Selling the Couch Melvin Varghese, PhD

Many of us have thought about creating continuing education courses and wondered how the process works and what factors are involved. Who better to learn from than someone who has done this successfully? Being successful at CEU course creation takes innovation, creativity, and an entrepreneurial spirit. Join us for informative insights from today’s guest!
Our Featured Guest
Matthew Bierds
Matt Bierds, from Duke City Counseling, is a licensed professional counselor, course creator, and professional speaker who does in-person and virtual counseling and LPC supervision in Texas and New Mexico. As far back as ten years ago, Matt realized that the world of online education was expanding, and he knew there were interesting opportunities for LPCs in the area of online courses. After jumping into this arena, Matt went through a “failing forward” phase before making a few tweaks and creating a course for LPC supervisors. In today’s session, Matt shares the lessons learned along his fascinating journey and the mistakes and successes that have brought him to where he is today. 
Matt's Website
You’ll Learn:
Matt’s wisdom: “I learned the hard way that selling general continuing education courses online is pointless and a waste of time and money.”The value in pivoting and niching down when something isn’t workingDiscovering the sweet spot: How Matt created a course designed for a specific person in a specific situationCourse creation is successful when you see the need and solve the pain point.Matt’s path to building trust and cultivating repeat customersThe progression and development of Matt’s 40-hour course and 6-hour refresher coursesThe challenges in maintaining compliance and navigating changes in licensing requirementsCourse creation challenges: creating content and incorporating more video interaction and student engagementMatt’s biggest mistakes and successes in marketing his courses
Resources:
So you’ve probably heard that blogging is one of the best ways to attract your ideal clients as a therapist. 
But I know that it can be intimidating to SEO optimize your blog post so that it’s actually getting found by your current and future clients. 
Please visit https://sellingthecouch.com/simplifiedseo.
**Use the code “MELVIN” to get 20% off any online, DIY SEO courses, and mention Melvin during your consultation for $100 off your onboarding fee for Done-For-You SEO services!
Interested in becoming part of our affiliate program? Learn more at
https://sellingthecouch.com/jointhehealthcasters  
Want to launch your online course?
Please check out our free 7-Day Course Creator Starter Kit For Therapists: https://sellingthecouch.com/coursekit
Mentioned in this episode:
Check Out PsycCareers!

If you’re a psychology professional who is ready to take the next step in their career, check out PsycCareers, the American Psychological Association Services, Inc’s career center. PsycCareers is home to over 400 open positions tailored specifically for psychology professionals. Start your journey today by exploring opportunities that inspire and challenge you at sellingthecouch.com/apa.

To keep you informed, this will be the last session before I take a summer break. Along with taking time for much-anticipated rest, I’ll be busy with my family and many STC-related projects! STC will still be here, though, as we run replays of our best episodes for you during this time. I look forward to returning in a few weeks with another great season of podcast sessions for you! 
As I prepare to see clients very soon in my return to private practice, I’ve been given unique opportunities to do two talks related to mental health for folks near my childhood home of Dallas, Texas. Through a childhood friend, I became connected to a nonprofit there and was asked to share my personal experience with mental health. As a high-achiever, I grew up as a South Asian kid in the US, struggling with anxiety and depression. It was REAL and led me to see a psychologist, prompting my love for psychology and changing the course of my life. I shared my story with parents of high-achieving kids through this nonprofit and led a Q & A session with them; it was truly one of the most amazing experiences of my life. I was subsequently asked to do a second talk with another organization on a similar topic, focusing on risk factors for kids/teens growing up in hyper-competitive public and private schools. These kids are in what I call “the gilded pressure cooker,” feeling enormous pressure to achieve almost impossible feats. In today’s session, I want to share the three biggest lessons I’ve learned as a result of these unexpected opportunities to talk about the intersection of my experiences, passions, and callings. 
You’ll Learn: 
My three biggest takeaways after doing these talks:Leaning into social media platforms, podcasting, and teaching workshops has helped me refine my speaking skills and learn to enjoy public speaking. (I’ve learned to silence my ever-present inner critic!)Doing talks like these takes a LOT of work and planning. (These were pro bono talks, but I will charge a fee in the future because of the multiple hours required. I don’t want to focus on revenue but on reach)For every talk I do in the future, I will capture the email addresses of the audience members to expand my community. (Adding people to your email list takes them from a “rented” audience on social media to an “owned” audience.)My thoughts and plans for the future in creating community, products, and services for this niche of families of high-achieversThis is a new area for me, but I would love to connect with more groups and organizations around this topic of high-achieving kids and their parents. If you have a contact for me, please email me!
Resources:
Mentioned in this session: Sign up for the newsletter for high-achievers!
Want to launch your podcast?
Check out our free podcasting workshop for therapists (and therapists turned coaches and consultants)
sellingthecouch.com/podcastingworkshop
Want to launch your online course?
Please check out our free 7-Day Course Creator Starter Kit For Therapists: https://sellingthecouch.com/coursekit
Mentioned in this episode:
Check Out PsycCareers!

