Fearless Practice

Today we are celebrating that Registered Counselling Therapists and Registered Psychotherapists no longer have to charge tax! There are decades of work behind the scenes to bring this to fruition, so it is a big deal! Thank you to the CCPA for making this happen! In this podcast episode, I’ll give you all the information about what this means and what you should do next so that you’re in the loop and on the right track. In this Episode: Who doesn’t have to charge tax anymore? What does this mean? Addressing the change with clients Who doesn’t have to charge tax anymore? Last month in June 2024, Bill C59 received royal ascend and that means that GST and HST can successfully be removed from counselling and psychotherapy services in provinces that regulate the profession. What does this mean? What this means for therapists across Canada is that if you are in a province that regulates psychotherapy or counselling therapy, which includes; Ontario Quebec New Brunswick Nova Scotia Prince Edward Island You no longer have to charge tax on therapy services! However, if you are certified in an unregulated province, it can be a little tricky. You may or may not be able to take tax off of your services, because it depends on if you have the relevant qualifications with a regulated province, what your provinces rules are specifically, and other factors. ‘So before taking off tax in an unregulated province, you will want to speak to your MPs [and] to the board where you are certified just to make sure that you can legally do that.’ - Julia Smith The CCPA is still advocating for those unregulated provinces so that Canadian Certified Counsellors (CCC) may become included in not having to charge tax anymore, because this is currently not the case. No matter what, you should still contact the CRA to discuss your individual situation on whether or not to deregister your HST or GST number. Click here to find the CRA link! Addressing the change with clients Are you going to take the tax off of your therapy fee? Or are you going to keep the therapy fee the same and give yourself a little bit of a raise? There’s no judgment if you do decide to go with the latter, since inflation has been tough these last few years. First and foremost, you may want to put yourself in your client’s shoes because by not taking the tax off your fee and keeping it the same - depending on how you word it - your clients may not appreciate that, especially since for them it has also been difficult with inflation and rising costs. ‘If you do decide to give yourself a raise, you want to explain to your clients why you are doing this, so that they understand and can respect it!’ - Julia Smith Some therapists may not tell the clients that they are doing this because the final fee includes the tax in the price, so the tax could be removed without the clients noticing. But by not informing your clients of the change, it may bring up big issues in the therapeutic alliance if a client finds it out and feels cheated or lied to, so being transparent is usually the best route! In my private practice, we’ve decided to pass the benefits to our clients. With Jane App, it is super simple to do to change this feature! Connect with me: Instagram Website Resources Mentioned and Useful Links: Ep 132: Destin Jones: Creating Canadian Therapist Communities | EP 132 Learn more about the tools and deals that I love and use for my Canadian private practice Article: How to Set Up a Canadian Private Practice Website 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) Canada Revenue Agency Rate, review, and subscribe to this podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon, and TuneIn

Do you have a community of clients, peers, or professionals that you work alongside? How can communities open up new opportunities? Have you considered starting a community that isn’t focused solely on sales? Community is a bit of a buzzword in marketing and private practice these days, but it’s still truly valuable and a worthwhile investment to make. In this podcast episode, I chat with Destin, the Director of Community at Jane App, about everything to do with community and what every Canadian therapist needs to know to start, find, and support one! MEET DESTIN Destin is the Director of Community at Jane.app, an online platform for health and wellness practitioners that makes it simple to book, chart, schedule, bill, and get paid. Destin has been working in tech and community for over 15 years and is a passionate advocate for community-led growth and how community can help businesses big and small connect with their customers in a real, human way to build authentic relationships while also achieving their goals. Learn more about Destin on her LinkedIn Profile. In this episode: How Destin joined Jane App The benefits of multidisciplinary communities How therapists in Canada can build community online Which communities you can create Destin’s advice to listeners How Destin joined Jane App For Destin’s philosophy, being part of the Jane App team inherently means to value community, and bring in community principles into the work that the Jane App team does with their customers. Destin started working in marketing and communications and various agencies, which all showed Destin that she really liked to work with people, and in positions where client relationships are at the forefront of the business. After a few years, social media began taking off for business as a marketing tool, around 2008 and 2009, and this is where Destin’s epiphany and understanding of the value of community in business became apparent, to unite and grow a bigger customer base. The benefits of multidisciplinary communities Something unique about Jane App is that it offers a community space for you to tap into where all the business owners can share and learn from each other about how to personalize the app for their practices. You can work with the Jane App team, and learn from other people who are using it too, because the platform in itself is inherently creative and customizable. How therapists in Canada can build community online It can be tricky to navigate building an online community if you’re a therapist since there are different rules and regulations across colleges and provinces. The landscape for building community is big since you can include so many different platforms, so just pick one and start small to build up that momentum. Additionally, Destin recommends starting a professional profile instead of merging your personal social media with a new professional branch to it. And remember to add a disclaimer that your professional social media community isn’t a substitute for formal, in-session therapy. Which communities you can create Apart from the more obvious communities that you can create with your audience and client base, Destin wants you to consider building up a community that’s based on your fellow practitioners, peers, and professional network. Destin’s advice to listeners If you’re not ready yet or you don’t have the time, don’t force it, but do consider it in the long-run since communities are keys to greater success, networks, income, and friendships along the way too. Connect with me: Instagram Website Resources mentioned and useful links: Ep 131: Paige Abbott: Taking Private Practice at Your Own Pace| EP 131 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) Learn more about Destin on her LinkedIn Profile Rate, review, and...

It can be easy to get caught up in looking at everyone else’s journey when instead it’s important to focus on your own. When you take private practice at your own pace, and when you incorporate your talents and passions and allow yourself to be guided from one spot to the next, you can more easily find your way in private practice instead of trying to do what everyone else has done with theirs. In this podcast episode, Paige and I discuss her journey into private practice, how she overcame impostor syndrome, and how she’s bringing in her personal passions into her Canadian practice. MEET PAIGE Paige Abbott is a Registered Psychologist and founder of Sana Psychological in Alberta. Paige has been a Psychologist since 2009 and running her private practice since 2019. Paige expanded from solo to group practice in 2023. Learn more about Paige on her practice website, Psychology Today, and LinkedIn profiles. In this episode: Paige’s interest in and pursuit for psychology Heading towards private practice Overcoming impostor syndrome Marketing authentically and successfully Paige’s goals for the future Advice for listeners Paige’s interest in and pursuit for psychology For Paige, becoming a psychologist was a collection of different circumstances that stretched over a few years. Initially, she wanted to be a writer, and was passionate about the written word and she knew that it was something she wanted to take forward into a future career. In her undergrad, Paige took psychology and really enjoyed it, and it came to feel like “a match made in Heaven”. Afterward, Paige got her Masters in Psychology and began her career as a psychologist in Alberta. After the assistance program, Paige worked as an outpatient psychologist for almost a decade and after that she began to dip her toes into private practice in 2020, where she is now, with her own fully established private practice! Heading towards private practice Even though Paige always wanted to work for herself, she got caught up working in agencies for many years before finally listening to the inner call to open up her own practice. Once she committed to being her own boss and working on her private practice, she found that she enjoyed the daily tasks and inner workings of managing and taking care of a business. Paige also uses Jane App, and it allows her to streamline her practice with more efficiency as well as allowing her that sense of creativity and ownership to set things up as she likes! Overcoming impostor syndrome Paige initially held back from expanding her solo practice into a group practice because she felt unsure. Often with impostor syndrome, it helps to remind yourself of all the times you have succeeded in the past. Marketing authentically and successfully Paige prioritizes digital marketing since for her it’s the thing that works. It’s more than having the profile on Psychology Today, it’s about showcasing your business truly in an effort to find the best-fit clients. Paige’s goals for the future In the upcoming months, Paige is looking to scale down on the amount of hours she spends in session so that she can find a more holistic work/ life balance. Paige wants to move from more direct client work to more mentorship, as both a change in her hourly work and as a progress that she wants to experiment with in her career. Advice for listeners Do it! Get into private practice. There’s never going to be a perfect moment, so if you hear the call, honor it and get started. Connect with me: Instagram Website Resources mentioned and useful links: Ep 130: How to Create a Summer Schedule that Works for You! | EP 130 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) Learn more about Paige on her practice website, Psychology Today, and LinkedIn profiles Rate, review, and...

