Worth It Practice

Leah Clionsky
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Hosted by Dr. Leah Clionsky, The Worth It Practice Podcast is where clinical wisdom meets fearless business strategy - built specifically for psychologists who want to run thriving private-pay practices and grow their group practice with purpose. Dr. Clionsky built a seven-figure, self-pay practice by believing one simple thing: I can learn anything - and so can you. Each week, she shares real lessons from her decade in the field - the wins, the missteps, and the mindset shifts that come from learning to think like a true therapist entrepreneur without losing your clinical edge. Designed with psychologists in mind, this isn’t business therapy or surface-level marketing advice. It’s about building a mental health business that actually works - with practice management systems, pricing models, and leadership strategies rooted in evidence, ethics, and the same curiosity that drives great clinical work. If you’re ready to approach your practice with clarity instead of confusion, business strategy instead of hustle, and confidence instead of doubt, you’re in the right place. Because scaling your practice isn’t magic - it’s learnable. And it’s Worth It. CONNECT WITH DR. LEAH CLIONSKY: Join the Worth It newsletter: https://worth-it-practice.captivate.fm/newsletter Website: https://worth-it-practice.captivate.fm/website Watch on YouTube: YouTube: https://worth-it-practice.captivate.fm/youtube If you're interested in working with me, please reach out to my direct email at hello@worthitpractice.com or schedule a 20-minute free consultation meeting to see if I would be the best fit for your needs using this ​link​!: https://worth-it-practice.captivate.fm/schedule

  1. When Your Practice Gets Too Big for Gut Decisions with Fractional CFO Carla Titus

    5 DAYS AGO

    When Your Practice Gets Too Big for Gut Decisions with Fractional CFO Carla Titus

    Watch this episode on YouTube! If your practice feels too big to run on instinct alone, this episode is for you. As my business grew, I realized I couldn’t rely on gut decisions anymore. What worked when my practice was smaller stopped working once things got too big. The financial stakes were higher, and the ripple effects of each choice became more significant. In this episode, I sit down with Carla Titus, founder of Wealth and Worth Within and an experienced fractional CFO, to talk about what happens when your practice outgrows intuition and requires real strategic financial planning. If your business is getting too big for guesswork, this conversation will help you see what’s next. We cover: • How to recognize when your practice is too big for instinct-driven leadership • Why gut decisions work early on but break down at scale • What a fractional CFO actually does and when you might need one • How Carla Titus approaches growth and profitability • Why strategic financial planning protects your profit as you scale If you’ve been making major moves based on gut decisions, this episode will challenge you to think bigger. When your practice becomes too big, you need structure, data, and proactive strategic financial planning. Your business deserves clarity. And you deserve support that matches the level you’re building at. LET’S CONNECT: Join the Worth It newsletter! Website Watch on Youtube If you're interested in working with me, please reach out to my direct email at hello@worthitpractice.com or schedule a 20-minute free consultation. Listen to The Educated Parent Podcast My practices: Thriving Child Center PCIT Experts CONNECT WITH CARLA TITUS: Projection & Forecasting Services Website Instagram Facebook LinkedIn

    30 min
  2. What It Really Takes to Grow a 7-Figure Group Private Practice

    17 FEB

    What It Really Takes to Grow a 7-Figure Group Private Practice

    Watch this episode on YouTube! If you’ve ever wondered what it actually takes to grow a 7-figure group private practice, this episode may surprise you. The truth is, the biggest drivers of practice growth aren’t strategies or tactics alone. They’re the practice mindset decisions you’re willing to make long before the revenue ever shows up. In this episode, I walk you through how I built my own 7-figure group private practice, why hitting that milestone wasn’t my original goal, and the unexpected mindset shifts for success that made it possible. I share the behind-the-scenes reality of scaling a practice without abandoning your values, why revenue is not the same as profit, and how your internal limits often cap your external practice growth before systems ever do. This is a candid look at the practice mindset shifts that allowed me to stop playing small, trust myself as a CEO, and build a group private practice that supports my life, my family, and the level of care I want clients to receive. What’s covered: Why practice growth often stalls because of unexamined beliefs rather than lack of strategyThe difference between revenue and profit in a sustainable group private practiceHow practice mindset influences hiring, expansion, and leadership decisionsThe hidden mindset shifts for success required to move past self-imposed ceilingsWhy surrounding yourself with entrepreneurs ahead of you accelerates practice growthHow identity shifts impact your ability to lead a growing group private practiceWhat it really means to “try” at a higher level without burning outHow long-term practice mindset work supports ethical, values-aligned scale If you’re serious about building a group private practice that lasts, grows, and feels aligned, this episode will help you rethink what’s actually required. Sustainable practice growth starts with intentional practice mindset shifts, and when those mindset shifts for success happen first, everything else becomes possible. LET’S CONNECT: Join the Worth It newsletter! Website Watch on Youtube If you're interested in working with me, please reach out to my direct email at hello@worthitpractice.com or schedule a 20-minute free consultation. Listen to The Educated Parent Podcast My practices: Thriving Child Center PCIT Experts

