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

    3 DAYS AGO

    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
  2. 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
  3. 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
  4. 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

  5. 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

  6. 30/12/2025

    How I Use ChatGPT for Productivity to Get Boring Tasks Done: Business Edition

    Watch this episode on YouTube! As we head into the end of the year, I notice the same pattern shows up again and again for me and for so many practice owners I work with. The big ideas are easy. The creative strategy is fun. But the boring tasks are what quietly pile up and drain your energy through task avoidance. In this episode, I’m sharing exactly how I use ChatGPT for productivity as a form of AI for organization to get those tasks done without spiraling or procrastinating. I walk you through how I’ve started using ChatGPT for productivity like an executive assistant when my executive functioning is depleted. Instead of holding all the details in my head or avoiding the boring tasks altogether, I use AI for organization to externalize the overwhelm, break things down, and move forward even when I do not feel motivated. This approach has been especially helpful during end of year planning, when task avoidance can quietly steal more time than the tasks themselves. In this episode, I cover: Why task avoidance shows up so strongly around small, detailed, boring tasksHow I use ChatGPT for productivity to organize my thoughts when my brain feels scatteredA simple way to use AI for organization to turn avoidance into a clear, doable planWhy the real-time drain is often task avoidance, not the boring tasks themselvesHow ChatGPT for productivity helps me protect my creative energy by handling the mental clutter If you are a practice owner who feels capable and visionary but still gets stuck avoiding the boring tasks that come with running a business, this episode is for you. Using AI for organization does not replace your judgment or leadership. It simply gives your brain a place to put things when task avoidance takes over. For me, ChatGPT for productivity has become a practical, ethical tool that helps me do the parts of the job I do not love so I can get back to the parts that make the business feel 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

    12 min

  7. 23/12/2025

    Why This Podcast Is Radical and Challenges Social Taboos

    Watch this episode on YouTube! This episode is about why the Worth It Practice Podcast exists at all. I am pulling back the curtain on why this podcast is considered radical, why it challenges social taboos, and why talking openly about business as a psychologist still feels uncomfortable and risky. As someone who has spent my entire life being a psychologist, I want to name the rules we are taught to follow and explain why I am choosing to break them. As a psychologist entrepreneur, I live at the intersection of clinical training, leadership, and business ownership. That position challenges deeply held beliefs about being a psychologist, especially beliefs around money, ambition, profit, and visibility. In this episode, I talk honestly about the social taboos that exist in psychology, the pressure to stay small or quiet, and the internal work it takes to claim the identity of psychologist entrepreneur without apology. This podcast is also about breaking social norms. It is about naming the fact that psychologists are rarely encouraged to think like entrepreneurs, and women are rarely encouraged to say they are good at business. By speaking openly about my work, my practice, and my success, I am intentionally breaking social norms that have shaped how psychologists are expected to behave. These social taboos do not disappear unless someone is willing to challenge them out loud. In this episode, I talk about: What is considered acceptable when being a psychologist, and whydoes  business often fall outside those boundariesHow becoming a psychologist entrepreneur requires breaking social norms we were trained to followThe specific social taboos psychologists face around money, growth, and ambitionWhy claiming confidence and expertise feels radical when being a psychologist, especially as a womanHow watching other psychologist entrepreneur leaders gave me permission to question the rulesWhy breaking social norms publicly creates space for others to imagine different possibilities I created this podcast because I want you to see what is possible. If you are questioning whether you are allowed to want more, whether you are allowed to enjoy business, or whether you can still be ethical and grounded while being a psychologist entrepreneur, this episode is for you. Challenging social taboos and breaking social norms is not about rebellion for its own sake. It is about building a life and practice that are actually 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

    20 min

  8. 16/12/2025

    Don’t Panic in December: The Cognitive Reframe You Need

    Watch this episode on YouTube! When December hits, so many psychologists panic about their projected revenue even when nothing is actually wrong. So today I am offering a pep talk about understanding private practice seasons and protecting your energy with real burnout prevention instead of anxiety-driven decision-making. This episode is my behind-the-scenes look at how I evaluate private practice seasons, why projected revenue always dips this time of year, and how I use simple cognitive reframes as part of my own burnout prevention. If you find yourself spiraling every December, this is a pep talk you can come back to again and again. I break down why this seasonal dip is normal, explain what I look for when numbers actually matter, and show you how to interpret projected revenue without assuming your practice is failing. In this episode, I share: • Why private practice seasons always shift in December, and how that impacts projected revenue • The specific cognitive reframe I use when I need a pep talk about my numbers • How I distinguish normal seasonal changes from true red flags in projected revenue • Why intentional rest is not a weakness but one of the most effective tools for burnout prevention • How understanding private practice seasons can help you stop overreacting and start leading with clarity Even during the lowest point of the year, you can shift out of fear and into confidence when you understand what your numbers actually mean. This is a pep talk for every practice owner who wants to stay grounded, committed, and aligned as they move through the natural rhythm of private practice seasons. 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

    6 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
    17
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2026 Leah Clionsky
  • Show Website
    Worth It Practice

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