The Money Sessions

Tiffany McLain
  • 4.9 (99)
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Deep, thoughtful, raw conversations with real therapists who are in the midst of leaning into raising fees and making bank – all while working with the clients they are passionate about serving.

  1. The Travesty of the Cupcake Shop

    2d ago

    The Travesty of the Cupcake Shop

    Ready to set your fee? You choose the dream, we'll do the math.🎁 Download our FREE Life First Fees Private Practice Calculator 👉🏽 https://www.leaninmakebank.com/free Ready to charge Life First Fees? Click here to fill out an application There is a reason so many therapists are exhausted, resentful, financially anxious, and quietly fantasizing about leaving the profession altogether. And it's not because they "aren't good at business." It's because most therapists are trying to run their private practice like a cupcake shop. In this sharp, disruptive, and deeply clarifying episode, Tiffany unpacks one of the biggest misunderstandings therapists have about the work they do—and why it's leading directly to burnout, overwork, low fees, and emotional collapse. Because therapy is not a commodity. You are not selling cupcakes. You are not selling a cute, inexpensive, endlessly reproducible product designed for mass consumption. You are offering highly specialized, relational, psychologically sophisticated work that changes lives. And yet therapists continue to price, market, and emotionally position themselves as if they are competing in a bargain marketplace. The result? Overfull caseloads. Constant financial stress. And therapists trying to survive on business models that fundamentally do not match the depth or intensity of the work being provided. In this episode, Tiffany breaks down: Why therapists unconsciously market themselves like low-cost consumer businesses The dangerous psychological consequences of treating therapy like a commodity How scarcity thinking drives therapists to overload their caseloads Why "affordable for everyone" often becomes unsustainable for the therapist themselves The hidden resentment and burnout that emerge when therapists continually undercharge How clients experience therapists who are financially stretched and emotionally depleted Why premium fees are often necessary for deeper, more attuned clinical work The difference between transactional services and transformational relationships Why therapists must stop comparing themselves to mass-market industries What shifts when you begin treating your work like a true profession instead of a hustle for survival This episode is ultimately about professional identity. Because the way you price your work reflects the way you understand your value. And if you continue operating like a cupcake shop—high volume, low margin, emotionally unsustainable—you will build a practice that consumes your life instead of supporting it. Therapy is intimate. Complex. Transformational. And your business model needs to reflect that reality. If you're ready to stop building a burnout machine and start building a Life First Practice, apply to Lean In. MAKE BANK. through this link Or email Tiffany at tiffany@leaninmakebank.com with the subject line: "Cupcake Shop." Because the future of therapy belongs to clinicians who stop commodifying themselves— and start valuing the depth of what they actually do.

    18 min
  2. From $5K months to $17K months with 15 sessions: Canadian-based therapist Amelia Sloan leans all the way in

    Jun 22

    From $5K months to $17K months with 15 sessions: Canadian-based therapist Amelia Sloan leans all the way in

    Ready to set your fee? You choose the dream, we'll do the math. 🎁 Download our FREE Fun with Fees Calculator 👉🏽 https://www.leaninmakebank.com/free Ready to charge Life First Fees? Click here to fill out an application Think therapists in Canada can't charge premium fees? Think again. In this episode of The Money Sessions, Tiffany sits down with Amelia Sloan, a Canadian-based therapist whose journey challenges the belief that geography, culture, or the therapy industry determines what you can earn. Before making changes in their practice, Amelia was seeing 15–18 clients a week, charging roughly $80–$140 per session, and bringing in about $5K–$6K months in private practice. Like many therapists, they carried a deep sense of responsibility to make therapy accessible—often subsidizing clients while quietly watching their own quality of life decline. But when Amelia realized they couldn't even afford the services they valued from others, something shifted. Instead of continuing to sacrifice their own sustainability, Amelia decided to rethink everything about how they approached fees, value, and the role they played in their own business. Today, their practice looks radically different. They see about 15 clients per week, charge $300 per session, and recently hit a $17K month—all while creating more space in their life as a parent of a young child. Their story is a powerful reminder that building a Life-First Practice isn't about working more—it's about aligning your work, values, and fees in a way that actually supports your life. In this episode, we cover: What Amelia's practice looked like before raising their fees The moment they realized they were subsidizing everyone except themself How social justice values and money beliefs kept them undercharging Why many therapists get stuck around $5K–$6K months The grief and fear that often come with raising fees Moving from $80–$140 sessions to a $300 Life-First Fee Hitting $17K months while seeing just 15 clients per week Why raising fees actually improved their clinical presence and capacity The mindset shift from scarcity to abundance and mutual exchange Building a thriving practice in Canada—even when people say it's impossible   Resources Mentioned LIMB Academy FWF Calculator Amelia`s Website ameliasloantherapy@gmail.com

