episode on Canada’s Digital Adoption Program grant and how you can apply!

Offering ecotherapy

Michelle’s private practice offers walk-and-talk therapy otherwise known as ecotherapy. She herself enjoys being outside and appreciates how it helps her mental health, and wanted to extend the same in conjunction with therapy sessions to clients.

Because Michelle’s home is located close to Ontario’s beaches and walkways, she became certified in offering ecotherapy and decided to add it as a service to her practice.

There is extra admin, but it is doable. You need to make sure that you are on the right side of the law with your insurance, college, and clients for this to work well for you and everyone involved.

Michelle’s advice to listeners

Working with a coach in the beginning can be a great confidence booster! Investing in a business coach that gets you and your business is an investment in the success of your new private practice.

When you feel ready to ask for help with your Canadian private practice, I offer one-on-one coaching to help you lay the strongest foundation possible for your future! Click here to learn more about what I offer and how it can benefit you.

Connect with me:

Instagram

Website

Resources mentioned and useful links:

Ep 89: Now is the Time to Start Your Canadian Private Practice | EP 89

Learn more about the tools and deals that I love and use for my Canadian private practice

Jane App (use code FEARLESS for one month free)

Learn more about Michelle on her practice website, LinkedIn, and Psychology Today profiles.

Rate, review, and subscribe to this podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon, and TuneIn

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It’s September, the start of a new season! If you’ve been reflecting over summer and you are coming up into the warmth of change with a desire to do something different, then consider this the time where you can get your own business going.

Even though there are challenges, don’t let them get you down. There are going to be challenges no matter which way you turn, so choose to work in a direction that will take you where you want to go, and will help you to build a life - personally and professionally - that you want to live.

So, come listen! I’ve got tools, deals, tips, resources, and support that will help nourish and boost you to make this change of season in your life one of success!

In this Episode:

Start small
My 3-in-1 package
Give it a shot!

Start small

‘There has never been a better time and with more people usually looking for a therapist during this season, it’s a great time to open up your own business!’ - Julia Smith

You don’t have to do anything drastic straight away to start your Canadian private practice! No need to quit your job or work a lot of extra hours in private practice.You can start small now so that you will have a foundation to jump off of when you feel ready.

‘[Starting a private practice] can be risk free if you just try one evening a week or one day on the weekend and keep your day job. Plus, it’s never been easier to start a private practice because you can do it online! You don’t even have to rent a space to see clients.’ - Julia Smith

Start now and start small and see how you feel, because maybe by the actual new year you will have a better idea of how you want to move forward or have built up a large enough caseload to do so!

My 3-in-1 package

All you really need in order to do private practice is to make sure that you are licensed and that you have liability insurance. Additionally you should get an EMR, and I highly recommend Jane App. (If you are interested, use my code FEARLESS to receive a one month grace period!)

This is all that you technically need in order to start (though I highly recommend all the other steps in my workbook).

‘To make it quick, you can always purchase the paperwork packet. I sell all of them individually on my website … as well as I give a sweet deal if you purchase the 3-in-1 packet!’ - Julia Smith

This 3-in-1 packet includes:

Communication scripts of what to say when a client asks certain questions
My workbook on how to start a Canadian online practice which goes through all of the steps that you should do
Paperwork packet with all the legal documents that you need to organize

Give it a shot!

With a Canadian private practice, you can build a name for yourself. You can pick your hours and create a schedule that fits around your life and the life that you want for yourself and your family.

You can see your preferred niche of clients, work with your values, and make an impact that is suited to your skills within your community.

The sooner you start, the sooner you can see how it goes! So give it a try, and start today.

Connect with me:

Instagram

Website

Resources Mentioned and Useful Links:

Ep 88: Canada’s Digital Adoption Program: How to Apply | EP 88

Learn more about the tools and deals that I love and use for my Canadian private practice

Article: How to Set Up a Canadian Private Practice Website

Jane App (use code FEARLESS for one month free)

Rate, review, and subscribe to this podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon, and TuneIn

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Are you searching for ways to save money in your private practice? Have you considered looking into the grants that you could qualify for? Have you heard of the micro-grant “Canada’s Digital Adoption Program” (CDAP) that’s specifically for small businesses?

I decided to find out some more information about the CDAP grant after it came up in conversation a couple of times in podcast episode 85 and episode 87. I tried it out and now I can share my experience and insight with you!

This grant is definitely worth applying for. Check below if you meet the criteria, and get to it! It’s a great way for you to help yourself succeed!

In this Episode:

What it is
How to apply
What you get

What it is

The CDAP is a micro-grant that the Canadian government is offering the owners of small Canadian businesses to help them reach the next level of their success.

‘It’s a grow-your-own-business-online grant that the Canadian government is giving out … to businesses to help them move online and learn about digital services so that you can apply these digital services to your business.’ - Julia Smith

This micro-grant consists of $2400 to help you with building your business online. If you are approved, you will also get access to advisors and people that can help you to grow your business online!

How to apply

The requirements include:

Sole proprietorship
Incorporated business
It has to be a for-profit business
It has to be consumer-facing
Having at least one employee that is not the owner on the payroll or had a gross annual revenue of at least $30 000 in the previous year

‘This means that for private practices in Canada, we are eligible for this grant!’ - Julia Smith

To be eligible for this grant, you also need to commit to maintaining a digital adoption strategy for six months and you have to consent in being part of any follow up surveys and having your name published.

Click this link to check your eligibility and apply!

It took me about 15 minutes to complete and submit my application and I received an email the following day about starting the process, so it went quite quick!

Once you are approved, you will be able to:

Book a one-hour meeting with an advisor from the program that can answer any questions you may have.
Submit a spending form that outlines how you intend to spend the grant money within your business
Have 90 days to complete your spending and submit your receipts and then your reimbursement will arrive in 15 to 20 business days.

What you get

This grant helps you to implement, improve, and pay for digital e-commerce aspects, such as:

SEO
Social media advertising
Hiring consultant or agency to help your digital marketing initiatives
Developing or upgrading your website

As I mentioned above, you also get access to advisors and experts that can help to support you in growing your online business and Canadian private practice.

‘There are a lot of options that could benefit your private practice and it is so easy and quick to apply for this grant!’ - Julia Smith

Take advantage of this micro-grant and apply today!

Connect with me:

Instagram

Website

Resources Mentioned and Useful Links:

Ep 87: Ursula Kerr: Take a Risk, Start a Private Practice, and Be Your Own Boss | EP 87

Learn more about the tools and deals that I love and use for my Canadian private practice

Article: How to Set Up a Canadian Private Practice Website

Jane App (use code FEARLESS for one month free)

Rate, review, and subscribe to this podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon, and TuneIn

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Ursula Kerr took many risks and leaps of faith, and through those moments of struggle and uncertainty, she has now created a thriving private practice that she enjoys working in each day. Life is not about working, but creating a job that you love doing is a great way to add value (and income) to your life!

By hiring a consultant, getting professional help or advice, and working in your passion and niche, you can create a workplace that you are excited to work in each day.

In this podcast episode, Ursula and I discuss her Canadian private practice journey from breaking out of the golden handcuffs of an agency job into building her dream practice. We talk about common struggles, tips, and ways for you to become inspired to take the next step.

MEET URSULA

Ursula is a social worker and therapist in British Columbia with over ten years of experience. She specializes in helping people address feelings of anxiety, with a focus on social anxiety, and trauma. She has a background in child welfare and has done extensive research on human trafficking in Canada.

Learn more about Ursula on her website and Psychology Today profile.

In this episode:

Getting into private practice
Navigating online and in-person counseling
Be willing to take a risk
The value of a consultant
Marketing tips

Getting into private practice

At first, the counselling on the side was a source of extra income that Ursula wanted to create.

After some time, even though Ursula was working in a good agency job, she started to notice that she looked more forward to going to her counseling job than the government one.

Ursula had a busy caseload and a waitlist, so there was no lack of work there. She was working in a small town so people knew her well, she had built strong connections within the community, and had been telling people that she was going into counseling full-time. Everything was ready for her to take a risk.

Navigating online and in-person counseling

Before the pandemic, Ursula - like most counsellors - primarily worked with her clients in an in-person, one-on-one setting. During and after the pandemic, Ursula also had to quickly learn how to adapt and change her systems to accommodate for the lockdown to offer virtual therapy to her clients.

However, now that the world is shifting and in-person is becoming more desired again, Ursula is interested in reverting back to working with her clients in reality and not solely online.

Be willing to take a risk

For Ursula, advocacy is a life value. She incorporates this value and the intentionality that it comes with into her private practice. This type of work and value can seem like a risk, but she made it work, and it brought a whole new aspect of her practice to life.

Apart from incorporating your values, with Canadian private practice, you can choose your hours, your fee,your preferred niche, and much more! Work does not have to be a struggle and cause burn out.

The value of a consultant

Taking a risk is also where working with a consultant can be a huge help. These people have first-hand experience in going through what you are about to, and they can give you valuable insight and encouragement.

Working with a consultant also helps you to build a practice that is both successful but also ethical. They know what’s required, which documents are necessary, who you should speak to professionally, and which legal papers to get to protect you, your clients, and your business.

Connect with me:

Instagram

Website

Resources mentioned and useful links:

Ep 86: Allyson Gassner: From Practicum to Private Practice | EP 86

Learn more about the tools and deals that I love and use for my Canadian private practice

Jane App (use code FEARLESS for one month free)

Learn more about Ursula on her website and Psychology Today profile

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What are the essential fundamentals of setting up a private practice while you finish grad school? How can you use QR codes in your marketing to make it easier for your clients to find you? When is the right time or the best-suited time for you to step into Canadian private practice?

In this episode, Allyson and I discuss navigating how to structure the approach to working, setting up a new private practice, and seeking out community along the journey into Canadian private practice. We chat about marketing, navigating when to transition into solo practice, and considering the future.

MEET ALLYSON

Allyson has a MACP from Yorkville University. She started her PP a few months before finishing. She is a fully registered RP in Ontario, Canada. Allyson does ACT and CBT and mostly works with children and younger adults.

Learn more about Allyson on her LinkedIn, Instagram, and Psychology Today profiles and practice website.

In this episode:

Allyson’s entry into private practice
Setting up the practice
Future plans
Allyson’s marketing tips

Allyson’s entry into private practice

In September of 2022, Allyson started seeing her own clients. She watched a webinar about regulations in Ontario while finishing up grad school, so Allyson was aware of what was needed for her to start seeing clients soon.

Allyson was able to start making income while she was completing the finishing touches of her practicum.

Setting up the practice

To begin her private practice, Allyson made sure to:

Set up a great website. She used Canva to create a logo and brand herself and her practice well.
Sign up with Jane App as her EMR. You can too by using the code “FEARLESS” at sign up to receive one month grace period!
To make her marketing easier, Allyson uses QR codes for her clients to scan to go straight to her booking page.

‘I started [using Jane App] right away and I think that had been really helpful to organize my notes, it was perfect … my client files, the booking page, and the booking page [itself] is so lovely.’ – Allyson Gassner

Future plans

Even though Allyson’s schedule is busy between seeing private clients and working an office job, and another job at an agency, she hopes to direct her focus to solely private practice in a few years.

‘I think way down in the future, I would love to just do private practice [and] have total control and flexibility. But for now… I love being able to say, “Hey!” to my co-workers between sessions and ask them questions.’ – Allyson Gassner

Although Allyson hopes to work in private practice, she currently enjoys working in a community with other therapists because working as a mental health practitioner can feel lonely at times.

‘That’s something that I do really miss and I guess [is] one of the drawbacks of private practice is that you can be isolated if you are working alone and if you are working alone online.’ – Julia Smith

Either way, there are loads of opportunities available to you for how to set up your private practice. You can decide how to approach your work-life balance in a way that can support your wishes and dreams for the future.

Allyson’s marketing tips

Allyson recommends two main aspects of successful marketing:

Using Psychology Today
Making sure that you are speaking to your niche

In her experience, she has found these two aspects important to her success rates of being able to connect with her ideal clients.

Connect with me:

Instagram

Website

Resources mentioned and useful links:

Ep 85: Tamara Reynolds: Building a Canadian Art Therapy Private Practice

Learn more about the tools and deals that I love and use for my Canadian private practice

Jane App (use code FEARLESS for one month free)

Learn more about Allyson on her LinkedIn, Instagram, and Psychology Today profiles and private practice website.

Rate, review, and subscribe to this podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon, and TuneIn

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Are you thinking about starting an art therapy private practice? Do you struggle with getting clients? Have you tapped into the resources within your network and direct community?

The great thing about private practice is that even though the process of building it is unique to you (with your preferences and niche), there are so many things that you can learn from your fellow clinicians.

In this podcast episode, Tamara and I discuss a wide range of topics, from getting involved in the community to networking, the art therapy niche, and working ethically.

MEET TAMARA

Tamara was born and raised in Thunder Bay, Ontario, and went to Lakehead University graduating with a visual arts and education degree.

Tamara enrolled in the Toronto Art Therapy Institute (TATI) in 2017 and graduated as a registered art therapist in 2019. She is a Registered Psychotherapist and runs her own practice in Thunder Bay.

Learn more about Tamara on her Psychology Today profile and practice website.

In this episode:

Art therapy as a treatment modality
Work ethically
Locating your practice
Experimenting with schedules
Develop your networking skills

Art therapy as a treatment modality

Art therapy is a therapeutic process whereby people use artistic practices like painting or drawing to help clients process emotions, self-regulate, or access mental spaces that are soothing and gentle amidst trauma in the early stages of treatment.

Art therapy can be used to treat first responders because this modality has been shown to reduce PSTD symptoms, and it can also be relatively non-verbal which is a plus for most first responders seeking therapy.

Work ethically

If you are working in a small town, or you are providing therapy for a niche of people that you once worked with, it is important that you get your ethics right to continue providing great therapy without harming yourself or your clients.

If you aren’t within a regulated province, you can still reach out to the CCPA for assistance. In another Fearless Practice Podcast episode with Lindsey, we discussed lobbying the government for regulation – if you are interested in this topic, give it a listen!

Locating your practice

For Tamara, she preferred to keep her practice space separate from her home. She wanted to have that physical distance to maintain a personal and relaxing space away from work.

However, you can decide how you want to set up your Canadian private practice; online, in-person, at an office, or your home. You can set it up as best suits you and the needs of your clients!

Even then, if you would prefer to work for another private practice instead of running your own, you can do that too!

Experimenting with schedules

If you work for yourself, you can create a schedule that fits both your needs and the needs of your clients, and that includes their schedules as well.

When the seasons change, people’s activities change as well. Every therapist knows the dips and rises of seeing clients. What would happen if you changed your schedule every few months to match the busyness of the season? That’s what Tamara does, and it allows her to see clients regularly throughout the year.

Develop your networking skills

Use your contacts within the community! The managers at the gyms, the restaurants, the players at your sports center, the massage therapists, the landlords in business sectors, the receptionists at businesses.

Speak to people, because it’s one of the best things that you can do for your business.

Connect with me:

Instagram

Website

Resources mentioned and useful links:

Ep 84: Denise Marie: Why Passion is Good for Business | EP 84

Learn more about the tools and deals that I love and use for my Canadian private practice

Jane App (use code FEARLESS for one month free)

Learn more about Tamara on her Psychology Today profile, LinkedIn page, and practice website.

Listen to my episode with Lindsey about the CCPA and the government for regulation!

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Do you enjoy the work that you do? Are you working in a field or with a group of clients that are the best-fit group for you? Is it possible to combine your passions with your work in a way that supports them both without burning you out in the process?

You don’t need to use all your hobbies and passions as work ideas. However, it can help you – and your business – to work in an area that you are passionate about. Having that genuine interest and fulfillment can help you get through tough times, meet with great clients, and do work that makes you feel good – as well as helping you to pay the bills.

In this podcast episode, Denise and I chat about how she created her Canadian private practice from one of her passions, and how that decision helped her to create a steady business that she enjoys going to work in each day.

MEET DENISE

Denise Marie is a Licensed Therapist and Coach. She works exclusively with empathetic women who have spent a lifetime doing everything they are "supposed to do" and are now wondering why they haven't achieved happiness. Through the Journey to Worthiness, Denise supports her clients as they ditch societal expectations, understand their emotional needs, reconnect with their intuition and find peace in living a more authentic life.

Learn more about Denise on her Instagram profile, LinkTree account, and website!

In this episode:

Using your passion in your business
Transitioning from one job to another
Align your work with your purpose
Julia’s tips for growth

Using your passion in your business

When you know who you want to help and why, and when you know why you want to solve a certain problem for someone or within the world and you know how you’re going to do it, you get fuelled up to challenge and overcome the obstacles that may be in your way of starting and launching a private practice.

Transitioning from one job to another

Many new Canadian private practice owners have had to dig deep into their energy reserves to work two jobs while they launch their new practice. Sometimes gradually leaving the previous steady job before launching your new business is the slow and steady but often safer route.

If you can work two jobs, then stick it out and do it, because even though those few months might be more tiring and stressful, that extra income acts as a little safety net to help you get things ready for your private practice to receive clients before you fully jump aboard.

Align your work with your purpose

Sure, you can keep some hobbies and passions as something that you enjoy on the side. However, you can also align the work that you do with what brings you joy and joy to others – your purpose – to create a fulfilling work experience as well.

For example, Denise experiences immense joy and fulfillment from working with empathetic women to level up their lives. She is able to help them while enjoying the work that she does with them.

Being in alignment with your purpose and what makes you feel fulfilled in the work that you do day to day can help you pull back a little from comparing yourself to others.

How do you define success? How do you define fulfillment and feeling at peace in life?

Connect with me:

Instagram

Website

Resources mentioned and useful links:

Ep 83: Amber Sperling: The Journey from a New Practice to Success and Beyond | EP 83

Learn more about the tools and deals that I love and use for my Canadian private practice

Jane App (use code FEARLESS for one month free)

Listen to my podcast episodes on building a long-lasting website and how to hire a virtual assistant!

Learn more about Denise on her Instagram profile, LinkTree account, and website!

Rate, review, and subscribe to this podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, and Spotify.

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For anyone who is building their Canadian private practice, or is thinking about starting, one of the most helpful things that you can do is listen to other therapist’s stories who have gone on this exact journey before you.

Learning from others is a great way to give you ideas, help you think things through, and see what might – and might not – work for you.

In this podcast episode, Amber and I discuss her journey into launching her own Canadian private practice.

MEET AMBER

Amber Sperling is a Social Worker and psychotherapist who’s passionate about the health and well-being of moms in the transition into parenthood. She started her career in hospital mental health then transitioned to over a decade in primary care, learning the intersections between physical and mental health, interdisciplinary care, and the power of the mind/body connection.

Amber values ongoing learning, developing client-specific strategies and recognizes the impact of greater society/systemic barriers on individuals.

She currently operates a private practice based in Barrie Ontario with associates all trained in enhanced psychotherapy for perinatal mental health and trauma treatment while engaging in regional committees on perinatal mental health, birthing families, and holds a seat on the local hospital foundation cabinet.

Learn more about Amber on her website and LinkedIn profile.

In this episode:

Amber’s first steps into private practice
Building up a network
Hiring associates
Going forward

Amber’s first steps into private practice

After the pandemic, Amber was working mostly from home. For many months, she got settled into working from home and providing therapy for the practice she was working for. She was seeing 20 to 25 clients a week and noticed a huge need.

Amber knew that she could be doing this work for herself and on her own terms, and she knew that she could get clients that would want to work with her if she opened her own Canadian private practice.

In March of 2022, Amber was able to make the official switch and set out on her own.

Building up a network

In the very beginning, Amber created a simple to-the-point form on Google and sent it out to her colleagues that she knew, valued, and already trusted to meet and start networking to represent herself.

She also found organizations that she felt aligned with to contact and network with.

For anyone going into Canadian private practice, Amber recommends stepping past that initial fear and getting into contact with your colleagues!

Hiring associates

There are other great therapists out there that can help you and would want to work with you.

Depending on how you want to hire for your practice, you could either hire therapists that work outside of your niche and see the clients you might refer out, or hire a therapist that also works within your niche so that you don’t have to put them on a waiting list or refer them out if your personal schedule is already full.

Going forward

It is important for Amber to grow her business in a way that aligns with her values, and this means centering connection as one of the foundational blocks.

In the future, Amber plans to develop her practice and hire more associates, developing the services that the practice offers, all while focusing on organic community and fostering powerful relationships that heal and collaborate together.

Connect with me:

Instagram

Website

Resources mentioned and useful links:

Ep 82: Live Consultation with Julie Burnett: Starting an Online Private Practice | EP 82

Learn more about the tools and deals that I love and use for my Canadian private practice

Jane App (use code FEARLESS for one month free)

Listen to my podcast episodes on building a long-lasting website and how to hire a virtual assistant!

Learn more about Amber on her website, Psychology Today, Instagram, and LinkedIn profiles!

Rate, review, and subscribe to this podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon, and TuneIn

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What is your goal with your work? If you could set it up in the way that would best suit you and your long-term future ambitions, what would it look like? How can you create a work-life balance that is personalized to your life, needs, and desires?

One great way to learn is to listen to other people’s journeys and stories. You may be in a similar place with your Canadian online private practice; new, curious, and weighing up the pros and cons.

In this live consultation, I chat with Julie about her new online private practice. We talk through the basics, how she can bring a new website up to speed, and what she can do to flourish afterward. Join us to learn more!

MEET JULIE

Julie Burnett is a Registered Social Worker who is starting her private practice in Ontario. She specializes in domestic violence and feminist/anti-oppressive approaches to therapy.

Learn more about Julie on her Psychology Today profile and Instagram account.

In this episode:

Julie’s desire for professional independence
Work with what you love
Setting up a great website

Julie’s desire for professional independence

Starting a Canadian online private practice can be a daunting first step because it means that you are moving away from someone else’s structure in another business to building your own structure, and making it work.

However, even though it can be scary, it is also well worth the attempt. Becoming your own boss can be scary but also a freeing and exhilarating experience. So rather than trying to avoid fear, focus on heading in the direction of where you want to go.

Additionally, owning your business allows you the space and opportunity to explore new creative projects.

Work with what you love

Your niche doesn’t just relate to who your clients are. What is your passion? What is something that you really enjoy doing in sessions and with clients, and can you use it to build the foundation of your new Canadian online private practice?

Julie loves groups, and this can be a great Segway into her new successful online practice.

So, understand your clinical passions and use this in marketing yourself to future clients and to network with other therapists!

Setting up a great website

‘If [you live] in a large city, then you want to niche down as much as possible because there are so many other therapists out there … the bigger the city, the more [necessary it is] to niche down.’ – Julia Smith

Your website is your virtual window storefront, and I recommend Beam Local to build your website. Set it up well so that a curious client who’s looking over your information can see exactly what you offer, why you are a good fit, and how they can ‘enter’ your business to find out more information and contact you.

Niching down is one of your biggest assets. You can develop this by adding pages to your website that offer more information about your niche, should your clients want it. These extra pages also make Google like you more and rank you higher, which is a bonus!

But in the beginning, focus on one niche, and build it out on your website. Once your website is building traction for you, consider hiring a virtual assistant to organize your emails and admin so that you can remain focused on offering high-quality therapy to your clients.

Connect with me:

Instagram

Website

Resources mentioned and useful links:

Ep 81: 3 Steps to Starting Your Private Practice While Still in Grad School | EP 81

Learn more about the tools and deals that I love and use for my Canadian private practice

Jane App (use code FEARLESS for one month free)

Listen to my podcast episodes on building a long-lasting website and how to hire a virtual assistant!

Learn more about Julie on her Psychology Today profile and Instagram account

Rate, review, and subscribe to this podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon, and TuneIn

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Are you going into your master’s degree knowing that you want to start a private practice as soon as you have graduated? Be assured – and inspired – that this is totally possible! With your master’s degree and clinical supervision, you can be well on your way toward your Canadian private practice.

There are a couple of things you can do for your private practice while you are in grad school to build a good foundation and to make it easier for you to launch and dive in once you have graduated.

In this podcast episode, I go over the three simple steps that you can take to get yourself ready for your private practice – and to get your private practice ready for you! – if you know that this path is one of your goals to walk.

In this Episode:

Figure out your business name
Build your website
Blog on the new website

Figure out your business name

The first step to starting a Canadian private practice is to think of a great name! Get creative and combine it with your potential specialty if you’d like. However, my top tip would be to avoid using your personal name.

‘When you’re considering a business name, I highly recommend that you do not use your own name. Although that can be more affordable when you register your [business] name with your government, it can lead to issues in the future.’ – Julia Smith

Maybe you would like to hire some associates, or down the line another clinician or two, and then you would have to redo all of your marketing materials and rebrand the business. Give yourself – and your new practice – some freedom and autonomy by naming it something separate from you.

Once you have your name, register it as a domain. Try out this service to help you register your domain for the new private practice!

‘[Using this service] can really help you to figure out what your name is going to be and what it’s not going to be because if you can’t purchase that domain name, then you’re probably not going to want to use that as your business name because your website name ideally should be the same name as your business, or very similar.’ – Julia Smith

Build your website

My advice to you is to use a WordPress website because it is open source and you have creative freedom, with unlimited options! Check out my tools and deals page to get started with your WordPress website on the right foot.

Even though proprietary website-building companies can be more affordable or offer other services, if you ever decide to leave, you will lose everything that you created with them since they own the platform that the website was built upon.

If you want to learn more, check out this article. Furthermore, I recommend the WordPress website company Beam Local, which allows you to keep your website if you ever decide to leave!

Blog on the new website

Now that you have a website, start investing in it! Your SEO (search engine optimization) can take some time to build up and rank you higher, so the sooner you start using your website and putting content out there, the better.

Make sure to make it clear that you are not yet practicing as a therapist, but use that to your advantage. Post “Launching in 2024!” or something to that extent on your website so that your clients know you are still learning and can get excited to work with you.

Connect with me:

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Website

Resources Mentioned and Useful Links:

Ep 80: How Branding Can Attract Clients| EP 80

Learn more about the tools and deals that I love and use for my Canadian private practice

Article: How to Set Up a Canadian Private Practice Website

Jane App (use code FEARLESS for one month free)

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Does your branding need a little refresher? When last did you make sure that your branding is consistent across all the branches of your business?

Branding is more than just the colors you pick or the layout of your website. It’s the feeling that you want your clients to have when they interact with you or your business materials. To create cohesion and maintain professionalism while attracting your ideal clients, it is important to be intentional with your branding decisions,

In this podcast episode, I share my top recommendations for simple, affordable and high-quality tools that you can use to brush up the branding for your business!

In this Episode:

A quick recap of what branding is
Why consistency is important
The basics of branding

A quick recap of what branding is

Branding is essential to your Canadian private practice because it helps to set your business apart from the rest, makes it look professional, and can put your clients at ease and make them feel excited to work with you.

At its core, branding is the experience that you want your clients to associate with working with you. Branding includes your colour scheme and logo, as well as your office aesthetics and business cards, but it ties all these things together into the ‘atmosphere’ that you want your business to have.

Why consistency is important

Consistency creates trust and also allows your clients to recognize you and your work.

Something small but effective that I also like to do is to wear black when I see clients – like a uniform, and it helps me to feel prepared for work and allows the clients to also see me in a consistent way.

The basics of branding

Colour scheme: do some research into color theory and pick some colours that would create the desired effect within your client’s mood, as well as some of your favorite colours too. Make sure to get the colour code!
Create a logo: this logo will go on your website, marketing materials, and social media postings.

‘My favorite thing is Fiverr – it’s an online platform where freelance artists, designers, and copywriters … [are] on that platform, and you can scroll and find so many cool designers and a lot of them are really affordable!’ – Julia Smith

Check out my tools and deals page where you can find a link to Fiverr to create your logo!

Create business cards: business cards are rarely used nowadays, but it is still important and helpful to have a few on hand. There are loads of free and great options to help you design beautiful business cards.

‘Depending on how many [business cards] you need, you might want to go with a business like MOO which I love! Their cards are professional, high-quality, and beautiful, and again you can find them on my tools and deals page … they are just the best types of cards and I highly recommend this company!’ – Julia Smith

Design a website: make sure that the color scheme and the logo that you have chosen are incorporated into your website design.

I love my Canadian online private practice because it is much more affordable to market and brand. However, if you do have a physical office space, be sure that your office and its interior design principles match those of your branding too. Use the same or similar colours to help with consistency and cohesion.

Connect with me:

Instagram

Website

Resources Mentioned and Useful Links:

Ep 79: How to Hire a Social Media Manager | EP 79

Learn more about the tools and deals that I love and use for my Canadian private practice

Article: How to Set Up a Canadian Private Practice Website

Jane App (use code FEARLESS for one month free)

Rate, review, and subscribe to this podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon, and TuneIn

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Social media is here to stay, but it doesn’t have to be difficult for you to do.

There are enough people out there with all sorts of skills that you don’t have to bootstrap it and do everything – frankly, it’s better if you hire out and let someone do what they’re good at so that you can focus on providing great therapy!

So, do you want to expand your Canadian private practice by connecting with more of your ideal clients in a way that feels authentic to you and your brand, but you don’t know what the first step is? Consider hiring a social media manager.

In this Episode:

Why I hired a social media manager
How I hired my first social media manager
Training my top candidate
What I’ve learned from this experience

Why I hired a social media manager

In the current marketing environment, social media can be a very useful tool to connect with your ideal clients and spread the word about your Canadian private practice.

However, social media is an investment of both time and energy. If you are running a Canadian private practice, seeing clients, organizing the billing, and all the rest of it, adding being a social media manager on top of your standard duties can be a lot of extra work.

At first, I was worried that it would cost too much to pay someone to manage my socials each month, but I knew that I needed to spend my time where it mattered the most, so I decided to hire someone.

How I hired my first social media manager

I used Indeed to help connect me with potential social media managers. It has different features that can make it easier for you to post, advertise, filter, and find people that you think would best suit your practice and the role that you are looking to fill.

It was important for me that my top candidate had the skills I was looking for and was someone that I felt I would enjoy working with. Luckily, she accepted!

For the social media manager position, I decided to start her off with a training wage for three months and then bump her up to a living wage which gave me time to figure out what her role would be, how it would work, and to train her for the scope of the role.

Training my top candidate

To lay out some foundational steps for myself and for her, I decided that we would first only meet once a month, unlike with my VA whom I meet with once a week.