If you’re a psychology professional who is ready to take the next step in their career, check out PsycCareers, the American Psychological Association Services, Inc’s career center. PsycCareers is home to over 400 open positions tailored specifically for psychology professionals....

As I’m moving back into clinical work, I’m compelled to do more clinical-related podcasts. Today’s session fits that bill as it delves into psychedelic psychotherapy, an area of clinical work that is exploding with interesting potential. There is a lot to navigate within this topic; join us to learn more!
Our Featured Guest
Keith Kurlander
Keith Kurlander is the co-founder of the Integrative Psychiatry Institute (IPI) and the co-host of the Higher Practice Podcast. The IPI is the largest training provider of clinicians in psychedelic psychotherapy. In this conversation, we explore psychedelic psychiatry, the drugs available for use, and the causes of the recent surge in this field. We also discuss the practical cautions and considerations for therapists. 
Keith's Website and The Integrative Psychiatry Institute
You’ll Learn:
A simple definition that helps us understand psychedelic psychotherapyCauses of the recent surge of interest in this field and a briefing on the history and current researchThe current mental health crisis is changing the landscape of mental health care!Right now is an opportune time for therapists to get on board with psychedelic psychotherapy and get their training.The differences between traditional talk therapy modalities and psychedelic psychotherapyA glimpse into the often uncomfortable intensity of a psychedelic psychotherapy sessionThe logistics of a psychedelic psychotherapy session around the length of sessions and payment/insurance parametersCommon psychedelic psychotherapy medications: ketamine, psilocybin, and LSDThe type of client who is well-suited for psychedelic psychotherapy
Resources
Want to launch your podcast?
Check out our free podcasting workshop for therapists (and therapists turned coaches and consultants)
sellingthecouch.com/podcastingworkshop
Want to launch your online course?
Please check out our free 7-Day Course Creator Starter Kit For Therapists: https://sellingthecouch.com/coursekit
Mentioned in this episode:
Check Out PsycCareers!

If you’re a psychology professional who is ready to take the next step in their career, check out PsycCareers, the American Psychological Association Services, Inc’s career center. PsycCareers is home to over 400 open positions tailored specifically for psychology professionals. Start your journey today by exploring opportunities that inspire and challenge you at sellingthecouch.com/apa.

More is not always better. We often find that what we are chasing in our pursuit of success is not what we thought it was. Entrepreneurship for private practice clinicians naturally attracts many high achievers and recovering perfectionists, so we need to take a pause and periodically reassess and redefine what success looks like. Join us for a closer look at this important topic!
Our Featured Guest
Jeanetta Garrison, LCSW
Jeanetta Garrison is an anxiety therapist in private practice in Charlotte, NC. She is the perfect person to share insights into today’s topic. In this episode, Jeanetta shares a personal story about what she learned about money during her childhood, along with how we navigate our aspirations and what we go after to achieve success. We wrap up with a discussion of knowing what is “enough” and being cautious about who we follow after as mentors and examples. 
Crown Counseling & Consulting
You’ll Learn:
Common characteristics of entrepreneurs in private practiceJeanetta’s family story of how she learned about money from her upbringingHaving big hearts of service sets us up to allow boundaries to be crossedThe need for clarity in communication with clients about cancellations and no-showsChasing the proverbial “carrot” to reach successJeanetta’s advice: “Remember your WHY and center your head, heart, and spirit around it.”Think about your success in terms of what you are sacrificing for it!Navigating the ebbs and flows that are inherent in entrepreneurshipHow Jeanetta grounds herself with what is “enough” for her in her businessThinking about money in terms of what it symbolizes to us (“All money is not good money.”)
Resources:
Want to launch your podcast?
Check out our free podcasting workshop for therapists (and therapists turned coaches and consultants)
https://sellingthecouch.com/podcastingworshop
Want to launch your online course?
Please check out our free 7-Day Course Creator Starter Kit For Therapists: https://sellingthecouch.com/coursekit
Mentioned in this episode:
Check Out PsycCareers!

If you’re a psychology professional who is ready to take the next step in their career, check out PsycCareers, the American Psychological Association Services, Inc’s career center. PsycCareers is home to over 400 open positions tailored specifically for psychology professionals. Start your journey today by exploring opportunities that inspire and challenge you at sellingthecouch.com/apa.