As many therapists may have experienced with their practices, there’s usually a summer slump. Everybody is either away on vacation or taking time off work, and as such their schedules have changed, albeit temporarily, and this can make it challenging for therapists to maintain their usual steady stream of clients. More than that, you also want a holiday! It’s important for everyone, including therapists, to enjoy the nice weather and to take time off, wherever applicable and useful. In this podcast episode, I share with you some of the tips and approaches I use to make sure that I can also relax and take a breather, without In this Episode: Some ideas to deal with a summer slump What I’m trying this year! Managing my time Slowing down Some ideas to deal with a summer slump While everyone is outside and enjoying the warmer weather after winter, businesses and practices can suffer a little financially. Luckily, there are some things that you can do to help keep your business afloat and top of mind, such as: Increased marketing your business leading up to the summer Adding a niche with a summertime focus Saving money throughout the year to help you manage the slower summer months Adding an additional stream of income Hiring new therapists to your practice What I’m trying this year From the suggestions I’ve given above, there are a couple of things that I am trying this year for summer 2024. What I’m doing; 1 - Reminding myself that this is a phase. I know that there are trends of busyness that come and go throughout the year, and to keep calm and make adjusted actions is the best way to go. 2 - Be proactive and productive. I use the client summer slump to work on my business in other ways, making tweaks and adjustments where it may be needed that I might not have the time to do during the rest of the year. 3 - You can network too. Networking is an ongoing investment that you are making in your business, and these ring true and could bring you some valuable clients before, during, and after the summer months. Managing my time So, the way that I manage my time over these summer months with my other work priorities is to simply slot them into my usual clinical working hours, where I would’ve been clients. This way I maintain my usual schedule, keep my own routine, and still work within the hours that I am used to. Blocking out that time in my own schedule means that I keep working, and I don’t see an empty client slot as “free” time. Slowing down Another thing that I am doing this summer is slowing down, and taking time off as well! One of the most annoying things of the summer is having one client booked on a clinical day, and no one else. When that happens, I book the rest of the hours off to focus on that one summer work priority, and also to relax! Where possible, I’ll bunch those client hours onto a day or two so that I work in batches, and can then manage my time so that I’ll have a solid block of working time, and then rest. If you want to hear more about how I portion out my time so that I can enjoy both my clinical work and enjoying my personal life, listen to this episode for some tips and advice! Connect with me: Instagram Website Resources Mentioned and Useful Links: Ep 129: Rhea Bridge: Niching in a New Practice to Reduce Burnout | EP 129 Learn more about the tools and deals that I love and use for my Canadian private practice Article: How to Set Up a Canadian Private Practice Website 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) Rate, review, and subscribe to this podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon, and TuneIn

In the beginning of starting a new practice, being a generalist seems like a good idea, especially when you want to welcome clients through the door and the idea of turning away new potential clients seems counterintuitive. However, niching down is not only helpful regarding your marketing or your skill set: niching down is also important for you! It helps you to enjoy your everyday work instead of feeling unnecessarily drained. In this podcast episode, I chat with Rhea, who started her virtual Canadian private practice after graduating, and who has built her success around focusing on her ideal clients and in the future hopes to build connections with her community, of both clients and therapists. MEET RHEA Rhea is a Registered Psychotherapist in Ontario, mom of 2 and business owner. Her practice is focused on mood and anxiety disorders, life transitions, BIPOC and cultural issues, as well as the perinatal period. Learn more about Rhea on her website, Instagram, and Psychology Today profiles. In this episode: How Rhea developed her career in therapy Starting a solo practice Marketing the practice Overcoming issues Thinking on the future How Rhea developed her career in therapy In Rhea’s previous work life she was working with clients with autism. She ended up leaving the field, and wasn’t sure what to do. When she was working with patients with autism, she did feel like she wanted to do more for them but felt constrained by the role that she was employed under. So, after Rhea left that job, she took some time to think about what she wanted to do and considered the things that she enjoyed doing to shift these passions into a career. She ended up finding a masters program that enabled her to unite her interests with counselling in a way that she was excited about. Starting her solo practice Even though Rhea was uncomfortable and a little scared about the unknown, she started exploring what she needed to do to set up a new practice. She started looking for only a few clients in the beginning to get a feel of what it would be like. Rhea worked part-time and had some financial support from her husband while she was launching her practice, both of which helped her to navigate the uncertainties in the beginning before her practice was more fully established. Marketing the practice Rhea launched a Psychology Today profile for herself and her practice to advertise herself and her business. She also opened up accounts on a few other free platforms where clients often may search for therapists, as well as launching a small Instagram account. Within her community, Rhea’s practice is starting to gain some traction by word-of-mouth as well. Overcoming issues For Rhea, a common problem that she is working on resolving is the issue of scheduling, and of finding a time that works well for her and for clients to have a session. Additionally, niching was something that Rhea had to work on and to find the right fit. Once she niched down, things became easier. A powerful bonus of working within your niche and within your skill set and with the clients that you want to work with also reduces your risk of burnout. Thinking on the future Rhea is focused on making more connections in her community within the next six months to a year. Having one or two specific goals can help you to figure out your direction.. Connect with me: Instagram Website Resources mentioned and useful links: Ep 128: Christina Page: Transitioning from Agency to Private Practice | EP 128 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) Learn more about Rhea on her website, Instagram, and Psychology Today profiles Rate, review, and subscribe to this podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon, and TuneIn