The main problem that we had to overcome initially was figuring out how long it would take to write, create, and edit the social media posts, especially when my associate and I also had to edit and confirm some information.

Therefore, the new system of editing posts was just to go through me, and I would confirm it, and it would be posted.

What I’ve learned from this experience

You have to be clear about how many hours you are willing to give each month.

Additionally, you need to streamline the processes so that there aren’t too many cooks in the kitchen when it comes to deciding on a post and how to edit it.

This is one thing that you can easily outsource. So, if you are interested in hiring a social media manager, you can always reach out to us!

Connect with me:

Instagram

Website

Resources Mentioned and Useful Links:

Ep 78: Rebecca Steele: How Raising Your Rates Can Improve the Quality of Your Work | EP 78

Learn more about the tools and deals that I love and use for my Canadian private practice

Article: How to Set Up a Canadian Private Practice Website

Jane App (use code FEARLESS for one month free)

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What are the long-term benefits of raising your rates? Why does raising your rates ultimately help your clients as well as your work-life balance?

Many therapists are nervous about raising their rates and so continue to work for the same pay for years. Ultimately, raising your rates can make you a better therapist, and your clients will come to see that.

If you know that you want to raise your rates to create time freedom within your work schedule, then this episode is for you.

MEET REBECCA

For 9 years Rebecca has worked towards helping adults dealing with anxiety, depression, or trauma to find their healing path and experience relief, wholeness, and fulfillment. She loves using a depth-therapy approach to support clients' healing process.

She has two masters-level clinical counselling degrees: a Master of Social Work (MSW) degree and a Master of Arts (MA) degree in Spiritual Care and Psychotherapy.

She is a Registered Social Worker, Psychotherapist, and a Canadian Certified Counsellor. She is also a HeartHealing® Practitioner and a Clinical Counselling Hypnotherapist (C.Hyp™)

Learn more about Rebecca on her website, Psychology Today, and LinkedIn profiles.

In this episode:

Rebecca’s Canadian private practice experience
Overcoming the initial fear of raising rates
The benefits of time freedom
How raising rates supports your work

Rebecca’s Canadian private practice experience

Rebecca has been running her private practice for the past seven years. Once she got her Masters of Social Work (MSW), she noticed fewer issues with people leaving therapy because more insurance companies cover social workers.

To grow her Canadian private practice, Rebecca invested in good quality services for herself to help her run the business and to provide high-quality service with a professional feel for her clients.

Overcoming the initial fear of raising rates

A burned-out therapist may struggle to provide the standard of therapy that they aspire to for their clients, let alone their work; long hours for little money can take a huge toll on a therapist’s mental and physical health since the work they do is already intensive.

Raising your rates is therefore not only beneficial to the work that you do in terms of giving yourself the chance to take off extra hours which a raised rate allows you to do, but it also helps your clients.

The benefits of time freedom

For most therapists like Rebecca, starting and running a Canadian private practice opens a doorway to experiencing more time freedom because you become your own boss and choose your hours and your work experience. You get to structure your days and weeks how you need to so that you can suit your professional life with your personal one.

How raising rates supports your work

Of course, not all clients were pleased with the increase in the beginning, but the long-term benefits for both the clients and the therapist outweigh that initial discomfort and change.

It is important for you – as a therapist and as a human being – to have a life outside of work that fulfills you so that you can then do what you like to do without dreading each new week.

Of course, you can offer a sliding scale, refer out, or talk about accessibility options to clients of yours that you know need the extra support, so that there is a continuation of care.

Connect with me:

Instagram

Website

Resources mentioned and useful links:

Ep 77: Trying a 50/50 Work Week | EP 77

Learn more about the tools and deals that I love and use for my Canadian private practice

Jane App (use code FEARLESS for one month free)

www.beamlocal.com/fearless get some discounts for your new website!

Listen to my podcast episode on how to ethically and sustainably raise your rates to help yourself, your business, and your clients!

Learn more about Rebecca on her website, Psychology Today, and LinkedIn profiles – and check out her free dream journal prompt!

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Do you feel satisfied with your current work-life balance? Does your current work routine work for you, or does it feel a little misaligned with your rhythm? Are you wanting to shake up your work routine?

I’ve been experimenting with changing my professional hours because everyone deserves to do the work they enjoy without having to sacrifice their mental, physical, or emotional well-being.

If this resonates with you, then give this episode a listen!

In this Episode:

A year with an unexpected start!
Encountering schedule challenges
Finding my work-life balance

A year with an unexpected start!

Even though I had planned for 2023 to be a somewhat quieter year in terms of starting new projects, this year did begin with some unexpected turns.

For example, I had to quickly jump ship and resolve some website issues, while running my Canadian private practice and continuing to see clients. I was still training my social media manager, and wrapping up projects from 2022.

Encountering schedule challenges

At this point, I worked four days a week in my schedule, from Monday to Thursday. On average I worked from around 9:30 am to 9:30 pm, with an afternoon break, with Friday to Sunday being my days off.

‘For the past year and a half, two years that I had been doing that, it seemed to have been working, so this [potential burnout] shocked me a little bit. I thought, “I have three days off … why am I still feeling drained?” I kind of felt like I was failing with how I was running my schedule as well as a little bit of guilt or shame because I get more time off than most people do.’ – Julia Smith

I had to do some mental recalibrating because I felt uncomfortable taking more time off - something we can experience when we begin to address how capitalism has impacted our mindset about life. Despite the initial uncomfortable feeling, it was worth trying to make a change.

Having three days off initially was helpful, but I started to realize – especially mid-winter – that I really needed a weeknight off. This was for my energy levels, but also because I was missing seeing my friends and loved ones, and I wanted to change up some things in my personal life!

The feeling of being held back by my schedule and not being able to enjoy my life was not something I was comfortable with, so I knew that I had to make a new adjustment.

Finding my work-life balance

I looked back on the reason why I started my Canadian private practice, and it was a combination of my desire to be a therapist and to have more say in how I schedule my time.
I want to do good work without sacrificing my mental, physical, and emotional health, and I knew that there must be a way to do that.

I decided to see what it would be like to take one evening off during the work week, and I chose Thursday night, which developed into only working a half day on Thursday.

It took some time to adjust in the beginning, but now that I’ve settled into it, it works so well, and I feel ready to do my work and I get to truly rest and enjoy my personal life.

Because it’s so personal, one person’s work-life balance will look different from that of someone else. So pick and choose and experiment, and then bring it all together in a way that is tailored to your hours, schedule, desires, and wishes.

Connect with me:

Instagram

Website

Resources Mentioned and Useful Links:

Ep 76: The Ethics of Offering Price Bundles in Private Practice

Learn more about the tools and deals that I love and use for my Canadian private practice

Article: How to Set Up a Canadian Private Practice Website

Listen to my Canadian private practice journey up until now!

Jane App (use code FEARLESS for one month free)

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Do you want to make sessions available to the clients that you know need them the most? Have you often wondered how you can contribute to making therapy more accessible, but have the ethics left you feeling uncertain of how to do that?

The business world is loud with different ideas, tips, and tricks on how to “grow” your business and reach your audience, like the famous price-bundling marketing strategy. Of course, Canadian private practices do often run like businesses, but because they are part of the therapy world, they have to go about things differently.

In this podcast episode, I discuss clear ways that you can offer your clients accessible and affordable therapy while being ethical, especially through the help of Open Path Collective!

In this Episode:

What is price bundling?
Can it be used in private practice?
Why it is unethical
How to offer well-priced services ethically

What is price bundling?

This can be a great marketing strategy because it adds more value to the price if it’s a bundle/package than for someone to buy each service separately, which is great for the customer!

It’s also great for the business because it can lead to more product sales. After all, the customer will be more inclined to spend a little more to receive a couple of extra products.

Can it be used in private practice?

At first glance, it might seem like a good idea to offer packages for therapy sessions in Canadian private practices, since it would benefit the client as well as guarantee income for the private practice.

However, business in private practice is completely different from other types of businesses because private practices have to fully consider ethics and work within a therapeutic framework, which has different ethical considerations than other businesses.

Why it is unethical

My registrar explained that technically there is no ethical prohibition for offering services with price bundling in your Canadian private practice.

However, price bundling is highly discouraged, because it is not in the best interests of your clients.

If a client buys and commits to 10 sessions up front, and later during the first couple of sessions the client realizes that you are not a good fit, they may feel inclined to continue to see you because they have committed to the future sessions. This is classist because many clients cannot afford to buy 10 sessions altogether and get a deal because only those that are wealthy can afford to put out a lot of money at once.

How to offer well-priced services ethically

‘Marketing strategies with pricing should not be a part of your marketing plan in your private practice. Typically, if you have a client that requires help but has trouble paying, you could [offer] a one-off for a discounted price, [or] offer a sliding scale.’ – Julia Smith

There are ethical ways for you to offer your services as a therapist to the people who really need it but might be struggling to afford your full price, without bundling counselling packages.

If you are interested, you can follow my code and open a profile on the Open Path Collective to make your services more affordable and accessible!

So, on the surface level, price bundling is not ethical in private practice. Rather base the integrity of your marketing on the quality of your website, network, and content, than resorting to having to use price bundles to bring in clients.

Connect with me:

Instagram

Website

Resources Mentioned and Useful Links:

Ep 75: Dr. Marlene Taube-Schiff: Owning a Successful Online Group Private Practice

Learn more about the tools and deals that I love and use for my Canadian private practice

Article: How to Set Up a Canadian Private Practice Website

Listen to my Canadian private practice journey up until now!

Jane App (use code FEARLESS for one month free)

Rate, review, and subscribe to this podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Stitcher, Spotify, Amazon, and TuneIn

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In the past, Dr. Marlene Taube-Schiff never imagined that she would one day co-found and own a thriving, online Canadian private practice. She worked full-time in hospitals and in Universities, content with her work and the way her professional life was laid out.

However, when covid began and new online options for therapy started, she realized that she wanted to try something different because when life changes, we often find ourselves inspired to try things we never expected we would.

MEET MARLENE

Dr. Taube-Schiff is a clinical psychologist. She is registered in Ontario as well as British Columbia and works with adolescents and adults. Her practice, Forward Thinking Psychological Services, is a group practice where healthcare professionals work with individuals with a variety of mental health issues. They often see individuals with OCD and OCD-related issues. Dr. Taube-Schiff is one of the founding professionals of the Sunnybrook Intensive Services OCD program and has worked in several academic hospitals in the GTA.

Learn more about Marlene on her private practice website, LinkedIn, and Psychology Today profiles.

In this episode:

Dr. Taube-Schiff’s journey to private practice
Intentionally pairing personal needs with business dreams
Developing a niche
Building the practice
Marketing with newsletters
Dr. Taube-Schiff’s advice to practice owners

Dr. Taube-Schiff’s journey to private practice

Dr. Taube-Schiff did not see herself launching an online private practice from the very beginning. In fact, she enjoyed her time working in the hospital system and continued in those jobs until her path changed.

So, what sparked the change?

When Dr. Taube-Schiff started considering private practice, she slowly made the transition from working full-time to part-time at the hospital while she laid the foundations of her new Canadian private practice.

Intentionally pairing personal needs with business dreams

Dr. Taube-Schiff knew that she wanted to make changes in her life. Her priorities had shifted, and with the opportunity for change that the pandemic presented, she decided to change her work setup and try something new.

Developing a niche

When Dr. Taube-Schiff was launching her new private practice, she booked a consultation with me to discuss how it would unfold. One topic we discussed was what her niche would be, because they are vital aspects to launching private practices.

Dr Taube-Schiff decided to lean on her passions and build from them, which led her to grounding her new Canadian private practice mainly on the treatment of OCD.

Building the practice

Dr. Taube-Schiff started at the very beginning of her Canadian group practice journey with another colleague from Sunnybrook where she still worked part-time.

The new Canadian private practice just kept growing. From their combined network and colleagues, Dr. Taube-Schiff and her co-founder were able to hire the right people quickly and find clients that needed their services.

Now that the practice has grown, Dr. Taube-Schiff still sees some clients but spends most of her time supervising any clinicians that require it in her practice.

Marketing with newsletters

Dr. Taube-Schiff’s private practice sends out monthly newsletters. Sure, it does require a bit of work, but it can be outsourced, and if you use it well it can be a great platform for you and your clients to stay up to date with each other.

Dr. Taube-Schiff’s advice to practice owners

Sure, there will be some things that you learn along the way and that you can only learn by attempting to do, but if there are things that you are actively wondering about, then pursue some knowledge to help you out.

Connect with me:

Instagram

Website

Resources mentioned and useful links:

Ep 74: The Brighter Vision Update and What I Decided To Do | EP 74

Learn more about the tools and deals that I love and use for my Canadian private practice

Jane App (use code FEARLESS for one month free)

Learn more about Marlene on her private practice website, Twitter profile, LinkedIn profile, and Psychology Today profile.

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I recently found out that Brighter Vision has started to create their websites on their own proprietary platform instead of on WordPress. This also means that if your Brighter Vision website was created on WordPress, any switch to a different Brighter Vision template will require you to move your website to their new proprietary platform (and off of WordPress).

Proprietary platforms can make creating a website easy, but there are big issues with them.

In this Episode:

Why I Decided to Leave Brighter Vision
My Concerns with Proprietary Platforms
Meet Beam Local!

Why I Decided to Leave Brighter Vision

Recently, I wanted to change the template of my Brighter Vision WordPress website. I hadn’t made any significant changes in years and was excited to modernize my website. However, I found out that they had started to create their websites on their own proprietary platform instead of on WordPress.

What this meant was that if the Brighter Vision website was created on WordPress, any switch to a different Brighter Vision template would require moving the website to their new platform, and therefore off of WordPress.

My Concerns with Proprietary Platforms

If your private practice grows and you want to add design features to your website, you will be limited on what you can do with your website.
If you decide that you want to cancel your subscription, you will lose your website and SEO (you can potentially redirect SEO to a new website but some SEO will inevitably be lost in this process). In general, it's better to keep the same website for SEO if possible. This is because your website has already established authority and backlinks, and it's easier to maintain your existing rankings and traffic than to start from scratch with a new website.

So, using a proprietary platform may be fine for your needs in the first couple of months or years of private practice. But as your business grows it may become too restrictive with how you want your website to look and function. And by that time, you will have built up a lot of SEO that will not all transfer if you leave PLUS your website will be deleted. This can put you in a very difficult situation!

However, with WordPress websites, it is easy to transfer websites AND SEO (because it is open sourced and not built on a proprietary platform). Plus, you have unlimited options for designs on WordPress!

But building a WordPress website on your own can be tedious and/or expensive if you hire a design company.

Meet Beam Local!

I am SOOOOOOO excited to introduce Beam Local! The company who has built and hosted my Fearless Practice website since 2018.

This Toronto based, Canadian company is awesome because they build professional WordPress websites for counsellors, maintain the website, and provide unlimited support. Plus, if you ever decide to leave, you have the option to keep your website and SEO!

For my Fearless Practice podcast listeners, instead of the standard $2995 CAD setup fee, I’ve worked out an AMAZING deal where you’ll only have to pay a $135 CAD setup fee and then $79 CAD per month (plus tax).

With this deal, you’ll get:

Selection of modern WordPress templates to choose from. Beam Local will customize the site with your content, colors, and logo.
10 Website Pages
2 rounds of revisions
Full-featured blog
Unlimited blog posts
SEO (Search Engine Optimization) Level 1
Keyword planning for therapists and counsellors
Premium stock photography
Social integrations
1 free business email address

You can go to Beam Local to start your website journey!

Connect with me:

Instagram

Website

Resources Mentioned and Useful Links:

Ep 73: Rawda Tomoum: Building a Private Practice from Online to In-Person | EP 73

Learn more about the tools and deals that I love and use for my Canadian private practice

Article: How to Set Up a Canadian Private Practice Website

Listen to my Canadian private practice journey up until now!

Jane App (use code FEARLESS for one month free)

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Have you been stalling on your private practice dream? What holds you back from starting your own Canadian private practice? What does the first step look like?

Whether you are concentrating on levelling up your marketing efforts, honing in on your niche, or launching a sustainable private practice, making an investment in that future can feel scary – but in reality it is completely doable. The most difficult point is starting, so remember that everything is “figureoutable”, and take that first step.

In this podcast episode, Rawda and I discuss her journey into Canadian private practice – all the way from Egypt to Dubai to the US and then to BC! – and how she navigated trials, tribulations, and successes along the way.

MEET RAWDA

Rawda is a Registered Clinical Counsellor who came all the way from Egypt, passing by Dubai and Texas, till she made it to Burnaby, BC, Canada. She works with couples as well as adult individuals struggling with self-esteem, stress, depression, anxiety, and trauma, and since she started her practice, her background has led many immigrants and mixed-race couples her way.

Learn more about Rawda on her website and LinkedIn profile.

In this episode:

Starting a private practice
Being intentional with work preferences
Highlight your background in your marketing
Struggles and triumphs of running a private practice
Rawda’s advice to Canadian private practitioners

Starting a private practice

Rawda was already applying for her paperwork to launch her Canadian private practice while she was in Texas.

Rawda decided not to work in an organization because it was difficult to either match up her schedule or her skillset with what they wanted. So, she focused more on launching her Canadian private practice.

Being intentional with work preferences

Take control of your schedule in a way that supports you in being the best Canadian therapist that you can be. Structure your working hours to suit your lifestyle, you do not have to follow the same routine as others!

Be proactive in helping yourself by taking some of the pressure off, and having the initiative to structure your day as it suits you best to do good work while caring for your needs.

Highlight your background in your marketing

If it fits within your niche and is something that you would feel comfortable doing, bring your background into your marketing strategy!

Often clients will be drawn to work with you not just for the services that you offer, but for whether they feel connected with or comfortable around you.

Struggles and triumphs of running a private practice

Something that almost all new Canadian private practice owners struggle with is that they have to wear so many hats at first when they are launching the practice for the first time.

Rawda made sure when she was starting to utilize the marketing platforms that would help her to find her clients, and they worked! From Google Maps to the website to social media, they all helped her to connect with her first clients.

Rawda started her Canadian private practice online, and when she felt that things had settled and were going well, she then transitioned to offering in-person counselling.

Rawda’s advice to Canadian private practitioners

There will never be a perfect moment to do something where you have everything figured out, because nobody – no matter their journey – has everything figured out!

So stop stalling and get going on your dreams. Let yourself be free to make mistakes so that you can learn faster and reach your goals sooner. For extra support, try out my three-in-one Canadian private practice trilogy!

Connect with me:

Instagram

Website

Resources mentioned and useful links:

Ep 72: How to Start Your Canadian Private Practice Today!

Learn more about the tools and deals that I love and use for my Canadian private practice

Jane App (use code FEARLESS for one month free)

Learn more about Rawda on her website, LinkedIn, and Psychology Today, Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter profiles.

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Are you ready to start your Canadian private practice but don’t know how to build it? Are you looking for long-term successful solutions that can work on a tight budget? Are you searching for something else besides joining a group or a subscription plan to help you start private practice?

If any of these questions resonate with you, give this episode a listen. I know what it’s like to want to build your Canadian private practice by hand, your way, and I know that doing anything on a budget is tough. With the lessons I’ve learned along my way into launching my Canadian private practice, I want to help you with yours.

If you’re on the fence about whether you want to start a Canadian private practice right now, you can do it! In this episode, I share with you the 3-in-1 Canadian Private Practice Startup Package that you can use to launch your practice. All answers provided, no questions needed.

In this Episode:

The three-in-one package
Why is it important?
The benefits

The three-in-one package

My three-in-one package is a collection of three resources that every Canadian counsellor needs to start a private practice:

A workbook that explains how to start an online Canadian private practice
A Canadian paperwork packet with consent forms and practice policies
Scripts! Phone and email templates so that you know what to say when people inquire about your services

Why is it important?

‘When I started my private practice almost seven years ago, there weren’t any resources for Canadian counsellors. All of the resources were in the states, and a lot of what consultants in the states talk about doesn’t apply to Canadian counsellors.’ – Julia Smith

Additionally, purchasing resources from the United States is also more expensive due to the loonie being worth less in the US. As a new and upcoming private practice owner, you need to save money so that you can launch your practice as affordably as possible.

I wanted to create resources that would benefit new and existing Canadian counsellors because I know what the struggle feels like to have to figure things out on your own and how expensive it can be to start.

If I can help someone else avoid some of that unnecessary stress or hassle, then it’s a worthy cause to pursue!

‘I really wanted to create resources that were Canadian-focused as well as affordable. I also wanted to tailor resources to therapists like myself, that didn’t need a lot of help in doing things once I knew what I needed to do. I just needed the direction … and then I would just go out and do those things!’ – Julia Smith

So, if you like to get things done on your own and you want to save money doing it, this package is for you. I’ve been there, and I collected what I learned from my experience, and I’ve put it together so that you can start your Canadian private practice quickly and affordably!

The benefits

When you purchase the 3-in-1 Canadian Private Practice Startup Package, you will get everything for 50% off!

With the trilogy, you can get all three; the workbook, the paperwork packet, and the phone and email scripts, for $249 in your usual province – a total 50% discount of their usual price!

‘You don’t need to spend thousands of dollars on courses or subscriptions. All you need are these three items to start your private practice.’ – Julia Smith

Connect with me:

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Resources Mentioned and Useful Links:

Ep 71: Kristi Garrido: Building a Group Play Therapy Practice

Learn more about the tools and deals that I love and use for my Canadian private practice

Article: How to Set Up a Canadian Private Practice Website

Listen to my Canadian private practice journey up until now!

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Does your specialty include working with kids and families? Have you been interested in learning more about the play therapy modality? Can you build a successful private practice from the play therapy niche?

Put together a team of skilled and like-minded clinicians, hire a proactive and dedicated admin assistant, put up a website, and let the process develop. In some ways, the process is that simple. Of course, there are some necessary fine print steps that you need to add, but you can do it too!

In this podcast episode, I chat with Kristi who started the foundations of her group private practice in the last six weeks of maternity leave! And who is now thriving as a Canadian group private practice owner.

MEET KRISTI GARRIDO

Kristi is the owner of Headstart Child and Family Therapy, a practice that specializes in meeting the mental health needs of children ages 3-18 and their families. Kristi is a certified play therapist with a focus on building healthy attachments between children and their caregivers.

Learn more about Kristi on her website, LinkedIn, and Psychology Today profiles.

In this episode:

Handling the increased need for mental health
A private practice can be a community
Be mindful of contracts
The logic behind raising your rates
Things that Kristi had to overcome
Kristi’s advice for listeners

Handling the increased need for mental health support

Kristi considered her needs as well as the needs of her clients and thought about the trajectory of her career. Six weeks before she was due to go back to work after maternity leave, Kristi began considering stepping into the private practice world and building a team.

So, for those last six weeks of her maternity leave, Kristi started building the foundation of her Canadian private practice.

A private practice can be a community

Being a therapist can be incredibly tough, and often lonely, since most days it is just you and your clients, and you are the one that is holding space.

Finding a group of like-minded therapists is not only a great benefit to your network and referral system, but also – and more importantly – to your mental health and well-being.

Having a community of therapists that you can talk to, spend time with, and encourage while being encouraged will boost your performance and overall sense of peace.

Be mindful of contracts

The standard pay for therapists is impossibly low. Often the pay is not even enough to cover basic business expenses, which is why therapists must advocate for themselves.

You can work with EAPs and Community Service contracts in your Canadian private practice.

The logic behind raising your rates

If you have a waiting list, raising your rates and/or hiring other counsellors can be logical decisions for your Canadian private practice.

Raise your hourly rate, and those that can afford it will work with you, so your schedule relaxes, and others that prefer a different rate can work with your contractors. Then your contractors are full, your clients are being seen and are not waiting on a list, and then you improve your income while freeing up your schedule!

Things that Kristi had to overcome

Business owner decisions and therapist decisions are different: as a therapist running a Canadian group private practice, you will have to trade your therapist hat for the business one now and then.
Setting up a practice policy system: you need to write things down, document them, and systematize them! If you’d like some assistance with this, or you don’t know where to start, check out my paperwork packet for guidance!

Connect with me:

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Website

Resources mentioned and useful links:

Ep 70: Julie Lounsbury: How a Leap of Faith Led to Success in Private Practice

Learn more about the tools and deals that I love and use for my Canadian private practice

Jane App (use code FEARLESS for one month free)

Learn more about Kristi on her private practice website, LinkedIn, and Facebook profiles.

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What has been holding you back from launching your Canadian private practice? Which challenges have you been nervous about facing that you know others before you have accomplished? What can it take to help you to accomplish them too?

There are pros and cons of working in a steady job for another company or organization, and pros and cons of running your own Canadian practice. Neither option is good nor bad in general, but where it matters is what matters to you. Do you want to be in charge of your time, your money, and your work?

In this podcast, Julie and I discuss the fear – and success – of taking a leap of faith to launch a private practice. If you are becoming more invested in shedding the “golden handcuffs” of working a government job and striving to launch and run your own Canadian private practice, then give this episode a listen.

MEET JULIE LOUNSBURY

Julie is a perinatal/maternal mental health therapist based in London, Ontario. She specializes in working with parents on all stages of their parenting journey. Julie is a registered social worker and has been providing services to families for over 10 years.

Learn more about Julie on her website, Instagram, and Psychology Today profiles.

In this episode:

Community within private practice
Choosing to commit to your practice
Find people to learn from and observe
Working well within your niche
Julie’s advice to new practitioners

Community within private practice

Starting and running your own Canadian private practice can become a lonely job after a while. In the beginning, it can feel great to be your own boss and to get things done your own way.

Although, after some time, you might find yourself starting to look for a professional community. Not only does that community sustain you socially in an isolated job, but it can also be a good sounding board for when you want some advice, and even support.

Choosing to commit to your practice

Julie got to a place in her professional (and also personal) career where she wanted to invest in herself. She wanted to at least give it one shot to put effort into her practice, and knew that if things didn’t go as planned that she could go back to child welfare. The shot was worth it!

The biggest hurdle that Julie had to get over when starting her private practice was the financial piece.

Find people to learn from and observe

Private practice is not fully “safe” in the way that a government job claims to be. In a way, there is no completely “safe” job. To ease your worries or concerns about running your private practice, connect with other practice owners and discuss the process.

Working well within your niche

Not only is your niche important for marketing, connecting with your ideal client, and doing your best work, but it will also guide you in which services you can offer your clients.

Depending on who your client is, what their lives look like, and what their needs are, you can structure your services around them to make yourself even more valuable and needed in the community while providing great services.

Julie’s advice to new practitioners

Mostly, you have to feel good about the work you are doing, and that goes back to you representing yourself well and being well supported by colleagues and supervisors. When deciding on a niche make sure you have the skillset and if you don’t, take additional courses to become competent before offering that service.

Connect with me:

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Resources mentioned and useful links:

Ep 69: Eileen Bona: Incorporating Animal-Assisted Therapy in Counselling

Learn more about the tools and deals that I love and use for my Canadian private practice

Jane App (use code FEARLESS for one month free)

Learn more about Julie on her website, Instagram profile, Psychology Today profile, and Facebook account.

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Have you considered bringing animals like dogs or cats – even goats! – into the therapy room? What does it take to become certified to offer this service? Did you know that chickens are one of the most popular therapy animals?

If you love animals and know that your clients do too, and you’ve heard about the benefits that animals can offer clients in therapy, then consider offering animal-assisted therapy!

In this episode, Eileen and I discuss the differences between animal-assisted therapy and other forms of animals in therapeutic or medical situations, how you can become certified, and how to navigate the legal fine print.

MEET EILEEN BONA

Eileen is a Registered Psychologist who has been practicing AAT for 19 years. She Founded Dreamcatcher Nature Assisted Therapy, one of the Largest AAT organizations in Canada, and developed the first College courses and Certificate in AAT in English in Canada. Eileen is the President of the AAT in Counselling chapter of the CCPA and was a task force member for the newly developed standards for working with animals in service in our country.

Learn more about Eileen on her website and her LinkedIn page.

In this episode:

What is animal-assisted therapy?
How animals are certified to work with clients
Be proactive!
The difference between evaluation and screening

What is animal-assisted therapy?

Principally, animal-assisted therapy can only be done through a qualified and trained therapist. These therapists that work with animals include them in their practice to help people overcome their mental health, mobility, or social-emotional issues.

The difference between animal-assisted therapy and emotional support animals is, simply put, that an emotional support animal is like a pet.

They accompany a person who feels anxious about completing everyday tasks such as going to the shops or school. Although, this animal is not typically screened or evaluated to be in public.

How animals are certified to work with clients

If you want to start working with animals to help your clients differently, you also need to become certified first.

Certain animals are more introverted than others, so the animal needs to be happy and comfortable working with people for it to be a good therapy assistant.

If you have an animal that you would like to screen, there are different companies available that can do that for you. Some companies even offer virtual screening. Scroll down and check below for links!

Keep in mind that it is highly recommended to get insurance if you want to offer animal-assisted therapy otherwise you and your practice will be held liable if anything untoward happens.

Be proactive!

Knowledge is power in the sense that you can protect yourself, your practice, and your animal by knowing what is necessary, recommended, and protocol when it comes to certain things happening.

For example, have a waiver that clients have to sign that they know an animal is on the premises, and add it to your consent form. Be proactive in reading about protocols that are required so that you will have a leg to stand on in a court of law if something bad happens.

The difference between evaluation and screening

All animals that are used in animal-assisted therapy, and some emotional support animals, are screened.

However, only animals that go out into public spaces, and buildings, or interact with the public itself are evaluated. This means that they are assessed on how they respond to sudden situations, strangers, or new environments and whether they remain calm.

Resources mentioned and useful links:

Ep 68: Maegan Megginson: Success Depends on Rest and Authenticity

Learn more about the tools and deals that I love and use for my Canadian private practice

Jane App (use code FEARLESS for one month free)

If you want to evaluate or screen your animal, consider working with Dreamcatcher Nature-Assisted Therapy or St. Johns Ambulance and read the BMS requirements here and here!

Learn more about Eileen and her work on the website and her LinkedIn page.

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Have you ever felt stifled in your role as a therapist? Is there a way to branch out and still help people while letting your personality shine? Why is rest essential to success?

Some therapists have felt frustrated or held back from their clinical work because they want to let their personality and ambition grow with their business, while others have felt burnt out from doing work that does not resonate with them. Have you struggled with one or both of these issues? How can these be reconciled?