    21 min
  3. Why I Intentionally Learn Business From Entrepreneurs Outside Therapy

    10 FEB

    Why I Intentionally Learn Business From Entrepreneurs Outside Therapy

    Watch this episode on YouTube! I want to talk about one of the most impactful decisions I have made as a practice owner and CEO. I intentionally learn business from entrepreneurs outside therapy, and it has fundamentally changed how I think, lead, and grow my practice. This episode is a behind-the-scenes look at why stepping outside our industry and attending business retreats with non-therapists has helped me scale more sustainably and with far less burnout. In this episode, I share why relying only on therapist entrepreneurs can create an echo chamber and how choosing to learn business from people outside therapy has helped me grow my practice in ways I never could have imagined. I also talk about my experience attending business retreats with entrepreneurs from completely different industries and why those environments accelerated my growth as a CEO. Key topics I cover in this episode • Why choosing to learn business from entrepreneurs outside therapy expands my thinking and helps me grow my practice faster • How attending business retreats with non-therapists challenged my money mindset and normalized profitability • What I learned about systems leadership and scalability from entrepreneurs outside therapy • How stepping into rooms outside therapy helped me grow my practice without working more hours • Why business retreats offer clarity, creativity, and strategy that therapist spaces often cannot • How intentionally choosing to learn business beyond our field creates long-term confidence and CEO level decision making If you want to grow my practice with more clarity, confidence, and sustainability, this episode will challenge you to learn business differently, consider opportunities outside therapy, and rethink the power of business retreats as a strategic investment. LET’S CONNECT: Join the Worth It newsletter! Website Watch on Youtube If you're interested in working with me, please reach out to my direct email at hello@worthitpractice.com or schedule a 20-minute free consultation. Listen to The Educated Parent Podcast My practices: Thriving Child Center PCIT Experts

    21 min
  4. Why Being Profitable in Private Practice Can Feel So Scary: What to Do After You Pay Yourself With Randall Avery

    3 FEB

    Why Being Profitable in Private Practice Can Feel So Scary: What to Do After You Pay Yourself With Randall Avery

    Watch this episode on YouTube! In this episode of the Worth It Practice Podcast, I’m talking to Randall Avery about something we don’t discuss nearly enough in private practice: what happens when your business actually becomes profitable. So many clinicians dream about reaching the point where they can finally pay yourself, and then feel anxious, guilty, or overwhelmed the moment it happens. If you’ve ever wondered why being profitable in private practice can feel so scary, you are not alone. I’m joined by certified financial planner Randall Avery, who works specifically with practice owners, to talk through the emotional and practical side of practice finance. We explore what it means to build real financial stability as a therapist, how to think about profit without shame, and what to do after you pay yourself for the first time. We talk about: Why therapists are often uncomfortable with being profitableThe mindset shift required to truly pay yourself as a private practice ownerHow long years of under-earning shape our relationship with practice financeWhat responsible wealth-building looks like in private practiceHow profit can actually support burnout prevention, better care, and a fuller life If you’ve reached, or are approaching, the point where your private practice is generating real profit, and you don’t know what to do next, this conversation will help you feel grounded, informed, and less alone. Being profitable doesn’t mean you’re doing something wrong. It means your business is working, and you deserve to learn how to let that be true. RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE: Hacking the System by Creating Your Own System: A Practical Guide to Making Your Money Count While Building WealthLET’S CONNECT: Join the Worth It newsletter! Website Watch on Youtube If you're interested in working with me, please reach out to my direct email at hello@worthitpractice.com or schedule a 20-minute free consultation. Listen to The Educated Parent Podcast My practices: Thriving Child Center PCIT Experts CONNECT WITH RANDALL AVERY: Email: ravery@deasilwn.com Website a

