The Traveling Therapist Podcast

Kym Tolson
  • 4.9 (39)
  • Places & Travel
  • Updated Weekly

Hi, I'm Kym Tolson, and I'm the traveling therapist. It's my passion to teach therapists how to navigate online private practices and multiple income streams so they can travel the world. I'm a digital nomad. With a virtual insurance based private therapy practice and a multi six figure coaching business. I'm obsessed with entrepreneurship and developing tools that can help therapists live an adventurous lifestyle. In this podcast, I will discuss my journey as a digital nomad. I'll chat with other traveling therapists and help you navigate the complexities of running an online insurance based practice. I'm so glad to have you with me on this journey.

  1. 3d ago

    227. The Realities of Being a Digital Nomad Therapist with Sonia Jaeger

    Being a digital nomad therapist looks like freedom from the outside: laptop open somewhere new, sessions running from a different country every few months. But the reality involves a lot more paperwork than postcards. In this episode of The Traveling Therapist Podcast, I sit down with Sonia Jaeger, who has been running her practice from all over the world for over a decade. We get into what it actually takes to work internationally as a therapist, from navigating shifting regulations across Germany and France to building the kind of support system that keeps you from doing it all alone. In This Episode, We Explore… How online therapy regulations in Germany have changed since Sonia started in 2014.The legal difference between working as a counselor and a licensed psychotherapist abroad.Her routine for settling into a new location before taking on client work.How she manages client sessions across time zones while keeping a small caseload.What led her to co-found the LIT community for location-independent therapists.Connect with Sonia Jaeger: Website: https://www.sonia-jaeger.com | https://locationindependenttherapists.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drsoniajaeger/ Get 25% off the first payment of LIT Community membership (monthly or annual plan) using the code THETRAVELINGTHERAPIST Are you ready to take the plunge and become a Traveling Therapist? Whether you want to be a full-time digital nomad or just want the flexibility to bring your practice with you while you travel a couple of times a year, the Portable Practice Method will give you the framework to be protected! ➡️ JOIN NOW: www.portablepracticemethod.com/ Connect with me: www.instagram.com/thetravelingtherapist_kymwww.facebook.com/groups/onlineandtraveling/www.thetravelingtherapist.comThe Traveling Therapist Podcast is Sponsored by: Berries: Say goodbye to the burden of mental health notes with automated note and treatment plan creation! www.heyberries.com/therapists Alma: Alma is on a mission to simplify access to mental health care by focusing first and foremost on supporting clinicians www.helloalma.com/kym

    227. The Realities of Being a Digital Nomad Therapist with Sonia Jaeger

  2. Jul 15

    226. Why PTO Doesn't Fix Burnout (And What Does) with ShannonElaine John

    If you've ever come back from a vacation still running on empty, you already understand why PTO doesn't fix burnout on its own. In this episode of The Traveling Therapist Podcast, I sit down with ShannonElaine John, a licensed therapist and EMDR specialist who spent over a decade in the travel industry before founding Travel To Retreat, a travel advisory built specifically for burned-out healthcare and service professionals. ShannonElaine unpacks the guilt and savior complex that keep so many of us from actually stepping away, why the balance between rest and fun determines whether time off actually works, and how that same thinking is showing up in her work with ancestral travel and retreat planning for other practitioners. In This Episode, We Explore… Why guilt and a savior complex keep healthcare professionals from truly taking their PTO.The two-part balance between rest and fun that actually resolves burnout.How a decade in the travel industry shaped ShannonElaine's approach to burnout prevention.What ancestral travel is and why it's becoming a meaningful way to reconnect with identity.How ShannonElaine helps other practitioners plan and run their own retreats.Connect with ShannonElaine John: Website: https://traveltoretreat.com/ | https://alongyourjourney.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shannonelaine-john/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ShannonES.John/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/happychani | https://www.instagram.com/traveltoretreat Are you ready to take the plunge and become a Traveling Therapist? Whether you want to be a full-time digital nomad or just want the flexibility to bring your practice with you while you travel a couple of times a year, the Portable Practice Method will give you the framework to be protected! ➡️ JOIN NOW: www.portablepracticemethod.com/ Connect with me: www.instagram.com/thetravelingtherapist_kymwww.facebook.com/groups/onlineandtraveling/www.thetravelingtherapist.comThe Traveling Therapist Podcast is Sponsored by: Berries: Say goodbye to the burden of mental health notes with automated note and treatment plan creation! www.heyberries.com/therapists Alma: Alma is on a mission to simplify access to mental health care by focusing first and foremost on supporting clinicians www.helloalma.com/kym

