The act of decluttering sounds like a simple thing, but it can be loaded with emotions, triggers, and feelings of overwhelm. Today’s guest takes us through this process which can be a beneficial supplement to therapy. 

Our Featured Guest

Sarah Mueller

Sarah Mueller is a friend I’ve known for several years. She started The Decluttering Club to teach people to declutter in a way that doesn’t create burnout, lets them keep the things they love, and actually lasts for the long term. She has grown a huge online following based on the concept of decluttering. It’s a relatable problem that we all face, and learning to let things go is important. Sarah discusses why decluttering is part of her story and part of who she is. She explains what decluttering is, what the benefits are, and how to declutter even when you feel overwhelmed. We wrap up by covering how decluttering can be an advantageous supplement to therapy.

The Decluttering Club

You’ll Learn:

• Sarah’s story that led her to create The Decluttering Club
• Sarah’s tagline: “Less stuff, more life!”
• The impacts of the personal and professional growth for Sarah as she fulfills the needs of others
• Decluttering defined: “Letting go of anything that doesn’t serve me”
• Being honest about what serves you and what “is clutter and needs to go”
• The internal work around stories, emotions, and our attachments that goes along with decluttering
• Benefits of decluttering
• Decluttering when you feel overwhelmed
• Sarah’s tips for decluttering books
• How letting go of sentimental items can be part of healing
• Working with a decluttering expert can supplement therapy in many ways
• Why decluttering is a combination of practical work and emotional work to boost someone’s self-worth

Resources:

Want to launch your podcast?

Check out our free podcasting workshop for therapists (and therapists turned coaches and consultants). Visit https://sellingthecouch.com/podcastingworkshop.

Want to launch your online course?

Please check out our free 7-Day Course Creator Starter Kit For Therapists: https://sellingthecouch.com/coursekit

Mentioned in this episode:

Alma

Building and managing the practice you truly want can feel overwhelming. That’s why Alma is here—to help you create not just any practice, but your private practice. With Alma, you’ll get the tools and resources you need to navigate insurance with ease, connect with referrals that are the right fit for your style, and streamline those time-consuming administrative tasks. That means less time buried in the details and more time focused on delivering exceptional care to your clients. You support your clients. Alma supports you. Learn more at sellingthecouch.com/alma and get 2 months FREE—an exclusive offer for STC listeners.

Today’s session is about leaving psychotherapy for coaching. This transition is one that many therapist colleagues have made, and the reality is that many more are shifting from the field of therapy into coaching. Several major factors play into this decision, and my guest today gives a transparent look at his experience in this transition. Join us to learn more!

Our Featured Guest

Dr. Corey Wilks

Dr. Corey Wilks is a good friend and licensed psychologist who joins us for an open and honest look at his transition from therapy to coaching.  In giving a glimpse into the circumstances and perspectives that led him to make this decision and shift his career, he shares how his career goals have changed over the years, what autonomy means to him, and why it is important. We wrap up by discussing mistakes that therapists often make in this career change and the drawbacks to leaving a traditional career in mental health.

Corey's Website 

You’ll Learn:

• Corey’s career goals back in grad school—and how they have changed
• Understanding autonomy, freedom, and why these are Corey’s top priorities
• Corey’s realizations about therapy, wellness, and burnout
• Considerations in making the shift to entrepreneurship
• The biggest mistake people make in turning from therapy to coaching
• The difference in coaching as a much more solo-based endeavor than therapy
• Corey’s advice to a therapist considering becoming a coach
• The distinction between the roles of therapist and coach—and how Corey navigates “the line”

Resources:

Mentioned in this session: Sign up for the newsletter for high-achievers!

Want to launch your podcast?

Check out our free podcasting workshop for therapists (and therapists turned coaches and consultants). Visit https://sellingthecouch.com/podcastingworkshop.

Want to launch your online course?

Please check out our free 7-Day Course Creator Starter Kit For Therapists: https://sellingthecouch.com/coursekit

Mentioned in this episode:

Alma

Building and managing the practice you truly want can feel overwhelming. That’s why Alma is here—to help you create not just any practice, but your private practice. With Alma, you’ll get the tools and resources you need to navigate insurance with ease, connect with referrals that are the right fit for your style, and streamline those time-consuming administrative tasks. That means less time buried in the details and more time focused on delivering exceptional care to your clients. You support your clients. Alma supports you. Learn more at sellingthecouch.com/alma and get 2 months FREE—an exclusive offer for STC listeners.

If you’ve ever thought about writing a book, you’ve realized that the process is intimidating. Just knowing where to begin and how to proceed pose big challenges. We are tackling this topic with today’s guest and uncovering the things nobody tells you about writing a book. Join us to get real and learn more!

Our Featured Guest

Raj Lulla

Raj Lulla is a StoryBrand Certified designer and strategist. He and his partner, Ben Lueders, are the co-owners of Fruitful Design & Strategy, where they “create and grow compelling brands.” Raj has spent the last few years writing a book called The Caring House, and he joins us to dive deeper into the book-writing process. He shares why he chose to write a fiction book, how he approached the publishing aspect, and the financial outlay for a project like this. We wrap up with Raj’s perspective on the things no one tells you about marketing a book and Raj’s best tips for anyone who wants to write a book. 

Fruitful Design and Raj Lulla

You’ll Learn:

• Raj’s choice: fiction vs. nonfiction?
• Big questions to confront around the grief-processing journey
• Raj’s idea for The Caring House as part of his personal healing process
• Writing to answer the question, “What is this book for?”
• Narrowing your purpose to the “most important thing”
• Understanding the publishing dilemma: a traditional publisher, indie/hybrid publishing, or self-publishing? 
• Differences in the pitching/publishing process between a fiction vs. nonfiction book
• Financial considerations in the book-writing process
• Details about the “print-on-demand” publishing option and the hard work required to market a self-published book
• Raj’s advice to aspiring writers

Resources:

Want to launch your podcast?

Check out our free podcasting workshop for therapists (and therapists turned coaches and consultants)

https://sellingthecouch.com/podcastingworshop

Want to launch your online course?

Please check out our free 7-Day Course Creator Starter Kit For Therapists: https://sellingthecouch.com/coursekit

Mentioned in this episode:

Alma

Building and managing the practice you truly want can feel overwhelming. That’s why Alma is here—to help you create not just any practice, but your private practice. With Alma, you’ll get the tools and resources you need to navigate insurance with ease, connect with referrals that are the right fit for your style, and streamline those time-consuming administrative tasks. That means less time buried in the details and more time focused on delivering exceptional care to your clients. You support your clients. Alma supports you. Learn more at sellingthecouch.com/alma and get 2 months FREE—an exclusive offer for STC listeners.

This episode is the last one before I take an extended break for a few months. The plan is to be back in April 2023, with exciting, brand-new STC episodes. I think rest is important in the human journey AND the entrepreneurial journey, so I’m looking forward to some extra downtime after podcasting regularly for seven years and hitting the 1.5 million download mark. Unbelievable! Thank you from the bottom of my heart! This is my life’s work and my great privilege to serve you, my colleagues. 

Today’s episode takes a closer look at a major passion of mine: online courses. Let’s talk about the important questions to ask–and answer–before launching an online course. Join me!

You’ll Learn:

• How online courses can help fill in the gap for those who need mental health services
• 7 Questions to Ask Before Launching an Online Course:
• Have people paid me one-on-one for this course idea?
• Can I see myself being in this space for 10+ years?
• Is this course idea confronting a “massive pain” vs. an “annoying inconvenience” for my audience?
• Can this population afford the course I’m selling? Do they have purchasing power?
• Is this a population that is easy to target and find online?
• Is my course idea a growing concern/need for my audience?
• Are there others out there creating information products for this niche?
• Further details about the STC Elite Mastermind for therapists who are creating online courses (The next launch is scheduled for Spring 2023.) 

If you aren’t ready for the mastermind-level commitment, check out my FREE Webinar about creating online courses.

Mentioned in this episode:

Alma

Building and managing the practice you truly want can feel overwhelming. That’s why Alma is here—to help you create not just any practice, but your private practice. With Alma, you’ll get the tools and resources you need to navigate insurance with ease, connect with referrals that are the right fit for your style, and streamline those time-consuming administrative tasks. That means less time buried in the details and more time focused on delivering exceptional care to your clients. You support your clients. Alma supports you. Learn more at sellingthecouch.com/alma and get 2 months FREE—an exclusive offer for STC listeners.

Today’s topic is very relevant in our post-pandemic world. Many clinicians are left wondering if their best work lies in the clinical field or the coaching/consulting arena. I’ve felt this dilemma myself, pondering how to balance my interests, endeavors, and the evolution of family life. I realized that I couldn’t sustain multiple paths, and I made the hard decision to give up my clinical work.

If you are struggling along those same lines, I hope today’s show gives you insights, clarity, and encouragement. Join us to learn more!

Our Featured Guest

Angela Williams, LCSW

Angela Williams is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker in Orlando, Florida. She has made the transition from clinician to coach, and she now works with other therapists who are making the same change in their lives. Angela shares her thoughts about why so many clinicians are leaving for the world of coaching, along with the biggest roadblocks that may come up on this path. She gives her best tips for overcoming those big roadblocks and recommends several books as helpful resources. 

Website

You’ll Learn:

• Why so many therapists are becoming coaches
• How the therapy field, with its inherent regulations, contains many barriers to providing services to clients—and coaching is different
• The biggest mental roadblock for Angela in moving from clinician to coach
• Why each clinician feels like the “insecure expert” and has to intentionally build up their confidence
• Why it’s challenging to become an online, visible brand rather than a care provider
• What holds clinicians back the most and presents the biggest roadblocks
• How a mindset coach can help us rewrite our roadblocks into our success story
• How perfectionism, fear of failure, and standards of success can prevent us from taking action
• Why money blocks and financial literacy play into our beliefs about money
• Why the fear of success can be just as crippling as the fear of failure
• Books recommended by Angela:  The Big Leap by Gay Hendricks, Get Rich, Lucky Bitch by Denise Duffield-Thomas, and You Are a Badass at Making Money by Jen Sincero

Mentioned in this episode:

Alma

Building and managing the practice you truly want can feel overwhelming. That’s why Alma is here—to help you create not just any practice, but your private practice. With Alma, you’ll get the tools and resources you need to navigate insurance with ease, connect with referrals that are the right fit for your style, and streamline those time-consuming administrative tasks. That means less time buried in the details and more time focused on delivering exceptional care to your clients. You support your clients. Alma supports you. Learn more at sellingthecouch.com/alma and get 2 months FREE—an exclusive offer for STC listeners.

I think often about legacy in providing STC as a resource for our field and being of service to our colleagues. The same desire for a lasting legacy drives me to connect with good people who are doing great things in the world, which is what this podcast is all about. Today’s conversation, with two of those good people, focuses on a common issue for clinicians in referring out clients. If you are looking to do referrals in a better way, this session will give you valuable information. Join us to learn more!

Our Featured Guests

Anna O’Brien 

Jim Pasquarella

Anna O’Brien and Jim Pasquarella live and work locally in the Philly area as a clinician and commercial real estate developer, respectively. They have created a resource called The Consult List, which addresses a common problem for clinicians. “Referring out” clients to other colleagues is something every clinician faces, but what’s the best way to do it? 

Anna and Jim will share with us how they created The Consult List for clinicians to use in making sure the clients we serve are getting appropriate and helpful referrals. This resource allows clinicians to harness the power of their community and streamline the referral process. They will explain how the resource handles issues like data privacy and protection, and we will discuss how they are monetizing this free resource.

Website

You’ll Learn:

• The story behind The Consult List and how it came to be as Anna and Jim teamed up to improve access to mental health services
• How Jim’s efforts are inspired by the memory of his mom’s tireless dedication in caring for others
• How Anna and Jim met through the shared vision of making a vacant building into an affordable wellness center to serve the local community
• What The Consult List is and how it helps clinicians with referrals
• How the client can interact with The Consult List
• What a prospective clinician would have access to on The Consult List in keeping safety and privacy in mind for the prospective client
• How the location parameters are set for clinicians and clients on The Consult List
• Why The Consult List is free in its essential version and offers a premium membership with extra features
• How data is protected on this referral platform

Mentioned in this episode:

Alma

Building and managing the practice you truly want can feel overwhelming. That’s why Alma is here—to help you create not just any practice, but your private practice. With Alma, you’ll get the tools and resources you need to navigate insurance with ease, connect with referrals that are the right fit for your style, and streamline those time-consuming administrative tasks. That means less time buried in the details and more time focused on delivering exceptional care to your clients. You support your clients. Alma supports you. Learn more at sellingthecouch.com/alma and get 2 months FREE—an exclusive offer for STC listeners.

I still call myself a Twitter newbie because I haven’t been there for very long, but I’ve been honored to connect with amazing people holding full and varied skill sets. I’m chatting with one of them in today’s session, someone who has helped me learn what I was doing wrong on Twitter and how I can improve. If you need Twitter help, too, join us to learn more about standing out on Twitter!

Our Featured Guest

Aadit Sheth

Aadit Sheth is a 21-year-old engineering student who started on Twitter only a couple of years ago. He has built a following of over 200,000 by focusing on the life optimization habits of top entrepreneurs. Aadit shares with us about Twitter threads and how they work to make this social media platform one of the top ways to network and stay current with technology, productivity, and business.

