About Julia Smith
Where are you in your private practice journey? How’s it going for you? I’m Julia Smith and I’m so glad you’re here.
This podcast is dedicated to help you know exactly how to start your private practice in Canada, while also sharing tips to growing it, filling your schedule, and going from solo to group practice owner. I’ll take you on my journey from starting as a counsellor to totally killin’ it and growing my own practice in Halifax. I also feature expert guests and industry leaders and together, we’ll help you plan, start, and grow a successful private practice in Canada.
Thanks for listening!
Julia Smith
Featured Podcasts
Luc Grey: Following Your Entrepreneurial Calling as a Therapist | Ep 91
Are you working on your masters degree? How can you plan your practicum and private practice journey at the same time? Which great benefits can you enjoy from working with supervisors and counsellors when starting your new practice? There is so much to learn about Canadian private practice! There is no “right” way to go about it, because - as long as it’s legal - you can go about creating your own private practice in a way that suits you. Whether you are just beginning your career or have been a therapist for decades, you can create your business in a way that suits your life as well as the needs of your clients. In this podcast episode, I chat with Luc and their experience as a working student and how he started his private practice journey while finishing his practicum, and what he did to succeed in both.
Michelle Kent: Offering Ecotherapy in Your Canadian Private Practice | Ep 90
Do you love being in nature for your mental health? Have your clients expressed interest in nature walks to clear the mind and process their difficult emotions? Could you combine these two aspects into a service in your private practice? Ecotherapy is a great modality for therapy, and some practices are warming up to it! Of course, with it being outdoors and in an environment that is not easily controlled, it does call for sensitivity around the admin and ethics. However, with a little foresight and a proactive approach, you can offer ecotherapy in your Canadian private practice to the enjoyment and transformation of your clients and your approach to talk therapy. In this podcast episode, Michelle and I discuss her approach to ecotherapy and how she offers it to her clients as well as her experience as a new private practice owner.
Now Is the Time to Start Your Canadian Private Practice | Ep 89
It’s September, the start of a new season! If you’ve been reflecting over summer and you are coming up into the warmth of change with a desire to do something different, then consider this the time where you can get your own business going. Even though there are challenges, don’t let them get you down. There are going to be challenges no matter which way you turn, so choose to work in a direction that will take you where you want to go, and will help you to build a life - personally and professionally - that you want to live. So, come listen! I’ve got tools, deals, tips, resources, and support that will help nourish and boost you to make this change of season in your life one of success!
Canada’s Grow Your Business Online Grant: How to Apply | Ep 88
Are you searching for ways to save money in your private practice? Have you considered looking into the grants that you could qualify for? Have you heard of the micro-grant “Canada’s Digital Adoption Program” (CDAP) that’s specifically for small businesses? I decided to find out some more information about the CDAP grant after it came up in conversation a couple of times in podcast episode 85 and episode 87. I tried it out and now I can share my experience and insight with you! This grant is definitely worth applying for. Check below if you meet the criteria, and get to it! It’s a great way for you to help yourself succeed! As you know I’m all about seeing you succeed in your Canadian private practice, so in the spirit of keeping things real, check out my Tools and Deals page where you can get free access to my online private practice checklist, as well as discount codes and subscriptions specials on EMRs, website builders, and online practice essentials. Visit www.fearlesspractice.ca/deals to claim your discount codes and to get more info!
Ursula Kerr: Take a Risk, Start a Private Practice, and Be Your Own Boss | Ep 87
Ursula Kerr took many risks and leaps of faith, and through those moments of struggle and uncertainty, she has now created a thriving private practice that she enjoys working in each day. Life is not about working, but creating a job that you love doing is a great way to add value (and income) to your life! By hiring a consultant, getting professional help or advice, and working in your passion and niche, you can create a workplace that you are excited to work in each day. You will do your best work when you feel supported and rested, and even though it can take a while to get there when you are your own boss, it is 100% possible and doable. Take the leap! In this podcast episode, Ursula and I discuss her Canadian private practice journey from breaking out of the golden handcuffs of an agency job into building her dream practice. We talk about common struggles, tips, and ways for you to become inspired to take the next step.
