Fearless Practice

This is a very special episode: my ninth annual yearly review! In this episode, I share insights into how my Canadian private practice has been going this year. Including the significant changes that have occurred, how their impacts landed, and where we are going from here … into Year 10 in 2026! Thank you to my listeners for being on this path alongside me. I'm so excited for another great year of episodes ahead! Onwards and upwards! In this episode: Direct billing has been great Success with lowered prices Monthly land tax donations My transition Here's to year 10! Direct billing has been great As you may have heard, from year eight we implemented direct billing and that has continued to be an asset. If you are interested in learning more about the process of including direct billing and how I did it, you can listen to this podcast episode. Or, if you're sitting on the fence and still deciding whether or not you want to use direct billing, and some more information could be useful to you, you can listen to this episode. Success with lowered prices Last year we decided to lower our rates and haven't looked back! If you want some more information and guidance on lowering or raising your rates, check out this episode I did discussing this exact topic. Monthly land tax donations The third change we've been implementing since the middle of this year has been donating monthly to the Mi'kmaw Native Friendship Centre in Halifax, Nova Scotia. Again, if you are interested in doing the same or you want to learn more, you can listen to this episode. My transition If you're a long-time listener (hello!) you may have heard the episode on my personal big change which happened in the middle of last spring, where I shared the personal story of my transition. In episode 163 I talk about coming out as trans nonbinary, and why I decided to share this news on this platform, and with my audience. In fact, when this episode airs and you are listening to it, I'll be healing from top surgery! 'I am so excited for this next part of my journey. I feel so lucky that I am able to get top surgery, I just can't wait for it to happen.' - Jules Smith However, while this change has been profound and important, my biggest fear about transitioning in an established private practice was realized: my client intake dropped significantly. It can take time to build trust and I think it may be due to the inconsistencies in branding as I redo my professional photos and video. As this episode airs, my private practice website should be finished with my updates! Luckily my associate's intakes have remained steady, and my current client caseload has sustained itself, but I won't lie that it was stressful initially when the dip happened. 'I forgot a bit about how difficult it is when you are starting a private practice, and how stressful it can be to brand yourself. So, I have a renewed sense of respect for all the Canadian therapists out there that have decided to go into private practice! It can be stressful, but I'm here with you, and we'll get through it together!' - Jules Smith Here's to year 10! There will be another year of the Fearless Practice Podcast thanks to Jane App! I truly enjoy working with them and love using their EMR :) Additionally, Jane App decided to upgrade the promo code so that you can now have a two-month grace period when you sign up! The new code is: FEARLESS2MO. Thank you so much to my podcast team and lastly, thank you to my audience. Here's to another year of podcasting together! Connect with me: Instagram Website Resources mentioned and useful links: Ep 179: Grace Kim: How Therapy Sparked a Private Practice | EP 179 Learn more about the tools and deals that I love and use for my Canadian private practice Sign up for my free e-course on How to Start an Online Canadian Private Practice Jane App (use code FEARLESS2MO for two months free) Get some help and freebies on your website with WordPress! Check...

Have you ever had a therapy experience so powerful that it clarified exactly how you want to help others? Has a specific modality inspired your niche in private practice? That's exactly what happened to Grace Kim, whose experience shaped her path as a Canadian private practice therapist. Once she experienced EMDR therapy, Grace changed her career path, and the journey that she's taken has been nothing short of exciting and fulfilling. MEET GRACE Grace Kim, MSW, RSW, is the founder of REM Therapy Services, a small and growing group practice based in Markham, ON. The practice specializes in EMDR therapy, supporting high-achieving yet heavy-hearted individuals, as well as those who feel stuck in the past. REM Therapy Services offers EMDR intensives for clients seeking faster relief in therapy, along with clinical consultations for trauma therapists learning the EMDR modality. With a vision to grow as expert providers and educators of EMDR, REM Therapy Services is committed to serving both the local community and beyond. Learn more about Grace on her practice website, Psychology Today, and Instagram profiles. In this episode: How Grace became a therapist Taking off the golden handcuffs Going from client to therapist Building up a solo private practice Grace's advice to listeners How Grace became a therapist As Grace explains, her journey to becoming a therapist and running a group private practice in Canada today has been a winding road. While she started grad school with a certain plan in mind, by her graduation, the plan had changed. At first, after graduation, she worked in child welfare, community mental health, and in some hospitals. Taking off the golden handcuffs Grace joined this group private practice in 2018, six years after she graduated. It was a scary transition for her at first, going from a secure, salary job to a billable hours-based income. At that time, however, Grace was newly married and living in a home with her partner where they enjoyed dual income streams, so the risk of going into a financial red zone, so to speak, was low. Going from client to therapist In 2018 and early 2019, EMDR therapy entered into Grace's professional picture, which changed her path and steered her more towards the idea of opening up her own Canadian private practice after she had a strong personal experience with it. After Grace first experienced EMDR therapy, it sparked her interest in offering it as a modality herself as a therapist for other clients. She started practicing it, saw great results, and got strong, positive feedback: all of which encouraged her to nurture her own small side private practice while still working for the other, larger group practice. Building up a solo private practice Grace's milestone and goal to quit working in the other group practice and go full-time on her own was when she had 10 clients per week. That was what she was working towards, and once she hit that goal - and she did - she made the jump. Now, Grace has recently hired her first associate and is developing her solo practice into a group practice! Grace's advice to listeners Networking is your friend! You can be a wonderful, highly skilled clinician, but you need to get your name and your practice's name out there. Connect with other brilliant therapists to plug into the referral and sharing network. The more we support each other, the more clients get seen, the more good work gets done, and the more we all change our communities for the better. Connect with me: Instagram Website Resources mentioned and useful links: Alexina Picard: Starting a Private Practice After Graduation | EP 178 Learn more about the tools and deals that I love and use for my Canadian private practice Sign up for my free e-course on How to Start an Online 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 Grace on her practice...

