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Private Practice Elevation with Daniel Fava

Private Practice Elevation with Daniel Fava

233 episodes — Page 2 of 5

166. Demystifying WordPress: Understanding WordPress.com and WordPress.org for Private Practice Websites

In this episode of the Private Practice Elevation podcast, host Daniel Fava dives deep into the differences between WordPress.com and WordPress.org, helping private practice owners make informed decisions about their website platforms. Daniel seeks to remove the confusion that many people face when choosing between these two WordPress platforms. In fact, some don't even know that WordPress has TWO options for building a website with their platform. But there are, and many folks get confused or choose the wrong platform when building their first website for their private practice. In this episode, Daniel demystifies WordPress by breaking down the four main differences between Wordpress.com and Wordpress.org: ownership and control, cost, customization and flexibility, and maintenance and security. Each aspect is crucial for private practice owners to consider as they plan their online presence. With insightful comparisons and real-world examples, he guides listeners through the complexities of WordPress choices, making the decision clearer and more strategic for long-term practice growth. Key Takeaways: Ownership and Control: WordPress.org offers full control over customization, themes, and plugins, while WordPress.com provides a more managed but restrictive environment. Cost Considerations: WordPress.org requires paying for hosting and domain services, whereas WordPress.com uses a tiered pricing model with different levels of functionality. Customization and Flexibility: WordPress.org allows unlimited customization, making it ideal for growing practices, while WordPress.com is limited to predefined themes and plugins. Maintenance and Security: WordPress.org demands active management of updates and security, but offers complete control, while WordPress.com handles this for you in exchange for reduced flexibility. Future Proofing Your Practice: Starting with WordPress.org provides room for growth and prevents the need for future platform shifts, making it a robust option for long-term private practice elevation. Links mentioned in this episode: Article: What's the Difference Between WordPress.com & WordPress.org? Episode 131. Secure, Reliable, and Fast: The Benefits of Managed WordPress Hosting for Your Private Practice Website Our WordPress Care Plans & Hosting Get started with our services by scheduling a call

Aug 6, 202426 min

165. The Simplest Content Marketing Plan For Your Private Practice

In this episode of the Private Practice Elevation podcast, your host, Daniel Fava, dives deep into the simple essence of content marketing plans tailored for private practice growth. In the ever-evolving landscape of private practice, engaging with and attracting clients goes beyond face-to-face therapy sessions. An integral part of this modern approach to building a successful practice lies in a solid content marketing strategy. This means that you're consistently publishing and sharing new content on your website. But content marketing is not just about producing content; it's about creating a strategic roadmap to reach and engage with your target audience effectively. Daniel breaks down the concept into an easily digestible 3-step plan, showcasing the importance of having a structured approach to increase website traffic and highlight your services. Daniel underscores the key reasons for adopting a content marketing plan, emphasizing trust-building, client education, attracting the right clientele, maintaining connection with current clients, and distinguishing oneself from competitors. Later, he provides a simplified, yet potent three-step strategy Key Takeaways: Content is Key: A substantial content marketing plan cultivates trust, educates potential clients, attracts the right fit, keeps you connected with clients, and sets you apart from the competition. Three-Step Approach: Daniel lays out an approach starting with creating detailed service pages, supporting them with targeted blog posts, and then sharing the content across social media and Google Business profiles. Simple Execution: Daniel simplifies the concept of content marketing and suggests using a Google Sheet for blog post ideas, ensuring consistency in execution. SEO Focused: Emphasizing the importance of SEO, the content should be geared towards showcasing expertise in specific service areas. Commitment to Clients: A content marketing plan should resonate with your dedication to your clients by clearly communicating services and providing valuable information. Links mentioned in this episode: Schedule a Free Clarity Call today

Jul 23, 202419 min

164. 3 Key Shifts Every Therapist-Turned-Practice-Owner Must Make with David Sturgess

In this episode of the Private Practice Elevation podcast, host Daniel Fava welcomes David Sturgess, a seasoned mental health professional and business consultant, to discuss the pivotal shifts required when transitioning from therapist to business owner. The journey from being an agency therapist or employee to becoming a business owner of your private practice is filled with unique challenges and opportunities. For therapists considering this path, understanding the nuances of business, the value of time and money, and the intricacies of marketing can be the difference between thriving and merely surviving. David Sturgess has a compelling background in mental health, with over 16 years of experience in the field. His journey began as a 911 operator and first responder, which unfolded into a strong interest in psychology and led his current career. David worked for several years in youth residential treatment facilities and transitioned into private practice six years ago as a result of desiring to be more present for his family and to alleviate burnout. Currently, David is a consultant with Wise Practice Consulting, where he focuses on helping solo practice owners navigate the transition from clinical work to business ownership. In this episode, David imparts his insights on three major changes that are crucial for therapists ready to delve into the entrepreneurial world and see lasting success. Key Takeaways: Recognizing the need for assistance in business matters is critical for therapists transitioning into business ownership. Clinicians must adopt a realistic approach to time management and financial planning, ensuring their practice remains profitable. Investing in professional services such as website design can have a significant ROI and is essential for effective marketing. Understanding the role of a quality website as an always-on marketing tool can help improve visibility and attract potential clients. A niche focus can evolve and needs to be communicated effectively to reach the intended audience. Links mentioned in this episode: http://www.wisepracticeconsulting.com Schedule a free 30-minute consultation with David

Jul 8, 202448 min

163. SEO Success Story: How One Therapist Achieved a Fully Booked Calendar with Steve Cuffari

In this episode of the Private Practice Elevation podcast, host Daniel Fava interviews special guest Steve Cuffari, a marriage and family therapist and current client of Private Practice Elevation about his experience investing in SEO for his private practice. Daniel and the Private Practice Elevation team have been helping Steve expand his practice's visibility through SEO (Search Engine Optimization) for about two years now. Steve shares his journey of transitioning from working at an organization to starting his own private practice - without taking insurance from the get-go. He discusses the importance of investing in a website and SEO to attract clients and shares valuable insights on honing your message, tracking numbers, and staying competitive. Steve's story is a testament to the power of facing fears and investing in yourself to achieve success in private practice. Tune in to learn from his experiences and gain valuable tips for your own practice. In This Episode, You'll Learn: What led Steve to invest in a new website and especially place a high emphasis on SEO Why he chose to work with Private Practice Elevation The importance of facing his own fears and realizing that his own growth was worth investing in What made Steve stay the course and continue working on SEO for two years running The challenges he faced over the course of long-term SEO strategy building How we had to pivot his SEO approach at times to make sure his ideal local client could find him How SEO has impacted Steve's business for the better The key lessons Steve learned and things you need to know before you invest in SEO for your private practice The importance of knowing your numbers and tracking the data related to your website and conversions This Episode Is Brought To You By Alma is on a mission to simplify access to high-quality, affordable mental health care by giving providers the tools they need to build thriving in-network private practices. When providers join Alma, they gain access to insurance support, teletherapy software, client referrals, automated billing and scheduling tools, and a vibrant community of clinicians who come together for education, training, and events. Learn more about building a thriving private practice with Alma at helloalma.com/elevation. Links mentioned in this episode: In Touch Family Counseling - Steve's Private Practice Private Practice Elevation's SEO services Book - Donald Miller's Building A Storybrand (affiliate link)

Jun 25, 202447 min

162. Embracing The Rhythms of Life While Scaling A Group Practice with Amy Dover

Work-life balance is a myth! But rhythms of life and the changing of seasons are something that we can all embrace. In this episode, I sit down with Amy Dover, a seasoned therapist and successful group practice owner. Amy has an inspiring story of transitioning from various practice settings to building her own flourishing group practice in Enterprise, Alabama. Throughout our conversation, Amy opens up about the rapid growth of her practice and the different seasons she's experienced as an entrepreneur. We dive into the challenges of maintaining a healthy work-life balance and why Amy prefers to think in terms of finding a rhythm rather than balance. Because, honestly, balance never comes and only creates frustration. She shares her insights on how to adapt to the changing demands of personal life and business, providing valuable advice for anyone looking to grow their practice while staying grounded. Key Takeaways Rethinking Balance: Amy encourages us to move away from the rigid idea of work-life balance and instead find a rhythm that works for both our personal and professional lives. Embracing Seasons: Understanding and embracing different seasons—whether it's a time of rapid growth or a slower period—can help in managing personal and business development effectively. Managing Growth: Amy's journey emphasizes the importance of being a savvy businessperson. Knowing the financial and administrative aspects of your practice is essential for success, and requires a mindset shift from therapist to business owner. Leadership Lessons: Transitioning from a solo practice to a group practice requires continuous learning and adaptation in leadership styles and team dynamics. Consulting and Support: Having a mentor or joining a consulting group can provide crucial support and guidance through the stages of growing your practice. Amy's experience and wisdom offer a roadmap for navigating the complexities of practice growth while staying true to your values. Links mentioned in this episode: Wise Practice Consulting FREE Webinar: Is It Time To Grow? Should I Start a Group Practice? This Episode Is Brought To You By Alma is on a mission to simplify access to high-quality, affordable mental health care by giving providers the tools they need to build thriving in-network private practices. When providers join Alma, they gain access to insurance support, teletherapy software, client referrals, automated billing and scheduling tools, and a vibrant community of clinicians who come together for education, training, and events. Learn more about building a thriving private practice with Alma at helloalma.com/elevation.

Jun 11, 202434 min

161. Stepping Into Leadership While Scaling A Private Practice, with Joshua Rosenthal, PsyD

In this episode of The Private Practice Elevation Podcast, Daniel Fava and Dr. Joshua Rosenthal dive deep into the transformative journey from solo practice to a thriving group enterprise. Dr. Rosenthal shares his pearls of wisdom on leadership, emphasizing the importance of clarity in your professional and personal goals. He advocates for creating roles that align with your passions and strengths, a strategy that has proven successful for both him and his team. Discover how Dr. Rosenthal navigated the complexities of scaling a business, from the inception of the Big Apple Day program—a summer camp for children ages 6-12 with developmental, social and/or learning difficulties.—to fostering a culture of continuous improvement and reflection within his team of over 300. He candidly discusses the challenges of retention and the financial balancing act required to sustain growth. Dr. Rosenthal also unveils his evolved leadership approach, where he focuses on growth and empowering a core leadership team, ensuring that the quality of service remains consistent across the board. This top-down approach underscores the critical role of leadership in shaping employee experiences and, by extension, customer satisfaction. Join us in this episode as we unpack the highs and lows of growing in leadership as you step into private practice growth. Dr. Rosenthal's story is not just about the success of his practice but also about the resilience, adaptability, and strategic thinking that are the hallmarks of effective leadership. Key Takeaways: Joshua Rosenthal, PsyD, shares several key takeaways from his experience in building and managing his private practice, then a summer camp, and later, his role as a CEO. Here are the main points: Difficulty and Opportunity: Rosenthal emphasizes that the difficulty of starting a venture is essential, as it allows for the discovery of opportunities and growth. He acknowledges that the process was hard and that he could not replicate it now, but at the time, it was the right fit. Staff Retention and Financial Challenges: Hiring good people was only part of the challenge; retaining them as the camp grew and expenses increased became a significant issue. Despite increasing costs, there was a limit to how much the camp fees could be raised, leading to financial strain. Leadership and Team Dynamics: Rosenthal learned about leadership, team cohesiveness, and the importance of reflecting on what works and what doesn't. This iterative process was crucial for personal growth and improving the camp each year. Trust and Business Relationships: He discusses the importance of trust in business relationships, even though it comes with the risk of being hurt. His experiences shaped his decision-making and ultimately contributed to his success. CEO Role Evolution: Rosenthal's role as CEO evolved from micromanaging to focusing on supporting his leadership team. He stopped seeing patients to concentrate on business growth, profitability, and new service lines. He also highlights the importance of having a leadership team that can manage different aspects of the business, allowing him to focus on growth and strategic planning. Importance of Leadership: The CEO's mood and approach can significantly impact the entire company. Rosenthal stresses that leadership starts at the top and that the experiences customers have are a reflection of the company's leadership. Starting with an MVP: The camp began with a minimal viable product and evolved significantly over time. Rosenthal followed an organic growth approach, letting the project develop naturally without forcing it. Free Guide From Our Sponsor: Building Your Dream Caseload Growing a caseload of clients you're passionate about working with can help you build a career that's both impactful and sustainable. But it's often easier said than done — which is why our sponsor, Alma, has created a guide to help you identify and connect with clients who fit your practice.

May 28, 202440 min

160. The Power of Mentorship in Private Practice with Steve Bisson

In this conversation with Steve Bisson, you'll learn all about mentorship - both giving and receiving - within private practice. Steve discusses both his personal experience and the broader implications of mentorship in the professional development of therapists and mental health workers. The episode delves into the core facets of finding and offering guidance in an often complex and challenging career path. Throughout the episode, we unpack the nuanced differences between mentorship and other forms of professional development tools such as business coaching, as well as the organic nature of establishing pivotal mentoring relationships. The discussion emphasizes the importance of authenticity and trust in these relationships, illustrating how mentorship can significantly influence personal growth and career progression. The episode is filled with anecdotes and strategic advice, inviting both new practitioners and experienced professionals to consider the impact of mentorship on their journey through the mental health field. Key Takeaways: Mentorship can be a pivotal factor in the personal and professional development of mental health professionals, often provided informally and based on mutual respect. The difference between business coaching and mentorship lies in the financial component and the structure; mentorship is often more organic and less goal-oriented. Seeking out mentors or becoming a mentor is an exercise in generosity, leveraging one's experience and knowledge to empower others. It's crucial to establish mentoring relationships that feel authentic and comfortable for true growth and learning. Mentorship extends beyond monetary value and is deeply rooted in the spirit of giving and leaving a legacy.

