Therapists Rising Podcast

Dr. Hayley Kelly
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Welcome to the Therapists Rising Podcast, where we share real, raw, and behind-the-scenes stories and lessons from Therapists who are thinking outside the traditional clinical box and choosing to do things differently in their careers. I’m your host, Dr. Hayley Kelly, and I myself have made the journey from a very experienced, but burnt out and unhappy, Clinical Therapist - to a successful entrepreneur who runs a business she loves, is thriving financially, and working and living life on her own terms. Join me, and be inspired, as I speak with other Therapists who too are broadening their horizons, and experiencing more abundance, joy, and fulfilment than ever before. Together we will laugh, soak up priceless wisdom and take actionable steps, to help you transition from clinical practice to non-clinical offerings, and diversify and amplify your income - all while honouring your wellbeing and having a work-life balance. If you’re ready to be inspired and take action on your dreams, then you’re in the right place, friend. This is the Therapists Rising Podcast.

  1. Corporations Are Paying Psychologists to Teach Play - Here's Why It's Working

    6D AGO

    Corporations Are Paying Psychologists to Teach Play - Here's Why It's Working

    Picture a corporate wellness landscape where companies are tired of boring PowerPoint workshops but also can't justify wine tastings when burnout is a WHS compliance issue. There's a gap there. A big one. And what if you could fill it? Today's guest, Dr. Mitzi Liddle, is doing exactly that. She's teaching corporations about play and pleasure - yes, you read that right - as nervous system regulation tools. Not fluff. Not entertainment. Neuroscience-backed performance enhancement. And teams are actually booking it. HERE ARE THE 3 KEY TAKEAWAYS: 1️⃣ Play Isn't Childish—It's a Nervous System Tool – When Mitzi started noticing corporate teams responded better to movement, music, and laughter than traditional lecture-style workshops, she followed that thread. Play and pleasure aren't frivolous—they're pathways to regulate your nervous system out of chronic stress and burnout. They bring you into your window of tolerance where creativity, energy, and clear thinking actually live. 2️⃣ There's a Gap in Corporate Wellness (And You Can Fill It) – Organizations don't want boring PowerPoint workshops. But they also don't want wine tastings that waste time. They want something engaging AND evidence-based. Something that addresses real burnout while meeting psychological safety requirements. If you can position experiential work with neuroscience backing, you've found the sweet spot. 3️⃣ Diversification Doesn't Mean Starting Over – Mitzi's been a psychologist for 20+ years. She didn't abandon her expertise—she expanded it. Corporate playshops for teams. Group programs for individual women. Both use the same foundation (play, pleasure, nervous system regulation) but serve different audiences. You don't need a brand new skill set. You need strategic positioning. YOU'LL ALSO HEAR: Why "playshops" get better engagement than traditional burnout prevention workshopsHow to position play and pleasure so corporations take it seriously (and pay for it)The neuroscience behind why these "soft" concepts actually work as performance toolsWhat changes when you follow your energy instead of grinding through what you think you "should" doHow Mitzi created her beta program fast—and what supported that momentumWhy dabbling and experimenting is actually the path (not a failure to commit)The one piece of advice for therapists who want something different but feel stuckRESOURCES: Connect with Dr. Mitzi Liddle: Website: www.drmitziliddle.com.auInstagram: @drmitziliddleTherapists Rising Programs: The Incubator: therapistsrising.com/incubatorThe Collective Mastermind: therapistsrising.com/collectiveInstagram: @dr.hayleykellySUBSCRIBE & REVIEW: If this episode made you rethink what's possible for your practice, subscribe and review on Apple Podcasts. Your reviews help other therapists discover conversations that challenge the status quo and open up new possibilities. You don't have to choose between engaging work and credible work. Between joy and professionalism. Between staying small and burning out. What if the thing that lights YOU up is exactly what your ideal clients need? What opens up when you give yourself permission to follow that?