Website

You’ll Learn:

• How Aadit decided that Twitter would be his “place”
• How Aadit began by engaging with people he admired on Twitter and finding ways to provide value to them
• How to build strong connections through a “permission-less action” approach
• A basic understanding of Twitter threads vs. single tweets
• Aadit’s best tips for writing threads and hooks on Twitter–”80% of the performance of a thread is driven by the hook.”
• Why you should identify the emotion you want to evoke and the purpose of your thread hook (i.e. counterintuitive, suspenseful, successes, novelty)
• An example of a thread idea in a specific niche for mental health providers
• How to use templates to help find a balance between perfectionism and spontaneity in writing Twitter threads
• How to combat the crippling pressure to write the perfect Twitter thread by repurposing your content
• An overview of Aadit’s work, including the Maker’s Mark agency and course on audience building for creators and founders

Mentioned in this episode:

Alma

Building and managing the practice you truly want can feel overwhelming. That’s why Alma is here—to help you create not just any practice, but your private practice. With Alma, you’ll get the tools and resources you need to navigate insurance with ease, connect with referrals that are the right fit for your style, and streamline those time-consuming administrative tasks. That means less time buried in the details and more time focused on delivering exceptional care to your clients. You support your clients. Alma supports you. Learn more at sellingthecouch.com/alma and get 2 months FREE—an exclusive offer for STC listeners.

Today’s topic is inspired by a Twitter thread I wrote about a life-changing event in our family when our daughter began preschool recently. Since she was born prematurely, going through the NICU experience four years ago coupled with the demands of entrepreneurship brought me to the realization that things had to change. The season of life that was one of the hardest things became the best thing to help me reevaluate and realign my life and goals. As much as I love my work, I wanted my life to be about much more than my work. Join me to learn how shifting my work week has made me a better entrepreneur, husband, father, and person. 

You’ll Learn:

• Business becomes more complicated with more time. 
• “You don’t have to suffer in order to succeed.”
• For any task, look to automate, delegate, eliminate, or systemize.
• There are more metrics than money. 
• “Not everything that counts can be counted.”
• The time I’ve spent and the memories I’ve made with my daughter are priceless.
• Creativity time is essential.
• Time to explore and be curious should be an intentional part of the day/week. 
• Giving your mind time for creativity and play will help you make better business decisions.
• Business doesn’t have all the answers.
• Work will not fulfill you in every aspect of life. 
• “Don’t build your life around your business; build your business to support your life.”
• Simplicity is key.
• Concise communication is essential for people to understand you.
• “Be clear, not clever.”
• Seasons don’t last.
• Entrepreneurship is a roller coaster ride, but time will pass quickly.
• “Focus on the present and be grateful for now.”
• The courage of a child is inspiring.
• Be resilient like a child, and get back up when you fall down.
• “The only way to fail in building a business is by refusing to get back up.”

Mentioned in this episode:

Alma

Building and managing the practice you truly want can feel overwhelming. That’s why Alma is here—to help you create not just any practice, but your private practice. With Alma, you’ll get the tools and resources you need to navigate insurance with ease, connect with referrals that are the right fit for your style, and streamline those time-consuming administrative tasks. That means less time buried in the details and more time focused on delivering exceptional care to your clients. You support your clients. Alma supports you. Learn more at sellingthecouch.com/alma and get 2 months FREE—an exclusive offer for STC listeners.

“Will anyone listen to it? How can I grow my audience?” These are the questions that badger everyone who starts a podcast, and even though I am a veteran podcaster of several years, I know there is a lot of room to grow. The good news is that there are people who can help us learn by sharing their knowledge and experience. My guest today has answers to your biggest questions about growing and marketing your podcast. It’s easier than you think! Join us!

Our Featured Guest

Jeremy Enns

Jeremy Enns is a podcast marketing strategist for scrappy brands, networks, and creators who are looking to punch above their weight. He has helped his clients generate over 50 million podcast downloads and millions of dollars in revenue. By working with many different podcasters, Jeremy has learned what works best in podcast growth, and he’s here to share his top tips for growing a podcast strategically and intentionally. 

Website

You’ll Learn:

• Jeremy’s outlook on the fate of the podcasting industry–Is podcasting here to stay?
• Why people from different platforms are getting into podcasting to build long-term engagement
• Jeremy’s tips for beginning podcasters:
• Have realistic expectations. “The root of unhappiness is misaligned expectations.” Think of podcasting as a five-year plan for learning a new skill—and appreciate the intangibles.
• Think of marketing as just another way of creatively communicating ideas to help the people you want to serve. Find ways to make marketing fun for you.
• Use the writing methods that work best for you.
• Be an active participant in communities where you feel comfortable and always look for one-on-one conversation opportunities. “Go live in the world where your people already are.”

An overview of Jeremy’s upcoming workshop, The Minimalist Podcast Marketing Method, and his flagship course, Podcast Marketing Academy

Mentioned in this episode:

Alma

Building and managing the practice you truly want can feel overwhelming. That’s why Alma is here—to help you create not just any practice, but your private practice. With Alma, you’ll get the tools and resources you need to navigate insurance with ease, connect with referrals that are the right fit for your style, and streamline those time-consuming administrative tasks. That means less time buried in the details and more time focused on delivering exceptional care to your clients. You support your clients. Alma supports you. Learn more at sellingthecouch.com/alma and get 2 months FREE—an exclusive offer for STC listeners.

Today’s topic is a fascinating one for me. As therapists, we are wired for stories, but telling an effective story online is a struggle for many of us. Fortunately for us, my guest has wisdom and tips to share to help us become awesome storytellers. Join us to learn more!

Our Featured Guest

Kieran Drew

Kieran Drew lives in Leeds, England, and is my writing coach for Twitter. In an interesting career twist, he was a dentist who left behind his stressful, work-filled life to become a copywriter/storyteller. My first connection to Kieran came through the viral story he wrote about his unique medical experiences as a teenager. He is a talented storyteller who has helped my writing immensely, and I know his insights will be helpful to anyone looking to improve their writing. 

Website

You’ll Learn:

• Why Kieran made the unconventional transition from dentist to copywriter/storyteller
• An overview of Kieran’s spinal issues involving a tumor, surgeries, and titanium rods—this is the experience that helped him discover storytelling and a new love for life
• 3 tips to become a better storyteller:
• Make a story bank by writing down everything that happens to you with specific details.
• Cut through the noise to impart a lesson. 
• Even in sales, start every point with a story. 
• How specific details make your stories more impactful
• How to draw a “lesson” from each story
• How storytelling breaks down skepticism and improves your selling ability
• How storytelling can be your differentiator in the online world
• A storytelling template: what happened/the lesson, why people should care, and a call to action
• How Kieran reviews his story bank to choose his next story

Mentioned in this episode:

Alma

Building and managing the practice you truly want can feel overwhelming. That’s why Alma is here—to help you create not just any practice, but your private practice. With Alma, you’ll get the tools and resources you need to navigate insurance with ease, connect with referrals that are the right fit for your style, and streamline those time-consuming administrative tasks. That means less time buried in the details and more time focused on delivering exceptional care to your clients. You support your clients. Alma supports you. Learn more at sellingthecouch.com/alma and get 2 months FREE—an exclusive offer for STC listeners.

Today’s session is a coaching call, and our main focus is on a struggle that many course creators face. When you are an expert in your course content, how do you find the balance in presenting information without overwhelming your students? I feel sure that every course creator has felt this struggle, so I hope you find today’s call to be helpful.

Our Featured Guest for today’s coaching call:

Heather England, Ph.D., LCP, LCPC, CST, CDWF

Dr. Heather England is a coach, certified sex therapist, and licensed clinical psychotherapist in Overland Park, Kansas. She is part of our online course mastermind, which you can explore at www.sellingthecouch.com/mastermind. Heather is in the process of creating a course on erectile dysfunction, and she has already learned a lot in preparation to launch her course. Her biggest question is how to present her course without information overload for her students. You are invited to listen to the coaching call with Heather and Melvin!

Love Filled Life

You’ll Learn:

• How Heather evolved as a sex therapist and realized the need for more information
• How Heather found the niche for her online course in helping men with erectile issues
• A common mistake that our colleagues make in creating an online course
• How the STC Mastermind course has fast-tracked Heather’s course creation and launch (scheduled to begin in a few short weeks!)
• How Heather’s four-week course is structured with videos, downloadable resources, and a coaching call
• Why Heather is being intentional to allow her students to maintain anonymity if they prefer
• Tool options that can be used to allow students to submit questions to Dr. Heather privately
• Why Heather is struggling to uphold her standards of competency and concrete research without overwhelming her students with information and exercises
• How Heather is approaching a particular module of her course that includes a lot of information
• How to pare down exercises and activities to the most important “Aha moment” for students
• The value of using a survey to get feedback at the end of EACH module–rather than waiting until the end of the entire course
• Heather’s top takeaways from this coaching call and how she plans to implement what she has learned

How you can find Heather’s course, free webinar, and other resources at www.lovefilledlife.com 

Mentioned in this episode:

Alma

Building and managing the practice you truly want can feel overwhelming. That’s why Alma is here—to help you create not just any practice, but your private practice. With Alma, you’ll get the tools and resources you need to navigate insurance with ease, connect with referrals that are the right fit for your style, and streamline those time-consuming administrative tasks. That means less time buried in the details and more time focused on delivering exceptional care to your clients. You support your clients. Alma supports you. Learn more at sellingthecouch.com/alma and get 2 months FREE—an exclusive offer for STC listeners.

Ready to create your own course? Download the FREE Online Course Guide!

Learn how to create and market your own online course in Melvin's unique online course guide. Download the FREE online course guide today!

Online Course Guide

Hello! Welcome to a brand new season of STC that will take us through September and October before I take an extended sabbatical of several months. Today’s session is a fascinating conversation about considering the greater purpose of our businesses beyond merely generating income. How can our businesses be a vehicle for much, much more in the world? Let’s discuss this topic with today’s guest!

Our Featured Guest

Ariana Lloyd, LCSW

Ariana Lloyd is a licensed clinical social worker in Portland, Oregon. She runs eight-week live cohorts to help therapists coming into private practice set up their businesses in ways that are focused on personal growth, creativity, and social justice. In this conversation, we talk about the ways her business has been a means of personal growth and healing, along with how to offer programs with intentionality and meaningful service to clients. Ariana tells us how she exercises her creative muscles through her business, and we wrap up with ways to tackle social justice issues and advocacy with intention, care, and cultural humility. 

You’ll Learn:

• How Ariana’s business became a source of healing and personal growth 
• How even the practical tasks in business-building can help heal past wounds
• How to find balance between personal healing and being of service to clients
• How Ariana has tapped into her creativity by offering her unique programs to clients
• What works best for Ariana in exercising her creativity muscles: writing and talking to a trusted friend when facing a new project
• Why clinicians have unique opportunities to step into leadership, advocacy, and empowerment for social justice issues
• How the business-building process can incorporate more radical values that address systemic change for social good
• Why Ariana offers free training on specific topics and donates to organizations doing good in the world
• How social justice applies to the sense of duty Ariana feels to help others
• An overview of Lloyd Collective offerings and the help offered to private practitioners

Mentioned in this episode: Barbara Love, author, and researcher

Connect with Ariana

Mentioned in this episode:

Alma

Building and managing the practice you truly want can feel overwhelming. That’s why Alma is here—to help you create not just any practice, but your private practice. With Alma, you’ll get the tools and resources you need to navigate insurance with ease, connect with referrals that are the right fit for your style, and streamline those time-consuming administrative tasks. That means less time buried in the details and more time focused on delivering exceptional care to your clients. You support your clients. Alma supports you. Learn more at sellingthecouch.com/alma and get 2 months FREE—an exclusive offer for STC listeners.

Ready to create your own course? Download the FREE Online Course Guide!

Learn how to create and market your own online course in Melvin's unique online course guide. Download the FREE online course guide today!

Online Course Guide

Like many of you, I’m looking forward to a different 2021, but I am grateful for what we’ve learned about ourselves, our businesses, and our resilience. Today’s topic is more relevant than ever, as we all want to learn more about improving our private practice website. Join us to learn more!

Daniel Fava, from Private Practice Elevation, is my friend and an expert in website design. I trust his insight and advice, and I rely heavily on him for everything website-related. Daniel is here to share what is working for private practice websites post-pandemic. Much of what we think about our private practice websites has shifted greatly during the COVID-19 pandemic, and what used to serve us well may not be working now. As many of us are transitioning to full-time online counseling or at least some increased element of online therapy, Daniel’s advice is relevant and timely.

Website

ROI Report

Website Audit

• What has changed about websites and online traffic since the pandemic began
• Three things that are working well for private practice websites:
• A professional website is more important than ever.
• People are searching online, so you need to have a presence there that stands out.
• Content is the foundation for getting found online.
• Foundational content includes your home page, service pages, and specialty pages.
• Online therapy has become an essential part of private practice.
• Your website audience is now expanded throughout your entire state, instead of just your local vicinity. 
• How to incorporate non-written content, like videos and podcasts, into your website
• Why you should take this opportunity to view your website through new eyes

Melvin:

Hello, welcome to session 262 of Selling the Couch. I hope you are having a good start to the New Year. Man after the fun adventure that was 2020 I am really looking forward to a different 2021. At the same time, I feel like I'm so grateful. As hard as this has been that in some ways that we were able to go through this because I think it's definitely taught all of us just how resilient we are; especially if you have been able to manage a business and during a pandemic, you're pretty legit.

So today's podcast session is with my good friend Daniel Fava from Private Practice Elevation. Daniel is an expert when it comes to website design. It's someone I rely on for both STC and my private practice website. And Daniel is here to share three of the things that are working for private practice websites post-pandemic. I know that how we think about private practice and even how we think about our private practice websites has shifted in the midst of this pandemic.

There are just things that were working in the past that are not working as well now and we've learned a lot of insights and key things in terms of what could work and what will be working going forward. Especially as many of us transition either fully to online counseling or maintain some element of online counseling in our practices. I think there are just a lot of different things there. So we'll get right to today's conversation. Here is my conversation with Daniel Fava from privatepracticeelevation.com.

Hey, Daniel, welcome back to Selling the Couch.