May 13, 202436 min

159. Podcast Takeover with Liz Fava

In this special episode of the Private Practice Elevation Podcast, Liz Fava, wife of host Daniel Fava, flips the tables around and interviews Daniel. If you've listened to this podcast for some time, you've likely gotten a small glimpse into Daniel's life and Private Practice Elevation. But have you ever wondered how this all got started? What was Daniel doing prior to helping therapists level up their private practices? What did it look like in 2016 when Daniel took a leap of faith and started his business? What does the PPE team look like now and what services do they offer and why? What does the future look like for PPE? And, of course, what are some of Daniel's favorites? Such as food, drink, books, etc. In a candid conversation with his wife Liz Fava on his podcast, Daniel Fava, the founder of Private Practice Elevation, opens up about the origins of his online marketing agency, the services it offers, and his journey through entrepreneurship and life. Daniel also reveals his favorite aspects of his role and personal interests. Tune in to gain insights into the world of private practice elevation and learn more about Daniel's expertise in helping therapists succeed online. In This Episode, You'll Learn: Daniel's background from college to early work in marketing agencies and how he fell in love with website design What Daniel was doing before launching his business and his role in marketing for a non-profit organization The challenges of leaving a full-time job to transition to building a business How Private Practice Elevation transitioned from a focus on courses to full-service website design, development, and SEO catered to therapists Insights on building a team and how hiring has helped Daniel improve services to serve clients better All the current roles that Daniel's team plays at Private Practice Elevation How Private Practice Elevation's services have evolved over the years and why Daniel decided to focus solely on website design and development and SEO An overview of Private Practice Elevation's current services and what each of them provides for therapists and private practices Lots of candid responses about the challenges of growing a business Plus Daniel's personal favorites in food, drinks, movies, books etc.

Apr 30, 202438 min

158. Defining Your Business' Core Values (And What Ours Are)

In this episode of the Private Practice Elevation podcast, host Daniel Fava dives deep into the significance of establishing core values for your private practice. Crafting core values goes beyond traditional marketing—these guiding principles shape the culture, decision-making, and strategic direction of your therapy practice. After sharing about what core values are, Daniel transitions into a solo discussion on the essence of core values and their profound impact on business operations. He delves into the purpose of having core values, including aligning your team's actions, enhancing company culture, and influencing how you serve clients. Through three main tips, Daniel illuminates the process of creating actionable and meaningful core values. In the candid sharing of Private Practice Elevation's own set of core values, you'll gain insights not only into building your own values but also into the ethos that guides Daniel's successful team at PPE. Tune in to the full episode for a dive into the world of private practice core values with Daniel Fava, and stay connected with Private Practice Elevation for more invaluable lessons to take your practice to new heights. Key Takeaways: Core values are the fundamental beliefs that guide your private practice's culture, decision-making, and actions. The process of creating core values should involve reflecting on your practice's mission, involving your team, and striving for simplicity and actionability. Private Practice Elevation's core values include striving for excellence, leading with authenticity, being creative, displaying kindness, and ensuring accountability. Core values are crucial not only for internal governance but also for building trust with clients and setting a standard in the industry. Regular review and adherence to core values are essential for business growth and team leadership.

Apr 16, 202423 min

157. How to Position Yourself As the #1 Trusted Practice In Your Community with Brent Stutzman

In this episode of the Private Practice Elevation podcast, host Daniel Fava interviews Brent Stutzman on how to position yourself as the number one trusted therapy practice in your area. With around seven years of experience, Brent ventured into the marketing realm when his wife, a therapist, decided to start her own private practice. His journey began with branding and marketing, which he mastered through self-learning due to budget constraints. He successfully launched 'Kid Matters Counseling' with his wife, achieving a waiting list status before its onset. Eventually, Brent expanded his expertise to help other therapists establish and grow their practices, learning the critical importance of positioning as a trusted authority in the market. He also has launched TheraSaas, a powerful CRM for private practices. His work is significantly impacted by the StoryBrand framework, which he has adeptly applied to launch over twelve practices across the country. As a certified Storybrand Guide, Brent emphasizes the power of storytelling and how therapists can become trusted guides for their clients. Brent states that this transition - moving from YOU being the center of your marketing to having your clients be the hero - has the potential to help take your marketing to a new level of success. In this episode, Brent provides five steps to establish yourself as a guide, including demonstrating empathy, providing a sense of safety, demonstrating authority, illuminating the problem, providing a plan, and calling the hero to action. Tune in to learn how to position yourself as the go-to practice in your community. In This Episode, You'll Learn: The brain's role in survival and calorie conservation - and what this means for your marketing The Importance of clear and simple communication to engage potential clients The importance of storytelling in building trust and positioning oneself as a guide for your ideal clients The shift from telling your own story to inviting clients into a story where they are the hero The need for clear and simple communication to capture and maintain attention Brent's five steps to establish trust and position oneself as a guide Examples of guides in literature and movies, such as Dumbledore in Harry Potter and Gandalf in Lord of the Rings. Brent Stutzman highlights the importance of guides demonstrating empathy and providing a sense of safety How to be the guide while still demonstrating authority and expertise Brent Stutzman shares how to position yourself as a guide. Website and copywriting tips to position yourself as a guide and call your clients to action The ultimate transformation in your marketing: when heroes become guides This Episode Is Brought To You By Alma is on a mission to simplify access to high-quality, affordable mental health care by giving providers the tools they need to build thriving in-network private practices. When providers join Alma, they gain access to insurance support, teletherapy software, client referrals, automated billing and scheduling tools, and a vibrant community of clinicians who come together for education, training, and events. Learn more about building a thriving private practice with Alma at helloalma.com/elevation. Links mentioned in this episode: Brandyourpractice.com TheraSaas Website Free Course: How to Turn Calls Into Clients Ultimate Guide to Growing a Private Pay Practice Building A Story Brand by Donald Miller (affiliate link) Kid Matters Couseling

Apr 9, 202446 min

156. Cultivating Clinical Confidence in Private Practice w/ Shannon Heers

In this episode of the Private Practice Elevation podcast, host Daniel Fava sits down with Shannon Heers to discuss the topic of cultivating clinical confidence in private practice. This conversation offers an in-depth look into the struggles that therapists often face, including impostor syndrome and the feeling of isolation when stepping out into the entrepreneurial world of private practice. Together, they unpack strategies for growing confidence as a clinician, providing high-quality service to clients, and finding the necessary support systems. Shannon Heers shares insights from her extensive experience in the realm of clinical supervision, highlighting the common issue of impostor syndrome among private practice therapists and the importance of developing a solid theoretical framework to guide interventions. She emphasizes the value of connecting with others to overcome feelings of being overwhelmed or isolated within the practice. With practical tips and relatable anecdotes, this episode aims to empower private practice therapists to build their confidence and extend their support networks. The discussion delves into Shannon Heers' unique approach with Firelight Supervision, and how the resources provided there, such as group and individual consultation, can play a pivotal role in a clinician's professional development and personal growth. This episode not only explores the challenges therapists face but also offers actionable solutions to help them thrive in their practices and as business owners. Key Takeaways: Developing clinical confidence is a continuous journey, and seeking support through supervision and consultation can significantly help. Impostor syndrome is a widespread issue among therapists, particularly when beginning private practice or encountering new challenges. Having a strong theoretical orientation or framework can provide direction and improve confidence when working with clients. Connection and community are crucial; therapists should find their "clinical support" to share struggles and triumphs with, ensuring they don't feel alone in their journey. Firelight Supervision offers a myriad of resources, including a free clinical confidence ebook and various consultation services. This Episode Is Brought To You By Alma is on a mission to simplify access to high-quality, affordable mental health care by giving providers the tools they need to build thriving in-network private practices. When providers join Alma, they gain access to insurance support, teletherapy software, client referrals, automated billing and scheduling tools, and a vibrant community of clinicians who come together for education, training, and events. Learn more about building a thriving private practice with Alma at helloalma.com/elevation.

Mar 19, 202426 min

155. The Tools We Use Most for Building and Marketing Private Practice Websites

The digital age has opened up a plethora of opportunities for private practice owners to expand their reach and refine their marketing strategies. Yet, with an overwhelming array of tools and resources available, deciphering which ones truly bolster one's online presence can be a daunting task. So, in this episode of the Private Practice Elevation podcast, we shed light on the most effective platforms and strategies for private practice marketing—straight from an agency that uses them. We'll dive deep into the treasure trove of tools and platforms that can significantly ease the journey of building a private practice website and mastering online marketing. These insights are not just mere tips but are used by the Private Practice Elevation team to optimize and streamline processes both internally and for clients. From website-building basics to advanced SEO tactics, we'll outline the comprehensive lineup of resources that power successful online presences for private practices. Whether it's WordPress with its unlimited customization possibilities, the user-friendly and visually engaging Divi theme, or the security-strong hosting services of Flywheel, we're going to unpack our own digital toolkit that makes practice marketing effective and efficient. As an added layer, we'll touch on analytics with Google Analytics, email marketing with ConvertKit, and the webinar-hosting capabilities of Easy Webinar. Listen up and discover new tools and resources to help you on your private practice website-building journey. This Episode Is Brought To You By Alma is on a mission to simplify access to high-quality, affordable mental health care by giving providers the tools they need to build thriving in-network private practices. When providers join Alma, they gain access to insurance support, teletherapy software, client referrals, automated billing and scheduling tools, and a vibrant community of clinicians who come together for education, training, and events. Learn more about building a thriving private practice with Alma at helloalma.com/elevation.

Mar 6, 202439 min

154. Finding Fun and Self-Compassion in Building a Business with Jane Carter

In this episode of The Private Practice Elevation Podcast, Daniel Fava had a conversation with Jane Carter, a therapist and business coach for solopreneurs. The episode focused on the importance of bringing fun and self-compassion into the process of building a business. While building a business can be hard and challenging, finding ways to make it fun is essential to avoid burnout and maintain motivation. Throughout the conversation, Jane and Daniel discussed the significance of self-awareness, reframing negative thoughts, and seeking support from others in navigating the ups and downs of entrepreneurship. The themes discussed in this conversation provide valuable insights and strategies for entrepreneurs to build successful businesses while maintaining their well-being and sense of self. Key Takeaways: Building a business should be fun, as it helps solopreneurs avoid burnout and stay motivated. Storytelling is an effective marketing strategy that can make business more engaging and enjoyable. Solopreneurs should practice self-compassion and separate their own responsibility from unnecessary blame or shame. Having a support system of friends, coaches, or therapists can provide empathy, reflection, and encouragement to solopreneurs. Solopreneurs can reframe their stories and approach problems as leaders, taking ownership and finding solutions.

Feb 20, 202437 min

153. Using Paid Ads to Grow Your Private Practice with Joshua Brummel

In this episode of the Private Practice Elevation podcast, host Daniel Fava sits down with Joshua Brummel, co-founder of Therapy Flow, to delve into the intricacies of using paid ads to elevate private practices. The conversation kicks off with a glimpse into Joshua's background and how Therapy Flow evolved from a marketing agency into a specialized service for therapists. The company now offers a "done for you" practice development program that focuses on implementing digital strategies like Google Ads and Facebook ads, along with a HIPAA-compliant CRM system. Their discussion covers crucial elements for success in paid advertising, emphasizing the importance of a website that converts traffic effectively. They highlight the need for clear tracking mechanisms to gauge the return on investment (ROI) from ads. Joshua stresses the significance of having a solid sales process in place before diving into paid advertising to ensure that potential client inquiries translate into actual conversions. The conversation extends to the expectations from the initial phase of running paid ad campaigns. They spotlight the learning period of 3-7 days where data acquisition occurs, advising patience and observation before making adjustments. They also explore the calculation of ROI from ads, emphasizing the importance of understanding the lifetime value of a client to accurately gauge the success of ad campaigns. Joshua emphasizes that while paid ads require meticulous attention to detail, they can serve as a powerful growth accelerator for practices, offering a rapid influx of inquiries and clients when managed effectively. He presents paid ads as a "dial experience," a tool that allows practices to control and intensify their referral volumes swiftly, complementing long-term strategies like SEO. In conclusion, the episode emphasizes the symbiotic relationship between long-term strategies like SEO and short-term boosts from paid ads, advocating for a strategic balance between the two for sustained practice growth. In This Episode, You'll Learn: The big picture of paid ads and user intent. Evolution and competition in paid ad platforms. Joshua Brummel's experience with managing ad spend. Recommended starting budget for Google Ads for therapy practices. Using Facebook and Instagram ads for lower budgets. Importance of having a website that converts before investing. Importance of website conversion for successful Google ads Evaluating the effectiveness of ads and sales process New, more, better framework for website and ads Learning period of 3-7 days for ads Tracking conversions and intake process for success Google ads work best for practices with existing clients Calculating return on investment for ads Determining lifetime value of therapy clients to determine ad budget Ads as a profitable source for consistent client acquisition How paid ads can provide a quick return on investment for therapy practices Technical details of running ads can be complex and time-consuming How using both paid ads and SEO can provide stability and growth