    1h 5m
  2. Stop Hunting for Ideas: The One Question That Actually Creates Clarity

    FEB 4

    Stop Hunting for Ideas: The One Question That Actually Creates Clarity

    You've got the notebook. The voice memos. The Google Doc titled "possible program ideas" you haven't opened in weeks. You're not short on ideas. You're drowning in reasonable options. And somehow that feels worse than having no ideas at all. Because when you're stuck with multiple good directions and still can't get traction, it starts to feel like a you problem. Like you're overthinking it. Not ready. Not disciplined enough. Here's what you need to hear: You're not failing at this. You're misoriented. You're trying to choose before you're positioned to see clearly. And the question you're asking yourself is keeping you stuck. HERE ARE THE 3 KEY TAKEAWAYS: 1️⃣ This Isn't Confusion - It's Misorientation – Your brain is doing exactly what it was trained to do: analyse before acting. But when there are multiple good options, analysis mode creates paralysis. Your nervous system reads commitment without clarity as threat, so you stay stuck in research mode. This isn't a motivation problem. It's a starting-point problem. 2️⃣ You're Asking the Wrong Question – "What program should I create?" forces comparison, activates imposter syndrome, and assumes you need something novel. The better question: "What problem am I already solving repeatedly, whether I intend to or not?" This shifts you from ideation to pattern recognition, from theoretical planning to lived experience. Most therapists don't need a new idea - they need better visibility on work they're already doing. 3️⃣ Depth Creates Blind Spots – If people keep bringing you the same problem without you marketing for it, that's data. But experienced therapists dismiss what feels familiar, obvious, or "too simple." The more expertise you have, the more invisible your skill becomes to you. You're not underestimating the work - you're underestimating yourself. YOU'LL ALSO HEAR: Why therapists trained to assess before acting get stuck when building programsThe nervous system response that keeps you in "gathering information" modeHow to recognize when you're dismissing your most obvious starting pointWhy confusion is often a sign of depth, not failureThe one question that creates grounded momentum instead of endless scanningWhy orientation matters more than urgency when building sustainable practicesRESOURCES: Therapists Rising Programs: The Incubator: therapistsrising.com/incubatorInstagram: @dr.hayleykellySUBSCRIBE & REVIEW: If this episode reduced the frantic energy you've been carrying, subscribe and review on Apple Podcasts. Your reviews help other therapists find conversations that actually shift how they're thinking. Clarity doesn't come from choosing the best idea. It comes from standing in the right place to see what's actually there. You're not behind. You're just facing the wrong direction. What shifts when you ask a better question?

    19 min
  3. Why Everything Just Changed for Therapists: Money, Burnout, and Technology Collide

    JAN 28

    Why Everything Just Changed for Therapists: Money, Burnout, and Technology Collide

    For 12 months, I've been warning you the traditional therapy model is breaking down. Some of you have been listening. But many have been waiting for clarity. Here's what you need to hear: The last eight weeks changed everything. November 2025: Australia restricted Better Access referrals. December 2025: Fifth consecutive year of US Medicare cuts. January 30, 2026: US telehealth flexibilities expire. While those policy changes hit, something else shifted: 1 in 8 young people now use AI chatbots for mental health advice. Corporate wellness budgets hit $53 billion with contracts being signed NOW for 2026-2027. This isn't slow erosion. This is all five forces reaching tipping points simultaneously. This is the convergence. HERE ARE THE 3 KEY TAKEAWAYS: 1️⃣ Three Realities Converging Right Now – The math isn't working (Medicare cuts, Better Access restrictions, client affordability crisis). Your colleagues are planning exits (52% US therapists burned out, 29% considering leaving). Future clients expect something different (70% Gen Z prefers virtual, 1 in 8 young people use AI chatbots). 2️⃣ Every Disrupted Profession Made This Mistake – Accounting got automated. Physical therapy faced reimbursement cuts. Personal training went digital. Each time, practitioners said "our profession is different." They were wrong. Pattern: professions split into commodity/premium tiers, early movers capture premium positioning, late movers compete on price. 3️⃣ The Window to Move From Strength is Closing – Early adopters already generate diversified income. Early majority (you) see it's real but still research. Late majority arrives when landscape is occupied. Corporate contracts signing NOW. Course markets maturing NOW. Window open now—won't stay open. YOU'LL ALSO HEAR: Why research-mode therapists experience decision paralysis under cognitive loadThe Kodak lesson: Believing current preferences = permanent demand is fatalAccountants who automated vs. those stuck "selling time"PT practices that diversified early: 200-300% revenue growth vs. 3-6x valuations for traditionalWhy "AI can't replace us" is technically true but misses the pointTechnology adoption curve: Waiting for certainty means you're lateResearch Path vs. Action Path: Which are you choosing?RESOURCES: Data Sources: Medicare cuts: BellMedEx 2025Better Access: Australian Dept of HealthAI adoption: Brown University School of Public HealthTherapists Rising: The Incubator: therapistsrising.com/incubatorInstagram: @dr.hayleykellySUBSCRIBE & REVIEW: If this episode made you uncomfortable, subscribe and review on Apple Podcasts. Your reviews help therapists find honest conversations about what's happening in our profession. Therapists thriving in five years won't be ones who waited for perfect clarity. They'll be ones who moved with 80% information while they had stability. That window is open now. What will you do with it?