In this podcast episode, I discuss the freeing power – and success! – of letting your personality come into your Canadian private practice. We discuss turning mistakes into opportunities, the necessary power of rest in success, and how to be true to yourself in business.

MEET MAEGAN MEGGINSON

Maegan Megginson is a licensed therapist, 7-figure entrepreneur, and business coach for therapists ready to take their careers to the next level. She’s also the founder of The Rest & Success Code, the charity fundraising event that inspires therapists to become deeply rested and wildly successful.

Learn more about Maegan on her personal website and professional website.

In this episode:

Learn from your experience to scale effectively
Which to choose: building a group practice or a personal brand?
Slow down to keep going
Bring your personality into your profession

Learn from your experience to scale effectively

From Maegan’s first time in private practice, she was able to use her previous successes – and failures – to her advantage the next time that she went on to launch a new practice.

This type of growth mindset is powerful. You can cultivate this ability by learning to view any setbacks or mistakes that you encounter as opportunities for further learning and awareness.

Which to choose: building a group practice or a personal brand?

A key question that you need to answer when you are striving for higher success is this one: are you building a personal brand, or are you going to launch a bigger private practice?

Simultaneously, other clinical professionals may not be super excited about the idea of managing employees.

For Maegan, she preferred to run her own show rather than a whole team of people. It will depend on each individual person, so instead of feeling like you have to follow the crowd, consider which path will suit you the best.

Slow down to keep going

Working non-stop on a dream is admirable but it is not sustainable. Burning bright can be a great story to tell, but you’re left without a fuse or anything else to burn but yourself at the end of a long stint of working without pause.

If your goal is to do good work and to do it well, then you need to do it consistently, and consistency with rest is integral. Burnout is no joke. It’s a mental and physical drain on yourself, and it can put you out of work, or in the worst cases even in the hospital.

Bring your personality into your profession

If you have often felt stifled in your role as a Canadian therapist, then consider experimenting with other different types of helpful roles in the professional sphere.

A great way to start this shift can be to explore how you can bring your personality more into your Canadian private practice.

How can you bring more of your personality into sessions with clients and outside with your branding? How can you have more of a voice and be more creative and self-expressed?

Connect with me:

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Website

Resources mentioned and useful links:

Ep 67: Jenniel Taylor: How to Navigate Your First Steps in Private Practice

Learn more about the tools and deals that I love and use for my Canadian private practice

Jane App (use code FEARLESS for one month free)

Learn more about Maegan on her personal website, professional website, LinkedIn Profile, and Facebook profile.

Click here for Maegan’s Personality Power Pack

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Have you recently entered private practice? Are you looking for effective marketing strategies to boost your new Canadian private practice? How closely are you working with your values?

Starting anything takes courage, especially when it comes to putting your name out there as a counsellor in your community! Whether you are recently licensed or you have freshly completed your master's degree, it’s always helpful to learn from someone who has just finished walking the path that you’re about to step onto.

In this podcast episode, I discuss the journey into private practice and how to lay its foundations well for sustainable success with Jenniel Taylor.

MEET JENNIEL TAYLOR

Jenniel is a Registered Psychotherapist (Qualifying), Trauma-informed, Brainspotting Practitioner, providing psychotherapy to clients in Ontario and Alberta. Jenniel helps adult clients address the effects of childhood trauma, abandonment, abuse, and neglect that keep them feeling emotionally stuck, fearful, anxious, and unable to fully enjoy their life, careers, and relationships.

As a lifelong learner and travel lover, Jenniel seeks opportunities to learn from the world and everything in it. She loves watching movies, British TV, and being in nature. Jenniel also embraces playfulness, joy, and laughter in life, and invites her clients to do the same.

Learn more about Jenniel on her LinkedIn profile and practice website.

In this episode:

Jenniel’s journey to becoming a Canadian counsellor
Launching a private practice
Effective marketing strategies
Be open about your ideal clients
Jenniel’s advice to other new private practitioners

Jenniel’s journey to becoming a Canadian counsellor

A pattern that Jenniel noticed in her years of working as a coach was that many of her clients felt stuck in the past, and struggled to make changes because it signified – and required – them to move forward.

This observation made Jenniel curious about looking at the entirety of a person’s life, from their past to their present and then onto their future. This meant that she needed to level up her skillset, leading her to becoming both a coach and then a counsellor as well.

Launching a private practice

One great way to succeed in private practice – and to build a resilient business – is to base its foundations on your values. Cultivate your mission and vision and strive to incorporate these aspects into your daily personal and professional decisions.

To experience a community setting, Jenniel joined a group practice in Ontario and works there part-time while she’s building her practice, also part-time.

Effective marketing strategies

There are many ways that you can use your website to market your new private practice effectively. One of them is using your social media presence, including your website, to speak to the pain points that your ideal clients are experiencing.

Jenniel shows her ideal clients that she understands where they are coming from by putting the issues that they are currently experiencing on her website and in her copy.

Be open about your ideal clients

Especially as a new Canadian private practice owner, you need to be upfront with your clients – and yourself – about whether a new client is a good fit or not.

Both you and the client need to feel comfortable with one another, and your skillset needs to match their needs for meaningful work and change to take place.

Jenniel’s advice to other new private practitioners

Have big dreams with realistic expectations – from the beginning! Start strong with manageable steps so that you can slowly and accurately build a good foundation. Work with your values and let them guide you in connecting with your ideal clients authentically and sustainably.

Connect with me:

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Website

Resources mentioned and useful links:

Ep 66: How to Get Continuing Education Credits: CECs

Learn more about the tools and deals that I love and use for my Canadian private practice

Jane App (use code FEARLESS for one month free)

Learn more about Jenniel on her LinkedIn profile, Psychology Today profile, and practice website.

Rate, review, and subscribe to this podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify

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Are you up to date with your CECs? Do you need some extra help? Do you want to know a great, quick, and professional way to get them while meeting other exceptional Canadian therapists?

CECs are important for all Canadian therapists to have, whether you work for someone else or if you run your own Canadian private practice. They help you to stay up to date with new research, develop yourself as a skilled therapist, and can even be assets when it comes to marketing your practice.

Whether you’ve accidentally left things too late and you need some help, or you’d like to learn more about CECs and how to structure them to avoid last-minute stress, I’ve got all the information and tips for you in this podcast episode!

In this Episode:

Why are CECs important?
CECs in Canadian private practice
Benefits of working within the CCPA
Where you can get your CECs
Try out the Mental Health Academy

Why are CECs important?

CECs are important for Canadian counsellors because they help you to maintain your counselling skills and remain up to date with best practices and to learn new skills as therapists.

New studies and reports are often coming out, and therefore it is important to stay up to date with the science and research so that you can provide the best counselling to your clients.

CECs in Canadian private practice

For your Canadian private practice, you can show on your website the different certifications and training that you have done – as well as the therapists in your group practice (if you have one) – to interested clients that want to learn more about what your practice has to offer.

Additionally, building your skills as a therapist can help you to maintain and keep clients as you develop your expertise and find new ways to assist, support, and guide them.

Benefits of working within the CCPA

With CCPA, you need 36 CECs every three years, which is the same as the college in Nova Scotia. The scary thing about this new rule is that you might forget to maintain your CECs for a couple of months – or even years! – and then close to the deadline you’ll have to suddenly jump to get everything ready.

To make this process easier for yourself, set up little reminders on your preferred platform to keep you updated as to when you should start working on your CECs, so that you can avoid an unpleasant surprise a few months down the line.

Where you can get your CECs

In the past, I have gotten my CECs through the CCPA itself. If you are a member there, they have loads of affordable options you can choose from:

You can attend a workshop
There are online workshops
You can volunteer for CCPA

You can also attend the annual CCPA conference, which is great! I went a few years ago and got to meet loads of incredible therapists from all over Canada and partake in in-person workshops, and more!

Check this link if you are interested in attending, getting your CECs completed, as well as connecting with other great therapists.

Try out the Mental Health Academy

Invest in your knowledge and skills by spending some time on the Mental Health Academy platform. These courses are already approved by CCPA so it’s very easy to submit them! Follow this link for more information as to what there is for you to choose from, and how you can get started!

Connect with me:

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Resources Mentioned and Useful Links:

Ep 65: The Do’s and Don’t’s of Canadian Private Practice

Learn more about the tools and deals that I love and use for my Canadian private practice

Article: How to Set Up a Canadian Private Practice Website

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As a therapist – especially in private practice – there is much to know and to make sure to do in your everyday schedule, besides seeing clients. It can feel like a lot, so this is a quick, simple, and informative episode that you can keep on hand to make sure that you are staying within the guidelines while working towards your goals.

The don’ts

Avoid waitlists:

Once you get busy enough that you have the option of starting a waitlist, that’s great! It shows that you are succeeding within your niche and that your ideal clients are glad to be working with you.

However, it’s not the best practice for the sake of your clients to put them on a waitlist.

What you can do instead: hire another counsellor into your private practice or clearly state on your website or any social media platform that you are currently not accepting clients and refer inquiring clients to another therapist in your area that you endorse.
Don’t offer free consultations:

Most other medical and healthcare professionals don’t offer free consultations. You could be exploiting yourself by always offering free consultations for your time, which is valuable.

What to do instead: consider sending potential clients a list of links with valuable information when they enquire about a free consultation.

Additionally, if you feel that a potential client might not be a great fit for you, you can email them and refer them to another therapist that you think would be best.

Do not use testimonials:

Due to your therapeutic alliance with clients, you cannot ask them to do something for you that would help you with your business. If you are in a regulated province or you are part of the CCPA, it is simply not allowed or ethical to ask that of your clients.

Be wary of connecting your EMR with an external calendar:

Be careful of where and how you integrate your EMR with an external calendar.

With Jane App, you have access to an online booking page where no information is shared with a third party, but that link can be accessed through your website by potential clients.

Don’t advertise in regulated provinces:

There’s a more in-depth discussion about this topic in one of my recent podcast episodes, if you’d like a detailed explanation. Consider reading this PDF and article for more information about regulation as well!

Don’t allow extra family member names on invoices:

Some clients might ask for additional family member names to be added to their invoices to expand their insurance claims and payments, but this is not allowed. It is insurance fraud, and it can get you in trouble.

Not showing your candidacy:

You have to put the fact that you are a candidate on your websites and business cards. Even if you practice psychotherapy or you are a Counselling Therapist, you are still a Counselling Therapist Candidate or a Registered Psychotherapist (Qualifying).

The do’s

Get a VPN:

Look into getting a virtual private network, especially if you are a virtual therapist, even though EMRs are totally secure. Follow this link for a VPN discount!

Set up an emergency fund:

When you are starting a Canadian private practice, definitely look into setting up an emergency fund that could last you three to six months.

Network!

Reach out to the other therapists in your town, city, or niche! Take them out for coffee, get to know them, and build those foundational professional relationships.

Get a clinical supervisor

You need a clinical supervisor to get your full license, but afterward, I still think it’s important to keep working with a supervisor, especially when you are in solo practice.

Connect with me:

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Resources Mentioned and Useful Links:

Ep 64: How to Enjoy Private Practice in the Winter

Article: How to Set Up a Canadian Private Practice Website

Jane App (use code FEARLESS for one month free)

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Does the change of seasons also create a change in your energy levels? Do you sometimes find it difficult to maintain a faster working pace in the colder months? Is there a way to work slowly and still effectively?

In these colder months when your energy levels can shift, it could be best for you and for your work to also adjust your pace, allowing you to continue doing great work without burning yourself out.

In this Episode:

Why private practice can feel more difficult in the winter
My past tactics compared to what I do now
Slow and steady!
How to slow down

Why private practice can feel more difficult in the winter

In winter, it’s common that your energy could drop a bit. You want to be inside, cozy, and warmer, and it can take an extra scoop of discipline to get up, get ready, and go out to the office or get behind your desk and start working.

But there can also be loads of other fun activities to do in winter that feel the most fun to do when it’s cold! Such as skiing or spending time outside in the snow with loved ones, snuggling on the couch and watching a movie, or reading a good book.

My past tactics compared to what I do now

In the past, I had to make it work. I was stretching myself thin by working numerous jobs while simultaneously trying to get my Canadian private practice launched. Through the good weather and the bad, I was trying to get to everything, and I ended up putting my own needs last.

Now that I have a successful Canadian private practice, I’ve shifted my tactics. I raised my rates and see fewer clients which allows me to find a better work-life balance by opening up my days to exercise as well as making time to rest.

Slow and steady!

Efficient is not synonymous with fast. You can do great and meaningful work with your clients and within your private practice without giving in to the hustle culture.

The main trick to working well at a slower pace is to not get wrapped up in the hustle culture. Most people continue working at a fast pace all year round, but it may not be healthy for you.

Taking time to rest or even changing the pace at which you complete your work to suit your needs is not by any means a failure, quite the opposite! Of course, it will look different depending on your lifestyle or whether you have dependents.

How to slow down

Take (longer) breaks between your clients: spend some time between client sessions for longer than 10 minutes. Allow yourself the chance to recharge, have a snack, rest, and prepare for the next session without being rushed.
See fewer clients per day: raise your rates and reduce your caseload so that you don’t get burnout seeing too many clients!
Bunch your clients: allocate areas of your day to seeing clients and areas of your day for admin work (instead of spreading it out) so that you have more time for rest and exercise!
Outsource what you do not need to do: invest in hiring a virtual assistant who can get the work done that you do not specifically need to do.
Sticking to a budget: keep an eye on your spending and your budget so that your income can cover your financial needs.
Ease up on the workload: to harness slower but still effective work, I reduce energy in some areas of work and focus it on lower energy tasks.

Connect with me:

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Resources Mentioned and Useful Links:

Ep 63: New Psychology Today Feature: Updated Endorsements!

Learn more about the tools and deals that I love and use for my Canadian private practice

Article: How to Set Up a Canadian Private Practice Website

Listen to my Canadian private practice journey up until now!

Jane App (use code FEARLESS for one month free)

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Are you looking for ethical and effective ways to market yourself? Is there a fellow counsellor in your field that you want to recommend? Have you heard about the new Psychology Today feature?

Even though the endorsement feature on Psychology Today has been around for some time, they recently revamped it, allowing you to clearly showcase your endorsements and recommendations on your profile to potential clients. It’s a great, free marketing tool that benefits all therapists!

In this podcast episode, I explain the process of writing endorsements for other clinicians, as well as general communication guidelines for when it comes to sending and receiving recommendations from other therapists.

In this Episode:

Why endorsements are important
How to write an endorsement for another therapist
General communication guidelines

Why endorsements are important

With the new updated Psychology Today feature, your endorsements will now show up right next to your profile as a little heart, which allows potential clients to see how many other therapists have recommended you.

It might not seem like much, but those little recommendations can make a big difference when it comes to whether a client chooses to work with you or with someone else.

So, whether you are receiving endorsements or writing them for other Counselling Therapists, it will benefit you and other fellow therapists!

‘[Endorsements] build your credibility and they help to gain public trust in the services that you provide. So the more endorsements you get, the better for your profile on Psychology Today, and the more legit you become as a therapist!’ – Julia Smith

How to write an endorsement for another therapist

Go onto your account
Click on “account settings” in the top right-hand corner
Select “endorsements” from the drop-down menu
Search for other therapists that you know, and start writing!

Here are some suggestions of what you could write about or mention in your endorsement for another therapist:

How you know them
If you have worked with them in the past
Why you think that they are an asset to the counselling profession
The skills that they have
Their helpful personality traits

General communication guidelines

The general guideline is if someone writes you an endorsement, and you know who they are and you are familiar with their work, then it’s considered good practice to return the gesture and to write one for them too. Aim to write back that endorsement within a week.

Also, if you write a therapist that you know an endorsement and they do not write you one back within a week, I recommend writing them a short, polite email to follow up.

Keep in mind that endorsements have to be accepted for them to appear on a profile. So, if the therapist has not written you a recommendation back, it could be because they have not seen or accepted the endorsement that you initially wrote. In this case, you can also follow up with a polite email!

Remember, it’s unethical to ask clients to write testimonials for you and your Canadian private practice. Listen to this podcast episode for a recap on the ethical marketing techniques that you use when it comes to endorsements.

Connect with me:

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Ep 62: Marketing Your Private Practice on Podcasts

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You might feel uncertain as to where to begin when it comes to marketing yourself on podcasts – it’s something new! Even if you are a little nervous, it’s easier, more lucrative – and more fun – than you might think.

Being a guest and talking on someone else's podcasts or even starting one for your Canadian private practice are great, creative, and versatile ways for you to showcase your practice. Podcasting can offer you tools for connecting with your ideal clients, like dynamic marketing and boosting your SEO ranking.

Listen to this episode where I take you through the benefits, the process, and how to get started on becoming a podcast guest!

In this Episode:

Podcasts are free marketing
Boosting your SEO and Google ranking
Dynamic marketing
How to become a guest!

Podcasts and free marketing

Being a guest on a podcast is not only a great tool and a fun experience, but it doubles as free marketing!

As a podcast guest, you are exposed to a whole new audience, and being promoted to them, for free. Not only will you have a great conversation with a like-minded person, but you open yourself and your practice up to new people who don’t now know that you’re out there.

Boosting your SEO and Google ranking

Along with being promoted for free, your name, your private practice, and your information will be added to the show note of that podcast when it’s published.

When another website adds your business links to their website, those links become backlinks.These backlinks on other websites help Google to trust you more, which boosts your SEO (search engine optimisation) ranking.

When Google sees that your name and information are being referred to in other places, it will in turn boost your name in searches more, because it sees that you are trustworthy and sought-after.

Dynamic marketing

Static marketing is often just words on a page.

Where dynamic marketing offers you that edge to success is that it allows you to connect with your potential clients using your voice. It helps them to trust you and potentially want to form a connection with you.

Additionally, using podcast marketing allows potential clients to interact with you and your work in a lot of environments. They could be listening to your episode while driving, cleaning, or going for a walk.

How to become a guest!

The first step is to do research: which podcasts are in your area, province, or mental health field that relate to your niche, areas of interest and expertise, or Canadian private practice? Make a list of those that you want to connect with.

The second step is reaching out: write a friendly, professional, and open email to the podcast hosts of the shows that you would like to appear on. In your communication, be sure to cover topics like:

Who you are and what your focus is
What your niche is
Who you help and how
Some bullet points of what you would like to discuss with them in the episode

Finally, end the email: thank them for their time and let them know how to reach you should they wish to chat with you further.

Bonus tip: listen to a few episodes first! And ask for a 24h buffer period after the recording if you decide you don’t want anything specific to be made public.

Even though it can be scary, it’s so important to put yourself out there and bring attention to your Canadian private practice. If you’re looking for some motivation, listen to my podcast episode with Lisa Simone Richards where we go through the importance and value of great marketing strategies.

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Ep 61: How to Provide Inter-Provincial Online Counselling

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Have you been considering expanding your Canadian private practice? Can you counsel people who live in other provinces besides yours? What are the protocols?

Online counselling is here to stay, and many counselling therapists and clients alike prefer this system with its flexibility and the autonomy it can provide them. However, there are some important regulations to be aware of when it comes to online counselling, especially when you want to broaden your reach and work with more clients.

In this podcast episode, I take you through the process of finding out which provinces you can – at this time! – advertise in, and how to go about it ethically and safely, both for you and your future clients.

In this Episode:

Check for regulations
Advertise in unregulated provinces
Check your insurance
How to counsel people in other provinces

Check for regulations

For the short answer, yes, you can provide interprovincial online counselling. However, there are a couple of important rules that you need to be aware of.

If another province is regulated, then you cannot advertise in that province. For example, you cannot advertise yourself and your services in a directory, or any other type of paid advertising, that operates in the regulated province.

However, there are two exceptions:

if you have a client that moves to another province and you are already seeing them, then you can continue seeing them
if someone finds your Canadian private practice by chance and wants to receive counselling services from you

Advertise in unregulated provinces

The provinces that are regulated – where you cannot advertise from another province – include:

Nova Scotia
New Brunswick
Prince Edward Island
Alberta (although the college has not yet been proclaimed)
Ontario
Quebec

Unregulated provinces wherein you can advertise yourself include:

Manitoba
Saskatchewan
British Columbia
Yukon
North West Territories
Nunavut
Newfoundland

Check your insurance

The next thing that you need to check is whether or not your insurance allows you to counsel outside of your province. For a recap of insurance in Canadian private practice, listen to this podcast episode.

‘If you are counselling people outside of Canada, with BMS insurance, they will only cover you if the complaint is filed in Canada. So, there’s a lot of risk to counselling people outside of Canada.’ – Julia Smith

I choose to counsel people only in Canada to reduce the risks, and so that my professional liability insurance stays in check.

How to counsel people in other provinces

If you decide to counsel people in other provinces, then you need to make sure that you let your clients know about:

The college that you are part of, if applicable
Where you are located
How to contact your regulator
Your video-conferencing platform is PIPEDA compliant

Additionally, if you are under supervision, you should only be counselling people in other provinces if your supervisor agrees to it.

‘Once you have checked off all those boxes, then you could counsel people in other provinces! You could advertise in provinces that aren’t regulated, and if you have a client that moves to a different province, you can continue to see them!’ – Julia Smith

Another tip: keep up to date with which provinces are regulated and which ones aren’t to avoid having to pay a fine.

Here’s some more information for you about CCPA and regulations for counselling in Canada.

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Ep 60: Adding Insurance Companies to Your Canadian Private Practice

Article: How to Set Up a Canadian Private Practice Website

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Do you want to take insurance in your Canadian private practice? Are you feeling frustrated with managing your direct billing? What is the best way for small business owners to handle their energy and time when it comes to collecting payment?

Once you have your license number, it is much easier to be recognized by Canadian insurance companies as a provider. Unfortunately, a lot of plans don’t recognize Counselling Therapists or Psychotherapists yet. Although, this is slowly changing day by day!

In This Episode:

The difference between taking insurance in Canada and the US
Collecting Payment
Canadian Direct billing
Contacting insurance companies
How to invoice
EAP programs

The difference between taking insurance in Canada and the US

In the US, you have to apply to be on company insurance panels. Therefore, for counsellors in the states, it can take a lot more work before they can accept insurance from their clients.

Luckily in Canada, this is not the case! As licensed Counselling Therapists or Psychotherapists, we do not have to ask most insurance companies to be put onto their insurance system. If you have the license number, then you qualify for automatic approval with many Canadian insurance companies!

It is beneficial to help promote counselling in your province, and to promote getting a regulatory body so that you can get a license number! By being able to accept insurance, it will make your counselling services more accessible to more clients.

Collecting Payment

Even if you are a candidate, you are still covered by insurance companies!

There are two options for collecting payment:

Your clients can submit their invoices to their insurance companies who will then pay the clients back directly
You can submit the invoice to the client’s insurance company yourself and get paid directly from the insurance company (direct billing)

Direct billing

I don’t personally use direct billing because it can be a hassle. Each company has a different system of paying therapists out, with different websites and login details, so it can take a lot of admin time to be paid.

Keep in mind that if you do choose to offer direct billing, you will be spending a lot of energy and unpaid time outside of sessions to receive your fee. As a small business owner, it may not be the best investment of your time and energy.

Whatever you decide to do, make it clear on your consent forms and when you are meeting a client for the first time.

Reach out to insurance companies

In my seven years of Canadian private practice, the top three insurance companies that employers use for plans for their employees:

Sunlife: although some of their plans don’t cover RCTs or RPs
BlueCross: over the next few years they will start to include RCTs in their standard plans
ManuLife: clients are mostly covered

Write up accurate and helpful invoices

Be proactive with writing up invoices that have all the information your client will need in order to submit to their Canadian insurance company for possible reimbursement. .

Make sure to include things such as:

The provider (you)
Your client’s name
The business address
The telephone number
Your license number
The service provided
The date of the service
The session length
The fee
The HST (which needs to be separate from the fee for most insurance companies)

EAP programs

Sometimes employers can offer an EAP – Employee Assistance Program or EFAP – Employee & Family Assistance Program. You can apply to be a contract therapist in many of these programs, BUT many EAPs don’t often pay therapists a lot, and they can require a lot of paperwork.

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Ep 59: John Hubert: Regulation and Why It Is Vital for Canadian Counsellors

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Why is self-regulation necessary for Canadian counsellors? What would it take to maintain a bottom-up approach to regulation? Is it possible to join a regulatory body to maintain efficacy and ethics across your profession?

Regulation might seem like a daunting world, but in reality, it is the tool that helps Canadian private practice owners to keep doing the best work that they can in the knowledge that they are being ethical and putting their clients best interests first. You can also become an active agent in regulation, helping to ensure the safety and quality of the mental health profession!

In this podcast episode, John Hubert and I dive into the terminology, the history, and the importance of regulating the Canadian counselling field for the benefit of counsellors and clients alike.

MEET JOHN HUBERT

John is currently the Executive Director and Registrar of the Nova Scotia College of Counselling Therapists. He is a philosopher by training, specializing in healthcare ethics and equity-oriented policy analysis. John taught ethics in the Faculty of Medicine and School of Nursing at Dalhousie University and is a former Director of the School of Health Sciences.

Learn more about John on his LinkedIn profile.

In this episode:

Regulator versus associations
How self-regulating works
Provincial Audits
Psychotherapists versus Counselling Therapists

Regulator versus associations

The basic way to explain a regulator is to differentiate it from an association. An association consists of a group of professionals that share thoughts and principles around their practice to establish credibility and to ensure the standards of their practice.

It gathers fees from members that are part of the association and creates a code of ethics and guidelines for practice and criteria for educational standards. For Canadian counsellors you can join the Canadian Counselling and Psychotherapy Association (CCPA). This association also offers opportunities for members to connect with each other and Continuing Education Credits (CECs)!

But since the CCPA focuses on the interest of their members it is also important to regulate the profession so that the public can also be protected.

The primary function – the mandate – of regulators is to protect the public. For Canadian private practice owners, it also means that you will get a license number and thus many insurance companies will include you in insurance plans for their employees.

How self-regulating works

The government grants you the privilege to do this regulation yourself. This means that Counselling Therapists and Psychotherapists have a say along the way because both the provincial government and therapists are involved.

The provincial governments that are regulated create the law and set out broad parameters within which Counselling Therapists and Psychotherapists can self-regulate.

Provincial Audits

John and his Nova Scotia regulatory body are complaint-driven in that they will investigate a complaint when it comes up, as well as being generally proactive in checking Counselling Therapists’ marketing and online presence in public spheres.

For example, they conducted an audit recently, looking at Counselling Therapists’ qualification presentations and their advertising.

Psychotherapists versus Counselling Therapists

This differentiation falls under what John calls “act protection” and “title protection”. Different provinces have titled the work that counsellors do as either Psychotherapists or Counselling Therapists but there are not “act protections” within the regulations.

If somebody is calling themselves something that they are not, and marketing themselves incorrectly to unsuspecting clients, they can receive a “cease and desist” letter as well as a hefty fine per day until things are rectified.

The behaviours exhibited by these different roles can – and often do – overlap. Therefore, the focus is often on whether people in those professions are actually titling themselves correctly to the public.

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Ep 58: Why You Can’t Use Testimonials in Canadian Private Practice

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We all know that testimonials are the gold standard for marketing. People trust and value the opinions of others, and so they will often look for endorsements or referrals when they are deciding on who to work with or which services or products to buy.

However in private practice, it is highly unethical to ask clients for testimonials. So, how can you connect with your ideal clients and market your Canadian private practice in an ethical yet effective way?

In this podcast episode, I discuss how you can go about finding ethical endorsements for your practice without crossing any boundaries with your regulator or other standards of practice. Do great work in an ethical way, and here are some tips on how to get started!

In This Episode:

What is a testimonial?
Ethics of testimonials in therapy
How to get ethical endorsements

What is a testimonial?

A testimonial is a statement that has been given by a person who has used one of your products or services, and explains how wonderful it was! Although, sometimes testimonials can also be negative.

Testimonials are statements from real people that show others that the product or service they used is worthwhile and trustworthy. If they tried your services and had a good experience, they are more likely to pass on your name, making them a great marketing tool!

There is a new Jane App feature, the EMR and practice management software system that I use, that allows businesses to automatically ask clients for ratings and reviews after a session.

Ethics of testimonials in therapy

It must be stated that counsellors, mental health practitioners, social workers, and psychotherapists are not allowed to use this feature because it is highly unethical and not allowed by provincial regulators.

To read more about the CCPA code of ethics, click here.

If you go to the CCPA’s “Standards of Practice” on page 7, it states:

“A6. Professionalism in Advertising:

Counsellors/therapists do not use testimonials by clients, former clients, or by relatives or friends of clients. Testimonials may be acceptable from an organization or business that receives the counsellors/therapists’ services.”

There is an inherent power imbalance between you and your clients. So clients could feel obligated to give a testimonial or fear the repercussions if they say no. It is not in the best interest of the client – or you are the therapist – to get testimonials.

Client testimonials are a problem in Canada, and in many other countries, where therapists might not be aware that they are not allowed and are highly unethical. So if you see fellow therapists using them, inform them about this policy.

How to get ethical endorsements

You can ask other therapists that you like, know, and trust to endorse you.

On Psychology Today, there’s a new feature called “Endorsements” where you can write a statement about the therapist that you know, recommending them, and that is sent to the therapist who can choose to publish it on their Psychology Today profile or not. They will also be prompted to give you a testimonial as well!

Also, if you have been listening to the Fearless Practice Podcast, getting great information and tips, you can share the support with me too!

You can now support me in the work that I do by writing a quick review on my website if you have bought the Workbook or the Paperwork Packet. Thank you!

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Ep 57: Heather Peters: Accounting in Canada for Private Practice

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Why should you invest in a business accountant? Have you used online accounting services in the past that have ultimately cost you more money and time?

Numbers can be tricky, even for someone experienced, and especially for someone new. If you are running a Canadian private practice, consider hiring someone professional to take care of your numbers so that you can focus on what you do best: your clinical work!

In this podcast episode, I discuss everything accounting with Heather Peters for a quick 101 lesson on the staples, and how you can set up your accounting system so that your sleep-at-night factor is secure and comfortable.

MEET HEATHER PETERS

Heather Peters worked as a Controller/Accounting Manager and post-secondary educator for almost 20 years before founding her business - Brightside Accounting Services. Her experiences include leading high-performing accounting teams; budgeting and forecasting; process improvement and teaching and training. Heather works with start-ups, small and medium-sized businesses who need part-time accounting services, controller-for-hire experience, and/or training in accounting to help their workflow better. Heather has an MBA from Saint Mary’s University and holds a CPA designation.