Allyson Gassner: From Practicum to Private Practice | Ep 86
What are the essential fundamentals of setting up a private practice while you finish grad school? How can you use QR codes in your marketing to make it easier for your clients to find you? When is the right time or the best-suited time for you to step into Canadian private practice? In this episode, Allyson and I discuss navigating how to structure the approach to working, setting up a new private practice, and seeking out community along the journey into Canadian private practice. We chat about marketing, navigating when to transition into solo practice, and considering the future.
Tamara Reynolds: Building a Canadian Art Therapy Private Practice | Ep 85
Are you thinking about starting an art therapy private practice? Do you struggle with getting clients? Have you tapped into the resources within your network and direct community? The great thing about private practice is that even though the process of building it is unique to you (with your preferences and niche), there are so many things that you can learn from your fellow clinicians – especially from listening and learning from their experiences. So, give this episode a listen to learn some interesting ways to go about Canadian private practice! In this podcast episode, Tamara and I discuss a wide range of topics, from getting involved in the community to networking, the art therapy niche, and working ethically.
Denise Marie: Why Passion Is Good for Business | Ep 84
Do you enjoy the work that you do? Are you working in a field or with a group of clients that are the best-fit group for you? Is it possible to combine your passions with your work in a way that supports them both without burning you out in the process? You don’t need to use all your hobbies and passions as work ideas. However, it can help you – and your business – to work in an area that you are passionate about. Having that genuine interest and fulfillment can help you get through tough times, meet with great clients, and do work that makes you feel good – as well as helping you to pay the bills. In this podcast episode, Denise and I chat about how she created her Canadian private practice from one of her passions, and how that decision helped her to create a steady business that she enjoys going to work in each day.
Amber Sperling: The Journey From a New Practice to Success and Beyond | Ep 83
For anyone who is building their Canadian private practice, or is thinking about starting, one of the most helpful things that you can do is listen to other therapist’s stories who have gone on this exact journey before you. You don’t have to reinvent the wheel each time! Learning from others is a great way to give you ideas, help you think things through, and see what might – and might not – work for you. In this podcast episode, Amber and I discuss her journey into launching her own Canadian private practice from the end of the pandemic into the success that it is now. Join us to listen, learn, and even level up!
Live Consultation With Julie Burnett: Starting an Online Private Practice | Ep 82
What is your goal with your work? If you could set it up in the way that would best suit you and your long-term future ambitions, what would it look like? How can you create a work-life balance that is personalized to your life, needs, and desires? One great way to learn is to listen to other people’s journeys and stories. You may be in a similar place with your Canadian online private practice; new, curious, and weighing up the pros and cons. In this live consultation, I chat with Julie about her new online private practice. We talk through the basics, how she can bring a new website up to speed, and what she can do to flourish afterward. Join us to learn more!
3 Steps to Starting Your Private Practice While Still in Grad School | Ep 81
Are you going into your master’s degree knowing that you want to start a private practice as soon as you have graduated? Be assured – and inspired – that this is totally possible! With your master’s degree and clinical supervision, you can be well on your way toward your Canadian private practice. There are a couple of things you can do for your private practice while you are in grad school to build a good foundation and to make it easier for you to launch and dive in once you have graduated. In this podcast episode, I go over the three simple steps that you can take to get yourself ready for your private practice – and to get your private practice ready for you! – if you know that this path is one of your goals to walk.
How Branding Can Attract New Clients | Ep 80
Does your branding need a little refresher? When last did you make sure that your branding is consistent across all the branches of your business? Branding is more than just the colors you pick or the layout of your website. It’s the feeling that you want your clients to have when they interact with you or your business materials. To create cohesion and maintain professionalism while attracting your ideal clients, it is important to be intentional with your branding decisions, In this podcast episode, I share my top recommendations for simple, affordable and high-quality tools that you can use to brush up the branding for your business!
How to Hire a Social Media Manager | Ep 79
Social media is here to stay, but it doesn’t have to be difficult for you to do. There are enough people out there with all sorts of skills that you don’t have to bootstrap it and do everything – frankly, it’s better if you hire out and let someone do what they’re good at so that you can focus on providing great therapy! So, do you want to expand your Canadian private practice by connecting with more of your ideal clients in a way that feels authentic to you and your brand, but you don’t know what the first step is? Consider hiring a social media manager. I’ve done it, and I can attest to how much it’s helped me and my business. Give this episode a listen to see how I did it, what I learned, and what I would recommend you try!