    27 min
  5. How to Win More Client Referrals with Smart Responses Online

    27 JAN

    How to Win More Client Referrals with Smart Responses Online

    Watch this episode on YouTube! If you’re tired of posting in Facebook groups and getting ignored, this episode will change how you think about referral marketing forever. In this episode, I break down the exact strategy I use every single day to win more client referrals online using smart responses, without spending money on ads or feeling salesy. This approach has helped me consistently getting more clients, strengthen professional relationships, and become a trusted referral source in my community. I walk you through how to respond to referral posts in a way that actually stands out, why smart responses matter more than speed alone, and how thoughtful client referrals can compound over time. This is referral marketing that builds credibility, not burnout. If you want to win more referrals while helping clients land in the right care, this episode will give you a simple, ethical framework you can start using today. In this episode, you’ll learn: How smart responses increase visibility and trust in online referral spacesWhy most therapists miss opportunities for client referralsHow referral marketing is getting more clients without adsThe relationship-building mindset that helps you win more consistentlyHow responding to others can lead to more inbound client referrals for you This is one of the easiest ways to improve your referral marketing, build long-term goodwill, and win more client referrals with less effort. LET’S CONNECT: Join the Worth It newsletter! Website Watch on Youtube If you're interested in working with me, please reach out to my direct email at hello@worthitpractice.com or schedule a 20-minute free consultation. Listen to The Educated Parent Podcast My practices: Thriving Child Center PCIT Experts

    12 min
  6. My Simple CEO Decision-Making Formula for Private-Pay Group Practices

    20 JAN

    My Simple CEO Decision-Making Formula for Private-Pay Group Practices

    Watch this episode on YouTube! If you want to grow a private pay business without getting stuck in overthinking, you need a clear approach to CEO decision-making. In this episode, I share the simple formula I use to make confident decisions in group practices, especially when money, hiring, and growth are on the line. In this episode, I walk you through my personal CEO decision-making formula for running private pay group practices. I see so many clinicians freeze when it comes to financial decision-making, worried about making the wrong choice or taking the wrong risk. I break down how I evaluate decisions in my own group practices, including when to trust my gut, when to run the numbers, and when to bring in outside support. I share real examples from my private pay practices to show how CEO decision-making actually works day to day. This is not a theory. This is how I protect profitability, avoid catastrophic mistakes, and keep my group practices growing sustainably. If you want a clearer framework for financial decision-making in your business, this episode will help you move forward with confidence. Listen to hear:What CEO decision-making really looks like in private pay group practicesHow I use gut checks as part of financial decision-makingWhy simple math matters more than perfect spreadsheets in group practicesEvaluating risk without letting fear control your CEO decision-makingWhen to make decisions solo and when to get help with financial decision-makingProtecting profitability while growing private pay servicesHow to avoid costly mistakes in group practices by thinking like a CEO Strong CEO decision-making is not about avoiding risk. It is about making informed financial decision-making choices so your private pay group practices can grow in a way that actually feels worth it. LET’S CONNECT: Join the Worth It newsletter! Website Watch on Youtube If you're interested in working with me, please reach out to my direct email at hello@worthitpractice.com or schedule a 20-minute free consultation. Listen to The Educated Parent Podcast My practices: Thriving Child Center PCIT Experts

    27 min
  7. How Kristin Built a Thriving Practice During the Hardest Year of Her Life