Learn more about Heater on her LinkedIn profile and company website.

In this episode:

Why you should consider a business accountant
What you need to know about income tax and sales tax
Sole proprietor or incorporate?
Some good tax habits Canadian private practitioners can develop

Why you should consider a business accountant

Having an accountant is like having a doctor for your business. When you go to the doctor, you will most likely see a specialist if you have particular questions or concerns. The same goes for your Canadian private practice!

A business accountant is a specialist that can help you in more subtle and fundamental ways than any general business financial consultant.

What you need to know about income tax and sales tax

If you don’t actively keep track of your sales tax, you may get a fright at the end of the tax year. Avoid this by actively sorting it when you receive your monthly income.

You have to be disciplined and proactive. Take the initiative and put your taxable income (including sales tax) into an account whenever you are paid so that you have the right funds for when it’s time.

Sole proprietor or incorporate?

The main reason why people incorporate is due to liability. If you are incorporated, the responsibility falls on the business, and not on you personally.

Additionally, when you start hiring clinicians and admin staff, consider incorporating because it’s a lot of work and the incorporation pays taxes based on income.

Some good tax habits Canadian private practitioners can develop

Keep your receipts for 7 years (the current year plus six). Take photographs and store those to make sure all the information is legible and easy to decipher.
Have the private practice business HST number
Keep your sales income tax numbers up to date – Jane App helps you to keep a yearly sales report for your accountant!
Keep track of your bank statements
If you have a car, keep track of your mileage too!
Write the name of the person you had a business dinner with on the receipt

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Ep 56: Why You Should Create a Private Practice Podcast

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Listen to my podcast CCPA episode!

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Do you want to explore different ways to market your Canadian private practice while diving into new skills? What are some unique ways to promote your Canadian private practice?

Whether you want to diversify your marketing efforts, develop new interpersonal and business skills, expand your network, and increase connection with your client base, podcasting is a powerful and creative tool that you can utilize!

I discuss my personal experiences with podcasting for my Canadian private practice and offer you a couple of tips to keep in mind when you give it a go!

In This Episode:

Trying something new!
Podcasting for my Canadian private practice
Pros
Cons

Trying something new!

Doing new things within your marketing plan is not only a great business strategy to keep your Canadian private practice in sync with the times, but they also help you to diversify and level up your skill set and keep things interesting.

Podcasting for my Canadian private practice

A podcast is a great, versatile tool that you can use to enhance your marketing efforts, set your practice apart from the rest, offer free resources to your clients, and so much more.

They can be long-form or short-form, whatever length of audio you need to explain ideas or offer content that is tailored to what your audience needs and to what you want to put out.

Podcasting, because of the audio, allows you to focus on the content and quality of what you want to say, rather than being focused on “setting the scene” as you might do with creating a video.

Pros

Limitless: you can record a conversation with a guest from anywhere in the world! There is software available that lets you record conversations and merge them into one podcast even if you and your guest are on opposite sides of the continent.
Simplicity: all you have to focus on is the conversation. You do not have to hassle and fuss with the set and design.
It’s free: offering a podcast is a great way to offer free help to those who need it.
SEO boost: your podcast can be published online and link back to your Canadian private practice website, helping to improve and support your growing SEO rankings.
Marketing: your growing podcast will greatly support your marketing efforts because it creates new touchpoints for your ideal clients to interact with your content, get to know you, and trust you and your voice – both your physical one and the voice of your brand.

Cons

Time-consuming: consider working with podcast “seasons” because it helps you to structure your work into periods of work which then allows periods of rest. Without a structure, you will feel like you always need to be recording, and that can push you to burn out really fast.
No Guarantees: there is no guarantee that your podcast will help you to get more clients. So experiment with your ideas by completing a couple of episodes and seeing how it goes.
Expensive: you can bootstrap a podcast and do all the work yourself, however, that would be a large expense of money and effort. Consider hiring a professional or a team to outsource the work to, because a podcast is definitely an investment.
A client gamble: people might not like what you say, and your podcast could then push people away instead of bringing them in. However, the people that it does bring in were the best fit for you, so that could be a bonus!

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Ep 55: Allison Puryear: Marketing Skills for Canadian Private Practices

Article: How to Set Up a Canadian Private Practice Website

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How can you become a great boss for your employees? What does it take to truly connect through copy? What is needed to launch multiple successful private practices, even in different provinces?

You can be intentional with your Canadian private practice, and create it to suit you, your temperament, and your skills. Simultaneously, you don’t have to keep growing and growing until you reach the moon! Your business is a way for you to serve the needs of your community while supporting yourself and your family.

In this episode, Allison and I discuss Canadian private practice from all angles, so whether you are fresh to private practice or you are a seasoned therapist who's been at the helm for a while, there’s something in this episode for you to appreciate!

MEET ALLISON PURYEAR

Allison Puryear is an LCSW, CEDS with a nearly diagnosable obsession with business development. She has started practices in three different states and wants you to know that building a private practice is shockingly doable when you have a plan and support. She teaches everything you need to know about building a private practice in the Abundance Party, where you can get practice-building help for the cost of a co-pay.

Learn more about Allison on her website and LinkedIn profile.

In this episode:

The Benefit of Niching Down for Marketing
How to Successfully Start a Private Practice Anywhere!
Hone in On the Connection
Be a Great Boss

The Benefit of Niching Down for Marketing

One of the benefits of working within your niche and specifying which clients you work with is that marketing can become a lot easier.

You do not have to “sell” your practice. Instead, you can speak honestly about how much you enjoy working with your clients, they with you, and the transformations you help them to realize in their lives.

Additionally, connect with other therapists that work either in or around your niche! It’s a great way to develop a beneficial work relationship between you and other therapists in your area where you can refer to one another, helping each other grow and serve your communities.

How to Successfully Start a Private Practice Anywhere!

If you’re introverted, don’t feel like you need to meet 90 people over 90 days – start with one new person a week. Make it suit your style because it doesn’t have to be stressful.

Allison’s top tools for starting a successful Canadian private practice:

Launch a great website with copy that is authentic to you
Network, network, network!
Identify and work within your niche

Hone in On the Connection

Your copy needs to create connections between you and your ideal clients.

Whenever they read over your website, find you online, or interact with your social media, your copy is the voice that you will use to speak with them.

Be a Great Boss

Being a therapist doesn’t always translate to being a good manager.

If you run a Canadian private practice, or you are considering launching one, it’s worth your while to look into some information on how to be a great boss.

Your employees will look to you to set the boundaries, lay the expectations, and be there for them as a guide in how to work well and succeed in the practice you run. Therefore, you have to step up into the role of being a great boss by taking the initiative to learn how to do it.

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Ep 54: Overcome Impostor Syndrome and Grow Your Canadian Private Practice: Live Consultation with Danik Bernier

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Jane App (use code FEARLESS for one month free)

Learn more about Allison on her website, LinkedIn, and Instagram profiles.

Check out Allison’s links page to find downloadable content, and how to connect!

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Are you at a crossroads in your Canadian private practice? What does your practice need to help it grow? What do you need help with to do your best work?

Regardless of the level that you are at within your private practice, or however seasoned you are as a therapist, things like impostor syndrome can trip anyone up. However, it doesn’t have to stay this way. Whether it’s about raising your rates or hiring a virtual assistant, these limiting beliefs can keep you stuck until you rise to meet and overcome them.

In this podcast episode, I do a live consultation with Danik, who’s at a place in her career where she needs to hire a virtual assistant so that she can take the next step to leveling up her private practice.

MEET DANIK BERNIER

Danik Bernier is a bilingual Registered Social Worker and Psychotherapist. She specializes in perinatal mental health and trauma in her private practice. Her psychotherapy services are available to Ontario residents online and in person.

Learn more about Danik on her website and LinkedIn profile

In this episode:

Levelling Up Your Mindset
Overcoming Impostor Syndrome
Hiring a Virtual Assistant
Employees versus Contractors

Levelling Up Your Mindset

Danik found resources from Fearless Practice and other online resources that motivated her to start her own Canadian private practice.

You do not have to reinvent the wheel when it comes to figuring out your Canadian private practice. There is a lot of information and there are resources available to you that can help you to launch your private practice!

Empower yourself with knowledge and the understanding that you are not alone in starting your private practice, and that you can bring this dream to fruition.

Overcoming Impostor Syndrome

When you start your Canadian private practice, there will be some new challenges for you to face, both as a new business owner and also as a new person in business!

Impostor syndrome can also come from limiting beliefs that you may have about yourself, the world, and what “should” be done.

Take some time to sit with yourself and ask yourself some questions, and reflect on the obstacles before you that seem unsurpassable – are they really? Could they be offering you a chance to resolve and heal an old belief that is keeping you stuck?

Hiring a Virtual Assistant

What do you need help with in your Canadian private practice? Make a list of the things that only you can do and what can be done by someone else.
Set aside some time to chat with your accountant to see what is possible in terms of payment for your virtual assistant.
Start small! Give your virtual assistant a few small tasks, train them personally or hire from a virtual assistant company, and let them take on more tasks as you both get used to the new structure.

Employees versus Contractors

Choosing whether to hire full-time or part-time employees, or independent contractors, is up to you, what you can afford, and what you need help doing in your private practice. Talk to your accountant to see what they recommend for you business.

If you are in a financial position where you can afford to hire extra help within your practice, do it! Get help for yourself so you can focus on your clients!

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Ep 53: How to Give Bonuses and Wage Increases to Your Staff

Learn more about the tools and deals that I love and use for my Canadian private practice

Jane App (use code FEARLESS for one month free)

Learn more about Danik on her website, LinkedIn, Facebook, and Psychology Today profiles

Listen to my podcast episode on how to hire a virtual assistant for your Canadian private practice

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As the end of the year comes around and it’s time for celebrations, seeing loved ones, and appreciating those around us, you may be considering giving bonuses to your staff!

Are you considering giving gifts or a financial bonus? Which is better? How can you factor inflation into your decision-making process? Managing a Canadian private practice is a difficult process, but one way to make everything run smoother is to take care of your employees and show your appreciation for all the hard work they do.

In this podcast episode, I discuss my approach to embodying my values and gifting my employees the amount that sits comfortably with myself, my ethics, and my bank account.

In This Episode:

Live by your values
How to give the right bonus
Adjusting for inflation

Live by your values

For your Canadian private practice to be successful with clients and to have a great reach and positive impact within your community, you need to care for your staff, and one of the ways that you can do that as the boss is to pay them appropriately.

Your values, from how you help your clients to the goals that you have for your Canadian private practice, should extend to include how you also want your staff to feel coming to work each day. They are a vital part of your company, and taking care of them should be a priority alongside counselling clients.

‘I’ve experienced in the past, working in other jobs where I had to do a lot of work [and] overtime with no payment for that overtime. [I] had too much on my plate in the role that I was doing, getting burned out, and I just knew that if I was ever to become an owner [and] a boss, I would never do that to the people that I hire.’ – Julia Smith

How to give the right bonus

‘I really love the idea of a year-end bonus. It’s the holiday season, people are buying presents for others and going traveling, and it’s so nice as an employee just to get a little something from your employer at the end of the year. And, [it gives a chance] for me to show my appreciation for all the hard work that they have done throughout the year.’ – Julia Smith

If you have virtual assistants within your Canadian private practice, you’re probably considering getting them something small to thank them for the work that they have done for you.

The question you may be asking, is what is the best way to show your appreciation? With a financial bonus, or perhaps a gift? I think that employees would prefer the financial boost because then they have a choice of how to spend that money!

Adjusting for inflation

Each year with inflation, the same amount as a bonus or wage is worth a little less.

My solution to the inflation problem, once the bonus cap has been reached, is to increase the value of the bonus to whatever inflation is that year. Therefore, my staff will always technically get the same amount of money.

Let’s treat our staff right and at least factor in inflation when we’re deciding on how much to pay them! Let’s make that the norm, and help each other live comfortably in our shared world.

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Resources Mentioned and Useful Links:

Ep 52: Bank Audits and Retirement: Wrapping up the 2022 Financial Year

Article: How to Set Up a Canadian Private Practice Website

Listen to my episode with Ashleah Wilson about the power of storytelling in marketing

Listen to my episode about hiring a virtual assistant for your Canadian private practice

Check out one of my favourite YouTube Channels, Second Thought!

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2022 is almost over, and 2023 is right around the corner! As the year draws to a close, how do you consolidate your finances? What are the goals that you have set for yourself? Have you been thinking about planning for retirement?

Whether you are reassessing where your money has gone in your Canadian private practice, to where you want to spend less or more, or redirect a new stream of income, now is the time to look at the books.

In This Episode:

How to save money on transactions
Pick the right credit cards
How to save money when you receive payment
My money tips for new Canadian private practice owners
Have you thought about retirement?

How to save money on transactions

With my business plan, I get 25 transactions for $20 every month. Sometimes I am under that amount, but a lot of times I do make more than 25 transactions, which means that I have to pay extra fees over and above the $20 I already pay.

My business bank advisor and I discovered why I had so many transactions and a simple way to resolve the issue.

Simply and quickly, I was able to change my payment system with Jane App to deposit money into my account every Tuesday, saving me lots of extra monthly fees!

Pick the right credit cards

Depending on your lifestyle and work habits, you can pick a different type of credit card that will best suit your spending needs while earning you some great rewards.

For myself, I prefer cash-back credit cards because I don’t travel that much, so points are not necessary for me.

My money tips for new Canadian private practice owners

Research the different types of business bank accounts that you can get from Canadian banks to find the one that’s the right fit for you
Set up a separate business bank account from your personal one to keep track of different funds and spending
Get a credit card for your Canadian private practice – your accountant will thank you for it too since it will be easier to track spending!

Have you thought about retirement?

Even though I started my Canadian private practice when I was 28, before that, I had completed an undergraduate degree, worked for a few years, and then went back to complete my master's degree. All of that took time, effort, and money.

I prioritised setting up my private practice and getting it launched well and off the ground, thinking that I would save later. Don’t get me wrong, I have been putting a little money away each month, but nothing significant yet.

However, throughout the years, I have figured out a plan on how I would save for my retirement. How I plan to save for retirement is to fill up my tax-free savings account (TFSA) account, and then save money in my registered-retirement savings plan (RRSP). Always talk to your back advisor to help you find a retirement plan that is best for your situation!

I am committed to putting more money into my BMO SmartFolio retirement fund so that I can retire with peace of mind.

Connect with me:

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Resources Mentioned and Useful Links:

Ep 51: Lisa Simone Richards: PR Essentials for Canadian Private Practices

Article: How to Set Up a Canadian Private Practice Website

Listen to my episode about building the financial foundation of your Canadian private practice with Linzy Bonham

It’s easier than ever to invest online. Save time and money by giving BMO SmartFolio a try! Use my code or link below and you’ll get $50 cashback, plus up to $1,000 cash-back. It takes as little as 15 minutes to open an account!

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Have you been struggling with getting your Canadian private practice in front of more people? Are you looking for a way to dramatically boost your revenue? Do you want to light a fire beneath your visibility?

If you agreed with these questions, then definitely listen to this episode, because it’s for you! In this podcast episode, I discuss everything to do with PR with Lisa Simone Richards.

From the value of engaging with different media forms, to how to increase the visibility of your Canadian private practice, and more – tune in for a run-down and re-cap of the essential basics of boosting the PR of your Canadian private practice.

MEET LISA SIMONE RICHARDS

Lisa Simone Richards is a publicist for doctors and health professionals who want to become regular guest experts on TV, top-rated podcasts, and other major media.

After working with her, Lisa’s clients are recognized as industry thought leaders, add an extra comma to their annual revenue, and increase their ‘IT’ factor with a sold-out brand.

Learn more about Lisa on her website and LinkedIn profile.

In this episode:

What is PR?
The power of PR
Content versus visibility
How to create new leads every day
PR strategies for Canadian counsellors

What is PR?

Simone explains three different types of media:

Social media: this is the platform where you make your practice footprint in the digital scene
Paid media: these are your Facebook and Instagram ads, or any type of paid advertising.
Earned media: you get onto somebody else’s platform to share your message, like being a guest on a podcast or being featured in a magazine.

The power of PR

The point of publicity is not to get paid because it’s actually about the exposure, that’s the true value.

To be seen and put the name of your Canadian private practice out there in front of hundreds, thousands (or hundreds of thousands) of people is like putting your practice on a rocket launch!

Content versus visibility

Most Canadian private practice therapists focus their efforts solely on creating great content, but in the process, they may miss the mark on boosting their visibility.

Content is what you put in front of your existing audience, which are the people who already follow you, and it is known that the algorithm doesn’t show your content to 100% of your followers in any case.

How to create new leads every day

The principle of building new leads and connections with a prospective audience is to work with intention: what is the purpose of getting visible?

Lisa’s ABCs of visibility:

A: Awareness
B: Buzz
C: Credibility

Even though you probably want to hit all-systems-go on each aspect, you are still a Canadian private practice owner and probably already have a lot on your plate. Therefore, just pick one to start on and get comfortable doing it.

Figure out what the best use of your time and energy will be, and where you will get the most return, and do it until you feel confident to try the next step.

Lisa’s top tip: to really hit home with potential clients and to get them to convert, be fast and easy. Be quick with responding to queries and questions, and easy for them to find answers or book an appointment with you.

Reach out to different media outlets in your area to see who would be open to forming a PR relationship with you to represent your Canadian private practice.

Connect with me:

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Website

Resources mentioned and useful links:

Ep 50: Ashleah Wilson: The Power of Storytelling in Marketing

Learn more about the tools and deals that I love and use for my Canadian private practice

Jane App (use code FEARLESS for one month free)

Learn more about Lisa on her website, LinkedIn, Twitter, and Instagram profiles

Get Lisa’s freebie Guide to Getting on Television!

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What is the story that you want to tell about your Canadian private practice? What do you stand for in life and private practice? Why are you a therapist, and how do you reflect this reason to your clients?

Marketing might seem like another item on the admin to-do list for your Canadian private practice, but it is so much more. Your marketing is the practice of telling the story of you, your therapy, and how your private practice serves your community.

In this podcast episode, I discuss the power of utilizing the concept of storytelling to create genuine and connective marketing with Ashleah Wilson, a master storyteller.

MEET ASHLEAH WILSON

Ashleah Wilson is the vice president of marketing for Jane.App, an online platform for mental health practitioners that makes it simple to book, chart, schedule, bill, and get paid. Ashleah is an advocate for customer-led growth and showcasing how we can all strike a balance between growing practices and taking care of ourselves. He's based in Vancouver.

Learn more about Ashleah on his LinkedIn and Twitter profiles.

In this episode:

Marketing as storytelling
Encourage interpersonal connection
Performance and brand marketing
Ashleah’s advice on sharing your story

Marketing as storytelling

If you want to create content that builds a connection with your ideal client, and you want to create a sustainably successful Canadian private practice, then you need to focus on and be intentional with your marketing because that is how you share the story of your practice.

To meet the community that you want to serve, you need to practice being honest and vulnerable in your messaging, because not only do people value and respond to authenticity but they can sense inauthenticity.

Encourage interpersonal connection

Incorporating storytelling into your marketing brings a powerful human aspect to your Canadian private practice’s business side. If you want to strengthen this, use video.

Creating video content links you and your business directly to the hearts of your ideal clients because it shows the human beings behind the service, not just the service being offered.

If you need a refresher or a quick run-down of how to do this, listen to my podcast episode on creating video content for authentic marketing.

Performance and brand marketing

There are two pillars to performance marketing:

The experience: the brand, the colours, the logo
The performance: what you are encouraging people to do

How can you stay true to your brand spirit while applying a marketing lens? Remember, you need to meet your customer where they are, and that’s an individual journey!

You do not want to convince people to buy the service or product, but you want to rather introduce the service to your client and see if you can tailor the marketing fit based on where they’re at.

Ashleah’s advice on sharing your story

Ask yourself:

What brought you into this industry?
Which experiences have you had that brought you to this place in life?
What drives you to do this work?
Why are you drawn to the clients that you are?

Find how you stand out, and bring that into your marketing. Understand what makes you unique, what welcomes people into this space, and then own that space!

Pick one platform and focus on it to build your success. Whether it’s TikTok, Instagram, YouTube, Facebook, or just your website with blog posts, roll with it! And let it be known that you are an expert in this field on that platform.

Connect with me:

Instagram

Website

Resources mentioned and useful links:

Ep 49: Growing Pain I Experienced in My Canadian Private Practice – Year 6

Jane App (use code FEARLESS for one month free)

Listen to my podcast episode on using video to create authentic marketing

Learn more about Ashleah on his LinkedIn, Instagram, and Twitter profiles

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What has your year of private practice looked like? Which lessons have you learned, or are currently learning?

Starting and running a Canadian private practice is a journey of continual growth and education. As you develop, so does your practice! And what impacts you in your personal life may also influence the unfolding of your business.

In this annual episode, I take a little dive into what my year has been like, what I’ve learned, and what my focus will be for the next one!

What I did this year

Launching the podcast!

From last November in 2021, there were a lot of things going on behind the scenes. One of those was launching this podcast! I knew I wanted to do it, but I needed sponsorships to make it happen as podcasts are an investment.

While I was recording my first 10 episodes, I was looking to hire a designer, a sound engineer, and a show note writer, so that everything would run smoothly.

Through the tough workload and the uncertainty in the beginning, I realized that I love hosting the podcast. I’ve been able to meet great fellow counsellors, people in the industry, and have gotten to interact with listeners and see how much the podcast has helped them with their own Canadian private practice. The work paid off!

Experimenting with traveling and working

In September 2022 I did my first travel-work stint to visit family and friends in BC whom I hadn’t seen in a long time. I tested out the digital nomad lifestyle a little bit, and I loved it as well!

Although at this time something switched in my private practice! For a while my associate wasn’t that full, in fact, clients were dwindling, and it added a lot of stress.

Hiring a social media and marketing manager

After the stress of launching a marketing campaign on my own while still being a full-time counsellor, podcaster, and practice owner, I decided it was time to hire a Social Media and Marketing manager.

Creating the Canadian Paperwork Packet

Additionally, throughout the year, I had been working on setting up and launching my Canadian Paperwork Packet for my audience! I was consulting with a designer and a lawyer to make sure the fine print was all in order, and legal, and that it came together nicely.

Securing sponsorships

With all the new projects, my budget had to be reassessed, and this meant that I had to negotiate and secure sponsorships because the podcast production is expensive.

What I learned The main thing that I learned from the past year is to slow down, and pick one project at a time!

Things take time, and that’s just fine! Instead of burning yourself from all ends doing a million things, pick one project to focus on, and then start the next thing as you finish up the previous one. And, never underestimate the power of outsourcing tasks!

New focus
From everything that happened this year, and all the things I learned, I plan to slow down a little more, outsource tasks, and choose one project to work on at a time for 2023!

In addition, Jane App is sponsoring half of the episodes this year for the Fearless Practice Podcast, which means another year of talking with you about Canadian private practice! Use code FEARLESS when you sign up to get one month free!

Connect with me:

Instagram

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Resources Mentioned and Useful Links:

Ep 48: Lindsey Thomson: The Need for Tax-Free Therapy in Canada

Article: How to Set Up a Canadian Private Practice Website

Listen to my episode about my new Canadian Paperwork Packet

Get your customizable paperwork packet through this link and use the code FEARLESSPP to receive your paperwork packet for $99!

Listen to my episode about how to schedule in your Canadian private practice

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Why is there a need for tax free therapy? What is happening with the Excise Tax bill? How can you add your voice to the campaign of adding psychotherapy and counselling therapy to the list of GST/ HST exempt healthcare practitioners?

The CCPA is a great organization to join as a Canadian private practice owner. Whether you are solo or in a group, it is always beneficial for therapists to work together and help each other in the process of providing help for others. Over and above that, join a national community of counsellors seeking to change legislation!

In this podcast episode, I chat with Lindsey about the CCPA, the Excise Tax bill being put into place, and how you can be a part of making mental health more affordable and accessible.

MEET LINDSEY THOMSON

Lindsey Thomson is a Registered Psychotherapist and the Director of Public Affairs of the Canadian Counselling and Psychotherapy Association (CCPA). The CCPA is a national association that represents the needs and interests of Counselling Therapists across Canada, and also advocates for improved mental health service access for all Canadians.

Learn more about Lindsey on her LinkedIn profile, and through the CCPA Instagram profile.

In this episode:

History of the campaign to remove excise tax
The current issues at hand
Bill C-218

History of the campaign to remove excise tax

The campaign to have GST/ HST removed started back in 2004. In the early parts of the campaign the federal Finance Department considered exempting counsellors but there was one catch.

‘What we were told at that time by the Minister of Finance was that we need the profession to be regulated in five or more provinces … check that box, then come back to us, and we can have a discussion. So, between 2004 and 2018 [there was] lots of work done on that.’ – Lindsey Thomson

Currently, CCPA recently launched a new campaign looking to remove GST/ HST tax from psychotherapy services.

The current issues at hand

Even though nearly five provinces were regulated, the bureaucratic need changed from needing five provinces regulated to needing the professional title to be the same. The titles differ from province to province because the regulation of health professions is a provincial level decision, which is why it can be complex.

Across regulated provinces, therapists may either be titled psychotherapists or counselling therapists, even though they do the same work and have the same degrees and qualifications.

Though changing a name seems like a quick fix, these colleges have been regulated with these titles for so long that it would also be a complex process to unwind and realign.

Bill C-218

Now, the angle of the bill has changed to remove the Excise Tax requirement of putting GST/ HST tax on Registered Counselling Therapists and Registered Psychotherapists services.

You may be asking: why is this even necessary? Is it worth the effort? The simple answer is yes!

Lindsey and her team at the CCPA are calling on the Federal Government to legislatively amend the Excise Tax Act through a financial bill (the bill C-218) that adds the profession of counselling therapy and psychotherapy to the list of GST/ HST exempt healthcare practitioners.

Sign the petition – it will take two minutes of your time and it will be worthwhile for years to come!

Connect with me:

Instagram

Website

Resources mentioned and useful links:

Ep 47: How to Create Your Canadian Practice Paperwork Packet

Read about Lindsey’s work with CCPA and private practice matters on this archive, her LinkedIn profile, and on the CCPA Instagram profile.

Sign the petition to get therapy tax-free!

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Are you concerned that you may have missed important details on your consent forms? Have you been spending hours figuring out which questions you should ask in your paperwork packets to comply with ethical laws? Does admin work in general make you anxious?

I’ve been there! In fact, I spent almost a year drafting up a Canadian practice paperwork packet that is suitable, editable, and concise.

You can change, edit, and modify it to suit your private practice like a glove, and it’s available to you right now!

In This Episode:

What goes into paperwork packets?
My journey of creating the paperwork packet
Make it your own
Create an online intake forms

What goes into paperwork packets?

‘Paperwork packets are probably the most important thing that you do before starting your private practice.’ – Julia Smith

Paperwork can seem endless, but there are some critical pieces that you need when you’re collecting intake information from your clients for your Canadian private practice. Some of these pieces include:

Intake forms and questionnaires for your clients
Questions about why clients are coming to counselling
Informed consent
The process of storage of client information
Confidentiality policy
Your private practice policy

To save yourself hours and hours of time and energy, consider purchasing a packet instead of making one yourself!

‘What I highly recommend is that you purchase a paperwork packet that has already been created.’ – Julia Smith

And, I have tailored a paperwork packet specifically for Canadian counsellors! You can find yours through this link (use code FEARLESSPP to purchase the packet for only $99 CAD plus tax).

My journey of creating the paperwork packets It took almost a year for me to have compiled, edited, and polished this document for you to use, and what a journey it was!

The designer and I discussed which format it should be made available in. At first, we tried a PDF format on Adobe, however, this route produced a couple of issues that were too impractical to consider.

‘Finally, we decided to make it a word document. That means that when you purchase it, you can just open it up as a word doc and edit it as you see fit!’ – Julia Smith

Make it your own
My paperwork packet is entirely editable and adjustable, so you can structure it in the best way to fully wrap around the fine lines and details of your Canadian private practice.

There are some minor legal differences between provinces, so check with your college to see what is applicable and necessary for you to do.

‘You do want to make sure that your paperwork packet isn’t too long [or] too exhausting that clients are going to get burnt out filling out all the questions, or [for] it to take an entire session to fill out all the information.’ – Julia Smith

You only want to include what is necessary for your intake forms, so focus on asking the important questions and things that you need to know. I also included important sections about the value of confidentiality and consent that are important for your clients to understand.

Create an online intake form
In your EMR, consider creating an online version of your intake form.

I use Jane App, and with it, I edited my intake session with all the wording from my paperwork packet so that there is consistency throughout, and clients will find the same forms no matter in which way they come to find me online.

Connect with me:

Instagram

Website

Resources Mentioned and Useful Links:

Ep 46: How to Set Your Private Practice Schedule

Article: How to Set Up a Canadian Private Practice Website

Download your own paperwork packet through this link and use the code FEARLESSPP to receive your paperwork packet for $99!

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Sometimes your private practice schedule needs to change to meet your needs because your needs have changed, or you started a side hustle and you need to re-prioritize your time, or you moved to a new location, or hired an assistant!

Whatever your situation is, as life shifts, you shift as well.

One of the ways to stay on top of the ever-evolving and moving life is to create systems and schedules that are flexible and can be adjusted to suit you and your Canadian private practice.

In This Episode:

Building your schedule
Give yourself more control
Make it work for you

Building your schedule

When I first started counselling, I worked on Saturdays because it was the cheapest day to rent the room for counselling sessions. For a couple of years, I worked on those Saturdays, and I appreciated the lessons from that time.

‘I’m grateful for that time because it made me realize what it would be like to work on the weekends and if it was worth it for me.’ – Julia Smith

Saturdays were quieter, it suited my clients, and I could save some money at the same time! But, after a while, those Saturdays got busy consistently, and I needed to make a change.

My needs and desires also changed, and because I wanted to shift my time around, it meant that I also had to shift my work schedule.

‘It was great that I was saving money on Fridays by not going out but then I wasn’t going out on Friday nights with friends either because I wanted to be completely awake and with it [for] my clients on the Saturday, but that meant I was missing out on a lot of things … after a couple of years, it just wasn’t working anymore.’ – Julia Smith

Give yourself more control You can give yourself some more control over your lifestyle by working out your schedule, such as:

Picking which time of day that you work best in, morning, afternoon, or evening
Adding breaks between sessions
Bunching clients and bunching work days
Structuring blocks of admin time

‘I like that my clients are not spread out throughout the day and that it’s condensed into four hours and then I’m done, and I’ve seen the [number] of clients that I know I want to see in a day.’ – Julia Smith

Make it work for you
There is no “perfect schedule” or immaculate template out there because you need to structure it around your needs and wants.

