Good Enough Counsellors – Details, episodes & analysis

Does the thought of not knowing enough about social media and technology put you off even trying to have a social media page? You're not alone. Listen to this episode to learn how much technical knowledge is actually needed and how you can still have an effective feed with minimal technical ability. The episode also contains post ideas for the month of October.

In this episode:

• You don't have to be tech-savvy to use social media effectively as a therapist.
• Using personal photos and sharing meaningful experiences can be a powerful way to connect with potential clients.
• Canva is a user-friendly tool for creating graphics and visuals for social media posts.
• October offers various themes and awareness months/weeks that therapists can use to create engaging and relevant content, including ADHD Awareness Week, Halloween and autumn as a metaphor for change
• Mixing up the types of social media posts, including information, topical, and interactive posts, can help build a following and establish trust with potential clients.
• Advice on how many posts to share each week

Keywords

social media, therapist, fear, confidence, technical skills, communication, potential clients, October, awareness months, awareness weeks, themes, season, holidays

Chapters

00:00 Overcoming the Fear of Using Social Media

03:02 The Power of Social Media and Reaching Potential Clients

09:43 Ideas for Social Media Posts in October

12:47 Using Seasonal Themes and Metaphors

14:16 Creating Engaging and Varied Social Media Posts

15:42 Taking Action and Getting Started

Setting up in private practice? Download my free checklist HERE

Need ideas for how to get clients? Download my free handout 21 Ways for Counsellors to Attract New Clients HERE

You can also find me here:

The Good Enough Counsellors Facebook Group

Josephine Hughes on Facebook

Josephine Hughes on YouTube

My website: josephinehughes.com

The information contained in Good Enough Counsellors is provided for information purposes only. The contents of this podcast are not intended to amount to advice and you should not rely on any of the contents of this podcast. Professional advice should be obtained before taking or refraining from taking any action as a result of the contents of this podcast.

Josephine Hughes disclaims all liability and responsibility arising from any reliance placed on any of the contents of this podcast.

Are you a counsellor intimidated by the idea of making a video for listings such as Psychology Today or Counselling Directory? Before you scroll by, listen to how videos can help you reach more clients and learn how to make a professional 15 second video.

In this episode:

• Why incorporating video can transform your online presence and attract more clients
• Common concerns and how to overcome them - yes, even that fear of seeing yourself on screen!
• Practical tips for crafting a 15-second clip that encapsulates who you are and what you offer
• Whether you need any special equipment

Keywords

video creation, directory profile, connection with clients, 15-second video, tips for making a video, therapist on video, video marketing, SEO for therapists, Psychology Today, Counselling Directory

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Importance of Video Creation

02:32 Benefits of Using a Video in Your Directory Profile

07:56 Tips for Making a Meaningful 15-Second Video

12:42 Creating a Good Video with a Smartphone

15:06 Overcoming Self-Consciousness and Making a Connection

If you'd like to join the Live Video Challenge for Counsellors, you can do so HERE. Go on, give it a go!

Setting up in private practice? Download my free checklist HERE

Need ideas for how to get clients? Download my free handout 21 Ways for Counsellors to Attract New Clients HERE

You can also find me here:

The Good Enough Counsellors Facebook Group

Josephine Hughes on Facebook

Josephine Hughes on YouTube

My website: josephinehughes.com

The information contained in Good Enough Counsellors is provided for information purposes only. The contents of this podcast are not intended to amount to advice and you should not rely on any of the contents of this podcast. Professional advice should be obtained before taking or refraining from taking any action as a result of the contents of this podcast.

Josephine Hughes disclaims all liability and responsibility arising from any reliance placed on any of the contents of this podcast.

Emma Radway-Bright shares her journey of starting and growing her private practice. Emma specialises in working with women who have experienced gendered violence, carers of people with long-term conditions, and individuals who have had a baby that wasn't delivered to term.

