The Practice of Therapy Podcast

PsychCraft Network
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This podcast is here for therapists, counselors, social workers, psychotherapists, and mental health clinicians in their practice journeys. I'm Gordon Brewer and the person behind The Practice of Therapy Blog and Website that provides tools, resources and advice for people starting, growing or expanding their private practices. The podcast will help you learn from other experts in the field to move your private practice forward to success. The Practice of Therapy Podcast is part of the PsychCraft Network of Podcasts; PsychCraft, LLC

  1. Private Practice Profit Margins: What's Healthy (and What's a Red Flag) | Gretchen Roberts | TPOT 420

    2D AGO

    Private Practice Profit Margins: What's Healthy (and What's a Red Flag) | Gretchen Roberts | TPOT 420

    Running a private practice usually means you did not set out to become a numbers person. You are trained to help people, not to read profit and loss statements or stress about tax projections. But the reality is this. If you own a practice, you are running a business. In this episode, I sit down with Gretchen Roberts of Red Bike Advisors to talk about the financial side of private practice in a way that feels practical and doable. We unpack how to use your financial reports as a management tool, what healthy profit margins actually look like, and the payroll mistakes that can quietly drain your profit. We also talk about cash flow and why it is what truly keeps the doors open, especially during the ups and downs that come with business ownership. Since we are in tax season, we cover common tax mistakes, why taxes should not be a once-a-year event, and how to avoid those painful surprises at filing time. If you have ever avoided looking at your numbers or felt unsure about what they are telling you, this conversation will help you think more like a business owner. Your practice needs financial clarity to stay sustainable. And you deserve a business that supports you, not one that burns you out. Resources Mentioned In This Episode  Use the promo code "GORDON" to get 2 months of Therapy Notes free Consulting with Gordon The PsychCraft Network Profit First for Therapists Workbook Meet Gretchen Roberts I'm Gretchen Roberts, CEO of Red Bike Advisors, a national tax, accounting, and advisory firm serving healthcare practices, dental practices, and scaling service businesses that need a truly strategic financial partner. Since 2009, we've helped hundreds of practice owners, including dentists, medical practice owners, chiropractors, physical therapists, veterinarians, and alternative medicine practitioners, simplify their finances, optimize profitability, reduce tax burdens, and build businesses that generate real and lasting wealth. Our mission is to help practice owners move from financial stress to becoming Financially Retired by Design by building a business that funds your life, freedom, and future. As a business owner myself, I bring an operator's mindset that blends real-world experience with deep expertise in practice finance, tax strategy, profitability optimization, and exit readiness. At Red Bike Advisors, we provide year-round partnership to healthcare practices generating one to fifteen million dollars in revenue. Our services include proactive accounting, strategic tax planning, financial advisory, and tax-focused wealth building that eliminates financial guesswork and supports long-term growth and exit readiness. Website LinkedIn

    39 min
  2. You Might Also Like: Las Culturistas with Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang

    2D AGO · BONUS

    You Might Also Like: Las Culturistas with Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang

    Introducing "The Mayor" (w/ Laura Dern) from Las Culturistas with Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang. Follow the show: Las Culturistas with Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang Um, is this thing on? Because a pink corduroy-clad Laura Dern bursts like the sun into the Las Cultch studio to speak with Matt & Bowen at length and... that's OUR world! That's the world that WE're livin' in. Dern whips out a Reese impression, discusses channeling anger better than anyone in the biz, talks creating Amy Jellicoe alongside Mike White in Enlightened, and gets into both the comedic and dramatic brutality of Big Little Lies. Also, defining wonder whilst looking up at CGI Brachiosaurii, starring as Ellen's gay love interest in The Puppy Episode of her sitcom, and even more on Jeff Goldblum's chest, if you can believe it. All this, growing up in Hollywood in a different era, reflections on the current status of the entertainment industry, going punk rock at 12 years old, David Lynch as niche yet mainstream culture, and Laura's real life interaction with a Real Housewife. See one of Laura's thousands of current projects (Is This Thing On?, Jay Kelly, Palm Royale on Apple TV+), as well as her millions of indelible ones you probably already love. I SAID THANK YOU! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. DISCLAIMER: Please note, this is an independent podcast episode not affiliated with, endorsed by, or produced in conjunction with the host podcast feed or any of its media entities. The views and opinions expressed in this episode are solely those of the creators and guests. For any concerns, please reach out to team@podroll.fm.

