Scaling Therapy Practice: Digital Course Creation for Clinicians, Coaches, and Content Experts

James Marland

The Scaling Therapy Practice podcast exists to inspire therapists to scale their business with systems, people, community, or opportunity

  1. STP 133 | How to Keep Your Audience Awake, Engaged & Buying

    6 DAYS AGO

    STP 133 | How to Keep Your Audience Awake, Engaged & Buying

    Are people leaving your webinars before you even make your offer? In this episode of Scaling Therapy Practice, host James Marlin sits down with Johnny Byrne, known as The Webinar Wizard, to talk about how to create engaging webinars that keep people watching—and buying. Whether you're a therapist, coach, or course creator, Johnny explains how to upgrade your presentation style using free tools, simple tech (like Stream Deck + OBS), and easy visual techniques that make a BIG difference. Learn why most webinars fail to convert—and what to do instead. If you run webinars, workshops, or online courses, this episode will help you turn more viewers into buyers. Highlights 00:00 – Why Most Webinars Lose Viewers Before the Offer 01:05 – Meet Johnny Byrne, the Webinar Wizard 02:40 – From Live Trainer to Online Engagement Expert 04:00 – How the Pandemic Changed Presentation Skills 05:20 – “You’re Not Too Techy”—Why Anyone Can Do This 07:00 – Free Tools: Stream Deck & OBS for Better Engagement 08:45 – No More “Can You See My Slides?” 10:10 – The Power of Pattern Interrupts 11:30 – Why Looking & Sounding Good Builds Trust 13:00 – Making Your Webinar Feel Like a Show 14:45 – Live Drawing with iPad or Paper for Real-Time Connection 16:30 – Record & Edit at the Same Time (Big Time Saver!) 18:00 – Shocking Stats: 60% Leave Before Your Sales Pitch 19:20 – You’re Losing Sales If They Don’t Stay Till the End 21:15 – How to Use Timers, Music & Visuals for Better Flow 22:30 – Deliver an Experience, Not Just an Event 24:00 – Where to Find Johnny + Free Setup Review Offer Resources & Links Mentioned: Johnny Byrne’s Website: https://johnnybeirne.com/ Free Setup Review with Johnny: https://johnnybeirne.com/  Free Live Training with Johnny: https://luma.com/webinarwizard?k=c&period=past

    26 min
  2. STP 132 | The High Cost of Playing It Safe (Why Avoiding Risk Holds You Back)

    22 SEPT

    STP 132 | The High Cost of Playing It Safe (Why Avoiding Risk Holds You Back)

    Scaling Therapist PodcastEpisode 132: The High Cost of Playing It Safe (Why Avoiding Risk Holds You Back)Host: James Marland Episode Summary:In this episode, I talk about how fear and imposter syndrome can stop therapists and private practice owners from growing their businesses. I share a few personal stories about times when I let hesitation hold me back, and how I learned that courage comes before confidence. If you’ve been waiting to feel “ready” before trying something new, this episode is your reminder that taking action (even small, imperfect steps) is the real way forward. What You’ll Learn: Why imposter syndrome is so common in helping professions How fear disguises itself as wisdom What hesitation has cost me (and maybe you too) Why you should act before you feel confident How to take one small step forward this week Timestamps and Topics: (00:00) A story about hiding after a small mistake in a school play(01:00) The cost of fear and hesitation in business and life(02:30) Imposter syndrome and why it shows up for therapists(04:00) The leadership role I turned down because I didn’t feel ready(06:00) Surprising statistics on imposter syndrome(08:00) How your brain makes small mistakes feel huge(10:30) Why your audience doesn’t notice what you think they do(11:30) Leading a group without confidence (courage came first)(13:00) You don’t need to wait for perfection to move forward(14:00) A new course to help you overcome self-doubt(15:30) Final encouragement and call to action Resources Mentioned  Store Page: https://www.coursecreationstudio.com/store  Special offer - Pay what you want for confident course creator  https://www.coursecreationstudio.com/offers/EoAzZpsG

    17 min
  3. STP 131 | What If Community Is the Shortcut and Going Alone Keeps you Stuck?