    47 min
  4. The REAL Truth About Passive Income for Therapists (It's Not What You Think) with Kayla Das

    JAN 22

    The REAL Truth About Passive Income for Therapists (It's Not What You Think) with Kayla Das

    Let's talk about passive income, and NO, this isn't another "make money while you sleep" pitch. This conversation with Kayla Das is the most honest, transparent take on passive income for therapists I've heard in a LONG time. Kayla's a Canadian social worker, business coach, author of The Passive Practice, and someone who's actually DONE this work. She's built multiple passive income streams and she's willing to tell you the TRUTH about what it really takes. Here it is: passive income isn't passive at the beginning. It's WORK. Consistent, upfront, sometimes-discouraging work. But once it's established? That's when you get your time back. That's when you can help more people without burning out in one-to-one sessions. If you're tired of trading hours for dollars and wondering if there's another way—this episode is for YOU. HERE ARE THE 3 KEY TAKEAWAYS FROM THIS EPISODE: 1️⃣ Passive Income Is NOT Passive at the Beginning – This is NOT a get-rich-quick scheme. It's a "slow and steady wins the race" strategy. You'll put in consistent work upfront—sometimes for MONTHS—before you see revenue. Kayla didn't make a dime from her blog for six months. But she kept going. And now? It works on autopilot (mostly). Once it's built, you never start from scratch again. 2️⃣ Earned Income vs. Passive Income Changes Everything – One-to-one therapy = earned income. You work X hours, you make X dollars. There's a ceiling. With passive income, you create something ONCE—a course, blog, digital product, podcast—and it generates revenue over and over. That's what creates time freedom. But you need an audience to share it with (email list, social media, organic traffic). 3️⃣ It's About Pivoting, Not Quitting – Kayla's digital templates made NOTHING the first 30 days. Zero dollars. But she didn't scrap them. She pivoted—changed the marketing images, rewrote descriptions, tested things. Then it worked. The issue isn't usually your product—it's how you're presenting it. Be willing to fail, learn, and adjust. YOU'LL ALSO HEAR: Why most therapists recreate their old employment environment in private practice (and how passive income changes that)Seven types of passive income streams for therapists: blogging, podcasting, online courses, hiring therapists, digital products, books, and affiliate marketingThe three passive income success indicators that help you choose the RIGHT stream for youWhy Kayla's blog made $0 for six months—and why she kept writing anywayThe real reason most therapists don't pursue passive income (it's the upfront "no money" period)Why you NEED an audience before you launchHow to know if you're ready to start building a passive income stream RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE: Kayla Das: Book: The Passive Practice: The Passive Income Roadmap for Maximizing Schedule Flexibility, Time Freedom, and Private Practice Profitability (available on Amazon)Passive Income Personality Quiz: Find out which passive income stream is the best fit for YOUR personality (6-8 quick questions!)Website: KaylaDas.comTherapists Rising: The Incubator: therapistsrising.com/incubatorInstagram: @dr.hayleykelly SUBSCRIBE & REVIEW: If this episode gave you a new perspective on passive income—or if you're ready to stop trading hours for dollars and start building something that works for you—please take a moment to subscribe and leave a review on Apple Podcasts! Your reviews help more therapists find these real, honest conversations about building the businesses they actually want (without the BS or the hype). Thanks for being here. See you next week.