In today's episode:

• Emma's work with therapist Babette Rothschild
• How Emma got started in private practice and bagged herself a free room
• Her "pay it forward" scheme that enables her to offer free counselling while still getting paid
• How an unexpected fire prepared her and her clients for lockdown
• How Emma used her coffee habit to create connections and referrals from the local community
• What's helped Emma attract clients through Instagram
• How Emma manages her diary and the importance of self-care
• Her discovery of tapping (Emotional Freedom Technique) and how it has become a valuable tool in her therapy sessions.
• Her journey into life coaching and the importance of having a clear business plan and utilising visual tools for planning and goal-setting.

Keywords

private practice, therapy, online therapy, business, marketing, mentoring, trauma, gendered violence, long-term conditions, miscarriage, abortion, supervision, burnout, self-care, private practice, relationships, marketing, referrals, social media, tapping, Emotional Freedom Technique, life coaching, business plan, visual tools, goal-setting

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Setting Clear Goals

01:10 Emma's Private Therapy Practice and Specialisations

25:09 Building Relationships and Attracting Clients

27:20 Utilising Social Media for Engagement

36:33 The Power of Tapping (Emotional Freedom Technique)

37:59 Expanding into Life Coaching

44:10 The Importance of a Clear Business Plan

Emma's professional and personal focus is self care and she runs a monthly experiential group that’s focussed on Self Care for Helpers providing insight, support and tools to help therapists take better care of themselves. You can find out more HERE

For Josephine's Fee Calculator, click HERE

Setting up in private practice? Download my free checklist HERE

Need ideas for how to get clients? Download my free handout 21 Ways for Counsellors to Attract New Clients HERE

You can also find me here:

The Good Enough Counsellors Facebook Group

Josephine Hughes on Facebook

Josephine Hughes on YouTube

My website:

How do potential clients conduct their search for a counsellor when they're looking through a directory such as Psychology Today or Counselling Directory? And how can counsellors and psychotherapists optimise their profiles to appeal to different types of search behaviour?

In this episode:

• How different types of search behaviour can influence choice of therapist
• How counsellors can improve the likelihood of being noticed
• What type of content to include to appeal to different types of people
• How to structure content to reach more potential clients

Chapters

00:00 Understanding Client Search Behaviour

03:33 Different Client Behaviours

05:55 Writing for "Idle Scrollers"

07:21 Attracting Clients with Clear Communication

09:13 Helping Emotional Searchers

11:31 Putting Yourself in the Shoes of Potential Clients

Keywords

directory profiles, therapist search behaviour, optimising profiles, attracting clients, clear communication

Setting up in private practice? Download my free checklist HERE

Need ideas for how to get clients? Download my free handout 21 Ways for Counsellors to Attract New Clients HERE

You can also find me here:

The Good Enough Counsellors Facebook Group

Josephine Hughes on Facebook

Josephine Hughes on YouTube

My website: josephinehughes.com

The information contained in Good Enough Counsellors is provided for information purposes only. The contents of this podcast are not intended to amount to advice and you should not rely on any of the contents of this podcast. Professional advice should be obtained before taking or refraining from taking any action as a result of the contents of this podcast.

Josephine Hughes disclaims all liability and responsibility arising from any reliance placed on any of the contents of this podcast.

How do you find the self-belief to keep going in your private practice marketing when it doesn't seem to be working? And how can you find the courage to continue to try and reach clients?

In this episode:

• How reflecting on your past helps you to find the inner strength to cope with present difficulties
• An exercise to explore past strategies for overcoming challenges so that you can apply them now
• Identifying your motivation and goals - so you can maintain your determination
• The importance for self-compassion of acknowledging feelings around setbacks
• The role of community in supporting your resilience
• How to reframe the difficulties you're experiencing as a normal part of private practice development