Feb 6, 202438 min

152. How To Optimize Images for SEO on Your Private Practice Website

Introduction In the world of SEO (Search Engine Optimization), text-based content often takes center stage. Those who have done any work on their website's SEO, you likely have spent a significant effort in crafting compelling articles, adding content to your pages, and optimizing keywords. However, in the pursuit of improving website rankings, one vital element is often overlooked—images. In this episode of The Private Practice Elevation Podcast, we'll explore the importance of optimizing images for SEO and provide you with tips and tricks to ensure your visual content doesn't go unnoticed by search engines. Why Image Optimization Matters for SEO Enhanced User Experience: High-quality, well-optimized images can significantly enhance the user experience on your website. Fast-loading pages with attractive visuals keep visitors engaged and reduce bounce rates, which are crucial ranking factors for search engines. Ranking in Google Images: Google Images is a popular search engine in its own right. Optimized images have a better chance of ranking here, driving additional organic traffic to your website. This is particularly advantageous if your site relies heavily on visual content, such as e-commerce stores or photography portfolios. Page Loading Speed: Image optimization plays a crucial role in improving page loading speed. Slow-loading pages can result in a poor user experience and negatively affect your SEO rankings. Compressed and properly sized images can help mitigate this issue. Mobile Optimization: With the increasing use of mobile devices for web browsing, image optimization becomes even more critical. Smaller file sizes ensure faster load times on mobile networks and better performance for mobile users. Tips and Tricks for Optimizing Images for SEO Choose the Right File Format: The most common image formats are JPEG, PNG, and GIF. JPEG is ideal for photographs and complex images, while PNG is better for images with transparency. Use GIFs for animations. Choosing the right format can significantly impact image quality and file size. Resize Images: Before uploading, resize your images to the exact dimensions needed for your website. This reduces unnecessary file size and ensures a faster loading time. Compression: Use image compression tools or plugins to reduce file sizes without sacrificing quality. There are many online tools and WordPress plugins available for this purpose. Descriptive Filenames: Give your image files descriptive filenames that include relevant keywords. For example, instead of "IMG001.jpg," use "red-convertible-car.jpg" if the image depicts a red convertible car. This helps search engines understand the image's content. Alt Text: Always include descriptive alt text for your images. Alt text not only improves accessibility for visually impaired users but also provides search engines with context about the image. Use relevant keywords naturally within the alt text. Image Titles: Consider adding titles to your images, but use them sparingly and make sure they are concise and descriptive. Monitor Performance: Regularly monitor your website's performance, including image load times. Tools like Google PageSpeed Insights and GTmetrix can help identify areas for improvement. Conclusion Optimizing images for SEO on your private practice website is a crucial yet often overlooked aspect of digital marketing. By following these strategies, you can enhance your website's user experience, improve page load times, and increase your visibility in search engine results, including Google Images. Remember that SEO is an ongoing process, and regularly optimizing your images is essential to maintaining and improving your website's performance in the ever-competitive online landscape. Start prioritizing image optimization today and reap the benefits of improved search engine rankings and user engagement.

Jan 23, 202421 min

151. Building an Unbreakable Life and Business: Overcoming Adversity and Finding Success with Soribel Martinez

In this episode of The Private Practice Elevation Podcast, we delve into the inspiring story of Soribel Martinez, a licensed clinical social worker and CEO of SM Psychotherapy and Counseling Services. Soribel shares her journey of overcoming adversity, including a life-threatening health condition, and how she used these experiences to build an unbreakable life and business. Through her personal story and professional expertise, Soribel provides valuable insights and strategies for aligning purpose, mindset, marketing and hiring to create a resilient and successful business. Soribel Martinez's story is one of resilience and determination. Born in the Dominican Republic, Soribel faced the challenges of immigration and the loss of her cultural identity at a young age. However, her journey took an unexpected turn when she was diagnosed with two brain aneurysms. This life-altering event forced Soribel to confront her mortality and reevaluate her purpose in life. Soribel's journey towards building an unbreakable life and business began with a shift in mindset. She realized that dwelling on negative thoughts and worst-case scenarios would only hinder her ability to live fully for her son. With the help of a psychologist, Soribel learned to shift her perception and embrace the opportunities that adversity presents. And now, as a business coach, she helps others do the same. Listen to the episode as Soribel unpacks her framework for overcoming adversity and finding success, plus a ton of other marketing strategies and tips you can apply to your own private practice. In This Episode, We Discuss: Soribel's incredible story of how she worked through a health diagnosis Using self-analysis and understanding of how you got there to create a path forward Keys to finding opportunities in adversity How to grow outside of your comfort zone Shifting mindset and perception after receiving bad news Building a waitlist and growing the private practice The importance of creating a business plan and marketing strategy Staying focused on goals and avoiding distractions Building a crisis-proof business with the right mindset Importance of marketing and having a marketing budget Hiring and onboarding process for growth and demand fulfillment Importance of building a business mindset and hiring strategies Key elements of the marketing plan: digital marketing, social media presence Utilizing Google Ads, Facebook ads, SEO, and email marketing

Jan 8, 202439 min

2023 Year In Review

A quick podcast episode where I share a little behind-the-scenes of 2023 at Private Practice Elevation.

Dec 23, 202314 min

150. Crafting an Effective and High Converting Contact Page for Your Private Practice Website

In this episode of the Private Practice Elevation Podcast, we are delving deep into the art of crafting an effective and high-converting contact page for your private practice website. Your private practice website is more than just an online presence or an online business card. It is your gateway to connecting with clients, helping them find the support they need, and ultimately growing your private practice. At the heart of this journey lies your contact page, a crucial element in the conversion process on your website. Your contact page is where visitors take that crucial step of reaching out and booking appointments or learning more about your practice. It is not just about design; it is about creating a seamless, inviting experience that encourages visitors to take action. In this episode, Daniel Fava explores ten tips to help you create a seamless and inviting contact page that encourages visitors to take that crucial step of reaching out and booking appointments or learning more about your therapy practice. Key Takeaways: Keep the contact page simple and inviting to avoid overwhelming visitors. Prioritize the contact form by prominently displaying it above the fold. Create an engaging headline that incites action and leads visitors to the contact form. Provide multiple contact options, such as phone, email, and a contact form, to cater to different preferences. Add trust-building elements, such as testimonials or certifications, to instill confidence in visitors. Use a clear call to action on buttons to let visitors know what will happen when they click. Optimize the contact page for mobile devices to accommodate the majority of users. Ensure privacy and security by mentioning your commitment to privacy and using SSL encryption. Implement CAPTCHA or other spam protection measures to prevent unwanted submissions. Test and monitor the contact page to track conversions and make improvements over time. This Episode Is Brought To You By Alma is on a mission to simplify access to high-quality, affordable mental health care by giving providers the tools they need to build thriving in-network private practices. When providers join Alma, they gain access to insurance support, teletherapy software, client referrals, automated billing and scheduling tools, and a vibrant community of clinicians that come together for education, training, and events. Alma gives clinicians the tools they need to build thriving private practices. When you join their insurance program, you can get credentialed within 45 days, and access enhanced reimbursement rates with major payers. They also handle all of the paperwork, from eligibility checks to claims submissions, and guarantee payment within two weeks of each appointment. In addition to their insurance program, Alma offers timesaving tools and administrative support — so you can spend less time on paperwork, and more time delivering great care to your clients. Learn more about building a thriving private practice with Alma at helloalma.com/elevation. 10 Tips For Crafting an Effective and High Converting Contact Page for Your Private Practice Website 1. Keep it Simple and Inviting The first rule of an effective contact page is to keep it simple. We want to create a clean and uncluttered design that invites visitors in and makes it clear what they need to do on the page. Look at other websites, both within your industry and outside of it, to get ideas on how to create a simple and inviting contact page. The goal is to make it easy for visitors to understand what they need to do and to lead them into taking that next step. 2. Prioritize the Form The contact form is the main attraction of your contact page. It should be prominently displayed, preferably above the fold, so that visitors can easily find it without scrolling down. Include fields for name, email, phone number, and a message box for longer messages. Over time, you can customize the form to fit the specific needs of your practice, such as asking for the best time to call back for a consultation. The key is to keep the form simple and efficient for your practice. 3. Create an Engaging Headline At the top of your contact page, create an engaging headline that invites action. This could be something like "Ready to take the first step towards a happier you?" or "Get in touch to schedule your free consultation." The goal is to incite action and lead visitors to the contact form, which should be prominently displayed right below the headline. 4. Provide Multiple Contact Options While the contact form is the main focus of your contact page, it is important to offer multiple contact options to cater to different preferences. Some visitors may prefer speaking directly, while others may be more comfortable with written communication. Along with the contact form, include options such as phone, email, and even a link to your Google Business profile. This allows visitors to choose the method of contact that they are most comfortable

Dec 18, 202320 min

149. How To Maximize Your Psychology Today Profile to Grow Your Private Practice w/Omar Ruiz

Psychology Today is a powerful marketing tool that many therapists and private practices rely on to attract clients, especially in the early stages of growing a practice. However, not everyone knows how to utilize this platform to its full potential effectively. In this episode of The Private Practice Elevation Podcast, we will delve into the insights shared by Omar Ruiz, a therapist and business coach, on maximizing your Psychology Today profile. By following his tips and strategies, therapists can improve their online presence and generate more client referrals. What You'll Learn About Maximizing Your Psychology Today Profile: Omar's private practice journey and the ups and downs that led him to become an expert in using Psychology Today to get clients The difference between browsers and buyers on Psychology Today Tips for optimizing the profile picture and first four lines on Psychology Today The importance of evoking emotion and offering hope in the profile description Providing concrete value in the profile description instead of focusing on certifications Including a call to action in the profile description Tips for using an intro video, additional photos, and keywords on Psychology Today Strategic use of keywords from the issues section in the personal statement Importance of optimizing Psychology Today profile for visibility Adding italicized snippets to your profile for increased visibility Strategic use of location to improve visibility Choosing less saturated and competitive areas for visibility Using Psychology Today as a supplemental referral source Private pay clients may have different experiences with Psychology Today Investing in SEO and having a website for long-term marketing This Episode Is Brought To You By Alma is on a mission to simplify access to high-quality, affordable mental health care by giving providers the tools they need to build thriving in-network private practices. When providers join Alma, they gain access to insurance support, teletherapy software, client referrals, automated billing and scheduling tools, and a vibrant community of clinicians that come together for education, training, and events. Alma gives clinicians the tools they need to build thriving private practices. When you join their insurance program, you can get credentialed within 45 days, and access enhanced reimbursement rates with major payers. They also handle all of the paperwork, from eligibility checks to claims submissions, and guarantee payment within two weeks of each appointment. In addition to their insurance program, Alma offers timesaving tools and administrative support — so you can spend less time on paperwork, and more time delivering great care to your clients. Learn more about building a thriving private practice with Alma at helloalma.com/elevation. Links mentioned in this episode: Psychology Today Online Private Practice Website Omar's YouTube channel Facebook Get More Views of Your Psychology Today Profile: Key Takeaways Psychology Today is a directory site that connects therapists with potential clients. It is essential to understand the behavior of clients using this platform in order to effectively market your services. Ruiz categorizes clients into two groups: browsers and buyers. Browsers are simply scrolling through the search results, while buyers are using the filtering options to find a therapist who can address their specific needs. 4 Tips To Improve Your Psychology Today Profile To capture the attention of buyers, therapists must optimize their profile in several key areas. Ruiz provides a step-by-step guide to help therapists create a compelling profile that resonates with potential clients. 1. Profile Picture The profile picture is the first impression potential clients have of you. It is crucial to present yourself professionally and authentically. Ruiz advises therapists to use a high-quality headshot, taken with a good camera or smartphone. The photo should be well-lit, with the therapist looking directly at the camera and smiling confidently. Avoid using selfies or pictures with pets, as this is a professional platform and not a dating site. 2. The First Four Lines The first four lines of your profile are crucial for capturing the attention of potential clients. Ruiz suggests using two questions and a leading statement to evoke emotion and curiosity. By addressing the client's pain points and offering hope, therapists can entice potential clients to click on their profile. For example, if you specialize in couples therapy for infidelity, you might ask, "Are you thinking about filing for divorce after discovering your partner's infidelity? Are you finding yourself stressed out or in crying spells because you can't stop thinking about the text message you found? If you're struggling to trust and have faith in your relationship, it might be best..." 3. The Profile Content The content of your profile should provide value to potential clients. Instead of focusing on your c

Dec 12, 202342 min

148. What Therapists Need to Know About AI w/ Rebekah Hudson

In this episode of The Private Practice Elevation Podcast, we're going to dive deep into what therapists need to know about using AI for writing their marketing material. Artificial intelligence (AI) has become a prominent tool in various industries, including marketing. AI writing generators have gained popularity, offering a solution for those who struggle with writing or need content quickly. AI has simply changed content creation forever. The amount of time AI can save you as you create content, such as articles for your website and social media posts, is amazing. And it can be really tempting to outsource all your marketing copywriting to this powerful new tool. But before you hand the keys over to ChatGPT or other tools, it's important to understand the limitations and the ethics of using AI. My conversation with Rebekah Hudson, a freelance marketing professional in the mental health industry, discusses the ethical concerns and limitations of using AI writing in marketing for therapists. She highlights the controversy surrounding AI writing and the potential for plagiarism. She also explains the limitations of AI writing, including issues with quality, accuracy, originality, brand voice, and search engine optimization. Despite these limitations, she offers tips for using AI writing effectively, such as fact-checking and using multiple plagiarism-checking tools. Hudson emphasizes the importance of maintaining a unique and authentic brand voice in order to connect with clients. What You'll Learn About AI: Introduction to the topic of AI in marketing Ethical concerns surrounding AI writing Ownership and copyright issues with AI-generated content Concerns about the credibility and reputation of AI-generated literature The Five major limitations of AI writing Suggestions to avoid relying on AI writing for SEO The importance and irreplaceable need for the human element in writing Top Tips for using AI writing effectively. Tips include fact-checking and not relying on AI as an editor How to compare AI-generated content with human-written content to determine quality. Recommended tools for plagiarism checking include Grammarly and DupliChecker. This Episode is Brought To You By Alma is on a mission to simplify access to high-quality, affordable mental health care by giving providers the tools they need to build thriving in-network private practices. When providers join Alma, they gain access to insurance support, teletherapy software, client referrals, automated billing and scheduling tools, and a vibrant community of clinicians that come together for education, training, and events. Alma gives clinicians the tools they need to build thriving private practices. When you join their insurance program, you can get credentialed within 45 days, and access enhanced reimbursement rates with major payers. They also handle all of the paperwork, from eligibility checks to claims submissions, and guarantee payment within two weeks of each appointment. In addition to their insurance program, Alma offers timesaving tools and administrative support — so you can spend less time on paperwork, and more time delivering great care to your clients. Learn more about building a thriving private practice with Alma at helloalma.com/elevation. Links mentioned in this episode: Duplichecker Grammarly alwaysrebekah.com

