The Bad Therapist Show

You're doing everything right and still feel like you're running on empty. If you want to grow your private practice to multi-six figures, the problem probably isn't what you need to add. It's what you need to stop doing. In today's episode, I'm sharing three things that are quietly draining your time and energy right now, even though they feel productive or even responsible, but are actually getting in the way of you scaling your practice and adding thousands of dollars of revenue every single month. We're talking about where your energy is leaking, why the emails you keep writing from scratch are taking up way more real estate in your week than they deserve, what happens to all those leads coming to your website when you don't have something in place to capture them, and why managing your own inbox might be one of the most expensive habits in your business right now. None of these are complicated fixes. But they will challenge how you think about your time and your energy. And one of them might bring up some unexpected feelings about hard work, worth, and who you think you need to be in your business. Topics covered on Grow Your Private Practice: Connect with Felicia: The Magic Sheets@the_bad_therapistwww.thebadtherapist.coach Resources from this episode: www.thebadtherapist.coach/liberatedbusinessBuy Back Your Time by Dan Martell Quote: "If you keep piling on new things without letting go of the things that are quietly draining your energy, you are going to burn out before you ever hit your goal." - Felicia

Marketing for therapists feels icky - and not because you're doing it wrong. You were trained to be boundaried, ethical, and non-transactional. Then you’re told to post on Instagram and ask complete strangers to book a call. No wonder you're feeling conflicted about it. In today's episode I'm offering you a completely different way to think about marketing your private practice, one that doesn't require you to abandon your values or pretend you love the hustle. We're talking about why the discomfort is so real, why waiting until it ‘‘feels better’’ is the wrong move, and what happens when you stop treating your marketing like a necessary evil and start treating it like a devotional practice. I also walk you through a simple intention setting practice I created for one of my clients, so you have something to come back to every single time you sit down to do your marketing. This is one to save and come back to! Topics covered on Marketing for Therapists: Connect with Felicia: The Magic Sheets@the_bad_therapistwww.thebadtherapist.coach Resources from this episode: www.thebadtherapist.coach/liberatedbusiness Quote: "Done consistently beats done perfectly every single time." - Felicia

Let's talk about building a therapist website that converts (one of my favorite topics). Your homepage copy has about three seconds to convince someone to stay. Three seconds. And most therapists are wasting them on "welcome to my website" and a stock photo of stacked rocks. That's why in today's episode I sat down with Monica Kovach, former therapist turned website designer for private practice therapists, to break down exactly what belongs on your therapist homepage and what needs to go immediately. Monica shares the simple what, who, and where framework for your above the fold section that most therapists are overcomplicating. We get into the copy mistakes that make every therapy website look the same, why your stock photography might be working against you, and how good therapist conditioning is showing up in your website design in ways you probably haven't noticed. If your website isn't converting the way you want it to, there's one section you need to look at before anything else and it's probably not the one you think. More about Monica Kovach: Monica is the Founder and Designer at Hold Space Creative; a Squarespace website design agency. She's a former art therapist and coach, and uses her 10+ years of experience in marketing and design to help therapists and coaches connect with their best-fit clients online. Topics covered on Therapist Website: Connect with Monica Kovach: Hold Space Creative@holdspacecreative Connect with Felicia: The Magic Sheets@the_bad_therapistwww.thebadtherapist.coach Resources from this episode: www.thebadtherapist.coach/liberatedbusinessBuilding a StoryBrand by Donald Miller Related episodes: SEO Blogging for Therapists: How Long It Really Takes to Get More Traffic and Inquiries [Ep 153] Quote: "Your copy should speak to where your clients are right now, and your design should speak to where they want to be." – Monica Kovach - Monica Kovach