Chapters

00:00 Introduction: The Challenges of Developing a Counseling Practice

02:06 The Importance of Counseling and Making a Difference

03:04 Drawing on Resilience: Overcoming Challenges

05:00 Accessing Resilience: Reflection and Self-Support

10:20 Maintaining Motivation: Goals and Values

11:45 Reframing Setbacks: Turning Challenges into Opportunities

13:41 Building Support Networks: Communities and Networks

14:10 Conclusion: Every Step Gets You Closer to Your Dream

Keywords

counselling, practice development, challenges, resilience, motivation, support

Setting up in private practice? Download my free checklist HERE

Need ideas for how to get clients? Download my free handout 21 Ways for Counsellors to Attract New Clients HERE

You can also find me here:

The Good Enough Counsellors Facebook Group

Josephine Hughes on Facebook

Josephine Hughes on YouTube

My website: josephinehughes.com

The information contained in Good Enough Counsellors is provided for information purposes only. The contents of this podcast are not intended to amount to advice and you should not rely on any of the contents of this podcast. Professional advice should be obtained before taking or refraining from taking any action as a result of the contents of this podcast.

Josephine Hughes disclaims all liability and responsibility arising from any reliance placed on any of the contents of this podcast.

Is it really worth bothering with social media or is it better to advertise on commercial directories? Listen to this episode to find out:

• the advantages of social media over traditional advertising methods
• how you can use your authentic self to connect with potential counselling clients
• how you can establish yourself as the counsellor for clients to turn to
• what to say in sales posts

Learn how to use the following social media dates.

July's themed posts:

• Bereaved Parents Month
• Alcohol Addiction Week
• UEFA Euro 2024
• Wimbledon
• Paris Olympics
• Pets Remembrance Day
• World Listening Day
• Samaritans Awareness Day

To join the Make Your Profile Work training in Therapy Growth Group, please click HERE

Setting up in private practice? Download my free checklist HERE

Need ideas for how to get clients? Download my free handout 21 Ways for Counsellors to Attract New Clients HERE

You can also find me here:

The Good Enough Counsellors Facebook Group

Josephine Hughes on Facebook

Josephine Hughes on YouTube

My website: josephinehughes.com

The information contained in Good Enough Counsellors is provided for information purposes only. The contents of this podcast are not intended to amount to advice and you should not rely on any of the contents of this podcast. Professional advice should be obtained before taking or refraining from taking any action as a result of the contents of this podcast.

Josephine Hughes disclaims all liability and responsibility arising from any reliance placed on any of the contents of this podcast.

How can counsellors navigate their self-doubt and their inner critical voice as they deliver therapy? Hear from Joshua Fletcher, author of And how does that make you feel? in this wide ranging interview which discusses his motivation, his life as a therapist and author and the vital importance of authenticity.

In today's episode:

• Who's Daphne?
• Client confidentiality and the ethics of publishing a counselling book with case studies
• Therapist inner voices and mistakes in therapy
• Working with celebrities and the impact of client expectations on celebrity therapists
• How Josh grew his Instagram following
• How vulnerability and authenticity speaks to potential clients
• Josh's motivation following the death of his brother, Harry

You can find Josh on instagram @anxietyjosh and his book And how does that make you feel is published by Orion and is available in traditional and audio format.

Setting up in private practice? Download my free checklist HERE

Need ideas for how to get clients? Download my free handout 21 Ways for Counsellors to Attract New Clients HERE

You can also find me here:

The Good Enough Counsellors Facebook Group

Josephine Hughes on Facebook

Josephine Hughes on YouTube

My website: josephinehughes.com

The information contained in Good Enough Counsellors is provided for information purposes only. The contents of this podcast are not intended to amount to advice and you should not rely on any of the contents of this podcast. Professional advice should be obtained before taking or refraining from taking any action as a result of the contents of this podcast.

Josephine Hughes disclaims all liability and responsibility arising from any reliance placed on any of the contents of this podcast.

How do you create effective profiles for directories such as Psychology Today, Counselling Directory or BACP Find a Therapist? This episode encourages counsellors and psychotherapists to think about what their clients need to hear in order to be able to choose them.

