Selling the Couch

Melvin Varghese, PhD
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With 1.81 million+ downloads, Selling the Couch is an Apple Top Career podcast for current and future mental health private practitioners who think differently. Psychologist Melvin Varghese interviews successful therapists in private practice about how they built their businesses as well as top entrepreneurs, business/marketing, and social media experts.* You'll learn how therapists get referrals, grow their practices, work through fears, find their enough, and stop "trading time for income." Melvin also shares the lessons as he grows his impact + income beyond the therapy room (podcasting, YouTube, writing, online courses, masterminds, investing, etc) and the tips and tools he uses to grow STC from a single-person business to the CEO of a 6-figure business.* Featured in Psychology Today, Good Therapy, and Psych Central ****Get show notes and even more good stuff at sellingthecouch.com/stcpodcast*

  1. 6 DAYS AGO

    419: Why Smart, Thoughtful Professionals Are Pulling Back From Social Media

    Are therapists quietly leaving social media… on purpose? In today’s episode, we explore a growing shift: not burnout, but intentional withdrawal from platforms that promise connection... but often create fragmentation. If you’ve ever felt conflicted about social media—needing it for visibility but feeling drained by it—this conversation will hit close to home. In this episode, you’ll learn: Why social media isn’t a neutral tool, it’s a shaping forceThe “dysregulation paradox” therapists face onlineWhat social media actually does to your brain (especially as a clinician)Why intentional creators are stepping back, or redesigning their relationship with itHow to market your work without handing over your nervous systemA simple framework to decide if social media is still serving you Key insights: We teach nervous system regulation… on platforms designed for dysregulationSocial media often trains reactivity, comparison, and fragmented attentionLeaving (or limiting) social media isn’t about productivity, it’s about protecting your attentionYou don’t owe any platform your presenceThe most meaningful work rarely comes from constant scrolling, it comes from depth, slowness, and focus Because the real question isn’t just: “Should I be on social media?” It’s: “What is this platform shaping me into?” -- RESOURCES Building and managing the practice you truly want can feel overwhelming. That’s why Alma is here—to help you create not just any practice, but your private practice. With Alma, you’ll get the tools and resources you need to navigate insurance with ease, connect with referrals that are the right fit for your style, and streamline those time-consuming administrative tasks. That means less time buried in the details and more time focused on delivering exceptional care to your clients. You support your clients. Alma supports you. Learn more at sellingthecouch.com/alma and get 2 months FREE–an exclusive offer for STC listeners. -- Ready to launch (or grow) your online course? Haven is our membership for therapists who want to turn their expertise into sustainable online income through courses, content, and simple systems that actually work. You’ll get access to trainings, live accelerators, and a community that supports you every step of the way. Get on the waitlist: sellingthecouch.com/haven

    18 min

  2. 24 APR

    418: Human-Centric Marketing: Choosing Connection Over Algorithms

    What does it actually look like to market your work… without losing your humanity? In today’s episode of Selling the Couch, I’m joined by Shayna Vance Roman to explore a powerful and often overlooked idea: human-centric marketing—and how to apply it in a way that feels grounded, ethical, and aligned. If you’ve ever felt uncomfortable with marketing… overwhelmed by social media… or unsure how to grow your practice without becoming someone you’re not, this conversation is for you. In this episode, we explore: What human-centric marketing really means (and why it matters more than ever)Why marketing can start to feel “transactional” instead of relationalThe tension between running a business and staying values-drivenThe rise of therapist influencers, audience growth, and revenue pressureHow to create content that feels authentic, not performativePractical ways to build connection, compassion, and trust onlineThe role of AI in marketing and how to use it without losing your voiceWhy “less but better” content may be the future A few key takeaways: People aren’t just “clients” or “data points”, they’re humans navigating real strugglesYour website, social media, and content should meet people where they areYou don’t need to post constantly (consistency ≠ overproduction)The goal of marketing isn’t just visibility, it’s trust and connection At the end of the day… Marketing isn’t about getting more people in the door. It’s about helping the right people feel seen, safe, and supported, before they ever reach out. -- RESOURCES Connect with Shayna: 🌐 https://shaynavanceetc.com -- Building and managing the practice you truly want can feel overwhelming. That’s why Alma is here—to help you create not just any practice, but your private practice. With Alma, you’ll get the tools and resources you need to navigate insurance with ease, connect with referrals that are the right fit for your style, and streamline those time-consuming administrative tasks. That means less time buried in the details and more time focused on delivering exceptional care to your clients. You support your clients. Alma supports you. Learn more at sellingthecouch.com/alma and get 2 months FREE–an exclusive offer for STC listeners. -- Ready to launch (or grow) your online course? Haven is our membership for therapists who want to turn their expertise into sustainable online income through courses, content, and simple systems that actually work. You’ll get access to trainings, live accelerators, and a community that supports you every step of the way. Get on the waitlist: sellingthecouch.com/haven

    43 min

  3. 16 APR

    417: Is Ai Killing Our Ability To Protect Time?