Third time’s the charm sometimes, and it was the case for Alexina! She had to be persistent and resilient, and was able to find a way through financial troubles to finish her Master’s degree and start her own solo Canadian private practice. In this podcast episode, we discuss why she chose to go solo rather than join an already-existing group practice and how she got to where she is today. If you’d like some tips, advice, or just a good story of resilience from a fellow therapist, give this episode a listen! MEET ALEXINA Alexina is a Registered Clinical Counsellor practicing in North Vancouver, BC. She opened her solo private practice 4 months ago, immediately upon registration with the BCACC, something she had never imagined she would do. Alexina has over 10 years of healthcare and mental health experience, from pharmacy assistant to the past Executive Director of the BC Psychological Association. When she's not working, she’s either watching TV or running the trails on the North Shore. Learn more about Alexina on her practice website, LinkedIn, and Psychology Today profiles. In this episode: Becoming a therapist Why go back to school after working? Going into solo private practice How the practice is going Alexina’s advice to private practitioners Becoming a therapist Alexina’s route to working as a therapist was roundabout. Alexina applied to Yorkville and got in, but couldn’t afford the tuition because she was accepted on such short notice, and didn’t have enough time to sort out student loans and payment plans. She was then suggested to try out Adler University, and that route worked! Alexina was the Executive Director of BC Psychological Association for two of the four years that she worked there, and it provided her with the financial means to go back and complete her Master’s degree. Why go back to school after working? While Alexina enjoyed working as the Executive Director of the BC Psychological Association, she kept her eye on the prize of completing her Master’s degree, and this was partially due to being motivated by the people around her. Working allowed her the financial freedom to continue with her studies, and the motivation from her colleagues pushed her to return to school and complete her qualification. Going into solo private practice From Alexina’s work, she knew about the different options that were available to her. She applied to organization jobs, but didn’t hear back and decided to try reaching out to group practices. However, she ultimately decided not to go with a position in an already-established group practice. Therefore, Alexina turned towards starting her own Canadian private practice, because she began to think more deeply about the benefits of solo practice. How the practice is going Right now, Alexina’s practice is getting off the ground slowly. ‘It’s really difficult when you’re a new practitioner of any kind in the community for people to find out that you exist, unless you’re working with an existing practice or clinic somewhere.’ - Alexina Picard Alexina’s been working hard to get her practice’s name out there, but she has learned that these things simply take time, no matter how hard you work, and she’s gotten okay with that. Alexina’s advice to private practitioners Learn as much as you can yourself. If you need to, consider putting your money to use by hiring a few professionals to set things up instead of spending money trying to do it yourself. Connect with me: Instagram Website Resources mentioned and useful links: Alison Chisholm: Building More Than a Private Practice | EP 177 Learn more about the tools and deals that I love and use for my Canadian private practice Sign up for my free e-course on How to Start an Online 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 Alexina on her practice website, LinkedIn, and Psychology Today...