Nov 27, 202341 min

147. Strategies For Marketing a Holistic Therapy Practice with Chris McDonald

In this episode of The Private Practice Elevation Podcast, we will explore the journey of Chris McDonald, a licensed therapist and holistic practitioner, as she built her private practice. We will delve into the challenges she faced, the strategies she employed, and the impact of integrating holistic modalities into her therapy work with clients. Chris embarked on a journey to build a holistic therapy practice after leaving her job as a school counselor. With a passion for holistic modalities and a desire to integrate them into her practice, Chris set out to build a private practice that would cater to clients seeking a different approach to therapy, as well as fulfilling her own passions. Listen to her journey about how she created a practice that was authentic to her and the strategies she uses to market her holistic therapy practice. In This Episode, You'll Learn: How networking and consultation groups can provide a stream of referrals in your holistic therapy practice How incorporating holistic modalities into therapy can attract clients who are seeking a different approach The importance of your website's about page and how you can talk about what you do in a way that helps you stand out from other therapists This Episode is Brought To You By Alma is on a mission to simplify access to high-quality, affordable mental health care by giving providers the tools they need to build thriving in-network private practices. When providers join Alma, they gain access to insurance support, teletherapy software, client referrals, automated billing and scheduling tools, and a vibrant community of clinicians that come together for education, training, and events. Alma gives clinicians the tools they need to build thriving private practices. When you join their insurance program, you can get credentialed within 45 days, and access enhanced reimbursement rates with major payers. They also handle all of the paperwork, from eligibility checks to claims submissions, and guarantee payment within two weeks of each appointment. In addition to their insurance program, Alma offers timesaving tools and administrative support — so you can spend less time on paperwork, and more time delivering great care to your clients. Learn more about building a thriving private practice with Alma at helloalma.com/elevation.

Nov 14, 202327 min

146. How to move out of old emotional patterns and bring more of your authentic self into your work with Christie Pearl

In this episode of The Private Practice Elevation Podcast, EMDR therapist and consultant Christy Pearl delves into the impact of childhood emotional patterns on our professional lives. She emphasizes that most people have experienced some form of insecure attachment or emotional abandonment in their early family life, which can influence decision-making and the way we show up in our careers. Christy explains that these patterns can manifest in various ways, such as struggling with boundaries, handling money, and feeling reactive rather than responsive in professional settings. She highlights the importance of doing our own healing work and cultivating self-compassion and curiosity to overcome these patterns. Christy also emphasizes the role of the body in healing and suggests that accessing our unconscious material is crucial for aligning our thinking brain with our emotional and physical memory. If you're feeling stuck, under-confident as a leader, or you've seen how certain situations trigger you in your private practice, this episode will help guide you toward healing and growth. Key Takeaways: Unresolved emotional patterns from childhood can impact decision-making and the way we show up in our careers. Many people are surprised to discover that these patterns also affect their professional lives. Doing our own healing work is essential for showing up in a grounded and present manner. Cultivating self-compassion and curiosity can help us overcome negative self-talk and shame. Accessing our unconscious material is crucial for aligning our thinking brain with our emotional and physical memory. Links Mentioned in This Episode: www.christiepearl.com This Episode is Brought To You By Alma is on a mission to simplify access to high-quality, affordable mental health care by giving providers the tools they need to build thriving in-network private practices. When providers join Alma, they gain access to insurance support, teletherapy software, client referrals, automated billing and scheduling tools, and a vibrant community of clinicians that come together for education, training, and events. Alma gives clinicians the tools they need to build thriving private practices. When you join their insurance program, you can get credentialed within 45 days, and access enhanced reimbursement rates with major payers. They also handle all of the paperwork, from eligibility checks to claims submissions, and guarantee payment within two weeks of each appointment. In addition to their insurance program, Alma offers timesaving tools and administrative support — so you can spend less time on paperwork, and more time delivering great care to your clients. Learn more about building a thriving private practice with Alma at helloalma.com/elevation. About Christie Pearl Christie Pearl is a Certified EMDR Therapist and EMDR Consultant in private practice with over 18 years of experience in the mental health field. She specializes in EMDR Intensive Therapy for Adult Children of Alcoholics and Dysfunctional Families who are struggling with work stress and performance anxiety. She helps Adult Children create a healthier relationship with work so that they can own their brilliance and be who they want to be today, instead of who they had to be as children. Her mission is to inspire, encourage and equip Adult Children on their journey to reconnecting with their authentic selves. The Impact of Childhood Emotional Patterns on Professional Life The Impact on Parenting and Personal Relationships Pearl highlights that these unresolved emotional patterns not only affect our professional lives but also spill over into our parenting and personal relationships. She explains that many individuals who have experienced emotional immaturity or dysfunction in their own upbringing struggle to show up as the parents they want to be. They may feel guilt and shame for not being able to break free from these patterns and may find themselves repeating the same dynamics with their own children. "The best thing you can do for your kids is what you're sitting here with me doing right now for yourself. And in my experience, most people, at least most adult children that I work with, have an easier time accessing that inner loving place within themselves for their kids or for other people. And it's a matter of learning how to turn some of that compassion and grace towards yourself." - Christy Pearl Navigating Emotional Patterns in the Professional World Pearl acknowledges that running a business can be a catalyst for uncovering and addressing these emotional patterns. As business owners, we are faced with various challenges, including client relationships, financial decisions, and time management. These challenges often trigger our unresolved emotional wounds and can lead to reactivity, self-sabotage, and difficulty in setting boundaries. "I think there's a really good reason for that, which is we might have adapted early on in our early life by really learning ho

Oct 30, 202341 min

145. Increase Your Financial Returns in Private Practice with Ryan Derousseau

In this episode of the Private Practice Elevation Podcast, we're diving deep into the world of financial planning specifically tailored for therapists in private practice and how you can increase your returns and hit your goals. We're going to be talking all about the goals you have for your life and how those goals can actually drive the financial decisions you make in your private practice. Navigating the financial planning side of running a business can take time and effort. From bookkeeping to taxes, to whether you should be an S Corp or an LLC. There are so many questions to answer. Well, today we're talking with Ryan Derousseau and he helps us unpack the nitty gritty of getting started with your financial plan and increasing your returns in your private practice. Ryan Derousseau is a fee-only financial planner based in Long Island, New York. He has a background in writing and has worked for publications such as Fortune, Money, and the New York Times. Ryan specializes in working with therapists to help them manage their finances and achieve their life goals. Whether you're just starting your private practice or looking to elevate your financial game, this episode is packed with tips to lead you toward financial success. In This Episode, You'll Learn: The importance of understanding your business and life goals The importance of having emergency funds for personal and business How to balance business savings and retirement savings When does a S Corp make sense for your private practice? The business advantages of S Corps and the process to transition The importance of avoiding debt and tips to keep you safe Why ignoring the value of your private practice can impact retirement security. Links mentioned in this episode: https://thinkingcapfinancial.com/ The Financial Planning Checklist

Oct 16, 202346 min

144. How To Measure the Marketing ROI of a Private Practice with Carla Titus

In this episode of The Private Practice Elevation Podcast, we will be discussing the topic of Return on Investment (ROI) for marketing in your private practice. ROI stands for Return on Investment, which refers to the benefit that you expect from an investment activity. In the context of marketing, ROI measures the effectiveness of your marketing efforts and helps you determine whether your investment is generating the desired results. Our guest today is Carla Titus, the founder and CEO of Wealth and Worth Within, a fractional CFO firm that provides consulting and advisory services to growing businesses, especially in the mental health space. Carla has extensive experience in finance and has helped numerous businesses improve their financial planning and decision-making. In This Episode, You'll Learn: The importance of financial knowledge for small business owners The need to outsource and delegate financial tasks Definition and importance of ROI (Return on Investment) Mindset challenges and the need for cash reserves The importance of discipline and consistency in marketing Tracking and measuring ROI through data analysis The importance of conversion rates in marketing strategies Tips for tracking ROI and projecting future growth The role of financial planning in business growth

Oct 3, 202338 min

143. Building a Strong Financial Foundation: Tips on Accounting and Bookkeeping for Private Practice w/ Andrew Riesen

In this episode, you're going to learn about some expert tips on accounting and bookkeeping to help you set up a strong financial foundation for your private practice. As a private practice owner, you may often focus on the clinical side of your business, providing quality care to your clients and helping them on their journey to wellness. However, it's crucial not to overlook the financial aspects of running a private practice. It may not be sexy, but accounting, bookkeeping, and tax management are essential components of a successful business, and neglecting them can lead to unnecessary stress and financial difficulties down the line. In this episode, I speak with Andrew Riesen, co-founder of Heard, a platform that offers accounting and bookkeeping services for clinicians in private practice. Andrew shares valuable insights and advice on accounting and tax-related matters that are often overlooked by small business owners. He emphasizes the importance of separating personal and business finances, setting aside money for taxes, and tracking income and expenses. Andrew also discusses various deductions that clinicians can take advantage of, such as professional development expenses, home office deductions, and retirement contributions. He highlights the significance of planning for time off and taking care of mental health as a business owner. Andrew also provides an overview of the services offered by Heard, including software, reporting, and access to a team of professionals who can provide guidance and support throughout the year. In This Episode, You'll Learn: The importance of separating your business accounts from your personal accounts How much should you save for taxes? Some expenses you maybe didn't realize you could write off on your taxes Lessons I (Daniel) have learned from working with my own accountant Some of the accounting nuances therapists think about when setting up a private practice Retirement Accounts and why you should be thinking about retirement now How to plan for PTO in your business so that you can avoid burnout and feeling guilty about time off

Sep 19, 202330 min

142. Emotional Intelligence: The Powerful Ingredient for Private Practice Success with Jamey Schrier

In this episode of The Private Practice Elevation Podcast, you'll learn about one of the most important factors that may determine your success in private practice: how you handle your emotions. Most people think they can land on some optimized marketing plan, a system for scaling, or a specific strategy that's going to help them achieve success for their private practice. While those things are all important, if you're unable to handle your emotions and stressful situations successfully, you'll likely sabotage your growth. To be a successful private practice owner requires a deep understanding of human emotions and the ability to navigate them effectively. Starting without your own! This is where emotional intelligence comes into play. Emotional intelligence, often referred to as EQ, is the powerful ingredient that can elevate private practice success to new heights. Private practice professionals, such as doctors, therapists, lawyers, and consultants, face unique challenges in their daily interactions with clients. Building strong relationships, managing client expectations, and providing exceptional service are paramount. These tasks go beyond the technical and clinical skills acquired through education and experience. They require a keen awareness of emotions, both our own and those of our clients, as well as our employees, and the ability to harness that awareness to make informed decisions and cultivate meaningful connections. Today we're talking with Jamey Schrier all about how you can become more self-aware and grow in your emotional intelligence - and why it's crucial to your private practice success. As Jamey says: "How you handle yourself under stress will determine your success as a private practice owner." In This Episode, You'll Learn: Why working harder is not the answer to achieving private practice success How emotional intelligence - how to handle emotions Why emotional intelligence is a more important factor to you your success than what you know as a therapist Tips for increasing your self-awareness - the first step for increasing your emotional intelligence A simple exercise to help you understand the things that trigger you Jamey's "10-second pause" exercise that will help you be more present with the clients and people around you Tips to be more socially-aware so that you can recognize the emotions and challenges in others so that you can handle challenging situations calmly and successfully How emotional intelligence can help you develop better relationships with referral partners and grow your business Steps for dealing with negative self-talk so you can move past your own barriers and grow your business Simple tips to reducing your schedule so you can focus on yourself and the tasks that matter Links mentioned in this episode: Practice Freedom U Take The Practice Quiz Emotional Intelligence 2.0 - Book (affiliate link)

Sep 5, 202346 min

Bonus: SEO Quick Tip - Optimizing Titles and Meta Descriptions

In this special SEO Quick Tip episode, we will be discussing the importance of optimizing your titles and meta descriptions on your website. These elements play a crucial role in on-page optimization, helping your website rank higher for the keywords you are targeting. In this episode, we will explore the best practices for crafting effective titles and meta descriptions, and how they can impact your search engine rankings. Your title tags and meta descriptions are the very first thing that users will see in those Google search results. It's not only important to optimize them so that you improve your ranking, it's equally important to make them enticing to users. We want people to go from Google to your website right? Well, listen up as we break down these crucial SEO factors and give you a quick rundown on titles, meta descriptions and how you can optimize them. In This Episode, You'll Learn: What are titles tags and meta descriptions The importance of optimizing titles and meta descriptions on websites Best practices for creating optimized title tags for your website to help boost search engine rankings Tips for writing great meta descriptions to help your SEO

Aug 28, 20239 min

141. Navigating Awkward Money Conversations With Therapy Clients w/ Mor Goldberger

Today, we're diving into the topic of awkward money moments in running a therapy practice. Join me as we explore the challenges therapists face when discussing fees, insurance, and rate increases with clients. We'll uncover strategies to navigate these conversations with confidence and compassion. To help us do that, we'll be talking with Mor Goldberger. By day Mor leads Therapist Experience and Growth for Mentaya and by night she works as a couples therapist. Introduction: The Uncomfortable Reality of Money in Therapy As a therapist, discussing money with clients can be an uncomfortable and challenging task. Many therapists find themselves ill-equipped to handle these conversations, as there is often a lack of business training in the field of therapy. This can lead to feelings of discomfort and uncertainty when it comes to setting fees, discussing insurance, and addressing rate increases. In this episode, we will delve into the world of awkward money moments in therapy. We will explore the experiences of therapists and the strategies they employ to navigate these conversations effectively. Through the help of our guest, Mor Goldberger, we will gain a deeper understanding of the complexities surrounding money in therapy and discover practical tips to handle these situations with confidence. In This Episode, You'll Learn: Why therapists often struggle with discussing money with clients How to maintain your boundaries around money so that you avoid getting into awkward conversations that display a lack of confidence Tips for discussing sliding scale fees with prospective clients Scripts to use when letting your clients know that you're no longer accepting insurance Things you can do for framing conversations about raising rates Tips for sounding confident during consultations such as breathing and slowing down your pace of speaking Why being willing to refer poor-fit potential clients shows a high level of care Try Mentaya for free with promo code: PPE Links mentioned in this episode: Mentaya.com (Try Mentaya for free with promo code: PPE) Subscribe & Review in Apple Podcasts If you're not yet subscribed to the podcast I want to encourage you to do that today. This is the best way to make sure you don't miss an episode! Click here to subscribe on iTunes. And if you're feeling extra generous, I'd love to hear what you think about the podcast. Reviews help others find the podcast plus I'd really love to hear what you think! Click here to leave a review. Just click on "Ratings & Reviews" then "Write a review." Let me know what you like best about the podcast. Thank you!

