The Therapist HQ

Alicia

Your weekly private practice pep talk hosted by Alicia Murray, LMHC, owner of a virtual group therapy practice and a consulting firm for therapists starting or growing their private practice. During your weekly private practice pep talk, we'll normalize struggles as a therapist and business owner, have some laughs along the way, and continue to create and grow our private practice in a way that is sustainable and profitable.

Episodes

  1. Oct 7

    The truth about passive income with Gabrielle Juliano-Villani

    Therapists can diversify their income in ways that fit their values, strengths, and capacity. Alicia and Gabrielle discuss what it takes to build revenue beyond one-to-one clinical work, including email marketing, lead magnets, retreats, courses, consulting, and speaking. Gabrielle Giuliano Vellani shares lessons from building multiple income streams while running a practice—and why it helps to start with what people already ask you for, rather than building something entirely new. Key topicsWhy email can be a particularly warm audience—and why Gabrielle makes it a priority.The importance of repeated audience touch points before someone decides to buy.Three ways Gabrielle has grown her email list: freebies, Facebook groups, and virtual summits or trainings.How community questions can reveal gaps and potential new offers.Turning clinical expertise into paid trainings, consulting, coaching, and other opportunities.Why selling can be a way of sharing how you help—and how lower-priced offers can build trust.Setting prices and choosing offers that align with your values and capacity.Why a course isn’t necessarily the right next step for every therapist.Using relationship-building, pitching, and networking to find new opportunities.How to think about profitability, time freedom, and when to pivot away from work that no longer fits.Connect with Gabrielle: InstagramGabrielle’s WebsiteMedicare Consulting for TherapistsFree Guide to Income StreamsStay Connected with Alicia: InstagramFacebookWebsiteResources & Links: 1 Free month of Jane - use code THERAPISTHQ1MO for your first month free of my practice management softwarePaubox for your HIPAA secure email - use code THERAPISTHQ for $250 off your first yearPrivate Practice Launch Kit - Get started with your practice branding and setupHQ Marketing Community - Ongoing support and marketing tools for private practices

  2. Sep 11

    Outlasting the algorithm with Melanie Emlyn

    Alicia talks with Mel Emlyn, a Calgary-based manual osteopath, certified nutritional practitioner, 500-hour registered yoga teacher, and wellness content creator, about what it really takes to use social media as a healthcare practitioner. They dig into the emotional side of showing up online, the business case for smaller engaged accounts, and how to create content that builds trust without letting the internet run your life. Key topicsThey discuss how Instagram has changed over time, and why creators should not force themselves into one format just because the algorithm is pushing it.Alicia and Mel both talk about the value of experimenting with content types, including carousels, talking-head videos, b-roll, stories, and short series.They unpack how creators can separate their self-worth from performance metrics, especially when a post flops or doesn’t get the reach they hoped for.Mel explains why she sees social media as a business tool and a safeguard, not just a marketing vanity project.They discuss how smaller, niche, highly engaged accounts can still convert well for practices, retreats, partnerships, and sponsorships.Mel shares her rule for personal content: if she reveals something difficult, she tries to return later with a lesson or takeaway rather than simply unloading online.Alicia and Mel close with practical advice for practitioners who are just starting out: be gentle, expect discomfort, show your face, and protect your energy with boundaries around app use. Connect with Mel: InstagramWebsite Stay Connected with Alicia: InstagramFacebookWebsite Resources & Links: Use Paubox for all of your email needs - use code THERAPISTHQ for $250 off your first yearPrivate Practice Launch Kit - Get started with your practice branding and setupHQ Marketing Community - Ongoing support and marketing tools for private practicesRun Your Practice with Jane - use the practice management software that both Mel and Alicia discuss in the show

  3. Sep 1

    A therapist's guide to networking

    Alicia Murray leads this solo pep talk on networking for therapists in private practice, with a focus on turning relationship-building into a steady source of referrals. The episode breaks down the mindset shifts that make networking feel less intimidating and more natural. It also gives practical ways to start small, stay consistent, and make your practice easy to refer to.Key topicsIn this episode, Alicia reframes networking as relationship building, not schmoozing or selling.She challenges the fear that therapists in the same niche are competition, and explains why they can actually become your strongest referral sources.She shares why therapists with full caseloads, waitlists, or referral overflow are often the best people to connect with.Alicia emphasizes using the same skills therapists already use in the therapy room: curiosity, attunement, and genuine relationship-building.She suggests practical ways to get in the room, including covering a colleague’s leave, joining consultation groups, attending supervision groups, and speaking at local events.She stresses the importance of being dependable and easy to refer to, with a smooth intake or response process.She expands the referral conversation beyond therapists to include primary care doctors, psychiatrists, school counselors, attorneys, dietitians, PT, OT, clergy, and more.Alicia highlights the often-overlooked role of gatekeepers like receptionists, office managers, and intake coordinators in larger group practices.She walks through the value of being able to clearly and confidently explain who you serve, what you do, and what outcomes your practice supports.She closes by encouraging listeners to start small with one therapist coffee chat and one follow-up email in the next 30 days. Stay Connected with Alicia: InstagramFacebookWebsite Resources & Links:Use Paubox for all of your email needs - use code THERAPISTHQ for $250 off your first yearPrivate Practice Launch Kit - Get started with your practice branding and setupHQ Marketing Community - Ongoing support and marketing tools for private practices

About

Your weekly private practice pep talk hosted by Alicia Murray, LMHC, owner of a virtual group therapy practice and a consulting firm for therapists starting or growing their private practice. During your weekly private practice pep talk, we'll normalize struggles as a therapist and business owner, have some laughs along the way, and continue to create and grow our private practice in a way that is sustainable and profitable.

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