In today's episode:

• the power of a good profile and how it will help your private practice
• why talking about your modality doesn't help
• the importance of taking reading age into consideration
• avoiding technical language and industry jargon
• what frightens clients away
• qualifications versus connection and relatability
• understanding client search behaviour

Click HERE to learn more about Therapy Growth Group. The next Make Your Profile Work challenge takes place in June 2024.

Setting up in private practice? Download my free checklist HERE

Need ideas for how to get clients? Download my free handout 21 Ways for Counsellors to Attract New Clients HERE

You can also find me here:

The Good Enough Counsellors Facebook Group

Josephine Hughes on Facebook

Josephine Hughes on YouTube

My website: josephinehughes.com

The information contained in Good Enough Counsellors is provided for information purposes only. The contents of this podcast are not intended to amount to advice and you should not rely on any of the contents of this podcast. Professional advice should be obtained before taking or refraining from taking any action as a result of the contents of this podcast.

Josephine Hughes disclaims all liability and responsibility arising from any reliance placed on any of the contents of this podcast.

Whether you're an experienced therapist or just embarking on your journey, this podcast offers valuable insights into overcoming the challenges of building a successful private practice.

In today's episode:

1. The Allure of Looking Professional: Discover how striving for a professional image can protect you from criticism but may also hinder your progress by fuelling perfectionism.
2. Branding vs. Action: Learn why spending excessive time on branding might delay reaching out to clients and how it could be a form of self-protection against feelings of vulnerability.
3. Embracing Imperfection: Hear about real-life examples demonstrating that sometimes, letting go of rigid preparations allows for more natural and effective client interactions.
4. Equipment as Metaphor: Find out why accumulating 'equipment' (e.g., qualifications, tools) can prevent you from actually 'starting the walk,' paralleling the fear many have when beginning their practices.
5. Planning Your Route: Gain insights into setting realistic goals and milestones for your practice while avoiding comparisons with others who may seem ahead in their journeys.
6. Enjoying The Journey: Be reminded that despite aiming for success, it's important to appreciate the process, connect with what you love about your work, and recognise how far you've come already.

Setting up in private practice? Download my free checklist HERE

Need ideas for how to get clients? Download my free handout 21 Ways for Counsellors to Attract New Clients HERE

You can also find me here:

The Good Enough Counsellors Facebook Group

Josephine Hughes on Facebook

Josephine Hughes on YouTube

My website: josephinehughes.com

The information contained in Good Enough Counsellors is provided for information purposes only. The contents of this podcast are not intended to amount to advice and you should not rely on any of the contents of this podcast. Professional advice should be obtained before taking or refraining from taking any action as a result of the contents of this podcast.

Josephine Hughes disclaims all liability and responsibility arising from any reliance placed on any of the contents of this podcast.

A common question for counsellors thinking about promoting themselves on social media is how much time will it take - and is it worth doing it in terms of client enquiries?

So listen to today's episode to find out:

• how to save time by having a social media posts planned in advance
• how to efficiently run your social media if you're not a planner by nature
• time management tips
• content creation strategies
• how to maximise engagement with your content

Learn how to use the following social media dates

June's Themed Posts:

• Pride Month
• Autistic Pride Day (June 18th)
• Stonewall Day (June 28th)
• Juneteenth (June 19th)
• Stillbirth and Neonatal Death Awareness Month

Health Awareness Days in June:

• International Panic Day (June 18th)
• PTSD Awareness Day (June 27th)
• Tourette’s awareness (June 7th)

Setting up in private practice? Download my free checklist HERE

Need ideas for how to get clients? Download my free handout 21 Ways for Counsellors to Attract New Clients HERE

You can also find me here:

The Good Enough Counsellors Facebook Group

Josephine Hughes on Facebook

Josephine Hughes on YouTube

My website: josephinehughes.com

The information contained in Good Enough Counsellors is provided for information purposes only. The contents of this podcast are not intended to amount to advice and you should not rely on any of the contents of this podcast. Professional advice should be obtained before taking or refraining from taking any action as a result of the contents of this podcast.

Josephine Hughes disclaims all liability and responsibility arising from any reliance placed on any of the contents of this podcast.