  3. Treating Neuroplastic Pain in Therapy and Private Practice | Dr. Melissa Tiessen | TPOT 419

    FEB 9

    Treating Neuroplastic Pain in Therapy and Private Practice | Dr. Melissa Tiessen | TPOT 419

    What if chronic pain isn't a sign that your body is broken—but that your nervous system is trying to protect you? In this episode, Dr. Melissa Tiessen, a clinical psychologist and neuroplastic pain specialist, joins the show to unpack a paradigm-shifting way of understanding chronic pain and persistent physical symptoms. Drawing on neuroscience, trauma-informed therapy, and real-world clinical experience, Melissa explains how pain can exist without tissue damage—and why that realization can actually be good news. You'll learn how neuroplastic pain develops, why symptoms can move, change, or intensify without a clear medical cause, and how fear, emotional suppression, and learned nervous system patterns can keep people stuck in cycles of pain and distress. Melissa also shares her own experience with neuroplastic pain, making this conversation deeply human, accessible, and hopeful. Whether you're a therapist, a practice owner, or someone who's been told "you'll just have to live with it," this episode offers a compassionate and science-backed framework for understanding pain, anxiety, and the body's threat response—and what it really means to get unstuck. Resources Mentioned In This Episode  Use the promo code "GORDON" to get 2 months of Therapy Notes free Consulting with Gordon The PsychCraft Network Meet Dr. Melissa Tiessen Dr. Melissa Tiessen is a clinical psychologist in private practice, serving clients virtually throughout Ontario, Canada. Her practice focuses on the treatment of chronic pain and other chronic neuroplastic symptoms. She is passionate about health professional education and well-being, and is also the co-founder of Intentional Therapist, a continuing education initiative designed to support mental health therapists in protecting and reclaiming their own well-being. She co-hosts the podcast Putting You In Your Schedule and can be found on LinkedIn quietly creating a self-care revolution. Learn more about Dr. Tiessen: https://linktr.ee/drmelissatiessen

    47 min
  4. Diversifying a Private Practice Through Couples Work | Erin Valente | TPOT 418

    FEB 2

    Diversifying a Private Practice Through Couples Work | Erin Valente | TPOT 418

    What if couples therapy isn't about fixing the other person at all? In this episode, Gordon sits down with Erin Valente, a couples therapist based in Los Angeles, to talk about one of the most common mistakes couples make when they come to therapy—and why real change doesn't live with one partner, but in the relationship itself. They explore why couples work can feel intimidating for therapists, how regulation and co-regulation shape meaningful conversations, and what it really takes to help couples move out of blame and into connection. Erin also shares how she's structured her private practice to avoid burnout, including her work with ketamine-assisted therapy, groups, and coaching. Whether you work with couples, are curious about relationship dynamics, or are thinking about new ways to diversify your practice, this episode offers a grounded, thoughtful look at what healing in relationships actually looks like. Resources Mentioned In This Episode  Read the show notes here Use the promo code "GORDON" to get 2 months of Therapy Notes free Consulting with Gordon The PsychCraft Network Meet Erin Valente Erin Valente is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist specializing in trauma-focused therapy for individuals and couples. With advanced training in EMDR, Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy, and somatic and narrative therapy, Erin helps clients reconnect with their inner voice and move toward healing, growth, and authentic connection. A lifelong student of the human experience, Erin explores the intersections of psychology, emotion, and personal wisdom. She believes that while psychology offers valuable direction, true healing emerges when we integrate our own understanding of who we are and what we need. Her approach centers on helping individuals and couples rediscover alignment, resilience, and self-compassion as they navigate life's inevitable challenges—heartbreak, love, loss, and transformation. Drawing from her background in trauma-informed therapy, domestic violence work, and somatic awareness, Erin creates a deeply resonant therapeutic experience that empowers lasting change. She has been featured on multiple podcasts, hosts her own show, and is launching a group coaching program designed to help individuals and couples cultivate passionate, healthy relationships that support the healing of the human experience. Website Instagram Private Podcast: Healing the Human Experience