    226. Why PTO Doesn't Fix Burnout (And What Does) with ShannonElaine John

  3. Jul 8

    225. My Experience Using a Travel Agent for the First Time with Sally Riggs

    Planning a trip can go from exciting to overwhelming fast, and that's the spot I was in when I finally brought in a travel agent instead of doing it all myself. In this episode of The Traveling Therapist Podcast, I sit down with Sally Riggs, a fellow therapist who works as a travel agent, to talk about what changed once I handed the planning over to her. We get into the hotel mixup that almost put me in the wrong place entirely, how she handled my CPAP machine for my first trip traveling with one, and the perks that showed up on my bill without me asking for them. I also ask her about travel insurance, refundable rates, and what happens when your plans change at the last minute. By the end of this one, you'll understand why I'm never booking a trip on my own again. In This Episode, We Explore… How two hotels with nearly identical names almost caused a booking mixup.What it actually takes to fly internationally with a CPAP machine, including the extra bag rule most people don't know about.The perks that came free with booking through an agent, from airport shuttles to early check-in.Why booking a fully refundable rate matters, especially if you live with a chronic illness.How points and miles can get business owners into business class without spending more money to earn them.Connect with Sally Riggs: Website: https://www.sallyssafeandconnectedtravel.com/ Points and miles offerings: https://www.sallyssafeandconnectedtravel.com/pointsandmiles Freebie - How to visit Japan without crashing on Day 2: https://mailchi.mp/fora/eh0ztkgo8z Are you ready to take the plunge and become a Traveling Therapist? Whether you want to be a full-time digital nomad or just want the flexibility to bring your practice with you while you travel a couple of times a year, the Portable Practice Method will give you the framework to be protected! ➡️ JOIN NOW: www.portablepracticemethod.com/ Connect with me: www.instagram.com/thetravelingtherapist_kymwww.facebook.com/groups/onlineandtraveling/www.thetravelingtherapist.comThe Traveling Therapist Podcast is Sponsored by: Berries: Say goodbye to the burden of mental health notes with automated note and treatment plan creation! www.heyberries.com/therapists Alma: Alma is on a mission to simplify access to mental health care by focusing first and foremost on supporting clinicians www.helloalma.com/kym

    225. My Experience Using a Travel Agent for the First Time with Sally Riggs

  4. Jul 1

    224. Leaving the Platforms for Out-of-Network Private Practice with Karen Ann Schmid

    Getting recruited by a platform, telling them flat out that you live overseas, and then getting cut off anyway is a special kind of frustrating, and it's a big part of why an out-of-network private practice starts to look like the smarter move. In this episode of The Traveling Therapist Podcast, I sit down with Karen Ann Schmid, who came out of retirement at 70 and has been piecing all of this together from a 32-acre farm in New Zealand. Karen has been through it. A handful of platforms, a cease-and-desist, and a lot of late nights trying to keep seeing her clients while living abroad. We talk about what actually shifted for her once she stopped trying to credential with insurance panels, and what she's building in its place. In This Episode, We Explore… Why so many platforms started cutting off therapists located outside the US.What happened when Karen got a cease-and-desist after years of full disclosure.The realization that opened up once she stopped chasing insurance panels.How superbills let her keep working with clients out-of-network.The AI tools she leaned on to build her website, logo, and outreach from scratch.Connect with Karen Ann Schmid: Website: https://www.seensevicesusa.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/karen-ann-schmid-7998ab75/ Are you ready to take the plunge and become a Traveling Therapist? Whether you want to be a full-time digital nomad or just want the flexibility to bring your practice with you while you travel a couple of times a year, the Portable Practice Method will give you the framework to be protected! ➡️ JOIN NOW: www.portablepracticemethod.com/ Connect with me: www.instagram.com/thetravelingtherapist_kymwww.facebook.com/groups/onlineandtraveling/www.thetravelingtherapist.comThe Traveling Therapist Podcast is Sponsored by: Berries: Say goodbye to the burden of mental health notes with automated note and treatment plan creation! www.heyberries.com/therapists Alma: Alma is on a mission to simplify access to mental health care by focusing first and foremost on supporting clinicians www.helloalma.com/kym