A therapy intensive can be one of the best ways to work with new clients when your private practice is full and inquiries keep rolling in. Most therapists default to a waitlist or refer people out, but this third option could seriously increase your monthly income. In today's episode, I talk about how one of my clients used a therapy intensive to convert a consult call into a same-month booking, without the potential client feeling disappointed or misled. I share the exact language you can use on a 10-minute consult call to present a therapy intensive as the obvious best fit, why your energy and attitude when delivering this information matters more than you think, and what happened when my client implemented this strategy the very same day I coached her on it. If your private practice is full but your inquiries aren’t slowing down, this episode will completely change how you think about your next consult call. Topics covered on Therapy Intensive: Resources from this episode: www.thebadtherapist.coach/liberatedbusiness Connect with Felicia: The Magic Sheets@the_bad_therapistwww.thebadtherapist.coach Related episodes: Devotional Sales: My Sales Practice That Will Turn Consult Calls into Clients [Ep 56] How Therapy Intensives Can Rescue Your Private Practice from the Summer Scaries [Ep 119] Therapist Consult Call: The Simple Fix to Boost Your Client Conversion Rates [Ep 89] Quote: "If you show up like you're delivering bad news, your client is going to receive it like bad news. Leave your weirdness at the door and watch what happens." - Felicia

Do you ever worry that taking regular time off from your private practice will cause your business to fall apart? Therapist work-life balance is something I hear from therapists all the time and in today's episode, I’m sharing how to build a private practice that supports you so you can take more time off as a therapist. I walk you through how to prepare your clients before you take time off, how to handle the "but is that fair?" guilt that creeps in when you start setting boundaries around your schedule, and how to use my free tool to run the numbers so you can actually afford the time off you want. I also get real about why not setting these boundaries leads to burnout and resentment toward your clients, and why your cancellation policy and your personal time off policy are two very different things. If you've been wanting more freedom in your private practice but don't know where to start, this episode will show you how to get there. Topics covered on Therapist Work-Life Balance: The Magic Sheets Resources from this episode: www.thebadtherapist.coach/liberatedbusinessThe Magic Sheetshttps://www.thebadtherapist.coach/feeformula Connect with Felicia: @the_bad_therapistwww.thebadtherapist.coach Related episodes: How to Uphold Your Cancellation Policy Without Feeling Guilty [Ep 19] Quote: "Achieving your goals does not happen by accident. Therapists who are wildly successful in their private practices do not end up there by accident. They planned for it." - Felicia

Are you ready for the spring surge in therapy inquiries? I've noticed year after year that spring, not new years, is when people actually start taking action on their mental health. The weather shifts and people have the energy and motivation to invest in therapy. So in today's episode, I'm walking you through the three things you need to do right now to make sure your therapy practice is positioned to capture that increase in demand and book more therapy clients. We're talking about collecting reviews, doing a website check to catch those sneaky tech glitches, and taking the opportunity to upgrade your schedule so you're not just filling spots but building the business you actually want to run. Plus, I'm sharing marketing ideas for therapists that work and how to think about your therapy practice growth strategically, not frantically. By the end of this episode, you'll know exactly where to focus your energy before that spring momentum hits. Because honestly, the difference between a good year and a great year in your therapy practice often comes down to being prepared when opportunity knocks. Topics covered on marketing ideas for therapists: Connect with Felicia: The Magic Sheets@the_bad_therapistwww.thebadtherapist.coach Resources from this episode: www.thebadtherapist.coach/liberatedbusinessDiscount link Quote: "The beautiful thing about running your own therapy business is that you get to create something that you love, that you are really excited to build and to exist in." - Felicia

What if I told you that you don't have to wait until licensure to start a private therapy practice? In today’s episode, Annie shares her remarkable story about starting a private therapy practice as an associate therapist, something nearly everyone told her was impossible. Annie went from juggling part-time nanny work and struggling to keep two or three clients, to receiving 8–9 inquiries a month and building a nearly full caseload at her highest fee…all before getting licensed. In our conversation, she reveals the exact strategies that worked: redesigning her website using StoryBrand messaging to actually speak to her ideal clients, running Google Ads successfully when "everyone" said they wouldn't work, and learning to trust herself instead of all the external doubt and noise. If you're an associate therapist feeling scared, underpaid, or convinced that starting a private therapy practice isn't realistic for you right now, this episode is proof that with the right strategy and support, it absolutely is. More about Annie Patyk: Annie Patyk is an associate marriage and family therapist based in San Francisco, CA. She specializes in helping high-achieving women break cycles of anxiety, perfectionism, and self-doubt to build lives that feel authentic and aligned. Annie is passionate about helping her clients stay connected to their ambition while cultivating self-trust and honoring their deepest desires. Topics covered on How to Start a Private Therapy Practice: Connect with Felicia: The Magic Sheets@the_bad_therapistwww.thebadtherapist.coach Connect with Annie: anniepatyk.com Resources from this episode: www.thebadtherapist.coach/liberatedbusiness Related episodes: Handling Fee Objections: What to Say When a Therapy Client Says Your Fee Is Too Expensive [Ep 152]Therapist Consult Call: The Simple Fix to Boost Your Client Conversion Rates [Ep 89] Quote: “The main mediator between people who are successful and people who are not, is that they're able to be in that space of frustration and not knowing for long periods of time, and just keep going.” Annie Patyk