With private practice, Christina, our guest today, went through a challenging experience and found it difficult herself to find the therapy that she needed. When she registered as a social worker and later as a perinatal therapist, she knew that she wanted to fill the niche in the market by serving the families in her community. Today, we discuss her journey into social work, her time working at a hospital, and how she started her thriving, mostly virtual Canadian group practice, and how she incorporated her own values and passions into building a successful practice that meets her client’s needs! MEET CHRISTINA Christina Page is a Registered Social Worker, Certified Perinatal Therapist and the owner of Whole Family Psychotherapy, a primarily virtual Ontario based group practice specializing in perinatal mental health. Christina and her team of RSW’s are also parents themselves, and believe supporting parents in all stages of their journey allows for family systems to thrive. Learn more about Christina on her practice website, Psychology Today, and LinkedIn profiles. In this episode: How Christina became a social worker Opening up a private practice Developing the solo practice into a group practice A client login for Jane App How Christina became a social worker Initially in school, Christina really wanted to be an actor! Upon coming to this life changing realization, Christina dropped out of acting school and spent a couple of years getting to know herself while working different jobs here and there. She went to therapy herself, and discovered that it was something that she felt a natural calling to do too. Opening up a private practice Christina spent a while working in the hospital system as a social worker, however she knew that there was something else that she wanted to try. While Christina was still on maternity leave, she decided that she wanted to move out of working in the hospital system and to open up her own practice. Christina wanted to gain more expertise, and found some Canadian perinatal mental health trainings in Toronto that she loved, and where she completed a bunch of certificates with course work and supervision which helped her to feel competent and ready to market herself in her new practice. Developing the solo practice into a group practice In 2022, once Christina’s children were in school and daycare, she really committed to networking in her area and meeting every midwife and doctor that she felt fit with her niche and approach. Once 2023 came around, Christina felt the need to expand her solo practice into a group practice. Even though Christina didn’t initially want to be a boss, she found herself warming up to the idea. Now, it’s been a year since Christina has been running her group practice. Christina was motivated to lay a strong foundation for her practice that wasn’t only solid on operation, skill sets, expertise, and student services for affordable therapy, but also on ethics. She hired an attorney to make sure that everything was done by the book. A client login for Jane App Having a client login option for your practice website so that your existing clients can have access to their receipts or other documentation is a great way to keep the client journey piece in mind within your business operations. It shows your clients that you are considering their needs too, and that you are incorporating their experience into how you structure your services to serve their needs. Connect with me: Instagram Website Resources mentioned and useful links: Ep 127: Being Intentional when Starting a Group Private Practice | EP 127 Learn more about the tools and deals that I love and use for my Canadian private practice 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) Learn more about Christina on her practice website, Psychology Today, and LinkedIn profiles. Rate, review, and subscribe to...

For many Canadian therapists, the trajectory seems to be that once you start getting full with clients that you should open a group private practice. However, if you blindly consider opening a group private practice without evaluating whether or not it is truly something that you want, then you may end up in a very stressful situation, feeling burned out and confused as to how this happened! Therefore, when you think that it is time to consider this next phase of your career and you are drawn to the idea of growing your solo a Canadian private practice into a group private practice, really give it some intentional thought, so that you can make a decision that is good for YOU! So, if you are trying to weigh up your options, listen to this podcast episode where I ask you a couple of important questions to use when deciding which path to take. In this Episode: Is it your passion? Do you like managing people? Will it impact your work-life balance? Are you following the crowd? Is it your passion? There are so many reasons why people decide to open a group private practice, so make sure that if you are considering this path it is something that you are prepared to do because YOU have the desire to do it! A lot of people will encourage private practice owners to open a group private practice as a ‘natural next step’, when this isn’t necessarily a formulaic process, because it has to be intentional. Remember that passion and an active drive to pursue something are powerful ingredients for success. So don’t follow the crowd just because everyone else is, and take your genuine interests and passions into account when figuring out your next steps. Do you like managing people? Do you want to add more therapists to your private practice so that more people in your community can receive help? Do you want to make passive income? Even more so, do you want to be a boss and a manager? Being a manager is a skill that has to be developed, and something that you can learn from consultants or courses. Will it impact your work-life balance? If you are considering changing your solo practice into a group practice, imagine your current life and what it could be changed into if you do make this switch. In the book, The Top Five Regrets of the Dying: A Life Transformed by the Dearly Departing by Bronnie Ware, a palliative care nurse who noted the top five regrets that people had as they were passing away, and they are; I wish I had the courage to live a life true to myself, not the life others expected of me I wish I hadn’t worked so hard I wish I had the courage to express my feelings I wish I had stayed in touch with my friends I wish I had let myself be happier Are you following the crowd? Do you want to open a Canadian group private practice only because that is what consultants and supervisors say is the next step? Sure, it can be difficult to untangle what you want alone instead of what you think you want from looking at what worked for others. Figure out what works for you, and develop that! Connect with me: Instagram Website Resources Mentioned and Useful Links: Ep 126: Celissa Vipond & Melissa Lindstrom: From Friendship to Successful Practice | EP 126 Learn more about the tools and deals that I love and use for my Canadian private practice Article: How to Set Up a Canadian Private Practice Website 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) Books mentioned in this episode: The Top Five Regrets of the Dying: A Life Transformed by the Dearly Departing by Bronnie Ware Rate, review, and subscribe to this podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon, and TuneIn

Celissa and Melissa noticed the clear need for mental health services in Ontario over the pandemic, and decided to team up to put their expertise and skills to use to serve the community. As a team, Celissa and Melissa were able to balance starting a practice between the two of them while continuing their social work positions that they love. Their Canadian private practice has now grown into a successful group private practice where they have the benefits of running their own practice while still working jobs that they cherish. In this podcast episode, I chat with the two of them about their progress, their ups and downs, and what they recommend to you for your Canadian private practice career! MEET CELISSSA AND MELISSA Celissa and Melissa are the owners of Virtual CBT, a private psychotherapy practice specializing in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy for clients in Ontario that are struggling with symptoms of depression, anxiety, phobias, OCD, and trauma. Learn more about Celissa and Melissa on their practice website and Instagram profile. In this episode: How Celissa and Melissa found their niche Working as a team Using Jane App The future of Virtual CBT Melissa and Celissa’s advice to listeners How Celissa and Melissa found their niche Both Celissa and Melissa are social workers. Between the two of them, they had dabbled in different sectors trying to find what suited them both best before specializing further. Melissa thoroughly enjoyed working within CBT and she found it effective and helpful for both her services as a therapist and for her client’s needs. For Celissa, the path was a little different in that she only knew that she wanted to become a social worker after she graduated. Celissa’s expertise has become more narrow as the years have passed, from CBT and DBT to specialized CBT and others. Working as a team Over the pandemic, both Celissa and Melissa were working for a not-for-profit organization when the public mental health system was being flooded with referrals. Also, over the pandemic they went from working completely in person to completely virtual almost overnight. One day, a doctor connected with Celissa asking if she had a private practice, and she ended up texting Melissa to see what she thought about it. They decided to work together to launch their own private practice since they could see that the need was there. Using Jane App Melissa recommends to all practice owners that Jane App is a great investment to commit to early on in your private practice journey since it streamlines so many processes in a way that they complement one another, helping you to stay organized and helping your clients to easily book appointments. Jane’s intuitive and automatic systems that you can customize to your needs allows it to help you with what you want help with. The future of Virtual CBT Since September 2023 their practice has grown so much, which is why they have decided to take a step back and rest a bit before continuing to expand their practice together. Diversifying your practice is also a good idea to consider because it can take away some of the stress and allows for the owners and staff to engage with clients and modalities in new and innovative ways. Melissa and Celissa’s advice to listeners Be willing to invest in your business, whether it is finances or time and effort, if you want to have a strong foundation and a successful practice. Be patient with the process as well! Connect with me: Instagram Website Resources mentioned and useful links: Ep 125: Kelly Hoskin: Trusting the Process for Success in Canadian Private Practice | EP 125 Learn more about the tools and deals that I love and use for my Canadian private practice 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) Learn more about Celissa and Melissa on their practice website and Instagram profile Rate, review, and subscribe to this...