Daniel:

Hey Melvin, how's it going? Thanks so...

Podcast sponsorship is often seen as the “golden goose” of podcasting. We started working with sponsors on STC a few years ago, and they have generated over $95k to this point. However, I’ve learned that relying solely on sponsorships is not the wisest stance because your success rides the ebbs and flows of another company’s marketing budget. I’m very grateful for the sponsors who have worked with us, but I don’t want to depend on them for the main source of income for STC. Today, I’m sharing three ways you can make money from your podcast from Day One, without having to depend on securing sponsors down the road. Join me for a closer look!

You’ll Learn:

• The increasing responsibility I feel to be a good steward in today’s podcasting environment
• Three ways to make money from your podcast from Day One:
• One-on-one work–I share how to use analytics to pinpoint your niche and impact to specialize your focus and offerings. (I use and recommend Fathom Analytics.)
• Scalable work–This includes things you can continue to do for the next 8-10 years, like paid speaking engagements, coaching groups, therapy groups, writing books, and establishing a “private podcast” feed. 
• Online courses–The time and energy investment comes on the front end, but they become an asset into which you can invite others.
• It’s best to view podcast sponsorship as “the cherry on the top” that may come to you, but not as the financial foundation to depend on from month to month.
• Our free podcasting workshop can help you launch your podcast! 

Resources:

Want to launch your podcast?

Check out our free podcasting workshop for therapists (and therapists turned coaches and consultants)

https://sellingthecouch.com/podcastingworshop

Want to launch your online course?

Please check out our free 7-Day Course Creator Starter Kit For Therapists: https://sellingthecouch.com/coursekit

Mentioned in this episode:

Alma

Building and managing the practice you truly want can feel overwhelming. That’s why Alma is here—to help you create not just any practice, but your private practice. With Alma, you’ll get the tools and resources you need to navigate insurance with ease, connect with referrals that are the right fit for your style, and streamline those time-consuming administrative tasks. That means less time buried in the details and more time focused on delivering exceptional care to your clients. You support your clients. Alma supports you. Learn more at sellingthecouch.com/alma and get 2 months FREE—an exclusive offer for STC listeners.

Today’s show takes on a very niched perspective, but the information and wisdom are useful in many aspects of our work as clinicians and business owners. We are specifically discussing how to move from an online course to a membership model. Maybe you’ve wondered about these components of your practice and how to make the transition. Join us for expert advice!

Our Featured Guest

Jennifer McGurk, RDN, CDN, CEDRD-S

Jennifer McGurk is a registered dietitian in NY whose specialty is helping clients with eating disorders. She made the transition from an online course to a membership model, so she is sharing the good, the bad, and the ugly of such a move. I hope our discussion will be helpful to you if you’re considering a similar transition.

Website

You’ll Learn:

●     How membership sites can help a clinician accomplish career goals

●     Details of Jennifer’s journey in private practice from an online course to a membership model

●     The benefits to therapist and client of a membership model over a one-time course model

●     How imposter syndrome can crop up when creating a membership site

●     How it’s helpful to see others reaching their goals in transitioning from an online course to a membership site

●     Common mistakes in this transition

●     What the business gurus DON’T tell you about your online course as a passive income stream

●     The components of Jennifer’s membership site: Dietitian Business School

●     Jennifer’s advice to a clinician either launching an online course or making the transition to a membership site

Hushmail - Hushmail is a safe and secure way to email and send secure forms (e.g., intake packets and consent forms) to potential and current clients.

Please visit https://sellingthecouch.com/hushmail and please let them know Mel sent you =).

Melvin:

Hi Jennifer,

welcome back to Selling the Couch.

Jennifer:

Hi, Melvin; thank

you for having me. I'm so excited to talk to you.

Melvin:

I really enjoyed

our last conversation. I'm so grateful that you reached out, you are doing just

so many neat things in the world, so many out of the box things. And I'm just

grateful when you reached out and then two, just to hear about the journey and

share all the lessons and all those things that you've learned.

Jennifer:

Yeah, thank you so

much. I'm so grateful for your work, too. We were talking before we hit record

about how mental health is so needed right now and therapists are doing such an

awesome job. So anyone out there listening, thank you for your work too. It's a

time where people really need mental health services.

Melvin:

Yeah, absolutely;

I do feel so grateful to be part of this profession. I don't know who could

have imagined something like this. But I think one of the things that's really

been on my mind, especially through this pandemic, I think it was there before

but it's kind of accelerated it is this question of like, what do I want...

If the topic of building your personal brand on social media brings feelings of anxiety and insecurity, then today’s show is for you. As clinicians, we know it makes sense to have a digital footprint in the online world, but it’s difficult to know just how to establish yourself with authenticity and transparency. There are so many nuances to the intimidating world of social media! Today’s conversation will give you valuable insight and practical tips to help people get to know, like, and trust you. Join us to learn more.

Our Featured Guest-Lisa Mustard, LMFT

Lisa Mustard is a personal brand coach, psychoeducator, therapist, podcaster, and self-described personal development junkie in South Carolina. This mom of two has created an awe-inspiring presence on social media around topics like fitness, health, mindset, and goals. Recording with her phone, Lisa proves that a high-quality, high-dollar studio is not a requirement for building your personal brand, and she does it in very unique and authentic ways. Lisa joins us to talk about what personal branding is, how much to share, and that all-important line between OK and TMI. We’ll wrap up with the most common mistake people make in personal branding and three tips that you can utilize today to start building your personal brand on social media.

Lisa Mustard

You’ll Learn

●     What is a personal brand? Your reputation, what people say about you, and what you’re known for

●     The best way to narrow your brand down to three specific things is to identify your top values and priorities

●     Why you have to be clear and specific about how you want to move forward on social media

●     How to decide how much to share online

●     The most common mistake people make is----not taking the time to build a personal brand

●     Three tips for a clinician who wants to build a personal brand:

○     Identify your strengths, uniqueness, and how you help people

○     Know your values and what you stand for

○     Know where you want to go and what you want to accomplish

●     Why you should realize that not everyone will resonate with your message---and that’s OK

●     Why social media is the best place to build your personal brand

Today’s Podcast Sponsor: Headway

Headway: Headway is building a new mental healthcare

system by using cutting-edge software to connect clients with therapists who

accept insurance, helping providers to expand their practices, and individuals

to finally find a therapist they can afford.

Solo and group practices in network through Headway can get better

rates, get paid automatically twice per month (no more rejected claims or

delayed payments), and get complimentary billing and admin support so you can

focus on serving your clients. And the best part...Headway is paid by insurance

companies, so it’s free for us to use.

Solo and group practices out of network through Headway also get

full admin support and access to the vast pool of potential clients who need to

use their insurance to pay for care. And the best part...Headway is paid by

insurance companies, so it’s free for us to use.

Learn More at

Have you ever considered writing a children’s book? I’ll admit that I’ve thought about it, and it might be a new endeavor in my future. Writing a children’s book takes creativity and planning, and much perseverance is required to navigate the publishing process. Join me as I talk to a longtime friend who has been through the process and published two children’s books.

Our Featured Guest

Amy Jivani

Amy is a childhood friend of mine who has become a children’s book author. Her latest book, Meera’s Flowers, tells the story of a young girl celebrating an Indian holiday while living in America. She also wrote More Than Words: A Book About Body Language, a story about body language and feelings. Amy is a former first-grade teacher who is inspired by her students and her cultural background to write children’s books with ethnically diverse characters. Amy shares with us where she gets ideas for books and how the creative process works. We also discuss the concept of self-publishing compared to the traditional publishing route. We wrap up with Amy’s insights into the hardest part about writing and releasing a book during a pandemic.

www.amyjivani.com 

You’ll Learn:

● Where Amy’s inspiration came from for Meera’s Flowers

● Amy’s advice for other aspiring writers:

○ Write something you can champion.

○ Storyboard your ideas as you begin.

● How the traditional publishing route requires resilience and seems like a “closed club”

● Why Amy decided not to self-publish her first book

● How Amy realized that creative stories could teach and reinforce important concepts to children in more memorable ways

● How Amy gives herself creative space to think and produce rather than setting aside a disciplined time slot

● The hardest part of what Amy has accomplished: getting publishers to see the quality of what she wrote and releasing a book during a pandemic when typical book promotion is a no-go

● How Amy handles the newfound attention of being a published author with humility

Disclosures: Please note that all opinions are my own and based on my personal experience. Sponsors are acknowledged. Some links in the description are affiliate links where if you click on one of the product links, I’ll receive a commission at no additional cost to you. I use these funds to continue to create helpful content to serve our field. As an Amazon Associate, I earn a small commission from qualifying purchases.

🎙️ Using Podcasting To Grow Your Business (Lessons Learned From 9 Downloads On Day 1 To 1.2 Million And a 7 Income Stream Business)

💻 How To Launch And Grow A Successful Online Course (Lessons Learned From A $297 First Sale To $150k Online Course)

🎤 Start your Podcast: The QuickStart Guide

🖥️ The A To Z Online Course

🎧 The Healthcasters (A podcasting course + community for helpers/healers):

💻

Today’s solo episode is the last one before we take an extended summer break for August. We will return with new episodes in September and October before I plan a sabbatical of several months.

Today’s focus is on cohort-based courses, which are becoming very popular in the world of online education. It’s a very powerful model that I truly love. Join me for a closer look as I share what I’ve learned so far!

5 lessons I’ve learned about CBCs:

• It truly gets easier the second time around, but the first time is a lot of work.
• There are tweaks you may have to make in real-time. 
• Guest workshops are very high leverage. 
• Use the “I-do, we-do, you-do” framework.
• Realize that a CBC is a lot of work, so beware of having multiple endeavors go on at the same time.  

Check out our Online Course Guide for more information!

Mentioned in this episode:

Alma

Building and managing the practice you truly want can feel overwhelming. That’s why Alma is here—to help you create not just any practice, but your private practice. With Alma, you’ll get the tools and resources you need to navigate insurance with ease, connect with referrals that are the right fit for your style, and streamline those time-consuming administrative tasks. That means less time buried in the details and more time focused on delivering exceptional care to your clients. You support your clients. Alma supports you. Learn more at sellingthecouch.com/alma and get 2 months FREE—an exclusive offer for STC listeners.

Ready to create your own course? Download the FREE Online Course Guide!

Learn how to create and market your own online course in Melvin's unique online course guide. Download the FREE online course guide today!

Online Course Guide

Before I started this podcast in 2015, I had rolled the idea around in my head over and over again. The problem was that I was full of fears and apprehension, and I just wasn’t sure that I could make it work like I wanted. Since then, I’ve been fortunate to help almost 300 of my colleagues build their online businesses through podcasting, and I’ve learned what to do and what not to do. I’m sharing helpful tips today to help you transform your podcast into a money-making machine. Join me to learn more!

You’ll Learn:

9 Ways to Turn Your Podcast into a Money-Making Machine

• Record coaching calls.
• This is a way to use interactions with current clients/students to drive future sales, share your expertise, and genuinely connect with someone.
• Introduce solo episodes. 
• This is a powerful way to build authority on topics that highlight your expertise while promoting your product or service.
• Show your humanity.
• This is a way to show your personality and connect with others authentically.
• Use private podcast episodes.
• These are targeted, independent episodes on very specific topics. (Example: Build a Second Brain by Tiago Forte)
• Use dynamic ads.
• These are dynamic ads used across all your podcast episodes, which translates to higher sales and higher relevance. (Check out www.sellingthecouch.com/captivate)
• Demonstrate value elsewhere.
• You can point your audience to a free guide, webinar, course, ebook to create more value and make you more valuable to your audience.
• Use strategic invitations. 
• Try to find strategic partnerships in your niche and promote high-value speakers for your audience.
• Collect emails early.
• An email list is your online business’ secret weapon to create an audience you own and collect customer research through surveys.
• Create a consistent schedule.
• A schedule creates routines that your audience can count on.

I hope these tips are helpful for you! If you want to know more, sign up for my podcasting workshop:  www.sellingthecouch.com/podcastingworkshop.

Mentioned in this episode:

Alma

Building and managing the practice you truly want can feel overwhelming. That’s why Alma is here—to help you create not just any practice, but your private practice. With Alma, you’ll get the tools and resources you need to navigate insurance with ease, connect with referrals that are the right fit for your style, and streamline those time-consuming administrative tasks. That means less time buried in the details and more time focused on delivering exceptional care to your clients. You support your clients. Alma supports you. Learn more at sellingthecouch.com/alma and get 2 months FREE—an exclusive offer for STC listeners.

Ready to create your own course? Download the FREE Online Course Guide!

Learn how to create and market your own online course in Melvin's unique online course guide. Download the FREE online course guide today!

Online Course Guide

Today’s topic is relevant to many different types of businesses and entrepreneurs, and it’s something I have pondered along my own journey. We are taking a look at owning an audience compared to “renting” an audience through social media platforms. Social media can be overwhelming with many challenges, and the number of followers is not always a reflection of the success of a business. Join us to learn strategies to help you own your audience!

Our Featured Guest

Craig Morris

Craig Morris works with creators to monetize their knowledge. He has worked at Google for the past seven years, and we connected through our mutual friend Kevin Shen, a previous STC guest. Craig has learned a lot about the power of social media, email lists, and more, and he’s sharing his tips and strategies with us. If you’ve debated the merits of creating an email list and wondered if it’s worthwhile, you will find today’s conversation helpful and informative. As a reminder, please note that Craig is sharing his opinions and insights and not necessarily those of his employer. 

