The Traveling Therapist Podcast – Details, episodes & analysis

Today, we’re tackling one of the most important topics for location-independent therapists: liability insurance for traveling therapists. It’s the #1 question I get asked in my Facebook group—“What do I do about liability insurance?”—and for good reason. Practicing across state lines or internationally can be confusing, and knowing how to protect yourself, your clients, and your practice is non-negotiable. In this episode, we’ll dive into the ins and outs of liability insurance, explore how to stay compliant with licensing laws, and share tips for simplifying your portable practice.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

• Why liability insurance is essential for therapists, especially those with a traveling lifestyle
• Key considerations when choosing the right insurance provider (including CPH & Associates and HPSO).
• How to ensure compliance with your state licensing laws while practicing remotely.
• The challenges of practicing internationally and how to navigate local laws and insurance options.
• Tips for simplifying compliance, including keeping detailed records and leveraging professional associations.

Mentioned in the Episode:
Portable Practice Method: www.kymtolson.kartra.com/page/PP-Waitlist
CPH & Associates: https://cphins.com/
HPSO (Healthcare Providers Service Organization): https://www.hpso.com/
International Therapist Directory: https://internationaltherapistdirectory.com/
European Association for Psychotherapy: https://www.europsyche.org/

_____________________

Are you ready to take the plunge and become a Traveling Therapist? Whether you want to be a full-time digital nomad or just want the flexibility to bring your practice with you while you travel a couple of times a year, the Portable Practice Method will give you the framework to be protected!
➡️ JOIN NOW: www.portablepracticemethod.com/

_____________________

Connect with me:

• Instagram: @thetravelingtherapist_kym
• The Traveling Therapist Facebook Group: www.facebook.com/groups/onlineandtraveling/
• The Traveling Therapist Website & Offers:
  www.thetravelingtherapist.com

_____________________

Sponsored by Berries: Say goodbye to the burden of mental health notes with automated note and treatment plan creation! https://heyberries.com/therapists

Sponsored by Alma: Alma is on a mission to simplify access to mental health care by focusing first and foremost on supporting clinicians. https://helloalma.com/kym

Ever wondered what life as a nomadic therapist really looks like? In this candid episode, I pull back the curtain on the not-so-glamorous side of nomadic life struggles and share a deeply personal update. From navigating hurricanes and caregiving for my father with early Alzheimer’s to moderating a Facebook group of 20,000 members (amid election drama), it’s been a wild ride.

I also talk about balancing multiple income streams, managing a portable practice, and handling the unexpected curveballs that come with a digital nomad lifestyle. This is an unfiltered look at the challenges and lessons I’ve faced recently as a Traveling Therapist.

What You’ll Hear in This Episode:

• The reality of fleeing hurricanes and living out of Airbnbs.
• My journey to Greece and how I travel hack for premium experiences.
• Caregiving challenges while maintaining my nomadic lifestyle.
• The chaos of moderating large Facebook groups during political turmoil.
• Lessons on scaling a business while letting go of perfectionism.

_____________________

Are you ready to take the plunge and become a Traveling Therapist? Whether you want to be a full-time digital nomad or just want the flexibility to bring your practice with you while you travel a couple of times a year, the Portable Practice Method will give you the framework to be protected!
➡️ JOIN NOW: www.portablepracticemethod.com/

_____________________

Connect with me:

• Instagram: @thetravelingtherapist_kym
• The Traveling Therapist Facebook Group: www.facebook.com/groups/onlineandtraveling/
• The Traveling Therapist Website & Offers:
  www.thetravelingtherapist.com

_____________________

Sponsored by Berries: Say goodbye to the burden of mental health notes with automated note and treatment plan creation! https://heyberries.com/therapists

Sponsored by Alma: Alma is on a mission to simplify access to mental health care by focusing first and foremost on supporting clinicians. https://helloalma.com/kym

In this episode, Amity Cooper and Kym Tolson dive into the depths of transforming their therapy practices through technology and a digital nomad lifestyle. Both therapists share their journeys, from overcoming initial pandemic disruptions to fully embracing remote work that allows for extensive travel and greater work-life alignment. 