Sometimes people can feel nervous to start their careers since they don’t know where it will end up. We may feel like we need to know exactly how the journey will look before we head towards a new destination. In this podcast episode, Kelly and I discuss how she had no intention of working in psychotherapy initially after grad school, but found her way there. She discovered more of what she loved along the way! MEET KELLY Kelly Hoskin (BSW, RSW) is a registered social worker and psychotherapist passionate about supporting teenagers and adults, Indigenous peoples, and those grieving the loss of a pet. Kelly lives in Angus, Ontario and provides sessions virtually and in-person, including walk and talk therapy. She feels strongly in meeting clients where they’re at and staying flexible to their needs. The client is the expert in their own life, and Kelly helps them to navigate their healing journey. Learn more about Kelly on her Instagram and Psychology Today profiles. In this episode: Kelly’s entrance to social work From social work into private practice Working in NIHB Kelly’s advice for listeners Kelly’s entrance to social work Kelly got her bachelor’s degree after high school, and then she worked for a few years at an employee assistance program. Eventually, she decided to complete her bachelors of social work. After she graduated from her bachelors of social work, it took her another few years to figure out what to do with her degree. From social work into private practice Kelly worked as the coordinator in a collective of therapists, and she was well-known there. She did potential client’s risk assessments and recommended them to a therapist in the collective. Kelly was then motivated to start a private practice, with just a Bachelors of Social Work. She wanted to make sure that there wasn’t a specific rule stating that she wasn’t allowed, and within her province, it is allowed - but maybe not always recommended! Since further studying is often encouraged or required. Always check with your college! Kelly approached the team as joining a psychotherapist, and was met with a warm welcome. They were supportive of her trying it out, and it just took time, her confidence, and support from other psychotherapists - with peer supervision - but Kelly did get there! Working in NIHB People who have status, either Inuit or indigenous, can access this service and they can receive up to 22 counselling sessions per calendar year. The therapist is paid directly from the government, so the client doesn’t have to pay at all. In order to be a part of this program you can fill out an application as to why you would be competent to be part of this program. You can learn more about this service on their official website. Kelly markets to her clients via her social media platforms, as well as receiving clients through her referral network. Additionally, Kelly hosts a networking event each month for both fellow practitioners as well as clients, which allows more people to find out about her work, as well as allowing her to provide a platform for more therapists and clients to meet. Kelly’s advice for listeners You are not the only one who doesn’t know what they are doing with the business side of private practice! Connect with your community of fellow therapists and practitioners, so that you have people to learn from and lean on, this is not a journey that you have to walk alone. Connect with me: Instagram Website Resources mentioned and useful links: Ep 124: Seeking Out and Mastering Work/ Life Balance | EP 124 Learn more about the tools and deals that I love and use for my Canadian private practice 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) Learn more about Kelly on her Instagram and Psychology Today profiles Rate, review, and subscribe to this podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon, and TuneIn

We always hear about “optimization”, and to the extent that many folks may be influenced to outsource everything possible so that they have more free time. But imagine this; if you had all this extra free time, after the time to rest, exercise, and spend time with loved ones, what would you be doing? If you had more free time and the mental capacity for tasks that you enjoy, what would they be? You don’t have to outsource all the parts of your private practice, maybe only the parts that you either need help with, or that you really don’t like doing. If you’re a great therapist, but you also love marketing or SEO (like me!) then there’s nothing wrong with structuring your tasks so that you still get to do these tasks that you enjoy doing in your practice. Work-life balance is just that, a balance that you have to test out to discover where it lies for you. This is what I’ve done, listen in to learn more! In this Episode: Some background on my experience so far The reality of my choices Do things because you love doing them Some background on my experience so far Sometimes therapists can only stay in the profession for a while because they can get severely burnt out, and I didn’t want that to happen to me. When I started my Canadian private practice part-time, I was still working at university as a therapist. Even though I loved both jobs, I could tell that I was getting burnt out. So, once I fully transitioned into private practice, things started to slowly get better! And I started to finally achieve some more work-life balance. I share more about this on this podcast episode; a 50/50 work week. Additionally, I share how having more free time helped me to overcome some obstacles that cropped up during this time. The reality of my choices At a time, this 50/50 work week split was great because it provided me with the chance to get to everything I needed to in my practice while allowing myself to rest on the off days. However, with this additional extra time, I was getting a little bored. I started to ask myself what fills my soul, beyond doing the therapy work that I love. I could sense that there was something more that I wanted to do and contribute to with my time and energy; I just had to figure out what that was. What I came to understand was that by outsourcing everything that I possibly could, there were types of work that I was no longer doing that I did enjoy doing. Do things because you love doing them So, even though a business owner could technically outsource every single thing in their business to someone else - besides only what they can do - that’s not something that you have to do! You can still find the balance between hiring outside assistants and help, and still doing the tasks that you enjoy doing! Remember that you don’t have to follow everyone else’s example. Take advice and learn from other people’s experience, but at the end of the day, you are the one who can build a system that is best-suited for your needs and desires. Some questions for you to think about could include: What do you enjoy doing? How do you make time for it? What can you outsource so that you have the time to do these things? Connect with me: Instagram Website Resources Mentioned and Useful Links: Ep 123: Michelle Ham: Joining a Collective to Build a Successful Practice | EP 123 Learn more about the tools and deals that I love and use for my Canadian private practice Article: How to Set Up a Canadian Private Practice Website 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) Rate, review, and subscribe to this podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon, and TuneIn