    Is AI actually giving us more freedom… or just more to do? In this episode, I reflect on something I’ve been noticing lately, both in my own life and in conversations with other business owners: Even though AI makes it easier to write, create, and move faster… many of us aren’t using that time to slow down. In this episode, we explore: Why AI doesn’t actually create freedom (and what it creates instead)The subtle trap of turning efficiency into more workHow “doing more” quietly pulls us away from the life we wanted to buildThe difference between efficiency vs. alignmentWhy protecting empty space is more important than everHow to define “enough” in a world where there’s always more you could do Grounding reminders shared in this episode: Efficiency is not alignmentJust because you can do more doesn’t mean you should.Empty space is not a problemThat quiet time? That slower pace? That’s the whole point.If you don’t define “enough,” it disappears Without friction, there’s always one more thing to do. The goal was never to do more. It's to build a life that feels like your own. -- RESOURCES Building and managing the practice you truly want can feel overwhelming. That’s why Alma is here—to help you create not just any practice, but your private practice. With Alma, you’ll get the tools and resources you need to navigate insurance with ease, connect with referrals that are the right fit for your style, and streamline those time-consuming administrative tasks. That means less time buried in the details and more time focused on delivering exceptional care to your clients. You support your clients. Alma supports you. Learn more at sellingthecouch.com/alma and get 2 months FREE–an exclusive offer for STC listeners. -- Ready to launch (or grow) your online course? Haven is our membership for therapists who want to turn their expertise into sustainable online income through courses, content, and simple systems that actually work. You’ll get access to trainings, live accelerators, and a community that supports you every step of the way. Get on the waitlist: sellingthecouch.com/haven

    9 min

  4. 9 APR

    416: Is Blogging Still Worth It In The AI Age?

    If you’ve been told to “just start a blog” to grow your private practice and be seen online, but you’re now wondering if AI has made that advice outdated... this episode is for you. In this conversation, I sit down with Daniel Fava from Private Practice Elevation to explore what’s actually changed with blogging, SEO, and content creation, and what still works today. In this episode, we cover: Why blogging has traditionally been such a powerful strategy for therapistsThe biggest shifts in SEO and content creation since the rise of AIWhat Google’s E-E-A-T framework really means, and why it favors therapistsHow to make your content stand out in an AI-saturated worldThe role of social signals in building authorityA smarter way to approach bloggingWhere to start if you haven’t blogged in months (or ever) Blogging isn’t dead, but generic blogging is. In an AI-driven world, storytelling is your unfair advantage. Because blogging isn’t about writing on a weekly schedule. It’s about creating content that actually connects, builds trust, and compounds over time. -- Connect with Daniel & Private Practice Elevation: Website: https://privatepracticeelevation.com Free Clarity Call: https://privatepracticeelevation.com/kickoff -- RESOURCES Building and managing the practice you truly want can feel overwhelming. That’s why Alma is here—to help you create not just any practice, but your private practice. With Alma, you’ll get the tools and resources you need to navigate insurance with ease, connect with referrals that are the right fit for your style, and streamline those time-consuming administrative tasks. That means less time buried in the details and more time focused on delivering exceptional care to your clients. You support your clients. Alma supports you. Learn more at sellingthecouch.com/alma and get 2 months FREE–an exclusive offer for STC listeners. -- Ready to launch (or grow) your online course? Haven is our membership for therapists who want to turn their expertise into sustainable online income through courses, content, and simple systems that actually work. You’ll get access to trainings, live accelerators, and a community that supports you every step of the way. Get on the waitlist: sellingthecouch.com/haven

