Badass Therapists Building Practices That Thrive

Dr. Kate Walker Ph.D., LPC/LMFT Supervisor
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Welcome to Badass Therapists Building Practices That Thrive, the ultimate resource for mental health professionals ready to step into their power, grow their practices, and create a career they love. I'm Dr. Kate Walker, a Texas LPC/LMFT Supervisor, author, and business strategist who's here to show you the path to success. Formerly Texas Counselors Creating Badass Businesses, we’ve rebranded because, well, we’re way too big for Texas now! This community of badass therapists is growing nationwide, and we’re here to help you create a career and practice you love, no matter where you are.  Every week, you'll get practical advice, proven strategies, and motivation to help you build a thriving practice—one that gives you the freedom to live your life on your terms. From mastering marketing to designing scalable systems and becoming a clinical supervisor, this podcast is your roadmap to leveling up without burnout. Hit subscribe and get ready to unlock your badass potential. Your thriving practice starts now!

  1. 2D AGO

    172 Stop Working For Free: The Therapist Burnout Nobody Talks About

    Most therapists don’t burn out because they’re “too sensitive” or need better self-care, they burn out because they’re doing high level emotional labor and business labor that is not being paid for in a sustainable way. In this episode, Dr. Ashley Stevens and I name the therapist burnout nobody talks about, the burnout that shows up when your practice looks successful on paper, but you feel exhausted, resentful, and stretched thin behind the scenes. We talk about the invisible workload that hits once you’re full, the pressure to do everything yourself, and why this is not a mindset problem. It is a structure problem. It is a boundary problem. And yes, it is a money problem. We also get honest about supervision, how it can be a smarter revenue stream and a professional next step, and how it can absolutely eat your lunch if you get voluntold into it without systems, time, or compensation. In this episode, I cover: Why “successful on paper” can still feel exhausting, and how unpaid labor quietly builds burnoutThe hidden roles therapists take on in practice ownership, admin, marketing, and complianceHow supervision can either protect your energy or accelerate burnout, depending on structure and supportWhat ethical, sustainable supervision actually requires, including time, boundaries, and compensationIf you’re feeling burned out but everything “looks fine,” I want you to hear this clearly: you are probably working for free in ways you have not named yet. The fix is not more hustle. The fix is clearer boundaries, cleaner systems, and a model that actually supports your life. Grab this month’s free February bonus: Stop Working for Free, The Therapist Fee Reset. It will help you identify where your practice is quietly costing you money, and whether the fix is a boundary reset or a bigger model change. And if this episode sparked questions about fees, boundaries, or supervision, you do not have to figure it out alone. That is exactly what we work through inside the Step It Up Membership, and for supervisors who need community and real time case support, the new Supervision Lab is built for this. Get your step by step guide to private practice. Because you are too important to lose to not knowing the rules, going broke, burning out, and giving up. #counselorsdontquit.

    26 min

  2. JAN 30

    171 Sticky vs. Shiny Marketing: How to Build a Caseload That Actually Lasts

    Most therapists don’t struggle with marketing because they’re doing it wrong—they struggle because they’re exhausted. In this episode, I break down the difference between shiny marketing (the tactics that look good but burn you out) and sticky marketing (the strategies that actually build trust, referrals, and consistent caseloads). We talk about why chasing algorithms, keywords, and trends often leads to panic posting and random visibility—and how to shift toward a relationship-based approach that works even when you’re busy. If you’ve ever felt pressured to “do more content” or worried you can’t compete with billion-dollar platforms, this episode will help you reset your strategy without adding more to your plate. In this episode, I cover: Why shiny marketing plays on burnout—and how sticky marketing builds trust instead of stressThe KPIs that actually matter for filling your caseload (and where most marketing breaks down)How opt-ins, simple resources, and community reduce no-shows and buyer mismatchWhy one focused lead magnet and one ideal client beats doing “all the things” every timeIf you’re tired of marketing that fizzles out as soon as your schedule fills—or you want a more predictable, values-aligned way to grow—this episode will help you build a plan that works with your energy, not against it. For therapists who want clearer systems and less friction, this month’s Paperwork Essential Starter Kit gives you practical tools to streamline intake, documentation, and onboarding. And inside the Step It Up Membership, we go deeper into building opt-ins, content pillars, and marketing systems you can actually sustain long-term. Get your step by step guide to private practice. Because you are too important to lose to not knowing the rules, going broke, burning out, and giving up. #counselorsdontquit.