You and your lifestyle will often change, so make your schedule work for you.

‘My mindset is now, “What is going to work for me right now?” And that wisdom of knowing that it’s probably not going to work for the rest of my life, and being open to trying out different types of schedules, switching it around when I need to, and being more flexible with my schedule.’ – Julia Smith

Look at your Canadian private practice schedule. Is there something new that you can try? Explore, try another way, and do differently? Have fun with it!

Connect with me:

Instagram

Website

Resources Mentioned and Useful Links:

Ep 45: How to Deal with Setbacks in Canadian Private Practice

Article: How to Set Up a Canadian Private Practice Website

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Are you daydreaming about a life that you want for yourself, personally and professionally? What’s been on your mind to try out? Is there something still nagging you that is asking for your attention?

If you are putting off exploring your dreams – why? The sooner you can explore the outlines of the possibilities for your dreams, the sooner you can get started on creating them.

In this podcast, I share my recent experiences, and a cautionary tale. Learn from me, take away what resonates, and I hope that it inspires you to take action.

In This Episode:

Testing out my idea
What I Realized
The dream!
Learn from my experience

Testing out my idea

I had been mulling over the idea of taking my private practice out on the road and becoming a digital nomad counsellor for a couple of years.

And so, I finally decided to try it out!

‘The first thing that I knew I needed to do was to travel a little bit and see if I could work in different places besides my mom’s place in Ontario! … it was going to be a lovely trip of visiting friends and family in BC while working at the same time to see if I could do that.’ – Julia Smith

I loved it! Mixing vacation time with work time made those weeks special, and helped to ground me in the days that I was working. I managed to find a rhythm, and I stuck to it, which allowed me to work during the week and relax on weekends.

What I Realized Of course, I learned a lot from this trip, and some of the things I came to know are crucial in deciding whether the digital nomad counsellor lifestyle is for me or not.

One important thing that I realized was that I missed my personal space. I sometimes struggled to sleep well or didn’t have a lot of privacy, which could impact my work.

‘It was still a little nerve-wracking and I was like, “Hmm, it would be nice to have my own space and be able to travel, too” … so, coming away from that trip, it was confirmed to me that I really love to travel and work … and that I also ideally would like my own space when I am travelling.’ – Julia Smith

The dream!
So, from what I learned from my travels, I decided to pursue the tiny-living van lifestyle, because it combines both my love and desire for travel with independent living.

However, I soon discovered that this dream would not be as possible as I had first imagined because of the financial aspect.

I knew I wanted to hire a professional to construct the van – as after building a fully operational virtual counselling and consulting business, I’ve done my building dues! – so I had a meeting with a van building company, and unfortunately, the prices were beyond my scope.

Learn from my experience
If you have a dream that you want to do with your private practice or your life in general, it’s a good idea to start looking into it now!

Time will pass either way, so the sooner you can take action to figure out what is truly possible with your time, money, and energy, the sooner you can get to working on your dreams and bringing them to fruition without too much redirection down the line.

Connect with me:

Instagram

Website

Resources Mentioned and Useful Links:

Ep 44: Alison Pidgeon: Turn Your Passion into Another Business

Article: How to Set Up a Canadian Private Practice Website

Listen to my episode with Jara Dekker about Being a Digital Nomad Therapist | EP 21

Listen to my episode with Tara Scullion about Canadian Private Practice Insurance | EP 30

Check out StarLink

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Do you have ideas that you want to explore within the mental health field that lies outside of the therapy room? Or do you have one great idea that you want to try out? Or do you have a passion that you want to try to monetize while growing your private practice?

Whatever is on your mind, or wherever you are in your Canadian private practice and professional business journey, in this podcast episode I chat with Alison about her extensive experience with building multiple businesses.

From starting her group practice to creatings side hustles, we discuss contractors versus employees, your passions, and finding your “why”.

MEET ALISON PIDGEON

Alison Pidgeon, LPC is the founder and CEO of Move Forward Counseling LLC, a large group practice in Lancaster, PA. Alison is a serial entrepreneur, having started several different businesses all related to mental health. In her free time, she drives her three kids to soccer practice in her minivan.

Learn more about Alison on her LinkedIn profile, Thera-Suite, and virtual assistant websites.

In this episode:

Develop and expand your reach
Find your why
Sit with your ideas
Alison’s advice to Canadian private practitioners

Develop and expand your reach

If you have passions outside of therapy but within the mental health sphere, and you want to expand your income, then you should consider creating different small businesses.

Not only do they help you to develop your professional and personal repertoire, but they can also provide extra income.

The secret to starting additional businesses? Become a great delegator.

Find your why

Apart from being a fantastic delegator, make sure that this new small business is still something that you can see yourself enjoying for a long period.

‘Every business is going to go through its ups and downs and if you don’t have the passion for it, you know, the downs are going to be even worse and you’re not going to make it very long.’ – Alison Pidgeon

Genuinely liking what you do is an important aspect of a successful business. This is where it becomes necessary to “find your why” because it will help to direct your efforts and sustain your passion even when it becomes challenging.

‘[Find] your why. Why you’re doing it and making sure that it’s pretty solid and that there’s definitely some heart in it [because it] will help get you through those tough times.’ – Julia Smith

Sit with your ideas

If you have lots of ideas and don’t know where to start – or you just have a plan and want to make it work, then clear some time to really sit with this idea and be curious about its every aspect.

Is your idea scalable? Is it sellable? Is it sustainable? Consider these aspects before you start to invest your time, energy, and money into bringing it to fruition.

Alison’s advice to Canadian private practitioners

Be mindful of technological experimentation. There are a lot of rewards to be found between technology and mental health, but make sure to do it ethically and within your scope of expertise.

The mental healthcare industry is on the precipice of a revolution, and if this interests you, then think creatively and consider how you can combine the efficiency of technology with the benefits of therapy.

Connect with me:

Instagram

Website

Resources mentioned and useful links:

Ep 43: Claire Blakey: Creating a Sustainable Canadian Private Practice | EP 43

Jane App (use code FEARLESS for one month free)

Get your SEO optimized with Simplified SEO Consulting

Read more about Joe Sanok’s book Thursday is the New Friday

Read more about Gino Wickman’s book Traction

Listen to my episode with Nicole McCance about The Benefits of Automizing Your Canadian private practice

Learn more about Alison Pidgeon through Move Forward Virtual Assistant, Thera-Suite, LinkedIn, and her counselling practice website.

Rate, review, and subscribe to this podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Stitcher, Spotify, Amazon, and TuneIn

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Do you have a team that supports you in your private practice? Are there other passions in your life that you want to pursue alongside being a therapist? What does it take to create a sustainably successful Canadian private practice?

Passive income and diversifying your income streams is not only a good financial decision for your business, but it also supports you because it provides an outlet for you to explore and develop your hobbies outside of therapy, which can make you a happier and a more successful therapist.

Claire Blakey and I discuss the pros (and some cons) to passive income, and how you can approach this new avenue to make the most of it.

MEET CLAIRE BLAKEY

Claire Blakey, MA, LMFT, PMH-C is a licensed marriage and family therapist in private practice in Santa Barbara, CA. She is the founder of The Flourishing Therapreneur and is passionate about empowering therapists in business and entrepreneurship.

Learn more about Claire on her website and Instagram profile and podcast and practice website.

In this episode:

Consider a team approach to business
Create a sustainable Canadian private practice
Claire’s marketing advice
Diversify your income

Consider a team approach to business

As the therapist, there are many things that only you can do. But, as the business owner, there are many aspects to business which can be outsourced to better support you.

By outsourcing some jobs, hiring a team, and surrounding yourself with competent people that can learn and practice the skills outside of the therapy realm you operate in, you can grow your Canadian private practice while also being a therapist.

Create a sustainable Canadian private practice

One of the first steps to creating your Canadian private practice in a sustainable way is to address and unlearn the old behaviours and patterns about what therapy and practices “should” look like.

Are the belief systems that you operate your business from sustaining you in your pursuit of your goals and dreams? If not, then consider doing a deep dive to remove them, and replace them with ones that do.

Your Canadian private practice may be at risk if you:

Sign on any client that calls you, despite whether they fit your ideal client avatar or not
Have little to no boundaries around your hours or work schedule
Agree to work on topics or situations that do not align with your passions or interests
Agree to sliding scales and low rates when it is detrimental to your financial situation or goals for the business

Claire’s marketing advice

Niche in on yourself the same way that you niche in on your ideal clients. Get clear on who you are, who you serve, and how you help them.

Speak directly to your ideal client and focus on three topics or issues that they are currently going through.

If you notice a trend in your client sessions where many of your clients are struggling with similar issues, use that as a link to further connect with more ideal clients.

Diversify your income

Creating passive income and diversifying your income streams is another pillar to creating a sustainable Canadian private practice.

Even though you are a therapist, you are also a human being, and human beings are multi-passionate.

There may be things that you love to do, or can do, that could generate income that supports you while allowing you to develop different aspects of yourself by exploring new hobbies outside of providing therapy.

Connect with me:

Instagram

Website

Resources mentioned and useful links:

Ep 42: Alison McCleary: Navigating the Journey from Studying to Practicing Therapy | EP 42

Listen to my podcast episode with Helen and Gabbi about working with your principles in your practice

Jane App (use code FEARLESS for one month free)

Learn more about Claire Blakey on her website, Podcast, Facebook, and Instagram profile

Rate, review, and subscribe to this podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Stitcher, Spotify, Amazon, and TuneIn

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Are you working with your passions? How can you find a bridge between what you like to do and what you need to do? Could you develop a small avenue of passive income in your Canadian private practice?

The road from being a student to a therapist is long with many twists, turns, and brave steps! Imagining your future Canadian private practice may feel very far away while you are in grad school or finishing your dissertation, but you can take small steps now to make that transition easier for yourself – and more successful for your future business!

From finishing your studies to taking the first, small steps to building your new, sustainable Canadian private practice, I discuss this journey with Alison McCleary and the lessons that she has learned.

MEET ALISON McCLEARY

Alison is co-host of the Edge of the Couch podcast, has a passion for working in rural communities in Canada, and absolutely loves talking about therapy! She has run her private practice for 7 years and has learned a lot of important lessons along the way. Alison is currently completing her doctorate in clinical psychology and is excited about stepping into a brand new role soon.

Learn more about Alison on her private practice website.

In this episode:

Work with your passions
Offering group sessions
Creating passive income
Build your Canadian private practice sustainably from the beginning

Work with your passions

Therapy is a diverse world, and you go through a lot of learning and doing from when you start studying to working with clients.

You may have to find a bridge between all the different components within the diverse world of therapy by connecting your passions with what has to be done. For Alison, that meant doing a Psy.D (Doctor of Psychology) so that she could help even more in her community of Terrace, BC.

Offering group sessions

Group therapy – like any other modality – has pros and cons, but it does yield unique and healing results. Often the therapist is mostly a facilitator and holds the space while the individuals bring things to the surface and explore them together.

Group sessions are often more attractive to clients in a broader, more densely populated town or city in comparison to smaller, more rural towns.

Creating passive income

Do you enjoy creating and launching workshops?

In the future, you could publish recordings of your workshops onto your website as short courses or packages that intrigued clients can purchase for a small fee, earning you some small passive income.

Build your Canadian private practice sustainably from the beginning

One of Alison’s biggest lessons on her private practice journey is about the importance of creating and growing the business sustainably from the get-go.

‘It’s so much easier to start small and say, “I’m only going to do four [clients] a day”, and see how it feels. Maybe you become a person [that] can do six [clients] a day, but if you start at six and you realise you can only do four … and that’s much harder to do.’ – Alison McCleary

Julia recommends to go slow and steady instead of jumping straight in. You can slowly add new clients, delegate tasks, raise your rates, and expand your marketing efforts for the best efforts. So, start small and build and have check-ins with yourself often.

Connect with me:

Instagram

Website

Resources mentioned and useful links:

Ep 41: Gabbi and Helen: Bring Your Principles Into Your Canadian Private Practice | EP 41

Jane App (use code FEARLESS for one month free)

Listen to Alison’s the Edge of the Couch podcast, follow their Instagram account, and learn more about her private practice via the website and Instagram.

Explore Contrapoints on YouTube to learn more!

Create an OpenPath account for your therapy today

Rate, review, and subscribe to this podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Stitcher, Spotify, Amazon, and TuneIn.

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The work that you do and the services that you provide to your clients are often magnified when you work within your expertise and when you incorporate your principles.

Your past experience and values will shine through in your Canadian private practice and marketing efforts, and when you openly center your practice around what matters to you, you can automatically attract your ideal clients!

In this podcast episode, I speak with Gabbi and Helen about how they were able to quickly launch and grow their Canadian private practice, and how betting on their principles helped them to do so.

MEET GABBI AND HELEN

Gabbi and Helen are registered social workers who specialize in providing therapeutic interventions to individuals, couples, and families going through separation and divorce. For over 20 years they worked with complex family units that experience trauma and separation. Now in private practice, the focus of intervention is designed to be client focused with the fundamental scope of service being to ensure parents maintain a healthy relationship with their children.

Learn more about Gabbi and Helen on their practice’s Facebook profile and LinkedIn.

In this episode:

Bet on your principles
Work in your area of expertise
Bring your values into your marketing
Develop your network

Bet on your principles

Whether the pandemic forced you to go virtual or you decided to move your business online due to a desire for change or efficiency, there may be some growing pains in becoming accustomed to providing services and running your business online.

Wherever you are in your Canadian private practice evolution, bet on your principles. Make informed decisions regarding your private practice that are based on your skill set, your values, and the need that you want to serve in your community that’s within your niche.

Work in your area of expertise

You can do the best work when you provide mental health services and therapy from your Canadian private practice when you work within your area of expertise – and the niche that you enjoy working with!

If you have not specialized in treating and working with clients that struggle with eating disorders, then refer them out, and stick to your niche. Work with your strengths, because then you are better able to help people while enjoying the work that you do.

Bring your values into your marketing

Gabbi and Helen provide therapy and services for their clients from a place of compassion, but also from a place of experience. They use this approach – this genuine empathy – to show potential clients in their marketing efforts that they truly can help them and provide the necessary support.

You can have an idea of what your niche is, but through the process of creating your business and marketing efforts, your values and focus will help showcase what it is that you do, and how you can offer help to your clients.

Develop your network

Start with who you know and go from there.

Within your niche, from fellow Canadian private practice owners to other businesses that work with your ideal clients, make connections with other people and see what is needed. Are there needs that need to be filled? Can you fulfill them, and how?

While you work on your relationships, continue to work on your marketing because they go hand-in-hand.

Consider creating:

Facebook pages
Instagram accounts
Blog posts
Accessible information that would be valuable to your clients

Connect with me:

Instagram

Website

Resources mentioned and useful links:

Ep 40: Victoria Rodriguez: The Surprising Benefits of Offering In-Home Therapy

Jane App (use code FEARLESS for one month free)

Learn more about Helen and Gabbi’s practice on Facebook, LinkedIn, and their website.

Rate, review, and subscribe to this podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Stitcher, Spotify, Amazon, and TuneIn

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Have you considered offering in-home therapy services to your clients? Is that something that could work with your Canadian private practice? How can you offer this service to help your clients while maintaining your safety?

Therapy can take on many shapes and sizes, from in-session talking to helping a client recovering from OCD reorganise their home.

In this podcast episode, I discuss this method with Victoria Rodriguez, who has years of experience.

MEET VICTORIA RODRIGUEZ

Victoria (she/her/hers) LPC, CCTP, NCC is a Licensed Professional Counsellor in private practice in Louisiana who specializes in career counselling and trauma treatment for healthcare professionals. Drawing on her experiences and academic research on home-based therapy, she also helps home health and community mental health professionals navigate in-home services confidently and safely through online workshops.

Learn more about Victoria on her website.

In this episode:

Theory to practice
The insights of in-home therapy services
Practicing safety as an in-home therapist
The benefits of in-home therapy

Theory to practice

With providing in-home therapy, there is no one modality to therapy. Counsellors who provide in-home therapy services need to find their own bridge between the counselling theory that they align with and how it shapes their counselling sessions.

Having an understanding of counselling theory and where you stand with it can help you tremendously if you decide to provide in-home counselling.

If you want to delve deeper into finding out which counselling theories you work best with, and could better inform your therapy practice, check out this theoretical fit quiz to find your strengths.

The insights of in-home therapy services

Having a therapist visit the client in their home can provide a huge amount of benefits and insight that are valuable to the therapy.

The therapist can see the client’s living environment, and whom they live with, and detect a small piece of their quality of life – all of which adds a lot of nuance and depth to the therapy that the therapist can provide clients with.

Another pro of offering in-home therapy services is that it makes therapy so much more accessible. Some clients may be injured, bed-bound, or unable to travel long distances and still need and desire counselling services.

Practicing safety as an in-home therapist

If you are travelling between client homes to offer and provide therapy to clients, there will be moments where you need to make a decision based on your safety..

Determine if the situation that you are about to enter is safe for you, if it isn’t, refer the client to another therapist.

You can also develop a safety plan and checklist for yourself. Some of the safety checklist steps include:

Backing up into a client’s driveway so that you can leave quickly if you need to
Phoning the client before the session to check that they are home and if they have any additional family or visitors in the home
Situate yourself to the closest exist possible without having the client block an additional exit
Avoid sitting between two family members
Don’t sit in a poorly lit area in your car to finish notes after the session
Share your location with your supervisor or colleague

The benefits of in-home therapy

Some benefits for the therapist include being in control of your schedule because you can take in-home clients whenever you choose to (and have telehealth sessions in between).

The benefits for clients, however, are fantastic. Some therapists that offer in-home therapy sometimes offer cooking therapy with their clients, trauma-informed yoga, and even eco-therapy!

Connect with me:

Instagram

Website

Resources mentioned and useful links:

Ep 39: Nicole McCance: The Benefits of Automation in Your Canadian Private Practice

Learn more about the tools and deals that I love and use for my Canadian private practice

Learn more about Victoria on her website, private practice website, Instagram, Facebook, and Psychology Today profiles.

Find Victoria’s safety checklist here

Rate, review, and subscribe to this podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Stitcher, Spotify, Amazon, and TuneIn

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Are you craving more freedom in your work and free time in your everyday life? Are you working at full capacity and hitting an income glass ceiling? What if you could build a totally automated group practice? Is that possible?

Whether you crave some more mobility in your daily life, you feel like you’re on the verge of burnout, or you are in the process of growing your Canadian private practice, you need systems. Automated systems take a huge chunk of work out of your day, allowing you to focus on what is important to you.

In this podcast episode, I talk about the benefits of systems and how to implement them with Nicole McCance, a master optimiser!

MEET NICOLE McCANCE

Nicole is a Psychologist turned Business Coach. She grew her private practice to 55 therapists in 3 years during a pandemic with toddler twins at home. She now teaches therapists how to build 7 figure group practices that are automated.

Learn more about Nicole on her website.

In this episode:

Why you should consider systems
Contractors or employees?
Create documents
Use an online booking system
Track your numbers
Nicole’s marketing tips

Why you should consider systems

Nicole, like many other psychologists and counsellors, felt the push to do something more beyond her solo private practice. With a bigger family on the way, and feeling the personal and financial pressure to make a change, she realized that she needed to do something different.

If you are on the verge of burnout, consistently hitting a glass ceiling in your income, know that adding more work to your plate isn’t an option, and feel that you are not able to live the lifestyle that you want to, then you need to install some systems into your Canadian private practice and start a group private practice.

Contractors or employees?

If you are deciding between hiring contractors or employees, think about what you can afford and how much work there is to offer. Hiring contractors can be great because you only pay them for the time that they are with clients. Once you’ve decided, be clear when hiring about your expectations.

Create documents

Make a live Google Doc and write out how you do tasks in your Canadian private practice.

When you hire new admins or employees, send them this document to learn from so that you do not have to individually train each person with the same information.

Consider writing an operations manual for your admin staff that includes:

How to book an appointment
What the cancellation policy is
How to handle client privacy

Use an online booking system

If you want to optimize your business and save time and energy, then you really need to consider installing an online booking system. I use Jane and love that it is a Canadian EMR with a professional online booking system!

Bypass the front desk entirely and have your admin staff focus on growth-related tasks rather than answering the phone.

Track your numbers

Be on top of your metrics because they show you how well your private practice is doing, where it may need additional support, and what could change for the better. Numbers do not have to be daunting!

Once you understand them better, you unlock a whole other scope of supporting and growing your Canadian private practice by preparing, planning, and changing for what is needed in your business and within your community as life changes.

Connect with me:

Instagram

Website

Resources mentioned and useful links:

Ep 38: Why You Should Start an Online Canadian Private Practice | EP 38

Jane App (use code FEARLESS for one month free)

Create educational videos with Loom

Learn more about Nicole on her counselling website, course website, Psychology Today profile, Instagram, and LinkedIn profiles.

Rate, review, and subscribe to this podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Stitcher, Spotify, Amazon, and TuneIn.

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Do you feel hesitant in deciding if an online practice is a right fit for you or your clients? Have you been thinking about making a change in your approach to work-life balance? What would that look like for you?

I recognise that making the switch to online private practice is a risk, but often things are both risks and opportunities! If you want to make significant changes in your lifestyle, become more remote, or have more control over your schedule, providing online therapy is a great way to achieve your personal and professional goals.

In this podcast episode, I share my positive (and some negative) experiences of launching my Canadian online private practice.

In This Episode:

The benefits of online counselling
Some cons to be aware of (and tips to help!)
Questions to ask yourself before starting an online private practice

The benefits of online counselling

Like many other therapists, I transitioned to an online private practice because of the pandemic. Even though I was scared in the beginning, I am so glad that I chose this path.

I understood that online therapy is not discount therapy, and even though that myth was more real before the pandemic, it still can hold some therapists back from making the switch.

My clients were also able to see me more often, and more easily! They didn’t have to drive or travel anywhere to get to my office.

Some more pros that I experienced starting an online Canadian private practice include:

The flexibility of clinical hours
Saving money on rent
Making my schedule suit my life
Saving money on professional clothing
Launching an online group Canadian private practice

Some cons to be aware of (and tips to help!)Even though I love the experience of working online and remotely, there are some cons that you should be aware of when you are considering opening your own Canadian online private practice.

Some of these include:

Working alone

Get in touch with a clinical supervisor whom you can reach out to and work with when you feel that you need and want some extra support. Additionally, network! Start professional relationships with other therapists who work remotely in your area, and form a community together.

Working from home

Working from home can be difficult because you do almost everything there, from personal to professional life. To curb this cabin fever, I recommend getting out every single day. Go for a walk, join a gym, or try a new hobby in someplace new to help mitigate the sameness.

A loss of sense of the importance of going to an office.

Even though it is good to be humbled, your ego can sometimes take a hit from working alone where no one is there to see and celebrate your accomplishments alongside you. So, make an effort to check up on yourself, celebrate your good days, and share them with friends!

Everything is going to be online.

You may never meet your associates, virtual assistants, or clients in person . You talk to a screen a lot, but on the other hand, this creates a helpful boundary between your personal and professional activities.

Practicing self-discipline

Having your own online private practice means that you are in control of everything because no one is going to knock on your door to get you to work. This can be a benefit if you like to control your own schedule but could also be a drawback if managing your own schedule is difficult for you.

Connect with me:

Instagram

Website

Resources Mentioned and Useful Links:

Ep 37 How to Build a Caseload in Your Canadian Private Practice with Online Booking

Article: How to Set Up a Canadian Private Practice Website

Building a Canadian Online Group Private Practice | EP 06

How to Set Up Your Canadian Private Practice for Financial Success | EP 19

Rate, review, and subscribe to this podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Stitcher, Spotify, Amazon, and TuneIn

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Are you still emailing your clients back and forth to set up sessions? Do you need to free up some time in your schedule and automate the admin? Did you know that setting up an online booking system is really easy?

Setting up an online booking system has saved me so much time! And switching to an automated booking structure allows my admin staff to work on other important tasks, and get more done, which helps my Canadian private practice to grow steadily and smoothly.

Online booking is a great tool for counsellors in private practice, and in this episode, I show you how to do it!

In This Episode:

Why you should choose online booking
How to set up your online booking system
My tips for you
Create email and phone call systems

Why you should choose online booking

Online booking is not only helpful and time-saving for counsellors, but it is also helpful and less stressful for clients as well.

If you are nervous about not feeling in control of your schedule, you needn’t worry. There are different structures on the backend that you can make use of to block off your time and control your online booking schedule.

With Jane App, you can select a setting that only allows clients to book one session in advance so that a client won't fill up your schedule for weeks on end.

How to set up your online booking system Go onto your EMR or Jane App, then to your online booking settings, where you can create and upload your profile, which includes:

Uploading your logo
Selecting your brand colours
Uploading your profile image
Adding short definitions of your sessions and what counselling is
Choosing to showcase your price
Select a monthly view or a weekly view of your schedule
Adjust your settings to allow clients to only book a certain amount of appointments in advance

Once you have completed these steps, you can get your booking link to put onto your website. If you work with Brighter Vision, send them your booking link and ask them to turn it into a “book now” button on your main page, and wherever you have your call-to-action.

My tips for you
Have a “book now” button on the header of your website so that it is easy for your clients to find where they can book an appointment with you.

Put your Jane App booking link on your Psychology Today profile.

Another tip is to put “secret sessions” on your online booking profile because it saves you some reserved slots that you can open up if you need to have an emergency session with a client.

And, if these reserved spots are not needed, then you can easily open them up and make them available for booking.

Create email and phone call systems
You’ll find our call and e-mail templates here.

Systems like online booking can help you to scale your Canadian private practice and get more work done without becoming burnt out. Help yourself out, and invest in these sustainable practices to help you and your business thrive.

Connect with me:

Instagram

Website

Resources Mentioned and Useful Links:

Ep 36: How to Keep Digital Information Secure in Your Canadian Private Practice | Ep 36

Article: How to Set Up a Canadian Private Practice Website

Jane App (use code FEARLESS for one month free)

Brighter Vision

Building a Canadian Online Group Private Practice | EP 06

Rate, review, and subscribe to this podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Stitcher, Spotify, Amazon, and TuneIn

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How do you keep your online data private? Are you willing to spend a couple of extra dollars a month to secure your – and your clients! – information safely? Do you know which Canadian platforms you can use to get started?

In our increasingly digital world where we store our data online and risk hackers and data leaks, digital security cannot be undervalued or overlooked. Our clients trust us with not only their healing but also their information, so be proactive in becoming digitally safe!

In this podcast episode, I discuss the essentials of digital protection and a bunch of great, Canadian services that you can use today.

In This Episode:

PIPEDA
PHIA
Encryption
VPN

PIPEDA

PIPEDA sets the ground rules for how private-sector organizations collect, use, and disclose personal information of for-profit and commercial activities across Canada.

Luckily for Canadian therapists, most of the big electronic medical record systems used in the mental wellness industry have incorporated PIPEDA into their platforms.

‘I highly recommend looking into Jane App because it is a Canadian-based EMR, so you know they’re doing everything right in regards to Canadian privacy laws.’ – Julia Smith

Learn more about PIPDEA by clicking on this link.

PHIAPHIA stands for the Personal Health Information Act, and are provincial laws that govern the collection, use, disclosure, retention, disposal, and destruction of your personal health information.

For example, in Nova Scotia, your data needs to be stored only on Canadian servers. To make sure all your bases are covered, get a Canadian EMR to be safe (even if your province doesn’t require it now they may in the future!).

ENCRYPTION
Even though your EMR takes care of the majority of securing your data, your emails may not be so safe. Aim to make use of an email service that uses encryption to maintain your online privacy and safety.

Encryption prevents unauthorized users on the network from intercepting and capturing your login credentials, and any email messages you send or receive, as they leave your email provider's server and travel from server to server around the Internet.

‘I always recommend with emails [to not send] too much confidential information. Rather, talk on the phone with somebody about it than send all that information. Or, courier that information instead of sending it through email.’ – Julia Smith

To learn more about email encryption, click on this link.

Try Hushmail! Follow this link to receive a discounted price to use Hushmail and keep all your email data completely safe, secure, and legally stored on Canadian servers.

VPN

A “virtual private network” creates an encrypted tunnel for your data, protects your online identity by hiding your IP address, and allows you to use public Wi-Fi hotspots safely.

Nord VPN is what I use to keep my work activity private online, I love how affordable and easy it is! Follow this link to get a great deal on their services through my offerings.

Some quick tips:

Turn your VPN off when you are doing online counselling because it can slow down the connection.
Delete voicemails off your phone system once you have seen and listened to them. Work with Grasshopper for a secure and easy-to-navigate phone system!
With platforms like Slack, set the system to delete old messages at least every 35 days.

Connect with me:

Instagram

Website

Resources Mentioned and Useful Links:

Ep 35: How Do I Prepare for Private Practice While Still in Grad School?: Live Consultation With Barb Barker

Article: How to Set Up a Canadian Private Practice Website

Jane App (use code FEARLESS for one month free)

Listen to my podcast episode with Ali Taylor to learn more about privacy laws

Listen to my podcast episode about hiring a Canadian virtual assistant and safe virtual communication

Learn more about Hushmail on their website

Follow this link to get discounts on Hushmail and Nord VPN

Rate and subscribe to this podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, or Spotify.

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Are you almost finished grad school and want to start Canadian private practice? What are the essentials that you need to have ready before you see clients?

It can be daunting to step into the counselling world after completing your studies, but getting yourself prepared while in grad school is the best step you can take to rocket yourself quickly and comfortably into Canadian private practice.

In this podcast episode, I do a live consultation with Barb, who is excited to begin her journey as a therapist, and we discuss the essentials to help her – and you – launch your Canadian private practice.

MEET BARB BAKER

Barb is a parent, wife, and intern counsellor. She hopes to open a private practice right after graduation. Currently, the focus of her practice will be parenting and neurodiversity (specifically autism).

Learn more about Barb on her Psychology Today profile.