Many therapists may feel daunted by the idea of returning to school to get their masters or a PhD, especially after they have settled into their adult lives. However, it truly is never too late! If you have a desire to take your Canadian private practice to the next level, or you feel frustrated working on someone else’s schedule, and you desire more professional autonomy, taking a step forward with additional training may be very helpful to you. In this podcast episode, I chat with Michelle who did just that. MEET MICHELLE Michelle Ham, C.C.C., is a compassionate and dedicated psychotherapist based in Winnipeg, Manitoba. With a Bachelor's Degree in Family Social Sciences and a Master's in Counselling Psychology, Michelle brings over a decade of experience in social work to her practice. She is committed to creating a safe and inclusive space. Michelle's therapeutic approach is rooted in a holistic, integrative, and person-centered framework, allowing her clients to collaboratively navigate their pathway to change. Through evidence-based modalities such as Internal Family Systems, somatic-based work, narrative therapy, EMDR, and mindfulness, Michelle provides personalized therapy sessions that empower her clients to find healing, understanding, and growth. Learn more about Michelle on her website, Instagram account, and Psychology Today profile In this episode: Michelle’s journey into psychotherapy Michelle’s steps into private practice The lessons learned thus far Marketing a private practice Michelle’s advice for new therapists or practice owners Michelle’s journey into psychotherapy Michelle graduated with an undergraduate degree in family social sciences in 2008. She then started working in the social work world, holding various different positions. Following this desire to have more autonomy over her time, Michelle returned to school in 2021. She took her masters in counselling psychology online so that she could manage her course work, while continuing with her job, and being a mom. Michelle’s steps into private practice Once Michelle graduated, she opened up a sole-proprietorship for her own private practice, and she rents office space in a local collective. The office space is shared with other therapists, and Michelle is able to reap the benefits of an extensive referral network through her collective’s director, as well as enjoying the professional company of others while scheduling and working her own hours. The lessons learned thus far Even though there has been so much change and trial and error moments, as Michelle explains, she also says that she enjoys having the chance to set her own hours, set her own schedule, and to see the clients that she wants to. Marketing a private practice Even though Michelle’s only been in private practice for a few years, her caseload is already filling up. She credits this partially to the well-connectedness of the collective, which networks with the local community. Additionally, when Michelle was still a student, she was intentional about working on her social media platform to slowly and organically begin growing an online presence. Michelle’s advice for new therapists or practice owners Michelle encourages listeners to explore what is most suitable for them in terms of whether they want to do a sole-proprietorship or to take another approach. You can tailor the way your business works to your preferences - that’s important to do! Whether you want to open an in-person Canadian private practice or offer therapy services online, make sure that it is what you want to do, feel qualified in doing, and that you have a strong support network around you. Connect with me: Instagram Website Resources mentioned and useful links: Ep 122: Embracing the Dynamic Nature of Niching | EP 122 Learn more about the tools and deals that I love and use for my Canadian private practice Sign up for my free e-course on How to Start an Online Canadian Private...

As the saying goes; “the only constant thing is change”, and it’s true for Canadian private practices too. Sometimes you will set up a system that works well, but after months or years the practice has changed, and so the systems need to be updated. Or, the offering that you used to love doing with your clients is no longer something that used to light your spark - because you’ve most likely changed as a person and a therapist along the way - so you decide to change it up. The point is that niching can be a great way to build your business, but it can also be necessary to change your niche over time. It’s something that I have experienced as well, so listen in on this episode if you’re searching for some guidance! In this Episode: Why niching is important How to niche My experience with niching Why niching is important If you want a further, more in-depth episode into niching in Canadian private practice, I recommend that you listen to my previous episode on this topic! However, for a short recap, niching is important because it: Helps you to stand out from the crowd Helps you to focus on the issues that you are passionate about serving How to niche Some of the factors that you can keep in mind when you are figuring out your niche may include: The size of the population of this niche What you like working with clients through What you are qualified to do My experience with niching Private Practice With my website: I actually had a little mis-step with niching in my own private practice this past year! When I was redoing my website, I hired a website developer to give it a full make-over, as well as a copy editor. Overall, I realized that I had become way too excited about all the possibilities with the new website and adding services. I hadn’t niched down enough, which made it overwhelming for a potential client to browse through. In the end, I reduced the specialty pages on the menu so that they only relate to our main private practice focuses. Fearless Practice With my consulting: over five years ago I started my private practice consultation because I couldn’t find any in Canada. So, I started Fearless Practice to help other Canadian counsellors get the help that they needed with their private practices. Over the years, I created the workbook about how to start an online Canadian private practice, as well as scripts to send clients, private practice paperwork, an e-course, and more! ‘But as I continued to create these things, my consulting became irrelevant, because it’s all in the workbook! As well as with the podcast … There have been so many episodes where I have interviewed other Canadian counsellors … There’s just so much information that I have now on my website for Canadian counsellors, where you don’t have to pay extra to have a one-on-one with me.’ - Julia Smith Additionally, I nowadays direct people to take courses from LinkedIn and Google since they offer insightful and helpful courses for therapists to take. So, my consulting days have changed, and I niched down - again! I now focus specifically on helping Canadian private practice owners recover from burnout by helping them to restructure their practice so that it suits their needs and desires. Connect with me: Instagram Website Resources Mentioned and Useful Links: Ep 121: Mila Arsenijevic: Balancing Growth in a Canadian Private Practice | EP 121 Learn more about the tools and deals that I love and use for my Canadian private practice Article: How to Set Up a Canadian Private Practice Website Sign up for my free e-course on How to Start an Online Canadian Private Practice Listen to my previous episode on niching, why it is important, and how to do it! Jane App (use code FEARLESS for one month free) Rate, review, and subscribe to this podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon, and TuneIn

Do you feel pressured to always be scaling and growing your Canadian private practice? In modern business, the idea is usually to push growth - but that’s not always the case! Sometimes not growing can also help private practice. Every now and then you need to intentionally stop growing and instead focus on the foundations of your private practice, so that any future growth down the line actually holds and sticks because growth for growth’s sake is not necessarily everyone’s preference. In this podcast episode, Mila and I discuss how she launched her practice and how sometimes not aiming for growth is the best way to success! MEET MILA Meet Mila, the driving force behind Toronto Therapy Practice. With over a decade of experience specializing in perinatal mental health at esteemed institutions such as Mount Sinai Hospital in Toronto, Mila is a compassionate and dedicated therapist committed to fostering trust and connection with her clients. Her journey in the mental health field began as a social worker, evolving into her role as the founder of Toronto Therapy Practice. Learn more about Mila on her Psychology Today profile and her Canadian practice website. In this episode: How Mila became a social worker Getting into private practice Mila’s advice on scaling via hiring Dreams and aspirations for a growing practice How Mila became a social worker Since Mila had experience traveling internationally, she decided to study International Relations in Canada. She didn’t enjoy it as much as she thought she would, but Mila did take psychology as a minor and ended up loving it enough to focus on social work in her masters. In her second year of placement in the masters program, Mila was at Sunnybrook hospital providing counselling. The job that she worked there went well enough that once she completed her studies, she decided to get a more permanent position and started her work experience. However, she was offered a position in England which she ended up taking, and went to London to live and work. Mila was in England for some time before returning to Canada. Getting into private practice While Mila was working at the hospital, she was doing outpatient counselling. She experienced some limitations in terms of how she was able to provide therapy within the hospital system. Mila noticed long wait lists, loads of people seeking access and care, and within the specific hospital rules, she thought that she could offer these necessary services in another way. Mila’s advice on scaling via hiring One associate hired was a friend of Mila’s, one was through word of mouth, and the other two were through Indeed. With a flexible schedule system that all her associates have, Mila is able to connect clients and clinicians on schedules that suit both of their needs. Additionally, Mila’s practice and her associates have a hybrid model of offering in-person and online therapy. Dreams and aspirations for a growing practice Even though Mila has a lot of dreams for her private practice, she wants to make sure that she firmly establishes it now. With appropriate scheduling, processes, and systems in place, Mila wants to give her private practice the best shot at success as she can, and that means taking the time and making the effort to lay strong yet flexible foundations for it - and her - to depend on. There are also so many ways to get to the same place, so explore to find out what works well for you! Connect with me: Instagram Website Resources mentioned and useful links: Ep 120: 5 Ways to Tackle Isolation with an Online Private Practice | EP 120 Learn more about the tools and deals that I love and use for my Canadian private practice 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) Learn more about Mila on her Psychology Today profile and her Canadian practice website Rate, review, and subscribe to this podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google...