Do you ever catch yourself wanting to delete, shrink, or simplify something in your business that's actually working? Patterns in business can be sneaky like that! After my biggest year ever, adding 100K+ in revenue and watching my clients hit milestones like 30K months and full practices, I found myself wanting to disable pages on my website, strip things back, and get rid of what felt like "too much." It turns out, I was mislabeling complexity as messiness. That same impulse I have in my home to declutter everything? It had crept right into how I was running my business. In today's episode, I'm getting real about how I caught myself mid-sabotage and what I'm doing differently now. I'm also inviting you to look at your own stress responses because the thing you do when your business feels overwhelming might not be solving a real problem. It might just be giving your nervous system a quick hit of relief. If you're in a season of growth and things feel heavier than you expected, this episode is for you. Topics covered on Patterns In Business: Resources from this episode: www.thebadtherapist.coach/liberatedbusinesshttps://www.youtube.com/@WhatYourTherapistThinks Connect with Felicia: The Magic Sheets@the_bad_therapistwww.thebadtherapist.coach Quote: “ There are all sorts of ways that we can sabotage our success and our growth because we're uncomfortable with the success and the growth that we are experiencing.” - Felicia

How long does it actually take before you start seeing more traffic and inquiries from SEO on your therapy website? SEO blogging for therapists can feel like a slow-burn strategy, but it’s one of the most reliable ways to step off the social media hamster wheel. Waiting months for momentum can feel painful, especially when you want clients now. But I went from basically zero traffic to 7–10K visitors a month, and I’ve watched therapists inside my signature program, Liberated Business, experience the same shift once they committed to the long game. In today's episode, I'm breaking down what really happens in the first few months, how results compound between 6–12 months, and why many therapists feel the biggest difference around the one-year mark. I’ll help you figure out whether you should DIY your SEO or hire support, and how to spot red flags so you don’t waste money on someone who overpromises. If you’re a therapist who’s curious about SEO but overwhelmed, impatient, or unsure whether it’s worth it, this episode will give you realistic expectations and a clear path forward. Topics covered on SEO Blogging for Therapists: Connect with Felicia: The Magic Sheets@the_bad_therapistwww.thebadtherapist.coach Resources from this episode: www.thebadtherapist.coach/liberatedbusinesswww.thebadtherapist.coach/shop/p/devotional-sales-practice

Ever frozen on a consult call the moment someone said your fee was too expensive (I mean, who hasn't?) Handling fee objections is one of the most uncomfortable moments therapists face on consult calls, and if you've ever walked away from that conversation feeling guilty, confused, or tempted to slash your rates on the spot, this episode is for you! I'm breaking down what "too expensive" actually means when a potential client says it (it's not always what you think). I'll share how to tell the difference between someone who genuinely can't afford your fee and someone who's just unsure about investing in therapy. We'll talk about why being rock solid in your pricing matters and how your own money issues might be getting in the way. Plus, I'm giving you my favorite go-to response you can use word for word on your next call! This episode isn't about pressuring anyone into saying yes. It's about holding your boundary while staying warm, curious, and deeply caring. If you want to feel more grounded the next time money comes up on a consult call, tune in. Topics covered on Handling Fee Objections: Resources from this episode: The Magic Sheetswww.thebadtherapist.coach/liberatedbusiness Connect with Felicia: @the_bad_therapistwww.thebadtherapist.coach Quote: "When someone says that your fee is too expensive, it's really important that we understand that this is a particular perspective. It's a judgment, it's a subjective judgment, but it is not a fact." - Felicia