    44 min

  5. 2 APR

    415: What Actually Drives Podcast Downloads Based on Real Data

    After 11 years, 400+ episodes, and nearly 2 million downloads, I thought I understood what drives podcast growth. Then I saw the data, and it challenged a lot of assumptions. In this episode, I break down what actually drives podcast downloads today, based on real-world insights and my own experience growing Selling the Couch into a top 0.5% podcast. Because here’s the truth: Audience size doesn’t guarantee downloadsBig-name guests aren’t the growth lever you think they areAnd visibility alone isn’t what moves the needle In this episode, we cover: Why audience size ≠ downloads (and what matters more)The real difference between a “vitamin” vs. “painkiller” episodeWhy titles matter more than your guest listHow to write titles that get 2–3x more downloadsThe ideal episode lengthHow to think about podcast guesting strategically (not randomly)The strategy that beats social media for growthYour best discovery toolThe biggest shift in downloads Plus, we'll go over a simple experiment to try to see what your audience actually responds to, and how to double down on it. If your podcast isn’t growing the way you expected, it may not be your consistency. It may be your alignment—between your title, your topic, and the real problems your listeners are trying to solve. If you found this helpful, consider sharing it with a friend or colleague who is building (or thinking about starting) a podcast. And don’t forget to subscribe for more insights on podcasting, online business, and building something that compounds quietly over time. -- RESOURCES Building and managing the practice you truly want can feel overwhelming. That’s why Alma is here—to help you create not just any practice, but your private practice. With Alma, you’ll get the tools and resources you need to navigate insurance with ease, connect with referrals that are the right fit for your style, and streamline those time-consuming administrative tasks. That means less time buried in the details and more time focused on delivering exceptional care to your clients. You support your clients. Alma supports you. Learn more at sellingthecouch.com/alma and get 2 months FREE–an exclusive offer for STC listeners. -- Ready to launch (or grow) your online course? Haven is our membership for therapists who want to turn their expertise into sustainable online income through courses, content, and simple systems that actually work. You’ll get access to trainings, live accelerators, and a community that supports you every step of the way. Get on the waitlist: sellingthecouch.com/haven

    18 min

  6. 26 MAR

    ENCORE: Researching and Finding an Audience for Your E-Course

    Today’s encore is covering creating and selling an E-Course. Since creating Healthcasters, I’ve definitely made many mistakes that I’m happy to share with you. Statistics show that the self-improvement industry is a $10-11 billion industry, so we know that there are a lot people who crave knowledge and want to learn. Join me for more! -- Want to launch your online course? Our new membership is open for enrollment! Find out more and join Haven here

    23 min

  7. 19 MAR

    ENCORE: How to Show Up Imperfect In Your Marketing

    If there is one thing I’ve learned as a small business owner, it’s that it takes courage to show up imperfect. We want so badly to be perfect and put together in front of our audience, but perfectionism makes us less authentic and connected. Join us to learn more about being OK with being imperfect. Samara Stone is a return guest to the podcast, and I’m thrilled to welcome her back! In addition to her work as a therapist, Samara is a branding expert who has a curated community, Be Full Grown, for black women over 40 who are ready to imagine, create, and live a life of their own design. Samara is in the process of launching a podcast, and she has already proven her courage in showing up imperfect through some major life difficulties. We will discuss how we, as clinicians, can show up imperfect when perfectionism always has a pull on us. Samara also shares helpful guidelines for sharing appropriately on social media, which is something we all need to keep in mind. Be Full Grown You’ll Learn: How things have changed in our field in beautiful ways; “Your Saturday self CAN show up on Monday morning.”Why many therapists struggle with perfectionism and are afraid to show up as 100% humanWhy clients appreciate transparency because it conveys a non-judgmental attitudeWhy there is a huge shift happening in how we understand marketing and our personal brandHow therapists need to share enough about the real dynamic of themselves so clients can see the healing possibilitiesHow Samara decided to share on social media the experience of her divorce a few years agoWhy we have to be polarizing at times in order to find our true audience–and that’s OKThe importance of realizing that you can’t and won’t appeal to everyoneHow to use your clear purpose and intention to determine how much of your life to share on social media -- Want to launch your online course? Our new membership is open for enrollment! Find out more and join Haven here.

    33 min

  8. 13 MAR

    ENCORE: Pro Tips To Improve The Quality Of Live Videos

    We use video for meetings, live sessions, live-streaming, and other content, so it’s important to have the best quality possible. Michael Rothermel is my videographer who filmed the welcome video for STC. We were part of the same faith community while Michael lived in the Philly area. Join us to learn his top tips to improve the quality of live videos. -- Want to launch your online course or YouTube channel? Save your spot for our free live webinar: The Calm YouTube Flywheel here! Or check out our new membership site! Find out more and get on the Haven Waitlist here.

    37 min
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About

With 1.81 million+ downloads, Selling the Couch is an Apple Top Career podcast for current and future mental health private practitioners who think differently. Psychologist Melvin Varghese interviews successful therapists in private practice about how they built their businesses as well as top entrepreneurs, business/marketing, and social media experts.* You'll learn how therapists get referrals, grow their practices, work through fears, find their enough, and stop "trading time for income." Melvin also shares the lessons as he grows his impact + income beyond the therapy room (podcasting, YouTube, writing, online courses, masterminds, investing, etc) and the tips and tools he uses to grow STC from a single-person business to the CEO of a 6-figure business.* Featured in Psychology Today, Good Therapy, and Psych Central ****Get show notes and even more good stuff at sellingthecouch.com/stcpodcast*

Information

  • Creator
    Melvin Varghese, PhD
  • Years Active
    2015 - 2026
  • Episodes
    302
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Selling The Couch LLC
  • Show Website
    Selling the Couch

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