    22 min

  3. JAN 23

    170 The Self-Audit: What Are You Cutting From Your Practice?

    Most practice owners head into a new year by adding more—more offers, more marketing, more hustle. In this episode, I’m asking you to do the opposite. We’re looking at what actually worked this year, what just felt important, and what quietly drained your time without growing your practice. This is about cutting what doesn’t move the needle and doubling down on what does. I walk you through a simple audit you can use to evaluate your services, your marketing, your schedule, and even your habits—so you don’t carry the same problems into 2026. If you want a practice that makes money without requiring you to hold everything together, this episode will help you decide what to keep, what to cut, and what finally deserves your energy. In this episode, I cover: How to use the 4 KPIs to measure what’s actually bringing in real clientsHow to identify which services and side hustles make money—and which just steal timeHow to spot client patterns that support your schedule and income goalsHow to find and manage the biggest time-wasters in your business day Avoid dragging your old problems into the new year! Grab January's bonus, The Paperwork Essential Starter Kit now. Get your step by step guide to private practice. Because you are too important to lose to not knowing the rules, going broke, burning out, and giving up. #counselorsdontquit.

    16 min

  4. JAN 16

    169 Stop Wing­ing It: Build Practice Systems That Actually Scale

    If you want 2026 to feel different, your systems have to change — not your personality, not your caffeine intake. In this episode, I’m walking you through the practice systems that actually save time, reduce chaos, and keep you out of that constant “I’ll fix it later” mode. I break down what a system really is, why most private practice owners don’t realize what’s broken, and how overwhelm usually shows up right when your practice starts growing. Whether you’re brand new or already busy, this episode helps you build a foundation that can scale without burning you out. We focus on the three core systems every practice needs from day one: how potential clients become real clients, how you communicate in a way that’s ethical and sustainable, and how money moves through your business without stress or confusion. In this episode, I cover: How to design a “potential client to client” system that reduces friction and increases show-upsWhy your communication system has to be HIPAA-compliant and fit your nervous systemHow to build a money exchange system before your first client ever walks inThe difference between “shiny” marketing and “sticky” systems that actually convertIf your practice feels reactive, scattered, or harder than it needs to be, this episode will help you rebuild your systems so your business can support you, not drain you. If you want ongoing CE credit, leadership support, and real-world training you can actually apply, the Step It Up Membership is where this work deepens over time.  Get your step by step guide to private practice. Because you are too important to lose to not knowing the rules, going broke, burning out, and giving up. #counselorsdontquit.