Do you sometimes feel lonely working as a therapist? Do you have an online practice, and sometimes wish you could chat with a colleague between sessions to let off some steam or to get an ethical second opinion? How do you deal with isolation as an online therapist? Working as a therapist can be an isolating experience in and of itself, since you can’t talk about the details of your work with friends or family. If you work from home like me, then I’m sure that you know that the isolation can be two-fold! In this episode, I share with you some tips that I have figured out to help myself - and you - enjoy your work as a therapist while still making time for life beyond it. If you are stuck trying to choose between how to handle the challenge, I invite you to listen in! In this Episode: Be intentional Get out of your apartment Create peer-to-peer consultations Meet with your assistants Make time for a weekly activity Be intentional Between your work days and work weeks, it can be so tempting to just unwind alone at home, without having to exert yourself further by going outdoors and trying something new after a potentially challenging or long day. However, don’t isolate yourself further just because you may be nervous about going outdoors. Find hobbies that you enjoy that get you outside of your home - and that are separate from therapy - so that you can unwind and relax in the company of like-minded people while doing something that you enjoy. Get out of your apartment Sure, you can enjoy hosting friends at your home. However, if you also work from home and then you socialize at home, there is very little variation in your routine, and you may begin to feel a bit suffocated! This is even more important if you live alone at home, because staying connected with your friends and with your personal life beyond just working from home is important. Create peer-to-peer consultations If you have associates in your Canadian private practice, make sure to schedule a monthly peer-to-peer meeting so that you can consult together to stay connected and on the same page about the practice, and as well as about what’s happening in your lives. Connect with your team to talk about client cases or maybe have some fun! Having and maintaining relationships with other therapists can help to ease that isolation since they know what it feels like to work in the profession. Meet with your assistants If you have a virtual assistant, schedule a 30-minute meeting weekly with them. This is not only important to discuss business issues, but also to stay connected to your staff so that you don’t pass one another by like ships in the night. Make time for a weekly activity Something that I do which I love is going to the gym in the afternoon. It’s a lovely way to get out of the apartment, exercise, and to be around other people! No matter which one you choose, there will be challenges, so you just need to figure out which challenge is the one that you feel most comfortable to work with so that you can make the most of your obligations while enjoying yourself. Connect with me: Instagram Website Resources Mentioned and Useful Links: Ep 119: What I Learned from Going to the CCPA Conference | FP 119 Learn more about the tools and deals that I love and use for my Canadian private practice Article: How to Set Up a Canadian Private Practice Website 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) Rate, review, and subscribe to this podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon, and TuneIn

Have you ever been to a counselling conference? Are you considering going to one this year for the first time, or are you a regular attendee? Whether you are more introverted or an extrovert, conferences offer spaces for both! Not just quiet workshops or long tables filled with fascinating people, but also where you can learn and develop your skills as a professional while enjoying time spent with other interesting therapists. I got out of my comfort zone a bit and went to a CCPA conference last year, and it was great! Going forward, I know what I’m looking for now, and how to find other great therapists. If you’re interested in finding out how, listen in! In this Episode: What is the CCPA? Conferences can be a lot of fun! Choosing conferences going forward What is the CCPA? ‘If you don’t know, CCPA stands for Canadian Counselling and Psychotherapy Association, and usually the conference that they have each year is in the springtime, but last year in 2023 they had it in October in Toronto.’ - Julia Smith Usually, going to a conference for me is nerve wracking on a couple of levels! I was going alone to this conference, and I wasn’t sure if I was going to enjoy it or not. However, I was able to select the speakers that I was interested in, but it can be a hit-and-miss! However, going to conferences also contributes to your CEC credits that all members of the CCPA need to get each year. So, keeping all this in mind, I pushed myself to go! Conferences can be a lot of fun! ‘With the CCPA conferences, you’re expected to network. It is encouraged to talk to other counsellors. You don’t look silly going up to people and starting conversations … Once I got into the swing of things, it was really fun to have conversations with counsellors from all over Canada!’ - Julia Smith If you felt like you were getting a little over socialized, you could go see some of the workshops and talks that were happening around at any given time. I really liked that there were options to be silent and listen, or to put yourself out there and socialize! Even during lunches, it felt comfortable to sit down at a table with people that I didn’t know and to strike up a conversation, since this is encouraged by the CCPA conference guidelines. Everyone’s in the same boat! Choosing conferences going forward Despite the great time I had, I know that I want to be intentional about choosing the future conferences I’ll go to. Specifically, I want to be mindful about going to conferences which will give certain information that I want to learn about. The CCPA conference is great for learning about many different things in the counselling world, from research to different types of therapy techniques to private practice information. Although, I know what I love! And so I would love to go to a conference on narrative therapy for therapists, because that is what I want to learn more about. ‘So for you, as you’re considering your budget for this year, I’d highly recommend budgeting some money for going to a conference, and honestly I’d really just start with the CCPA conference! The workshops are so diverse, everybody is a Canadian counsellor, and you get CECs for going!’ - Julia Smith Connect with me: Instagram Website Resources Mentioned and Useful Links: Ep 118: Brittany Wells-Pantaleo: Growing a Group Practice Virtually and Ethically | EP 118 Learn more about the tools and deals that I love and use for my Canadian private practice Article: How to Set Up a Canadian Private Practice Website 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) Rate, review, and subscribe to this podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon, and TuneIn