LinkedIn

You’ll Learn:

• Why focusing on the numbers of your social media following may not be best because of the risks
• Why relying too heavily on your social media following means you are “renting” your audience
• Craig’s recommended strategies for owning the audience you have created via social media: “If they are only a social media follower, they are one extra step away from being converted to a customer.”
• Ideas about creating an email list or opt-in, while understanding you typically need to give something away in exchange for that information
• Craig’s thoughts on platforms for email automation, lead generation, landing pages, etc. (Apollo, Sendinblue, and Hubspot are a few options.)
• Practical tips for top converting strategies to use, both proactive and more passive formats
• How to find contentment and satisfaction in knowing how much is “enough”

Mentioned in this episode:

Ready to create your own course? Download the FREE Online Course Guide!

Learn how to create and market your own online course in Melvin's unique online course guide. Download the FREE online course guide today!

Online Course Guide

Alma

Building and managing the practice you truly want can feel overwhelming. That’s why Alma is here—to help you create not just any practice, but your private practice. With Alma, you’ll get the tools and resources you need to navigate insurance with ease, connect with referrals that are the right fit for your style, and streamline those time-consuming administrative tasks. That means less time buried in the details and more time focused on delivering exceptional care to your clients. You support your clients. Alma supports you. Learn more at sellingthecouch.com/alma and get 2 months FREE—an exclusive offer for STC listeners.

Today’s session is atypical and very specific, but I think it’s a relevant and timely focus. The topic of supporting incarcerated men has been something I’ve thought about for a long time because the need is great, and I have a heart for those clinicians who do this difficult work. I want to learn and understand more about this field, so I hope you’ll join me for today’s conversation. 

Our Featured Guest

Robert Fields, LPA

Robert Fields is a Licensed Psychological Associate in Durham, NC. His 15-year career has included a variety of clients, including veterans, adjudicated youth in the juvenile justice system, and individuals with developmental disabilities. His current focus is on incarcerated men within the prison system. Ever active in his community with youth and adults, he works to educate and reduce the stigma by making mental health a more relatable, useful, and transparent topic. Robert and I recently connected on Twitter, and I’m excited to learn more about his work in this field. 

Twitter and Instagram

You’ll Learn:

• Why Robert chose to work with incarcerated men, despite his initial hesitancy
• How Robert figured out that being present is the most important element in his work, whether working with juveniles or adults
• How Robert depends on his personal experience to understand how people make poor choices
• Robert’s advice to those who want to work with incarcerated individuals:
• Don’t lose sight of their humanity.
• Be consistent, respectful, and fair above all else. 
• Have well-defined boundaries.
• How Robert maintains optimism in this challenging environment

Mentioned in this episode:

Alma

Building and managing the practice you truly want can feel overwhelming. That’s why Alma is here—to help you create not just any practice, but your private practice. With Alma, you’ll get the tools and resources you need to navigate insurance with ease, connect with referrals that are the right fit for your style, and streamline those time-consuming administrative tasks. That means less time buried in the details and more time focused on delivering exceptional care to your clients. You support your clients. Alma supports you. Learn more at sellingthecouch.com/alma and get 2 months FREE—an exclusive offer for STC listeners.

Ready to create your own course? Download the FREE Online Course Guide!

Learn how to create and market your own online course in Melvin's unique online course guide. Download the FREE online course guide today!

Online Course Guide

Today’s session is all about building a breathwork app. It’s an interesting and nuanced process that most of us don’t understand. Breathwork can be a vital part of any therapy practice, and it is a tool that we should better understand. Join us to learn more!

Our Featured Guest

Brian Von Ancken

Brian Von Ancken is Head of Partnerships at Othership.us. Brian and I met on Twitter, which has been a great place for me to connect and engage with many amazing people. Brian’s app is one of the top products on Product Hunt, and I’m curious about why he created an app like this that focuses on health and wellness. We will also talk about the technical aspects of creating a breathwork app. 

Website

Get a discounted price on Othership by using the link:  www.sellingthecouch.com/othership. 

You’ll Learn:

• Brian’s personal journey, finding wellness after difficulties, that led him to Othership
• How Brian’s law degree benefits him in the entrepreneurial world
• The biggest mental roadblocks that were in Brian’s way
• Lessons learned in putting yourself “out there” on social media
• How Brian connected with the Othership founder and ended up partnering together
• How Brian’s breathwork app gained popularity through Product Hunt, a website that features new and useful products 
• How Othership is trying to fuel a movement toward peak experiences and elevated wellness
• How the app material is recorded by breathwork facilitators in a high-quality production process
• How Brian has struggled to remain authentic along the journey

Mentioned in this episode:

Alma

Building and managing the practice you truly want can feel overwhelming. That’s why Alma is here—to help you create not just any practice, but your private practice. With Alma, you’ll get the tools and resources you need to navigate insurance with ease, connect with referrals that are the right fit for your style, and streamline those time-consuming administrative tasks. That means less time buried in the details and more time focused on delivering exceptional care to your clients. You support your clients. Alma supports you. Learn more at sellingthecouch.com/alma and get 2 months FREE—an exclusive offer for STC listeners.

Ready to create your own course? Download the FREE Online Course Guide!

Learn how to create and market your own online course in Melvin's unique online course guide. Download the FREE online course guide today!

Online Course Guide

Even with seven years or so of course-building under my belt, I certainly do not claim to be an expert with all the answers. Always the student, I’m constantly learning and tweaking the process, and I’m always happy to share my tips and valuable lessons with you. There are so many tools, equipment, formats, etc.--- and it can all be very intimidating! In today’s solo session, I’m sharing tips about my favorite recording tool, Loom. Join me now!

You’ll Learn:

• Why Loom is my favorite recording tool for online courses and the STC podcast
• My tips for using Loom to record your online course videos:
• Alter the sharing style. You can record your screen, your voice, or both. I recommend a combination of all three for variety. Don't be afraid to show your fce on camera!
• Stick with one big idea per video. The “Show Recording Time” feature in Loom helps you avoid overwhelming your audience with long sessions. I try to stick to 4-7 minutes.
• Decide beforehand your format for each video. My advice is to start with what problem you’ll solve, give three tips, and share a common mistake from your personal experience.
• Create a custom thumbnail. Loom helps do this beautifully.
• Create folders in Loom before recording. It’s 100x better to organize them from the beginning.
• Invest in a mic to boost the sound quality. “Small improvements in quality lead to a big impact.”
• Record with a digital DSLR. The quality will be 100x better than what a webcam will give. You have to buy a USB Capture Card to allow the DSLR to shoot video.
• Have a very, very clear call to action. Whether the next step is to watch the next video or complete a workbook or exercise, be clear about it for your audience.

Resources:

See my gear recommendations!  www.kit.co/mvarghese  

Check out the Mastermind! www.sellingthecouch.com/mastermind   

Mentioned in this episode:

Ready to create your own course? Download the FREE Online Course Guide!

Learn how to create and market your own online course in Melvin's unique online course guide. Download the FREE online course guide today!

Online Course Guide

Alma

Building and managing the practice you truly want can feel overwhelming. That’s why Alma is here—to help you create not just any practice, but your private practice. With Alma, you’ll get the tools and resources you need to navigate insurance with ease, connect with referrals that are the right fit for your style, and streamline those time-consuming administrative tasks. That means less time buried in the details and more time focused on delivering exceptional care to your clients. You support your clients. Alma supports you. Learn more at sellingthecouch.com/alma and get 2 months FREE—an exclusive offer for STC listeners.

Today’s session is very relevant to the season of life that I’m currently navigating. How far do we keep going as entrepreneurs as we reach our goals? How far is enough that our lives and responsibilities are balanced by the work we do and not pushed aside by work? How big do we want our business and our revenue goals to be? Join us for a closer look at “enough” in today’s podcast!

Our Featured Guest

Keri Nola

Keri Nola is a good friend and a repeat guest on the podcast, even though it’s been far too long since she has joined us here. After more than a decade of growing a prosperous practice as a licensed psychotherapist, Keri expanded her work into other avenues. She’s a best-selling author, podcaster, and founder of the Abundance Activator for Healing Entrepreneurs. Her global practice allows her to mentor healers as they conquer fear and doubt so they can step into their power and serve abundantly. Keri helps us dive into what “enough” is and why so many clinicians tell their clients that having more stuff doesn’t equal happiness—but they fall short in following their own advice as small business owners. Keri shares her internal thought process about building new products and services and her decision-making process. 

Website

Use coupon code “sellingthecouch” at www.theabundanceactivator.com to lock in current rates on Keri’s Abundance Activator for the remainder of 2022. 

You’ll Learn:

• Why it’s tempting and seductive to build bigger and have more
• How your “more” should be aligned with your season of life, personality, and energy
• How to evaluate your desire to grow–Where is it coming from?
• The difference in feeling the slow simmer of a divine pull vs. the frantic need to compare and compete with others
• Why it’s important to look for alignment, both in ourselves and in others we might follow
• Why you have to welcome abundance as a resource to help you (and your team) relax and take care of yourselves
• Why it’s OK to want to create something new in a way that serves others and helps you
• How care, attunement, and mindfulness are involved in deciding who should work with us (It’s OK to say NO to working to some people–for their own good.)
• How Keri has learned to figure out her “enough” by deciding what is true and checking in with herself for peace and alignment
• Why you need to ask, “Am I living what is true for me?”
• An overview of Keri’s Abundance Activator, her membership community for healing entrepreneurs

Mentioned in this episode:

Alma

Building and managing the practice you truly want can feel overwhelming. That’s why Alma is here—to help you create not just any practice, but your private practice. With Alma, you’ll get the tools and resources you need to navigate insurance with ease, connect with referrals that are the right fit for your style, and streamline those time-consuming administrative tasks. That means less time buried in the details and more time focused on delivering exceptional care to your clients. You support your clients. Alma supports you. Learn more at sellingthecouch.com/alma and get 2 months FREE—an exclusive offer for STC listeners.

Ready to create your own course? Download the FREE Online Course Guide!

Learn how to create and market your own online course in Melvin's unique online course guide. Download the FREE online course guide today!

Online Course Guide

Hosting a retreat sounds like a great idea, right? When you stop and think about all the logistical and financial details, that’s when many fears and questions come to the surface. Perhaps the biggest fear is whether enough people will pay for your retreat to make it a success. Join us as we dive into this topic with today’s expert guest!

Our Featured Guest

Megan Gunnell

In addition to being a business owner, author, and triathlete, Megan Gunnell is a Clinical Social Worker who has been hosting 1-day retreats, workshops and weekend/week long retreats for 20+ years.

She hosted her first one at a local community center–complete with harp music! From these humble beginnings, Megan’s retreats have evolved into weekend retreats and international retreats that started in 2012 in Costa Rica, Italy, France, and other places around the globe.

In this episode, we discuss why therapists find it so appealing to consider hosting a retreat, along with common fears related to the risk of hosting your first retreat.

Megan explains how to find suitable venues that offer 100% refund options and points out the important legal and logistical considerations. We wrap up our conversation by discussing retreat marketing, which is vital to the success of your retreat. Megan shares what she has learned along her journey as a retreat host. 

Megan's Website and Thriving Therapists ® Facebook Group

You’ll Learn:

• Megan’s inspiration to expand beyond private practice into hosting retreats
• Megan’s #1 lesson learned: Start small and grow later.
• The attraction of retreats? They are transformative spaces for people to pull away from everyday life and reinvigorate their passion and purpose.
• The major differences between private practice work and group retreats as income sources
• Legal considerations around liability, disclaimers, emergencies, etc.
• Megan’s low-risk tips for hosting retreats:
• Start small with a test audience and test venue with a half-day or one-day retreat.
• Look for 100% refundable venues through a certain date prior to the event.
• Do the math and “beta-test” your audience.
• Making your retreat a profitable venture
• Finding 100% fully refundable venues—and why international properties are desirable
• Megan’s top marketing strategies for retreats:
• Be very clear about your intentions. (Who is this for, and what is the purpose?)
• Think about your runway. (Make sure it is long enough to “land the plane.”)
• Build a warm excitement with your audience around the date for open registration.
• Handling the cancellation or rebooking of your retreat with flexibility and transparency

Resources:

Want to launch your podcast? Check out our free podcasting workshop

https://sellingthecouch.com/podcastingworshop

Want to launch your online course?

Please check out our free 7-Day Course Creator Starter Kit For Therapists: https://sellingthecouch.com/coursekit

Mentioned in this episode:

Alma

Building and managing the practice you truly want can feel overwhelming. That’s why Alma is here—to help you create not just any practice, but your private practice. With Alma, you’ll get the tools and resources you need to navigate insurance with ease, connect with referrals that are the right fit for your style,...

These past few years, I’ve been focused on building a life around my family and self-care rather than fitting those things around a career. I’ve learned that there is much wisdom in slowing down and not keeping up a crazy pace. One thing that has helped me accomplish these goals is creating an online course. Even though I’m super grateful and blown away by the success of the Healthcaster’s course, I made a lot of mistakes along the way. Join me as I share my insights and lessons learned. 

You’ll Learn:

• The 10 biggest mistakes I made as an online course creator:
• 1–I didn’t understand how my childhood trauma affected my course pricing. 
• Check out these resources: “The Psychological Price of Entrepreneurship” (Inc Magazine), We Should All Be Millionaires by Rachel Rodgers, and courses by Tiffany McLain.
• 2–I gave my students lifetime access to coaching and community.
• This caused me to feel resentment for not charging more for that kind of access to me.
• 3–I focused too much on gear instead of creating a steady marketing system. 
• I have learned that marketing, which is not my strength, is all about authenticity and connection.
• 4–I focused on being in the “middle of the pack” on pricing instead of in the upper tier.
• Ask yourself, “Do you want to be the Apple or the Walmart in your niche?”
• 5–I didn’t realize that I could invite students into other experiences beyond my course.
• Options include a mastermind, cohort-based course, and other recurring income buckets.
• 6–I realized that looking at my bank account doesn’t drive sales as testimonials do.
• Follow me on Twitter for more information on this topic.
• 7–I thought I’d be stuck on one business model, so I built a “strip mall model.”
• I didn’t realize that offering several products requires a lot of work, so I’m moving to a “skyscraper model.” Find out more at www.sellingthecouch.com/mastermind.
• 8–I thought having a mentor with a similar course meant that I couldn’t create one.
• When someone else has a similar course, you can niche down into a more specific message.
• 9–I was too concerned about the sale over the relationship.
• This came from a poverty mindset instead of the abundance mindset to which I aspire. 
• 10–I didn’t think about the one-off sale on the front end and the recurring invitation on the back. 
• A certain number of students will want a more in-depth experience with us. 

