Fearless Practice Julia Smith

Do you feel pressured to always be scaling and growing your Canadian private practice? In modern business, the idea is usually to push growth - but that’s not always the case! Sometimes not growing can also help private practice. 
Every now and then you need to intentionally stop growing and instead focus on the foundations of your private practice, so that any future growth down the line actually holds and sticks because growth for growth’s sake is not necessarily everyone’s preference. 
In this podcast episode, Mila and I discuss how she launched her practice and how sometimes not aiming for growth is the best way to success!
MEET MILA
Meet Mila, the driving force behind Toronto Therapy Practice. With over a decade of experience specializing in perinatal mental health at esteemed institutions such as Mount Sinai Hospital in Toronto, Mila is a compassionate and dedicated therapist committed to fostering trust and connection with her clients. Her journey in the mental health field began as a social worker, evolving into her role as the founder of Toronto Therapy Practice. 
Learn more about Mila on her Psychology Today profile and her Canadian practice website.  
In this episode: 
How Mila became a social worker 
Getting into private practice 
Mila’s advice on scaling via hiring 
Dreams and aspirations for a growing practice 
How Mila became a social worker
Since Mila had experience traveling internationally, she decided to study International Relations in Canada. She didn’t enjoy it as much as she thought she would, but Mila did take psychology as a minor and ended up loving it enough to focus on social work in her masters. 
In her second year of placement in the masters program, Mila was at Sunnybrook hospital providing counselling. The job that she worked there went well enough that once she completed her studies, she decided to get a more permanent position and started her work experience. 
However, she was offered a position in England which she ended up taking, and went to London to live and work. Mila was in England for some time before returning to Canada. 
Getting into private practice 
While Mila was working at the hospital, she was doing outpatient counselling. 
She experienced some limitations in terms of how she was able to provide therapy within the hospital system. Mila noticed long wait lists, loads of people seeking access and care, and within the specific hospital rules, she thought that she could offer these necessary services in another way. 
Mila’s advice on scaling via hiring
One associate hired was a friend of Mila’s, one was through word of mouth, and the other two were through Indeed. 
With a flexible schedule system that all her associates have, Mila is able to connect clients and clinicians on schedules that suit both of their needs. Additionally, Mila’s practice and her associates have a hybrid model of offering in-person and online therapy. 
Dreams and aspirations for a growing practice 
Even though Mila has a lot of dreams for her private practice, she wants to make sure that she firmly establishes it now. 
With appropriate scheduling, processes, and systems in place, Mila wants to give her private practice the best shot at success as she can, and that means taking the time and making the effort to lay strong yet flexible foundations for it - and her - to depend on. 
There are also so many ways to get to the same place, so explore to find out what works well for you!
Connect with me:
Instagram
Website 
Resources mentioned and useful links:
Ep 120: 5 Ways to Tackle Isolation with an Online Private Practice | EP 120
Learn more about the tools and deals that I love and use for my Canadian private practice
Sign up for my free e-course on How to Start an Online Canadian Private Practice
Jane App (use code FEARLESS for one month free)
Learn more about Mila on her Psychology Today profile and her Canadian practice webs

Do you sometimes feel lonely working as a therapist? Do you have an online practice, and sometimes wish you could chat with a colleague between sessions to let off some steam or to get an ethical second opinion? How do you deal with isolation as an online therapist? 
Working as a therapist can be an isolating experience in and of itself, since you can’t talk about the details of your work with friends or family. If you work from home like me, then I’m sure that you know that the isolation can be two-fold!
In this episode, I share with you some tips that I have figured out to help myself - and you - enjoy your work as a therapist while still making time for life beyond it. If you are stuck trying to choose between how to handle the challenge, I invite you to listen in! 
In this Episode:
Be intentional 
Get out of your apartment 
Create peer-to-peer consultations 
Meet with your assistants
Make time for a weekly activity 
Be intentional 
Between your work days and work weeks, it can be so tempting to just unwind alone at home, without having to exert yourself further by going outdoors and trying something new after a potentially challenging or long day. 
However, don’t isolate yourself further just because you may be nervous about going outdoors. Find hobbies that you enjoy that get you outside of your home - and that are separate from therapy - so that you can unwind and relax in the company of like-minded people while doing something that you enjoy. 
Get out of your apartment 
Sure, you can enjoy hosting friends at your home. However, if you also work from home and then you socialize at home, there is very little variation in your routine, and you may begin to feel a bit suffocated!  