    44 min
  3. Modalities That Offer Rapid Results

    Jun 15

    Modalities That Offer Rapid Results

    Ready to set your fee? You choose the dream, we'll do the math.🎁 Download our FREE Life First Fees Private Practice Calculator 👉🏽 https://www.leaninmakebank.com/free Ready to charge Life First Fees? Click here to fill out an application Therapists are asking the wrong question. The question is not: "How do I get more clients?" The real question is: "How do I become a therapist whose work creates powerful, noticeable transformation?" Because in 2026, clients are no longer simply looking for weekly emotional maintenance. They are looking for results. And therapists who can confidently help clients experience meaningful movement—without collapsing into hustle, overwork, or performative "fixing"—will become increasingly valuable. In this episode, Tiffany breaks down the conversation almost nobody in the therapy industry wants to have openly: Why certain modalities create faster, deeper transformation—and how that impacts your positioning, authority, and ability to charge Life First Fees. This is not about gimmicks. It's not about promising overnight healing. And it's definitely not about becoming a "therapy influencer" chasing quick wins. It's about understanding that clients who are paying premium fees are often looking for therapists who: can articulate how change happens, understand transformation deeply, and practice with intentionality, precision, and confidence. In this episode, Tiffany explores: Why "results" have become increasingly important in the therapy marketplace The difference between transformational work and endless processing How modalities that create rapid insight and nervous system shifts naturally position therapists differently Why many therapists secretly fear effectiveness because it threatens long-term dependency models The relationship between clinical confidence and premium fees How clients experience therapists who deeply trust their own process Why high-value clients are often seeking clarity, momentum, and measurable internal shifts The danger of becoming overly rigid or dogmatic about any one modality Why relational depth still matters more than technique alone How therapists can evolve clinically without becoming performative or salesy This episode is ultimately about professional evolution. Because therapists who understand how transformation works—and can confidently guide clients through it—will not need to convince people to value therapy. The work will speak for itself. And in a rapidly changing world where AI and low-cost mental health platforms are flooding the market, therapists who offer deep, nuanced, high-impact work will increasingly stand apart. If you're ready to build a Life First Practice rooted in both clinical depth and financial sustainability, apply to Lean In. MAKE BANK. through this link Or email Tiffany at tiffany@leaninmakebank.com with the subject line: "I'm Ready." Because the future belongs to therapists who know how to create transformation— and who are finally willing to value it accordingly.

    27 min
  4. Half the Income & Happier Than Ever with Krissy Johnson, LMFT

    Jun 8

    Half the Income & Happier Than Ever with Krissy Johnson, LMFT

    Ready to set your fee? You choose the dream, we'll do the math. 🎁 Download our FREE Fun with Fees Calculator 👉🏽 https://www.leaninmakebank.com/free Ready to charge Life First Fees? Click here to fill out an application What happens when you cut your income in half… and feel more free than ever? In this unforgettable episode of The Money Sessions, Tiffany sits down with Krissy Johnson, LMFT, whose path into private practice is anything but traditional. Before becoming a therapist, Krissy toured the country as a performer. When COVID shut down the industry, she finally used the therapy degree she had earned years earlier—quickly building a full private practice on insurance panels and seeing 25 clients a week. On paper, things looked great. She was bringing in around $8K a month. But behind the scenes, she was exhausted—often juggling 20–25 clients a week while performing in a musical eight shows a week in Las Vegas. Even though her practice was "full," her time wasn't hers. Her schedule was packed, her energy was drained, and she knew something had to change. Today, Krissy charges a $310 Life-First Fee, works with a highly specific niche, and sees about 5–6 clients per week. Her income is currently lower than it was before—but her life is completely different. She has spacious mornings, time to write music, and the freedom to build a practice around the work that truly matters to her. In this episode, we cover: Krissy's journey from touring musician to therapist Building a "full" practice on insurance panels—and why it still felt unsustainable Seeing 25 clients a week while performing eight shows a week The fear of leaving insurance and having the first conversation with clients Why the first fee conversation changed everything in her body Gradually raising her Life-First Fee from $150 → $210 → $310 Seeing fewer clients while creating more freedom and spaciousness Marketing by showing up where your ideal clients actually are Attending a major adult-industry expo as the only therapist in the room Reclaiming her voice after years of silence—and how that shaped her niche Krissy now specializes in working with women in the adult industry and women living "double lives." Her work is deeply personal, rooted in her own lived experience and commitment to helping clients find their voice. Her story is a powerful reminder that building a Life-First Practice isn't just about money. Sometimes it's about reclaiming your time, your creativity, and the parts of yourself that were silenced along the way. Resources Mentioned LIMB Academy FWF Calculator Krissy Johnson`s Website Krissy Johnson`Instagram