The discussion pivots to the transformative use of new tech tools. They emphasize the critical role of personal development and proactive learning in adapting to technological advances, positioning themselves not just as therapists but as pioneering entrepreneurs in the mental health field. This episode is a treasure trove of insights for anyone looking to blend their professional endeavors with personal aspirations, especially in the evolving landscape of mental health services and AI

Key Points:

• Embracing Digital Nomadism: Discover how Amity Cooper transitioned to a digital nomad lifestyle, navigating challenges and leveraging opportunities presented by the pandemic.

• Integrating Tech in Therapy: Explore how Kym & Amity use cutting-edge technology to enhance efficiency and client engagement in her therapy practice.

• Pursuing Passions and Entrepreneurship: Learn how both speakers integrate their passion for travel with their professional lives, advocating for personal growth and technological adoption in therapy.

About Amity Cooper:

Amity Cooper is a seasoned entrepreneur, trained mental health professional, and entrepreneurial coach.

For over 20 years, Amity has run a variety of businesses, from designing handbags to making and manufacturing gourmet chocolates, which has given her the knowledge and experience to help others start and run their own businesses. Now, as a trained therapist, equine-assisted psychotherapist, and Lifebook facilitator, she is focused on empowering other mental and behavioral health professionals to serve their clients without burning themselves out by becoming what she calls “therapreneurs.”

She does this through her professional development company Clini

_____________________

Are you ready to take the plunge and become a Traveling Therapist? Whether you want to be a full-time digital nomad or just want the flexibility to bring your practice with you while you travel a couple of times a year, the Portable Practice Method will give you the framework to be protected!
➡️ JOIN NOW: www.portablepracticemethod.com/

_____________________

Connect with me:

• Instagram: @thetravelingtherapist_kym
• The Traveling Therapist Facebook Group: www.facebook.com/groups/onlineandtraveling/
• The Traveling Therapist Website & Offers:
  www.thetravelingtherapist.com

_____________________

Sponsored by Berries: Say goodbye to the burden of mental health notes with automated note and treatment plan creation! https://heyberries.com/therapists

Sponsored by Alma: Alma is on a mission to simplify access to mental health care by focusing first and foremost on supporting clinicians. https://helloalma.com/kym

We've been on the road for eight months now, and we've seen some amazing sights! We just finished up a trip to Niagra Falls, and it was incredible. The power and beauty of those falls are truly awe-inspiring.

But that wasn't our only stop on this trip. We also visited Vermont and Maine, both of which were beautiful in their own ways. And now we're in the Poconos, which is definitely one of the most relaxing places we've been to yet.

Of course, along the way we've learned a lot about Airbnb. (In case you didn't know, they can be quite tricky!) We almost ran out of gas in the middle of nowhere Vermont, but thankfully we made it to the next town in time. And we rented electric bikes for the first time while in Maine...which was WAY better than using regular bikes! Haha.

I'm continuing my entrepreneurial journey and have two major projects right now. One is hosting a webinar called "Don't Panic: How to survive a rigorous insurance audit" with Gabrielle Juliano-Villani. She's an expert on the topic and I know her webinar will be packed with valuable information.

The second project is the "Nitty Gritty of Multi-state Private Practice Extension" course with Dr. Lisa Lovelace. Here's a free webinar we created around this topic if you're interested in this topic. Lisa is an amazing speaker and I know this webinar will be packed with useful information for private practice owners who are looking to expand their business into multiple states.

Both of these projects are really exciting and I can't wait to share them with you!!

I hope you enjoy this episode!

Links in this episode:

"Don't Panic: How to survive a rigorous insurance audit"

_____________________

Are you ready to take the plunge and become a Traveling Therapist? Whether you want to be a full-time digital nomad or just want the flexibility to bring your practice with you while you travel a couple of times a year, the Portable Practice Method will give you the framework to be protected!
➡️ JOIN NOW: www.portablepracticemethod.com/

_____________________

Connect with me:

• Instagram: @thetravelingtherapist_kym
• The Traveling Therapist Facebook Group: www.facebook.com/groups/onlineandtraveling/
• The Traveling Therapist Website & Offers:
  www.thetravelingtherapist.com

_____________________

Sponsored by Berries: Say goodbye to the burden of mental health notes with automated note and treatment plan creation! https://heyberries.com/therapists