    224. Leaving the Platforms for Out-of-Network Private Practice with Karen Ann Schmid

  5. Jun 24

    223. What a Late Autism Diagnosis Taught Her About Therapy with Marina Livis

    A late autism diagnosis can reframe everything you thought you knew about why your work, your relationships, and even your own field have felt harder than they should. For Marina Livis, that reframe arrived after years of being told she was too literal, too this, too that, with no one stopping to ask why. In this episode of The Traveling Therapist Podcast, I sit down with Marina to talk about what came after she was finally diagnosed, the licensing hurdles she refused to let stop her, and how all of it shaped the niche she serves now. We also get into the insurance mess so many traveling therapists are sorting through right now, and why she is rethinking how she wants to run her practice. In This Episode, We Explore… The long-distance relationship that quietly kicked off her traveling therapist journey.What being called "too literal" actually looked like on the job.The evaluation that was supposed to help her and ended up doing the opposite.Signs of autism in women that often slip right under the radar.Why she is stepping back from insurance platforms and panels.Connect with Marina Livis: Website: https://www.marinawellness.com Book a consultation button on her site (routes through her EHR) Kym's Resources: Bill Like a Boss: https://kymtolson.kartra.com/page/Bill-Like-A-Boss 100 Side Hustles for Therapists: https://kymtolson.kartra.com/page/opt-in-100-side-hustles Thera AI Hub: https://kymtolson.kartra.com/page/AI-Tools-for-Therapists Coaching with Kym: https://calendly.com/kymtolson/30min The Traveling Therapist Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/onlineandtraveling Are you ready to take the plunge and become a Traveling Therapist? Whether you want to be a full-time digital nomad or just want the flexibility to bring your practice with you while you travel a couple of times a year, the Portable Practice Method will give you the framework to be protected! ➡️ JOIN NOW: www.portablepracticemethod.com/ Connect with me: www.instagram.com/thetravelingtherapist_kymwww.facebook.com/groups/onlineandtraveling/www.thetravelingtherapist.comThe Traveling Therapist Podcast is Sponsored by: Berries: Say goodbye to the burden of mental health notes with automated note and treatment plan creation! www.heyberries.com/therapists Alma: Alma is on a mission to simplify access to mental health care by focusing first and foremost on supporting clinicians www.helloalma.com/kym

    223. What a Late Autism Diagnosis Taught Her About Therapy with Marina Livis

  6. Jun 17

    222. Tax Strategies That Turn Profit Into Real Cash with Emily Bowie

    If you have ever looked at your bank account and wondered where all your money actually went, the right tax strategies might be exactly what you have been missing. Most of us started a private practice because we love the work, not because we wanted to become experts in cash flow, pricing, and taxes. So it makes sense that this is the stuff that trips us up. In this episode of The Traveling Therapist Podcast, I sit down with Emily Bowie, a CPA and cash flow strategist with Thorne Advisors, to talk about why so many therapists end up profitable but broke. Emily has a real gift for making the money side feel doable instead of overwhelming, and she shares the kind of tax strategies that can genuinely change what you take home. If you have ever felt a little unsure about your own numbers, this one is worth a listen. In This Episode, We Explore… What "profitable but broke" really means and why it happens to so many practice owners.The simple pricing check that shows you your true profit per session.When it actually makes sense to elect S corp status, and the net income number to watch for.Why looking at your P&L next to your balance sheet tells the real story about your money.The tax strategies that only open up once you become an S corp, like the accountable plan.Connect with Emily Bowie: Website: https://www.thorneadvisors.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thorneadvisors/ Free Resource (5 Cash Leaks & 5 Missed Tax Deductions): https://www.thorneadvisors.com/cashleaks Kym's Resources: Bill Like a Boss: https://kymtolson.kartra.com/page/Bill-Like-A-Boss 100 Side Hustles for Therapists: https://kymtolson.kartra.com/page/opt-in-100-side-hustles Thera AI Hub: https://kymtolson.kartra.com/page/AI-Tools-for-Therapists Coaching with Kym: https://calendly.com/kymtolson/30min The Traveling Therapist Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/onlineandtraveling Are you ready to take the plunge and become a Traveling Therapist? Whether you want to be a full-time digital nomad or just want the flexibility to bring your practice with you while you travel a couple of times a year, the Portable Practice Method will give you the framework to be protected! ➡️ JOIN NOW: www.portablepracticemethod.com/ Connect with me: www.instagram.com/thetravelingtherapist_kymwww.facebook.com/groups/onlineandtraveling/www.thetravelingtherapist.comThe Traveling Therapist Podcast is Sponsored by: Berries: Say goodbye to the burden of mental health notes with automated note and treatment plan creation! www.heyberries.com/therapists Alma: Alma is on a mission to simplify access to mental health care by focusing first and foremost on supporting clinicians www.helloalma.com/kym