    24 min

  5. JAN 9

    168 The Supervision Side Hustle: How to Add Income Without Burning Out

    Most therapists think supervision is something they’ll do later—after they feel more confident, have more time, or somehow feel “ready.” In this episode, I’m breaking down why that mindset keeps so many supervisors stuck, underpaid, or holding onto their credentials without ever using it. I walk you through how to add supervision as a side hustle in a way that actually makes sense for your schedule, your income goals, and your license. We talk about common myths—like believing more supervisees automatically means more money—and what really matters if you want supervision to support your practice instead of draining it. If you’ve ever wondered how to price supervision, structure your schedule, market to the right people, or avoid difficult supervisee situations before they start, this episode gives you a clear, practical framework to get moving with confidence. In this episode, I cover: How to structure individual, triadic, and group supervision so you don’t give away your highest-value client hoursWhy “if you build it, they will come” doesn’t work for supervision—and what marketing actually does workThe biggest myths about difficult supervisees, volume-based income, and being “ready,” and how to protect your license while you growIf you’re holding onto your supervisor credential “just in case,” or you want supervision to become a sustainable income stream instead of a stressor, this episode will help you build it intentionally—from the very start. For supervisors who want clearer expectations, better boundaries, and fewer headaches down the line, the Supervisor Checklist gives you a practical starting point for contracts, structure, and decision-making. And if you want ongoing CE credit, leadership support, and real-world training you can actually apply, the Step It Up Membership is where this work deepens over time.  Get your step by step guide to private practice. Because you are too important to lose to not knowing the rules, going broke, burning out, and giving up. #counselorsdontquit.

    20 min

  6. JAN 3

    167 From Manager to Mentor: Stop Babysitting, Start Leading Your Group Practice

    If running a group practice feels like herding highly educated cats, this episode is going to feel like someone finally put words to what you’ve been living. I’m joined by Amanda Esquivel, a Texas group practice owner who’s scaled to 50 clinicians across seven locations—and she’s breaking down why most “staff problems” aren’t actually staff problems. They’re leadership-role problems. Amanda names the four roles practice owners bounce between when growth accelerates: babysitter/manager, bottleneck, firefighter, and mentor-leader. And she’s honest about where she’s had to course-correct—because when everything runs through you, you don’t just get busy. You get stuck. Your team gets stuck too. We also talk about what employees are really reacting to when they complain about low pay, lack of tools, unrealistic expectations, and “promises” that don’t materialize. Amanda shares the transparency practices she uses to educate rather than defend—like showing where the money actually goes, tracking attendance metrics without shaming, and building a training hub so clinicians aren’t reinventing the wheel. The throughline is simple: your job isn’t to be everyone’s emergency contact. Your job is to build people and systems. If you’ve been living in manager mode, exhausted, resentful, and constantly “on,” this conversation will help you shift back into leadership that develops your staff instead of babysitting them. In this episode, you’ll learn: The four roles group practice owners cycle through—babysitter/manager, bottleneck, firefighter, and mentor-leader—and how to identify which one is running your practice right now.How to shift out of constant firefighting and bottlenecking by building systems, metrics, and delegation structures that develop staff instead of controlling them.What staff complaints about pay, tools, expectations, and follow-through are really communicating—and how transparency and education reduce resentment and turnover.Practical leadership tools that support retention and accountability, including structured one-on-ones, attendance and caseload metrics, shared training hubs, and role clarity.If you’re ready to move out of manager mode and into grounded, sustainable leadership, start by grabbing the bonus resources that support this kind of systems-based growth.  If you’re still clarifying how your practice should be structured, the free practice guide will help you name what needs attention next.  For supervisors and practice owners who want clearer expectations and less daily friction, the Supervisor Checklist gives you a concrete place to begin.  And if you want ongoing CE credit, leadership support, and real-world training you can actually apply, the Step It Up Membership is where this work deepens over time.  Get your step by step guide to private practice. Because you are too important to lose to not knowing the rules, going broke, burning out, and giving up. #counselorsdontquit.