Mentioned in this episode:

Ready to create your own course? Download the FREE Online Course Guide!

Learn how to create and market your own online course in Melvin's unique online course guide. Download the FREE online course guide today!

Online Course Guide

Alma

Building and managing the practice you truly want can feel overwhelming. That’s why Alma is here—to help you create not just any practice, but your private practice. With Alma, you’ll get the tools and resources you need to navigate insurance with ease, connect with referrals that are the right fit for your style, and streamline those time-consuming administrative tasks. That means less time buried in the details and more time focused on delivering exceptional care to your clients. You support your clients. Alma supports you. Learn...

Today’s topic is a relevant one for many clinicians as telehealth services have become a widespread, vital, and normal part of the healthcare field. Specifically, we are focusing on how Search Engine Optimization (SEO) changes when you practice telehealth across your state or even in multiple states. I’m continually fascinated by SEO and how it works, and it’s something I’m still learning. If you are like me, join us to learn more!

Our Featured Guest

Jessica Tappana, MSW, LCSW

Jessica Tappana is the founder of Simplified SEO Consulting, a firm that helps private practice owners build their businesses through Search Engine Optimization. She’s a group practice owner in Missouri and an SEO nerd who loves taking therapy websites to the top in Google rankings. In today’s session, Jessica talks about the biggest considerations in SEO as telehealth becomes the norm, as well as tips to improve SEO in practicing telehealth. We wrap up with Jessica’s insights about SEO as it relates to location-based services.

Website 

You’ll Learn:

• The biggest difference in approaching SEO as telehealth becomes the norm
• Why content generation is the solution to improve SEO for telehealth provider
• Why there is less work required to maintain an SEO ranking once you achieve it
• Jessica’s tips for telehealth practitioners to improve SEO:
• Create a unique location page for each state in which you are relevant.
• Have a technically-sound website.
• Blog regularly. (The optimal frequency depends heavily on your location and level of competition.)
• The value in truly useful content for our clients that ALSO improves SEO
• Why SEO doesn’t like “psycho-babble” but notices readability

Mentioned in this episode:

Ready to create your own course? Download the FREE Online Course Guide!

Learn how to create and market your own online course in Melvin's unique online course guide. Download the FREE online course guide today!

Online Course Guide

Alma

Building and managing the practice you truly want can feel overwhelming. That’s why Alma is here—to help you create not just any practice, but your private practice. With Alma, you’ll get the tools and resources you need to navigate insurance with ease, connect with referrals that are the right fit for your style, and streamline those time-consuming administrative tasks. That means less time buried in the details and more time focused on delivering exceptional care to your clients. You support your clients. Alma supports you. Learn more at sellingthecouch.com/alma and get 2 months FREE—an exclusive offer for STC listeners.

Today’s solo episode is the second in a two-part series about the lessons I’ve learned as a course creator. I launched The Healthcasters course back in 2015, and it recently passed the $300K revenue mark. Those results are far more than I could have ever imagined, and as I’ve reflected, I realize that I have learned a lot through this journey. I hope some of my lessons learned will be helpful for you! Join me for today’s session where I’ll cover #6-10 of my top ten lessons learned. 

Lessons learned as a course creator (#6-10)

• Social media marketing can be intimidating. Focusing on webinars makes more sense in many ways. 
• Webinars magnify your strengths as a teacher.
• Webinars make it easy for viewers to sign up for your course.
• Webinars can be evergreen, and you can sprinkle in live ones whenever you want. (EasyWebinar makes the process simple. Check it out at www.sellingthecouch.com/easywebinar.)
• In webinars, focus on sharing your story, your WHY, and your expertise.
• “Low prices attract tire-kickers.”
• A higher price will make you want to over-deliver to your students.
• A higher price limits impulse buyers and attracts more of the students you want.
• Charging a higher price allows you to reinvest more money into better quality gear for the future.
• Don’t compete on price.
• Offering discounts and lower prices will affect the quality of your students. 
• Consider offering time-limited bonuses, like a group coaching call, video series, etc., rather than offering discounts. 
• Have an easy way to gather testimonials. (Check out testimonial.to at www.sellingthecouch.com/testimonial.) 
• Students can choose a video or text testimonial about their experience.
• Separate your course success from your self-worth.
• Your course isn’t who you are, but it’s just one thing you do.
• Don’t compare your course success to someone else’s. “Comparison is poison.”

You can check out all of my 10 Lessons Learned (with video!) in my Twitter thread!

Mentioned in this episode:

Alma

Building and managing the practice you truly want can feel overwhelming. That’s why Alma is here—to help you create not just any practice, but your private practice. With Alma, you’ll get the tools and resources you need to navigate insurance with ease, connect with referrals that are the right fit for your style, and streamline those time-consuming administrative tasks. That means less time buried in the details and more time focused on delivering exceptional care to your clients. You support your clients. Alma supports you. Learn more at sellingthecouch.com/alma and get 2 months FREE—an exclusive offer for STC listeners.

Ready to create your own course? Download the FREE Online Course Guide!

Learn how to create and market your own online course in Melvin's unique online course guide. Download the FREE online course guide today!

Online Course Guide

I’m the fortunate podcast host with two guests today, which is a first for me! They are long-time friends of mine from grad school who have taken a unique idea and brought it to fruition in starting their company and launching their first online course. If you’re anything like me, you’ll want to hear all about it, so join us to hear their story!

Our Featured Guests

Jordana Mortimer, PhD

Erin Avirett, PhD

Jordana Mortimer and Erin Avirett are both child neuropsychologists with independent private practices. They have been friends for 15 years since their days in grad school, and they always had the idea to start a business together. Even though they live in different cities in Texas (Jordana in Fort Worth/Erin in Amarillo), they made things happen this year in starting their company, Mind and Child. In addition, they developed and launched their first online course, Parenting 101, for parents with kiddos under the age of twelve. The course takes their experiential parenting lessons and merges it with solid research and data. In this session, Jordana and Erin share how this business idea originated, how they approached marketing, and how they are handling the practical challenges of working together. Even though close friends don’t always make good business partners, they share with us how they are navigating that intersection and overcoming the odds to make it work well for their families.  

Mind and Child Website

Erin’s practice Website

Jordana’s practice Website

You’ll Learn:

• How Jordana and Erin first developed the idea for Mind and Child with the overall goal to help parents and families on a larger scale 
• How their roles as testing psychologists helped Jordana and Erin to follow through on their dream of starting a business together
• The hardest parts of creating their online course
• How they promoted the course with social media, blogs, and ads
• How the course feels genuine and authentic with their mission and purpose
• Why they consulted with advertising experts to know which social media platforms were best for marketing their course
• How they have navigated challenges with marketing their business but setting boundaries to protect family time
• How Jordana and Erin coordinate their social media interactions by alternating weeks to handle posts and engagements
• Why Jordana and Erin hired a friend’s video production company to film their course, which was more complicated than they had envisioned
• Specifics of the filming process, set design, using a teleprompter, speaking succinctly, etc. 
• Why being close friends and business partners has been beneficial in every way without any real hardships or friendship-threatening challenges for Jordana and Erin
• A few details about their website, course, and private practices

Mentioned in this episode:

Alma

Building and managing the practice you truly want can feel overwhelming. That’s why Alma is here—to help you create not just any practice, but your private practice. With Alma, you’ll get the tools and resources you need to navigate insurance with ease, connect with referrals that are the right fit for your style, and streamline those time-consuming administrative tasks. That means less time buried in the details and more time focused on delivering exceptional care to your clients. You support your clients. Alma...

Today’s solo episode is the first in a two-part series about the lessons I’ve learned as a course creator. I launched The Healthcasters course back in 2015, and it just passed the $300K revenue mark. Those results are far more than I could have ever imagined! Join me for today’s session where I’ll cover the first five of my ten lessons learned. 

• Lessons learned as a course creator:
• Decide between a skyscraper or a strip mall model for your online business.
• This concept comes from Nathan Barry, the CEO of ConvertKit. Find out more from his appearance on the Creative Elements podcast hosted by Jay Clouse. 
• A strip mall model offers multiple products that diversity your income, while a skyscraper model features a single, scalable flagship product.
• I started STC with a strip mall model, but I’ve decided to move to a skyscraper model and use my mastermind as my single product.
• Focus on one marketing channel instead of jumping around to several. 
• Find the sweet spot where you enjoy hanging out and where your ideal audience can be found. 
• Check out Infinite Dial for free analytics on social media trends. 
• Think about going from a “rented audience” to an “owned audience” as you seek to build your email list.
• Less is more when it comes to course content. 
• Teach content that gives a concrete roadmap to help your students get from point A to point B.
• Be a niche of one. 
• I definitely didn’t do this very well in trying to reach too wide of a variety of healthcare providers with my first course. I know better now!
• Don’t stress over your gear initially.
• Start simple. I recommend Loom for recording and the Rode VideoMic NTG, which is an affordable mic with quality sound. 
• You can save for future equipment upgrades by setting aside a small percentage of your income over time. 

Mentioned in this episode:

Alma

Building and managing the practice you truly want can feel overwhelming. That’s why Alma is here—to help you create not just any practice, but your private practice. With Alma, you’ll get the tools and resources you need to navigate insurance with ease, connect with referrals that are the right fit for your style, and streamline those time-consuming administrative tasks. That means less time buried in the details and more time focused on delivering exceptional care to your clients. You support your clients. Alma supports you. Learn more at sellingthecouch.com/alma and get 2 months FREE—an exclusive offer for STC listeners.

Ready to create your own course? Download the FREE Online Course Guide!

Learn how to create and market your own online course in Melvin's unique online course guide. Download the FREE online course guide today!

Online Course Guide

Today’s session is special because our guest is a friend and colleague from our internship days at Vanderbilt. He has accomplished many things in his career, one of which is co-authoring a book to grow his group practice. It is an innovative endeavor that definitely qualifies as “outside-the-box” thinking. Tom’s insight will be helpful if writing a book is in your future! Join us to learn more!

Our Featured Guest:

Tom McDonagh, PsyD

Tom McDonagh is in group practice in San Francisco, where his work focuses on anxiety, stress, burnout, and other related issues that are common for many people. Tom went the traditional route to publish the book which he co-authored, 101 Ways to Conquer Teen Anxiety. In today’s session, he shares why he wrote the book as a co-author, along with the structure, format, and challenges of choosing that route. He also shares wisdom about the traditional publishing process as it relates to marketing a book.

www.goodtherapysf.com

101 Ways to Conquer Teen Anxiety by Dr. Tom McDonagh and Jon Patrick Hatcher

You’ll Learn:

• Why Tom wanted to write a book as a creative way to get his message out
• How Tom and Jon Patrick Hatcher decided to team up and co-author this book together (after shelving their original idea for a “break-up” book aimed at men)
• How co-authoring brings an opportunity to give a different, complementary perspective to your ideas
• The basics of the traditional publishing process
• How Tom and Jon divided up the tasks to produce the content for the book in a week-by-week process
• What Tom would change about the publishing process in hindsight, and why he would choose to self-publish if he could go back
• Why Tom wishes they had been given more time for editing and rewriting 
• How Tom’s practice has been thriving with a virtual therapy format since the beginning of the pandemic, helping people deal with anxiety and feelings of disconnection

Today’s topic is very specific, but it’s one that makes a big difference in your private practice and has a meaningful impact on your clients. We are talking about creating an epic welcome video for your practice website. If making a welcome video isn’t part of your website already, don’t miss today’s episode about showing up authentically in ways that connect you to your clients.

Our Featured Guest

Bryan Nixon, MA, LPC

Bryan Nixon is a group practice owner in Grand Rapids, Michigan. His welcome video on his website stands out in my mind as a beautiful and powerful example of what we’re bringing forward in today’s show. Bryan will break down the process of creating such a video, along with things a clinician might overlook when creating such a video. We will wrap up with helpful tips if creating an engaging welcome video is on your to-do list.

Website

You’ll Learn

●     How a video can bring intentionality to your sacred work of therapy in a visual experience

●     How Bryan identified the vibe he wanted to communicate about his practice

●     Why Bryan decided to feature an old, scarred dresser in his welcome video and the symbolism it presents to clients

●     What a client really wants to know about a therapist: Will you see me? Will you hear me? Will you connect with me?

●     Why Bryan felt the importance of “telling the story” through narration for his video

●     Three tips for creating an impactful welcome video:

○     Be willing to do your own work with authenticity before you think about a video

○     Connect to your purpose and your WHY in the world

○     Present your authenticity, but don’t be afraid to show your mistakes

●     Bryan’s continuing ed program, Relationally-Focused Psychodynamic Therapy

●     How restorative healing comes about as a result of the relationship between the client and the therapist

Tidemark VA Services provides billing, credentialing, client scheduling, and social media management services to therapists in private practice. The owner, Brittany, is a group practice owner who knows the ins and outs of our field.

Learn more about the services that Tidemark provides at https://sellingthecouch.com/tidemark.