    51 min
  5. Quantum Shit & Getting Marketing Scammed

    Jun 1

    Quantum Shit & Getting Marketing Scammed

    Ready to set your fee? You choose the dream, we'll do the math. 🎁 Download our FREE Fun with Fees Calculator 👉🏽 https://www.leaninmakebank.com/free Ready to charge Life First Fees? Click here to fill out an application What if the biggest thing holding back your private practice isn't your marketing… it's the paradigm you're operating in? In this episode, Tiffany dives into one of the most uncomfortable (and liberating) truths about money, business, and therapists: many of us are unknowingly operating in a zero-sum paradigm where someone always has to lose. And if that's the world you believe in? It becomes almost impossible to build a thriving private practice. Because every exchange of money starts to feel like exploitation. Charging your fee feels like hurting someone. Investing in yourself feels like getting scammed. Growing your practice feels morally suspicious. So you stay stuck. This episode explores the two completely different financial realities therapists live inside—and why choosing a new paradigm might be the most important business decision you ever make. Tiffany also shares her own story of growing up with deeply ingrained scarcity beliefs, how those beliefs shaped her relationship to money and business for years, and what finally allowed her to step into a completely different way of operating. Because here's the truth: You can build your practice inside a world where someone always loses. Or you can step into a paradigm where everyone wins—and growth compounds for everyone involved. Your clients. Your colleagues. And you. If you've ever wondered why your income stalls, why raising fees feels terrifying, or why every investment in your business feels like a potential scam—this conversation will hit deep. And it might just change how you see your practice forever.   In this episode, we talk about: The two financial paradigms therapists unknowingly operate inside Why the "I win, you lose" mindset silently sabotages private practices How scarcity beliefs make charging fees feel unethical or dangerous Why therapists often stall around the same income ceilings How suspicion around money blocks growth, investment, and connection The hidden clinical consequences of feeling "scammy" about charging clients What it actually looks like to run a business in a true win-win paradigm   Ready to build a practice where everyone wins? Inside Lean In. MAKE BANK., Tiffany helps therapists step into their Life-First practice—charging premium fees while seeing fewer clients and creating financial and emotional stability. If you're ready to explore what that could look like for you, fill out an application through the link in the show notes. Your future clients are looking for a therapist they can trust with both their healing and their money.

    24 min
  6. From $60/session to $425 as a Multi-racial, Solo Breadwinning Mom of Littles

    May 25

    From $60/session to $425 as a Multi-racial, Solo Breadwinning Mom of Littles

    Ready to set your fee? You choose the dream, we'll do the math. 🎁 Download our FREE Fun with Fees Calculator 👉🏽 https://www.leaninmakebank.com/free Ready to charge Life First Fees? Click here to fill out an application When Alana started her private practice, she was charging as little as $60 per session. Like many therapists, she deeply believed therapy should be accessible. But as a multi-racial therapist, solo breadwinner, and mom of a young child, the reality of running a practice quickly caught up with her. Despite being an excellent clinician and working hard, her practice was bringing in $4K–$6K months, and the financial pressure was constant. She tried what many therapists try first—adding new offers like couples intensives—but nothing solved the underlying issue. Her fees simply weren't aligned with the life she needed to support. Inside this episode, Alana shares how she moved from a patchwork caseload with clients paying anywhere from $60 to $200, to building a private-pay practice where most of her clients now pay $250–$425 per session. Today, about 90% of her caseload pays $250+, her practice is full, and she's preparing for maternity leave with a level of financial stability she never thought possible. Her story is a powerful example of what happens when therapists stop waiting for referrals, marketing hacks, or new services to fix their income—and instead address the deeper beliefs keeping their fees low. In this episode, we cover: What Alana's practice looked like before raising her fees The concept of "pretend fees" and why many therapists unknowingly operate this way Why adding intensives didn't solve her income problem The emotional and psychological blocks that kept her undercharging The moment she realized waiting wasn't going to work What it was actually like raising fees with current clients How fee conversations can become powerful clinical work with couples Building a sustainable practice as a multi-racial therapist and solo breadwinner Resources Mentioned LIMB Academy FWF Calculator Alanna`s Website