In this episode:

It’s easier to get your CECs through CCPA
Get your liability insurance
Start blogging
Repurpose your content

It’s easier to get your CECs through CCPA

If you can, become a CCC – Canadian certified counsellor – as well as an RCT – registered counselling therapist (or Psychotherapists in Ontario) because it provides you with easier access to completing your education credits. Your college could provide some CECs but CCPA offers many more options for getting continuing education credits.

If you are still in grad school, consider getting a student membership at the CCPA. Then, once you have completed grad school, it can be a smooth transition to become a CCC. Also, join the counselling college in your province (if it has one)so that insurance companies will cover your services and so that you adhere to the best code of ethics and standards of practice for counselling.

Get your liability insurance

Once you become a CCC, you can apply to get your liability insurance through the CCPA. Getting liability insurance through CCPA is affordable and easy to do. Check out my podcast with Tara Scullion from BMS insurance to learn more!

Start blogging

If your student budget allows it, launch your website through Brighter Vision and start blogging to lay the foundations of your SEO.

If you know your niche and your ideal clientele then start writing basic blog posts. Consider putting a banner on your website: “Opening Sessions 2023” and then in January, you can update the banner depending on when you receive your certification and/or licensing.

Write blog posts that include keywords about your ideal clients and the locations where they are so that when they search for counsellors within their area, you pop up.

Repurpose your content

Even if social media isn’t your thing, you can easily repurpose content – like from your blog posts! – into Instagram reels, which are currently what the algorithm favours.

Instagram is not only a great tool to connect with your ideal audience but it can also connect you with other professionals in your field and area. It is a networking opportunity between you and your clients and you and your peers.

Focus on networking and building your online presence while you wait to get your full certification and/or licensure.

Connect with me:

Instagram

Website

Resources mentioned and useful links:

Ep 34: Michelle Noftall Returns: The Benefits of Trying Something New in Your Canadian Private Practice

Learn more about the tools and deals that I love and use for my Canadian private practice

Learn more about Barb on her Psychology Today profile.

Learn more about liability insurance and licensing through the CCPA website.

Need a new website? Consider working with Brighter Vision!

Jane App (use code FEARLESS for one month free)

Listen to my podcast episodes on networking, blogging, and building a social media presence.

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Does progress in your online Canadian private practice feel slow? Do you want to increase the reach to your ideal clients, but don’t know where to start? I know some strategies that can help you.

In this podcast episode, Michelle returns to talk about how our live consultation in the Spring helped her private practice become successful. We revisit her Canadian private practice journey and how she was able to become five times busier by using a few new simple approaches to marketing and business. Join us and see how they can help you too!

MEET MICHELLE NOFTALL

Michelle Noftall is a Canadian Certified Counsellor who opened her own online practice, OPAL Counselling NL, this past Fall. Her areas of interest are grief, loss, and life transitions. She is also a musician and educator who has almost finished a training program to integrate music into her counselling practice. She strives to provide a valuable service to her clients as well as build on her own strengths and passions as she does so.

Learn more about Michelle on her website.

In this episode:

Early struggles that Michelle faced in her practice
Helpful Instagram changes
Taking professional photos
Investing in a professional website

Early struggles that Michelle faced in her practice

Before my first consultation with Michelle, she had struggled with a period of slow growth within her Canadian online practice.

After our conversation, she tried some new techniques and approaches to marketing that I recommended, and things turned around for the better!

Helpful Instagram changes

Michelle was inspired after our first consultation and committed herself to making some of the changes that we had discussed to help her reach and surpass her goals.

Some of these changes included:

Filming videos that reflected what in-session counselling with Michelle would look and feel like
Switching to a more casual-looking yet professional set of earphones to wear during videos and counselling
Creating Instagram reels

In creating her Instagram reels, Michelle got more comfortable and as she did so, she became more popular online. She often created reels out-of-office to be less formal, makes some reels outside, and used music in the background.

Taking professional photos

Michelle reached out to a friend of hers whom she had previously worked on music projects with to take some high-quality, professional photos.

Together, they took some new headshots and did some indoor and outdoor photoshoots. These top-quality photos can instantly boost your credibility and approachability, so consider investing in working with a professional photographer to take a few.

Investing in a professional website

Creating an authentic, smooth, and professional online representation of yourself and your business is an integral aspect of building sustainable success for your Canadian online private practice.

Consider working with companies like Brighter Vision to build you an impactful and easy-to-use website that connects you more easily to your ideal clients.

Connect with me:

Instagram

Website

Resources mentioned and useful links:

Ep 33: Neena and Meg from Articulate Design Co: How to Design a Gorgeous Counselling Space

Learn more about the tools and deals that I love and use for my Canadian private practice

Listen to Michelle’s first episode on the Fearless Practice Podcast

Learn more about Michelle on her website, Instagram, Facebook, Psychology Today, and LinkedIn profiles

Need a new website? Consider working with Brighter Vision!

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Do you provide counselling in-person, online, or both? How do you incorporate your branding colours, ethos, and approach to therapy into the atmosphere of your office? Are you looking at your space now and thinking that it may need some sprucing up?

In this podcast episode, I speak with Neena and Meg about the best way to create a unified and welcoming therapeutic space. From adding layers of textures and light to the science behind a calming office, there is something new here for you to learn!

MEET NEENA AND MEG

Neena and Meg are two clinicians on a mission to change the way we interact with our wellness spaces. They want to optimize the client and clinician journey through the creation of both function and beautifully designed spaces. They believe that inspiring spaces, inspire.

Learn more about Neena and Meg on their company’s website.

In this episode:

The secret behind Articulate Design Co’s success
Designing a space that embodies the business
Neena and Meg’s tips
Integrate your space with your branding
Some don’ts for your online counselling space

The secret behind Articulate Design Co’s success

Different design companies promise to help clinicians create a welcoming space for their clients. But what made Neena and Meg’s company grow so fast and sustainably?

The secret lies in the fact that they are both clinicians themselves. They understand the deeper reasons behind what it takes to create the best therapeutic environment for both therapists and their clients.

Designing a space that embodies the business

When Neena and Meg work with clinicians to create their therapy space, they combine two things; the aesthetic of your business and the needs of your ideal clients.

Neena and Meg strive to create unique spaces for each of their clients. They do not want their designs to be recognizable as their work because they strive to elevate the essence of the clinician’s space, atmosphere, and their approach to clients.

Neena and Meg’s tips

Designing a peaceful and welcoming therapeutic space is a multi-layered process. However, some principles that Neena and Meg suggest being mindful of include:

Paint: many people paint a space white because it is neutral. However, it can be a challenging colour because it accentuates every other colour in the room. There are different and more thoughtful ways of colouring a space without creating visual tension.
Textures: create variation in the space by using different textures because it creates a layered look. Use wood, have carpets and pillows, and purchase some natural plants to create a holistic atmosphere.
Lighting: great lighting brings in another element and adds layers to your space. Use soft and natural lighting where possible.

These tips work for both in-person and online counselling spaces. Incorporate them together in your room because your physical and virtual presence needs to be aligned.

Integrate your space with your branding

To further align your virtual and physical counselling space, as well as to remain consistent in your business and marketing efforts, you can (subtlety) bring your company colours into the atmosphere.

The more your clients can interact with your branding colours, the more they will recognize your online presence. When clients see and feel that branding consistency, they tend to trust you more.

Connect with me:

Instagram

Website

Resources mentioned and useful links:

Ep 32: Raising and Setting Your Rates Ethically for New and Current Clients

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Learn more about Neena and Meg on their company’s website, LinkedIn, Instagram, Pinterest, and Linktree profiles.

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When was the last time you raised your hourly rate? Do you feel anxious or nervous when it comes to addressing your hourly fee with new or current clients, especially when you know you need to increase your income to continue providing top-quality therapy?

There are a lot of emotions involved in setting and raising your rates and they can sometimes hold you back from making progress in your business if you don’t address them. I have struggled with this too. So I hope this episode will help you to decide how to raise your rates ethically and where to start when setting your rates.

In This Episode:

What to consider when setting your rate
Overcoming the emotional toll of raising your rates
How to ethically raise your rates

What to consider when setting your rate

A lot goes into deciding on an amount to charge per hour for your time and energy with a client. It can make it easier for you, and them, to understand your value by making sense of what goes into it behind the scenes.

I recommend setting your rates based on your skills, experience, training, outcomes, and the unique qualities that you have as a therapist.

If you are starting from the very beginning, I recommend doing some research on Psychology Today and finding out how much therapists in your field are charging in your area. Find the middle range, and add on an extra $10.

For new clients, I recommend (bravely!) raising your rates, especially once you are three weeks full, and keep doing that until you find a good flow of having a session or two available every three weeks. If it doesn’t work, then you can lower the rates again, no problem (as the new rates only apply to new clients).

Overcoming the emotional toll of raising your rates Some therapists may not be supportive or may judge your choices, but don’t let them stop you. Even though some may disapprove, some therapists are in the same boat as you and will encourage you to pursue your value as a therapist and the life you are building for yourself.

Remind yourself of why you started your Canadian private practice. For me, I wanted to achieve a healthy work-life balance because I did not want to see a lot of clients and get burned out. I wanted to provide high-quality therapy to my clients while also making time to enjoy life.

How to ethically raise your rates
The simple answer is to not exploit your clients. Make sure that your prices are shown clearly on your website, Psychology Today, and Jane App.

Therefore, when people are looking at your services they will know exactly what your prices are before engaging with you.

When raising your rates for clients that you are currently seeing, send out an email stating that you are raising your rates and they can either pay the new rate or reach out to you if it’s too expensive. If a client cannot afford your new rate you can refer them to a therapist within their budget or offer them a discount. Keep in mind that, depending on the situation, it may be unethical to end therapy with a client and refer them out right away.

Connect with me:

Instagram

Website

Resources Mentioned and Useful Links:

Ep 31: Heidi Sturgeon: A Fellow Canadian Therapist’s Private Practice Journey | EP 31

Article: How to Set Up a Canadian Private Practice Website

Jane App (use code FEARLESS for one month free)

Research the prices of other therapists in your area on Psychology Today

Rate, review, and subscribe to this podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Stitcher, Spotify, Amazon, and TuneIn

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What does success look like to you in your Canadian private practice? Where do you want to place your focus and time within your practice? Do you even have to hire more therapists?

In this episode, Heidi and I speak about our respective Canadian private practice journeys – how surprisingly similar they are! – and what lies in store for us now. From networking to overcoming hurdles to reclaiming our approach to a work-life balance, we talk about it all.

MEET HEIDI STURGEON

Heidi is a clinical social worker that has a group online private practice in Halifax. Her vision to offer another option for clients seeking therapy led to her developing an Online Mental Health Private Practice in 2016, www.heidisturgeon.com, that provides secure and confidential therapy to clients in the comfort of their home, office, or location of their choice. In 2019 her practice expanded to become the first Online Mental Health Group Practice in Atlantic Canada.

When not working with clients or working on her Private Practice Heidi can be found on or near the water, reading or appreciating a good cup of coffee.

Learn more about Heidi on her website.

In this episode:

Launching an online practice
Allow flexibility and change
Heidi’s tips for finding clients
Do you want to hire therapists?

Launching an online practice

Heidi launched her private practice into the digital space after she resigned from her government job in 2015. Way ahead of the curve, Heidi decided to have this feature in her Canadian private practice to make it more client-focused and accessible.

There are often barriers to clients accessing therapy due to transportation issues or finding affordable child-care services to take care of their families while they seek professional counselling.

More than that, Heidi wanted to work from a home office space and have more control over her schedule, and building a Canadian online private practice helped her to achieve those goals.

Allow flexibility and change

For any Canadian therapist on their private practice journey, Heidi's advice is to have a plan in mind and to work towards your goals but to also allow some flexibility.

There will be changes and shifts that happen in your business and life and practicing being flexible and open-minded will help you to more easily overcome those challenges.

Heidi’s tips for finding clients

Get going on building your network. Referrals can find you through any stream whether through past or current clients, or fellow therapists who need to refer other clients out.

Networking efforts can look different and range from:

Joining an organization for business in your community or province
Connecting with fellow Canadian therapists who see clients with similar pain points to yours
Building relationships with health practitioners that work with your clients
Creating authentic and relatable content on social media platforms
Signing up for online directories to help clients find you

Do you want to hire therapists?

There is the hustle-capitalist culture in our society that urges people to constantly push to the next level, to never stop, and to always be chasing a goal.

If you want to grow a successful and large Canadian private practice, hiring more therapists is key. However, is that what you want? Are you defining your work fulfillment based on the quick succession of successes, or on the quality of the work that you do with clients and colleagues?

Resources mentioned and useful links:

Ep 30: Tara Scullion: What You Need to Know About Canadian Private Practice Insurance

Learn more about the tools and deals that I love and use for my Canadian private practice

Learn more about Heidi on her website, Psychology Today profile, Instagram page, and Facebook page.

Listen to my podcast episode What I Wish I Knew When Starting a Canadian Private Practice | EP 27

Rate, review, and subscribe to this podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Stitcher, Spotify, Amazon, and TuneIn

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What is your sleep-at-night factor when it comes to insurance? Do you lie awake at night fretting over what could go wrong, or have you taken the necessary steps to protect yourself and your practice?

Whether your Canadian private practice provides teletherapy, in-person counselling, or both, you need to make sure that you cover your bases. In this podcast episode, Tara and I discuss the ins and outs of liability insurance and which essentials you need to have in your insurance package to maintain professional protection and integrity.

MEET TARA SCULLION

Tara is a Registered Insurance Broker and Associate Director at BMS, a specialist broker that provides insurance coverage and risk management services to over 500,000 healthcare and regulated professionals across Canada and globally. Tara and the BMS teamwork to deliver evidence-based industry data and professional liability to counsellor and psychotherapist members across the country.

Learn more about Tara on her LinkedIn profile and business website.

In this episode:

Liability insurance
Some of Tara’s insurance package recommendations for therapists
Liability insurance for online therapy

Liability insurance

Liability insurance can also be called errors and omissions insurance or malpractice insurance.

You could potentially be found liable for damages if some advice or treatment you gave goes awry, and that’s where you can offset some risk onto yourself by taking out liability insurance.

What you should make sure to include in your liability insurance policy:

If you are employed, check your employer's liability policy and see if you are included. If not, then you may need to get liability insurance.
Regulatory complaints. Some provinces have colleges where clients could make a complaint against you or your practice, therefore making sure your professional liability insurance includes coverage for regulatory complaints.

Some of Tara’s insurance package recommendations for therapists

For Canadian therapists in private practice, Tara recommends taking out packages that include:

Professional liability insurance
Commercial general liability which provides coverage for third-party property damage or bodily injury
Commercial liability insurance for events and speaking gigs
Legal entity policy or business professional liability to protect your business entity name

Liability insurance for online therapy

Now that many Canadian therapists are providing telehealth due to the pandemic, the business world has had to develop new strategies to protect both practices and clients online.

You have to look at:

Territorial limit of your policy: where your policy is covering you for the services that you are delivering.
Jurisdictional limit of your policy: the territory or country where a claim can be brought against you.

To further protect yourself and your practice, be sure to remain within your scope of practice both where you are located and where your client is located. This means that you keep to the regulations of your client’s province, even if it differs slightly from yours.

Read up on GetCyberSafe about how you can further protect yourself and your Canadian private practice online while providing teletherapy and if you practice in different countries.

Connect with me:

Instagram

Website

Resources mentioned and useful links:

How to Create a Video that Takes Your Marketing to the Next Level | EP 29

Learn more about the tools and deals that I love and use for my Canadian private practice

Learn more about Tara on her LinkedIn profile and business website

Jane App – use the promo code FEARLESS for one month grace period

Listen to my podcast episode about Starting a Canadian Group Private Practice | EP 26

Protect yourself online and read up on resources on GetCyberSafe

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Are most of your social media postings and marketing efforts static pictures? Do you want to elevate your practice in the eyes of prospective clients? Or would you simply like to boost your Canadian private practice’s online presence?

Whatever your goals are, making a video to advertise your Canadian private practice is the next best thing to connecting with your ideal client face-to-face! In this episode, I share my experience and share with you some of my secret tips to help you to create your first video, and how to make it great!

In This Episode:

Why you should use videos in your marketing
Invest in your private practice by making a professional video
Tips for your video

Why you should use videos in your marketing

It is crucial for anyone who is starting and growing a Canadian private practice to make use of videos in their marketing and online advertising.

In your videos, you can talk about:

Who you are as a therapist
Why you are a therapist
How you can help people
What therapy with you may look like
What outcomes are possible if clients choose to do therapy with you

Standard networking is still important but if you want to take your marketing to the next level, you should consider a video!

Invest in your private practice by making a professional video Filming and shooting a high-quality video with B-roll and background music can be expensive.

You could shoot a short video with a friend and edit it yourself, but that is a risky choice, as it may cause more harm than good because it may look less professional, hereby undermining the true quality of your practice and the therapy you provide.

Even though it is expensive, consider it an investment for your Canadian private practice because it will move your business to the next level.

Tips for your video

When you are giving your speech, you want to make sure that it isn’t too long.
Answer questions within your video to make it as natural as possible.
Create a realistic setting. Film your video in the same setting as where the therapy would be happening, or in an office that looks similar.
Minimize clutter, create an inviting space, and make it as cohesive as possible.
If you have brand colors then make sure to subtly present them within your video to unify your brand even further.
Lighting, lighting, lighting! Make sure that there is good lighting when you are filming, either natural or soft artificial.
Make sure that the videographer you are working with has good quality equipment, such as lights, the camera itself, and microphones for top-quality sound.

Top tip: Before you work with your videographer, ask to see their resume and any past projects they have worked on to see whether you like their style or not.

Get to editing. Once your videographer sends you edits, you can go back and forth with them to get the best final edit. You can give them your preferences and they can recommend their professional opinions.

Now, put your professional and amazing video on the front page of your website so that any clients that are on your page can watch it!

Consider putting a short 15-second cut of the video on your Psychology Today profile for an extra boost.

Connect with me:

Instagram

Resources Mentioned and Useful Links:

Ep 28: How to Manage Burnout in Canadian Private Practice: Live Consulting with Holly Sher

Article: How to Set Up a Canadian Private Practice Website

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Are you stuck in the loop of taking on more clients at a discounted rate to make ends meet, leading you to become more and more burned out from the extra therapy hours? Where can you save some time and make passive income to help you increase your income and get more work/life balance?

It is possible to create systems that make it easier for your Canadian private practice to grow (and your clinic hours to shrink). All it takes is some planning, some consulting, and a bit of bravery. In this episode, I talk with Holly about how she can do just that.

MEET HOLLY SHER

Holly loves being a therapist for a living and finds it super rewarding being on another's journey with them. She loves animals (even bats), her partner, cooking, gardening, and a good thunderstorm.

Learn more about Holly on her Psychology Today profile.

In this episode:

Feeling underpaid and overworked
Letting go of EAP work
Reducing administrative work
Pick one system

Feeling underpaid and overworked

Many Canadian therapists in private practice offer sliding scales to potential clients who need financial assistance. Over time, this can lead to burnout, as the therapist may take on more and more clients simply to make ends meet.

For Holly, I recommend:

Getting off EAP work
Reducing the amount of time she spends completing admin
Setting up a structured, non-negotiable sliding scale system for qualifying clients

Letting go of EAP work

Making the leap can be scary, but once you get there, you will have more time and energy to attract the clients that you want – and that can pay you what you need and deserve.

1 – Crunch the numbers: how much income do you need?

2 – Stick to the number that you need. Provide a set amount of sessions, and once those are up, invite them to sign up for additional services of yours until they can afford your full fee.

3 – Offer a membership community: create a course or membership community that your EAP clients can sign up for at an affordable monthly price to receive additional videos and webinars that you post.

Reducing Administrative Work

When writing up notes after a session, don’t spend hours on this task. Learn how to write clear and concise notes by speaking to your clinical supervisor and colleagues.

Also, hire a virtual assistant to answer phone calls and emails so that you can focus your energy on counselling clients and having more time off! It may take a lot of time at the beginning to hire and train a virtual assistant but once the onboarding is complete, you will have more freedom to do the things that you enjoy.

Pick one system

Instead of splitting your time, energy, and money between various platforms and software, pick one. I recommend Jane App as it is fully suited and designed for therapists.

Some of the benefits include:

A variety of tools that can help you with your Canadian practice
Telehealth included in the price
Streamlined online bookings

Connect with me:

Instagram

Website

Resources mentioned and useful links:

What I Wish I Knew When Starting a Canadian Private Practice | EP 27

Learn more about the tools and deals that I love and use for my Canadian private practice

Learn more about Holly on her Psychology Today profile

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When last did you make time for your hobbies? Do you feel like you are on a constant hamster wheel within your job? What does success mean to you? At the beginning of my private practice journey, I thought that business success would help me feel happier and fulfilled. But over the last five years, I realized that I had to make a change.

In this podcast episode, I open up about my Canadian private practice journey and how my idea of what success means has changed. I hope that my experience will give you some food for thought about what success means to you, and how to find that invaluable fulfillment while starting and growing your own private practice.

In This Episode:

What I thought private practice success would feel like
What I realized about private practice success
Achieving work-life balance
What I wish I knew when I was starting my practice

What I thought private practice success would feel like

First when I started my Canadian private practice around five years ago, I started it because I wanted to:

Be in control of my own work-life balance
Be my own boss
Counsel clients with therapy approaches I was passionate about
Begin the journey of being an entrepreneur

I thought that if I worked really hard, I would have a happy life. This idea is normalized in university with the cycle of working hard, becoming burnt out, recuperating over a couple of weeks, and then starting the whole process over again in order to get a degree.

What I realized about private practice success Over the past five years, I have learned that this capitalist notion of success and the constant hustle did not make my life a perfect dream and was not sustainable.

I now practice being aware of hustle culture and reminding myself that it will not fulfill me. This helps to stop myself from going back to the old ways of burning myself out to get things done.

Achieving work-life balance
Having a clearer grasp on what makes you happy and pursuing that may help to achieve a sustainable middle ground between working and living. Don’t get caught up in work that you don’t enjoy in the present because you think a certain level of success will make you happy in the future.

What are your expectations and what does your current mindset around having a Canadian private practice look like? Will your work help you in your life to achieve a more genuine sense of well-being and fulfilment?

If you are getting stuck in the mind loop of thinking that you will only be happy in the future once you have achieved a certain level of success, I challenge you to reframe that mindset!

Remember that happiness is not something you reach. It is something that you gain by doing the work, the work of prioritizing well-being every day!

What I wish I knew when I was starting my practice
I wish that I knew at the beginning of starting my Canadian private practice that success would not make all my problems go away. Those feelings and stressors are a part of being human, and they require intentional work to resolve.

What I wish that I did when I started my practice was to invest more time into my hobbies, be social outside of work, and focus on things in my work that I actually enjoyed doing rather than the things that I felt I needed to do in order to reach a certain level of success/happiness.

Connect with me:

Instagram

Resources Mentioned and Useful Links:

Ep 26: Starting a Canadian Group Private Practice

Article: How to Set Up a Canadian Private Practice Website

Rate, review, and subscribe to this podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Stitcher, Spotify, Amazon, and TuneIn

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At the beginning of my private practice journey, I knew that I wanted to run a group practice. I didn’t know how or when! But I knew that it was something I wanted to do because I liked the idea of passive income and not being burnt out by seeing a lot of clients. Though a lot of work at the beginning, I’m so glad I committed to the journey!

In This Episode:

Why hire another therapist?
When and why I hired my first therapist
How to hire your first therapist
Will I hire more therapists?

Why hire another therapist?

By hiring therapists to start your Canadian group private practice, you can help more clients while making passive income. You’re also helping other Canadian therapists to reach their full potential by giving them an opportunity to have more clinical freedom and work/life balance.

You can also enjoy working in a great environment and within a like-minded community of because you have hired them!

When and why I hired my first therapist In the fifth year of running my solo Canadian private practice, I was getting pretty busy. I kept raising my rates but I was still busy! I knew that something needed to be done and that there was an opportunity here.

I decided that I wanted to hire an associate because:

It allows me to offer more clients therapy at a lower rate
Having another therapist in your private practice earns you passive income
My practice then becomes more appealing to a broader range of clients

How to hire your first therapist

Decide on payment: will they be an independent contractor or an employee?

Do research to see which type will best suit how you want to run your growing group practice. I chose an independent contractor agreement as I don’t have to pay my associate if they don’t have clients but also my associate gets a larger amount of pay if they have clients.

Hire a lawyer to write a contract.

It is totally worth it to hire a Canadian lawyer to write the contract because – when done correctly from the beginning – it can save you a lot of time, money, and energy in the future by making sure that you have everything correctly in order with your new therapist from the get-go.

You can even reach out to law firms in your province and see if they have associates or students that might want to write the contract for a reduced rate and remember that you will make this money back.

Find a therapist who wants to join.

Hire someone that you know, respect, and have a good relationship with. However, steer clear from hiring your best friend as this may change the dynamics of your relationship!

Hire the therapist and negotiate their fee, schedule, and any perks.

Take some time to go through the contract with your prospective therapist, negotiate fees and terms, and bring them on board!

Will I hire more therapists?
If they are the right fit, then for sure! But this process made me realize how much time and energy it can take to bring on a new hire. However, it was totally worth it and I recommend being prepared for:

Onboarding time and the effort it takes to train them
Dealing with the responsibility of handling a new therapist
Choosing the right fit by hiring someone that does not want their own private practice because you offer them value by being in yours

Connect with me:

Instagram

Resources Mentioned and Useful Links:

Ep 25: Kelly Stevens: Tips for Relocating Your Canadian Private Practice with Ease | EP 25

Article: How to Set Up a Canadian Private Practice Website

Building a Canadian Online Group Private Practice | EP 06

Rate, review, and subscribe to this podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Stitcher, Spotify, Amazon, and TuneIn

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Do you have to move your Canadian private practice? Are you nervous about losing clients? Though daunting, moving your Canadian private practice to a new city or province can potentially provide you with the opportunity for business growth, financial gain, and personal development!

If you are moving or have been thinking about relocating, in this podcast episode, I speak with Kelley Stevens about her experience of moving (three times!) and all her knowledge, tips, and advice to aspiring Canadian therapists who are seeking to try something new for themselves and their practice.

MEET KELLEY STEVENS

Kelley Stevens is a licensed marriage and family therapist and a private practice consultant for therapists. Kelley teaches online courses and hosts workshops for therapists looking to build successful and sustainable cash-pay private practices.

Learn more about Kelley on her website.

In this episode:

Do you want to move to a new province or state?
Sublet a physical business address in your new city
Letting go of your previous referral list
Which marketing efforts to focus on first after moving
Kelley’s advice for relocating therapists

Do you want to move to a new province?

If you are considering a big move and heading across the country, the first point of call would be to check your current licensing and whether or not it is correct for the new province that you will be working in.

Sublet a business address in your new city

While you are planning your arrival in the new city or province, make it a priority to set up a physical address for your business.

This is great to boost your search engine optimization (SEO) in your new city because it makes it much easier for people who are searching in your area to now find you.

The easiest way to do this would be to contact a therapist in the city you are moving to and see if you can sublet their address, or even an office in their building for an afternoon or two a week, as your business physical address.

Letting go of your previous referral list

For any Canadian therapist who moves to a new location, having to let go of an old referral source is a professional heartbreak. However, you can leverage your existing network to help you land new connections in your new city before you have even settled in.

As long as it is legal and you're licensed correctly, you can provide telehealth in your new Canadian private practice so that you can stay connected with your previous clients!

Which marketing efforts to focus on first after moving

To prepare to move and for once you arrive, Kelley recommends:

Spend a couple of months in advance by tagging your online posts for both the city that you are currently in and the city that you are aspiring to move to.
Get in touch with therapists, doctors, and other mental health practitioners who work in your current city and see if they have contact with your ideal client in your new city.
Set up your website and social media platforms to focus on the new city so that foundational SEO is being built.

Kelley’s advice for relocating therapists

Connect with other therapists to support one another in your personal business growth and development.

Consider joining a Facebook community of therapists that is centered around your current city and the new city that you are thinking about moving to. Go to the in-person networking events in the city that you live in.

Connect with me:

Instagram

Website

Resources mentioned and useful links:

Ep 24: Hire a Canadian Virtual Assistant: How and Why You Should Do it Today

Learn more about the tools and deals that I love and use for my Canadian private practice

Learn more about Kelley on her website, Facebook, and Instagram profiles

Connect with other telehealth therapists through the Telehealth Therapist Network and Frame

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When I started my Canadian private practice I did all the admin, from answering the phone to responding to emails. It took up a lot of hours that could have been focused on seeing more clients or building my practice. But finally I hired a virtual assistant and now my practice is growing and I haven’t looked back!

Are you still doing all the admin within your private practice while providing therapy to your clients? Do you find yourself stretched thin between all the deadlines and to-do lists? Maybe it’s time for you to hire your first virtual assistant (VA)! In this podcast episode, I tell you my story and explain exactly how you can get started.

In This Episode:

Why is hiring a VA important?
How I hired my first VA
How to train your VA
When should you hire your first VA?

Why is hiring a VA important?

As a counsellor, you don’t want to waste your valuable time doing admin work like answering phone calls or responding to emails. These admin tasks can easily be done by someone else, freeing up your time and energy to focus on what you do best: being a therapist and helping people!

Some reasons why hiring a VA is important for your business:

You can then see more clients
You can take more days off to rest
Legitimize your business because clients have to go through your VA to get to you

How I hired my first VA

I decided I wanted to hire my own VA because I wanted the freedom to train them from the ground up for my specific Canadian private practice and I wanted them to do specific tasks that were not included in packages at virtual assistant companies.

After realizing that these companies were not the right fit for me, the next option was to write up an ad and post it online. In this ad I wrote about:

The qualities I was looking for in a virtual assistant
The education that I was expecting from my VA
The hourly price I was willing to pay
How many hours of work per month I needed from the VA

How to train your VA

After you have found your VA, and hired them, this is what I recommend to train them to become a well-suited employee for your Canadian private practice:

Meet with your VA once a week for 30-minutes
Create a Google Doc instruction manual and have your VA as an editor so that you can both edit it as you are talking in real-time.
Use Slack for communication with your VA about scheduling or any work-related queries. Remember that Slack is not PIPEDA compliant, so be careful not to share any identifying information through it.
For password privacy, use Dashlane to share passwords securely with your VA and monitor how your VA is checking up on the accounts they need to.
Set up a virtual phone to contact your virtual assistant! Use Grasshopper to communicate with your VA easily and professionally.