Rebecca Steele: How Raising Your Rates Can Improve the Quality of Your Work | Ep 78
What are the long-term benefits of raising your rates? Why does raising your rates ultimately help your clients as well as your work-life balance? Many therapists are nervous about raising their rates and so continue to work for the same pay for years. Ultimately, raising your rates can make you a better therapist, and your clients will come to see that. If you know that you want to raise your rates to create time freedom within your work schedule, then this episode is for you. Rebecca and I discuss her process, her fears, how she overcame them, and what she can enjoy now.
Trying a 50/50 Work Week | Ep 77
Do you feel satisfied with your current work-life balance? Does your current work routine work for you, or does it feel a little misaligned with your rhythm? Are you wanting to shake up your work routine? Would you like some tried and tested ideas on how to do that? I’ve been experimenting with changing my professional hours because everyone deserves to do the work they enjoy without having to sacrifice their mental, physical, or emotional well-being. If this resonates with you, then give this episode a listen! I explain how I tried some new systems, what worked, and how it helped me to rest and grow my business.
The Ethics of Offering Price Bundles in Private Practice | Ep 76
Do you want to make sessions available to the clients that you know need them the most? Have you often wondered how you can contribute to making therapy more accessible, but have the ethics left you feeling uncertain of how to do that? The business world is loud with different ideas, tips, and tricks on how to “grow” your business and reach your audience, like the famous price-bundling marketing strategy. Of course, Canadian private practices do often run like businesses, but because they are part of the therapy world, they have to go about things differently. In this podcast episode, I discuss clear ways that you can offer your clients accessible and affordable therapy while being ethical, especially through the help of Open Path Collective!
Dr. Marlene Taube-Schiff: Owning a Successful Online Group Private Practice | Ep 75
In the past, Dr. Marlene Taube-Schiff never imagined that she would one day create and own a thriving, online Canadian private practice. She worked full-time in hospitals and in Universities, content with her work and the way her professional life was laid out. However, when covid began and new online options for therapy started, she realized that she wanted to try something different because when life changes, we often find ourselves inspired to try things we never expected we would. If this story resonates with you, or you feel that you are walking a similar path, give this episode a listen. Dr. Taube-Schiff and I discuss her process from working full-time in hospitals to full-time in her own private practice, and how she made the journey!
Brighter Vision Update and What I Decided to Do | Ep 74
I recently found out that Brighter Vision has started to create their websites on their own proprietary platform instead of on WordPress. This also means that if your Brighter Vision website was created on WordPress, any switch to a different Brighter Vision template will require you to move your website to their new proprietary platform (and off of WordPress). Proprietary platforms can make creating a website easy, but there are big issues with them. In this podcast episode, I discuss the limits and concerns of using a proprietary platform and why you should instead build your Canadian private practice website on WordPress.
Rawda Tomoum: Building a Private Practice From Online to In-Person | Ep 73
Have you been stalling on your private practice dream? What holds you back from starting your own Canadian private practice? What does the first step look like? Whether you are concentrating on levelling up your marketing efforts, honing in on your niche, or launching a sustainable private practice, making an investment in that future can feel scary – but in reality it is completely doable. The most difficult point is starting, so remember that everything is “figureoutable”, and take that first step. In this podcast episode, Rawda and I discuss her journey into Canadian private practice – all the way from Egypt to Dubai to the US and then to BC! – and how she navigated trials, tribulations, and successes along the way.
How to Start Your Canadian Private Practice Today! | Ep 72
Are you ready to start your Canadian private practice but don’t know how to build it? Are you looking for long-term successful solutions that can work on a tight budget? Are you searching for something else besides joining a group or a subscription plan to help you start private practice? If any of these questions resonate with you, give this episode a listen. I know what it’s like to want to build your Canadian private practice by hand, your way, and I know that doing anything on a budget is tough. With the lessons I’ve learned along my way into launching my Canadian private practice, I want to help you with yours. If you’re on the fence about whether you want to start a Canadian private practice right now, you can do it! In this episode, I share with you the 3-in-1 Canadian Private Practice Startup Package that you can use to launch your practice. All answers provided, no questions needed.