Everyone comes to private practice from different paths, but there can be a common thread between them: wanting to help others. For my guest today, Alison, she had a very personal experience of becoming a mother, and noticed that there was a gap in the market wherein many new parents needed pre- and peri-natal support. This sparked a passion project to fill that need and spread support, ultimately helping both clients and clinicians along the way. In this podcast episode, join us to learn more about building a collective, an affordable website, and how to live and work by your values. MEET ALISON Alison is a Registered Psychotherapist with over 10 years of experience across diverse practice settings. She co-founded Collectivus Psychotherapy in response to the increased isolation often experienced in private practice. Alison is passionate about fostering spaces where both clients and clinicians can thrive. She believes that when clinicians are connected and supported, their work becomes more authentic: helping clients truly thrive. Learn more about Alison on her Psychology Today profile and website. In this episode: Getting into private practice Building a collective Setting up a private practice website Incorporating your values Getting into private practice For Alison, getting onto her private practice path came from a very personal experience. Throughout Alison’s work with youth in her previous years in mental health, she always made an effort to support the parents too. Now, with her personal experience of becoming a mother, she wanted to combine and align these values into her new private practice. Building a collective Alison, her partner, and her best friend are all therapists and decided to go all-in on building up this new private practice. It was a shared passion project, and in 2025, they decided to rebrand and shift the practice to welcome more clinicians and therapists, since they were getting a lot of inquiries about hiring additional staff. This is why Alison and her team wanted to create the collective: to serve therapists and clinicians who can then better serve their clients. Setting up a private practice website At the beginning of a private practice journey, things can get costly very quickly. Alison and her team built up their website using some affordable stock images and videos, but as their business grows, they edit, upgrade, and elevate their website piece by piece. Alison and her team also invested in some marketing experts at the beginning to help them launch their practice online with their best foot forward. Incorporating your values Collaborating with experts, professionals, and other therapists is a central pillar of Alison’s business approach, both when it comes to hiring people to help maintain the business, and to help give the clients the best experience. She firmly believes that when therapists come together to support each other, their clients end up benefiting as well. Therefore, the business that Alison strives to create nourishes and meets the needs of professionals and clients alike. Connect with me: Instagram Website Resources mentioned and useful links: Finding Clients in a Saturated Market | EP 176 Learn more about the tools and deals that I love and use for my Canadian private practice Sign up for my free e-course on How to Start an Online 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 Alison on her Psychology Today profile and website Rate, review, and subscribe to this podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon, and TuneIn

Do you own a Canadian private practice and are finding it hard to attract clients? Have you found yourself with your head in your hands, trying to figure out how to stand out and get noticed? Over the last few months, I’ve been tweaking my marketing strategies to test what works and what doesn’t, and along the way, I have found some helpful results. In the following podcast episode, I’ll be sharing my discoveries and tips with you. In this episode: The situation in Canada right now It’s often said but still true: niche Splitting the niches with staff Maintaining Psychology Today profiles Keep up to date with AI practices The situation in Canada right now If you have been listening to my recent interview episodes with guests, you will have heard a lot of Canadian therapists pointing out one thing: the market is saturated. ‘Over the past couple of years, our profession has tripled! Which is so great for people who are trying to find a therapist, but it can lead to some challenges when it comes to marketing your private practice.’ - Jules Smith So, today, I wanted to share a few tips with you that I’m using myself to stand out from the crowd! It’s often said but still true: niche ‘Niching is so important and I feel sometimes like a broken record to always bring it up in the podcast, but it is so important!’ - Jules Smith Three important things happen when you niche down in your Canadian private practice: Clients instantly know that you’re the right fit Other professionals can refer to you more easily because you’re a specialist rather than a generalist You can use it to tailor your marketing message If you want to learn more about nichings, feel free to listen to this episode of the Fearless Practice Podcast, which dives in deep! Splitting the niches with staff Instead of giving long lists about all the ways in which we can help our clients, we decided to reorganize our approach in this way: we each have three specialties, and we share two specialties. Now, when someone goes to our practice website’s menu, they can see exactly which therapist can help them with what, making it easy to find and decide who to reach out to. Maintaining Psychology Today profiles The next thing is to monitor and make sure your social media profiles, and especially therapy directory pages like Psychology Today, are consistently updated Also, Psychology Today recently added HST for Canadian therapists using the platform, meaning that it costs more money to have a profile on their directory. So make sure that your Psychology Today profile is worth it to have! If you want to get involved and elevate your Psychology Today profile, making it look sharp and effective, you can check out this podcast episode for the full scope of advice. Keep up to date with AI practices Disclaimer: I use WordPress because I love that I own my website (unlike website builders)s. If you want to learn more about this, you can listen to this episode about my journey with WordPress. Now, one of the things that you can do on your WordPress website is to add an LLMS.txt file. It has been designed to help AI assistants know what your website is all about. ‘This file is designed to help AI tools like ChatGPT, Claude, and Gemini better understand your website, especially when they are answering questions about it.’ - Jules Smith Connect with me: Instagram Website Resources mentioned and useful links: Ep 175: Marta Evans: Mastering Growth in Canadian Private Practice | EP 175 Learn more about the tools and deals that I love and use for my Canadian private practice Sign up for my free e-course on How to Start an Online 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