One of the most common questions I’m asked is about the gear needed to begin podcasting. I will honestly admit that it’s a difficult decision when you’re just starting because you want reliable equipment that does a great job, but you are also hesitant to break the bank for it. As you progress, several factors complicate the choices of gear, such as how you conduct guest interviews and whether you have a co-host. In today’s session, I’m walking you through four common podcasting scenarios and the gear I recommend for each. All of this information is compiled in the Buying Guide found inside our Healthcasters course. 
You’ll Learn:
My gear setup as I started the STC podcast in 2015 with a teeny, tiny budgetMy advice for beginning podcasters: “Don’t go out and purchase all the gear I mention, but go with the basics as you focus on building and honing your storytelling and interviewing skills.”Four podcasting scenarios and the recommended equipment:1- A single host with solo episodes and guest interviews via the Internet.I recommend the Samsung Q2U dynamic mic, Koolertron mic shock mount, OnStage foam windscreen, pop filter, mic stand, and Rode PSA mic arm.2- A single host who interviews guests in person.In addition to the basic equipment in Scenario #1, I recommend a 2-3 camera set-up (very expensive!), Calendly to coordinate interviews, 2 tabletop stands/mic arms, the Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 for recording, and XLR cables.3- Co-hosts who connect and interview guests via the Internet.I recommend the basic equipment in Scenario #1 for EACH co-host, along with a recording platform, like Zoom or Ecamm Live.4- Co-hosts who get together in-person to interview guests in person. This is a dream set-up, but it is very expensive and complicated. I recommend the basic equipment in Scenario #1 for EACH co-host and guest (Yes, that is at least three of everything!), along with the Rodecaster Pro (the Rodecaster Pro II or Pro Mini), 32 GB SD card, and XLR cables.My advice: “Start with a lean setup. My current gear costs around $5000, but I didn’t upgrade for several years when I started out.”Check out the free workshop, Using Podcasting to Grow Your Business.
Resources:
Want to launch your podcast?
Check out our free podcasting workshop for therapists (and therapists turned coaches and consultants)
https://sellingthecouch.com/podcastingworshop
Want to launch your online course?
Please check out our free 7-Day Course Creator Starter Kit For Therapists: https://sellingthecouch.com/coursekit



Mentioned in this episode:
Check Out PsycCareers!

If you’re a psychology professional who is ready to take the next step in their career, check out PsycCareers, the American Psychological Association Services, Inc’s career center. PsycCareers is home to over 400 open positions tailored specifically for psychology professionals. Start your journey today by exploring opportunities that inspire and challenge you at sellingthecouch.com/apa.

If you’ve ever thought about writing a book, you’ve realized that the process is intimidating. Just knowing where to begin and how to proceed pose big challenges. We are tackling this topic with today’s guest and uncovering the things nobody tells you about writing a book. Join us to get real and learn more!
Our Featured Guest
Raj Lulla
Raj Lulla is a StoryBrand Certified designer and strategist. He and his partner, Ben Lueders, are the co-owners of Fruitful Design & Strategy, where they “create and grow compelling brands.” Raj has spent the last few years writing a book called The Caring House, and he joins us to dive deeper into the book-writing process. He shares why he chose to write a fiction book, how he approached the publishing aspect, and the financial outlay for a project like this. We wrap up with Raj’s perspective on the things no one tells you about marketing a book and Raj’s best tips for anyone who wants to write a book. 
Fruitful Design and Raj Lulla
You’ll Learn:
Raj’s choice: fiction vs. nonfiction?Big questions to confront around the grief-processing journeyRaj’s idea for The Caring House as part of his personal healing processWriting to answer the question, “What is this book for?”Narrowing your purpose to the “most important thing”Understanding the publishing dilemma: a traditional publisher, indie/hybrid publishing, or self-publishing? Differences in the pitching/publishing process between a fiction vs. nonfiction bookFinancial considerations in the book-writing processDetails about the “print-on-demand” publishing option and the hard work required to market a self-published bookRaj’s advice to aspiring writers
Resources:
Want to launch your podcast?
Check out our free podcasting workshop for therapists (and therapists turned coaches and consultants)
https://sellingthecouch.com/podcastingworshop
Want to launch your online course?
Please check out our free 7-Day Course Creator Starter Kit For Therapists: https://sellingthecouch.com/coursekit
Mentioned in this episode:
Check Out PsycCareers!

If you’re a psychology professional who is ready to take the next step in their career, check out PsycCareers, the American Psychological Association Services, Inc’s career center. PsycCareers is home to over 400 open positions tailored specifically for psychology professionals. Start your journey today by exploring opportunities that inspire and challenge you at sellingthecouch.com/apa.