    32 min
  5. Free Continuing Education for Therapists | Tobin Richardson | TPOT 417

    JAN 26

    Free Continuing Education for Therapists | Tobin Richardson | TPOT 417

    In today's episode, I'm excited to introduce you to Tobin Richardson, the founder of a platform called Save the Therapist. When I first learned about what Tobin is building, I knew this was something many of you would want to hear about. Continuing education is a requirement for all of us, but let's be honest. It can be expensive, time-consuming, and sometimes hard to fit into an already full schedule. Tobin saw that problem firsthand and decided to do something about it. He created a platform that offers high-quality, accredited continuing education for therapists that is completely free. In this conversation, Tobin shares his background in counselor education, what led him to start Save the Therapist, and how the platform works. We talk about why the podcast format is such a powerful way to learn, how therapists can earn CE credits without added financial pressure, and why accessibility in education matters now more than ever. If you've ever felt overwhelmed by the cost or logistics of earning CE credits, or if you're simply looking for a more practical and user-friendly way to keep learning as a clinician, I think you'll really enjoy this episode. Resources Mentioned In This Episode  Use the promo code "GORDON" to get 2 months of Therapy Notes free Consulting with Gordon The PsychCraft Network Profit First for Therapists Workbook  Ten Sessions Meet Tobin Richardson, EdD, NCC Tobin Richardson, EdD, NCC, is a counselor educator with a decade of experience building and delivering innovative educational resources to therapists in both community mental health and large VC-backed provider organizations. Since launching in early 2025, his NPR-style CE platform, Save the Therapist, has garnered over 4,000 therapist registrants and more than 7,000 course completions. Website Instagram

    33 min
  6. Preventing Burnout in Private Practice | Dr. Julie Merriman | TPOT 416

    JAN 19

    Preventing Burnout in Private Practice | Dr. Julie Merriman | TPOT 416

    There are some conversations you record where you know right away that they're going to land differently. In today's episode, I sit down with Dr. Julie Merriman, a therapist, professor, and longtime advocate for helpers who are quietly burning out. We talk about something that hits close to home for many of us in this profession: what happens when we're really good at helping everyone else, but don't know how to receive ourselves. Julie shares how so many therapists become what she calls "floating heads of competence." We're full of knowledge, skill, and clinical insight, yet deeply disconnected from our bodies, our needs, and our sense of purpose beyond performance. We talk honestly about burnout, compassion fatigue, money, boundaries, nervous system regulation, and why private practice itself isn't what burns us out. Disconnection is. This isn't a conversation about working harder or pushing through. It's about staying human in a profession that asks a lot of us, and learning how to stay in it without losing ourselves. If you've ever felt tired in a way that rest doesn't fix, this episode is for you. Resources Mentioned In This Episode  Read the show notes here Watch on YouTube  Use the promo code "GORDON" to get 2 months of Therapy Notes free Consulting with Gordon The PsychCraft Network Profit First for Therapists Workbook Meet Dr. Julie Merriman Dr. Julie Merriman is a licensed professional counselor, counselor educator, professor, and author, and the voice behind From Burnout to Freedom—a movement helping high-achieving women in healthcare over 50 heal from burnout and reclaim their freedom. With more than 30 years of experience in clinical practice and counselor education, Dr. Merriman has trained hundreds of emerging therapists, served as an associate dean, department director, and clinical coordinator, and led CACREP accreditation work. Her scholarship and teaching span compassion fatigue, burnout, trauma-informed care, polyvagal theory, spiritual integration, and the lived experience of long-term helpers. After experiencing a profound, career-shaping burnout that ultimately contributed to her breast cancer diagnosis, Dr. Merriman rebuilt her life and work from the inside out. Today, she blends neuroscience, embodiment practices, and decades of clinical wisdom to guide women healers through identity transitions, emotional exhaustion, and the "scorched earth" season that often arrives after 50. Her podcast, From Burnout to Freedom, offers honest conversations and research-backed strategies for women who have spent a lifetime caring for everyone else and are finally ready to reclaim creativity, joy, and purpose. Dr. Merriman brings a relatable, deeply human presence to every interview. She combines academic rigor with ranch-life storytelling, humor, and a fierce commitment to helping helpers heal. Website Instagram YouTube LinkedIn Facebook