    59 min

  7. 12/26/2025

    166 HIPAA, VAs, and the Truth About Delegation in Private Practice

    If the idea of delegating in your practice immediately brings up fear about HIPAA, confidentiality, or losing control, this episode is for you. In this solo episode, I’m breaking down exactly what you can delegate right now (and what you shouldn’t) so you can protect your license while still getting critical tasks off your plate. I walk through real-world examples of delegation, from marketing tasks and intake calls to inbox management and follow-ups, and I clear up a lot of the myths therapists carry around about HIPAA. I explain how HIPAA actually works in practice, why delegating the wrong things first can waste time and money, and how proper training—not avoidance—is what keeps your practice safe as you grow. If your practice feels like you’re “building the plane while flying it,” or you know an uptick in clients is coming and your systems aren’t ready yet, this episode will help you get grounded and move forward with confidence instead of fear. In this episode, you’ll learn: What I recommend delegating first in a therapy practice, like intake calls, follow-ups, basic marketing workflows, and inbox management, without violating HIPAAHow I think about training and onboarding VAs, including HIPAA education, clear boundaries, and realistic expectationsWhy I stopped using long written SOPs and switched to short screen-recorded workflows, and how that reduced mistakesHow to tell the difference between tasks that actually move you toward revenue and ones that just keep you busyIf you’re ready to stop doing everything yourself and start building systems that support your growth, this episode gives you a practical, HIPAA-aware place to start. If you’re ready to lead with confidence, join the 2026 Supervisor Course waitlist for early access to bonus tools, templates, and fast-track grading. Strengthen your systems today with the free Supervision Onboarding Checklist, and get ongoing CEUs and live coaching inside the Step It Up Membership. You’re not just building a practice, you’re building a legacy. Get your step by step guide to private practice. Because you are too important to lose to not knowing the rules, going broke, burning out, and giving up. #counselorsdontquit.

    12 min

  8. 12/19/2025

    165 HIPAA, VAs, And What To Delegate Now

    If the idea of hiring help in your practice immediately brings up fear about HIPAA, confidentiality, or losing control, this episode will bring a lot of clarity. Dr. Kate Walker breaks down exactly what therapists can delegate right now, what you should never hand off blindly, and how to protect your license while still getting critical tasks off your plate. Kate walks through real-world examples of delegation—from marketing and intake calls to email management and SOP creation—while explaining how HIPAA actually works in practice (not the scary myths most of us carry around). You’ll hear why delegating the wrong things first can waste time and money, how to train VAs responsibly, and why systems—not hustle—are what allow practices to grow without chaos. If you’ve been trying to “build the plane while flying it,” or you know your systems need to be in place before your caseload spikes, this episode will help you delegate with confidence instead of fear. In this episode, you’ll learn: What therapists can safely delegate to a VA, including marketing tasks, intake calls, email workflows, and follow-ups—without violating HIPAA.How to train and onboard virtual assistants using HIPAA education, clear boundaries, and simple SOPs that actually prevent mistakes.Why screen-recorded SOPs, Trello boards, and structured workflows work better than long written instructions—and how to set them up efficiently.If you’re ready to stop doing everything yourself and start building systems that support your growth, this episode gives you a practical, HIPAA-safe place to start. If you’re ready to lead with confidence, join the 2026 Supervisor Course waitlist for early access to bonus tools, templates, and fast-track grading. Strengthen your systems today with the free Supervision Onboarding Checklist, and get ongoing CEUs and live coaching inside the Step It Up Membership. You’re not just building a practice, you’re building a legacy. Get your step by step guide to private practice. Because you are too important to lose to not knowing the rules, going broke, burning out, and giving up. #counselorsdontquit.

    21 min
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About

Welcome to Badass Therapists Building Practices That Thrive, the ultimate resource for mental health professionals ready to step into their power, grow their practices, and create a career they love. I'm Dr. Kate Walker, a Texas LPC/LMFT Supervisor, author, and business strategist who's here to show you the path to success. Formerly Texas Counselors Creating Badass Businesses, we’ve rebranded because, well, we’re way too big for Texas now! This community of badass therapists is growing nationwide, and we’re here to help you create a career and practice you love, no matter where you are.  Every week, you'll get practical advice, proven strategies, and motivation to help you build a thriving practice—one that gives you the freedom to live your life on your terms. From mastering marketing to designing scalable systems and becoming a clinical supervisor, this podcast is your roadmap to leveling up without burnout. Hit subscribe and get ready to unlock your badass potential. Your thriving practice starts now!

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