This is even more important if you live alone at home, because staying connected with your friends and with your personal life beyond just working from home is important. 
Create peer-to-peer consultations 
If you have associates in your Canadian private practice, make sure to schedule a monthly peer-to-peer meeting so that you can consult together to stay connected and on the same page about the practice, and as well as about what’s happening in your lives. 
Connect with your team to talk about client cases or maybe have some fun! Having and maintaining relationships with other therapists can help to ease that isolation since they know what it feels like to work in the profession. 
Meet with your assistants
If you have a virtual assistant, schedule a 30-minute meeting weekly with them. 
This is not only important to discuss business issues, but also to stay connected to your staff so that you don’t pass one another by like ships in the night. 
Make time for a weekly activity
Something that I do which I love is going to the gym in the afternoon. It’s a lovely way to get out of the apartment, exercise, and to be around other people! 
No matter which one you choose, there will be challenges, so you just need to figure out which challenge is the one that you feel most comfortable to work with so that you can make the most of your obligations while enjoying yourself. 
Connect with me:
Instagram
Website 
Resources Mentioned and Useful Links: 
Ep 119: What I Learned from Going to the CCPA Conference | FP 119
Learn more about the tools and deals that I love and use for my Canadian private practice
Article: How to Set Up a Canadian Private Practice Website  
Sign up for my free e-course on How to Start an Online Canadian Private Practice
Jane App (use code FEARLESS for one month free)
Rate, review, and subscribe to this podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon, and TuneIn

Have you ever been to a counselling conference? Are you considering going to one this year for the first time, or are you a regular attendee? 
Whether you are more introverted or an extrovert, conferences offer spaces for both! Not just quiet workshops or long tables filled with fascinating people, but also where you can learn and develop your skills as a professional while enjoying time spent with other interesting therapists. 
I got out of my comfort zone a bit and went to a CCPA conference last year, and it was great! Going forward, I know what I’m looking for now, and how to find other great therapists. If you’re interested in finding out how, listen in!
In this Episode:
What is the CCPA?
Conferences can be a lot of fun!
Choosing conferences going forward 
What is the CCPA?
‘If you don’t know, CCPA stands for Canadian Counselling and Psychotherapy Association, and usually the conference that they have each year is in the springtime, but last year in 2023 they had it in October in Toronto.’ - Julia Smith 
Usually, going to a conference for me is nerve wracking on a couple of levels! I was going alone to this conference, and I wasn’t sure if I was going to enjoy it or not. However, I was able to select the speakers that I was interested in, but it can be a hit-and-miss! 
However, going to conferences also contributes to your CEC credits that all members of the CCPA need to get each year. So, keeping all this in mind, I pushed myself to go!
Conferences can be a lot of fun!
‘With the CCPA conferences, you’re expected to network. It is encouraged to talk to other counsellors. You don’t look silly going up to people and starting conversations … Once I got into the swing of things, it was really fun to have conversations with counsellors from all over Canada!’ - Julia Smith 
If you felt like you were getting a little over socialized, you could go see some of the workshops and talks that were happening around at any given time. 
I really liked that there were options to be silent and listen, or to put yourself out there and socialize! Even during lunches, it felt comfortable to sit down at a table with people that I didn’t know and to strike up a conversation, since this is encouraged by the CCPA conference guidelines. Everyone’s in the same boat!
Choosing conferences going forward 
Despite the great time I had, I know that I want to be intentional about choosing the future conferences I’ll go to. Specifically, I want to be mindful about going to conferences which will give certain information that I want to learn about. 
The CCPA conference is great for learning about many different things in the counselling world, from research to different types of therapy techniques to private practice information. Although, I know what I love! And so I would love to go to a conference on narrative therapy for therapists, because that is what I want to learn more about. 
‘So for you, as you’re considering your budget for this year, I’d highly recommend budgeting some money for going to a conference, and honestly I’d really just start with the CCPA conference! The workshops are so diverse, everybody is a Canadian counsellor, and you get CECs for going!’ - Julia Smith 
Connect with me:
Instagram
Website 
Resources Mentioned and Useful Links: 
Ep 118: Brittany Wells-Pantaleo: Growing a Group Practice Virtually and Ethically | EP 118 
Learn more about the tools and deals that I love and use for my Canadian private practice
Article: How to Set Up a Canadian Private Practice Website  
Sign up for my free e-course on How to Start an Online Canadian Private Practice
Jane App (use code FEARLESS for one month free)
Rate, review, and subscribe to this podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon, and TuneIn

Many counsellors may enter into private practice without expecting to open it into a group practice, since it can be a journey that develops as you explore your niche, assess the needs of your community, and as you develop as a person.