    52 min
  7. The Internal Conflict of Life First Fees

    May 18

    The Internal Conflict of Life First Fees

    Ready to set your fee? You choose the dream, we'll do the math.🎁 Download our FREE Life First Fees Private Practice Calculator 👉🏽 https://www.leaninmakebank.com/free Ready to charge Life First Fees? Click here to fill out an application There's a part of you that wants more. More ease. More freedom. More money. More spaciousness. More time with your kids. More creativity. More life. And there's another part of you that is absolutely terrified of what it would mean to actually have it. In this deeply personal and psychologically rich episode, Tiffany unpacks the internal war therapists experience when they begin stepping toward Life First Fees, authority, freedom, and real financial expansion. Because wanting more is actually not the hard part. The hard part is surviving the voices inside you that say: "You're greedy." "What about the clients who need help?" "Who do you think you are?" "Good therapists don't want this." "You're becoming unethical." "You're hurting people." This episode explores what happens when one part of you longs for growth while another part is still deeply loyal to fear, conditioning, scarcity, and self-protection. And if you've ever listened to this podcast feeling simultaneously inspired and activated… Tiffany explains exactly why. In this episode, Tiffany breaks down: Why therapists often feel both captivated and threatened by the idea of charging Life First Fees The unconscious "committee" inside therapists that fights against change and expansion How childhood conditioning, family systems, and cultural beliefs become internalized voices about money and success Why many therapists intellectually want freedom while emotionally defending against it The difference between therapists who step into change—and therapists who stay stuck arguing with possibility Why being surrounded by people who share the same fear keeps you trapped in financial paralysis The importance of having both: a clear system for building a Life First Practice and a container that supports new ways of thinking How therapists in Lean In. MAKE BANK. move from fear and ambivalence into authority, clarity, and real financial growth Why your fees have nothing to do with your goodness, worthiness, or ethics The mindset shift that changes everything: "Yes… and more please." This episode is not just about money. It's about whether you are willing to become the version of yourself that can actually receive the life you say you want. Because for many therapists, the greatest obstacle isn't strategy. It's permission. Permission to want more. Permission to stop martyring yourself. Permission to build a business that fully supports your life. And permission to believe that wanting more does not make you bad. It makes you honest. If you're ready to step into a different way of thinking, living, and building your practice, apply to Lean In. MAKE BANK. through the link in the show notes. Or email Tiffany at tiffany@leaninmakebank.com with the subject line: "Yes and More Please." Because the version of you on the other side of this work? You haven't even met them yet.

    17 min
  8. From $107 to $265 per session: Katerina's escape from the scam as a BIPOC therapist

    May 11

    From $107 to $265 per session: Katerina's escape from the scam as a BIPOC therapist

    Ready to set your fee? You choose the dream, we'll do the math. 🎁 Download our FREE Fun with Fees Calculator 👉🏽 https://www.leaninmakebank.com/free Ready to charge Life First Fees? Click here to fill out an application What if the system you were told would "fill your practice" is actually the thing keeping you underpaid and overwhelmed? In this episode of The Money Sessions, Tiffany sits down with Katerina Pogosov, a therapist who spent 14 years working in school-based mental health before opening her private practice and encountering the same structures many therapists rely on—insurance panels and large therapy platforms promising steady referrals. Instead of freedom, she found administrative friction, tech headaches, and a model that quietly capped both her income and autonomy. Katerina started her practice charging $107 per session while relying heavily on insurance platforms. Over time, she began to see what many therapists eventually discover: the systems that promise "full caseloads" often create burnout, instability, and income ceilings. So she made a different move. Today, Katerina runs a private pay practice charging $265 per session, with a smaller, intentional caseload designed around sustainability and alignment with the clients she most wants to serve. Her work now focuses on BIPOC professionals navigating identity, class mobility, money narratives, and generational expectations—a niche deeply connected to her own lived experience. This conversation is about recognizing the scam many therapists were trained into, reclaiming agency over your practice model, and building a business that actually supports your life.   In this episode, we talk about: Why insurance panels and therapy platforms can quietly cap therapist income The hidden administrative and emotional costs of relying on large therapy platforms How Katerina increased her fee from $107 to $265 per session Recognizing and stepping away from systems that keep therapists underpaid Creating a niche rooted in lived experience and cultural context Supporting BIPOC professionals navigating identity, money, and class mobility Designing a practice that prioritizes sustainability instead of burnout   Resources mentioned LIMB Academy FWF Calculator Katerina`s Website firepoppytherapy@protonmail.com

    49 min
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About

Deep, thoughtful, raw conversations with real therapists who are in the midst of leaning into raising fees and making bank – all while working with the clients they are passionate about serving.

Information

  • Creator
    Tiffany McLain
  • Years Active
    2019 - 2026
  • Episodes
    185
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    ©2019
  • Show Website
    The Money Sessions

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