    33 min
  7. When Narcissism Walks Into Your Therapy Office | Dr. Anthony Mazzella | TPOT 415

    JAN 12

    When Narcissism Walks Into Your Therapy Office | Dr. Anthony Mazzella | TPOT 415

    If you've ever found yourself thinking, "Why is this client so hard to reach?" or "Why does every conversation turn into a power struggle?" this episode is for you. Today, I'm joined by Dr. Anthony Mazzella, a psychoanalyst who specializes in working with narcissistic dynamics. We go far beyond surface-level conversations about narcissism. This isn't about labels, buzzwords, or quick fixes. It's about what's actually happening underneath the behavior and what truly helps. We talk about why arguing over "reality" never works, why confrontation often backfires, and how curiosity, containment, and staying with the process can completely change the way therapists work with narcissistic clients and how partners survive narcissistic relationships. Whether you're a therapist sitting with these dynamics in the room, a supervisor guiding clinicians through complex cases, or someone trying to understand a relationship that feels confusing and exhausting, this conversation offers a grounded and compassionate framework for understanding narcissism. This is one of those episodes that stays with you, and I'm really glad to share it with you today. Resources Mentioned In This Episode  Read the show notes here Watch on YouTube  Use the promo code "GORDON" to get 2 months of Therapy Notes free Consulting with Gordon The PsychCraft Network Profit First for Therapists Workbook Meet Dr. Mazzella As a leader and expert in the field, Dr. Mazzella holds various clinical positions, including, but not limited to, treating patients in his private practice, training professionals at two post-graduate training institutes, conducting research, and lecturing across the country. While his focus with his patients is psychodynamic in nature, his main goals are to build a trusting relationship and help each patient reduce the frequency and intensity of their emotionally painful thoughts and suffering. He helps his patients overcome both acute and long-standing problems that may be more embedded in their personality. Website Instagram Podcast Facebook LinkedIn YouTube

    46 min

  8. JAN 10

    The Unconventional Path: Why Your Practice Doesn't Need Another Resolution | TPOT 414

    As we step into a new year, many of us feel it—that quiet but persistent pressure to do more, fix more, and somehow have everything figured out right now. New goals, new systems, bigger numbers—and for practice owners, that pressure can feel especially heavy and often pretty lonely. In today's episode, I want to invite you to think about January differently—not as a month for pushing harder or becoming more efficient, but as a chance to slow down and get honest about what you can actually hold. Drawing on Barbara Brown Taylor's Home by Another Way and Oliver Burkeman's 4,000 Weeks, we'll talk about burnout, the efficiency trap, and why things don't magically get easier "once we get there." This conversation is about reconnecting with your why, redefining what growth really means, and considering what it might look like to go home by another way this year—one that creates more space, alignment, and sustainability in your practice and your life. Resources Mentioned In This Episode  Use the promo code "GORDON" to get 2 months of Therapy Notes free Consulting with Gordon The PsychCraft Network Profit First for Therapists Workbook Home By Another Way Four Thousand Weeks

    35 min
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4.8
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72 Ratings

About

This podcast is here for therapists, counselors, social workers, psychotherapists, and mental health clinicians in their practice journeys. I'm Gordon Brewer and the person behind The Practice of Therapy Blog and Website that provides tools, resources and advice for people starting, growing or expanding their private practices. The podcast will help you learn from other experts in the field to move your private practice forward to success. The Practice of Therapy Podcast is part of the PsychCraft Network of Podcasts; PsychCraft, LLC

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