Many counsellors may enter into private practice without expecting to open it into a group practice, since it can be a journey that develops as you explore your niche, assess the needs of your community, and as you develop as a person. However, if you find yourself on the entrepreneurial path, don’t doubt that it can work! Even though many counsellors are not taught business skills in school, they can be learned, and you can work as an expert in your niche while being profitable and building your dream virtual group practice! In this podcast episode, I chat with Brittany about her experience of launching, managing, and working in her group practice that’s virtual across Canada. She shares her advice and experience from starting without knowing to confidently planning for her future. MEET BRITTANY Brittany Wells-Pantaleo, MSW, RSW, is the Founder and Clinical Director of Moncton Counselling and Wellness. With a Master's degree in Social Work and as a Registered Social Worker, she has dedicated my career to supporting individuals in their mental health journeys. In 2021, she established Moncton Counselling and Wellness with the goal of providing compassionate and effective counselling support. Her organization has since grown, serving individuals and couples across Canada. Learn more about Brittany on her LinkedIn profile, practice website, and Instagram page. In this episode: Why Brittany became a social worker Starting a private practice Developing a group private practice Using Jane App for a virtual practice Navigating virtual counselling ethically Why Brittany became a social worker Brittany’s social work journey began in Ontario in 2016. While she was completing her undergrad, she began working in social worker positions. Brittany worked in the shelter system with a women’s shelter and a youth shelter. Brittany applied and luckily got in the first round for her masters, and started in-person, but with the COVID-19 pandemic she had to move online for the last six months of her two and a half year program. Even though it was an intense experience, Brittany explains that it provided her with invaluable experience and skills which she brought with her on her journey to today. Starting a private practice In 2021, Brittany moved to Moncton, New Brunswick and began working for another private practice before venturing out on her own. By connecting with a fellow therapist, Brittany began receiving some referrals and building up her referral network and learning from this more experienced practitioner. However, Brittany’s father was diagnosed with cancer, and she decided to take a risk and go out on her own so that she could stay closer to family during this time. Developing a group private practice Once Brittany understood what the mental health landscape looked like in Moncton, she came to find that there were lots of people seeking therapy and that there were a lot of waitlists. Since no other therapists were taking clients and Brittany’s waitlist also began to grow, she considered opening up a virtual wing of her private practice. Using Jane App for a virtual practice Brittany highly recommends Jane App for managing her virtual group practice. Technology is all-encompassing these days, and so choosing a software managing system is important because it becomes an integral part of what your Canadian private practice develops around. Navigating virtual counselling ethically Since starting her private practice, Brittany has learned that it is slightly different for social workers. It is always good practice to work with your attorney or legal advisor, and get in touch with the relevant associations or colleges before you start working in a province, in-person or virtually. Connect with me: Instagram Website Resources mentioned and useful links: Ep 117: Courtney Vezina: Incorporating Community Values into Private Practice | EP 117 Learn more about the tools and deals that I love and use for my...

There are many different ways in which you can instill and live out the values that you have founded your Canadian private practice on. For Courtney, the value of community is a driving factor that positively impacts the work that she and her colleagues do. So much so, that her private practice offers a scholarship for students doing their bachelors in social work or psychology! In this podcast episode, Courtney and I discuss her entry into private practice, why she decided to do her doctorate, and how she has found ways to bring the sense of community into her private practice. MEET COURTNEY Courtney is a Registered Psychotherapist who owns a group clinic; Courtney James Counselling and Psychotherapy, with locations in Kemptville and Brockville, Ontario. Courtney is currently completing her Doctorate of Counselling and Psychotherapy and is excited to engage in the further development of this amazing field of work. In her clinical work, Courtney uses a humanistic, trauma-informed lens and specializes in relational difficulties and developmental trauma. Courtney’s clinical work and Doctoral studies are focused on her work within the foster care and adoption community. Learn more about Courtney on the practice website, Psychology Today, and Instagram profiles. In this episode: Why Courtney decided to become a psychotherapist Starting a doctorate Courtney’s private practice Growing the private practice Offering group sessions The mental health scholarship! Why Courtney decided to become a psychotherapist Right after high school, Courtney started her psychology studies and then went into the field to gain frontline experience after graduating. Afterward, she shifted into the mental health field with a position in a school board. It was during one of her maternity leaves that she started her masters program in Counselling Psychology in 2017. Starting a doctorate Most counsellors can open a Canadian private practice with only a masters degree, but Courtney went further and is working towards completing her doctorate. For Courtney, the doctoral program that she’s in is not specifically research-based, and it encourages a different style of approaching this field that’s specific to psychotherapy. Courtney’s private practice While Courtney was completing her masters program, it was her intention to start a private practice. Even though Courtney began as a solo practitioner, she quickly hired colleagues into her private practice. Growing the private practice Courtney was mindful of where the needs were in her community, and so she therefore decided to open a second and third location in areas of her city where she knew that the population didn’t have as much access to mental health care. The point is to take calculated risks for your business. You don’t have to know if something is going to work before you try it - sometimes you have to try first to gain insight, and to then take informed action moving forward. Offering group sessions Courtney’s practice is creating emotional regulation groups that she brainstormed with a few of her colleagues. Even though there is an interest in offering group therapy, Courntey and her team are working on the fine print and structural components of it before they fully provide this additional service to their clients. The mental health scholarship For students that are accepted into undergraduate programs in psychology or social work, Courntey’s practice is offering a scholarship! This will be the fourth year that the scholarship is being offered, and her intention behind offering it comes from the same community piece that is vital to her and is one of the foundational pillars of the practice. Connect with me: Instagram Website Resources mentioned and useful links: Ep 116: Samantha Sarty: Setting Business Boundaries to Grow Private Practice | EP 116 Learn more about the tools and deals that I love and use for my Canadian private practice Sign up for my free...

Building a practice is a tricky task because we know that it is going to be difficult sometimes. The question is, when have we gone too far and are perhaps risking burnout? It can feel difficult to maintain your personal and professional boundaries when you are the boss and things depend on you, but in essence, your business does depend on you, so it’s important to take care of yourself. Whether you are a part-time Canadian private practice owner, or you work full-time, there’s always something that you can learn from another counsellor’s story. On today’s episode, I chat with Samantha and we discuss growing your business without compromising on your boundaries, marketing with social media, and giving back to the therapeutic community. MEET SAMANTHA Sam Sarty is a Registered Social Worker and Registered Nurse practicing in Dartmouth, NS, Canada - the land of the Mi'kmaq people. She specializes in working with trauma particularly in the first responder and veteran population. She is currently working in solo private practice (Following Seas Psychotherapy) after working in the public mental health system for the last decade as well as part-time work for a group practice. Learn more about Samantha on her Psychology Today and LinkedIn profile, and private practice website. In this episode: How Samantha became a social worker Using Jane App for managing a business Expanding the business with boundaries Using social media in private practice How Samantha offers sliding scale How Samantha became a social worker After completing university, Samantha pursued nursing but didn’t want to go through the traditional route, and instead completed a mental health course, and then found her passion with that type of nursing work. Once Samantha completed nursing school, she went onto working at the local children’s hospital before coming back to adult mental health in 2016. Using Jane App for managing a business Samantha uses the Jane App in her private practice, and for her it’s incredibly useful and helpful. Without any associates or admin assistants, Samantha does all the work in her private practice currently, from taking the calls, replying to emails, and billing. Expanding the business with boundaries Samantha wants to grow the business while being mindful of her own personal boundaries at the same time. Since the business depends on her effort, she knows that it’s important to scale the business while doing it intentionally with her needs so that she doesn’t have to exchange the success of the business on a loss of her health or wealth. Using social media in private practice For Samantha, it was important to use social media as a tool to spread knowledge and information instead of disinformation. Not to give her clients or audience therapy through social media, but actionable tools, awareness, and information. In this way, social media can become a way to not only market your Canadian private practice, but it also becomes a way to serve the community. Even though Psychology Today is currently one of her strongest referral sources that brings her the most clients, Samantha has found that word-of-mouth referrals as well as referrals from doctors have been the most successful. How Samantha offers sliding scale Samantha does clinical supervision, and offers sliding scales for other therapists because she wants to help invest in the profession itself. Looking to the future With regards to what’s up ahead, Samantha is considering the possibility of offering intensives to future clients. She’s found that they can be incredibly helpful to clients looking to process traumatic events, so Samantha is wanting to incorporate this into the future of her Canadian private practice. Connect with me: Instagram Website Resources mentioned and useful links: Ep 115: Jasmine Bird: Defining Your Success to Live Authentically | EP 115 Learn more about the tools and deals that I love and use for my Canadian private...