Learn about Bryan’s two-year, post-grad program: The Seattle School 

Match Frame Creative (the company that created Bryan's video)

Disclosures: Please note that all opinions are my own and based on my personal experience. Sponsors are acknowledged. Some links in the description are affiliate links where if you click on one of the product links, I’ll receive a commission at no additional cost to you. I use these funds to continue to create helpful content to serve our field. As an Amazon Associate, I earn a small commission from qualifying purchases.

What if I told you that there is something simple and free that most of us can do daily for an hour or less that yields amazing physical and mental benefits? Would you want to know what it is? Since the pandemic has forced us to take a closer look at our habits and make some changes, I want to share this life-changing activity that has become an almost daily habit for me. It’s hiking! Incorporating a midday hike several times each week helps me sleep better at night and stay centered for daily tasks. My inner “research nerd” got curious and took a deeper look at the intersection of hiking, mental health, and entrepreneurship, and I want to share with you what I’ve found.

You’ll Learn

●     Why hike? What are the benefits?

○     Hiking helps keep our minds sharp and agile.

○     Hiking helps us to focus better.

○     HIking can spark serious creativity.

●     If you’re a hiker, please share with the STC Community what benefits you’re seeing in your personal and professional life. I’m very interested to hear about your results!

Show Sponsor: Headway

Headway is building a new mental healthcare system that’s rewired for access and affordability through innovative software. Patients are connected with therapists who accept their insurance, and providers can experience yet another way to expand their private practices. Headway helps patients find the therapist that they can afford, and they handle all the administrative paperwork for providers, making Headway the win-win choice for both patients and providers.

Find out more about Headway through this link: Headway 

Mel's Self Care Kit

Also mentioned:  Successful Aging by Daniel Levitin

Disclosures: Please note that all opinions are my own and based on my personal experience. Sponsors are acknowledged. Some links in the description are affiliate links where if you click on one of the product links, I’ll receive a commission at no additional cost to you. I use these funds to continue to create helpful content to serve our field. As an Amazon Associate, I earn a small commission from qualifying purchases.

🎙️ Using Podcasting To Grow Your Business (Lessons Learned From 9 Downloads On Day 1 To 1.2 Million And a 7 Income Stream Business)

💻 How To Launch And Grow A Successful Online Course (Lessons Learned From A $297 First Sale To $150k Online Course)

🎤 Start your Podcast: The QuickStart Guide

🖥️ The A To Z Online Course

🎧 The Healthcasters (A podcasting course + community for helpers/healers):

💻

Today’s show takes on a very niched perspective, but the information and wisdom are useful in many aspects of our work as clinicians and business owners. We are specifically discussing how to move from an online course to a membership model. Maybe you’ve wondered about these components of your practice and how to make the transition. Join us for expert advice!

Our Featured Guest

Jennifer McGurk, RDN, CDN, CEDRD-S

Jennifer McGurk is a registered dietitian in NY whose specialty is helping clients with eating disorders. She made the transition from an online course to a membership model, so she is sharing the good, the bad, and the ugly of such a move. I hope our discussion will be helpful to you if you’re considering a similar transition.

Website

You’ll Learn:

●     How membership sites can help a clinician accomplish career goals

●     Details of Jennifer’s journey in private practice from an online course to a membership model

●     The benefits to therapist and client of a membership model over a one-time course model

●     How imposter syndrome can crop up when creating a membership site

●     How it’s helpful to see others reaching their goals in transitioning from an online course to a membership site

●     Common mistakes in this transition

●     What the business gurus DON’T tell you about your online course as a passive income stream

●     The components of Jennifer’s membership site: Dietitian Business School

●     Jennifer’s advice to a clinician either launching an online course or making the transition to a membership site

We do not have a sponsor this month.

Melvin:

Hi Jennifer,

welcome back to Selling the Couch.

Jennifer:

Hi, Melvin; thank

you for having me. I'm so excited to talk to you.

Melvin:

I really enjoyed

our last conversation. I'm so grateful that you reached out, you are doing just

so many neat things in the world, so many out of the box things. And I'm just

grateful when you reached out and then two, just to hear about the journey and

share all the lessons and all those things that you've learned.

Jennifer:

Yeah, thank you so

much. I'm so grateful for your work, too. We were talking before we hit record

about how mental health is so needed right now and therapists are doing such an

awesome job. So anyone out there listening, thank you for your work too. It's a

time where people really need mental health services.

Melvin:

Yeah, absolutely;

I do feel so grateful to be part of this profession. I don't know who could

have imagined something like this. But I think one of the things that's really

been on my mind, especially through this pandemic, I think it was there before

but it's kind of accelerated it is this question of like, what do I want my

career to look like? And where do I want to focus my energy?

And one of the

things that I've kind of realized is, I actually want to eventually just

completely pull back on one on one work or if I have to it's kind of more

higher-priced and it's very limited. And I think one of the ways that you can

do that is through online courses and membership sites. I think there's like a

lot of information online about how to do these, all of that kind of stuff. But

I wanted to hear from you, because you had an online course, you...

This is the last episode until September while I take some time off to focus on self-care before the summer ends. Today’s episode is a valuable one if you are thinking about launching an online course sometime soon or in the future. My encouragement to you is to do it! Get started! Join me for this solo episode in which we discuss the basics.

You’ll Learn

● The most common reasons to launch an online course: to put your message out there to impact more people in different locations, to feel more fulfilled in your purpose, to diversify income streams, and to spark more creativity

● The highlights of my online course creation story that began in 2015---complete with all the doubts and fears

● How my first online course has surpassed my wildest dreams in passing the $200K mark in revenue

● What it means to me to build a successful online course:

○ I can build a life around my loved ones and self-care instead of fitting my loved ones and self-care around my career.

○ We as a family can contribute time and resources to organizations that make the world a better place.

○ I can create my ideal retirement schedule years before I actually retire.

● Why I want you to write down the completion to this statement: “A successful online course for me would mean . . .”

● Five pieces of advice to help you avoid the mistakes I made:

○ Online course creation is a long road---don’t rush it!

○ Don’t pick an online course platform because it’s cheap or free.

○ The first version of your online course will not be the final version.

○ See your online course as part of a larger value ladder rather than a one-off offering.

○ Build your course in community with others.

● Why you might want to join my newest online course that will launch soon!

Resources mentioned:

The online course platform that I use: www.sellingthecouch.com/cartra

Today's Sponsor: Online Course School

I know that many of us want to launch a successful online course, whether it's to share our message with a larger audience or to diversify our income beyond 1:1 work.

Speaking from personal experience, I also know that there are a ton of barriers to getting started: the tech, the mental hurdles, being unsure of whether our course will make money, or even how to market and grow our online course.

Online Course School is a live 8-week cohort-based experience where you'll gather with other therapist course creators to create your online course. It includes teaching workshops from Mel and the STC team, weekly assignments, and opportunities to work together to get things done.

By the end of our time together, you'll have your lessons and modules outlined, know what tech, software, and platform you need to record your online course, a working sales page, and have a concrete growth plan for your online course.

We'll be launching our first cohort in Sept 2021 with six members. If this sounds like something you'd love to be a part of, please check out my free A to Z Online Course Guide.

The guide will help you learn from my mistakes over the past 6+ years of being an online course creator and lessons I've learned from moving the Healthcasters podcasting course from a $297 first sale to over 275 students and passing the $200k revenue mark in 2021.

Disclosures: Please note that all opinions are my own and based on my personal experience. Sponsors are acknowledged. Some links in the description are affiliate links where if you click on one of the product links, I’ll receive a commission at no additional cost to you. I use these funds to continue to

About a month ago, I shared that I’ve decided to go into private practice, in addition to keeping STC running and growing. There are three main reasons for this decision: I miss the therapy room, a clinical arm to my business is a wise move, and I’ll be able to more strategically diversify my income. I think this venture will offer new opportunities for the future that are beneficial in many ways, but, to be honest, this decision has brought me some anxiety, insomnia, and depression.

I’m addressing these issues with my wonderful therapist, and I’m doing all the things that we therapists tell our clients to do. My worries and fears are probably normal for someone who feels the pressure to be successful in multiple businesses and endeavors. In today’s solo session, I’m sharing my insights on finding my private practice niche. Join me for a closer look!

You’ll Learn: 

• What is a niche, and how did I choose my niche for private practice? Who do I want to work with?
• My top four insights on finding my private practice niche:
• Niches are living and breathing things that evolve over time.
• Family and friends will always recommend people outside your niche.
• There is a relational component to marketing beyond your website.
• Even though my niche focuses on tech and business founders, working within other branches of these niches will add diversity to my work. (These last two insights come from my friends, Raj Lulla and Ben Lueders, the founders of Fruitful Design.)

Resources:

Interested in becoming part of our affiliate program? Learn more at

https://sellingthecouch.com/jointhehealthcasters  

Want to launch your online course?

Please check out our free 7-Day Course Creator Starter Kit For Therapists: https://sellingthecouch.com/coursekit

Mentioned in this episode:

Alma

Building and managing the practice you truly want can feel overwhelming. That’s why Alma is here—to help you create not just any practice, but your private practice. With Alma, you’ll get the tools and resources you need to navigate insurance with ease, connect with referrals that are the right fit for your style, and streamline those time-consuming administrative tasks. That means less time buried in the details and more time focused on delivering exceptional care to your clients. You support your clients. Alma supports you. Learn more at sellingthecouch.com/alma and get 2 months FREE—an exclusive offer for STC listeners.

At the beginning of this month, we reached our seven years of podcasting milestone here at Selling the Couch. That’s pretty crazy when statistics show that three out of every four new podcasts die after only seven episodes. Join us to learn what it takes to beat the odds and keep your podcast going.

When I started the show back in 2015, podcasts were new. I am naturally introverted, so podcasting does not come easily to me. I remember being fearful on multiple levels and wondering how long I would be able to maintain sustainability with the podcast. We experienced slow and steady growth over time, however, and we currently average anywhere between 21,000 and 26,000 downloads in a month. Today’s session is a solo episode in which I share five tips that have helped me keep the podcast going. Stay tuned to learn more!

You’ll Learn:

• You have to have done a decent amount of podcast episodes to hit hockey stick growth
• Tip #1: Focus on building systems initially rather than releasing a mass of episodes. 
• Notice your energy levels when you speak about certain topics. Hone in on topics that light you up.
• Set up a dedicated space to do your podcasting. It will make things a lot easier.
• Notice the formats of podcasting that energize you versus those that drain you. (You might start with one format and later move to a different one.)
• Tip # 2: Block out months in which you will not release any new podcasts. That means you won’t have to drop the podcast when other important things come up in your life.
• Tip #3: Think about monetizing your podcast before you launch it. (Brainstorm ways to make money besides having sponsors.)
• Tip # 4: Plan and employ good systems. (James Clear said: “You do not rise to the level of your goals. You fall to the level of your systems.”)
• Figure out the things you can delegate to create a model for long-term sustainability.
• I use one central subscribe page where everything is available. (www.sellingthecouch.com/listen )
• Tip # 5: Hire a podcast editor.

Links:

Pretty Links

A free podcasting workshop www.sellingthecouch.com/podcastingworkshop

The Healthcasters Podcasting Course www.sellingthecouch.com/jointhehealthcasters  

When you open a private practice you become an entrepreneur- but that doesn't mean you magically know how to run a successful, sustainable solo or group practice and still enjoy life. 

And the truth is, when your business isn't working properly it WILL impact your joy, energy, and your clinical outcomes. 

Therapists are among the world's paid master's degrees and it is time for it to stop. 

Kelly & Miranda at zynnyme are two therapists who care deeply about ensuring therapists can have sustainable incomes and practices that get exemplary outcomes. 

Check out their free Private Practice Masterclass where they'll be diving into the core issues that keep even full practice owners from being truly profitable and protected from burnout. 

While you are at it, get on the waitlist for their Business School for Therapists-your one-stop-shop for growing, revamping, or launching your sustainable, impactful solo or group practice. 

Business School for Therapists has the perfect blend of personalized support, ready to go content when you need it, and an amazing community all over the world. 

Mentioned in this episode:

Sign...

If there is one thing I’ve learned as a small business owner, it’s that it takes courage to show up imperfect. We want so badly to be perfect and put together in front of our audience, but perfectionism makes us less authentic and connected. Join us to learn more about being OK with being imperfect.

Samara Stone is a return guest to the podcast, and I’m thrilled to welcome her back! In addition to her work as a therapist, Samara is a branding expert who has a curated community, Be Full Grown, for black women over 40 who are ready to imagine, create, and live a life of their own design. Samara is in the process of launching a podcast, and she has already proven her courage in showing up imperfect through some major life difficulties. We will discuss how we, as clinicians, can show up imperfect when perfectionism always has a pull on us. Samara also shares helpful guidelines for sharing appropriately on social media, which is something we all need to keep in mind. 

Be Full Grown

You’ll Learn:

• How things have changed in our field in beautiful ways; “Your Saturday self CAN show up on Monday morning.”
• Why many therapists struggle with perfectionism and are afraid to show up as 100% human
• Why clients appreciate transparency because it conveys a non-judgmental attitude
• Why there is a huge shift happening in how we understand marketing and our personal brand
• How therapists need to share enough about the real dynamic  of themselves so clients can see the healing possibilities
• How Samara decided to share on social media the experience of her divorce a few years ago 
• Why we have to be polarizing at times in order to find our true audience–and that’s OK
• The importance of realizing that you can’t and won’t appeal to everyone
• How to use your clear purpose and intention to determine how much of your life to share on social media

Mentioned in this episode:

Sign up for the new online course workshop of a small launch to a $300K course at https://sellingthecouch.com/onlinecourseworkshop

Sign up for the new online course workshop of a small launch to a $300K course at https://sellingthecouch.com/onlinecourseworkshop

Alma

Building and managing the practice you truly want can feel overwhelming. That’s why Alma is here—to help you create not just any practice, but your private practice. With Alma, you’ll get the tools and resources you need to navigate insurance with ease, connect with referrals that are the right fit for your style, and streamline those time-consuming administrative tasks. That means less time buried in the details and more time focused on delivering exceptional care to your clients. You support your clients. Alma supports you. Learn more at sellingthecouch.com/alma and get 2 months FREE—an exclusive offer for STC listeners.