    222. Tax Strategies That Turn Profit Into Real Cash with Emily Bowie

  7. Jun 10

    221. The Reality of Traveling While Getting Licensure Hours with Willow Renée

    If you're pre-licensed, you've probably been told that traveling while getting licensure hours is something you can't do. Stay put, finish your hours, then go live the life you actually want. Willow Renée decided she wasn't willing to do it that way. In this episode of The Traveling Therapist Podcast, I sit down with Willow to talk about what it really takes to keep traveling while getting licensure hours before you're fully licensed. She's hit some real roadblocks along the way, and she's refreshingly honest about all of it. If you've ever felt like you have to wait for permission to start building the life you want, Willow's story is a good reminder that you don't. In This Episode, We Explore… How falling in love with the Hakomi method in Mallorca set this whole path in motion.Why a verbal agreement with no contract left her scrambling to find a new supervisor.The two pathways she found for collecting licensure hours while living outside California.The Facebook group message that turned a rough travel day completely around.Her honest take on what she does to fund her travels and trainings right now.Connect with Willow Renée: Website: https://willowreneetherapy.com Email: willowreneetherapy@gmail.com Mentioned in this episode: Facebook post with list of supervisors who support traveling associates: https://www.facebook.com/groups/onlineandtraveling/permalink/2005318196992541 The Traveling Therapist Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/onlineandtraveling 100 Side Hustles for Therapists (free opt-in): https://kymtolson.kartra.com/page/opt-in-100-side-hustles Kym's Resources: Thera AI Hub: https://kymtolson.kartra.com/page/AI-Tools-for-Therapists Bill Like a Boss (for supervisory billing education): https://kymtolson.kartra.com/page/internsprivatepractice Coaching with Kym (30-min): https://calendly.com/kymtolson/30min Coaching with Kym (60-min): https://calendly.com/kymtolson/60min Are you ready to take the plunge and become a Traveling Therapist? Whether you want to be a full-time digital nomad or just want the flexibility to bring your practice with you while you travel a couple of times a year, the Portable Practice Method will give you the framework to be protected! ➡️ JOIN NOW: www.portablepracticemethod.com/ Connect with me: www.instagram.com/thetravelingtherapist_kymwww.facebook.com/groups/onlineandtraveling/www.thetravelingtherapist.comThe Traveling Therapist Podcast is Sponsored by: Berries: Say goodbye to the burden of mental health notes with automated note and treatment plan creation! www.heyberries.com/therapists Alma: Alma is on a mission to simplify access to mental health care by focusing first and foremost on supporting clinicians www.helloalma.com/kym

    221. The Reality of Traveling While Getting Licensure Hours with Willow Renée

  8. Jun 3

    220. How Sailing Wellness Retreats Became Her Next Chapter with Cheryl Greathouse

    A lot of therapists believe they need their full license, years behind them, and a perfect plan before they can build a business around something like sailing wellness retreats. Cheryl Greathouse is proof that the timeline can look completely different. In this episode of The Traveling Therapist Podcast, I sit down with Cheryl, a counselor and newly minted boat captain who put her practice on hold for four and a half years, sailed across the Pacific, and came home to start over as a pre-licensed intern while leading women's wellness retreats on a yacht in Greece. We get into how she built a life and a model that fits her instead of the other way around, and why being pre-licensed has not slowed her down one bit. In This Episode, We Explore… Why Cheryl put her therapy practice on hold and went sailing at 50.How she went from Army deckhand and powerboats to skippering her own boat.What a women's wellness retreat on a 48-foot yacht actually looks like day to day.How she handles her caseload and clients when she leaves for a month.Why she does not believe you have to wait for your license to do this work internationally.Connect with Cheryl Greathouse: Website: https://www.wayfinderwisdom.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wayfinderwisdom/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cherylsailsaway/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cheryl.l.greathouse/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cheryl-greathouse-8795847/ Are you ready to take the plunge and become a Traveling Therapist? Whether you want to be a full-time digital nomad or just want the flexibility to bring your practice with you while you travel a couple of times a year, the Portable Practice Method will give you the framework to be protected! ➡️ JOIN NOW: www.portablepracticemethod.com/ Connect with me: www.instagram.com/thetravelingtherapist_kymwww.facebook.com/groups/onlineandtraveling/www.thetravelingtherapist.comThe Traveling Therapist Podcast is Sponsored by: Berries: Say goodbye to the burden of mental health notes with automated note and treatment plan creation! www.heyberries.com/therapists Alma: Alma is on a mission to simplify access to mental health care by focusing first and foremost on supporting clinicians www.helloalma.com/kym

    220. How Sailing Wellness Retreats Became Her Next Chapter with Cheryl Greathouse
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4.9
out of 5
39 Ratings

About

Hi, I'm Kym Tolson, and I'm the traveling therapist. It's my passion to teach therapists how to navigate online private practices and multiple income streams so they can travel the world. I'm a digital nomad. With a virtual insurance based private therapy practice and a multi six figure coaching business. I'm obsessed with entrepreneurship and developing tools that can help therapists live an adventurous lifestyle. In this podcast, I will discuss my journey as a digital nomad. I'll chat with other traveling therapists and help you navigate the complexities of running an online insurance based practice. I'm so glad to have you with me on this journey.

Information

  • Creator
    Kym Tolson
  • Years Active
    2022 - 2026
  • Episodes
    225
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 The Traveling Therapist Podcast
  • Show Website
    The Traveling Therapist Podcast

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