It is Marta’s third career shift, becoming a psychotherapist, after 20 years in healthcare and having worked in academia before! Across this wide career and lived experience, she knew that she wanted to bring it all into her work in her private practice. Additionally, Marta had been helped by many people when she was getting started, which is what encouraged her to pay it forward by offering supervision and mentorship to new and upcoming clinicians. In this podcast episode, Marta and I discuss pivoting from full-time to work full-time in private practice, how to hire the right people, and how to maintain the soul of therapy within the growing business. Join us for a great conversation! MEET MARTA Marta Evans, RP, M.Ed., C.C.C., is a psychotherapist and certified Internal Family Systems (IFS) therapist based in Hamilton, Ontario. She’s the founder of Evans Family Counselling & Psychotherapy, a heart-led group practice specializing in transformational therapies like IFS and EMDR for individuals navigating complex trauma, grief, and life transitions. Known for her warm, authentic presence and “gentle but spicy” approach, Marta is a strong advocate for trauma-informed care that challenges the limitations of the traditional medical model. At EFCP, she and her team prioritize respectful, collaborative care that supports deep healing and change by addressing root causes rather than just managing symptoms. Learn more about Marta on her practice website, Psychology Today, and Facebook profiles. In this episode: Starting private practice Diversifying your experience Building up a group practice Marta’s advice to listeners Starting the private practice As Marta explains, being a psychotherapist is her third career. She worked for a long time in academia and as a radiation therapist in oncology before transitioning to psychotherapy. With her private practice, Marta started it part-time initially before getting to the point where she had enough clients to move into working in the practice full-time. She worked for some time in a group private practice while building up her own. Diversifying your experience After Marta completed her Master’s degree, and while she was building up her private practice and working in another group practice, she got as involved as she could over the span of about seven years - before going full private practice - to soak up as much experience as possible. She knew that her degree was valuable, but that she simultaneously wanted to have a lot more experience under her belt, which can only be acquired through working directly with people. Building up a group practice Marta developed her solo practice into a group practice in January 2024s. She decided to grow her private practice because she wanted to have a community of therapists around her, she wanted to stop turning clients away, and she wanted to start supervising and mentoring new clinicians. Now, Marta has associates and mentees - she wants to help them nourish their passions and to provide an essential service that she herself benefited from. In a way, she’s paying it forward. Marta’s advice to listeners Slow is fast! Be intentional. Don’t lose the soul of therapy by getting too caught up in the business aspects of running a private practice. Work closely with your values while heading closer to your goals. Connect with me: Instagram Website Resources mentioned and useful links: Kayleen Edwards: Private Practice Growth and Planning for Maternity Leave | EP 174 Learn more about the tools and deals that I love and use for my Canadian private practice Sign up for my free e-course on How to Start an Online 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 Marta on her practice website, Psychology Today, and Facebook profiles Rate, review, and subscribe to this podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon, and TuneIn

Are you currently building out your Canadian practice and unsure of how to grow? Or, are you growing your family and having children? How do you manage these two types of growth as a business partner and new parent? In this episode, my guest Kayleen talks about how she places community above competition. We discuss how her value-driven approach to running her practice brought back most of her interns as associates, how she managed planning for maternity leave as a busy practice owner, and her tidbits of advice for listeners. MEET KAYLEEN Kayleen is an RP and cofounder of Roots in Wellness, a group therapy practice in Hamilton, Ontario. She is a validated clinical supervisor with the OAMHP and a council member for the CRPO. Kayleen is passionate about perinatal mental health and helping both clients and supervisees through the transition of parenthood. She is a mama of three littles herself, and a lover of all things nature! Learn more about Kayleen on her practice website, LinkedIn, and Instagram profiles In this episode: What are the OAMHP and CRPO? Managing a private practice while being a committee member Growing a private practice Planning a maternity leave? Mistakes made and lessons learned Advice for listeners What are the OAMHP and CRPO? The OAMHP stands for the Ontario Association of Mental Health Professionals, and the CRPO stands for the College of Registered Psychotherapists of Ontario! Kayleen has been a council member of the CRPO since 2024, but has been working for them since 2019. Managing a private practice while being a committee member Between her commitments to her roles within the CRPO and the OAMHP and running her own Canadian private practice, Kayleen definitely has a lot on her plate! Before the beginning of her private practice journey, Kayleen graduated in 2014 and started working at an agency for a number of years. It was demanding work with a lot of travel and tough cases, and even though Kayleen learned a lot from that experience, she knew at the time that it wasn’t something she would do forever. Growing a private practice Kayleen jokes that the growth snuck up on them over time. Initially, in 2019, Kayleen started supervising and took on her first student. This opened up a whole new world for her, as she loved being a supervisor and enjoyed the practice, because many of the interns ended up coming back to work at the practice full-time. Kayleen still sees clients, although she spends more time networking and opening up her practice to the community in new ways - like with a book club! Planning a maternity leave? One of the many tips that Kayleen would give you when it comes to preparing for maternity leave is to give yourself a hefty dose of grace! She also recommends being flexible. Understand that there are many ways of going about maternity leave, so you don’t have to do it the same way that other people in different jobs do. Mistakes made and lessons learned Along the way, some of the most prominent lessons that Kayleen learned include: The importance of having boundaries around your notifications and not always being accessible or available. Get admin help sooner than you think you need it! To stop putting so much pressure on yourself to make it as big or successful as soon as possible. Put boundaries down with yourself, and allow yourself to rest as well. Put some money away into an emergency savings fund. Advice for listeners Value your community over competing with them! Connect with me: Instagram Website Resources mentioned and useful links: Compensation | EP 173 Learn more about the tools and deals that I love and use for my Canadian private practice Sign up for my free e-course on How to Start an Online 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 Kayleen on her practice website, LinkedIn, and Instagram profiles Rate, review, and subscribe...