    15 SEPT

    STP 131 | What If Community Is the Shortcut and Going Alone Keeps you Stuck?

    What This Episode Is About If you're a therapist, coach, or mission-minded helper who feels like you're supposed to do it all on your own—this one’s for you. I share a deeply personal story about what pretending to be “fine” cost me in marriage, and what it revealed about how I was building my business. This episode isn’t about hustle. It’s about getting honest. What if community is the thing that gets you unstuck? As a course creation coach for therapists, I’ve seen over and over again that support—not solo hustle—is the real catalyst for growth. Let’s talk about how to find it and why it matters. Top 3 Reasons to Listen You’ll hear what “fake peace” really looks like in a marriage—and a business. You’ll learn why being stuck isn’t a capacity issue—it’s often a community issue. You’ll walk away with one practical step to stop building your online offer alone. Timestamped Highlights 00:00 – I open with this truth: Support is not a crutch. It’s a catalyst. 02:10 – The story of me and my wife walking into a group while silently falling apart. 06:45 – Why we say “we’re fine” in business—and why that’s keeping us stuck. 08:40 – Naming the Solo Myth: The lie that you have to do this alone. 10:00 – Donald Miller's advice: Why coaches need community too. 11:20 – My basement remodel: a story of drywall, fear of power tools, and how 10 friends did what would’ve taken me years. 14:00 – LinkedIn accountability: how a weekly group helped me start showing up consistently. 16:45 – Fun Financial Fridays: how community made money tasks less overwhelming. 19:30 – Being authentic: why showing the cracks builds trust with your ideal client. 21:00 – A reflection: What about your real life would help your audience connect? 22:30 – Final invitation: You’re not stuck because you can’t. You’re stuck because you’re doing it alone. Resources and Mentions Book: Coach Builder by Donald Miller → https://businessmadesimple.com Want help planning your next 90 days? Book a free call with me → https://tidycal.com/360z043/custom-goal-setting-interview-m829oov Ready to grow without burnout? I'm a therapist online course business coach—learn more here →  https://www.coursecreationstudio.com/ Before You Go You don’t need more grit. You need more people who believe in what you’re building. If someone came to mind while you listened, text them. Ask for 15 minutes. Swap ideas. Or reach out to me and let’s plan your next 90 days together. If this helped you see things differently, share it with a friend. We go further faster when we don’t go alone.

    24 min
  4. STP 130 | How to Stay Focused on Change When Things Get Tough

    8 SEPT

    STP 130 | How to Stay Focused on Change When Things Get Tough

    When you’re running a practice, change is constant, but staying focused during the hard parts is where most therapists get stuck. In this episode, James talks with Michael Dettrich-Chastain, therapist and CEO of Arc Integrated, about why we revert to old habits and what to do instead. From real-life struggles with tools like ClickUp to Michael’s 7 Influencers of Change, this episode is packed with insights for practice owners who want to grow without burning out.  In this episode How to stay focused when making changes in your practice, even when things get uncomfortable A breakdown of Michael Dettrich-Chastain’s 7 Influencers of Change framework Real examples of why we revert to old habits and how to build support systems that keep you moving forward Show Highlights [00:00:01] Michael opens with the idea that success is self-defined because we are always in flux and always changing. [00:01:00] James introduces Michael and shares how they met at the Wise Practice Summit. [00:02:00] Michael shares about the flood in North Carolina and the community’s response during crisis. [00:04:15] Michael’s journey from therapist to CEO and the leap from comfort to entrepreneurship. [00:07:00] How becoming a father changed Michael’s perspective on work, travel, and balance. [00:08:00] Why change in practice often shows up as symptoms, not signs—frustration, delay, complaints. [00:10:00] Michael introduces his 7 Influencers of Change: cognition, heart, action, nourishment, guts, environment, spirit. [00:12:00] How environment keeps us stuck—and how to shift it to support change. [00:13:45] James shares his ClickUp struggle as a real example of falling back on old habits when change gets hard. [00:15:00] Michael applies his framework to James’s situation, focusing on cognition and environment. [00:17:30] Why clearly defining success is the key to staying focused when things get tough. [00:20:00] Entrepreneurship as personal development—how change forces us to grow in unexpected ways. [00:20:30] Where to find Michael’s free change management resources and tools. Links and Resources Free toolkit from Michael: arcintegrated.com/free Michael’s website: arcintegrated.com Project management tool discussed: ClickUp Book: Changes by Michael Dettrich-Chastain