Are you wrestling with whether to share your political beliefs publicly as a therapist? It’s a tough dilemma many of us face: How do you stay true to your personal convictions without compromising your professional responsibility? In today’s episode, I’m addressing a question by Becky, a group practice owner, who reached out to share her struggle with wanting to be transparent about her beliefs while staying respectful and ethical. So, how do we navigate the balance between authenticity and professionalism? Tune in as I walk you through the tough questions you need to ask yourself before deciding to go public with your views. We’ll explore how this decision could impact your clients, your business, and even your employees. Plus, I’ll share strategies for communicating your values in a way that maintains professionalism without alienating those who may think differently. Let’s unpack the challenges, reflect on your ability to work with clients across the political spectrum, and discuss how to stay true to yourself while upholding the ethical standards of our profession. You don’t have to figure this out alone. Topics covered on Sharing Political Beliefs Publicly: Resources from this episode: https://ckarchive.com/b/lmuehmhn0l4wlid7kkm78c8lo4v00bghttps://indivisible.org/Submit your questions for the next episode Connect with Felicia: The Magic Sheets@the_bad_therapistwww.thebadtherapist.coach Quote: "We need to be honest about our capacity to work with people across the political spectrum." - Felicia

What if you didn’t have to feel 1000% confident before hosting a profitable retreat? In this episode, I’m chatting with Sarah Lazarewicz, a therapist, Liberated Business graduate and first-time retreat host about what it looked like to lead her very first overnight retreat. She walked away with $3,000 in profit and a whole new level of confidence. But getting there? That's the real story. Before the retreat even happened, Sarah was deep in self-doubt. Imposter syndrome told her she wasn’t qualified. Money fears made her question whether anyone would actually sign up. And more than once, she considered canceling the whole thing and walking away from her dream (again). But Sarah didn't stay stuck in fear. She leaned into community support, worked through what was underneath the doubts, and chose to move forward anyway. The result was a beautiful, heartfelt experience that transformed not just her attendees, but her own belief in what she's capable of as a leader and business owner. If you've been sitting on a big vision but fear keeps holding you back, this episode will give you permission to do it messy, do it scared, and do it anyway. More about Sarah Lazarewicz: Sarah Lazarewicz (MSW, LICSW) is a somatic therapist and trauma specialist based in Minneapolis, MN. She specializes in helping adults recovering from unhealthy childhoods find greater connection and peace in adulthood. She is also passionate about supporting therapists, and leads retreats for therapists focused on preventing burnout and creating deep community among fellow mental health providers. Topics covered on Hosting a Profitable Retreat: Resources from this episode: https://www.thebadtherapist.coach/liberatedbusiness Related episodes Building Blocks of a Profitable Retreat: How to Design the Perfect Experience [Ep 65] Connect with Sarah Lazarewicz: laztherapy.com Connect with...

If you think a $20K month for solo therapists means working 60-hour weeks, hear this: the therapists I work with who are consistently hitting 20K months aren't running giant group practices or burning themselves out. They're solo clinicians with premium fees, clear niches, and one really effective marketing channel that actually works. In today's episode, I'm breaking down the real anatomy of a 20K month for solo therapists based on what my actual clients are doing month after month. I'm talking about the core pieces that add up to those numbers, the mindset shifts around charging what you're worth, and the specific moves you can make right now to start moving in that direction. Whether you're at 5K months or 15K months, there are probably just one or two bottlenecks in your business keeping you stuck. I'm going to help you figure out what those are and give you concrete next steps to open things up! Topics covered on 20K Month for Solo Therapists: Resources from this episode: www.thebadtherapist.coach/liberatedbusinessHow Saying No to Clients Doubled Erin's Income to $14K/Month in 3 Months [Ep 148]How Dr Mikki Lee Used TikTok Marketing to Grow Her Private Practice and 4x Her Revenue [Ep 139] Related episodes My Secret to Turning 10 Min Intake Calls Into Paying Clients [Ep 7]Devotional Sales: My Sales Practice That Will Turn Consult Calls into Clients [Ep 56] Connect with Felicia:

What if raising your therapy fees and saying no to clients more often could actually double your private practice income? That's exactly what happened to Erin Cantor, a play therapist in New York City who went from $8,000 to $14,000 per month in just three months of being in my signature program, Liberated Business. In this episode, I’m chatting with Erin about the specific changes she made that led to her rapid growth, why she requires three parent sessions before working with any child, and how learning to say no to clients became her biggest marketing strategy. Erin got ruthlessly clear about which cases to accept, raised her fees without apologizing, and implemented a firm cancellation policy faster than most therapists would dare. And the wild part? Her clients thanked her for it. If you've ever felt guilty about turning away potential clients or wondered whether you're charging enough for your expertise, this conversation will shift something for you. Erin's story proves that building a private practice on your terms isn't just possible; it's profitable. More about Erin Cantor: Erin Cantor, M.A., MSW, LCSW is a child play therapist and adolescent, adult and family psychotherapist working in private practice in New York City. A graduate of the three-year child and adolescent psychotherapy training program (CAPTP) at The William Alanson White Institute, she is also trained in Family Therapy from Ackerman Institute, and completed the one year infant observation program with the Anni Bergman Parent Infant training program (ABPIP) with Contemporary Freudian Society (CFS) and Institute for Psychoanalytic Training and Research (IPTAR). In addition to her psychotherapy work, Erin is also a clinical writer, presenter, and consultant. Topics covered on Saying No To Clients: Resources from this episode: https://www.holdspacecreative.com/ https://www.thebadtherapist.coach/liberatedbusiness Connect with Erin Cantor: www.erincantorlcswpllc.comhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/erin-c-377181153 Connect with

Are you a therapist dreaming of starting a therapy private practice but not sure where to begin? Then today's podcast episode is for you! Join me as I guide you through the essential steps to launching your therapy private practice. From registering your business and obtaining necessary legal documents to setting up a bank account and securing liability insurance, I've got you covered! But it's not just about the technicalities; I delve into the importance of establishing clear policies around fees and cancellations that work for you. Plus, I share insights on how to effectively market your therapy private practice and why having a professional website is crucial in today's digital age. This episode is your quick-start guide to making your dream of owning a therapy private practice a reality. Don't let uncertainty hold you back - tune in now and take the first step towards building your successful private practice! Topics covered on Starting a Therapy Private Practice in 2026: Resources from this episode: Jane EHRSessions How to Build a Strategic Website That Will Bring More Clients to Your Practice With Sarah Busse [Ep 30]SEO For Therapists: Future-Proofing Your Therapy Practice with Kristie Platinga [Ep 38]How to Uphold Your Cancellation Policy Without Feeling Guilty [Ep 19]Growing Your Group Practice: Why Your First Hire Should Be A 'Mini-You' w/ Nicole McCance [Ep 124]Holdspace CreativePlace Digital

Want to transition into 2026 with real clarity instead of just another vague resolution? This New Year guided meditation will help you do exactly that! In today's episode, I'm walking you through an end-of-year reflection that honors both the wins and the hard moments of 2025. We're not bypassing anything here. We're celebrating what went well, grieving what didn't, and setting intentions for the year ahead. This isn't about being more productive or hitting arbitrary benchmarks. It's about recognizing that your private practice growth is deeply connected to your own healing and spiritual journey. I'll guide you through acknowledging where you are right now, reconnecting with the moments that felt nourishing this year, and holding space for the challenges that still need attention. Then we'll move into setting intentions that actually align with who you're becoming, not just what you think you should achieve. This New Year meditation meets you exactly where you are - whether you're feeling rushed, distracted, or already cozy and settled in. Topics covered on New Year Meditation: Connect with Felicia: The Magic Sheets@the_bad_therapistwww.thebadtherapist.coachHealing Money Quote: "You don't have to be perfect in order to shift. You can be in pain, and that's all right. That doesn't have to stop you from continuing to grow and to change and to make progress in all sorts of ways." - Felicia

I almost didn't make the changes that took my coaching business from "doing fine" to legitimately blowing up this year. I thought I needed to work harder but what actually moved the needle required me to do something that felt completely backward. This year I crossed the five-year mark in business, went back to therapy, hired help, and made ONE shift in how I communicate with my audience that changed everything. At least two people who joined my signature program, Liberated Business, told me they couldn't stand me when they first found my work. But now they're paying clients! In this episode, I’m reflecting on what actually changed behind the scenes during a $100K growth year — including the creative weekend trips that unexpectedly became a source of clarity, why letting myself evolve mattered more than doubling down, and what scaling a coaching business looked like for me at this stage. If you're wondering what it actually takes to scale a coaching business past multiple six figures without burning out, this one's going to surprise you! Some of what worked this year goes against what I thought I knew about growing a business. Topics covered on Scaling a Coaching Business: Resources from this episode: www.thebadtherapist.coach/liberatedbusiness Connect with Felicia: The Magic Sheets@the_bad_therapistwww.thebadtherapist.coachHealing Money Related episodes: 2024 Recap: Key Takeaways from Running My Business This Year [Ep 92] Quote: "Some people are gonna see you out in the world doing your thing, and they're going to have mixed feelings about you, and that doesn't mean that you're doing it wrong." - Felicia