Every private practice is a little different in how it goes about business, especially when it comes to having contract therapists. Usually, the practice owner and contractor figure out the best system that works for them, which means there is generally more than one way around a problem! Regarding compensation for my contract therapist, we have tried and tested a few options before settling on what works best for us: a percentage-based compensation system with an invoice-accrued model. If you’d like some tips on how I manage this process each month (or you want to know what this even means!), welcome to this podcast episode. In this episode: My experience with growth Why finding the right compensation model matters How to pay a contract therapist How to use the invoice-accrued model My experience with growth If you’ve been following my private practice journey over the past few years, you’ll know that I've grown my solo practice into a small group private practice by hiring my first contract therapist. Why finding the right compensation model matters Each practice may do things differently. It is important to find the right compensation model for the therapist contractors in your practice, because how you pay them will directly affect their financial stability, as well as their job satisfaction. I decided to hire a contractor instead of an employee because I run a smaller business. Having a contract therapist means less paperwork, more financial stability, and tax headaches for me, and it also gives the contractor more freedom, flexibility, and potential to earn more each month. How to pay the contract worker First, we decided it would be a monthly payout, rather than a bi-weekly payout. Then, we had to decide on the payout model: invoice-accrual-based pay or cash-based pay. If you want a quick recap on the definitions: 1 - Invoiced (Accrual-Based) Pay: Payment is based on services rendered within a calendar month, regardless of whether the clinic or practice has been paid by the client or insurer. Example: If a therapist delivers 20 sessions in August, they get paid for 20 sessions at the end of August or early September — even if the client hasn’t paid yet. 2 - Collected (Cash-Based) Pay: Payment is based on what the clinic has actually collected from clients or insurers. Example: If only 12 of the 20 August sessions have been paid by clients, the therapist is paid for only those 12 — the rest is delayed until collected. We then tried the cash-collected method for a couple of months, when I switched to direct billing last year. I decided to do this switch because sometimes insurance companies do not pay out quickly! It could sometimes take more than a month. However, this led to more unpredictability for my contract therapist regarding how much she was going to be paid each month as well as more time spent on discussions about billing. So I decided to switch back to the invoice-accrued method. How to use the invoice-accrued model You may be wondering how I figure out how much to pay my contractor with the percentage-based pay. Honestly, Jane App does it all! Some of my tips include: Go into settings Then billing settings Select the “accounting method”, either cash or accrual Then go to “Reports”, select “Payroll” and then “Compensation”, the staff member and the date range, and it will show you their commission in the payment model you have selected! Connect with me: Instagram Website Resources mentioned and useful links: Ep 172: Michael Sorsdahl: CCPA’s New Ethics Case Book and Why You Must Read It | EP 172 Learn more about the tools and deals that I love and use for my Canadian private practice Sign up for my free e-course on How to Start an Online 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

Today, Jules takes another trip down memory lane, revisiting a gem from the Fearless Practice archives. In this encore episode, Jules talks to Michael Sorsdahl about the new CCPA revised ethics case book. You can find the show notes to the original episode here. Connect with me: Instagram Website Resources Mentioned and Useful Links: Liv Noël Dakkak: Niching With Your Passion in Private Practice | ep 171 Sign up for my free e-course 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 Sign up for my free e-course on How to Start an Online 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