Today’s session covers the power of building in public, which has been a new concept for me in the last few months. This is a way for business owners to build their products and services in public on social media while others come along for the journey. It’s not easy for those of us who don’t want to display our messiness, but it is a very powerful strategy. Think of building in public as a marketing technique that doesn’t feel like marketing. Join us to learn more!

Our Featured Guest:

Kevon Cheung

Kevon Cheung is a friend who I have learned a lot from watching him build in public on Twitter. I went through his Build in Public Mastery Cohort last winter, and I learned so much! Kevon will explain this concept, what it means, and why it’s important for us as business owners. We will wrap up with Kevon sharing his FUEL framework, a method to use in creating social media posts.

Public Lab

Build in Public Mastery

You’ll Learn:

• What it means to “build in public” along the entrepreneurial journey–and why it’s a good idea
• How showing up with flaws and vulnerability helps build a following and establish a connection with others
• Why consistency is the key in showing people your commitment and intentions
• Why choosing the platform on which to build in public depends on who and where your audience is
• How making connections and giving “behind-the-scenes” glimpses will turn people into big fans
• Kevon’s FUEL framework for creating social media posts: Facts, Unfold, Emotion, and Learnings
• How to write lines that trigger curiosity without being “clickbait” (Remember, the goal of your first line is to get people to read the second line!)
• Highlights of Kevon’s course, Build in Public

Mentioned in this episode:

Alma

Building and managing the practice you truly want can feel overwhelming. That’s why Alma is here—to help you create not just any practice, but your private practice. With Alma, you’ll get the tools and resources you need to navigate insurance with ease, connect with referrals that are the right fit for your style, and streamline those time-consuming administrative tasks. That means less time buried in the details and more time focused on delivering exceptional care to your clients. You support your clients. Alma supports you. Learn more at sellingthecouch.com/alma and get 2 months FREE—an exclusive offer for STC listeners.

Sign up for the new online course workshop of a small launch to a $300K course at https://sellingthecouch.com/onlinecourseworkshop

Sign up for the new online course workshop of a small launch to a $300K course at https://sellingthecouch.com/onlinecourseworkshop

Today’s session features a coaching call about how to build an email list simultaneously with an online course. You’ve probably heard that social media is the best option for building an email list, but is it? There are pros and cons to consider. Join us as we discuss this topic that is relevant to many people. I hope it’s helpful for you!

Our Featured Guest for today’s coaching call:

Tami Zak, AMFT

Tami Zak was part of our first beta group for Online Course School last fall. Her practice is based in northern California, but she works virtually with clients from all over the state. To broaden her reach and the help she wants to offer couples, Tami launched her podcast, Marriage Breakdown, in 2021. Tami now faces the dilemma of developing her email list along with her online course, and she is overwhelmed with where and how to begin. You are invited to listen to the coaching call with Tami and Melvin!

Affinity Couples Counseling

Marriage Breakdown podcast

You’ll Learn:

• Tami’s online course idea to further develop her podcast topics and help couples communicate better
• Why an email list is important alongside an online course
• Why depending on social media alone to build a loyal following is not altogether sufficient
• How Tami feels overwhelmed and intimidated about where to start and where to spend money to build an email list
• Melvin’s tip #1: “There isn’t one solution to building an email list, but it’s more about what aligns with your creative energy.”
• How to focus on building “your island” in the social media “ocean”
• How Tami uses her lead magnet on her podcast and website to help build her email list–and she’s ready to dive into social media to some degree
• Melvin’s tip #2: “Think of offering your lead magnet as the beginning of a layering process to go from podcast, website, and then on to social media.”
• Why it’s overwhelming to dive into content creation and send out a newsletter
• Melvin’s tip #3: “Don’t feel obligated to send out too many newsletters; even once a month is OK when getting started. You can change things up at any time. “
• Why it’s important to be consistent at whatever stage of development you are in
• Melvin’s tip #4: “Think of how you can batch content with short tip videos to include in your newsletter.”
• Options in using podcast content for quotes, tips, etc. to use in a newsletter and on social media
• Why Tami feels that her next steps will be around leveraging her content in a newsletter

Mentioned in this episode:

Sign up for the new online course workshop of a small launch to a $300K course at https://sellingthecouch.com/onlinecourseworkshop

Alma

Building and managing the practice you truly want can feel overwhelming. That’s why Alma is here—to help you create not just any practice, but your private practice. With Alma, you’ll get the tools and resources you need to navigate insurance with ease, connect with referrals that are the right fit for your style, and streamline those time-consuming administrative tasks. That means less time buried in the details and more time focused on delivering exceptional care to your clients. You support your clients. Alma supports you. Learn more at sellingthecouch.com/alma and get 2 months FREE—an exclusive offer for STC listeners.

Sign up for the new online course workshop of a small launch to a $300K course at https://sellingthecouch.com/onlinecourseworkshop

This session covers an important topic in today’s world. I had an unsettling experience personally with the issue of privacy regarding my personal information. It has been a big, bad mess all the way around that has taken a lot of time and effort to straighten out. I’ve become a big believer in the importance of knowledge and awareness about online security. As being in the online world becomes the norm for practitioners and business owners, how can we protect our personal information? Join us for this informative conversation!

Our Featured Guest

Kyle Krzeski

Kyle Krzeski is the co-founder of Removaly, a company that removes private information from the internet on an initial and ongoing basis. Kyle helps us understand how companies get access to our private information, what those most common pieces of information are, and the practical steps you can take to keep yourself safe and secure.

Selling The Couch: Removaly

You’ll Learn:

● How companies get access to our personal information like addresses, phone numbers, and more

● What “data brokers” are, how they operate, and why they have your personal info

● How the CCPA (California Consumer Protection Act) requires data brokers to register and allows consumers to opt-out (several other states are adopting similar policies)

● Common pieces of information to be found include names, addresses, phone numbers, previous addresses/phone numbers, relatives, background info, email addresses, etc.

● The story of Removaly and how it was started with co-founders Kyle and John

● Three tips to keep your personal information secure:

○ Be proactive, not reactive about data privacy and protection.

○ Separate your personal and business information.

○ Get your personal information off data broker sites. (You can do this yourself or pay for Removaly to do it.)

● How Removaly keeps clients’ info safe and secure

● What Removaly does to help clients with automated software, personal attention, and daily scans to remove recurring information from the internet

Mentioned in this episode:

Alma

Building and managing the practice you truly want can feel overwhelming. That’s why Alma is here—to help you create not just any practice, but your private practice. With Alma, you’ll get the tools and resources you need to navigate insurance with ease, connect with referrals that are the right fit for your style, and streamline those time-consuming administrative tasks. That means less time buried in the details and more time focused on delivering exceptional care to your clients. You support your clients. Alma supports you. Learn more at sellingthecouch.com/alma and get 2 months FREE—an exclusive offer for STC listeners.

Sign up for the new online course workshop of a small launch to a $300K course at https://sellingthecouch.com/onlinecourseworkshop

Sign up for the new online course workshop of a small launch to a $300K course at https://sellingthecouch.com/onlinecourseworkshop

Today’s session is a solo episode in which I share details about why I have made the $4K investment in studio lighting for my home office since 2019. This session is prompted by a Twitter feed that has gone viral about this subject. You can check it out on Twitter and see lots of pictures of my lighting gear, including before and after examples that really show the improvements. Even though this gear can be pricey, you can follow my tips, start small, and add quality equipment over time to take your videos and online presence to the next level.

You’ll Learn:

● My top five tips for lighting your home studio:

○ Invest in a key light to create a natural look.

■ Pro Tip: look for a key light with remote control intensity settings and invest in a heavy duty light stand.

■ My gear: the Aperture 120D + Light Dome 2

○ Invest in a fill light to keep you from looking like an evil villain.

■ Pro Tip: Use a 10-ft. USB-C to USB cable so it doesn’t turn off in the middle of something important.

■ My gear: the Falcon Eyes f7

○ Invest in a hair light so you “pop out” from the background.

■ Pro Tip: Look for one with a magic arm and clamp.

■ My gear: a second Falcon Eyes f7 (placed at the right angle)

○ Invest in practical lights to create intrigue, depth, and atmosphere.

■ Pro Tip: Buy a light with a dimmer switch (or attach a separate dimmer switch) so that you can control the intensity.

Mentioned in this episode:

Alma

Building and managing the practice you truly want can feel overwhelming. That’s why Alma is here—to help you create not just any practice, but your private practice. With Alma, you’ll get the tools and resources you need to navigate insurance with ease, connect with referrals that are the right fit for your style, and streamline those time-consuming administrative tasks. That means less time buried in the details and more time focused on delivering exceptional care to your clients. You support your clients. Alma supports you. Learn more at sellingthecouch.com/alma and get 2 months FREE—an exclusive offer for STC listeners.

Sign up for the new online course workshop of a small launch to a $300K course at https://sellingthecouch.com/onlinecourseworkshop

Sign up for the new online course workshop of a small launch to a $300K course at https://sellingthecouch.com/onlinecourseworkshop

Today’s topic is one of great interest to me because of my journey through life. It can be difficult and very challenging to balance fatherhood and entrepreneurship in a way that feels like you are giving your best to both roles. Maybe you find yourself in a similar situation. Join me for today’s conversation to learn more!

Our Featured Guest:

Ryan Spence

Ryan Spence is a father of two, a former corporate lawyer turned entrepreneur, and a life coach who helps others show up as their best selves to live their best lives. Ryan and I connected through Rachel Rodgers’ The Club, and I quickly grew to respect his intentionality around fatherhood and entrepreneurship. Ryan’s oldest child is neurodivergent, so he faces some unique parenting challenges. In today’s session, we are having an open and honest conversation about the nuances of balancing fatherhood with entrepreneurship, along with how to best handle work disruptions and challenges that come with being a parent. Ryan is full of practical advice that can help others navigate the parenting journey that leaves us all wondering if we are giving our best to our kids.

I am Ryan Spence

You’ll Learn:

● How Ryan navigated the transition from corporate law to entrepreneurship as a dad to small children

● Why Ryan was able to follow his heart and leave his law career

● How yoga and personal development have helped Ryan clarify his values and priorities

● How Ryan reconnected with layers of himself after “going through the motions” for several years

● Why we usually default to what seems easy and comfortable

● Why autonomy and creativity became important aspects of life for Ryan

● How Ryan handles day-to-day disruptions in his work

● How giving his kids space in his time and meditating every morning help him be a better dad

● Why it’s important to keep end goals in mind regarding the balance of entrepreneurship and fatherhood, particularly when irritated

● Why the little things are most often the big things

● A sneak peek at Ryan’s new book, coming in April: The Triple C Method: Gain Clarity, Boost Confidence, and Build Courage so You Can Live Life Lit

Today's Sponsor: Turning Point HQ

Turning Point HQ is a financial life planning service designed specifically for therapists.

Here are some of the things they can help with

•Make an intentional + strategic decision about using tax deductions for your practice + what structure (LLC, S-Corp) is best for you.

•Learn how to keep your LLC in good standing

•Develop an achievable plan to get rid of student load debt.

•Make sure you're appropriately having for your child's college education.

•Strategically invest your practice income into retirement + wealth building

To learn more and connect with Dave + get $200 off any service, please take a moment to download the FREE 7 Money Mistakes That Hold Therapists Back: https://sellingthecouch.com/turningpointhq

Mentioned in this episode:

Sign up for the new online course workshop of a small launch to a $300K course at https://sellingthecouch.com/onlinecourseworkshop

Alma

Building and managing the practice you truly want can feel overwhelming. That’s why Alma is here—to help you create not just any practice, but your private practice. With Alma, you’ll get the tools and resources you need to navigate insurance with ease, connect with referrals that are the...

Welcome to Session 300! I never even imagined reaching this point, and I’m very grateful to be at this milestone. I love everything about connecting with people through podcasting, so thank you for joining me on this journey. Today’s show is a coaching call about online courses and the imposter syndrome that sneaks in with fear and doubt. Join us to learn more!

Our Featured Guest for today’s coaching call:

Nikki Sewell, LCSW

Nikki Sewell was part of our beta group for Online Course School’s eight-week live experience where we went through each step from start to finish in setting up your online course. Nikki is ready to get her pilot students into her course, but she has encountered a lot of fear around charging her worth for her grief course for therapists. Nikki built a successful private practice focusing on the niche of grief counseling, motivated by losing her father to suicide during her grad school years and suddenly losing her husband at age 41 back in 2013. Join the coaching call with Nikki and Melvin!

Nikki Sewell

You’ll Learn:

● How Nikki found her niche in grief counseling with widows, suicide survivors, and orphaned adults

● Why Nikki views her grief counseling work as something beautiful that empowers people to see “what’s lost, what’s left, and what’s possible”

● How Nikki decided to create her online course to help other grief and trauma therapists

● Why the best online courses combine clinical training with personal experience–like Nikki is doing

● How money blocks, shame, and internal voices get in the way to create imposter syndrome for Nikki

● The new perspective: Nikki’s course is helping clinicians to become better clinicians, help their clients more fully, and become better business owners (who make more money)

● Why we struggle with shame in charging what we are worth because we are a “helping profession”

● How Nikki can implement the same steps in charging for her online course that she employed in establishing her private practice

● How to take a “ladder view” of our expertise and experience, realizing that there are always people on lower rungs who need your help

● Why it’s better to take the tortoise approach and pace yourself in launching a course

Disclosures: Please note that all opinions are my own and based on my personal experience. Sponsors are acknowledged. Some links in the description are affiliate links where if you click on one of the product links, I’ll receive a commission at no additional cost to you. I use these funds to continue to create helpful content to serve our field. As an Amazon Associate, I earn a small commission from qualifying purchases.