However, if you find yourself on the entrepreneurial path, don’t doubt that it can work! Even though many counsellors are not taught business skills in school, they can be learned, and you can work as an expert in your niche while being profitable and building your dream virtual group practice!
In this podcast episode, I chat with Brittany about her experience of launching, managing, and working in her group practice that’s virtual across Canada. She shares her advice and experience from starting without knowing to confidently planning for her future. 
MEET BRITTANY
Brittany Wells-Pantaleo, MSW, RSW, is the Founder and Clinical Director of Moncton Counselling and Wellness. With a Master's degree in Social Work and as a Registered Social Worker, she has dedicated my career to supporting individuals in their mental health journeys. In 2021, she established Moncton Counselling and Wellness with the goal of providing compassionate and effective counselling support. Her organization has since grown, serving individuals and couples across Canada.
Learn more about Brittany on her LinkedIn profile, practice website, and Instagram page. 
In this episode: 
Why Brittany became a social worker 
Starting a private practice 
Developing a group private practice 
Using Jane App for a virtual practice 
Navigating virtual counselling ethically 
Why Brittany became a social worker 
Brittany’s social work journey began in Ontario in 2016. While she was completing her undergrad, she began working in social worker positions. Brittany worked in the shelter system with a women’s shelter and a youth shelter. 
Brittany applied and luckily got in the first round for her masters, and started in-person, but with the COVID-19 pandemic she had to move online for the last six months of her two and a half year program. 
Even though it was an intense experience, Brittany explains that it provided her with invaluable experience and skills which she brought with her on her journey to today. 
Starting a private practice 
In 2021, Brittany moved to Moncton, New Brunswick and began working for another private practice before venturing out on her own. 
By connecting with a fellow therapist, Brittany began receiving some referrals and building up her referral network and learning from this more experienced practitioner. 
However, Brittany’s father was diagnosed with cancer, and she decided to take a risk and go out on her own so that she could stay closer to family during this time. 
Developing a group private practice 
Once Brittany understood what the mental health landscape looked like in Moncton, she came to find that there were lots of people seeking therapy and that there were a lot of waitlists. 
Since no other therapists were taking clients and Brittany’s waitlist also began to grow, she considered opening up a virtual wing of her private practice. 
Using Jane App for a virtual practice 
Brittany highly recommends Jane App for managing her virtual group practice. Technology is all-encompassing these days, and so choosing a software managing system is important because it becomes an integral part of what your Canadian private practice develops around. 
Navigating virtual counselling ethically 
Since starting her private practice, Brittany has learned that it is slightly different for social workers. 
It is always good practice to work with your attorney or legal advisor, and get in touch with the relevant associations or colleges before you start working in a province, in-person or virtually.
Connect with me:
Instagram
Website 
Resources mentioned and useful links:
Ep 117: Courtney Vezina: Incorporating Community Values into Private Practice | E

There are many different ways in which you can instill and live out the values that you have founded your Canadian private practice on. 
For Courtney, the value of community is a driving factor that positively impacts the work that she and her colleagues do. So much so, that her private practice offers a scholarship for students doing their bachelors in social work or psychology! 
In this podcast episode, Courtney and I discuss her entry into private practice, why she decided to do her doctorate, and how she has found ways to bring the sense of community into her private practice.
MEET COURTNEY
Courtney is a Registered Psychotherapist who owns a group clinic; Courtney James Counselling and Psychotherapy, with locations in Kemptville and Brockville, Ontario. Courtney is currently completing her Doctorate of Counselling and Psychotherapy and is excited to engage in the further development of this amazing field of work. In her clinical work, Courtney uses a humanistic, trauma-informed lens and specializes in relational difficulties and developmental trauma. Courtney’s clinical work and Doctoral studies are focused on her work within the foster care and adoption community.
Learn more about Courtney on the practice website, Psychology Today, and Instagram profiles. 
In this episode: 
Why Courtney decided to become a psychotherapist 
Starting a doctorate 
Courtney’s private practice 
Growing the private practice 
Offering group sessions 
The mental health scholarship!
Why Courtney decided to become a psychotherapist 
Right after high school, Courtney started her psychology studies and then went into the field to gain frontline experience after graduating.
Afterward, she shifted into the mental health field with a position in a school board. It was during one of her maternity leaves that she started her masters program in Counselling Psychology in 2017.