Do what you love, and you won’t work a day in your life? Close, but not quite! Niching down and working within your passion and ideal client group will still take effort and work, but it can be easier than staying a generalist, especially if you are dreaming about working more intentionally with the groups of people you care the most about helping. In today’s episode, I speak with Liv (they/them) about niching down, starting a private practice, and running workshops, all of which they started in an effort to reshape their life around their needs, dreams, and desires. So, it’s maybe not about not working at all, but about doing the work that feels right for you! MEET LIV Liv (they/them) is a registered social worker who works primarily with queer, neurodivergent and disabled folks who have experienced trauma. They are guided by anti-oppressive, strength-based, trauma-informed care and use methods such as Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) to get to the root of what you are struggling with. They offer services to individuals and partners, youths and adults, virtually across Ontario and in-person in Cornwall. Learn more about Liv on their Psychology Today profile and bookings page. In this episode: Why Liv became a social worker Starting a private practice Partnering with aligned organizations Niching down to boost success Advice for listeners Why Liv became a social worker From Liv’s personal experience, as well as seeing people struggle with mental health, they felt drawn to becoming a Registered Social Worker to help people go through life a little more easily. Additionally, Liv works primarily with queer, neurodivergent, and disabled folks because they have these life experiences too. Starting a private practice After Liv’s extensive experience working in the public sector, they started to consider opening up a Canadian private practice. This was partially due to burnout, a need to structure work around their health more, and simply a desire for something new in their career. Starting a private practice allowed Liv to create the life that they wanted to live. One that was professionally structured around their personal needs, and that supported a happier, healthier, freer lifestyle with less stress and more flexibility. After working in the public sector, Liv worked in another group practice, but after a few months, they started their own private practice, which is what Liv is doing now. Partnering with aligned organizations Liv’s private practice is going well! Now that they’re able to work more freely, Liv can build the practice from the ground up in close alignment with their values. Also, Liv has started to partner with organizations where they see drop-in clients. Liv explains that they know things take time, so they are making professional moves to increase clients, market the practice, and collaborate with like-minded organizations while slowly growing the solo practice each month. Niching down to boost success To stand out and connect with their ideal clients, Liv has made a big effort to niche down. Niching down in private practice is not only a great business strategy for success, but also a method for you to really integrate your work with your passion. Liv has also begun participating in workshops to expand their client base and strengthen their professional network. Advice for listeners Things take time! Be patient, especially in the first few months of private practice. Don’t let impostor syndrome get you down, since sometimes you will need to put in lots of effort before you see a return on it. So, be patient, keep going, and work with your passion! Connect with me: Instagram Website Resources mentioned and useful links: Catharine Martin: Inside Jane App’s AI Scribe | EP 170 Learn more about the tools and deals that I love and use for my Canadian private practice Sign up for my free e-course on How to Start an Online Canadian Private Practice Jane App (use...

You have heard about AI everywhere, and now it is being used within EMR services. If you feel unsure about this topic or you want to learn more, then definitely play this episode and join us for the conversation! In this podcast episode, Catharine from Jane App and I discuss how Jane App incorporates AI into their EMR, including some general best practice guidelines about how you can use to use Jane’s AI Script services ethically and safely in your practice. MEET CATHARINE Catharine Martin is the Privacy and Compliance Manager at Jane App, where she plays a key leadership role in shaping and overseeing the company’s privacy and regulatory strategies. With a strong background in data protection and compliance, she works closely with healthcare practitioners to ensure their practices meet evolving privacy requirements while also finding practical ways to reduce administrative burden. Beyond her work at Jane, Catharine is also a dedicated Pilates instructor, bringing the same focus and discipline to her teaching as she does to her professional work. Learn more about Catharine on her LinkedIn profile. In this episode: Working with Jane App AI Scribe AI in client diagnostics It is all up to you Jane’s appearance in The Globe and Mail Working with Jane App Catharine, 20 years ago, after giving birth, had a radical and unexpected medical event that left her in a brief coma, experiencing multiple organ failure. However, due to her incredible doctors, her strength, and a lot of luck, she survived and kept all her organs, without needing any transplants, and went on to make a full recovery. How did this bring her to work for Jane App? After what Catharine went through, she felt so drawn to Jane App’s vision to “Help the helpers”, that she started working for the company to further their mission. AI Scribe Jane App offers an AI scribe feature. It essentially charts notes from your sessions with clients in your own voice. Jane secured a third-party vendor who is known for their robust privacy practices, which are all compliant with the required ethical laws and privacy legislation, to help them integrate the AI tool. AI in client diagnostics ‘As part of using Jane’s AI Scribe, therapy notes are included, but not diagnostic suggestions. As in, diagnostic suggestions are not coming from any AI-powered tool. Diagnostic suggestions are coming from a human, providing care to another human.’ - Catharine Martin Even though Jane App makes use of AI in some of their service offerings, they are critical of making sure that it is being used ethically and appropriately, and only for admin-related tasks. The care suggestions and client diagnostics will still only come from you, the client’s therapist, based on your sessions together. It is all up to you With your Jane App subscription, when it comes to AI, it is all up to you. You don’t have to make sure of it, even though it is being offered to you. You can easily opt in or out of using it within your Jane App subscription, hassle-free. Also, consider the risk of any tool that you use when you are weighing up whether to use it or not. Jane’s appearance in The Globe and Mail Jane App made great headlines in one of The Globe and Mail’s articles for reaching a $1.8-billion valuation. Jane App is looking to adopt AI on a grand scale by continuing to explore its benefits ethically to help more helpers. Connect with me: Instagram Website Resources mentioned and useful links: Ep 169: Rachel Brennan: Keeping Connection in an Online Group Practice | EP 169 Learn more about the tools and deals that I love and use for my Canadian private practice Sign up for my free e-course on How to Start an Online 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 Catharine on her LinkedIn profile Rate, review, and subscribe to this podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon, and TuneIn