Aug 22, 202333 min

140. Unlocking the Power of Authenticity: Creating Content That Converts w/ Patrick Casale

In this episode of The Private Practice Elevation Podcast, you're going to learn how you can write copy that's authentic, relatable, and helps you connect with and convert more clients. Writing copy for our websites or online marketing doesn't come easy for most of us. The majority of therapists don't have any training in marketing in business building. So when you've got a website that your need to fill up with a bunch of words that are somehow going to get you more clients, that can be a daunting task. What happens often is that we end up filling our therapy websites with therapist speak and information from the DSM. But the trouble is that this type of language is not the language your ideal client uses to describe their feelings and the challenges they face. So how can you create content that feels authentic to YOU and who you are, while also relatable to your ideal client? How can you stand apart from other private practices so that you attract the best-fit clients to work with? Patrick Casale is a Licensed Clinical Mental Health and Addictions Therapist in Asheville, NC, who helps mental health entrepreneurs break the mold, work through their fears and insecurities, and to embrace their Authenticity. Listen in as he shares tips, exercises, and strategies you can use to help you get past your copywriting roadblocks and create the best content for you and your clients In This Episode, You'll Learn: Why "relatability is accessibility" and the key to connecting with potential clients and getting them to take the next step Overcoming imposter syndrome in your copywriting How your niche can actually be a version of you and how you can use your story to create content Tips for niching down so you can begin writing content with a specific client in mind Why new environments can help spark creativity and write your best content Exercises to help you get out of your head and just start writing creative and captivating content How movie characters can help you write amazing content The reasons why launching a website when it isn't perfect is a key to success with your marketing How to make time for content creation Links mentioned in this episode: All Things Private Practice Divergent Conversations Podcast Free impostor syndrome workbook + narrow down your niche guide + private practice startup guide Top 3 reasons to listen to the entire episode: Understand the difference between a good and bad therapist website and what key things to watch out for when developing your online presence. Identify ways to make your website a safe space and establish a connection with potential clients. Learn how to create captivating content on landing pages, utilizing keywords and internal linking, as well as understand the impact of SEO on website visibility and attracting clients. If you take the time to structure and maintain your therapist website in a strategic, authentic, and ethical way, you'll be more likely to see your ideal clients finding and choosing you as their therapist while knowing that you're going to be the best fit. Listen Here. This Episode is Brought To You By Alma is on a mission to simplify access to high-quality, affordable mental health care by giving providers the tools they need to build thriving in-network private practices. When providers join Alma, they gain access to insurance support, teletherapy software, client referrals, automated billing and scheduling tools, and a vibrant community of clinicians that come together for education, training, and events. Alma gives clinicians the tools they need to build thriving private practices. When you join their insurance program, you can get credentialed within 45 days, and access enhanced reimbursement rates with major payers. They also handle all of the paperwork, from eligibility checks to claims submissions, and guarantee payment within two weeks of each appointment. In addition to their insurance program, Alma offers timesaving tools and administrative support — so you can spend less time on paperwork, and more time delivering great care to your clients. Learn more about building a thriving private practice with Alma at helloalma.com/elevation. Subscribe & Review in Apple Podcasts If you're not yet subscribed to the podcast I want to encourage you to do that today. This is the best way to make sure you don't miss an episode! Click here to subscribe on iTunes. And if you're feeling extra generous, I'd love to hear what you think about the podcast. Reviews help others find the podcast plus I'd really love to hear what you think! Click here to leave a review. Just click on "Ratings & Reviews" then "Write a review." Let me know what you like best about the podcast. Thank you!

Aug 7, 202338 min

139. 8 Website User Statistics That Will Change How You Think About Your Therapy Website

In this episode of The Private Practice Elevation podcast, we will be exploring 8 eye-opening statistics about website users and how they interact with therapy websites. In today's digital age, having a strong online presence and professional website is crucial for any private practice, as more and more people turn to the internet to search for mental health services. But just having a website is not enough. It's important to understand how users behave on your website in order to optimize its design and content to serve their needs better. Doing so can help you communicate your value and services more effectively, and improve the number of clients your website adds to your practice. In this episode, we'll be sharing eight key statistics about website users that will change the way you think about your therapy website. Some of these may even lead you to get serious about that website redesign you've been thinking about! From bounce rates to mobile usage, we'll dive into the data and provide insights on how to improve your website's user experience and ultimately attract more clients to your therapy practice. Why User Experience is Crucial to the Success of Your Therapy Website Understanding how users interact with your website is crucial because it can help you improve the user experience and ultimately attract more clients to your therapy practice. By analyzing user behavior, you can identify areas of your website that may be causing frustration or confusion for visitors, and then make changes to address these issues. This could include optimizing the layout and design of your website, improving the content or navigation, or ensuring that the website is mobile-friendly. Additionally, by looking at these statistics and understanding how potential clients interact with your website, you can gain insights into what types of content are most popular, which can help you tailor your website to better meet the needs of your target audience. Plus, your website is often the first point of contact that potential clients have with your practice. Therefore, optimizing the user experience on your website can help you make a positive first impression and ultimately attract more clients to your practice. Links mentioned in this episode: Original article from Sweor Google Pagespeed Insights This Episode is Brought To You By Alma is on a mission to simplify access to high-quality, affordable mental health care by giving providers the tools they need to build thriving in-network private practices. When providers join Alma, they gain access to insurance support, teletherapy software, client referrals, automated billing and scheduling tools, and a vibrant community of clinicians that come together for education, training, and events. Alma gives clinicians the tools they need to build thriving private practices. When you join their insurance program, you can get credentialed within 45 days, and access enhanced reimbursement rates with major payers. They also handle all of the paperwork, from eligibility checks to claims submissions, and guarantee payment within two weeks of each appointment. In addition to their insurance program, Alma offers timesaving tools and administrative support — so you can spend less time on paperwork, and more time delivering great care to your clients. Learn more about building a thriving private practice with Alma at helloalma.com/elevation.

Jul 24, 202326 min

138. Creating a Team Culture That Has Clinicians Begging to Work With You w/ Dawn Gabriel

In this episode of The Private Practice Elevation Podcast, you're going to learn how you can intentionally create a team culture in your private practice that hs clinicians begging to work with you. One thing I've learned from watching my wife build and grow her own group practice is that, well, it's hard! It can be a struggle to find great therapists to join your team and then provide enough benefits to ensure they stay. Not only that, it can be hard to find others who share your vision and values for this practice that you're building. So what can you do to begin building a team culture at your private practice? How do you nail down your hiring process from start to finish so that at the end of it, you know you're hiring someone who cares about your vision and the impact you want to create through your private practice? Today we're speaking with Dawn Gabriel. Dawn is the founder and CEO of Authentic Connections Counseling Center, a group practice consultant, and host of Soul Care for Therapists podcast. She is passionate about helping people achieve freedom from what is keeping them stuck and invites others to take a non-judgmental look deeper into their spirituality and faith. Whether you're just starting to build your private practice team or you've got a team already, you're going to get some great advice from an experienced group practice owner on creating deep connections with your team so that you can build a team you love that cares about your vision. In This Episode, You'll Learn: How to hire therapists that share your values and your vision, not just to fill a chair Ideas and examples for creating a mission statement that can guide you through the interview process The importance of screening candidates before even thinking about inviting them in for an interview Creative perks you could offer your therapists and how to incorporate them into your job description and attract better candidates Exercises and resources you can use to foster connections between team members and support one another The Ennigram and how it can help you understand your team's strengths and personalities better Steps for building your leadership team so that you can focus on what you love and what you're good at Links mentioned in this episode: Faith Fringes Soul Care for Therapists Authentic Connections Counseling Center

Jul 10, 202338 min

137. How Three Failed Solo Practices Changed My Money Mindset for the Better with Maira Holzmann, LCSW

In this episode of the Private Practice Elevation Podcast, you're going to learn how our perceived failures can be turned into learning opportunities that can help you reach your private practice goals. Like all things in life, your business will go through seasons. There will be highs and lows, and tons of challenges along the way. But it's how we view those challenges that can mean the difference between feeling stagnant in your business growth and truly thriving while growing your business. One of the main things that can hold you back from growing your business is fear. It can be scary to pay the money you feel like you don't have to invest in Google Ads, a coaching program, or maybe a mastermind group. But as our guest explains, you can shift to view these things as investments that you can trust will be returned exponentially. Maira Holzmann is the owner of Somatic Therapy Partners in Denver, CO and she loves helping other therapists find the tools, support, and guidance necessary to build a thriving, soul-aligned private practice. After three failed attempts at private practice and ending burnout and overwhelm for good, Maira is committed to serving therapists in creating better outcomes with their clients and living a balanced life with more joy. Listen to our conversation as we share experiences of the highs and lows of business building and how you can come to terms with investing (even learn to love it!) in your business so that you grow and build a business and life that you love. In This Episode, You'll Learn: Mistakes people make when first starting out in private practice Why you need marketing so that people can find your business The difference between investment and cost and how investing in yourself and your business can make a huge impact on your growth How to calculate your return on investment for Google Ads so you can confidently market your practice and attract clients How investments open possibilities for you Maira's tips for being in FLOW - "Feeling love over worry" and how when you're in the FLOW, you're able to be more creative, confident, and at peace How to confront resistance as you grow your private practice Why it's so important to trust you will get an ROI when investing in your business Why investing in a thriving life is the best thing you can do for your clients This Episode is Brought To You By Alma is on a mission to simplify access to high-quality, affordable mental health care by giving providers the tools they need to build thriving in-network private practices. When providers join Alma, they gain access to insurance support, teletherapy software, client referrals, automated billing and scheduling tools, and a vibrant community of clinicians that come together for education, training, and events. Alma gives clinicians the tools they need to build thriving private practices. When you join their insurance program, you can get credentialed within 45 days, and access enhanced reimbursement rates with major payers. They also handle all of the paperwork, from eligibility checks to claims submissions, and guarantee payment within two weeks of each appointment. In addition to their insurance program, Alma offers timesaving tools and administrative support — so you can spend less time on paperwork, and more time delivering great care to your clients. Learn more about building a thriving private practice with Alma at helloalma.com/elevation. Links mentioned in this episode: Somatic Therapy Partners

Jun 22, 202333 min

Ep 136136. The Business Benefits of Sufficient Sleep with Terry Cralle

In this episode of The Private Practice Elevation podcast, we're switching gears from talking about marketing and practice building to focusing on one thing that can impact your performance in just about everything you do: your sleep. How would you rate the quality of your sleep? Do you consider sleep an integral part of your physical health as well as your mental health? I don't know about you, but when I don't get enough sleep (or enough quality sleep) it can throw off my entire day. I'm less motivated and less productive, and my creativity and joy seem to falter. Sleep is extremely important to me because I've seen the impact it can have on my daily life. I'm also a very light sleeper so I have to go through a lot of measures to ensure an optimal sleeping environment. So, as one who's nerded out on ways to sleep better before, I'm super excited to talk about sleep on the podcast. Today we're speaking with Terry Cralle, MS, RN, a Registered Nurse based in Washington, DC, and an expert on sleep health. Our conversation covers a ton of topics from how to get better sleep to the positive impact that great sleep can have on your quality of life and your clinical work as a therapist. If you'd like to get better rest, listen up. In This Episode, You'll Learn: The suggested number of hours of sleep you should be getting each night The common misconceptions about sleep and how much you need How the lack of sleep can be tied to so many issues including physical, health, and mental Tons of tips for improving your sleep What to do when you wake up in the morning but don't feel well rested Why having a nighttime routine is so important to a good night's sleep and some of the things you should and should not be doing to help set you up for sleep success When you should reach out to a sleep expert to better understand why you're not consistently getting a good night's sleep Links mentioned in this episode: www.TerryCralleRN.com https://bettersleep.org

