ALI JOY RICHARDSON and NEIL SILCOX: RUNNING A SUCCESSFUL PRACTICE AS A COUPLE | EP 167
Ali and Neil have worked together for years in theatre before opening up a private practice together. Ali started first, and Neil joined her once they completed their qualifications.
Over the last two years, Neil and Ali have been committed to each other and their clients, creating a practice that genuinely rests on integrity, sincerity, strengths, and care. They both bring their talents to the forefront and let them shine, helping the practice to grow.
If you want to learn more about how they built their Canadian private practice, including tips on how to work well with your partner, listen in on the conversation today!
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MEET ALI and NEIL
Ali Joy Richardson (she/her) is a Registered Counselling Therapist and private practice owner of Richardson Therapy in Halifax, Nova Scotia. She provides narrative therapy in support of teens, adults, and couples with a focus on helping people create healthy relationships and heal from abuse. Ali is a published playwright and theatre artist who has directed and written plays across Canada.
Neil Silcox (he/they) is a Registered Counselling Therapist (Candidate), a teacher, and a theatre artist. His therapeutic work is focused on masculinity, ADHD, and navigating artistic and academic careers. He has taught theatre in colleges and universities across Ontario and the Atlantic Provinces, and creates theatre and performance art that explores identity, gender, and wellbeing. Neil collaborates artistically and in private practice with his wife, Ali Joy Richardson (and their dog, Mackey).
Learn more about Ali and Neil on their practice website, Ali’s Psychology Today, and Neil’s Psychology Today profiles.
In This Episode
- Why Ali and Neil decided to become therapists
- Working together as a couple
- The private practice now
- Marketing the practice: highs and lows
- Why authenticity is important
- Advice to listeners
Why Ali and Neil decided to become therapists
‘I found my way to therapy through working in theatre. I worked as a director and playwright for years in Toronto, and one of the things I loved about being a theatre director was the relationship that you form with your team.’ – Ali Joy Richardson
As Ali explains, the relationship between the director and the actors is intimate and collaborative. Actors and directors alike draw from their personal experiences when they are creating productions and plays together.
A few years later, Ali worked on a series of shows about mental health for pre-teen audiences called “One Deep Breath”, which was toured and presented to over 80,000 students in Ontario. In this production, Ali got to work with a panel of mental health professionals, and this sparked a deeper interest in her to pursue becoming a therapist herself.
‘I was so into their work! I found it so fun to hear about, and fascinating … It was this gateway for me into realizing that I think this is something I might want to do.’ – Ali Joy Richardson
For Neil, it came from his teaching experience. Students would come to him and discuss their lifepaths beyond education, and Neil found himself talking with them for a long time.
Later on, he had the same long, tough conversations with fellow staff in advocating for part-time workers’ rights at universities, and discovered that he appreciated these tough but necessary talks.
‘I started building a community of other part-time faculty members through several organizations … And I became an advocate for the rights of part-time employees in universities, and I started talking with other instructors … about the real difficulty that they were having in navigating these careers … I was having engaging, vulnerable conversations, which was part of what I really liked the most.’ – Neil Silcox
Ali started Richardson Therapy in July 2023, so coming up on their second anniversary!
Working together as a couple
‘Neil and I have always worked together as a couple. We worked together in the theatre in Toronto from the earliest days. Almost all the shows that we’ve been part of, we’ve had some kind of collaborative role.’ – Ali Joy Richardson
Ali and Neil have been working as a team for years. They have collaborated professionally and creatively for such a long time that it felt obvious and familiar for them to decide to go into private practice together as well.
‘We were talking about it so much, and it was a fulfilling part of our relationship to engage in it … I started to feel like I wanted to continue in this sense of collaboration … It felt [like a natural decision] by the time I got near the end of my program.’ – Neil Silcox
They have worked at perfecting how to manage working together as a couple, such as when to talk to each other and discuss new things to do if any resentment builds, how to show and give appreciation, and providing safe and loving spaces outside of work that they can share.
The private practice now
The practice has been going well for them. Since it is still small, they appreciate connecting with clients, because these clients choose the two of them specifically, rather than a big organization.
‘Due to our alignment and resonance in who we are, the things we are interested in, and the ways we work as therapists, if people reach out to Ali but she’s unable to see them, they’re often a good fit for me, and vice versa … That has been really helpful, that we are similar and unique in several ways.’ – Neil Silcox
Marketing the practice: highs and lows
Both Neil and Ali have leaned into their strengths when it comes to marketing the practice. Neil brings people together, hosts in-person meetings and therapy, and connects with other therapists, creating a strong network of professionals and client referrals.
Ali does more one-on-one work and brings in new people into the practice in this way. Due to their strengths, they both have maintained and sustained different yet necessary relationships with people in their communities, allowing them to reach and work with a wide audience.
Why authenticity is important
However, they decided to pull back on paid ads and social media. They experimented with it for some time, but it just didn’t work how they had anticipated. So, they are returning to their strengths and connecting with people in the ways that they know best: connection.
‘We’ve made the decision not to lean into social media because we believe in our ability to connect with people directly, and neither of us is drawn to social media … That was not an avenue that we pursued.’ – Neil Silcox
Additionally, Ali and Neil have also decided to pull in more of who they are, outside of therapy, into their roles as therapists, and it has greatly helped them connect with clients.
‘When I started to present myself as an artist, theatre artist, and writer, the influx of artists who found me and the number of people who I have gotten to meet who say, “I chose you because you’re a writer and I’m a writer” … That made a difference. So something that didn’t work early on was trying to stay neutral and generic, but the more I showed who I am, the more I found the people who align with me and I align with them.’ – Ali Joy Richardson
Advice to listeners
Put things in writing! It helps protect you from resentment (with your partner, family, best friends, or other people whom you care for). Write down clear roles and responsibilities, because it creates a sense of freedom, rather than stress.
Remember, talking shows care, so be proactive with talking about issues pre-emptively to protect the relationship in the long run.
Lastly, be explicit with your appreciation of one another. It goes a long, long way!
Connect With Me
Resources Mentioned and Useful Links:
Ep 166: Integrating Land Tax and Reparations in Your Practice | EP 166
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Sign up for my free e-course on How to Start an Online Canadian Private Practice
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Learn more about Ali and Neil on their practice website, Ali’s Psychology Today, and Neil’s Psychology Today profiles.
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About Jules Smith
Jules Smith, MEd, RCT, CCC is a registered Counselling Therapist who owns a group private practice in Halifax, Nova Scotia. They are also the owner of Fearless Practice Consulting and hosts the Fearless Practice podcast. Through the Fearless Practice podcast, they provide invaluable insights and practical advice on starting and growing a successful Canadian private practice.
Jules also has written articles for the Canadian Counselling and Psychotherapy association. You can learn more at www.ccpa-accp.ca/blog/.