    22 min
  5. STP 129 | 3 Steps for Adding a Scalable Revenue Stream as a Therapist

    2 SEPT

    STP 129 | 3 Steps for Adding a Scalable Revenue Stream as a Therapist

    Feeling maxed out with clients? Emotionally drained?In this episode, James Marland breaks down three practical steps for therapists to earn more without packing their calendar even tighter. If you’ve hit the ceiling with one-on-one therapy sessions and are wondering how to grow without burning out, this is for you. 3 Steps for Adding a Scalable Revenue Stream as a Therapist You will learn: How to find urgent problems your clients will pay to solve How to package your expertise into digital products or coaching How to share your solution with your ideal clients Why a "Minimum Viable Product" (MVP) is the key to momentum The difference between a therapist's "bucket" model vs. an "aqueduct" model James shares personal stories (including one involving a leaky pipe 🛠️) and gives you clear, actionable advice on how to take your existing skills and turn them into something scalable. 💡 You don’t need to reinvent yourself. You just need a better structure.📘 Grab the free resource: "15 Ways to Earn More: A Therapist’s Guide" at coursecreationstudio.com ⏱️ Show Highlights 00:00 – Welcome: Why therapists need to scale smarter 01:30 – Burnout warning signs: You don’t hate your job, you’re just maxed out 03:00 – Life throws curveballs: Kids, health, aging parents 04:00 – Why solving urgent problems is the path to income 05:30 – Storytime: James drills into a pipe… and finds a metaphor 08:00 – People pay for today's problems, not "someday" ones 09:00 – Step 1: Identify the problem people must solve 10:00 – Step 2: Package your expertise into a scalable structure 11:00 – What is your “aqueduct”? Build it once, let it flow 12:00 – MVP = Minimum Viable Product (Start small, solve fast) 13:30 – Don’t overwhelm clients with too many details 14:30 – Step 3: Market to someone, not everyone 15:00 – Tad Hargrave's 5-level client targeting method 16:30 – How to truly define your ideal client (go beyond demographics) 18:30 – You don’t need to build everything at once 19:30 – It’s okay to want something different. You’re not broken. 20:00 – Final encouragement + Free therapist resource 📦 Mentioned in This Episode ✅ Free guide: 15 Ways to Earn More as a Therapist 📖 Book: Coach Builder by Donald Miller 🎯 Resource: Tad Hargrave – Marketing for Hippies https://marketingforhippies.com 💬 Quote: “People don’t pay for fog. They pay for you to solve their problems.” 🔗 Resources 💻 CourseCreationStudio.com – James’s platform for therapist course coaching 📚 Coach Builder – Donald Miller 🧠 Marketing for Hippies – Ideal client targeting tools 📥 Download: “15 Ways to Earn More” therapist guide at CourseCreationStudio.com