Kristi Garrido: Building a Group Play Therapy Practice | Ep 71
Does your specialty include working with kids and families? Have you been interested in learning more about the play therapy modality? Can you build a successful private practice from the play therapy niche? Put together a team of skilled and like-minded clinicians, hire a proactive and dedicated admin assistant, put up a website, and let the process develop. In some ways, the process is that simple. Of course, there are some necessary fine print steps that you need to add, but you can do it too! In this podcast episode, I chat with Kristi who started the foundations of her group private practice in the last six weeks of maternity leave! And who is now thriving as a Canadian group private practice owner. Bonus: scroll down to find my helpful paper packet guide!
Julie Lounsbury: How a Leap of Faith Led to Success in Private Practice | Ep 70
What has been holding you back from launching your Canadian private practice? Which challenges have you been nervous about facing that you know others before you have accomplished? What can it take to help you to accomplish them too? There are pros and cons of working in a steady job for another company or organization, and pros and cons of running your own Canadian practice. Neither option is good nor bad in general, but where it matters is what matters to you. Do you want to be in charge of your time, your money, and your work? In this podcast, Julie and I discuss the fear – and success – of taking a leap of faith to launch a private practice. If you are becoming more invested in shedding the “golden handcuffs” of working a government job and striving to launch and run your own Canadian private practice, then give this episode a listen.
Eileen Bona: Using Animal-Assisted Therapy in Counselling | Ep 69
Have you considered bringing animals like dogs or cats – even goats! – into the therapy room? What does it take to become certified to offer this service? Did you know that chickens are one of the most popular therapy animals? If you love animals and know that your clients do too, and you’ve heard about the benefits that animals can offer clients in therapy, then consider offering animal-assisted therapy! But there are some legal networks that you have to handle well to keep yourself, your practice, your client, and your animal safe. In this episode, Eileen and I discuss the differences between animal-assisted therapy and other forms of animals in therapeutic or medical situations, how you can become certified, and how to navigate the legal fine print.
Maegan Megginson: Success Depends on Rest and Authenticity | Ep 68
Have you ever felt stifled in your role as a therapist? Is there a way to branch out and still help people while letting your personality shine? Why is rest essential to success? Some therapists have felt frustrated or held back from their clinical work because they want to let their personality and ambition grow with their business, while others have felt burnt out from doing work that does not resonate with them. Have you struggled with one or both of these issues? How can these be reconciled? In this podcast episode, I discuss the freeing power – and success! – of letting your personality come into your Canadian private practice. We discuss turning mistakes into opportunities, the necessary power of rest in success, and how to be true to yourself in business.
Jenniel Taylor: How to Navigate Your First Steps in Private Practice | Ep 67
Have you recently entered private practice? Are you looking for effective marketing strategies to boost your new Canadian private practice? How closely are you working with your values? Starting anything takes courage, especially when it comes to putting your name out there as a counsellor in your community! Whether you are recently licensed or you have freshly completed your master's degree, it’s always helpful to learn from someone who has just finished walking the path that you’re about to step onto. In this podcast episode, I discuss the journey into private practice and how to lay its foundations well for sustainable success with Jenniel Taylor.
How to Get Continuing Education Credits: CECs | Ep 66
Are you up to date with your CECs? Do you need some extra help? Do you want to know a great, quick, and professional way to get them while meeting other exceptional Canadian therapists? CECs are important for all Canadian therapists to have, whether you work for someone else or if you run your own Canadian private practice. They help you to stay up to date with new research, develop yourself as a skilled therapist, and can even be assets when it comes to marketing your practice. Whether you’ve accidentally left things too late and you need some help, or you’d like to learn more about CECs and how to structure them to avoid last-minute stress, I’ve got all the information and tips for you in this podcast episode!
The Do’s and Don’ts of Canadian Private Practice | Ep 65
As a therapist – especially in private practice – there is much to know and to make sure to do in your everyday schedule, besides seeing clients. It can feel like a lot, so this is a quick, simple, and informative episode that you can keep on hand to make sure that you are staying within the guidelines while working towards your goals. If you are unsure about what is standard practice, great practice, or could even be malpractice and you might not realize it, then give this episode a listen! In this podcast episode, I go through the main aspects of everything related to private practice in Canada. Use it as a guideline for what you should do more of, less of, or even something to try differently in the future.