SEO for therapists isn't what it used to be. If you’re still marketing your private practice like it's 2020, it's time to change things up! Your potential clients aren't just googling "therapist near me" anymore. They're asking ChatGPT, Gemini, Perplexity, and Google's AI to recommend someone. And if you're not showing up in those AI answers? You're basically invisible. For today's episode, I invited Chris Moren, founder of Monraker.Ai, an SEO agency for therapists, to tell us what's changed and what we need to do about it. We chat about why your Google Business Profile matters more than ever, how one therapist got 22 reviews and now ranks #1 in his entire city, and the biggest mistake solo practitioners make when they're thinking about scaling to a group practice. If you've been relying on "good vibes" and word-of-mouth to build your caseload, this conversation is going to shift how you think about marketing. Because doing great work nowadays is the bare minimum, not a visibility strategy. So if you want to fill your caseload faster, understanding SEO for therapists is no longer optional. More about Chris Moren: Chris Moren is the founder of Moonraker.AI, an SEO agency focused on helping therapists grow their visibility on google maps and AI platforms. Before marketing, Chris was a massage therapist for over 15 years, providing chair massage to local businesses. Chris' goal is to help therapists boost their online visibility and connect with their ideal clients so they can build the practice of their dreams. Topics covered on SEO for Therapists: Connect with Chris: moonraker.ai@chris.goes.viral Connect with Felicia: The Magic Sheets@the_bad_therapistwww.thebadtherapist.coachHealing Money Related episodes:

Should you invest thousands in podcast production, or can you build a successful show from your closet? In today's episode, I'm continuing the conversation about how to start a podcast that actually grows your therapy business. I'm sharing the real, unfiltered truth about what's worked across my two very different shows - The Bad Therapist Show and What Your Therapist Thinks. From total DIY setups to high-production video podcasts, I break down the production options that fit different budgets and time constraints. I'll tell you about the failed attempt that never aired, the accountability hack that keeps me showing up every single week, and why it took two years before I started seeing serious returns. Plus, I'm spilling the strategies that got What Your Therapist Thinks featured on Apple Podcasts multiple times and already receiving sponsorship requests! So if you're wondering whether you need fancy equipment, an editor, or a huge budget to start your podcast, this episode will give you clarity on what actually matters and what you can skip. Topics covered on How to Start a Podcast: not Resources from this episode: PodVisionDescriptRiverside.fmCheck out my podcasting gear What Your Therapist Thinks podcastBest Therapist Directorywww.evergreenpodcaststrategy.co.uk Connect with Felicia: The Magic Sheets@the_bad_therapistwww.thebadtherapist.coach

Starting a podcast for your private practice sounds exciting until you're drowning in decisions about format, equipment, naming, and whether anyone will actually listen. I've been hosting The Bad Therapist Show for almost three years, and just three months ago, I launched a completely different podcast called What Your Therapist Thinks that's kind of blowing up. They serve totally different purposes in my business, and understanding that distinction is everything. In today's episode, I'm breaking down how to start a podcast that actually works for your private practice. I'm talking about why your show's purpose matters more than fancy gear, how to nail your concept and format, why your podcast name can make or break discoverability, and what I learned along the way that changed the game for my second show. I'm also getting real about the mistakes I made with my first podcast that I'd do differently now. If you're a therapist thinking about starting a podcast but feel stuck on where to begin, this episode will help you think through the decisions that actually matter. Topics covered on How To Start a Podcast: Resources from this episode: What Your Therapist ThinksBestTherapists.comMy podcasting gear https://jeremyenns.com/www.evergreenpodcaststrategy.co.uk Connect with Felicia: The Magic Sheets@the_bad_therapistwww.thebadtherapist.coachHealing Money Related episodes: Time Saving