    45 min
  5. The Hidden Cost of Staying Stuck

    JAN 14

    The Hidden Cost of Staying Stuck

    I've been noticing this pattern with the therapists I work with. Incredibly capable people with clear ideas for what they want to build - programs, offerings, shifts in their practice. They can describe it in detail. But when I ask what's stopping them, the answer is always some version of "I'm stuck." In this episode, I'm not giving you productivity tips or telling you to just start. I'm naming the quiet problem that nobody talks about: the kind of stuck that doesn't look like stuck at all. Because this type of stuck comes with a cost that accumulates slowly, and most of us don't see it until we're years in. If you've been sitting with an idea for months (or years), if you keep researching instead of building, if you're waiting for more certainty before you commit - this episode is for you. HERE ARE THE 3 KEY TAKEAWAYS FROM THIS EPISODE: 1️⃣ Staying Stuck Is Not Neutral - It Has a Real Cost – We believe taking action equals risk and staying stuck equals safety. But staying stuck erodes self-trust, creates ongoing frustration, causes decision fatigue, and leaves you feeling behind without knowing why. You're still on a trajectory - you're just not choosing it consciously. 2️⃣ Research Mode Is False Movement – When your version of stuck looks like productivity (taking courses, reading case studies, studying how others did it), it's especially dangerous. It feels like you're making progress. You're not. At a certain point, researching stops being preparation and starts being avoidance. You already have enough information to start. 3️⃣ You're Already Choosing Your Hard – Moving forward is hard. Staying stuck is also hard. Nothing worth doing is usually easy. The question isn't how to make it easier - it's which version of hard you want to choose. The uncertain pain of starting, or the familiar pain of staying where you are? YOU'LL ALSO HEAR: The specific Tuesday afternoon I spent three hours researching my program instead of building it (and the resignation that followed)Why high-integrity professionals get stuck in this particular patternThe difference between familiar pain and uncertain pain (and why we keep choosing familiar)How to identify which type of stuck you're experiencing (they're not all the same problem)Why compassion doesn't mean pretending there's no problemThe real cost of decision fatigue when you circle the same choice for monthsHow "not choosing" is still a choice with consequencesWhy clarity rarely arrives before commitment RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE: Therapists Rising: The Incubator: therapistsrising.com/incubatorInstagram: @dr.hayleykelly SUBSCRIBE & REVIEW: If this episode helped you see the pattern you've been stuck in - or gave you permission to name what's really happening - please take a moment to subscribe and leave a review on Apple Podcasts! Your reviews help more therapists find these conversations and build the businesses they actually want without staying stuck in research mode for months. Thanks for being here. See you next week.

