MARTA EVANS: MASTERING GROWTH IN CANADIAN PRIVATE PRACTICE| EP 175
It is Marta’s third career shift, becoming a psychotherapist, after 20 years in healthcare and having worked in academia before! Across this wide career and lived experience, she knew that she wanted to bring it all into her work in her private practice.
Additionally, Marta had been helped by many people when she was getting started, which is what encouraged her to pay it forward by offering supervision and mentorship to new and upcoming clinicians.
In this podcast episode, Marta and I discuss pivoting from full-time to work full-time in private practice, how to hire the right people, and how to maintain the soul of therapy within the growing business. Join us for a great conversation!
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MEET MARTA
Marta Evans, RP, M.Ed., C.C.C., is a psychotherapist and certified Internal Family Systems (IFS) therapist based in Hamilton, Ontario. She’s the founder of Evans Family Counselling & Psychotherapy, a heart-led group practice specializing in transformational therapies like IFS and EMDR for individuals navigating complex trauma, grief, and life transitions. Known for her warm, authentic presence and “gentle but spicy” approach, Marta is a strong advocate for trauma-informed care that challenges the limitations of the traditional medical model. At EFCP, she and her team prioritize respectful, collaborative care that supports deep healing and change by addressing root causes rather than just managing symptoms.
Learn more about Marta on her practice website, Psychology Today, and Facebook profiles.
In This Episode
- Starting private practice
- Diversifying your experience
- Building up a group practice
- Marta’s advice to listeners
Starting the private practice
‘I started Evans Family Counselling and Psychotherapy just over 10 years ago. I’m one of those later-to-life psychotherapists: this is career number three for me! … I had about 20 years of working in healthcare, I worked in oncology … as a radiation therapist … very techy and person-centered as well.’ – Marta Evans
As Marta explains, being a psychotherapist is her third career. She worked for a long time in academia and as a radiation therapist in oncology before transitioning to psychotherapy.
With her private practice, Marta started it part-time initially before getting to the point where she had enough clients to move into working in the practice full-time. She worked for some time in a group private practice while building up her own.
Diversifying your experience
After Marta completed her Master’s degree, and while she was building up her private practice and working in another group practice, she got as involved as she could over the span of about seven years – before going full private practice – to soak up as much experience as possible.
‘I did some other things while I was doing both of [those], so I worked part-time at a children’s mental health facility at a walk-in clinic, and I also became a crisis and support volunteer for our local sexual assault center. I know that the impetus behind those decisions was just to use these opportunities to learn as much about different populations that I want to work with. It was a time of learning, which is something that really surprised me.’ – Marta Evans
She knew that her degree was valuable, but that she simultaneously wanted to have a lot more experience under her belt, which can only be acquired through working directly with people.
Building up a group practice
Marta developed her solo practice into a group practice in January 2024s. She decided to grow her private practice because she wanted to have a community of therapists around her, she wanted to stop turning clients away, and she wanted to start supervising and mentoring new clinicians.
‘I wanted community. I had also built my private practice where I had to turn a lot of people away, and there was just something that wasn’t sitting right with me about that.’ – Marta Evans
Now, Marta has associates and mentees – she wants to help them nourish their passions and to provide an essential service that she herself benefited from. In a way, she’s paying it forward.
‘Just like I had somebody help me to really discover how I want to show up in this profession, I [saw] how wonderful and useful that is for people, especially if they are new to the private practice world.’ – Marta Evans
Marta’s advice to listeners
Slow is fast! Be intentional. Don’t lose the soul of therapy by getting too caught up in the business aspects of running a private practice. Work closely with your values while heading closer to your goals.
Connect With Me
Resources Mentioned and Useful Links:
Kayleen Edwards: Private Practice Growth and Planning for Maternity Leave | EP 174
Learn more about the tools and deals that I love and use for my Canadian private practice
Sign up for my free e-course on How to Start an Online Canadian Private Practice
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Learn more about Marta on her practice website, Psychology Today, and Facebook 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/.