Jun 12, 202338 min

135. The 5 Most Common SEO Mistakes I See on Private Practice Websites

Have you tried using SEO (Search Engine Optimization) on your private practice website, but you're still wondering why people still can't find you on Google? Or perhaps you're just getting started on building your website and wondering, "what do I need to do to make sure that clients can find me in search engines?" In this episode of the Private Practice Elevation Podcast, we're going to talk about the five most common SEO mistakes I see therapists make. Most private practice owners agree that organic traffic to their website can be a great stream of referrals into the business. However, many people fail to see the results they want from their SEO efforts. They've got a website - maybe even a great looking one - but the analytics show that not many people are visiting the website or using it to take the next step toward becoming a client. I've consulted with scores of therapists over the years and have reviewed many websites. And time and again I see these top 5 mistakes holding folks back from getting momentum with their SEO strategy. In This Episode, You'll Learn: The first thing you need to do before investing time and money in your SEO strategy What content you'll want on your website to get more traffic from search engines How to find the right keywords - the ones that your clients are using - to get more traffic and clients from your private practice website How long should you expect it to take to see improvements in your website traffic The 4 main categories of search engine optimization that you'll need to focus on to build a solid SEO strategy This Episode is Brought To You By Alma is on a mission to simplify access to high-quality, affordable mental health care by giving providers the tools they need to build thriving in-network private practices. When providers join Alma, they gain access to insurance support, teletherapy software, client referrals, automated billing and scheduling tools, and a vibrant community of clinicians that come together for education, training, and events. Alma gives clinicians the tools they need to build thriving private practices. When you join their insurance program, you can get credentialed within 45 days, and access enhanced reimbursement rates with major payers. They also handle all of the paperwork, from eligibility checks to claims submissions, and guarantee payment within two weeks of each appointment. In addition to their insurance program, Alma offers timesaving tools and administrative support — so you can spend less time on paperwork, and more time delivering great care to your clients. Learn more about building a thriving private practice with Alma at helloalma.com/elevation. Links mentioned in this episode: 117. The 4 Mountains of Successful SEO for Private Practice Websites SEO Services at Private Practice Elevation SEO Basecamp Live Training Group Ubersuggest for Keyword Research

May 30, 202320 min

134. Creating A Content Strategy That Results in Website Traffic

Do you struggle to get traffic to your private practice website? Have you launched a website but you're not exactly sure what content needs to be on there in order to attract your ideal client? In this episode of the Private Practice Elevation Podcast, you'll learn what content you'll need on your therapy website to generate more traffic and bring more clients into your business. When we talk about content, we're referring to the way you share your expertise and resources on your website. And when it comes to your private practice website, content serves two very important functions: Content helps your ideal client connect with you, your services, and what you have to offer and hopefully positions you as the best one suited to help with their challenges Content helps search engines pick up your website and index it so that your ideal clients can find you You need content in order to get organic traffic to your website and, once there, you need content to connect with that traffic. But how do you get started identifying the content necessary to reach and convert your ideal clients? How can you be strategic in what goes on your website, making sure you continue to provide value and resources that will impact your business? In this episode, we're going to walk through some steps to help you evaluate your current website, look for the gaps in your content, and begin to fill them in. You'll learn a simple starting point to start creating your own content strategy to help your website rank well in search results and connect with your audience. In This Episode, You'll Learn: The 4 qualities of great content that will help improve your SEO Why consistency is important to improve your keyword rankings How to find the low-hanging fruit of your content strategy by expanding what's already on your website Simple things you can add to your website to improve the content and help it rank higher in search results Ideas for new content you can add to your website Tips for brainstorming articles you can add to your website to help attract more traffic and turn your website into a valuable resource for potential and current clients This Episode is Brought To You By Alma is on a mission to simplify access to high-quality, affordable mental health care by giving providers the tools they need to build thriving in-network private practices. When providers join Alma, they gain access to insurance support, teletherapy software, client referrals, automated billing and scheduling tools, and a vibrant community of clinicians that come together for education, training, and events. Alma gives clinicians the tools they need to build thriving private practices. When you join their insurance program, you can get credentialed within 45 days, and access enhanced reimbursement rates with major payers. They also handle all of the paperwork, from eligibility checks to claims submissions, and guarantee payment within two weeks of each appointment. In addition to their insurance program, Alma offers timesaving tools and administrative support — so you can spend less time on paperwork, and more time delivering great care to your clients. Learn more about building a thriving private practice with Alma at helloalma.com/elevation.

May 16, 202322 min

133 - The 4 'C's' of Self Care & Creating A Life You Don't Need to Escape From with Dr. Karen Dyck and Dr. Melissa Tiessen

Do you feel like you're intentionally creating a life from which you don't need to escape? Or are you finding it incredibly difficult to create a balance between caring for others' needs and caring for yourself? In this episode of The Private Practice Elevation Podcast, you're going to receive a framework that you can apply to your life so that you can embrace self-care in a way that works for you. Let's face it… incorporating self-care into our daily lives is hard. It seems so counterintuitive to take time out of your day to focus on yourself, do things that bring you joy, or just slow down. And we can often deal with feelings of guilt for putting our own needs above others. I know I've struggled with this. Today we're speaking with Dr. Karen Dyck and Dr. Melissa Tiessen about what it means to embrace self-care and the positive impact it can have on our lives. They've developed a framework, called The 4 'C's", that is going to help you identify where life has gotten off-balance and give you a road forward toward creating a life you love. In This Episode, You'll Learn: The 4 'C's' of Self-Care: Connection, Compassion, Courage, and Creativity How the 4 'C's' are connected and how to move between them to embrace self-care in a way that helps you thrive The shared challenges we all face when it comes to taking care of ourselves How our brains are wired in a way that actually makes self-care counterintuitive How the 4 'C's' can be cultivated and developed in order to help us to create the life we want to live This Episode is Brought To You By Alma is on a mission to simplify access to high-quality, affordable mental health care by giving providers the tools they need to build thriving in-network private practices. When providers join Alma, they gain access to insurance support, teletherapy software, client referrals, automated billing and scheduling tools, and a vibrant community of clinicians that come together for education, training, and events. Alma gives clinicians the tools they need to build thriving private practices. When you join their insurance program, you can get credentialed within 45 days, and access enhanced reimbursement rates with major payers. They also handle all of the paperwork, from eligibility checks to claims submissions, and guarantee payment within two weeks of each appointment. In addition to their insurance program, Alma offers timesaving tools and administrative support — so you can spend less time on paperwork, and more time delivering great care to your clients. Learn more about building a thriving private practice with Alma at helloalma.com/elevation.

May 1, 202337 min

132. 3 Tips To Get More Clients From Your Website with Uriah Guilford

In this week's episode of The Private Practice Elevation Podcast, you're going to learn 3 simple ways you can get more clients from your website. In today's digital age, having an effective and well-designed website is crucial for any private practice to attract and retain clients. A website serves as an online storefront, and it is the first point of contact for many potential clients. However, simply having a website is not enough - it needs to be optimized for conversions and designed to meet the needs and expectations of your target audience. In this conversation with my friend, Uriah Guilford from The Productive Therapist, we'll share three tips that can help you get more clients from your website. Whether you're just starting out or looking to improve your existing therapy website, these tips will provide you with practical strategies that you can implement right away. In This Episode, You'll Learn: What is conversion optimization and why is it important The importance of having a clear and concise headline, especially on your homepage The 4 types of headlines (with examples!) you can use to create more engagement with website visitors and get them to read the rest of your pages The role of compelling call-to-actions in converting visitors into clients and how to design an effective call-to-action section on your website pages How to balance SEO and compelling copywriting General website design tips to help you get more clients from your website The importance of tracking what works best with your ideal clients and how people prefer to get started with you and your practice About Uriah Guilford Uriah Guilford is an LMFT, a group practice owner and the creator of Productive Therapist, a virtual assistant company that serves therapists in private practice. He is a technology nerd, a minimalist travel packer, a rock drummer and business development enthusiast.

Apr 18, 202342 min

Ep 131131. Secure, Reliable, and Fast: The Benefits of Managed WordPress Hosting for Your Private Practice Website

In this episode of The Private Practice Elevation Podcast, we're going to unpack everything you need to know about Managed WordPress hosting. If you have a therapy website built on WordPress, or you're looking to create one, you probably know that website hosting is something that's needed to make that happen. Website hosting is what allows you to make your website accessible on the Internet. A hosting service provides the technologies and support needed for the website to be viewed on the Internet. It's where you store your website files so the world can see it. But if you've had a WordPress website for a few years, you've probably already seen that not all hosting is created equal. When they're just starting out with their first website, most folks will choose a hosting provider based on price alone. You may think that hosting is just a place to stick your website files, so the cheapest one should be fine, but that's not the case. And after working with therapists for many years, I've heard some fairly horrific tales about how certain hosting providers couldn't give clear answers to support questions, tried to upsell additional services when running into issues, or kept their clients on hold for hours on end during support calls. So, in order to make sure you're getting the most out of your hosting, and help you find a quality service that will serve your private practice for years to come, let's unpack the hosting options available to you. Typically you have two options for hosting: shared hosting and managed WordPress hosting. And managed WordPress hosting is my recommendation for your private practice website. Managed hosting can bring a whole host of benefits to your website, including lightning-fast performance, top-notch security, and rock-solid reliability. And, unlike traditional hosting, managed hosting takes care of all the techy stuff for you, so you can focus on what you do best - running your practice. If you're planning on building a WordPress website or have a current hosting provider you haven't quite enjoyed, this episode will help you understand your options and find a trustworthy place to host your website. In This Episode, You'll Learn: The difference between shared hosting and Managed WordPress hosting What is Shared Website hosting What is Managed WordPress hosting? The benefits of Managed WordPress hosting My recommendation for Managed WordPress hosting and why

Apr 4, 202324 min

130. The Benefits & Challenges of Podcasting with Gordon Brewer

In this episode of The Private Practice Elevation Podcast, you're going to learn about some of the benefits of podcasting and how a podcast can be a huge asset to your business. Not only that, but a podcast can help you create a positive impact in your community and even the world. In 2021 over 82 million people said that they listened to podcasts. This number is estimated to rise even further, reaching over 100 million listeners in 2024. (Statista) This means that your ideal clients or the population you feel called to make an impact with are likely already listening to podcasts. But there are many ways to reach your audience, podcasting being just one of them. While podcasting may not be for everyone, I know many of you feel you have a voice and are thinking about what it would be like to have your own podcast. So what are some of the things you need to think about when starting a podcast? And what benefits can a podcast have on your business and your impact? Today we're talking with my long-time friend, Gordon Brewer, all about podcasting. Gordon hosts a successful podcast, The Practice of Therapy, and he currently has over 200 episodes under his belt. He's been able to use this podcast to provide valuable resources for the mental health community, network with other influencers, and create new streams of income. In our conversation, Gordon takes us back to when he first had the idea to start a podcast and walks us through some of his own reasons for starting a podcast and some of the challenges he's had along the way. In This Episode, You'll Learn: Gordon's story from starting the Practice of Therapy website to launching and growing a podcast The benefits and drawbacks of blogging in your marketing and how it differs from podcasting How podcasting can help you reach more of your ideal client by networking with other podcasters and influencers How podcasting can help you get more SEO traffic to your website What are some of the basic necessities in order to start a podcast Some of the challenges Gordon faced while starting and growing his podcast and how he overcame them

Mar 22, 202334 min

129. 6 Things Killing Your Website Page Speed & How To Fix Them

In this episode, you're going to learn 6 things that may be killing your website's page speed and how to fix them. The goal of your private practice website is to reach your ideal clients and get them the information they need to (hopefully) choose to work with you for therapy. But when your website isn't performing well and provides those potential clients with a slow and frustrating experience, chances are they will leave your website without taking the next step. And Google has also let us know that page speed is one of the top ranking factors for websites. So if your website is slow, it could mean an impact on your SEO and a loss in organic traffic from search engines. How can you tell whether your website loads slowly (aside from just looking at it) and what the main issues are that are impacting your page speed? Let's discuss 6 things that may slow your website down and how to fix them. In This Episode, You'll Learn: How to test your website page speed and the tools you can use The importance of choosing a quality hosting provider How to optimize images and WordPress plugins Recommendations for hosting and WordPress themes Key Takeaways: 6 Things Killing Your Website Page Speed & How To Fix Them Page Speed Impacts your Google Ranking Having a fast website is important for many reasons, and optimizing it for SEO is one of them. SEO, or search engine optimization, is the process of improving a website's visibility in search engine results. This is done by making sure the website is optimized for the specific keywords that people are likely to search for. People want to find what they're looking for quickly, and a slow website can deter them from staying on the page. As Daniel Fava, the host of the Private Practice Elevation Podcast, says, "In today's day and age, people like things fast, we like things loading quick, we want to get to the information that we're searching for as quickly as possible." Google also takes page speed into consideration when ranking websites. If a website takes longer than three seconds to load, it can lose up to 32% of its page visitors. This can significantly affect the website's ranking, making it difficult for potential customers to find. Google's Page Speed Insights tool can be used to check a website's loading speed and determine if it needs to be optimized. At Private Practice Elevation, they offer WordPress website care plans where they look after your website and make sure it's running smoothly. Their Trekker care plan includes speed optimization, where they will make sure your website is running as quickly as possible. This is an important service for those who want to make sure their website is running optimally and that their SEO is as good as it can be. In conclusion, optimizing a website for SEO is important for those who want their website to be visible in search engine results. Google takes page speed into consideration when ranking websites, so it's important to make sure your website is loading quickly. Choose quality hosting services. One of the most important ways to improve your page speed is to choose quality hosting services. When it comes to web hosting, it's important to choose a plan that is suited to the complexity of your website. If you have a complex website, you may need to invest in a more expensive hosting plan. There are hundreds of web hosting plans to choose from, so it's important to do your research and choose the one that best fits your needs. It's also important to consider managed WordPress hosting if you're using WordPress. Managed WordPress hosting is more secure and can help improve your website's page speed. It also comes with additional features such as automatic backups and updates, which can help save you time and money. Finally, it's important to consider customer service when choosing a hosting provider. Good customer service is essential if you ever encounter any issues with your website. Make sure to read reviews and ask questions before committing to a hosting provider. Overall, choosing quality hosting services is an important step in optimizing a website for page speed. Investing in a good hosting plan can save you time, money, and frustration in the long run. Make sure to do your research and choose a hosting provider that meets your needs. Optimize Images and Files Additionally, optimizing images is a must for any website. Having high-quality images can attract more viewers, but unoptimized images can drastically slow down page speed. To avoid this, it's important to use JPEG files instead of other formats, compress images to make them smaller, and avoid images that are one megabyte or larger. There are several tools available online that can help you compress images without sacrificing quality. Thirdly, too many plugins can also slow down page speed. Plugins are useful for adding functionality to a website, but they can also add hefty files that slow down loading time. It's important to only use the essential plugin