Sponsored by Alma: Alma is on a mission to simplify access to mental health care by focusing first and foremost on supporting clinicians. https://helloalma.com/kym

For today’s episode, we have Sydney Conroy, a first-year PhD student at the University of Cambridge at the PEDAL Research Center. Her current work focuses on the voices and experiences of children in play therapy sessions, as well as issues including trauma, the COVID-19 epidemic, and social discomfort. Sydney has experience working with children and families in both a private practice at Eastside Play Therapy and a community agency environment. She is currently residing in the UK and applying to become a therapist there. She has less knowledge about therapists who travel frequently, but she wants to share her perspective on going to a new country to practice therapy and developing a network. 

Tune in to this episode to find out more about Sydney!

“I think it's going to show up in a lot more nuanced ways that we would only get from therapists’ perspective of like being in the room with people that are processing that week after week, you're not necessarily going to hear that from teachers, or parents or people that are dedicated to looking to those specific issues.”

Learn More About:

• How did you go from being a child therapist to a traveling therapist?
• What is it like living in a foreign country?
• What it’s like to be a digital nomad

Connect with Sydney:

Website: https://www.sydneyconroy.com/

Twitter: SydneyConroy_ 

Thanks to our sponsor: SuperBill!

_____________________

Are you ready to take the plunge and become a Traveling Therapist? Whether you want to be a full-time digital nomad or just want the flexibility to bring your practice with you while you travel a couple of times a year, the Portable Practice Method will give you the framework to be protected!
➡️ JOIN NOW: www.portablepracticemethod.com/

_____________________

Connect with me:

• Instagram: @thetravelingtherapist_kym
• The Traveling Therapist Facebook Group: www.facebook.com/groups/onlineandtraveling/
• The Traveling Therapist Website & Offers:
  www.thetravelingtherapist.com

_____________________

Sponsored by Berries: Say goodbye to the burden of mental health notes with automated note and treatment plan creation! https://heyberries.com/therapists

Sponsored by Alma: Alma is on a mission to simplify access to mental health care by focusing first and foremost on supporting clinicians. https://helloalma.com/kym

Dr. Abigail Hitchen is a licensed psychologist in California with a telehealth credential for Florida. She has Iowa roots but was mostly raised in Oregon, and spent the last ten years in Southern California.

She has a background in Latinx mental health and migration patterns and social justice and was involved in several projects at the San Diego/Tijuana border. She started 100% telehealth in 2019 (pre-pandemic) as a means of fulfilling a dream of spending longer bits of time traveling the world.

She now owns and runs a 100% telehealth, largely insurance based, private practice with one hired therapist and will be expanding to more coming soon. She just left Southern California and is back on the nomad trail for a bit before getting married and moving to Scotland later this year! Abbie is currently navigating how to run a mostly insurance-based practice while changing residency away from California.

She has been to 39 countries and counting, and apart from psychology, loves photography, wildlife, food and wine, learning languages, and meeting people from all around the world.

She is the owner and psychotherapist at Karuna Psychological Services, can find her at www.karunapsychologicalservices.com and therapist facing Instagram account where she documents her digital nomad travels and traveling therapist stories @nejmagoesnomad.

Today, she’s going to share her story and all the places she’s been and the places she’s going to go! Find out about it and enjoy this episode!

“I was planning on leaving blue shoes anyway, but I got nervous because they just stopped paying me. And that I can't have the people that I see the most from those insurance companies, I can't have suddenly months of no pay, and then having to scramble to figure all that out.”

Here More About:

• Transitioning and

_____________________

Are you ready to take the plunge and become a Traveling Therapist? Whether you want to be a full-time digital nomad or just want the flexibility to bring your practice with you while you travel a couple of times a year, the Portable Practice Method will give you the framework to be protected!
➡️ JOIN NOW: www.portablepracticemethod.com/

_____________________

Connect with me:

• Instagram: @thetravelingtherapist_kym
• The Traveling Therapist Facebook Group: www.facebook.com/groups/onlineandtraveling/
• The Traveling Therapist Website & Offers:
  www.thetravelingtherapist.com

_____________________

Sponsored by Berries: Say goodbye to the burden of mental health notes with automated note and treatment plan creation! https://heyberries.com/therapists

Sponsored by Alma: Alma is on a mission to simplify access to mental health care by focusing first and foremost on supporting clinicians. https://helloalma.com/kym

For today’s episode, we have with us Sara Barroso LMHC who is a licensed therapist in Massachusetts. Sara's practice focuses on helping people who are dealing with complex trauma, disordered eating, body image problems, depression, and anxiety. Sara has spent the last ten years traveling and has spent the last year residing in Tanzania. Her tele-health private practice was established in 2021, enabling her to work anywhere in the world. Today, she will talk about her story and experience! Find out about it and enjoy this episode!

