Badass Therapists Building Practices That Thrive

Dr. Kate Walker Ph.D., LPC/LMFT Supervisor
  • 5.0 (9)
  • Entrepreneurship
  • Updated Weekly

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. 13h ago

    206 Continuing Education: What Actually Holds Up with Jennifer Marie Fairchild

    If you have ever bought a continuing education course and wondered whether the material would actually help you in practice, this episode is for you. A certificate tells you that you completed something. It does not automatically tell you whether the training was current, accurate, practical, or designed by someone who understands the work you are about to do. In this episode, I feature Jennifer Marie Fairchild, Chief Operating Officer at Kate Walker Training, to talk about what separates meaningful continuing education from training that simply checks a box. We talk about AI-generated content, outdated information, human support, course updates, and the questions I want you to ask before you spend your money. For supervisors, this matters even more. You are making decisions that affect your supervisees, their clients, and your own license. Information alone is not enough. You need training that helps you apply what you know. In this episode, we cover: Why speed and convenience should not replace accuracy in continuing educationWhat AI can miss when training depends on current rules and real supervision scenariosWhy access to human support matters after you finish a supervisor courseWhat to check before purchasing a course, including instructors, updates, references, and syllabiThe question is not simply, “Will this course give me the hours I need?” Ask whether the training will still help you when something goes sideways six months from now. Training that holds up keeps up with the work. Want to learn more? Check out this month’s free bonus resource from Kate Walker Training. Want deeper support? Inside the Step It Up Membership, we continue these conversations through continuing education, supervision resources, documentation systems, and practical support for therapists and supervisors building sustainable practices. 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.

  2. Sep 25

    205 Did Your Systems Survive the Fall Rush? A Quick Paperwork Audit

    Fall tends to bring a surge of new clients into counseling practices, which makes this a good time to look at the paperwork those clients are actually signing. In this episode, I walk through several parts of your intake paperwork that can quietly become outdated as your practice changes. Your technology may be different. Your rates may have changed. Your no-show policy may be stricter than it used to be. You may even be using AI tools that did not exist when you created your original consent forms. This is actually quite common. We update the way we practice, but sometimes we forget to update the documents explaining that practice to our clients. This episode is a systems check. I want you to look at what your paperwork says, compare it with what you are actually doing, and fix anything that no longer matches. In this episode, we cover: Why your records custodian and secure data storage information need to stay currentHow outdated no-show policies and rates can create confusion with clientsWhat to consider when adding AI use and HIPAA privacy information to your intake processWhy every practice should clarify how social media communication will be handledYou do not have to overhaul your entire intake system today. Pick one thing that is outdated and fix it this week. Good paperwork helps clients understand what they are agreeing to, and it gives you a clear system to follow when questions come up later. Want to learn more? Check out this month’s free bonus resource, as well as my free 10-minute consultation training. And if you want deeper support building ethical systems, documentation, supervision structures, and sustainable practice operations, check out the Step It Up Membership. 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.

  3. Sep 18

    204 Immersive Learning vs AI: Why You Don't Want an AI Experience

    If you have ever wondered whether online supervisor training can be too easy, you'll want to listen in. I use AI. I create online courses. I believe technology can make us more effective. But when technology starts replacing the thinking, feedback, and human interaction that professional learning requires, we have a problem. In this episode, Dr. Ashley Stephens Durbin and I talk about immersive learning and why it matters when you are preparing to become a clinical supervisor. We look at the difference between completing a course and actually learning the material, especially when that training is supposed to prepare you to make ethical decisions, evaluate supervisees, document your work, and protect the public. We also talk about something supervisors need to pay attention to. Boards are looking at training documentation. If a certificate says you completed a 24, 30, or 40-hour course but your completion dates suggest otherwise, that can raise questions. This is not an argument against AI or online learning. It is about making sure technology supports professional judgment instead of replacing the learning required to develop it. In this episode, we cover: • Why human interaction and expert feedback still matter in online supervisor training • What BHEC is noticing about course hours, completion dates, and certificates • How to recognize supervisor training that prioritizes meaningful learning over clicking through content • Why laws, documentation, evaluation, remediation, and supervision theory matter when something goes wrong If you are choosing supervisor training, do not ask only, “How quickly can I finish this?” Ask what you will actually know how to do when you finish. I encourage you to look beyond simply earning another certificate. You are preparing to guide another clinician whose decisions affect real clients. Your training should prepare you for that responsibility. Want to learn more? Check out this month’s free bonus resource from Kate Walker Training. Have questions about Kate Walker Training courses or supervisor training? Reach out through our support portal.  Want deeper support as you build your supervision practice? Inside the Step It Up Membership, I help therapists and supervisors strengthen the systems behind their work, including documentation, supervision structure, marketing, and ethical business growth. 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.