    36 min
  6. Before You Plan Anything in 2026, Answer This One Question

    JAN 8

    Before You Plan Anything in 2026, Answer This One Question

    Everyone's doing planning episodes right now. Goal-setting frameworks, vision boards, annual reviews - and those resources are great. But here's what I think most people are skipping: the single piece of clarity that actually makes planning work. I just came back from two weeks completely offline (forced digital detox courtesy of terrible cruise internet). And while I was offline, one question kept surfacing. Not "what do I need to do differently" or "what are my goals" - but something deeper that completely shifted how I'm approaching 2026. In this episode, I'm not giving you another planning framework. I'm giving you the clarity that makes planning obvious. Because without this foundation, you'll abandon your plan by February. With it, everything else falls into place. If you've ever set goals that looked good on paper but didn't stick, or found yourself circling the same idea without committing, this episode is for you. HERE ARE THE 3 KEY TAKEAWAYS FROM THIS EPISODE: 1️⃣ Planning Without Clarity Is Why Your Goals Keep Falling Apart – It's not a discipline problem or a commitment problem. When you plan based on what you think you should do (instead of what actually matters), the plans don't stick. Clarity isn't a nice-to-have. It's the foundation. 2️⃣ Three Questions That Surface What's Actually There – Before you plan anything, sit with these: What keeps resurfacing for me? What am I no longer willing to carry into 2026? What am I waiting for permission to do? One of these will hit harder than the others. That's your entry point. 3️⃣ Identity Drives Behaviour (Not Willpower) – We don't have commitment problems, we have identity problems. When you ask "Who do I need to become?" instead of "What do I need to do?", action becomes natural. Someone who "tries to build" versus someone who "is a builder" - same activity, completely different relationship to it. YOU'LL ALSO HEAR: Why 2025 was one of my hardest years in business (and the breakthrough that came from it)The identity question that changed everything while I was offlineHow Chris Williamson's annual review process inspired this frameworkWhy therapists are especially good at waiting for permission (and how to stop)The gap between who you are now and who you need to become (and why that's information, not judgment)How clarity makes planning and decision-making obviousReal examples of applying this to launching a beta, scaling your practice, and stepping back from clinical workRESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE: Chris Williamson on Diary of a CEO – Annual review discussionTherapists Rising: The Incubator: therapistsrising.com/incubatorInstagram: @dr.hayleykellySUBSCRIBE & REVIEW: If this episode gave you the clarity you needed before diving into planning - or helped you see the identity shift that's been waiting - please take a moment to subscribe and leave a review on Apple Podcasts! Your reviews help more therapists find these conversations and build the businesses they actually want. Thanks for being here. See you next week.

    38 min
  7. How to Go Into the Holidays Without the Pressure to Catch Up

    12/17/2025

    How to Go Into the Holidays Without the Pressure to Catch Up

    If you've ever headed into a break thinking "I'll finally catch up on everything," only to feel guilty the entire time—this episode is for you. Dr. Hayley Kelly breaks down why the pressure to be productive over holidays backfires, and gives you a practical framework to actually rest (or maintain minimal momentum) without the guilt. This is the final Therapists Rising episode before a two-week break, and it couldn't be more timely. For therapists in Australia staring down six weeks of school holidays—or anyone facing year-end break pressure—Hayley shares the exact decision-making tool that helps you choose between full rest or minimal maintenance, and actually feel good about your choice. No fluff, no "just be kind to yourself" advice. This is a teachable framework you can use immediately. HERE ARE THE KEY INSIGHTS: 1️⃣ The Capacity Audit – Learn how to accurately assess what's actually available to you during a break (spoiler: it's about one-fifth of what you think). Hayley walks you through the exact questions to ask yourself about time, nervous system capacity, and competing demands—so you're working with reality, not fantasy. 2️⃣ The Inertia Calculation – The framework for deciding whether to maintain minimal momentum or take full rest. You'll learn the specific criteria for each path, why there's no universal right answer, and how to make the choice that fits YOUR reality right now. 3️⃣ Implementation Strategies – If you choose minimal maintenance: how to define your minimum, reality-check the time required (double your estimate!), match it to actual capacity, and set a ceiling so it doesn't creep into becoming your whole break. If you choose full rest: how to do a clean stop, set boundaries, and use the "That's for January-me" mantra. 4️⃣ The Guilt Release Protocol – The missing piece that makes either choice actually work. Learn how to acknowledge guilt when it shows up (it will), return to your decision, and practice releasing pressure throughout the break—not as a one-time event, but as an ongoing practice. YOU'LL ALSO HEAR: Why breaks don't expand capacity—they change itThe chronic underestimation problem therapists have with time and tasksWhy we overestimate available time and underestimate how long things take (recipe for self-loathing)The timeline reality check: actual vs. fantasy timelines for building a businessHow pressure sneaks in quietly and compounds over the breakWhy rest is not falling behind—it's what makes everything else possibleWhat January looks like when you actually rest versus dragging guilt forwardRESOURCES MENTIONED: Therapists Rising: The Incubator: therapistsrising.com/incubatorInstagram: @dr.hayleykellySUBSCRIBE & REVIEW: If this episode gave you a framework to approach your break without pressure—or helped you give yourself permission to actually rest—please take a moment to subscribe and leave a review on Apple Podcasts! Your reviews help more therapists find these conversations. See you in the new year. Rest well.