Do you run a Canadian group private practice? Are you mostly (or all) online? It can be tricky to maintain the community feeling of an online group practice, especially with a few therapists and employees, and especially if community is one of your business values. However, it doesn’t mean it’s impossible! My guest today, Rachel, and I discuss how to incorporate different systems in private practice to maintain a sense of community and connection, as well as how to be authentic in your marketing and in the work your practice puts out into the community. MEET RACHEL Rachel Brennan is an Ontario-based Registered Psychotherapist and the founder of Eras Therapy & Wellness, a Canadian virtual group private practice. She has a clinical focus on childhood and relational trauma, as well as anxiety, self-esteem, and body image issues. Based in Toronto, Rachel is passionate about offering high-quality, authentic, and human-centered therapy that prioritizes genuine connection and emotional safety. Outside the therapy room, she can often be found adventuring with her two rescue dogs or planning her next trip across the globe. Learn more about Rachel on her practice website, Psychology Today, and Instagram profiles. In this episode: Why Rachel became a therapist Starting her private practice Turning the practice into a group Maintaining the connection in an online group practice Advice to listeners Why Rachel became a therapist Rachel first completed two years of medical school, because it was her first plan. However, due to developing a brain injury and chronic illnesses, she decided to pivot her life. Starting her private practice Rachel was dedicated to opening up her Canadian private practice even while she was still completing her Master's degree. After graduating, Rachel jumped into private practice and has not looked back since! Her private practice is currently totally virtual, and even though it works very well for her and her team now, she may open up a physical office space in the future. Turning the practice into a group Rachel hired her first associate, who still works within her practice, and registered her practice as a practicum site so that she can take in students as well. She collaborates with supervisors who work with her and the students. Rachel is taking it slow and checking in with herself and her team to make sure the practice is growing sustainably. Maintaining the connection in an online group practice There are a few things that Rachel and her team do to make sure that the sense of community within the group practice is nourished and maintained, especially since they all work online. There are: Monthly team meetings Continuous peer consultation groups Group chats for daily and weekly connections Two in-person events every year for the staff Rachel’s group practice also uses Jane App for their bookings, and it’s a lifesaver. ‘I feel like I could not do this without Jane, honestly! It makes everything so easy … They’re always making improvements too, I’ve had no issues with video call quality or anything like that.’ - Rachel Brennan Advice to listeners Do what feels authentic and organic for you when it comes to marketing to put your best foot forward. Also, immerse yourself in what you want! For example, surround yourself with people who have private practices when you want to build one yourself. Connect with me: Instagram Website Resources mentioned and useful links: Ep 168: Dakota Grass: Life as a New Canadian Private Practice Owner | EP 168 Learn more about the tools and deals that I love and use for my Canadian private practice Sign up for my free e-course on How to Start an Online 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 Rachel on her practice website, Psychology Today, and Instagram profiles Rate, review, and subscribe to this podcast on Apple Podcasts, ...