Starting a doctorate 
Most counsellors can open a Canadian private practice with only a masters degree, but Courtney went further and is working towards completing her doctorate. 
For Courtney, the doctoral program that she’s in is not specifically research-based, and it encourages a different style of approaching this field that’s specific to psychotherapy. 
Courtney’s private practice 
While Courtney was completing her masters program, it was her intention to start a private practice. 
Even though Courtney began as a solo practitioner, she quickly hired colleagues into her private practice. 
Growing the private practice 
Courtney was mindful of where the needs were in her community, and so she therefore decided to open a second and third location in areas of her city where she knew that the population didn’t have as much access to mental health care. 
The point is to take calculated risks for your business. You don’t have to know if something is going to work before you try it - sometimes you have to try first to gain insight, and to then take informed action moving forward. 
Offering group sessions 
Courtney’s practice is creating emotional regulation groups that she brainstormed with a few of her colleagues. 
Even though there is an interest in offering group therapy, Courntey and her team are working on the fine print and structural components of it before they fully provide this additional service to their clients. 
The mental health scholarship 
For students that are accepted into undergraduate programs in psychology or social work, Courntey’s practice is offering a scholarship! 
This will be the fourth year that the scholarship is being offered, and her intention behind offering it comes from the same community piece that is vital to her and is one of the foundational pillars of the practice. 
Connect with me:
Instagram
Website 
Resources mentioned and useful links:
Ep 116: Samantha Sarty: Setting Business Boundaries to Grow Private Practice | EP 116
Learn more about the tools

Building a practice is a tricky task because we know that it is going to be difficult sometimes. The question is, when have we gone too far and are perhaps risking burnout? It can feel difficult to maintain your personal and professional boundaries when you are the boss and things depend on you, but in essence, your business does depend on you, so it’s important to take care of yourself. 
Whether you are a part-time Canadian private practice owner, or you work full-time, there’s always something that you can learn from another counsellor’s story. On today’s episode, I chat with Samantha and we discuss growing your business without compromising on your boundaries, marketing with social media, and giving back to the therapeutic community. 
MEET SAMANTHA
Sam Sarty is a Registered Social Worker and Registered Nurse practicing in Dartmouth, NS, Canada - the land of the Mi'kmaq people. She specializes in working with trauma particularly in the first responder and veteran population. She is currently working in solo private practice (Following Seas Psychotherapy) after working in the public mental health system for the last decade as well as part-time work for a group practice.
Learn more about Samantha on her Psychology Today and LinkedIn profile, and private practice website. 
In this episode: 
How Samantha became a social worker 
Using Jane App for managing a business 
Expanding the business with boundaries 
Using social media in private practice 
How Samantha offers sliding scale 
How Samantha became a social worker 
After completing university, Samantha pursued nursing but didn’t want to go through the traditional route, and instead completed a mental health course, and then found her passion with that type of nursing work. 
Once Samantha completed nursing school, she went onto working at the local children’s hospital before coming back to adult mental health in 2016. 
Using Jane App for managing a business 
Samantha uses the Jane App in her private practice, and for her it’s incredibly useful and helpful. 
Without any associates or admin assistants, Samantha does all the work in her private practice currently, from taking the calls, replying to emails, and billing. 
Expanding the business with boundaries
Samantha wants to grow the business while being mindful of her own personal boundaries at the same time.
Since the business depends on her effort, she knows that it’s important to scale the business while doing it intentionally with her needs so that she doesn’t have to exchange the success of the business on a loss of her health or wealth. 
Using social media in private practice 
For Samantha, it was important to use social media as a tool to spread knowledge and information instead of disinformation. Not to give her clients or audience therapy through social media, but actionable tools, awareness, and information. 
In this way, social media can become a way to not only market your Canadian private practice, but it also becomes a way to serve the community. 
Even though Psychology Today is currently one of her strongest referral sources that brings her the most clients, Samantha has found that word-of-mouth referrals as well as referrals from doctors have been the most successful. 
How Samantha offers sliding scale 
Samantha does clinical supervision, and offers sliding scales for other therapists because she wants to help invest in the profession itself. 
Looking to the future 
With regards to what’s up ahead, Samantha is considering the possibility of offering intensives to future clients. 
She’s found that they can be incredibly helpful to clients looking to process traumatic events, so Samantha is wanting to incorporate this into the future of her Canadian private practice. 
Connect with me:
Instagram
Website 
Resources mentioned and useful links:
Ep 115: Jasmine Bird: Defining Your Success to Live Authentically | EP 115
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