Mar 7, 202323 min

Ep 128128. The Link Between Getting Clinical Support and Burnout Prevention with Shannon Heers

In this episode of The Private Practice Elevation Podcast, you're going to learn how clinical support can help you prevent burnout in your life. Whether you've experienced burnout in your past, feel like you're on the edge of it now, or have moved past burnout, you're going to learn some great tips to help you - no matter where you're at on your journey. Most people think that just rest is the key to avoiding burnout. While rest is important, it's so much more than just a work-life balance. There are some key activities that you can do to help you avoid burnout altogether. And our guest today suggests that you begin NOW, even if you don't feel burnout at the moment. To help us understand more about burnout and how clinical support can specifically help you overcome or avoid burnout altogether, we're chatting with Shannon Heers Shannon Heers is a therapist, Approved Clinical Supervisor, and founder of Firelight Supervision. Firelight Supervision provides clinical supervision to counselors and social workers pursuing licensure, as well as clinical consultation for post-licensure professional growth and development. Because of the supervision work Shannon and her team do with so many clients, she's got a wealth of experience and wisdom when it comes to burnout. In This Episode, You'll Learn: What burnout looks like, including details from Shannon's own burnout story Why it's so important to have a burnout prevention plan even if you don't feel burnt out now Activities that you can do daily, weekly, monthly, and yearly in order to prevent burnout Why community is so powerful and the ways it helps you avoid burnout

Feb 20, 202332 min

127. How To Create Effective Social Media Content with Carly Hill

In this podcast episode, you're going to learn some of the most important aspects of creating effective social media content that will engage your ideal clients and start conversations. Now, you may be wondering how social media marketing works when it comes to ethics… Don't worry, our conversation has that one covered. But the main issue is that using social media for lead generation for therapy is ethically frowned upon. Not so with coaching services though! So how can you add coaching to your therapy practice and open a whole new world of potential with your social marketing - and really all your marketing? I know from my conversations with many therapists that social media is often a love-hate relationship, with the majority of people hating it. I myself have backed down from social media for a while due to my own fatigue and, to be honest, lack of understanding of how to make it all work. So to help us iron this stuff out, answer the big questions about using social media ethically, and start getting results from this avenue of marketing, is our guest, Carly Hill. I first began following Carly on Instagram because I was so impressed with her content and her consistency. I knew she was doing it well and I wanted to learn from her. So I'm super excited to have her on the Private Practice Elevation Podcast and pick her brain. Carly is an LCSW and business strategist for clinicians. She specializes in helping overworked and underpaid female clinicians make more money and more impact by teaching them to build the online coaching business of their dreams. In This Episode, You'll Learn: The ONE THING you need to understand in order to be successful with social media marketing The subtle difference between marketing/social media for a therapy practice vs a coaching business Using social media for lead generation for coaching vs therapy-ethics Why conversations are more important than likes and followers How to use the Pain-Agitate-Solve copywriting framework to craft any social post that will stop your ideal client in their scroll and get them to take action How to provide value to your audience and develop your like, know, and trust factor Why you shouldn't be afraid to promote your offer and services How to keep things simple and just get started with social media marketing Subscribe & Review in Apple Podcasts If you're not yet subscribed to the podcast I want to encourage you to do that today. This is the best way to make sure you don't miss an episode! Click here to subscribe on iTunes. And if you're feeling extra generous, I'd love to hear what you think about the podcast. Reviews help others find the podcast plus I'd really love to hear what you think! Click here to leave a review. Just click on "Ratings & Reviews" then "Write a review." Let me know what you like best about the podcast. Thank you! Links mentioned in this episode: Carly Hill Coaching Therapist To Coach Accelerator Facebook Group Carly on Instagram About Carly Hill Carly Hill is an LCSW and business strategist for clinicians. She specializes in helping overworked and underpaid female clinicians make more money and more impact by teaching them to build the online coaching business of their dreams. She helps clinicians break free out of the 1:1 model to leverage their time, get paid for their knowledge, and live a life of true freedom. She helps clinicians to find their coaching niche, develop their high ticket offer, and organically call in their ideal clients easily and effortlessly using her unique modern marketing masterplan. How To Create Effective Social Media Content: Key Takeaways Start with a system. Do you have a love-hate relationship with social media marketing? It can be overwhelming, especially when we don't have a system in place to help us manage it. Today, we're talking with Carly Hill, an LCSW and business strategist for clinicians, about how to create effective social media content. Carly Hill specializes in helping overworked and unpaid female clinicians make more money and more impact by teaching them to build the online coaching business of their dreams. She helps clinicians break free out of the one-to-one model to leverage their time, get paid for their knowledge, and live a life of true freedom. Carly helps clinicians to find their coaching niche, develop their high ticket offer, and organically call in their ideal clients easily and effortlessly using her unique modern marketing master plan. When it comes to social media, Carly recommends starting with a system. Having a system in place will make it easier to post consistently on social media. It can also help you to stay organized and make sure that you're not overwhelmed by the task of creating content. She suggests starting with a platform that you enjoy, like Instagram. Instagram is simpler and more fun than other platforms like Facebook. It's also easier to manage and can help you get started on social media marketing. Once you've chosen a platform, it'

Feb 6, 202336 min

126. 5 Simple Ways to Optimize Your Google Business Profile for Local SEO

In this episode of The Private Practice Elevation Podcast, you're going to learn 5 simple things you can do to optimize your Google Business Profile and maximize your local SEO potential. Local SEO involves the steps you can take to make sure that when potential clients are searching for therapy services in your area your website and practice come up in the search engines. For example, if you offer couples therapy and are located in Atlanta, you want your website to come up when clients type "Couples therapy" in a search engine, while they are located in Atlanta. Google looks for local signals, such as business directories to get a better understanding of where your private practice is located. At the heart of this local SEO ecosystem is your Google Business Profile. While setting up a Google Business Profile is often the first thing therapists do when opening their private practice, these profiles are often not optimized. So we're going to go over 5 simple things you can do to optimize your profile. Whether you don't have a Google Business Profile already, or have one set up that you need to revisit to improve your local SEO, this episode will give you some simple steps to help. Download the Free Google Business Listing Optimization Checklist Get on the Waiting List for the Next Class of Our SEO Training Group! On January 30, 2023, I'm opening the doors to our SEO Basecamp Live Training Group. This will be an online course and small group live training over the course of 9 weeks to help you create and implement and simple SEO strategy for your private practice. To be the first to get access (and at a discount!), join our waiting list here. Links mentioned in this episode: Google Business Profile SEO Basecamp Live Training Group Episode 18. What is Local SEO and how Can You Use it in Your Private Practice? Episode 78. Google My Business For Therapists: 7 Tips To Optimize Your Listing with Craig Alsup Blog Post: A Guide to Optimizing a Google Business Profile for Private Practice

Jan 24, 202324 min

Using Podcast Appearances to Market Your Private Practice with Lisa Mustard

This week on The Private Practice Elevation Podcast, we're talking all about how to use podcast appearances to market your private practice. If you've been listening to the podcast for some time, you've likely heard that I'm a big fan of being featured on other podcasts as a way to market your business. And for many reasons. The first is that it is a way to reach your ideal audience in a way that you couldn't on your own. It's also a way to get high-quality links from other websites that link back to yours, which has a HUGE impact on your SEO (search engine optimization). Not to mention, it makes you look like an expert in your potential client's eyes. But it can be pretty daunting to put yourself out there and try to book an interview on a podcast you'd like to be a guest on. And so many private practice owners don't do it and miss out on the marketing opportunities that go along with podcasting. To help you overcome these hurdles and get started using podcast appearances in your marketing, we're talking to Lisa Mustard. Lisa Mustard is an LMFT and Coach in South Carolina and the host of a podcast called The Therapy Show with Lisa Mustard - a convenient and fun way for Talk Therapists to earn Continuing Education contact hours. In This Episode, You'll Learn: The most important thing to do before you reach out to a podcast host about being featured on their podcast How to find the right podcasts to be featured on that will help you reach more of your ideal audience Tips for reaching out to podcast hosts so that you can be interviewed on their podcast How to get the most out of your podcast features and use them in your marketing to drive traffic, improve SEO, and increase your authority How being featured on podcasts can improve your conversion rates by increasing your like, know, and trust factor Tips for when you feel like interviews maybe didn't go as great as you had hoped and how to keep working at it Check out my interview on Lisa's podcast, The Therapy Show about "The Four Mountains of SEO" Create Your SEO Strategy With Me In Our SEO Basecamp Live Training Group SEO Basecamp Live is a 9-week, small group training, consisting of video training and live implementation classes. Over the course of 9 weeks, I'll give you access to the exact SEO process that we use at Private Practice Elevation to help our clients set up the foundational SEO elements that will get them more organic traffic and clients. Here's What's Included: 7 modules with video training 9 live weekly "Implementation Calls" A private community group An SEO Workbook SEO Copy templates If you want a roadmap that shows you where your SEO stands right NOW and how to get to where you want it to be, this is it. Learn more about SEO Basecamp Live About Lisa Mustard Lisa Mustard is an LMFT and Coach in South Carolina. Wife to Billy and mom to 2 girls, she has been practicing since 2006 and has worked with a military branch for the past 10 years. 3 years ago, she decided to start a podcast after sitting in a conference for 2 days straight. (I'll share more of that story in the episode if that's ok.) She creates continuing education for therapists via podcasting...aka podcourses. She also works with women experiencing midlife struggles. When not seeing clients or working on her podcast, she chauffeurs her daughters to volleyball practice and games, hits up the gym, or explores the gorgeous South Carolina hiking trails with her husband. Links mentioned in this episode: The Therapy Show with Lisa Mustard http://lisamustard.com Lisa on Instagram Get a FREE NBCC Approved Continuing Education Contact Hour The PsychCraft Podcast Network Subscribe & Review in Apple Podcasts If you're not yet subscribed to the podcast I want to encourage you to do that today. This is the best way to make sure you don't miss an episode! Click here to subscribe on iTunes. And if you're feeling extra generous, I'd love to hear what you think about the podcast. Reviews help others find the podcast plus I'd really love to hear what you think! Click here to leave a review. Just click on "Ratings & Reviews" then "Write a review." Let me know what you like best about the podcast. Thank you! This Episode Is Brought to You By Managed WordPress Hosting by Flywheel If you're looking for a hosting company that will not only host your website but also supports you with some of the best customer support I've ever received, then Flywheel is for you. We've partnered with Flywheel to host all of our clients' WordPress websites because their speed, security, and extremely responsive customer service is the best in the business. Learn more about hosting with Flywheel (affiliate link)

Jan 10, 202338 min

Introducing Our Most Affordable Website Design Package Yet

In this bonus episode of The Private Practice Elevation Podcast, we discuss some exciting news - we've got a new website design package specifically designed for therapists just starting out in their online marketing journey. The goal of Private Practice Elevation is to help you elevate your online presence, no matter what level your private practice is currently in. But what if you find yourself at those lower elevations, where you're looking to establish your business online and create some momentum? You need a foundation - a place where potential clients can find you and where you can send your referral sources as you build those relationships. In an attempt to save some money, most people turn to DIY platforms like Wix and Squarespace to get their business online. While that can be a great starting place to generate some clients, it often comes with a cost… Those DIY websites look, well, DIY. This could mean missed opportunities plus time and money wasted as you try and learn website design yourself. You need a great website that won't be a distraction as you build and grow your business. That's why we've created a new website package - The Website Basecamp Package. To help therapists on a budget create a website that can be a foundation for their online marketing and get the ongoing website support they need for growth. Listen up to learn more about why we created this package, what's included, and how it works. In this Episode You'll Learn: The trouble with DIY therapist websites and I don't recommend that route Why we created this new website design package How the process works The importance of website care and support What's included in the Website Basecamp Package Join The Website Basecamp Package Waitlist Be one of the first to know when we're accepting applications for our newest website package. We'll be limiting this package to only a few projects so we can work closely with our clients through this new process. Join the waitlist here >> Links mentioned in this episode: Preview the Website Basecamp Package template website here Learn more about what's included in this package

Dec 26, 202219 min

124. What You Need to Know Before Starting a Faith-based Practice w/ Whitney Owens

In this episode of The Private Practice Elevation Podcast, we're going to talk about the most important things you need to know before you start a faith-based therapy practice. I know many therapists that want to integrate their faith into the work that they do - both clinically and in how they run their practice. My wife happens to be one of them! But one thing that can be a challenge is understanding how to position your practice from a faith-based perspective without excluding other clients that don't adhere to a certain faith. You may want to bring faith into the work you do, but you may be afraid it will turn other clients off. So how can you create a practice that stays true to who you are and the faith that's important to you in such a way that will help you grow your business? Today we're speaking with my friend, Whitney Owens, all about building a faith-based private practice. She's sharing her wisdom about what she's learned both firsthand from building her own practice as well as the business owners she consults with. There are a few key decisions and questions you can answer before starting your own faith-based therapy practice, and Whitney is here to help us unpack them. In This Episode, You'll Learn: What it means to have a faith-based practice and how it can apply to all walks of faith Practical ways that you can bring more of your faith into your clinical work and business-building The difference between an "overt" faith-based practice and a "covert" one and what that means for your marketing Examples of marketing a faith-based therapy practice Tips for branding your faith-based private practice that will help you with your messaging and what you put on your website Why it's so important to track your marketing numbers and return on investments Why having a community around you while you build your practice is so important This Episode Is Brought To You By Managed WordPress Hosting by Flywheel If you're looking for a hosting company that will not only host your website but also supports you with some of the best customer support I've ever received, then Flywheel is for you. We've partnered with Flywheel to host all of our clients' WordPress websites because their speed, security, and extremely responsive customer service is the best in the business. Learn more about hosting with Flywheel (affiliate link) Subscribe & Review in Apple Podcasts If you're not yet subscribed to the podcast I want to encourage you to do that today. This is the best way to make sure you don't miss an episode! Click here to subscribe on iTunes. And if you're feeling extra generous, I'd love to hear what you think about the podcast. Reviews help others find the podcast plus I'd really love to hear what you think! Click here to leave a review. Just click on "Ratings & Reviews" then "Write a review." Let me know what you like best about the podcast. Thank you! Links mentioned in this episode: Whitneyowens.com Waters Edge Counseling (Whitney's group practice) Abundant Living Rome Fava Counseling Associates About Whitney Owens Whitney Owens is a licensed professional counselor, group practice owner, and faith-based private practice consultant. She is located in Savannah, Georgia, where she manages a private pay group practice with 10 plus clinicians. Along with running her practice, she consults practice owners around the country on how to start and grow a successful faith-based practice. She hosts summits, a weekly podcast, and a membership community for faith-based practice owners called Wise Practice. She has spoken at numerous events such as both the Georgia and Maryland annual professional counselors conferences as well as trainings for Florida's Counseling Association. In 2023 she will be speaking at Meet you in Kentucky, which is for group practice owners, as well as hosting her own summit in Savannah. In her free time, Whitney enjoys spending time with her husband and two girls, running, reading, and relaxing in the backyard.