Have you felt a pull to starting and running your group private practice? Are you ready to trade the security of being an employee for someone else’s business for the freedom of being your own boss? In today’s episode, I speak with Dakota about why (and how) she stopped working for other people and started working for herself. She enjoyed being in a group private practice so much that she wanted to start her own! Join us today to hear more about how she made the transition, how it’s going now, and about an easy trick you can use to boost your Psychology Today profile ranking online! MEET DAKOTA Dakota (she/her) is a registered social worker with a Master’s degree in Counselling Psychology who owns Down to Earth Counselling and Consultation in London, Ontario. As a neurodivergent, queer, cisgender woman and White settler based in London, Ontario, she offers relational, client-centered psychotherapy to children, youth, young adults, and couples. Dakota values authenticity and connection, showing up as a human first and a therapist second. Her work focuses on fostering meaningful therapeutic relationships and supporting clients in deepening their connections with themselves and others. Learn more about Dakota on her practice website, LinkedIn, Psychology Today, and Instagram profiles. In this episode: Becoming a therapist Opening her own private practice Peer consulting with other therapists How to boost your Psychology Today profile Dakota’s advice for listeners Becoming a therapist Once Dakota realized that she wanted to spend more time working in a clinical setting, she went back to school to become a therapist. Opening her own private practice Now, Dakota has launched her private practice and intends to expand it into a group practice. Dakota has surprised herself with enjoying the business side of running a private practice more than she thought she would. This aspect of being a private practice owner, the fact that you can do multiple things throughout the week, makes it more interesting, nuanced, and diverse. ‘It’s nice to do therapy for a bit, run the business for a bit, the podcast for a bit, mix it up!’ - Jules Smith Peer consulting with other therapists One of Dakota’s values, upon which she founded her Canadian private practice, is connection, and that includes the connection she has with her clients and also with her fellow clinicians and practice owners. Dakota uses Instagram mostly to connect with other therapists, and also for her marketing efforts. How to boost your Psychology Today profile About once a week, Dakota will edit something small on her Psychology Today profile, which boosts it on webpage searches. It’s not the only thing you need to do to get your marketing schedule working well! However, when you often edit and update your socials, it shows Google and other platforms that your website or listing is active, and Google favours that. When client conversions are slow, Dakota will take the time that she would have spent seeing clients into marketing her practice, broadening its reach, and increasing her efforts to find new clients in the upcoming days or weeks. Dakota’s advice for listeners The growth that comes with starting a private practice often requires embracing uncertainty and learning curves! Reflect on these hurdles in the road, and know that they are part of the journey. So, keep going! Connect with me: Instagram Website Resources mentioned and useful links: Ep 167: Ali Joy Richardson and Neil Silcox: Running a Successful Practice as a Couple | EP 167 Learn more about the tools and deals that I love and use for my Canadian private practice Sign up for my free e-course on How to Start an Online 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 Dakota on her practice website, LinkedIn, Psychology Today, and Instagram profiles Rate, review, and subscribe to...

Ali and Neil have worked together for years in theatre before opening up a private practice together. Ali started first, and Neil joined her once they completed their qualifications. If you want to learn more about how they built their Canadian private practice, including tips on how to work well with your partner, listen in on the conversation today! MEET ALI and NEIL Ali Joy Richardson (she/her) is a Registered Counselling Therapist and private practice owner of Richardson Therapy in Halifax, Nova Scotia. She provides narrative therapy in support of teens, adults, and couples with a focus on helping people create healthy relationships and heal from abuse. Ali is a published playwright and theatre artist who has directed and written plays across Canada. Neil Silcox (he/they) is a Registered Counselling Therapist (Candidate), a teacher, and a theatre artist. His therapeutic work is focused on masculinity, ADHD, and navigating artistic and academic careers. He has taught theatre in colleges and universities across Ontario and the Atlantic Provinces, and creates theatre and performance art that explores identity, gender, and wellbeing. Neil collaborates artistically and in private practice with his wife, Ali Joy Richardson (and their dog, Mackey). Learn more about Ali and Neil on their practice website, Ali’s Psychology Today, and Neil’s Psychology Today profiles. In this episode: Why Ali and Neil decided to become therapists Working together as a couple The private practice now Marketing the practice: highs and lows Why authenticity is important Advice to listeners Why Ali and Neil decided to become therapists As Ali explains, the relationship between the director and the actors is intimate and collaborative. Actors and directors alike draw from their personal experiences when they are creating productions and plays together. A few years later, Ali worked on a series of shows about mental health for pre-teen audiences called “One Deep Breath”, which was toured and presented to over 80,000 students in Ontario. This sparked a deeper interest in her to pursue becoming a therapist herself. For Neil, it came from his teaching experience. Students would come to him and discuss their lifepaths beyond education, and Neil found himself talking with them for a long time. Working together as a couple Ali and Neil have been working as a team for years. They have collaborated professionally and creatively for such a long time that it felt obvious and familiar for them to decide to go into private practice together as well. They have worked at perfecting how to manage working together as a couple, such as when to talk to each other and discuss new things to do if any resentment builds, how to show and give appreciation, and providing safe and loving spaces outside of work that they can share. The private practice now The practice has been going well for them. Since it is still small, they appreciate connecting with clients, because these clients choose the two of them specifically, rather than a big organization. Marketing the practice: highs and lows Both Neil and Ali have leaned into their strengths when it comes to marketing the practice. Neil brings people together, hosts in-person meetings and therapy, and connects with other therapists, creating a strong network of professionals and client referrals. Ali does more one-on-one work and brings in new people into the practice in this way. Why authenticity is important However, they decided to pull back on paid ads and social media. They experimented with it for some time, but it just didn’t work how they had anticipated. Advice to listeners Put things in writing! It helps protect you from resentment (with your partner, family, best friends, or other people whom you care for). Write down clear roles and responsibilities, because it creates a sense of freedom, rather than stress. Connect with me: Instagram Website Resources mentioned and useful links: Ep...

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...

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 Sign up for my free e-course on How to Start an Online 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...

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 SOUTH 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 Sign up for my free e-course on How to Start an Online 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...

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 Sign up for my free e-course on How to Start an Online 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...

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 Sign up for my free e-course on How to Start an Online 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

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...