How to Enjoy Private Practice in the Winter | Ep 64
Does the change of seasons also create a change in your energy levels? Do you sometimes find it difficult to maintain a faster working pace in the colder months? Is there a way to work slowly and still effectively? Life fluctuates! Very few things are static, and change happens often. It might not sound like it, but you are often happier, more productive, and more successful when you adjust your work-life balance according to your needs. In these colder months when your energy levels can shift, it could be best for you and for your work to also adjust your pace, allowing you to continue doing great work without burning yourself out. In this podcast episode, I explain how you can do just that!
New Psychology Today Feature: Updated Endorsements! | Ep 63
Are you looking for ethical and effective ways to market yourself? Is there a fellow counsellor in your field that you want to recommend? Have you heard about the new Psychology Today feature? Even though the endorsement feature on Psychology Today has been around for some time, they recently revamped it, allowing you to clearly showcase your endorsements and recommendations on your profile to potential clients. It’s a great, free marketing tool that benefits all therapists! In this podcast episode, I explain the process of writing endorsements for other clinicians, as well as general communication guidelines for when it comes to sending and receiving recommendations from other therapists.
Marketing Your Private Practice on Podcasts | Ep 62
You might feel uncertain as to where to begin when it comes to marketing yourself on podcasts – it’s something new! Even if you are a little nervous, it’s easier, more lucrative – and more fun – than you might think. Being a guest and talking on someone else's podcasts or even starting one for your Canadian private practice are great, creative, and versatile ways for you to showcase your practice. Podcasting can offer you tools for connecting with your ideal clients, like dynamic marketing and boosting your SEO ranking. Listen to this episode where I take you through the benefits, the process, and how to get started on becoming a podcast guest!
How to Provide Inter-Provincial Online Counselling | Ep 61
Have you been considering expanding your Canadian private practice? Can you counsel people who live in other provinces besides yours? What are the protocols? Online counselling is here to stay, and many counselling therapists and clients alike prefer this system with its flexibility and the autonomy it can provide them. However, there are some important regulations to be aware of when it comes to online counselling, especially when you want to broaden your reach and work with more clients. In this podcast episode, I take you through the process of finding out which provinces you can – at this time! – advertise in, and how to go about it ethically and safely, both for you and your future clients.
Adding Insurance Companies to Your Canadian Private Practice | Ep 60
Do you want to take insurance in your Canadian private practice? Are you feeling frustrated with managing your direct billing? What is the best way for small business owners to handle their energy and time when it comes to collecting payment? Once you have your license number, it is much easier to be recognized by Canadian insurance companies as a provider. Unfortunately, a lot of plans don’t recognize Counselling Therapists or Psychotherapists yet. Although, this is slowly changing day by day! It may seem complex, but there are solutions that you can offer your clients, and in this podcast episode, I talk you through that process.
John Hubert: Regulation and Why It Is Vital for Canadian Counsellors | Ep 59
Why is self-regulation necessary for Canadian counsellors? What would it take to maintain a bottom-up approach to regulation? Is it possible to join a regulatory body to maintain efficacy and ethics across your profession? Regulation might seem like a daunting world, but in reality, it is the tool that helps Canadian private practice owners to keep doing the best work that they can in the knowledge that they are being ethical and putting their clients best interests first. You can also become an active agent in regulation, helping to ensure the safety and quality of the mental health profession! In this podcast episode, John Hubert and I dive into the terminology, the history, and the importance of regulating the Canadian counselling field for the benefit of counsellors and clients alike.
Why You Can’t Use Testimonials in Canadian Private Practice | Ep 58
We all know that testimonials are the gold standard for marketing. People trust and value the opinions of others, and so they will often look for endorsements or referrals when they are deciding on who to work with or which services or products to buy. However in private practice, it is highly unethical to ask clients for testimonials. So, how can you connect with your ideal clients and market your Canadian private practice in an ethical yet effective way? In this podcast episode, I discuss how you can go about finding ethical endorsements for your practice without crossing any boundaries with your regulator or other standards of practice. Do great work in an ethical way, and here are some tips on how to get started!