    35 min
  8. I Gave Up My Medical License to Say This Out Loud with Dr Julie Sladden

    12/10/2025

    I Gave Up My Medical License to Say This Out Loud with Dr Julie Sladden

    If you've ever felt unsafe speaking up, shrunk your practice to avoid regulatory scrutiny, or wondered if the system designed to protect you is actually harming you—this conversation will validate everything you've been feeling but haven't said out loud. I'm speaking with Dr. Julie Sladden, a medical doctor, writer, and advocate who walked away from clinical practice, handed in her medical license, and became one of Australia's most vocal advocates for practitioner wellbeing and regulatory reform. You might know her from The Spectator, The Daily Declaration, and as co-founder of Australians for Science and Freedom. HERE ARE THE KEY INSIGHTS: 1️⃣ The Public Protection Paradox – By silencing and harming doctors, regulatory bodies effectively harm the public. When practitioners are too afraid to speak or are strategically planning their exit from clinical work, patients lose. Workforce wellbeing isn't separate from patient care—it's the foundation of it. 2️⃣ The Line in the Sand – Julie shares the moment she realized she couldn't stay silent. She had three choices: walk away quietly, continue practicing and hope she didn't get caught, or close her practice publicly and speak out. She chose the latter, despite the financial devastation (her family income halved overnight) and fear of regulatory retaliation. 3️⃣ The Culture of Fear – We dive into how practitioners are shrinking their practices, deregistering entirely, and self-censoring out of fear. Julie shares why she ultimately surrendered her medical license—she realized AHPRA would likely come after her, and she didn't have capacity to fight that battle while doing advocacy work. 4️⃣ Finding Your Tribe & Rebuilding Healthcare – Julie discusses the critical importance of community. After mandates were announced, she connected with 500 practitioners who were thinking the same way. She also shares her vision for a better system: grassroots health education, protecting social connections, and shifting from sick care to true preventative care. RESOURCES: * Australians for Science and Freedom: scienceandfreedom.org * The Collective Waitlist: therapistsrising.com/collective * Instagram: @dr.hayleykelly A NOTE FROM HAYLEY: This episode might be controversial. I knew that going in. But I believe we're at a point where the cost of silence is higher than the cost of speaking up. Practitioners are burnt out, shutting down, deregistering, and strategically planning their exits from clinical work. That's not a retention problem—that's a system problem. You don't have to agree with every position Julie holds. I don't either. But this conversation isn't about ideology. It's about the system we're all practicing inside, the weight it places on us, and what it costs to work within structures that often feel opaque, punitive, and misaligned with actual care. If even our most capable, thoughtful practitioners are planning their exit, something needs to change. And change starts with conversation. Thank you for listening with curiosity, compassion, and courage. SUBSCRIBE & REVIEW: If this episode showed you what's possible when you give yourself permission to build differently—or inspired you to rethink what scaling could look like in your practice—please take a moment to subscribe and leave a review on Apple Podcasts!

    1h 9m
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out of 5
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About

Welcome to the Therapists Rising Podcast, where we share real, raw, and behind-the-scenes stories and lessons from Therapists who are thinking outside the traditional clinical box and choosing to do things differently in their careers. I’m your host, Dr. Hayley Kelly, and I myself have made the journey from a very experienced, but burnt out and unhappy, Clinical Therapist - to a successful entrepreneur who runs a business she loves, is thriving financially, and working and living life on her own terms. Join me, and be inspired, as I speak with other Therapists who too are broadening their horizons, and experiencing more abundance, joy, and fulfilment than ever before. Together we will laugh, soak up priceless wisdom and take actionable steps, to help you transition from clinical practice to non-clinical offerings, and diversify and amplify your income - all while honouring your wellbeing and having a work-life balance. If you’re ready to be inspired and take action on your dreams, then you’re in the right place, friend. This is the Therapists Rising Podcast.

Information

  • Creator
    Dr. Hayley Kelly
  • Years Active
    2022 - 2026
  • Episodes
    246
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Therapists Rising Podcast
  • Show Website
    Therapists Rising Podcast