    20 min
  6. STP 127 | Building Income Stability  In Your Therapy Practice

    18 AUG

    STP 127 | Building Income Stability In Your Therapy Practice

    Building Income Stability In Your Therapy Practice Therapists often feel trapped by the “one-hour, one-client, one-paycheck” model. Cancellations, seasonal slowdowns, and burnout can make private practice unpredictable. In this episode of Scaling Therapy Practice, host James Marland sits down with Chris McDonald, therapist, podcaster, and course creator, to discuss how to build income stability for therapists—without hustling for more clients or overloading your schedule. 3 Reasons to Listen Discover why relying only on client sessions creates financial instability for therapists. Learn how online courses for therapists provide flexibility, freedom, and extra revenue. Hear Chris’s personal journey of scaling her private practice with courses, memberships, and holistic tools. Show Highlights [00:00:03] Working less but earning more — Chris shares her goal of creating more income streams for therapists while cutting back on client hours. [00:01:11] Introducing Chris McDonald — Licensed therapist, podcaster, and creator of Yoga in the Therapy Room. [00:05:09] The pressure of private practice — Why therapists often feel forced to hustle to maintain a full caseload. [00:07:54] Why courses over other options — Chris explains why course creation for therapists made more sense than hiring staff or writing another book. [00:10:22] Self-care and yoga in therapy — How integrating yoga helps both clients and therapists manage burnout. [00:12:14] Stability through variety — How adding a course brought financial stability in private practice while reigniting Chris’s passion. [00:14:00] Breaking free from the one-to-one model — The limits of trading hours for dollars in therapy. [00:16:49] Freedom and flexibility with courses — Building a practice that supports health, family, and passion projects. [00:18:16] Behind the course design — Creating short, accessible lessons for busy therapists. [00:22:06] Building community and accountability — Chris’s plans for a therapist membership to support yoga integration. [00:24:36] Where to connect — Find Chris at YogaInTheTherapyRoom.com for her podcast, courses, and CE trainings. Links and Resources Podcasts Yoga in the Therapy Room (Chris McDonald’s podcast) → yogainthetherapyroom.com  Scaling Therapy Practice (hosted by James Marland) → coursecreationstudio.com 🧰 Courses & Trainings Yoga in the Therapy Room Course (Chris’s main digital course for therapists) → yogainthetherapyroom.com Art of Breathwork (CE training, pre-recorded course) → yogainthetherapyroom.com  Self-Care for Therapists (CE training, pre-recorded course) → yogainthetherapyroom.com  🏥 Private Practice Path to Hope Counseling (Chris’s practice in Raleigh, NC) → pathtohopecounseling.com

    23 min
  7. STP 126 | From Stuck to Steady Growth:  Fixing the Flow in Your Marketing System, Guest Joshua Brummel

    12 AUG

    STP 126 | From Stuck to Steady Growth: Fixing the Flow in Your Marketing System, Guest Joshua Brummel

    Scaling Therapy Practices: Strategic Growth and Tactical Advice with Joshua Brummel  In this episode of the Scaling Therapy Practice, host James Marland engages with Joshua Brummel from Therapy Flow, discussing strategies for adding significant revenue to therapy practices within a year. They dive into common bottlenecks such as marketing, recruitment, intake, and operations, and how a new in-person conference in 2025 can help address these challenges. Joshua explains the importance of finding and tackling growth bottlenecks, marketing ethically in the healthcare space, and the detailed planning of the upcoming event aimed at practice owners looking to scale. Hear about the goal of providing both high-level strategies and actionable advice to help attendees achieve substantial growth. Show Highlights 00:00 Introduction: The Million-Dollar Question 01:16 The Trap of Being Fully Booked 02:17 Guest Introduction: Joshua Brummel from Therapy Flow 03:40 Deep Dive: Marketing and Business Growth for Therapists 05:24 Ethical Marketing and Sales in Therapy 07:49 Planning and Executing a Successful Conference 22:28 Key Takeaways and Final Thoughts 31:45 Conclusion: Putting Your Mission in Motion Links and Resources Beyond Fully Booked Learning Event - https://coursecreationstudio.com/beyondfullyboked  Sold Out Group Practice Con: https://grouppracticecon.com/gpc-2025 Therapy Flow Facebook Community Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/therapyflowcommunity Therapy Flow Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mytherapyflow/ Therapy Flow Newsletter: https://join.mytherapyflow.com/join-therapy-flow-newsletter

    32 min

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The Scaling Therapy Practice podcast exists to inspire therapists to scale their business with systems, people, community, or opportunity

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