Heather Peters: Accounting in Canada for Private Practice | Ep 57
Why should you invest in a business accountant? Have you used online accounting services in the past that have ultimately cost you more money and time? Numbers can be tricky, even for someone experienced, and especially for someone new. If you are running a Canadian private practice, consider hiring someone professional to take care of your numbers so that you can focus on what you do best: your clinical work! In this podcast episode, I discuss everything accounting with Heather Peters for a quick 101 lesson on the staples, and how you can set up your accounting system so that your sleep-at-night factor is secure and comfortable.
Why You Should Create a Private Practice Podcast | Ep 56
Do you want to explore different ways to market your Canadian private practice while diving into new skills? What are some unique ways to promote your Canadian private practice? Could podcasting be an easy way to market and connect with your ideal clients? Whether you want to diversify your marketing efforts, develop new interpersonal and business skills, expand your network, and increase connection with your client base, podcasting is a powerful and creative tool that you can utilize! In this podcast episode, I discuss my personal experiences with podcasting for my Canadian private practice and offer you a couple of tips to keep in mind when you give it a go!
Allison Puryear: Marketing Skills for Canadian Private Practices | Ep 55
How can you become a great boss for your employees? What does it take to truly connect through copy? What is needed to launch multiple successful private practices, even in different provinces? You can be intentional with your Canadian private practice, and create it to suit you, your temperament, and your skills. Simultaneously, you don’t have to keep growing and growing until you reach the moon! Your business is a way for you to serve the needs of your community while supporting yourself and your family. In this episode, Allison and I discuss Canadian private practice from all angles, so whether you are fresh to private practice or you are a seasoned therapist who's been at the helm for a while, there’s something in this episode for you to appreciate!
When Should I Hire a VA for My Canadian Private Practice? Live Consultation With Danik Bernier | Ep 54
Are you at a crossroads in your Canadian private practice? What does your practice need to help it grow? What do you need help with to do your best work? Regardless of the level that you are at within your private practice, or however seasoned you are as a therapist, things like impostor syndrome can trip anyone up. However, it doesn’t have to stay this way. Whether it’s about raising your rates or hiring a virtual assistant, these limiting beliefs can keep you stuck until you rise to meet and overcome them. In this podcast episode, I do a live consultation with Danik, who’s at a place in her career where she needs to hire a virtual assistant so that she can take the next step to leveling up her private practice.
How to Give Bonuses and Wage Increases to Your Staff | Ep 53
As the end of the year comes around and it’s time for celebrations, seeing loved ones, and appreciating those around us, you may be considering giving bonuses to your staff! Are you considering giving gifts or a financial bonus? Which is better? How can you factor inflation into your decision-making process? Managing a Canadian private practice is a difficult process, but one way to make everything run smoother is to take care of your employees and show your appreciation for all the hard work they do. In this podcast episode, I discuss my approach to embodying my values and gifting my employees the amount that sits comfortably with myself, my ethics, and my bank account.
Bank Audits and Retirement: Wrapping up the 2022 Financial Year | Ep 52
2022 is almost over, and 2023 is right around the corner! As the year draws to a close, how do you consolidate your finances? What are the goals that you have set for yourself? Have you been thinking about planning for retirement? Whether you are reassessing where your money has gone in your Canadian private practice, to where you want to spend less or more, or redirect a new stream of income, now is the time to look at the books. In this podcast episode, I discuss doing a small bank audit of your Canadian private practice to make sure that your plans and your finances are in order, which will help you start the new year with a spring in your step!
Lisa Simone Richards: PR Essentials for Canadian Private Practices | Ep 51
Have you been struggling with getting your Canadian private practice in front of more people? Are you looking for a way to dramatically boost your revenue? Do you want to light a fire beneath your visibility? If you agreed with these questions, then definitely listen to this episode, because it’s for you! In this podcast episode, I discuss everything to do with PR with Lisa Simone Richards. From the value of engaging with different media forms, to how to increase the visibility of your Canadian private practice, and more – tune in for a run-down and re-cap of the essential basics of boosting the PR of your Canadian private practice.