When should you hire your first VA?

As soon as you can! It is one of the best investments that you can make in your Canadian private practice.

Connect with me:

Instagram

Resources Mentioned and Useful Links:

Ep 23: What should I Include in my Canadian Marketing Plan?: Live Consultation with Michelle Noftall

Article: How to Set Up a Canadian Private Practice Website

How I Set Up My Canadian Private Practice | EP 02

How I Grew My Canadian Private Practice | EP 04

Consider using Slack for online communications with your VA

Consider using Dashlane for security and privacy with your VA

Consider using Grasshopper as a virtual phone system

Rate, review, and subscribe to this podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Stitcher, Spotify, Amazon, and TuneIn

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Are you fully utilizing the power of keywords in your blog posts? What works and what doesn’t work in your current marketing plan? From Instagram reels to networking relationships, your marketing plan is important and should be fine-tuned and optimized.

In this episode, I do a live consultation with Michelle and discuss how to strategically diversify her marketing plan to advertise her Canadian private practice to her ideal clients.

MEET MICHELLE NOFTALL

Michelle Noftall is a Canadian Certified Counsellor who opened her own online practice, OPAL Counselling NL, this past Fall. Her areas of interest are in grief, loss, and life transitions. She is also a musician and educator who is beginning a training program to integrate music into her counselling practice. She strives to provide a valuable service to her clients as well as build on her own strengths and passions as she does so.

Learn more about Michelle on her website.

In this episode:

Utilize your blog posts
Instagram reels
Network
Building business relationships
Stay consistent

Utilize your blog posts

Keywords in blog posts have dual purposes.

You can use blog posts to help your ideal clients connect with you while they look at your websites, but you can also strategically use keywords in blog posts to help your Canadian private practice rank higher on online searches.

When reviewing your marketing plan, consider looking at the blog posts you are writing and the keywords you are using. Tactically (and tactfully) combine keywords with the common pain points of your ideal clients as well as the geographical locations of your prospective clients.

Instagram reels

Instagram’s algorithm currently favours videos more than photographs, so you can greatly boost your presence on Instagram by posting more reels instead of infographics.

In your Instagram reels, be sure to use:

Transitions
Music
Location

Your marketing plan should not only include the platforms you use but also your look within the content. Remember to be genuine in your appearance so that when your audience sees your videos, they see what you would look like in a therapy session. You want to look approachable and kind.

Network

Invest in creating info and/or business cards to give to people and companies in your community that you plan to network with.

Networking is an important part of marketing yourself and building reliable, mutually beneficial relationships within your community. By creating some small, aesthetic, and professional cards, you can easily strike up a conversation and make a business connection.

Contact businesses, doctors, and organizations that work with clients in your niche to foster referral sources and create business connections.

Building business relationships

Networking is the first step to creating long-term, mutual business relationships. The next step is to offer your new business connections a small giveaway or offering to give to their clients, thereby linking the client to you and your services.

Consider recording a free webinar or video series to offer your new networking referral to give to their clients.

Stay consistent

With any marketing plan strategy, it can take a handful of times for a prospective client to interact with your content online before they reach out to work with you. Therefore, you must stay consistent with your marketing efforts.

Diversify how you interact with your audience to boost your marketing efforts. Use Instagram reels, infographics, free webinars, and network with the local community to foster trust and encourage interaction.

Connect with me:

Instagram

Website

Resources mentioned and useful links:

Ep 22: Linzy Bonham: Build the Financial Foundation For Your Canadian Private Practice

Learn more about the tools and deals that I love and use for my Canadian private practice

Learn more about Michelle on her website, Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn profiles

Check to see if you are eligible for EI benefits on this website

Need a new website? Consider working with Brighter Vision!

Create info and business cards through Moo

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Do you worry about money in your Canadian private practice? Have you separated your personal bank account from your business account?? How do you plan for retirement?

In this podcast episode, I speak with Canadian money coach Linzy Bonham who covers the basics of how to build a strong financial foundation whereupon you can build your Canadian private practice.

MEET LINZY BONHAM

Linzy Bonham is a therapist turned money coach who teaches Canadian therapists and health practitioners the money skills to feel empowered and in control of their private practice finances, so they can have rich and fulfilling lives.

Linzy has helped hundreds of therapists and health practitioners in her signature course, Money Skills For Therapists, and thousands more through her free resources (including her podcast by the same name).

Learn more about Linzy Bonham on her website and Instagram.

In this episode:

The importance of separating your bank accounts
Find the balance between saving and spending your private practice income
Practice the “Profit First” philosophy
Is there ever a time when you can spend money from your sales tax account?
How to plan and save for retirement

The importance of separating your bank accounts

Many therapists may find it difficult to handle the business aspect of owning a Canadian private, but remember that managing your money and running a business is a skill that can be learned.

Linzy has seen that many therapists new to private practice often struggle with supervising their bank accounts and separating their cash flow.

Create separate bank accounts to lessen confusion and the potentiality of losing track of where your money is going.

Find the balance between saving and spending your private practice income

There is a balance that you can find between spending too much and being too strict with yourself.

Running a successful Canadian private practice is an important job that requires money management skills and business tools.

Allow yourself to find the balance between saving money and enjoying the benefits of your hard work by using the profit first model.

Practice the “Profit First” philosophy

Profit First is a budgeting system developed by Mike Michalowicz, the business writer, where small business owners are encouraged to divide up their expenses and pay a different percentage of their income into the following labeled bank accounts:

taxes
profit or “entrepreneur reward money”
salary
operating expenses

Is there ever a time when you can spend money from your sales tax account?

Yes, but it depends on your return of investment on the decision that you make.

There could be situations where you borrow money from your tax fund to purchase a course or skill that can immediately help you to boost your Canadian private practice.

You need to be honest with yourself and trust yourself that whatever money you spend from your sales tax account that you are saving to pay your taxes at fiscal year-end, you will put it back in.

How to plan and save for retirement

Speak to a financial advisor to figure out what makes sense for your situation and goals.

It does not have to be perfect, so start small for now, and develop it as you grow. Lay the foundations as soon as you can to help yourself in the future.

Connect with me:

Instagram

Website

Resources mentioned and useful links:

Ep 21: Jara Dekker: Are You Curious About Being a Digital Nomad Therapist?

Learn more about the tools and deals that I love and use for my Canadian private practice

Listen to Linzy Bonhams’ Money Skills for Therapists Podcast

Follow Linzy Bonham on her website, LinkedIn account, and Instagram profile

Learn more about Profit First through Mike Michalowicz’s book

Check out this website to calculate your projected tax expenses

Listen to Julia Smith’s podcast episode about budgeting for your Canadian Private Practice

Look at different bank accounts like Tangerine

Check out Linzy Bonham’s Money Skills for Therapists course

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Have you considered taking your Canadian private practice online and overseas? Would you be interested in becoming a digital nomad therapist? Is it even possible?

In this podcast episode, I speak with Jara Dekker, a seasoned traveller who’s been working on the move for the past five years. We discuss the pros and cons of digital nomadism, how to make friends, and how to combine the passion that you have for life with the passion to continue building your Canadian private practice.

MEET JARA DEKKER

Having stood at the crossroads between visionary and project manager for many years, Jara has learned that relationships are THE most important investment you can be making in your life. This discovery has resulted in her creation of Little Black Book, the system for nurturing and creating your network, a second mind holding all the details so you don't have to.
Her study of relationships and people has also co-created the world's most revealing psychometric assessment (or personality test for us laymen ;P ) Logos, which reveals your genius, your blind spots, and the fastest path to reach your goals.

Jara does all of this while traveling around the world, hosting different events in multiple countries, and adventuring.

Learn more about Jara Dekker on her website.

In this episode:

How Jara became a digital nomad
What to consider as an aspiring digital nomad therapist
Create the life that you want
How to make friends wherever you go

How Jara became a digital nomad

A digital nomad is a person who works remotely, full-time or part-time, while traveling to new places.

From completing her schooling in the Netherlands to adventuring with her family from Hawaii to the Philippines, traveling around the world herself, and coming from a family of travellers, it feels natural for Jara to move from place to place.

What to consider as an aspiring digital nomad therapist

Set the standard for what you are willing to do and what you are not willing to do during this experience.

For example, would you want to predominantly stay in Airbnb’s or hotels? Adjust your expectations to create your budget accordingly.

Where would you like to go? Think about the countries and continents you could travel to.

Remember the time zone differences so that you can still provide therapy sessions at hours that are appropriate for you and your clients.

Since a strong internet connection is going to be vital for you to continue providing therapy, make sure to check that the places you want to go to and work in have the appropriate connectivity requirements.

Create the life that you want

At any point in your life, it is important to ask yourself – as both a therapist and a client – whose voice is dictating my life?

If you find that you are living your life by someone else’s advice or rules, then it may be time to change things up and find what truly feels good and works for you.

Start small to try it out. If you want to try the digital nomad life, take a month away, find someone to sublet your apartment or to take care of your home, and try being a digital nomad therapist somewhere.

How to make friends wherever you go

Even though constant travelling can sometimes feel lonely, it’s not. You will create a massive network of online friends and loved ones as you travel.

Jara’s tips for making new friends:

Go to a new coffee shop a few times a week and connect with other regulars like yourself
Join Facebook groups for ex-pats of your home country when you get to a new place

Resources mentioned and useful links:

Ep 20: How Do I Optimize My New Canadian Private Practice? Live Consulting with Cayle Fiala

Learn more about Jara Dekker on her LinkedIn, Instagram, and Facebook profiles and her website

Research these countries which encourage digital nomad workers

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Is your Canadian private practice brand new? Are you unfamiliar with the business side of running a Canadian private practice? When you are starting out, it can be daunting to make sense of sales tax protocols and how to write a great Psychology Today profile.

In this episode, I do a live consultation with Cayle and discuss various tips and tricks to help her establish the foundations of her new Canadian private practice.

MEET CAYLE FIALA

Cayle is an educator and therapist with a passion for art, inspiring creativity, and building meaningful connections. She is currently in the process of building her own private practice in rural Saskatchewan. Cayle's professional title is The Rural Therapist.

Learn more about Cayle on her Instagram.

In this episode:

Give your practice its own name
Julia’s sales tax tip
How to word your Psychology Today profile
Offer group therapy at a lower rate

Give your practice its own name

It can be tempting to use your name for your Canadian private practice, as you may have already made a name for yourself. However, give your business its own name. This will make it easier to market or sell one day while establishing it in its own right.

‘If at some point down the road you want to sell your business, it will be a lot harder to sell your business if it’s your name.’ – Julia Smith

Therefore, consider your long-term goals and how your Canadian private practice may develop when you are choosing its name.

Julia got an HST number as soon as she started her Canadian private practice to minimize business worry, but if you know you are not going to be earning more than 30K, you do not need to get an HST number.

When you do get an HST number – and if you start with one – it can be very beneficial to include the tax within the price to separate it.

‘That HST number is for your sales tax, the 15% … with Jane App you can easily include in your price the 15% sales tax so that when clients get their invoice it’s already included in it, so that when you give everything to your accountant it will show your sales tax as well as the money that you charged for therapy, and it’s really easily divided.’ – Julia Smith

How to word your Psychology Today profile

The first two sentences on your Psychology Today profile matter the most.

In the first paragraph, discuss:

Their pain points
What they are currently feeling
How you can help them
What they will feel like after completing therapy with you

In the second paragraph, discuss:

The different therapy modalities that you offer
How these modalities will help your client

In the third paragraph, discuss:

Your work history
The level of your therapeutic experience
Your price

Offer group therapy at a lower rate

If you would like to have reduced hourly rates, offer the reduced rate for group therapy.

You can then help many people and keep therapy accessible while still earning sustainable income for your Canadian private practice.

Connect with me:

Instagram

Website

Resources mentioned and useful links:

Ep 19: How to Set Up Your Canadian Private Practice for Financial Success

www.jane.app/mentalhealth use the promo code FEARLESS for one month’s grace period

Check out more of Cayle Fiala’s work on Instagram.

Learn more about the Canadian Counselling and Psychotherapy Association

Ali Taylor: Why You Need a Canadian EMR for Your Private Practice| EP 11

How to Set Your Psychology Today Profile Up for Success | EP 12

Sign onto Psychology Today

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I love to look at numbers and create a flexible yet profitable budget, but it’s entirely another story to follow a budget. Learning how to effectively manage money is an important skill to master as a Canadian private practice owner.

If in the past you have found it challenging to create and stick to a budget or you don’t yet know where to begin in developing one, I discuss helpful tips and advice in this episode to help you get started.

In This Episode:

Have an emergency fund
Make sure you have personal health insurance
Live below your means
General expenses when starting a private practice

Have an emergency fund

I recommend to anybody who is starting in private practice to either have another job to help you pay the bills while your private practice is being set up or to start an emergency fund.

Have savings that could sustain you and your Canadian practice to the value of, at minimum, three to six months of expenses.

This lends you some peace of mind, gives you the resolve to focus on your business goals and values, and helps you to place your focus on building your practice without being too worried about finances.

Make sure you have personal health insurance

Invest in yourself. Find a good health insurance plan to save yourself extra – and potentially sudden – expenses.

The sooner you purchase private health insurance, the better!

Live below your means

I love the term hedonic treadmill.

It describes the treadmill that you get stuck on when you upgrade your lifestyle as your income increases and then you find yourself constantly working to afford your daily expenses.

To curb the hedonic treadmill, I recommend you up the percentage of how much you put into your income tax account as your level of income increases.

Some general expenses when starting a private practice

Expenses can fluctuate in a Canadian private practice, but below is a list of some general payments that private practice owners make when they start their business.

Monthly payments:

Website service: $50
Marketing platforms like Psychology Today: $34.50
Supervision: $150
EMR system like Jane App: $85
Phone system like Grasshopper: $50 or under

Annual fees:

License and certificates: $1000
Counseling insurance: $1000
CEC’s from Mental Health Academy: $224
Business registration: $70
Accountant: $1000
Credit Card: $40

Then, you’ll need to calculate how much you need in your business savings per month. Calculate your monthly and annual fees and divide them by 12, and add a little more money on top.

Your monthly savings should be around $650, following this basic outline.

Connect with me:

Instagram

Resources Mentioned and Useful Links:

Ep 18: Sue Cook: How to Build a Successful Canadian Private Practice

Jane App: Use the promo code FEARLESS for one month’s grace period

Look at Manulife for health insurance policies

Consider marketing your private practice on Psychology Today. Want 6 FREE months of Psychology Today that’ll give me a free month too? Email me at info@fearlesspractice.ca your name and we’ll hook you up.

Pursue your education through Mental Health Academy

Use Grasshopper for your virtual phone system.

Rate, review, and subscribe to this podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Stitcher, Spotify, Amazon, and TuneIn

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Many Canadian therapists feel overwhelmed by the business side of running a group private practice. It takes a practice owner with initiative and a collaborative nature to support their counsellors in providing the best therapy that they can as well as focusing on growing the group practice.

In this episode, I speak with Sue Cook about how she created a supportive framework that helps clinicians in her Ontario group private practice provide their best therapy.

MEET SUE COOK

Sue Cook is the owner and operator of Family TLC. She started working in this profession in the early 1980’s and has had the opportunity and privilege of assisting thousands of people reach their mental health and wellness goals. In 2000 her passion for making lives better came to fruition as she began running her own practice and in 2012, this expanded as she began to invite others to join her business. Sue’s business goals, and big vision have guided her as she has built some leading edge components to Family TLC, making it into the multi-location growing therapy business it is today.

Learn more about Sue Cook on her practice’s website.

In this episode:

The drive to build a Canadian group private practice
Providing training to new therapists
Hiring clinicians that best fit the practice

The drive to build a Canadian group private practice

Many clinicians have to learn how to run their businesses alongside providing therapy for their clients. This can be difficult without a business consultant.

For Sue, her drive to build a group private practice in Ontario comes from:

Wanting to help counsellors with their businesses so that they can focus on helping their clients.
Being curious to learn how to create a practice that serves both her and her clients well.

Sue recognized therapists’ need for business support. So, she created helpful scaffolding and business services that save her counsellors time, and money, and supports them while they focus on providing therapy for their clients.

Providing training to new therapists

When Sue hires new counsellors, she trains them in the Family TLC way. This methodology helps the new therapists to follow the guidelines of the practice while also using any therapeutic method with their clients.

Sue’s staff are taught a 12-week checklist. The training includes:

How to use the software system
Receiving admin support
Clinical supervision

Hiring Canadian counsellors that best fit the practice

Sue’s approach to hiring therapists is collaborative and honest.

Her hiring process involves:

Honing in on the characteristics and core personality values that are the best fit for the practice
Writing up an advertisement that accurately represents these values
Interviewing and screening applicants
Discussing the culture at Family TLC

Connect with me:

Instagram

Website

Resources mentioned and useful links:

Ep 17: Blogging: Why It Is Important For Your Canadian Private Practice and How To Do It

www.jane.app/mentalhealth use the promo code FEARLESS for one month’s grace period

Sue Cooks’ LinkedIn profile

Family TLC’s website

Family TLC’s Instagram

Family TLC’s Facebook

Check out Family TLC’s podcast

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As soon as I started my private practice, I started blogging. Over time, it has helped me grow an audience, rank high on Google, and maintain a consistent connection with my clients.

If you find blogging daunting, or you have been meaning to start but just don’t know how to get going, in this episode, I discuss helpful tips from my personal blogging experience to help you get started.

In This Episode:

What is blogging and why is it important?
Things to keep in mind when blogging
4 tips on how to blog

What is blogging?

A blog is a place where you can write about your personal experiences or share information. As a counsellor, blogging is a really useful tool that you can use to create great content for your website that also allows you to share helpful information with your clients.

Why is blogging important?

It showcases your experience and wisdom
You can use blogging to describe how you help your clients
Blogging helps you to build SEO (Search Engine Optimization)
It is a free way to market yourself and it lasts

I started blogging as soon as I opened up my private practice and I would recommend it to anyone who is opening up a private practice - even if it hasn’t opened yet - start blogging now, so that you can build up that SEO!

Things to keep in mind when blogging

Write for your audience

Write in an accessible, clear, and simple language that will draw in your audience while keeping the information understandable.

Plan your blog post ideas

Set aside some time to create a rough schedule of blog post ideas for the next 6-12 months, and then all you will have to do is fill in the information when you write the blog. Find a rhythm that works for you, but keep it consistent.

Write about your niche

Cover topics that relate to your niche to build a solid foundation of expertise that your audience can read through.

Keep a simple layout

Make sure that your blog has:

An introduction
A few paragraphs
Showcase some info in bullet points
A conclusion
Information about yourself and where you can be reached
Image (create this in Canva)

4 tips on how to blog

Do not put the date on your blog

Keep your blogs date-free so that even if you stop blogging, your audience won’t know.

Add at least three pictures to your blogs

This makes the blog more visually appealing and will encourage people to stay on that page a little bit longer and engage with the content.

Always make sure to use royalty-free images from a site like Unsplash and reference the photographer.

Keep the length of your blog between 500-700 words

Longer blogs are often left unread or skimmed through.

Add keywords related to your niche, location, and designation

This helps your content to remain relevant for both your audience’s interest and for Google’s SEO rankings.

Connect with me:

Instagram

Resources Mentioned and Useful Links:

Ep 16: 3 Things to Do Differently in Your Canadian Private Practice

Jane App: Use the promo code FEARLESS for one month’s grace period

Get a website as unique as your practice with Brighter Vision

Ep 08: How to build a Canadian Website that Ranks High on Google with Austin Kirkland

Article: How to Set Up a Canadian Private Practice Website

Create your blogs using the free tool Canva

Find great royalty-free images at Unsplash

Rate, review, and subscribe to this podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Stitcher, Spotify, Amazon, and TuneIn

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This episode is a little nerve-wracking because I am going to recommend NOT DOING certain things in your Canadian private practice, that many counsellors do.

If you do any of these things and it works for you, that’s cool, no judgment. These are just tips that I’ve found helpful in my private practice journey in order to get a work-life balance.

In This Episode:

Don’t have a waitlist
Do not offer free consultations
Do not use a sliding scale
Don’t have a waitlist

I don’t get the point of keeping a waitlist and then contacting somebody 2 months later to let them know that I can see them.

This is what I recommend you do:

Raise your rates: Do this until you find a sweet spot where you have an opening each week or every couple of weeks.
Start a group private practice: Hire another counsellor that does amazing work that you are happy to refer to.
Refer your clients out: There are so many amazing therapists out there who you can recommend. In order to be able to do this, you’ll have to start networking with other therapists. But if you don’t have time to network, you can refer people to a directory like Psychology Today.
Do not offer free consultations

I would argue that the time you put into free consultations should be focused on other things such as offering more spots for counselling, building your private practice, or working on marketing.

This is what I recommend you do:

Automate it: Make a video of yourself, explaining who you are, what you do, and how you help. Also, address any other questions that potential clients might have. In this way, when someone asks to meet with you before they start therapy, you can send this video to them along with other information from your website or LinkedIn.
Create an intake form that the client can complete before the initial intake session: I use Jane App as my EMR and in there you can create an intake form that is automatically sent to the potential client to be completed before you meet with them. This will help you assess whether they are the right fit for you.
Do not use a sliding scale

As therapists we want to help people, I get it, but I just don’t think that sliding scales should be used. It can put you in a position of having to negotiate a session price for each client. It can undervalue your worth and it can also be harder to raise your rates when your private practice is full. And clients that paid the full fee, may resent not getting a deal.

This is what I recommend you do:

Decide on a couple of sessions each month that can be offered as ‘discount sessions’: This will depend on how full you are, what your private practice policy for yourself is, and how much time and energy you have in that month. When someone contacts you about a reduced rate or sliding scale, I would recommend joining a free directory such as Open Path where you can offer reduced rate sessions. When you get a request you can just send this link to clients, minimizing the hassle of negotiating back and forth.

Connect with me:

Instagram

Resources Mentioned and Useful Links:

Ep 15: Amelia Hutchison: How To Ethically Build Your Social Media Audience

Jane App: Use the promo code FEARLESS for one month’s grace period

Ep 07: How I Developed A Marketing Strategy For My Private Practice - Networking

Psychology Today

Open Path Psychotherapy Collective

Rate, review, and subscribe to this podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Stitcher, Spotify, Amazon, and TuneIn.

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Are you a therapist working to build your social media presence? How do you remain ethical while entertaining your audience?

In this podcast episode, I speak with Amelia about how to build a Canadian social media presence that is professional, ethical, and true to who you are, while still connecting to your audience and helping you get clients.

MEET AMELIA HUTCHISON

Learn more about Amelia Hutchison on her website.

In this episode:

Building your social media presence
Amelia’s tips for increasing your social media following
Show your personality in your content

Building your social media presence

TikTok is currently the new place to be. Many people spend their time on it socially as well as to find people to work with. It is also a great resource to showcase your talents and Canadian private practice in a fun way that revitalizes the standard marketing methods.

Due to its algorithms, if you post a successful video on TikTok, you can easily gather thousands of followers. TikTok is fast-paced and made up of small, short videos. If you post something that people like, it has a good chance of catching on and attracting followers.

Amelia’s tips for increasing your social media following

1 – Remember to work on maintenance. Even though you are focused on growth and increasing your number of followers, remember to maintain those that you already have.

2 – Create content that feels good to you. Avoid getting caught in the trends and trying to make videos that feel unnatural to you and your social media aims. You do not need to make dancing TikTok videos to have a full caseload.

3 – Answer your audience’s frequently asked questions. Make a series of 30-second to one-minute videos that answer your audience’s basic questions about you, what you do, how your therapy practice works, who you are a good fit for, and so forth.

Show your personality in your content

A lot of social media can feel like constant strategies or marketing, so use your normal speaking voice in your content to truly connect with your audience.

What would it be like for your audience to have a conversation with you? This also allows your audience to get to know you, and for them to see what it would be like to work with you in person.

Set Boundaries

Have a disclaimer on your social media pages that explain how you show up in this space, how regularly you respond to DMs, and the type of content that you usually put up.

These social media boundaries will let your audience know what to expect from you, and provide you with social media boundaries that help you to remain focused on your content without feeling overwhelmed to do or say everything.

Connect with me:

Instagram

Website

Resources and useful links:

www.jane.app/mentalhealth use the promo code FEARLESS for one month’s grace period

support@jane.app for access to their demo clinic to test Jane’s features first-hand

Amelia Hutchison’s Instagram.

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Is it worth spending money on a professional photographer? How can you get the best smile for your Canadian private practice photos? I have found that getting a professional photo that encapsulates who I am has helped me reach my ideal clients.

In this episode, I speak with Brent McCombs about how Canadian therapists can get the best headshot that is authentic, shows who they are, and helps connect them to their clients.

MEET BRENT McCOMBS

Learn more about Brent McCombs on his photography website.

In this episode:

The importance of a great headshot
Always go for authenticity
How to take your best profile photograph

The importance of a great headshot

For better or worse, people do judge books by their covers.

Even though you have depth and character to you, it cannot be portrayed in a single image. But you need to try your best to display who you are and what you are in your headshot so that your clients can connect with you.

So, in that opening moment when your client sees your photograph, what about yourself do you want them to see? Which aspects of you do you want them to understand and connect with?

Always go for authenticity

Especially as a Canadian therapist, you want to go for authenticity in your photographs. You want your clients to get a sense of who you are before they meet you and for them to find that their understanding was true of you because you were sincere in your photo.

Authenticity is not only important for the client’s sake, but also for your own. You need to feel confident and comfortable in who you are to provide the best therapy.

If you feel like you are presenting someone that you are not, then you may struggle to feel grounded in who you are, and you may struggle even to trust and believe your own words if they do not feel like they are coming from you.

How to take your best profile photograph

1 – Who are your clients going to be? Who are your ideal clients? Then find the middle ground between who you are and what they want to see in someone they feel comfortable with.

2 – How do you feel most comfortable and confident in yourself? How can you present yourself in a way that is genuine while also appealing to someone who does not know you well?

In pursuit of achieving the 100% perfect portrait of yourself, you can achieve 80% quite easily. To get that last 20% of detail and refinement, Brent suggests:

Spend the first 15 to 20 minutes of the photoshoot as a warm-up for both you and the photographer so that you are feeling comfortable and all the equipment is set up and ready to use.
Get your body language right. For counsellors, don’t clench your fists or cross your arms in photos.
View your photos on a computer screen so that you can see what your client may see in the final sizes of the images.

Connect with me:

Instagram

Website

Resources and useful links:

www.jane.app/mentalhealth use the promo code FEARLESS for one month’s grace period

support@jane.app for access to their demo clinic to test Jane’s features firsthand

Brent McCombs reference this episode to receive a $100 discount for a photoshoot

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Why should you have a niche? Are you still figuring out what your niche is? Being able to say who I can help and how I can help them has allowed me to expand my practice, make myself known while getting to work with my ideal clients.

In this episode, I help you to figure out how to find your niche, why they are important, and small mistakes to avoid.

In this episode:

Why should you have a niche?
You will still have variety with a niche
Figuring out what your niche is
Questions to ask yourself

Meet Brent McCombs

Brent McCombs is an Ontario born, Los Angeles trained recovering fashion photographer who settled in Halifax and (pre covid) was shooting portraits, commercial headshots, and weddings.

Learn more about Brent McCombs on his photography website.

Why should you have a niche?

Initially, it may seem more pleasing to have therapists who specialize a little bit in everything but clients want to know what it is that you can actually help them with.

So having someone in your group practice – or yourself – who specializes will help to draw clients to you instead of pushing them away because you make it clear why and how you can help them.

You will still have a variety with a niche

Having a niche will not mean that your entire client population is one with the same pain point.

Often about half of your client base will share the same niche while the other half will vary.

Have a niche because it helps you to build a more solid client base because you are more recognizable as an expert in that pain point, and other clients will still come to you for other reasons because you are recognized.

Figuring out what your niche is

In bigger cities, it is easier to stand out more when you specialize in a specific niche.

However, in smaller cities where the therapist population is not as competitive, you can have a few niches.

For example, you may say in smaller cities:

“I help teens and adults”

And in bigger cities:

“I help people with anxiety and PTSD”

So, a niche can be very general or quite specific. You can set it up whichever way is best for you, your client base, and where your practice is located.

Avoid setting your niche as your therapeutic approach and rather advertise it as how you can help clients overcome their problems and support them in achieving their desired outcome for their life.

Questions to ask yourself

What types of cases do I look forward to?
What types of cases energize me?
Which counselling outcomes satisfy me?
What age, gender, and other demographic statistics would my ideal client possess?

Connect with me:

Instagram

Resources and useful links:

www.jane.app/mentalhealth use the promo code FEARLESS for one month’s grace period

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Do you use Psychology Today? Are you unsure about how to go about setting up an outstanding profile, or how to edit your already existing one for the better?

I have received a lot of new clients through my Psychology Today Canadian profile, and I would like to help you to do the same. Today I am sharing a list of things you can do today to help you stand out on this amazing platform, and help clients not only find you, but also, choose to work with you.

IN THIS EPISODE:

What is Psychology Today?
How to make your Psychology Today profile stand out
Use a sincere and professional photo on your Psychology Today profile
Your 15-second Psychology Today profile video
Link your website button to your bookings page

What is Psychology Today?

Psychology Today has an incredibly high Google ranking. This means that if you create a profile on it, you are truly putting yourself out there, and setting yourself up to receive great exposure.

The monthly payments are inexpensive, so it is an affordable way to keep your name consistently available, marketed, and well-broadcasted in the online therapy world.

How to make your Psychology Today profile stand out

Draw your ideal client in with your first paragraph. Center your first paragraph around your ideal client so that they will click on your profile and continue to read about you and your services.

In your first paragraph, talk about:

Who you help
What their pain points are
Some of the life experiences they may be going through and are struggling with

In your second paragraph, talk about:

How you understand their life experiences and pain points
How you can help them move through these pain points
Which therapeutic techniques you use to help your clients

In your third and last paragraph, talk about:

How many years you have practiced therapy
Where you have previously worked
When your offices hours are, how much intakes costs, and how much sessions cost

Use a sincere and professional photo on your Psychology Today profile

Your photo will be the first thing that a client sees when they are scrolling through the listings.

You want to make sure your photo:

Looks professional
Has good lighting
Looks inviting to clients
Depicts how you are in real life

Your 15-second Psychology Today profile video

Psychology Today highlights the profiles that have uploaded videos. Even though it may seem odd to you, recording a short video will boost the ranking of your Canadian profile.