?️ Using Podcasting To Grow Your Business (Lessons Learned From 9 Downloads On Day 1 To 1.2 Million And a 7 Income Stream Business)

? How To Launch And Grow A Successful Online Course (Lessons Learned From A $297 First Sale To $150k Online Course)

? Start your Podcast: The QuickStart Guide

?️ The A To Z Online...

If you are struggling to build your email list, today’s show can help! With over 300 STC newsletters and 5K subscribers, I’ve learned a few lessons about what works–and what doesn’t. We are fortunate that the STC newsletter has a much higher “open rate” than the 20% average, which can be attributed to what I have discovered along the way. Join me as I go solo today to share my insights that you can put into practice right now.

You’ll Learn:

● Why your mindset should be to make recipients excited to open your weekly newsletter

● My tips for building your email list through newsletters:

○ Spend time crafting the subject line. (The Headliner app helps!)

○ Write to one person. (Picture yourself sitting with a friend around a campfire.)

○ Use the intro section to share a personal story. (Have boundaries and safety considerations in place; I don’t say anything that would embarrass Grandma!)

○ Stick to a consistent format. (We use sections for an intro, top tool, podcast info, and top STC community posts. The Alltop and Airr apps help!)

○ Figure out how you can consume content throughout the schedule of your day, like during a commute, workout, daily hike, etc.

Resources mentioned in this episode:

Headliner, Alltop, and Airr

David Frank is the Financial Planner for therapists whose goal is to help us transform your relationship with money. Dave and his team provide help for a range of things including helping us navigate student loans, strategic investing, and retirement.

Please visit sellingthecouch.com/turningpointhq to download "The 7 Money Mistakes That Therapists Make" + to get $200 off any listed service just for STC fans.

Disclosures: Please note that all opinions are my own and based on my personal experience. Sponsors are acknowledged. Some links in the description are affiliate links where if you click on one of the product links, I’ll receive a commission at no additional cost to you. I use these funds to continue to create helpful content to serve our field. As an Amazon Associate, I earn a small commission from qualifying purchases.

🎙️ Using Podcasting To Grow Your Business (Lessons Learned From 9 Downloads On Day 1 To 1.2 Million And a 7 Income Stream Business)

💻 How To Launch And Grow A Successful Online Course (Lessons Learned From A $297 First Sale To $150k Online Course)

🎤 Start your Podcast: The QuickStart Guide

🖥️ The A To Z Online Course

🎧

Today’s show covers lessons I have learned from launching a successful cohort-based course (CBC). The process takes a lot of work but is very rewarding, so if a CBC is in your future, don’t miss this episode.

You’ll Learn:

● How I launched my first online course, The Healthcasters, in 2015, even though I felt like an inadequate novice

● How Online Course School launched in late 2021, with 16 workshops for nine colleagues in the beta cohort group

● Ten lessons learned from my CBC launch:

○ Get your beta students through your email list, previous courses, and Mastermind class colleagues.

○ Screen the participants well. (I did this through one-on-one Zoom calls.)

○ Do welcome calls with breakout rooms, so the students get to know each other.

○ Keep the CBC length around 6-8 weeks, or structure a break after a few weeks if it is longer.

○ Have an assistant with you on all workshops.

○ Tier your support for students at multiple levels.

○ Start with the “I do/we do/you do” framework for teaching.

○ Prep your lessons ahead of time before the cohort begins–not at the same time.

○ Don’t get too high with the highs or too low with the lows.

○ Charge your worth.

Resources mentioned:

Accelerator programs through Maven

Disclosures: Please note that all opinions are my own and based on my personal experience. Sponsors are acknowledged. Some links in the description are affiliate links where if you click on one of the product links, I’ll receive a commission at no additional cost to you. I use these funds to continue to create helpful content to serve our field. As an Amazon Associate, I earn a small commission from qualifying purchases.

🎙️ Using Podcasting To Grow Your Business (Lessons Learned From 9 Downloads On Day 1 To 1.2 Million And a 7 Income Stream Business)

💻 How To Launch And Grow A Successful Online Course (Lessons Learned From A $297 First Sale To $150k Online Course)

🎤 Start your Podcast: The QuickStart Guide

🖥️ The A To Z Online Course

🎧 The Healthcasters (A podcasting course + community for helpers/healers):

💻 Online Course School (A course to create, sell, and grow a successful online course): COMING IN 2022 (please feel free to download the online guide course above and I can keep you updated as I'm trying to build this with ample input and care including a chance to work 1 on 1 with me!): 

🧳 My Podcast Hosting Platform (Captivate-Includes 7 Day Free Trial):

🚀 My All In One Online Business Platform...

Today’s session is all about brainspotting, a powerful and fascinating psychotherapy technique that I have personally found to be helpful. Specifically, we discuss the technique as it is used to help performance athletes. Join us to learn more!

Our Featured Guest

Thad Frye, LCSW

Thad Frye is a licensed clinical social worker in Boulder, CO. As a certified brainspotting consultant, Thad has gone through multiple levels of training in this therapy technique. In our conversation, Thad explains why he was motivated to pursue training in brainspotting after previously focusing his work with families through hospice care and end-of-life journeys. He describes the technical aspects of brainspotting and how he uses it in his work with athletes, specifically in those with the “yips,” a puzzling phenomenon of the loss of an ability.

Thad Frye Counseling and Brainspotting Coaching for Athletes

You’ll Learn:

• Why Thad pursued training in brainspotting in 2016 as a way to serve families better
• How Thad experienced the somatic connection with his personal grief in new and real ways during his brainspotting training
• How brainspotting differs from EMDR
• Technical aspects of “inside window” and “outside window” reflexes within brainspotting
• How different clients might respond during a brainspotting session
• How training phases are structured in the brainspotting certification process
• Why Thad chose to use brainspotting with performance athletes
• How Thad uses brainspotting with athletes who experience muscle-guarding and the “yips”

Resources:

Interested in becoming part of our affiliate program? Learn more at

https://sellingthecouch.com/jointhehealthcasters  

Want to launch your online course?

Please check out our free 7-Day Course Creator Starter Kit For Therapists: https://sellingthecouch.com/coursekit

Mentioned in this episode:

Alma

Building and managing the practice you truly want can feel overwhelming. That’s why Alma is here—to help you create not just any practice, but your private practice. With Alma, you’ll get the tools and resources you need to navigate insurance with ease, connect with referrals that are the right fit for your style, and streamline those time-consuming administrative tasks. That means less time buried in the details and more time focused on delivering exceptional care to your clients. You support your clients. Alma supports you. Learn more at sellingthecouch.com/alma and get 2 months FREE—an exclusive offer for STC listeners.

Today’s show covers a topic that always brings out the nerd in me. If you are an STC regular, then you know the importance I place on my video and audio gear. With the future of our field being that telehealth is here to stay, a quality home studio setup can help you stand out in your field. For me, the quality of my studio has evolved over the years as I’ve had more money to invest. Join the conversation to learn how to take your videos to the next level by building a dream home studio.

Our Featured Guest

Kevin Shen

Kevin Shen is a consultant who has been producing online videos for more than ten years, doing most of his work on YouTube. He has developed courses to teach what he has learned about making powerful videos and building a professional quality studio. He shares why a professional studio matters, along with practical considerations to make if building a home studio is on your radar for the future.

Dream Studio Course

You’ll Learn:

Why a professional video studio matters

Why online video content is like time travel and space travel

How a video studio for therapy helps people who haven’t been served well by traditional talk therapy

Three tips for creating a dream home studio:

Design your studio around your needs for your workflow.

Realize that video allows you to create a space for viewers as you get their attention to your face.

Lighting should create depth through a large, diffused light source.

How your video components can work to create trust from someone you have never met before

Kevin’s course, Dream Studio Course, a cohort that teaches the structure and steps of building a dream home studio

Additional resources mentioned:

Find out about my gear and software: Kit.co/mvarghese

You can purchase Kevin’s course AND help STC: Dream Studio Course

Disclosures: Please note that all opinions are my own and based on my personal experience. Sponsors are acknowledged. Some links in the description are affiliate links where if you click on one of the product links, I’ll receive a commission at no additional cost to you. I use these funds to continue to create helpful content to serve our field. As an Amazon Associate, I earn a small commission from qualifying purchases.

🎙️ Using Podcasting To Grow Your Business (Lessons Learned From 9 Downloads On Day 1 To 1.2 Million And a 7 Income Stream Business)

💻 How To Launch And Grow A Successful Online Course (Lessons Learned From A $297 First Sale To $150k Online Course)

🎤 Start your Podcast: The QuickStart Guide

🖥️ The A To Z Online Course

🎧 The Healthcasters (A podcasting course + community for helpers/healers):

💻

One of the new things for STC this year is the incorporation of coaching calls into the podcast from time to time. Join us for a glimpse into today’s coaching call about online courses.

Our Featured Guest for today’s coaching call

Heather McKenzie, LCMHCS

Heather McKenzie came through Online Course School as a beta student back in the fall of 2021. Online Course School is a live, eight-week experience that takes your online course from a simple idea all the way through the development stages so that you are ready to record. Heather created a course specifically focused on anxiety that can be found at Dial Down Anxiety. Like most of us who create an online course, she faced a common struggle about how to handle marketing time and costs to promote her course. Join us to hear the coaching call!

McKenzie Counseling 

You’ll Learn:

• How to handle logistical challenges in the online presentation of your course
• Why Heather’s course is an eight-week course to help people understand anxiety and DBT emotion regulation skills
• How marketing options for an online course can be overwhelming for most people 
• How to pinpoint your own superpowers in teaching and the style that works best for you
• How to structure the content levels for promoting your course in six-month blocks:
• Start with webinars, both free and paid.
• Offer a downloadable guide or cheat sheet.
• Use a core blog post as a stand-alone feature that blows people away.
• Tips from Melvin about content levels:
• Offering too many things can confuse people, so stick with one core webinar.
• Less is more!
• Be thoughtful about using the words “webinar” and “workshop” so as not to intimidate people.
• Link your blog post videos to YouTube to drive more traffic back to your webinar.
• Consider that high-quality offerings through webinars, guides, and blog posts help to establish your authority as an expert and give people value that keeps them returning.
• How podcasting can help with future promotion by giving a call-to-action to your webinar
• Why you need to take notes during the first offering of your course with beta students to know what content resonates the most; that content can be used for future free webinars
• In summary, five tools to market an online course that have evergreen potential:
• Webinar (start with live ones and then transition to evergreen ones)
• Downloadable guides or cheat sheets
• Core blog post
• Select podcast episodes
• Mini-podcast 

Disclosures: Please note that all opinions are my own and based on my personal experience. Sponsors are acknowledged. Some links in the description are affiliate links where if you click on one of the product links, I’ll receive a commission at no additional cost to you. I use these funds to continue to create helpful content to serve our field. As an Amazon Associate, I earn a small commission from qualifying purchases.

🎙️ Using Podcasting To Grow Your Business (Lessons Learned From 9 Downloads On Day 1 To 1.2 Million And a 7 Income Stream Business)

💻

I’m excited to begin a new year and a new season with you!

While we were on the holiday break, STC hit a huge milestone of 1.2 million downloads, which is unbelievable to me.

I’m so grateful for the success of STC and being able to offer this resource.

Today’s show focuses on one of my favorite topics, which is personal finance. Investing can be overwhelming and very confusing. Join us to learn how anyone can approach investing with knowledge and confidence.

Our Featured Guest:

Andy Gupta

Andy Gupta and I have become good friends over the past couple of months. He is a kind and genuine person who worked for 20 years on Wall Street. He is a graduate of Harvard Business School who understands the ins and outs of investing, and he wants to make investing more approachable for average people. Andy has a particular passion to help women understand investing, and he looks to use his wealth in ways that help others.

Andy’s 30-day investing course: Anyone Can Invest Now

Andy's Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/418356686326993

Andy's LinkedIn: http://linkedin.com/in/andy-gupta

You’ll Learn:

● Andy’s background of growing up in a family without wealth in Mumbai, India, and then going to college in the US while holding multiple jobs to make ends meet

● Why Andy feels that his mission is to help others with investing so they can achieve financial security and freedom

● Why Andy’s definition of financial freedom revolves around increased time spent with his family, creating a financial safety net for them, and making a positive impact on others

● Three mistakes that the average investor makes:

○ Trying to “time” the market

■ “This is a fool’s errand. The difference in trying to time the market vs. staying in for the long haul is astronomical.”

○ Believing that cash in the bank is safe

■ You are guaranteed to lose money every year because of inflation.

○ Taking on too much risk by overexposing themselves in one area

■ It's best to mix asset classes to reduce your risk and potentially increase your return for the level of risk

● Andy’s tips for investing smartly:

○ Have a cash reserve on hand.

○ Diversity by investing in asset classes that don’t “move together.”

Wellerz is an innovative idea that addresses two big problems that therapists have when it comes to office space.

First, if you own office space, being able to rent it out for hours you're not using it in order to supplement our therapy income.

Second, if you're looking for office space, being able to rent it by the hour vs. a chunk of time like .5 day of full-day, which may not make sense and/or is cost-prohibitive (e.g., if you're just starting out in private practice).

Wellerz addresses both through an easy-to-navigate website where therapists can list their office space, easily screen clinicians who would be using it, and get paid. Listing is office space is free + Wellerz only makes money if an office space is booked.

And if you're a clinician looking for office space, Wellerz makes it easy to find + rent office space by the hour.

To learn more + get a 1-hour free credit to book anywhere (for STC fans only), please check out