Dec 13, 202231 min

123. How To Validate Your Profitable Course Topic in 4-Steps with James Marland

In this episode of The Private Practice Elevation Podcast, you're going to learn 4 simple steps that will help you validate that course topic idea you've got swimming around in your head. With the power of simple online platforms like Teachable and Kajabi, it's no wonder why so many entrepreneurs and private practice owners are shifting their energy toward creating courses. It's a great way to reach more people with your expertise and generate income for something that you're passionate about. But one of the biggest challenges to creating a course is nailing down a topic that you're confident will actually sell. Because no one wants to pour time, money, sweat, and tears into building an online course just to have it fall flat and have no one buy it. Validating your course topic is the best way to ensure you're on the right track toward a course that sells. James Marland from Course Creation Studio joins me to share 4 steps you can take to validate your profitable course idea. James is on a mission to support therapists in creating life-changing and profitable online courses. And he believes each therapist has at least one course within them. In This Episode, You'll Learn: How you can validate your course idea in 4 steps The 4 things you need to do before you begin creating your course How to deal with imposter syndrome if other people have created similar courses Why it's ok if someone else has already created a similar course to yours Real-life examples and lessons I (Daniel) have learned from launching courses Download James' Free Resource Download Now Subscribe & Review in Apple Podcasts If you're not yet subscribed to the podcast I want to encourage you to do that today. This is the best way to make sure you don't miss an episode! Click here to subscribe on iTunes. And if you're feeling extra generous, I'd love to hear what you think about the podcast. Reviews help others find the podcast plus I'd really love to hear what you think! Click here to leave a review. Just click on "Ratings & Reviews" then "Write a review." Let me know what you like best about the podcast. Thank you! Links mentioned in this episode: Course Creation Studio Amy Porterfield How To Start A Movement YouTube Video The PsychCraft Podcast Network About James Moreland James Marland is the founder of Course Creation Studio. He has a master's degree in Ministry from Lancaster Bible College as well as a Master's of Business Administration from Shippensburg University. He has worked in mental health and social services for the last 18 years. He was a youth minister for two years and spoke weekly to teens and college-age students. From 2019 to 2022 he was the chief operating officer of Moved Forward Virtual Assistants, a company that provided support services for therapists and private practice offices. He is a Faculty Member at Lorman Education Services. James is on a mission to support therapists in creating life-changing and profitable online courses. He believes each therapist has at least one course within them. Unlocking that course will help many people. James believes if you help enough people you will all make it to the top. James is an avid reader and board game player. He hosts a monthly community game night for the people in his church and town. He still meets regularly with a group of friends he has been playing online games with for the past 7 years. In the summer you will find him at a Pennsylvania State Park campground where he likes to take pictures, hike, and burn things in the fire.

Nov 29, 202229 min

Non-Traditional Methods of Marketing a Private Practice with Dr. Larry Waldman

In this episode of The Private Practice Elevation Podcast, we're going to talk about non-traditional ways to market a private practice. Living in these modern times, I think we sometimes forget about the tried and true methods that can be used to build a business. Often we turn to our computers and social media feeds and think "this is how I'm supposed to market my private practice." The problem is that in order to build a successful private practice, you may need to think outside of the box. Clients won't just show up unless you go out and look for them. They need to know you exist! So what are some creative ways to increase your visibility, share your expertise, and attract more of your ideal clients? Our guest, Dr. Larry Waldman is on the show today to share some of the creative ways he marketed a successful private practice - one he had for over 45 years! Dr. Larry is a psychologist, professor, speaker, and author who is passionate about helping private practice owners think outside the box and market their practices in creative and exciting ways. In This Episode, You'll Learn: Questions to ask yourself before you begin marketing your practice The difference between a niche and your ideal client How to look for opportunities to get in front of your ideal clients The importance of relationship building and the impact it can have on your referrals How to use current events and media to reach more clients Creative ways to get in front of your audience Other ideas for non-traditional marketing for your private practice Links mentioned in this episode: Dr. Larry's Website Huge Sale On My Favorite WordPress Theme You may already know this, but Divi is my favorite WordPress theme for building beautiful therapy websites. Every year, Elegant Themes, the makers of the Divi WordPress theme do a huge Black Friday sale. And this is year is no different. If you're looking for a great theme to build a new website for your private practice, one that comes with easy-to-use templates and features right out of the box, definitely check out Divi. (affiliate link) About Larry F. Waldman, Ph.D., ABPP Dr. Waldman is a recently semi-retired licensed clinical, forensic psychologist in Phoenix, Arizona. He conducted a highly successful private practice of 45 years working with children, teens, parents, couples, and adults in a solution-focused manner. He also consulted with family, personal injury, immigration and estate planning attorneys. His BS in Education/Psychology was from the University of Wisconsin; his MS in School Psychology was at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee; his Ph.D. in Educational/School Psychology was earned at Arizona State University; and his Diplomate (ABPP) was received in 2003. Waldman was the past president of the Maricopa Psychological Society, the Director of Psychological Services for Charter Psychiatric Hospital of Glendale, an "Official Guide" (top expert) on Parenting for SelfGrowth.com and was a Medical Consultant for the Social Security Office in Phoenix. He continues as an adjunct graduate professor in counseling and serves on the professional advisory board of Stepping Stones of Hope, a charitable organization serving children who have lost a parent. Waldman also was the co-chair of the Early Career Psychologists Committee with the Arizona Psychological Association (AzPA) for five years. He is certified by the American Council on Exercise (ACE) as a (senior) fitness specialist and is a yoga instructor. In addition to numerous articles which have been published in the local Phoenix media and in the national press, Waldman has (thus far) written seven books: Who's Raising Whom? Coping with Your Adolescent; How Come I Love Him But Can't Live with Him? The Graduate Course You Never Had, 2nd Edition; Too Busy Earning a Living to Make Your Fortune? Overcoming Your Negotiaphobia: Negotiating Through Your Life; and Love Your Child More Than You Hate your Ex. Dr. Waldman trained as a public speaker and presents for PESI. His signature presentations are: The Business of Private Practice—The Graduate Course You Never Had and Teaching Parents to Parent. He has made over 150 paid presentations in his career to attorneys, chiropractors, psychologists, family therapists, counselors, social workers, school psychologists and school counselors. To the community Waldman speaks on parenting, marriage, stress, depression and anxiety, wellness, grand parenting and psychotherapy. He also is a seasoned podcast guest. His seminars are organized, practical and entertaining—offering "edutainment." Subscribe & Review in Apple Podcasts If you're not yet subscribed to the podcast I want to encourage you to do that today. This is the best way to make sure you don't miss an episode! Click here to subscribe on iTunes. And if you're feeling extra generous, I'd love to hear what you think about the podcast. Reviews help others find the podcast plus I'd really love to hear what you think! Click here to leave a review.

Nov 15, 202241 min

121. Using Zaya Health to Convert More Private Pay Clients, with Christine Lee

In this episode of the Private Practice Elevation Podcast, you'll learn about an exciting new platform enabling therapists to help more people by helping their clients pay less. Many therapists in private practice avoid insurance panels like the plague. It's a lot to manage and a headache to handle the forms, check the client's benefits, and keep up with them. But marketing your mental health services strictly private-pay-only therapy could likely mean many potential clients passing you by just because they've deemed your fee too high. Zaya Health is looking to change that. They believe "Therapists shouldn't have to choose between running a successful practice and providing accessible care." So how can you attract more private-pay clients by saving them money through out-of-network reimbursement? And how can you do it with no extra work on your end? Our guest today is Christine Li, founder of Zaya Health, and she's here to answer that very question. In This Episode, You'll Learn: The challenges private practitioners face when trying to attract private-pay clients The challenges clients face when trying to find affordable mental health care How Zaya Health is benefitting therapists by helping them convert more clients How Zaya Health works - from verifying potential clients' benefits to actually submitting reimbursement claims Simple tools they provide to educate potential clients on how much money they can save through out-of-network reimbursement Get A Free 30-day trial of Zaya Health's Instant Benefits Verification Tool Just use this link to request access to Zaya Health and you'll get a 30-day trial of Zaya Health's instant benefits verification tool. Subscribe & Review in Apple Podcasts If you're not yet subscribed to the podcast I want to encourage you to do that today. This is the best way to make sure you don't miss an episode! Click here to subscribe on iTunes. And if you're feeling extra generous, I'd love to hear what you think about the podcast. Reviews help others find the podcast plus I'd really love to hear what you think! Click here to leave a review. Just click on "Ratings & Reviews" then "Write a review." Let me know what you like best about the podcast. Thank you! Links mentioned in this episode: Zaya Health's Website Free 30-day trial of Zaya Health's instant benefits verification tool About Christine Lee Christine is the founder and CEO of Zaya Health – a company that helps therapists attract more private pay clients by bridging the gap between in-network and out-of-network therapy. Zaya unlocks the power of out-of-network benefits to help clients save up to 80% on therapy, while therapists make their full fee. Christine is a strong advocate for mental health and left her job as a Google Product Manager to start Zaya Health.

Oct 31, 202227 min

120 - The Relationship Between Copy, Website Design, and You with Jenn Fredette

In this episode, we're going to explore the relationship between your website copy, website design, and you. What do you think is more important… the words on your website or the design of your website? So often we agonize over the words that go on each web page; writing, editing, and revising. Then we take that content and try to work it into our website in a way we think "looks good". But what is your website design actually saying? Like non-verbal communication during a therapy session, design can often communicate many things beyond what the copy on the page is saying. So how we can marry these two things together - copy and design - so that we're captivating our ideal clients and leading them toward finding a solution to their pain? And how can we approach our marketing authentically so that it resonates with both your clients and the brand you want to create for your private practice? Today's guest, Jenn Fredette, is helping us dive deep into these questions and the relationship between copy and design. Jenn is a relational, psychodynamic oriented, attachment-based loving, Jungian concept adoring, and existential thinking psychotherapist based in the DC Metro area. In addition to her clinical work, Jenn partners with psychotherapists who want to market with depth, not just offer quick solutions to get people in the door. In this conversation, you may not know who's interviewing who, because we ask so many questions as we explore this topic in detail. So get ready to think deeply about your marketing, your copywriting, your website design… and what it all means to you. In This Episode, You'll Learn: Why it's so important to enter into your ideal client's story so that you can empathize with them and create truly captivating and compelling content How to use storytelling to really paint a picture of how you want potential clients to feel when they visit your website How copy and design work together to communicate your message and evoke feeling How we can often carry our past experiences and pain into our marketing which hinders our authentic message Start Your Website Project with a Free 15-Minute Clarity Call We're extremely passionate about helping therapists and group practices launch websites with both the words and design that resonate with their ideal clients. If you're ready to elevate your online presence and get more visibility for your business, we'd love to chat. We offer a free 15-minute Clarity Call to understand your goals and work out whether you're a good fit for our services. Schedule your Clarity Call by clicking here. Links mentioned in this episode: A Thinker's Guide Website Take The Quiz - What's Your Marketing Attachment Style? About Jenn Fredette Jenn is a relational, psychodynamic oriented, attachment-based loving, Jungian concept adoring, and existential thinking psychotherapist based in the DC Metro area. In addition to her clinical work, Jenn partners with psychotherapists who want to market with depth, not just offer quick solutions to get people in the door. Jenn is passionate about dismantling the obstacles that get in the way of people exploring their own psyches, of which a core one is that depth-psychotherapists struggle to market themselves in congruent, compelling ways. Subscribe & Review in Apple Podcasts If you're not yet subscribed to the podcast I want to encourage you to do that today. This is the best way to make sure you don't miss an episode! Click here to subscribe on iTunes. And if you're feeling extra generous, I'd love to hear what you think about the podcast. Reviews help others find the podcast plus I'd really love to hear what you think! Click here to leave a review. Just click on "Ratings & Reviews" then "Write a review." Let me know what you like best about the podcast. Thank you!

Oct 17, 202246 min