“Everything here looks the same. So it's harder for me to identify what's like a not so safe neighborhood, just kind of by like picking up on people's behaviors and like the way they're interacting and kind of like, what's going on, and what's perceived as kind of shady behavior in this culture”

Learn More About:

• Sara Barroso’s story
• How Sara adapted to a new culture and life in Africa
• The pros and cons of living in Tanzania

Connect with Sarah:

Website: sarabarrosolmhc.com

Thanks to our sponsor: SuperBill!

From explaining superbills and verifying OON benefits, to submitting claims and tracking reimbursement, SuperBill is a one-stop shop for you and your client's insurance needs. So you can spend your time exploring the places you love. 🛫🌍 Get One Month Free with Code KYMTOLSON

_____________________

Are you ready to take the plunge and become a Traveling Therapist? Whether you want to be a full-time digital nomad or just want the flexibility to bring your practice with you while you travel a couple of times a year, the Portable Practice Method will give you the framework to be protected!
➡️ JOIN NOW: www.portablepracticemethod.com/

_____________________

Connect with me:

• Instagram: @thetravelingtherapist_kym
• The Traveling Therapist Facebook Group: www.facebook.com/groups/onlineandtraveling/
• The Traveling Therapist Website & Offers:
  www.thetravelingtherapist.com

_____________________

Sponsored by Berries: Say goodbye to the burden of mental health notes with automated note and treatment plan creation! https://heyberries.com/therapists

Sponsored by Alma: Alma is on a mission to simplify access to mental health care by focusing first and foremost on supporting clinicians. https://helloalma.com/kym

Lisa Lovelace is a therapist who, before 2012, didn’t offer online therapy. That’s when she began noticing the appeal of an online therapy practice and started doing online therapy. She was doing online therapy before it was such a big thing and so popular! Then, Lisa quickly added on a few colleagues and her practice grew significantly in the first three years alone! Synergy eTherapy was one of the first online therapy group practices in the United States. They provide high-quality mental health services in 16 states and are always hiring new clinicians to provide even more services in even more states. It isn’t easy. It isn’t quick. But, I know YOU can do this too!

Lisa CAN HELP YOU BUILD, GROW, AND REFINE YOUR ONLINE THERAPY GROUP PRACTICE! Learn more here https://www.synergyetherapy.com/online-group-practice/

Join Lisa’s free Facebook group here. https://www.facebook.com/groups/onlinegrouppractice/

Thanks to our sponsor: SuperBill!

From explaining superbills and verifying OON benefits, to submitting claims and tracking reimbursement, SuperBill is a one-stop shop for you and your client's insurance needs. So you can spend your time exploring the places you love. 🛫🌍 Get One Month Free with Code KYMTOLSON

Connect with me:

Instagram: TheTravelingTherapist_Kym

_____________________

Are you ready to take the plunge and become a Traveling Therapist? Whether you want to be a full-time digital nomad or just want the flexibility to bring your practice with you while you travel a couple of times a year, the Portable Practice Method will give you the framework to be protected!
➡️ JOIN NOW: www.portablepracticemethod.com/

_____________________

Connect with me:

• Instagram: @thetravelingtherapist_kym
• The Traveling Therapist Facebook Group: www.facebook.com/groups/onlineandtraveling/
• The Traveling Therapist Website & Offers:
  www.thetravelingtherapist.com

_____________________

Sponsored by Berries: Say goodbye to the burden of mental health notes with automated note and treatment plan creation! https://heyberries.com/therapists

Sponsored by Alma: Alma is on a mission to simplify access to mental health care by focusing first and foremost on supporting clinicians. https://helloalma.com/kym

We have been to so many places in the last month!! The month started with a trip through Virginia to see our families. We went to Lynchburg, Williamsburg, Chesapeake and Richmond then on to West Virginia for a few weeks. We really are starting to feel the cost of these airbnbs. Yikes. Monthly rentals are starting to seem more appealing, price wise. We got to try skiing on artificial turf and I got to visit Niagra Falls for the first time! 💕

Thanks to our Sponsor Hushmail.