  4. Sep 11

    203 From Referral to Client: Turning the Fall Call Surge Into Booked Sessions

    If your phone, inbox, or website inquiries suddenly pick up when fall arrives, the real question is not how many people contacted you. It is what happened next. I see therapists spend a lot of energy getting found, then lose potential clients somewhere between the first inquiry and the first appointment. Usually, the problem is not a lack of interest. It is a system with too many contact channels, too much back-and-forth, or too little clarity about what happens next. In this episode, I show you how I think about that gap. We talk about the four numbers I want private practice owners watching, why I use a 10-minute consultation, and how simple scheduling systems can make things easier for both you and the person reaching out. More than getting better at selling therapy, this episode is about reducing friction and helping an anxious potential client make a clear decision. In this episode, we cover: Why more contact channels can actually cause you to lose potential clients The four KPIs I use to evaluate the path from inquiry to first session How a 10 minute consultation helps set expectations without sounding pushy What to do with a waiting list before assuming you need to build a group practice Remember, when anxiety goes up, cognition goes down. Your intake process should make the next step easier to understand, not harder. Want to learn more? Check out this month’s free bonus resource, as well as my free 10-minute consultation training. Want deeper support? Inside the Step It Up Membership, I teach systems for ethical private practice growth, supervision, documentation, and sustainable business structure. 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.

  5. Sep 4

    202 What BHEC Actually Sees: Supervision Mistakes Straight From The Source

    Most supervision problems do not begin with a supervisor trying to break a rule. They begin with an assumption that was never verified, a concern that was never documented, or a responsibility that nobody clearly assigned. In this episode, I feature Robert Romig, Deputy Executive Director for the Texas Behavioral Health Executive Council, Sarah Faszholz, MFT and Social Work Board Administrator, and Cristina de Luna, LPC Board Administrator. They examine the supervision mistakes their programs see repeatedly and what supervisors can do before those mistakes become complaints. The panel talks about what must happen before an associate begins practicing. That includes verifying active licenses, understanding jurisdiction, obtaining appropriate authorization, and making sure informed consent supports the disclosure of client information in supervision. We also clarify what active supervision looks like. It is not simply signing experience forms or asking, “What do you want to talk about today?” Supervisors must provide structure, monitor professional development, review concerns, and maintain enough documentation to demonstrate meaningful oversight. The conversation also moves into some of the hardest gray areas. Can a supervisor employ an associate? What happens when friendship or business interests interfere with objectivity? When should a remediation plan be used? What kinds of crisis hotline or indirect hours may not qualify as supervised experience? In this episode, you’ll learn: Why an application does not authorize an associate to practiceWhat supervisors should verify before counting experience hoursWhy outside supervision may require written agency permissionWhat active clinical oversight looks like in practiceHow to document hours before disagreements occurWhen a remediation plan should be developedWhere employment and supervision boundaries can become unethicalWhy licensed experience must involve work that requires a licenseThe board is not asking supervisors to control every clinical decision. It is asking them to demonstrate that supervision was active, ethical, structured, and appropriately documented. Visit BHEC's official website here. Want to learn more? Check out this month’s free resource from Kate Walker Training. For continuing education and support building a defensible supervision practice, explore the Step It Up Membership. 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.