Talk about your potential client, the struggles that they are going through, how you can help them, and how they may feel once they have concluded doing therapy with you.

Speak slowly and smile as you talk.

Link your website button to your booking page

Your client has seen and read everything they need to know on your profile about you, to feel comfortable with you as their therapist so there is no need to link to your website. Instead, on your Psychology Today profile, link your website button to the landing page with your booking slots, so that clients can see your availability, and will email you if they have further questions. I use Jane EMR which has a beautiful and professional online booking system.

Connect with me:

Instagram

Resources Mentioned and Useful Links:

Ep 11: Why You Need a Canadian EMR for Your Private Practice with Ali Taylor

Jane App - use the promo code FEARLESS for a 1 month grace period

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Today I speak with Ali Taylor, a multi-disciplinary clinic owner who struggled to find a beautiful and practical online booking and electronic charting software for her Canadian clinic. Her long-time friend, Trevor, built her a solution as part of the website. Other practices were interested in using this new tool and so they partnered to build a full online practice management solution, called Jane App.

I use Jane App in my Canadian Private Practice and I am so excited for Ali to share with us what she has learned about running her practice on the cloud, as well as the lessons from over 20 000 practices around the world who transitioned to the cloud and are now part of the Jane community.

MEET ALI TAYLOR

Ali owns a multi-disciplinary clinic in North Vancouver, BC, which she opened in 2011. At the time she struggled to find beautiful and practical online booking and electronic charting software for her practice, and so (her now co-founder) Trevor built her a solution as part of her website. Other practices were interested in using this new tool, and so Trevor and Ali partnered to build out a full online practice management solution called Jane. Ali is excited to share what she's learned about running not just her practice "on the cloud" but also lessons from the over 20,000 practices around the world who transitioned to the cloud and are now part of the Jane Community.

Learn more:

Website

Instagram

Facebook

IN THIS EPISODE:

Finding a solution to the problem
Supporting Canadian small businesses by helping the helpers
The 4 main components of Jane App
Technology adoption in mental health
Canadian Cloud-based practice management software

Finding a solution to the problem

In 2011 when Ali was opening her own Canadian clinic in Vancouver, BC, she knew that she needed a way for people to book online appointments easily. There was no such software that existed. Trevor, Ali’s friend (who is now the co-founder of Jane) was building her website and she kept on showing him what she needed and wanted. In the space of 6 weeks, he built a solution into Ali’s website and this became the framework for the Jane App.

Supporting Canadian small businesses by helping the helpers

Ali had initially thought about franchising her Canadian business, but decided against it and further ventured down the software development area. Her reasoning for this was that it’s so lonely being a clinic owner and the idea of working with a partner was really appealing to her.

Small business owners don’t get heard very often, and therefore there is not a lot of support for them. Jane’s mission is to help the helpers and solve the problems they are facing by offering solutions that can improve the way they run their private practices.

The 4 main components of Jane App

Jane allows you to book, chart, schedule, invoice, process payments, and run your whole practice online.

Scheduling
Documentation
Billing (including insurance billing)
Online booking

Technology adoption in mental health

At the time, Ali and her team expected Canadian mental health practitioners to be a year or two away from wanting to adopt an online platform. They started building telehealth and a few new features that would be beneficial to mental health practitioners, but then the pandemic hit and it jump started this technology adoption. Within two weeks Jane App offered telehealth and at no cost at all!

Connect with me:

Instagram

Resources Mentioned and Useful Links:

Ep 10: How to Attract Clients With My Canadian Website? Live Consulting With David Mitchell

Jane App - use the promo code FEARLESS for a 1 month grace period

Purposely - Where Business Meets Purpose

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David took part in my webinar about starting a private practice. Now, he is building his own online Canadian private practice in Prince Edward Island!

In this episode, he and I discuss ways for him to grow his success, the importance of raising his rates, and other vital aspects of creating a thriving Canadian private practice.

MEET DAVID MITCHELL

Learn more about David on his counselling website.

IN THIS EPISODE:

The importance of raising your rates
Make sure to have an intake fee
Optimize your website for bookings

The importance of raising your rates

As your Canadian practice grows and starts filling up, raising your rates is part of the process of growing it further.

It may feel difficult to do, but it is crucial to both your mental health, to curb burnout, and to help ensure the financial success of the practice.

Raising your rates may reduce your intakes, however, it helps you to still be earning good money while not running the risk of burning yourself out.

Raising your rates can also help you to find that sweet spot between having the right amount of clients for your schedule and earning the amount that you want.

Make sure to have an intake fee

Every Canadian therapist experiences a client that comes once but never again.

Intake sessions require a lot more energy because you are meeting the client for the first time, assessing the client, and starting to build a therapeutic alliance. Even if your intake session is the same amount of time as your regular sessions, consider charging at least $20 more for the extra energy it takes in that first session.

Optimize your website for bookings

Ideally, you do not want potential clients emailing you to make an appointment. To avoid this, clearly direct them to your online booking platform.
Focus on the “book now” links that take the client straight to the webpage for online booking.
It is good to have what you help people with right on your main page so that new clients can see exactly what you do and how you can help them.
Clearly state how you help people in coping with and resolving their pain points.
You have to play the marketing game and make yourself look busy when starting your Canadian private practice. The booking app Jane can help you to make you look busy, which helps you to attract more clients.

Connect with me:

Instagram

Resources Mentioned and Useful Links:

Ep 9: Joe Sanok: Raising your private practice rates to get to the 4-day work week

Brighter Vision

Jane App (use code FEARLESS for one month free)

Learn more about David Mitchell on his counselling website.

Purchase the ‘How To Start An Online Canadian Private Practice (Digital Workbook)’

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As a therapist, you give so much of yourself to your work and your clients, so you need to ensure that you protect your time and your energy.

How can scheduling your weekends accordingly with some hard boundaries around work help you achieve that elusive work-life balance? What is a 4-day workweek and would you consider it? How can raising your rates help you free up more time?

Today I speak with Joe Sanok about raising your rates in your private practice, how to enjoy your weekends and why the 4-day workweek can help you reinvent your time, giving you more freedom, ideas, and happiness – while also helping the world.

MEET JOE SANOK

Joe Sanok is the author of Thursday is the New Friday: How to work fewer hours, make more money, and spend time doing what you want. It examines how the four-day workweek boosts creativity and productivity. Joe has been featured on Forbes, GOOD Magazine, and the Smart Passive Income Podcast. He is the host of the popular The Practice of the Practice Podcast, which is recognized as one of the Top 50 Podcasts worldwide with over 100,000 downloads each month. Bestselling authors, experts, scholars, and business leaders and innovators are featured and interviewed in the 550 plus podcasts he has done over the last six years.

Connect with Joe:

Twitter

Instagram

Website

Facebook

IN THIS EPISODE:

The importance of raising your rates and myths
The internal inclinations and your rates
Being paralyzed by perfection
Taking care of your weekends
The 4-day workweek

The importance of raising your rates and myths

Raising rates is something that many therapists struggle with. There are also many myths around raising your rates that should be dispelled so that you can feel confident in your Canadian private practice rates.

Myth 1: Be similar to those in the community

False. People in your community that are therapists, counsellors, and mental health practitioners are not doing the same work and receiving the same education as you are. You are providing a service that is specific to you.

Myth 2: Inflation won’t affect you as much

False. Your cost of business goes up every single year, and for you to stay in business you need to adjust your prices slightly each year to stay afloat financially.

The internal inclinations and your rates

Curiosity: Top performers continue to maintain their curiosity.
An outsider perspective: Top performers often distance themselves from the situation and observe a situation differently to spot the nuances.
The ability to move on it: Top performers often value speed over accuracy and are not paralyzed by a fear of failure that stops them from trying something new.

You need to start observing the three inclinations through the lens of raising your rates and ask yourself:

Why have you not raised your rates in the past?
How can you do this differently?
Try it and give it a go. If it does not work, then you can always reduce it, but at least give it a try and adapt accordingly.

Connect with me:

Instagram

Resources Mentioned and Useful Links:

Ep 08: SEO, blogging, and social media for your private practice with Brighter Vision’s Austin Kirkland

The Testing Psychologist Podcast

Joe Sanok’s website

Practice of the Practice website

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Building a website is important for your Canadian private practice, but having a really good website that is SEO optimized is absolutely vital to running a successful private practice. I tried to build my own practice website when I thought it was something I could figure out, but I ended up wasting my clinical time, and not getting anywhere.

Save yourself time and money, while investing in the success of your practice, by hiring trusted professionals to get your website where it needs to be.

Today I speak with Austin Kirkland from Brighter Vision about building a website, why SEO is important, and how blogging can help you rank higher in searches. He also shares a cool new online marketing tool that will be a game-changer for your social media and blog writing!

IN THIS EPISODE:

Starting with Brighter Vision
WordPress vs Wix
SEO for your website
Why blogging is important
Save time on social media

Starting with Brighter Vision

Clients are given a design intake form to fill out when first making contact with their website consultant at Brighter Vision.

A rough draft of your website will be built based on the design intake form, and then it gets refined and fine-tuned until you are happy with it.

Once the design process of the website has been completed, Brighter Vision does the search engine optimization (SEO) for all their clients.

WordPress vs Wix

WordPress is often more user-friendly and better for SEO than other website-building platforms because it is one of the foundational website platforms on the internet.

Your website will get an automatic boost if it is a WordPress because it is a platform that Google prefers.

Other benefits of WordPress include:

It is extremely flexible and can be customized in a variety of ways.
Due to its positive history with Google, SEO rankings are higher and easier to climb.
Software companies will specifically design their programs to easily integrate into WordPress sites.

SEO for your website

Search engine optimization is essentially a match-making system. The designers at Brighter Vision help to boost your SEO significantly by going into the code of your website, and:

Describing what the practice is,
The types of clients it wants to see,
The location that it is in,
Explain the types of clients it wants to attract.

When someone searches on Google, the keywords in their search will match with the keywords in the code of your website, your website’s SEO will recognize them as a potential client, and your name will pop up as a suggestion on their search page.

Why blogging is important

This is exactly why blogging is spoken about so much because you are updating your website on a regular basis, which is something Google loves. Even if there are already 500 other blogs out there on the same topic, the mere fact that you are updating your website regularly will help you rank higher in searches.

Save time on social media

Brighter Vision also offers help with social media and blogging in the form of their latest offering, Social Genie. It has a library of thousands of social media and blog posts that you can edit, customize, and schedule across all platforms in a matter of minutes.

This is definitely something to look into, it will save you time and money and will allow you to focus on doing the things you love!

Resources Mentioned and Useful Links:

Ep 07: How I Developed a Marketing Strategy for my Private Practice - Networking

Brighter Vision

Free online design software – Canva

Social Genie – social media and blogging

Contact Austin at Brighter Vision: austink@brightervision.com

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Networking was an important factor in my marketing. Even though direct referral sources from other clinicians and doctors were helpful, networking itself could get expensive.

Some aspects of it worked well, while others were a waste of time and money. I needed to branch out my Canadian marketing and network strategies to suit me and my practice.

IN THIS EPISODE:

My first networking strategy
Using a personal touch
What I learned from different types of marketing
Focusing on relationships

My first networking strategy

First of all, I wanted to figure out which client base I was reaching out to. I knew I wanted to connect with other Halifax counsellors, so I created a spreadsheet with all the names and contact numbers of practices in my area and whether or not I had already contacted them.

It was important to expand my contact list, so I also contacted doctors, yoga teachers, chiropractors, places of worship, and health practitioners.

I would reach out to them and if they got back to me, we would schedule a meeting. If they did not get back to me, I would send a follow-up email, and if I received no response, I would let it go.

Using a personal touch

If I had a meeting with anyone, I knew it was important to follow up the meeting with a personal “thank-you” card, or some token of appreciation for their time and energy.

I knew that meeting with people, creating connections, and getting out there was important for the growth of my Canadian private practice.

What I learned from different types of marketing

Through this process, I learned that some types of networking worked better for me than others.

What didn’t work so well:

Pre-COVID, if you wanted to meet with a doctor in a clinic where they do not have their personal email, you have to connect to them through the clinic’s admin system and organize a “lunch and learn” to meet with the doctors, which can be expensive.
Achieving an authentic connection with a doctor in a clinic setting was difficult. They were tired, busy, and I felt slightly out of place trying to sell to them in that environment.

What was working:

Coffee-networking events worked well. There you meet one-on-one with other clinicians and counsellors to speak about your work. You chat with them about who they are as people, get to know their business, and build a connection with them.

In hindsight, all my best networking relationships came from practitioners with whom I had a genuine connection, through a good conversation and meet-up experience.

Focusing on relationships

In networking, it is more effective to focus on building a relationship with your new connection than to try to convince them to work with you.

They will decide whether or not they want to work with you based on the quality of the connection that you seek to establish with them.

Figure out what works for you, what makes you shine, and then focus your time and energy on that, instead of slogging through the things that are not working.

The more authentic the relationship is, the higher the chance that connection will refer out to you.

Resources Mentioned and Useful Links:

Ep 06: Building A Canadian Online Group Private Practice – Year Five

Ep 03: Dealing With Unexpected Changes in My Canadian Private Practice – Year Two

Brighter Vision

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As I started to get busier in my Canadian private practice, I had to make a decision of how many clients I wanted to see each week. I needed to find my sweet spot. I figured that if I got to see 8 to 9 clients a week, that would be my capacity to do amazing work with those clients.

If I started to see more than that, I would start to feel drained and not do my best work. I now knew that I was getting to a point where I needed to grow my solo private practice, to a group private practice.

IN THIS EPISODE:

Aiming for work-life balance
Experimenting with taking time off
Hiring an associate for my Canadian private practice
Finding a new clinical supervisor
Onboarding my associate

Aiming for work-life balance

When I made the decision to not add more clinic hours to my Canadian private practice, I had to remind myself of why I started my private practice in the first place, and that was to find a work-life balance.

There were so many things that I just would not have time for if I continued seeing a lot of clients each week. Because of the burnout that I had been going through, I also wanted to take more time off. This however was difficult because every week that I was taking off, I was saying no to money.

Experimenting with taking time off

Because of the fact that I had kept my budget so low, business was picking up and I was raising my rates, I could afford to take time off.

I was starting to create some limits about how many clinic hours and how many weeks a year I was going to work, and because of this, I needed to hire another Canadian counsellor.

Hiring an associate for my private practice

Earlier in my private practice journey, I had found a Narrative Therapist to supervise me, and by the time I had finished the supervision that I needed to get my Registered Counselling Therapist licence, I had spent 2.5 to 3 years with my supervisor who I look up to and admire. In the fall I was talking to her about needing to find an associate and luckily, she volunteered!

Finding a new clinical supervisor

Because of the fact that our relationship now changed, I now had to find a new clinical supervisor.

Having an online private practice meant that I couldn’t just go down the hallway and go knock on somebody’s door and talk to another counsellor about my clients.

It had always been a dream of mine to be able to take a Narrative Therapy course by Gene Combs and Jill Freeman, but because of COVID, this wasn’t possible. I decided that I was going to reach out to them to let them know that I was looking for a clinical supervisor.

Onboarding my associate

I replicated everything I did in year 1 during this onboarding process:

Got pictures taken
Made additions to my website with the help of Brighter Vision
Produced a video to help market my associate

In my associate’s first year, she started with a couple of sessions every week and throughout the months she started to get really busy with filling her caseload.

After the stress of year four, it was really great to finally get to this place in my journey.

Connect with me:

Instagram

Books mentioned in this episode

Gene Combs and Jill Freeman | Narrative Therapy: The Social Construction of Preferred Realities

Resources Mentioned and Useful Links:

Ep 05: Transitioning My Canadian Private Practice from In-Person to Online Counselling – Year Four

Brighter Vision

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I was getting really busy in my private practice, this was exciting, but I was starting to burn out. I had some tough decisions to make so that I could free up some time and energy.

However, nothing could have prepared me for a global pandemic and having to transition my Canadian private practice from in-person to online counselling.

IN THIS EPISODE:

Making the decision to focus on my private practice
Getting back into the swing of things
The change that COVID-19 brought on
Embracing the world of online counselling
Taking more risks

Making the decision to focus on my private practice

Going into the fall of 2019 I knew I couldn’t sustain the amount of work I was doing and I needed to cut down on the number of clients I was seeing each week.

In mid-November/December I made the difficult decision to leave my job at Dalhousie at the end of January 2020. I had after all moved to Halifax to start my private practice and that is what I needed to focus on and continue building that. In addition to this, I also needed to get to a point where I wasn’t feeling so burned out all the time.

The change that COVID-19 brought on

By the 3rd week of March, there was a notice that businesses would be closing down because of COVID. My last day of seeing clients in person, I needed to figure out how I was going to continue to counsel people.

In a very short space of time, I had to make some crucial decisions and take some action steps:

Which video platform was I going to use?
Contact all my clients to let them know we can continue sessions

Jane App (use code: FEARLESS for one month free) is the long-term plan I settled on for my video platform, and it was at no extra cost! This was a huge weight off my shoulders because then my caseload started to decline. People didn’t want online counselling, they only wanted in-person counselling and others just decided that they were going to wait it out and continue sessions once everything was back to normal.

This was stressful, but luckily, I had that emergency fund. It also helped that for the last few years I had lived on a very frugal budget.

I could scrape by with paying my living expenses but I couldn’t afford the rent at the clinic anymore.

Taking more risks

The clients I was seeing at the clinic, stayed with me. I was surprised, even though I shouldn’t have been.

For the past few years, I always had admin help from someone from the clinic where I rented space, and the last thing that I wanted to do now was to take on that role and take calls for intakes and answer emails. So, I hired a virtual assistant and began the process of training her. Having her do these tasks really legitimized my Canadian business, it felt more like a company than just me as a solo therapist.

In September 2020 it started to get really busy again! The burnout was still lingering and I decided to cut out Saturdays and I changed the time I saw my clients.

Connect with me:

Website and Instagram

Resources Mentioned and Useful Links:

Ep 04: How I Grew My Canadian my Private Practice – Year Three

Jane App - Book, chart, schedule, invoice, process payments, and run your whole practice online (use code: FEARLESS for one month free)

Brighter Vision

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By the end of 2018 things were going pretty well. I was working in my private practice 2 days a week and I was teaching at Dalhousie. I was making money and all the hard work I had done in setting up the foundational phase of my Canadian private practice was paying off.

The stage was set for me to grow my private practice.

IN THIS EPISODE:

Starting my 3rd year off on a good note
Burn out started to creep in
Too tired to do anything

Starting my 3rd year off on a good note

‘In my first year, I started to set those foundations for my private practice: the website, the video, marketing, networking, blogging… I also made a Psychology Today profile.’ – Julia Smith

With everything that I had done in my first year, setting up the Psychology Today profile and then getting referrals from the clinic, networking, and a doctor at Dalhousie, my private practice continued to grow in my 3rd year.

For 2 days a week, I was working in my Canadian private practice. I would see up to 6 people on a Saturday and up to 6 people on a Tuesday. At Dalhousie, I was also seeing up to 6 people a day, twice a week. But because these were intakes, it was a lot of work and high energy output.

When winter came around, I was offered to work a 3rd day at Dalhousie, it was really busy, but it was so worth it and I was gaining so much experience.

‘Being able to work 2 days a week at the clinic in my private practice and watching it grow, and building my clientele… It was just a great time.’ – Julia Smith

Burn out started to creep in

As winter was coming to an end and things started getting quieter at Dalhousie, I was offered to work there 1 day a week during summer and I was now at a point where I needed to add a 3rd day to my private practice. So now, I could see clients on a Saturday, Tuesday, and Thursday.

By September 2019 juggling my private practice and my job at Dalhousie University, it was getting to be just a little bit too much.

When I wasn’t working, I didn’t have much energy to do anything else. With the busy schedule that I had, it was difficult to go out and socialize. The thought of interacting with people on my time off didn’t sound like fun.

Too tired to do anything

When I was invited to social events, I couldn’t go because I was working on the weekends. After working a long week, I was sitting in my apartment watching Netflix.

‘It was becoming a concern, I was starting to see that I needed more than just 1 day off a week, of not doing anything. I wasn’t unwinding, I was just watching TV and then going back to working on my business and then seeing clients throughout the week.’- Julia Smith

I started to notice that I was getting headaches when I was counselling clients. This had never happened before. On the one hand, my Canadian business was growing and I was making money, but my personal life was not great and I was just burned out.

‘I’m getting what I wanted, I have my dream job at Dalhousie, my private practice is doing well… But I feel like sht. So, I knew that some things needed to change.’* – Julia Smith

In the next episode, I will share with you how that change started to happen.

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Ep 03: Dealing with Unexpected Changes in my Canadian Private Practice – Year Two

Psychology Today

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I was in my second year of running my Canadian private practice and things were going really well. I wasn’t stressed about finances and I was able to gain some really valuable experience with my job at Dalhousie University whilst being able to pay the bills. My private practice was slowly growing and life was good.

But then January 2nd happened, one of the worst days in my private practice career and I had to deal with some unexpected changes.

IN THIS EPISODE:

Losing my office space
Jumping into problem-solving mode
Finding the perfect space
Making some sacrifices
Growing my private practice for the rest of the year

Losing my office space

‘January 2nd, 2018, I’ll never forget that day. At that point in time, I was looking forward to a new year of continuing to grow my private practice, continuing to work at Dalhousie, continuing to meet other counsellors and practitioners, to blog and market my private practice, and just hopefully watch it grow.’ – Julia Smith

I received an email from the owner of the clinic that I rented from. They let me know that they had decided to close the clinic and they were giving me 30 days’ notice. This was totally above board contractually, but now I had 30 days to change my location, update all my contact details online, and notify my clients of where my new space was going to be. If I could find a new space….

Jumping into problem-solving mode

I immediately started looking for office spaces to rent, I reached out to everybody I had networked with over the past year to find out if they had any space available, this was now my main focus – all whilst still working at Dalhousie and seeing my current clients.

With all the networking that I had done, and the owner of the clinic reaching out to their contacts to try and help me, there were a few places I could potentially rent if I wanted to.

‘It’s always scary not knowing what’s around the corner, what my next move was going to be, so my stress levels were really really high.’ – Julia Smith

Finding the perfect space

Right away I started to meet with other Halifax practitioners to see what they had to offer. Some of the new places that I looked at weren’t as nice as my previous space, or the location wasn’t ideal or it wasn’t as affordable.

I contemplated renting a space by myself so that I could rent it out to other practitioners, but I had just moved to Halifax a year ago and I wasn’t sure if I could commit to a 5-year contract or whether I would find anybody to help pay that rent. The stress was just too much.

Luckily, I found a space that was the perfect fit for me, it was just starting up, everything was brand new and I could walk there. I was able to rent it by the day and there were great flexible options.

‘At that time, I was just making enough to support myself and didn’t have a lot of extra money, and wasn’t sure how quickly I could fill an entire day, every single week and pay the rent every single week.’ – Julia Smith

Making some sacrifices

I decided to rent the space for just one day, on a Saturday. I signed the contract and by February 2018 I had moved my entire practice to the new clinic. It was really great; the owners were lovely; it was a multi-disciplinary clinic and I met more professionals who ended up referring clients to me.

I settled into a schedule of Saturdays being my days for my Canadian private practice. This meant that if a client wanted to see me any other day of the week, I couldn’t offer that flexibility. There were also no late Friday nights or weekend getaways.

‘I lost my weekends a bit, I lost my weekends for a couple of years in order to continue this private practice journey, but it was totally worth the loss of my Saturdays. It helped me get to where I am today.’ – Julia Smith

Growing my private practice for the rest of the year

My job at Dalhousie was only during the fall and winter, and even though I was starting to fill my Saturdays a bit, it wasn’t always as full as I needed it to be. I needed to find a job for the summertime to help pay for bills and luckily another opportunity at Dalhousie opened up which I got.

‘It was my first teaching job ever, that was a great learning experience for me. I enjoyed it, though it was a lot of work, doing that during the summer and my private practice, I was starting to get a little burned out.’ – Julia Smith

Towards the end of that year, my Saturdays in my Canadian private practice were full and I felt financially stable to add another day, so I signed another contract for Tuesdays. Saturdays and Tuesdays would now be my private practice days from September onwards.

By the end of my second year; I was working 2 days in private practice and 2 days at Dalhousie. I was making enough money to pay my bills and I even had some extra money to have some fun! The year ended on a really great note, despite that dreadful day in January.

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Ep 02: How I Set Up My Canadian Private Practice - Year One

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I decided to move across the country to start a Canadian private practice in Halifax, NS with only 1 year of professional counselling experience under my belt, but I was pretty determined and really excited!

In this episode, I am going to talk you through how I set up my private practice in that first year.

IN THIS EPISODE:

Having to stick to a budget and have minimal expenses
How I started my private practice
The top 3 things I focused on in the first year
Supplementing my income

Having to stick to a budget and have minimal expenses

It was really important to me that I found someplace that was affordable. I wanted to put most of the money that I had saved and that I would be making from my private practice, back into my business and create the vision that I had for my Canadian private practice.

Being able to find an affordable bachelor apartment in downtown Halifax was such a huge win for me.

‘For that first week or so I was just sleeping on a yoga mat, in an empty apartment, questioning all of my life’s decisions.’ – Julia Smith

How I started my Canadian private practice

In that first month, I was finding my way and just getting settled into Halifax, but once I had everything figured out, I was ready to start building my private practice.

‘I was really fortunate to have a consultant. That really helped my anxiety level, knowing that somebody had my back and that they had been through starting a private practice and they were going to help me.’ – Julia Smith

I already had office space where I could see clients, but here are a few things that I did to set myself up to start my private practice:

Registered my private practice
Became certified with CCPA (Canadian Counselling and Psychotherapy Association)
Got on an insurance (you can do this through CCPA)
Found a Narrative Therapist who could supervise me so that I could be licensed in Nova Scotia
Established my niche
Built my website
Got an HST number
Purchased and EMR (Electronic Management Record System) subscription
Designed a logo
Took professional photos
Determined my intake and session rates
Secured a business phone number
Opened a business bank account
Network, blogged, and created a video

To get the exact steps I followed, sign up for my free e-course on How to Start an Online Canadian Private Practice

The top 3 things I focused on in the first year

Blogging
Networking
Creating a video
Blogging

‘I didn’t have a lot of money to put into marketing, to pay for advertisements. And blogging is free, it just takes up your time. And in that first year, I did have more time.’ – Julia Smith

I wanted to market myself as much as possible to get my name out there. So, for me, blogging was really important, I made a commitment to blog every single week.

Networking

After blogging for a while, my consultant really pushed me to network with other Halifax therapists in private practice, as well as other practitioners. This was nerve-wracking but it was a really good benefit to my private practice as I met other therapists in the area and built a community. We all learned about each other and I was able to build a network of people I could refer out to, or could refer to me.

Creating a video

‘I think it’s important to not only have a professional photo, but to also have yourself speaking on your website in a video where people can see you, hear you, and then hopefully feel connected to you. And, choose you to be their therapist because they feel a connection.’ – Julia Smith

This is also a great way to talk about your niche, who you are, who you help, and why you help. Creating this video was expensive, but it was so worth it because I definitely started to get more clients.

Supplementing my income

In that first year, I was seeing a few clients but not enough to feel secure. As I was building my private practice and doing all these things, I got a job for 2 days a week, counselling university students at Dalhousie University.

I felt so lucky, I could live off of this income very frugally, I had posted my video at the end of the summer and I was starting to see a couple more clients in my Canadian private practice. I had completed all my foundational work in building the practice.

But then sh*t hit the fan…

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Resources Mentioned and Useful Links:

Ep 01: Why I Started a Canadian Private Practice

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Welcome to Fearless Practice Podcast! This podcast has been a year in the making and I am so excited to finally talk to you about how to start and grow a Canadian Private Practice, and sometime in the future, how to make it into a group private practice.

IN THIS EPISODE:

Meet your host
Starting my counselling career
Figuring out my next move
How I started my private practice

Meet your host

My name’s Julia Smith, I did an undergrad at McMaster University, a double honours in Health Studies and Psychology. The research tired me out and I took 3 years off to work in fashion. It was great to do something completely different, but after a while, I felt that I wanted to do something more with my career. I craved doing something interpersonal and I wanted to help and interact with other people.

I got into Acadia University to do my Masters of Education in Counselling, the degree that I finally graduated with in 2015.

Starting my counselling career

After spending a year living at home with my parents while I was writing my thesis, I was ready to start my counselling career. I got a job working for the BC Government as a Child and Youth Mental Health Clinician.

This job was perfect, it was a 1-year contract and it allowed me to explore and learn so much about counselling as a profession. I was also the only therapist in the community who helped anybody under the age of 19, so it was quite a bit of responsibility, and I loved it!

Figuring out my next move

I was trying to figure out my next move, then, a colleague of mine suggested that I start my own private practice.

‘I had never even fathomed starting a private practice just with 1-year of professional counselling under my belt.’ – Julia Smith

This was an absolutely wild idea; but as I started to think about it more, it became more of a possibility that I could actually start my own private practice. I just had a couple more months left in BC and there were parts of me that knew I was not ready to commit my life to 30 years in a government job, so I knew what I had to do next.

How I started my Canadian private practice

I found a consultant in the States that helps counsellors start their own private practices, and watching his videos made me realize that I could actually do this if I just followed all the steps. I had money saved up and I knew that after my 1-year contract was over, I’d be able to support myself even if I didn’t have any clients.

‘I decided to take a huge risk and start my own private practice. There were definitely people in my life that thought that it was wild, and there were lots of people who were very supportive.’ – Julia Smith

In October 2016 I moved across the country from BC to Halifax, NS. In the months leading up to this, I had to find an apartment, I registered my business, and I also had to find an affordable place to counsel people.

Luckily there was a clinic at that time that was offering office space by the hour and you only paid if you booked.

‘It was like everything aligned to move to Halifax. I could afford to live there, cheaply, I could afford to start my private practice cheaply, I didn’t have to pay my monthly rent, I could just book the times when clients booked with me and then have an office space.’ – Julia Smith

This is why I started a Canadian private practice! I can’t wait for you to join me on the next episode where I share with you how I started my private practice.

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Resources Mentioned and Useful Links:

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Welcome to The Fearless Practice Podcast!

Fearless Practice: Recent Episodes

Julia Smith