TAYLOR NELSON: GROWING A GROUP PRIVATE PRACTICE THROUGH PASSION | EP 193
How do you get the word out about your private practice in your local community organically, and in a way that shows you really care about your clients? Do you really need a Psychology Today profile? How can you build a space for creativity to flourish?
These are some of the questions that my guest today, Taylor, has asked herself throughout her journey so far in Canadian private practice. Upon discovering that the only thing she loved about journalism was people’s stories, she pivoted to therapy and has never looked back.
In our conversation today, we discuss opening a private practice, creative marketing strategies, and ways in which to keep working with intention. Come and join!
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MEET TAYLOR
Taylor Nelson is a Certified Play Therapist and Registered Social Worker with a Master of Social Work (MSW) who specializes in child and youth mental health. She is the owner of Family Tree Therapy in Belleville, Ontario, where her group practice focuses on expressive, play-based approaches for children, teens, and families. Taylor enjoys helping young people feel safe, seen, and supported as they build resilience and strengthen relationships.
Learn more about Taylor on her personal website, private practice website, Psychology Today, and Facebook profiles.
In This Episode
- How Taylor became a Registered Social Worker
- Why Taylor opened her own private practice
- Marketing the private practice
- Taylor’s advice to listeners
How Taylor became a Registered Social Worker
‘I am a millennial, firstborn daughter with a lovely balance of childhood adversity and resilience, so I came into the world hard-wired for social work!’ – Taylor Nelson
Taylor studied journalism, but quickly realized that it wasn’t for her. She discovered that the only part of journalism she really enjoyed was learning about people’s stories, which led her into the therapy world, where that plays a large part.
‘I spent an early part of my career working in social justice arenas, working in housing equity, food insecurity, always overlapping with children. I worked a lot in our institutional settings, healthcare settings … And then eventually found myself growing tired and impacted by those systems.’ – Taylor Nelson
While Taylor loved working in a clinical setting initially, it began to take a toll. Therefore, she pivoted and started working solo to continue serving her community on more of her own terms.
‘I realized that I couldn’t stay in [the system] if I wanted to be well, so then I built a place I could pivot to and hopefully not pivot from! … So that’s why I started my private practice: I wanted to protect my little corner of the world and do what I love.’ – Taylor Nelson
Why Taylor opened her own private practice
In 2023, Taylor opened up her private practice while she was still working in an agency to help make the transition a little easier financially.
She started her private practice by renting space to see her first clients one day a week, and she instantly knew that it was the best fit for her – to see clients as a practitioner.
‘I immediately fell in love with it … I loved the flexibility … and I really needed to design my own system, and I just wanted to invest in myself. I think I was done pouring my heart into a system that really didn’t align with how I wanted to be in the world, but was filled with brilliant people and incredible children. And so, I wanted to create a little corner somewhere!’ – Taylor Nelson
Initially, Taylor kept her private practice as a solo practitioner. After a few years, she began hiring her first staff. Now, building a space where practitioners feel creative, filled up, and filled with possibility is one of Taylor’s practice mottos, and the type of system she’s designing for her clinicians and clients.
Marketing the private practice
While Taylor has maintained her network from when she was a solo practitioner into becoming a group practice owner, there are a few networking techniques that she uses to make sure her clinicians have clients coming in often:
- Dropping off print materials at various locations, such as pediatrician offices, schools, and local community centers
- Following up regularly with networking points of contact
- Making sure that they have their most up-to-date contact information
- Being clear with expectations for referrals
‘I’m trying to make sure that I can still do what I love … I see an almost full-time caseload, and I really invest in wonderful support, so I have a content creator marketing person, an almost full-time admin, so I’m building the systems to make sure it supports me to be able to do what I do … We have grown quickly, and I’m grateful for that … but it does come with it’s own challenges as well of making sure that I’m still staying intentional with what we’re building.’ – Taylor Nelson
As the practice grows, Taylor is intentional about staying in touch with the practice’s heart-centered approach to their work, and to make the practice a place where the practitioners can also rest, nest, and be creative.
Taylor also invests a lot in building community networks, so most of the practice’s marketing comes from this community connection, which brings along warm referrals and word-of-mouth recommendations.
In a more fun marketing technique, Taylor’s private practice has sponsored a local children’s sports team, so the kids’ jerseys will have the practice name!
Taylor’s advice to listeners
There’s longevity in this work. So many people are starting from the beginning, or are further down the road, but all of this work is needed, necessary, and you are part of it!
Connect With Me
Resources Mentioned and Useful Links:
Sonya JF Barnett: Becoming a Private Practice Sex Therapist as a Second Career | EP 192
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
Jane App (use code FEARLESS2MO for two months free)
Get started with Hushmail here and get one month for free!
Learn more about Taylor on her personal website, private 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/.