Big News!! 

The Expert’s Guide To Becoming A Traveling Therapist is available for purchase! This is a comprehensive course of curated experts showing you how to travel the world, fund your traveling obsession, and still see your clients. Learn from therapists that are already making this lifestyle a reality. This course consists of carefully chosen Traveling Therapist Experts in our field. All of the contributors have created amazing trainings to teach you the ins and outs of being a traveling therapist.

Click to learn more. 

https://course.thetravelingtherapist.com/sp

Connect with me:

Instagram: TheTravelingTherapist_Kym

 Signup to learn more about the life as Traveling Therapist: https://landing.mailerlite.com/webforms/landing/l2v7c3

 The Traveling Therapist Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/onlineandtraveling/

 Bill Like A Boss Insurance Billing Community:

_____________________

Are you ready to take the plunge and become a Traveling Therapist? Whether you want to be a full-time digital nomad or just want the flexibility to bring your practice with you while you travel a couple of times a year, the Portable Practice Method will give you the framework to be protected!
➡️ JOIN NOW: www.portablepracticemethod.com/

_____________________

Connect with me:

• Instagram: @thetravelingtherapist_kym
• The Traveling Therapist Facebook Group: www.facebook.com/groups/onlineandtraveling/
• The Traveling Therapist Website & Offers:
  www.thetravelingtherapist.com

_____________________

Sponsored by Berries: Say goodbye to the burden of mental health notes with automated note and treatment plan creation! https://heyberries.com/therapists

Sponsored by Alma: Alma is on a mission to simplify access to mental health care by focusing first and foremost on supporting clinicians. https://helloalma.com/kym

Erin Carey is the founder of Roam Generation, a PR agency focused on helping travel, leisure and luxury brands, experts and destinations share their unique and inspiring story with the world.

Erin has over 20 years of communications experience in the corporate environment and has interviewed in excess of 1000 people throughout her career. She has an inquisitive nature and loves to ask the big questions, to get to the real heart of the story. 

Roam Generation came about while Erin and her family were living on a yacht and sailing the world’s oceans. However, they weren’t sailors when they came up with the idea of leaving the rat race and sailing away. Without letting that minor detail get in the way, Erin and her husband bought a yacht on the opposite side of the world and went on to cross the Atlantic Ocean a mere 18 months later. 

Let this provide you with an indication of Erin’s personality - driven, tenacious and determined!

Connect with Erin:

Website: www.roamgeneration.com

Facebook: www.facebook.com/sailingtoroam

Big News!! 

The Expert’s Guide To Becoming A Traveling Therapist is available for purchase! This is a comprehensive course of curated experts showing you how to travel the world, fund your traveling obsession, and still see your clients. Learn from therapists that are already making this lifestyle a reality. This course consists of carefully chosen Traveling Therapist Experts in our field. All of the contributors have created amazing trainings to teach you the ins and outs of being a traveling therapist.

Click to learn more. 

https://course.thetravelingtherapist.com/sp

Connect with me:

Instagram:

_____________________

Are you ready to take the plunge and become a Traveling Therapist? Whether you want to be a full-time digital nomad or just want the flexibility to bring your practice with you while you travel a couple of times a year, the Portable Practice Method will give you the framework to be protected!
➡️ JOIN NOW: www.portablepracticemethod.com/

_____________________

Connect with me:

• Instagram: @thetravelingtherapist_kym
• The Traveling Therapist Facebook Group: www.facebook.com/groups/onlineandtraveling/
• The Traveling Therapist Website & Offers:
  www.thetravelingtherapist.com

_____________________

Sponsored by Berries: Say goodbye to the burden of mental health notes with automated note and treatment plan creation! https://heyberries.com/therapists

Sponsored by Alma: Alma is on a mission to simplify access to mental health care by focusing first and foremost on supporting clinicians. https://helloalma.com/kym