Ashleah Wilson: The Power of Storytelling in Marketing | Ep 50
What is the story that you want to tell about your Canadian private practice? What do you stand for in life and private practice? Why are you a therapist, and how do you reflect this reason to your clients? Marketing might seem like another item on the admin to-do list for your Canadian private practice, but it is so much more. Your marketing is the practice of telling the story of you, your therapy, and how your private practice serves your community. In this podcast episode, I discuss the power of utilizing the concept of storytelling to create genuine and connective marketing with Ashleah Wilson, a master storyteller.
Growing Pains I Experienced in My Canadian Private Practice - Year 6 | Ep 49
What has your year of private practice looked like? Which lessons have you learned, or are currently learning? Starting and running a Canadian private practice is a journey of continual growth and education. As you develop, so does your practice! And what impacts you in your personal life may also influence the unfolding of your business. In this annual episode, I take a little dive into what my year has been like, what I’ve learned, and what my focus will be for the next one!
Lindsey Thomson: The Need for Tax Free Therapy in Canada | Ep 48
Why is there a need for tax free therapy? What is happening with the Excise Tax bill? How can you add your voice to the campaign of adding psychotherapy and counselling therapy to the list of GST/ HST exempt healthcare practitioners?
How to Create Your Canadian Practice Paperwork Packet | Ep 47
Are you concerned that you may have missed important details on your consent forms? Have you been spending hours figuring out which questions you should ask in your paperwork packets to comply with ethical laws? Does admin work in general make you anxious? I’ve been there! In fact, I spent almost a year drafting up a Canadian practice paperwork packet that is suitable, editable, and concise. You can change, edit, and modify it to suit your private practice like a glove, and it’s available to you right now!
How to Set Your Private Practice Schedule | Ep 46
Sometimes your private practice schedule needs to change to meet your needs because your needs have changed, or you started a side hustle and you need to re-prioritize your time, or you moved to a new location, or hired an assistant! Whatever your situation is, as life shifts, you shift as well. One of the ways to stay on top of the ever-evolving and moving life is to create systems and schedules that are flexible and can be adjusted to suit you and your Canadian private practice.
Dealing With Setbacks in Canadian Private Practice | Ep 45
Are you daydreaming about a life that you want for yourself, personally and professionally? What’s been on your mind to try out? Is there something still nagging you that is asking for your attention? If you are putting off exploring your dreams – why? The sooner you can explore the outlines of the possibilities for your dreams, the sooner you can get started on creating them. In this podcast, I share my recent experiences, and a cautionary tale. Learn from me, take away what resonates, and I hope that it inspires you to take action.
Alison Pidgeon: Turn Your Passion Into Another Business | Ep 44
Do you have ideas that you want to explore within the mental health field that lies outside of the therapy room? Or do you have one great idea that you want to try out? Or do you have a passion that you want to try to monetize while growing your private practice? Whatever is on your mind, or wherever you are in your Canadian private practice and professional business journey, in this podcast episode I chat with Alison about her extensive experience with building multiple businesses. From starting her group practice to creatings side hustles, we discuss contractors versus employees, your passions, and finding your “why”.
Claire Blakey: Creating a Sustainable Canadian Private Practice | Ep 43
Do you have a team that supports you in your private practice? Are there other passions in your life that you want to pursue alongside being a therapist? What does it take to create a sustainably successful Canadian private practice? Passive income and diversifying your income streams is not only a good financial decision for your business, but it also supports you because it provides an outlet for you to explore and develop your hobbies outside of therapy, which can make you a happier and a more successful therapist. Whether you have multiple streams of passive income already, or you have just hit the idea-stage, this podcast episode is for you. Claire Blakey and I discuss the pros (and some cons) to passive income, and how you can approach this new avenue to make the most of it.
Alison McCleary: Navigating the Journey From Studying to Practicing Therapy| Ep 42
Are you working with your passions? How can you find a bridge between what you like to do and what you need to do? Could you develop a small avenue of passive income in your Canadian private practice? The road from being a student to a therapist is long with many twists, turns, and brave steps! Imagining your future Canadian private practice may feel very far away while you are in grad school or finishing your dissertation, but you can take small steps now to make that transition easier for yourself – and more successful for your future business! From finishing your studies to taking the first, small steps to building your new, sustainable Canadian private practice, I discuss this journey with Alison McCleary and the lessons that she has learned.