    13 JAN

    How Kristin Built a Thriving Practice During the Hardest Year of Her Life

    Watch this episode on YouTube! Some years change everything. This conversation is about what happens when the hardest year of your life forces you to redefine your business identity, step fully into practicing leadership, and build a thriving practice anyway. In this episode, I sit down with my close friend and fellow entrepreneur, Kristin Mervich, to talk about how she built a thriving practice during the hardest year of her life. Kristin shares how her business identity shifted almost overnight when a personal crisis required her to move from clinician mode into true CEO mode. What stands out most is how practicing leadership did not come from perfect planning, but from decisive action, self-trust, and letting go of fear. This conversation is an honest look at what it means to grow a thriving practice when circumstances are far from ideal. Kristin reflects on how the hardest year accelerated her growth as a leader, reshaped her business identity, and forced her to practice leadership in ways she never expected. If you are navigating uncertainty, motherhood, illness, or simply a season that demands more from you, this episode offers perspective grounded in real experience. Key topics we cover:How the hardest year of Kristin’s life reshaped her business identityWhat practicing leadership looks like when perfection is no longer an optionLetting go of fear and control to build a thriving practice in crisisThe mindset shift from therapist to CEO through practicing leadershipWhy redefining your business identity can unlock faster growthBuilding a thriving practice that supports real life, even in the hardest year This episode is a reminder that a thriving practice is not built by avoiding hardship, but by allowing the hardest year to refine your business identity and strengthen your capacity for practicing leadership. LET’S CONNECT: Join the Worth It newsletter! Website Watch on Youtube If you're interested in working with me, please reach out to my direct email at hello@worthitpractice.com or schedule a 20-minute free consultation. Listen to The Educated Parent Podcast My practices: Thriving Child Center PCIT Experts CONNECT WITH KRISTIN MERVICH: Instagram Email kristen@thenormother.com

    24 min

  8. 6 JAN

    Should You Add a Niche Specialty Clinic to Your Practice? My Experience With PCIT Experts

    Watch this episode on YouTube! Building a specialty clinic inside a larger practice can completely change the way you grow, market, and position your business. In this episode, I share exactly how I built PCIT Experts as a niche specialty within Thriving Child Center and what I learned through every stage of practice development. If you are starting a practice or refining the one you already have, this behind-the-scenes breakdown will help you decide whether a niche specialty is the right next move. Many psychologists think adding a specialty clinic means giving up generalist work or limiting who they can help. My experience has been the opposite. Creating PCIT Experts as a niche specialty allowed us to increase referrals, strengthen our private pay positioning, and expand across PSYPACT states. It became one of the strongest parts of our practice development, even though I was not originally planning on starting a practice with a specialty track at all. Here is what I cover: How a niche specialty like PCIT can strengthen a generalist clinic instead of narrowing itWhat to expect when starting a practice with two brands under one umbrellaThe pros and cons of building a specialty clinic when it comes to referrals, marketing, and operationsThe biggest practice development lessons I learned while launching PCIT ExpertsWhy adding a niche specialty can accelerate growth and create clarity in your systems If you have been wondering whether a specialty clinic makes sense in your business, this episode will help you understand the strategy behind it, especially if you are starting a practice, expanding your services, or looking for your next phase of practice development. A niche specialty can be a powerful foundation for growth when used intentionally. LET’S CONNECT: Join the Worth It newsletter!  Website Watch on Youtube If you're interested in working with me, please reach out to my direct email at hello@worthitpractice.com or schedule a 20-minute free consultation. Listen to The Educated Parent Podcast My practices:  Thriving Child Center PCIT Experts

    16 min
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About

Hosted by Dr. Leah Clionsky, The Worth It Practice Podcast is where clinical wisdom meets fearless business strategy - built specifically for psychologists who want to run thriving private-pay practices and grow their group practice with purpose. Dr. Clionsky built a seven-figure, self-pay practice by believing one simple thing: I can learn anything - and so can you. Each week, she shares real lessons from her decade in the field - the wins, the missteps, and the mindset shifts that come from learning to think like a true therapist entrepreneur without losing your clinical edge. Designed with psychologists in mind, this isn’t business therapy or surface-level marketing advice. It’s about building a mental health business that actually works - with practice management systems, pricing models, and leadership strategies rooted in evidence, ethics, and the same curiosity that drives great clinical work. If you’re ready to approach your practice with clarity instead of confusion, business strategy instead of hustle, and confidence instead of doubt, you’re in the right place. Because scaling your practice isn’t magic - it’s learnable. And it’s Worth It. CONNECT WITH DR. LEAH CLIONSKY: Join the Worth It newsletter: https://worth-it-practice.captivate.fm/newsletter Website: https://worth-it-practice.captivate.fm/website Watch on YouTube: YouTube: https://worth-it-practice.captivate.fm/youtube If you're interested in working with me, please reach out to my direct email at hello@worthitpractice.com or schedule a 20-minute free consultation meeting to see if I would be the best fit for your needs using this ​link​!: https://worth-it-practice.captivate.fm/schedule

Information

  • Creator
    Leah Clionsky
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    20
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2026 Leah Clionsky
  • Show Website
    Worth It Practice

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