  6. Aug 28

    201 Setting Standards, Not Just Expectations: How Supervisors Build Defensible Supervision Practices

    I see a lot of supervisors working incredibly hard to support their supervisees while still feeling frustrated, overwhelmed, or blindsided by preventable problems. Most of the time, it is not because the supervisee is irresponsible. It is because expectations were never turned into systems. In this episode, I talk about the difference between expectations and standards in supervision. Expectations are often invisible. Standards are observable. They are documented, repeatable, and clear enough that nobody has to guess what matters. I walk through some of the most common supervision issues I see, including inconsistent documentation, missing hour tracking, unclear remediation processes, and supervisees who say, “I didn’t know.” Then I show you how I think about building systems that reduce confusion and help supervision feel cleaner and more sustainable for everyone involved. In this episode, you'll learn: Why the “perfect” supervision software is not the solutionHow supervisors accidentally create “gotcha moments”What it means to actually review supervisee work consistentlyWhy ethical supervision requires visibility into billing, contracts, and marketingHow the OER framework supports evaluation and remediation conversationsOne of the biggest shifts I want supervisors to make is this: stop assuming people know what is important. If something matters, build a system around it. Make it easy to access, easy to repeat, and easy to review. That is what creates accountability. Not pressure. Not fear. Not micromanagement. Just clean supervision. Want to learn more? Check out this month’s free resource from Kate Walker Training. And if you want deeper support around supervision systems, documentation, remediation planning, and ethical business growth, check out the Step It Up Membership. 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.

  7. Aug 21

    200 AI In Your Practice: What Clinicians and Supervisors Need To Know

    AI went from a "someday" conversation to a "this week" conversation very quickly. Clinicians, supervisors, agencies, and clients are already using it, sometimes before anyone has stopped to discuss privacy, consent, or documentation. In this episode, I look at AI use from two directions. First, I talk about how clinicians are using AI to record sessions, draft notes, generate treatment plans, and communicate with clients. Then I look at what happens when clients bring AI-generated diagnoses, symptom lists, or recommendations into the therapy room. I am not here to tell you whether AI is good or bad. I want to help you ask better questions so you can make ethical, documented decisions that protect your clients and your license. In this episode, we cover: Why removing a client’s name does not automatically remove protected health informationWhat clinicians should ask before using an AI vendor, even when the company signs a BAAHow to clearly explain AI use instead of burying it in an informed consent documentHow supervisors can help clinicians respond when clients bring AI-generated information into therapyAI is becoming part of our everyday systems. That does not mean we stop thinking critically about how it works. Review your consent forms. Review your supervision contract. Ask vendors how they store, use, and delete client information. Most importantly, make sure your clients understand what technology is being used and whether they have a choice. When clients use AI, stay curious. You can help them examine the information without shaming them or automatically accepting everything the technology generated. Want to learn more? Check out this month’s free resource from Kate Walker Training.  Want deeper support as you navigate AI, documentation, informed consent, and supervision systems? Inside the Step It Up Membership, I help therapists and supervisors think through the ethical and operational decisions that protect clients, strengthen documentation, and support sustainable practice growth. 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.

  8. Aug 14

    199 Sarah Rivera: Supervising Associates in Private Practice

    Business questions will enter the supervision room. That does not mean every business question belongs there. In this episode, Sarah Rivera of La Luz Counseling in San Antonio talks about what happens when an LPC Associate owns and operates a private practice. This is a relatively new supervision reality, and many supervisors are still deciding where their responsibilities begin and end. Sarah walks us through the tension between clinical supervision and business support. We talk about fee setting, marketing, intake documents, websites, liability coverage, after-hours availability, and the risks that emerge when a supervisor also offers business consulting. We also discuss dual roles. A dual role is not automatically unethical, but it can become complicated when expectations are unclear, money affects judgment, or an associate feels pressured to purchase another service from the supervisor. This conversation is about role clarity. The goal is not to ignore the associate’s business reality. The goal is to keep supervision centered on clinical competence, ethical decision-making, documentation, professional identity, and client welfare. In this episode, you’ll learn: How to distinguish clinical supervision from business consultationWhy private practice expectations belong in the supervision agreementWhat increased risk factors may require additional structureHow fee-setting questions can be reframed as professional identity discussionsWhy supervisors must continue providing objective evaluation and feedbackHow outside business resources can protect the clinical supervision hourA successful business may grow from strong clinical development. But business success is not the primary goal of supervision. When the lanes are clear, supervisors can remain supportive without losing objectivity. Associates can ask questions without assuming every service is included. Both people have a documented system they can return to when the work becomes complicated. Want to learn more? Check out this month’s free resource from Kate Walker Training. And if this episode raised questions about your supervision agreements, risk procedures, or documentation, these are the conversations we continue inside the Step It Up Membership. 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.

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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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