Jasmine is a great example of; working to live, not living to work. You do not have to grow your business exponentially just because you can. If you are doing well in your Canadian private practice, but the idea of owning a huge business is daunting to you - you don’t have to take it that far! One of the ways of building a truly successful business that serves your clients - and you - is to structure it around your needs, as well as theirs. Be mindful of your values and intentionally incorporate them into your choices, both personally and professionally, so that you can wake up each day looking forward to your schedule instead of dreading it. In this podcast episode, Jasmine and I discuss her entry into private practice, what she did that worked well and how she’s managing her success into the future. MEET JASMINE Jasmine Bird is the Founder of SOAR Counselling - Group Practice - located in South Surrey, British Columbia. She is a passionate and dedicated Registered Clinical Counsellor (RCC), who specializes in working with children, youth, caregivers, and families impacted by mental health challenges. Jasmine has over a decade of experience working across various mental health settings, such as Child and Adolescent Inpatient Psychiatry with BC Children’s Hospital and Surrey Memorial Hospital and Community Child and Youth Mental Health Outpatient Programs with Vancouver Coastal Health Authority and Fraser Health Authority. Learn more about Jasmine on her website, Psychology Today profile, and Instagram account. In this episode: Why Jasmine became a therapist Starting and growing a private practice What’s on the horizon? Jasmine’s advice for listeners Why Jasmine became a therapist Ever since Jasmine was young, she was intrigued by people. She was curious about how they thought about life, the way that they approached it, and their stories and experiences. Jasmine completed her counselling education in B.C. and worked in organizations before starting her own private practice. She knew that she loved helping youth and their families and wanted to make a difference. Starting and growing a private practice Jasmine built her Canadian private practice in South Surrey. She felt lucky in the fact that her practice has been successful from when it opened its doors, so she was able to continue developing it over the years, with some minor financial dips here and there. Jasmine was also able to get some advice and help from her husband, who has completed a masters degree in business. In terms of building a successful business, Jasmine noticed a desperate need in an area of her community and decided to set up her practice there. Now Jasmine has five associates, and everyone is fully booked, including her! What’s on the horizon? After Jasmine’s business quickly scaled, she noticed that something wasn’t feeling quite right. Now that her business has grown and is on the path to continue doing so, Jasmine wants to be intentional about structuring her business so that it doesn’t get overwhelmingly busy and run away with her. Therefore, Jasmine’s now decided to actually scale back a bit and to not continue growing the business, without intention. Her Canadian private practice is successful now, and she’s focusing on maintaining that success at this level so that she can remain a successful niche business without getting swept away. Jasmine’s advice for listeners Remember the power of vulnerability and the importance of being authentic, especially as a leader. And bet on yourself! Connect with me: Instagram Website Resources mentioned and useful links: Ep 114: Imogen McIntyre: Using Your Niche to Build a Private Practice | EP 114 Learn more about the tools and deals that I love and use for my Canadian private practice 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) Learn more about Jasmine on her website, Psychology Today profile,...

How can you market your practice successfully in a big city? Do you have a specific niche that you want to figure out how to use well to connect with your best-fit client? Are you on the verge of considering to open two practices? Everyone talks about niching down, but it’s always helpful to speak to someone that did it and made it work well! In this podcast episode, Imogen and I discuss the entry into becoming a clinical social worker, launching and running two Canadian practices, and really knuckling down into a niche to allow the business to flourish. MEET IMOGEN Imogen Mcintyre is a Registered Clinical Social Worker who has founded two private practices, one focused on LGBTQ and neurodivergent issues, the other focused on couples therapy for sticky topics: the ones that can be hard to talk about with friends or family (think infidelity recovery, mismatched libidos or sexual preferences, shifts in gender or sexual identity, mental illness and relationships, and many more). Imogen practices from IFS, Gottman, and EFT informed approaches and strives to provide couples therapy without shame or blame. Learn more about Imogen on their Psychology Today profile, and private practice website. In this episode: Why Imogen decided to become a clinical social worker Building your own Canadian private practice A clinical social worker as opposed to a social worker Imogen’s unique service offering Marketing in a big city Why Imogen decided to become a clinical social worker In 2015, Imogen got their Bachelors of Social Work. At the time, Imogen was a single mom and decided to go into social work. Imogen started in Vancouver before practicing in other places, and also worked for the government at the start of their career. They worked in youth work for a year, and even though it was an enjoyable experience, it wasn’t financially sustainable, so Imogen went back to school to complete a masters degree. After completing their masters, Imogen was hired by a health authority and greatly enjoyed working with the team, but then went on maternity leave. Building up your own Canadian private practice One of the drivers for Imogen to open and pursue their own business was to have more freedom and autonomy with time. Now, Imogen has more autonomy in terms of time, and is working in an environment where they can meet their needs as well as the needs of their family. A clinical social worker as opposed to a social worker The clinical social worker designation is new in Canada, so it’s not widely known yet, sometimes even in professional circles. With the RCSW, Imogen can diagnose things like ADHD and anything within the DSM, although there are some things that Imogen won’t diagnose for due to not personally feeling fully qualified yet. Imogen’s unique service offering Imogen noticed with their existing clients that people were asking for letters for different purposes, and Imogen wanted to figure out a way to offer clients this service while still being billed for the time and effort it takes to write them. Doing it through the Jane App platform means that the time during the sessions is dedicated specifically to the clients needs, and not for writing the letter itself. Marketing in a big city Imogen was able to build up their clientele in Vancouver relatively quickly, which is a challenge! Therefore, having a very in depth niche is what greatly helped Imogen to build their practice up relatively quickly and successfully. Connect with me: Instagram Website Resources mentioned and useful links: Ep 113: Veronica Loffreda: Why Diversifying Brings You Success in Private Practice | EP 113 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) Rate, review, and subscribe to this podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon, and TuneIn