The Money Sessions

Tiffany McLain
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Deep, thoughtful, raw conversations with real therapists who are in the midst of leaning into raising fees and making bank – all while working with the clients they are passionate about serving.

  1. Quantum Shit & Getting Marketing Scammed

    3d ago

    Quantum Shit & Getting Marketing Scammed

    Ready to set your fee? You choose the dream, we'll do the math. 🎁 Download our FREE Fun with Fees Calculator 👉🏽 https://www.leaninmakebank.com/free Ready to charge Life First Fees? Click here to fill out an application What if the biggest thing holding back your private practice isn't your marketing… it's the paradigm you're operating in? In this episode, Tiffany dives into one of the most uncomfortable (and liberating) truths about money, business, and therapists: many of us are unknowingly operating in a zero-sum paradigm where someone always has to lose. And if that's the world you believe in? It becomes almost impossible to build a thriving private practice. Because every exchange of money starts to feel like exploitation. Charging your fee feels like hurting someone. Investing in yourself feels like getting scammed. Growing your practice feels morally suspicious. So you stay stuck. This episode explores the two completely different financial realities therapists live inside—and why choosing a new paradigm might be the most important business decision you ever make. Tiffany also shares her own story of growing up with deeply ingrained scarcity beliefs, how those beliefs shaped her relationship to money and business for years, and what finally allowed her to step into a completely different way of operating. Because here's the truth: You can build your practice inside a world where someone always loses. Or you can step into a paradigm where everyone wins—and growth compounds for everyone involved. Your clients. Your colleagues. And you. If you've ever wondered why your income stalls, why raising fees feels terrifying, or why every investment in your business feels like a potential scam—this conversation will hit deep. And it might just change how you see your practice forever.   In this episode, we talk about: The two financial paradigms therapists unknowingly operate inside Why the "I win, you lose" mindset silently sabotages private practices How scarcity beliefs make charging fees feel unethical or dangerous Why therapists often stall around the same income ceilings How suspicion around money blocks growth, investment, and connection The hidden clinical consequences of feeling "scammy" about charging clients What it actually looks like to run a business in a true win-win paradigm   Ready to build a practice where everyone wins? Inside Lean In. MAKE BANK., Tiffany helps therapists step into their Life-First practice—charging premium fees while seeing fewer clients and creating financial and emotional stability. If you're ready to explore what that could look like for you, fill out an application through the link in the show notes. Your future clients are looking for a therapist they can trust with both their healing and their money.

    24 min
  2. From $60/session to $425 as a Multi-racial, Solo Breadwinning Mom of Littles

    May 25

    From $60/session to $425 as a Multi-racial, Solo Breadwinning Mom of Littles

    Ready to set your fee? You choose the dream, we'll do the math. 🎁 Download our FREE Fun with Fees Calculator 👉🏽 https://www.leaninmakebank.com/free Ready to charge Life First Fees? Click here to fill out an application When Alana started her private practice, she was charging as little as $60 per session. Like many therapists, she deeply believed therapy should be accessible. But as a multi-racial therapist, solo breadwinner, and mom of a young child, the reality of running a practice quickly caught up with her. Despite being an excellent clinician and working hard, her practice was bringing in $4K–$6K months, and the financial pressure was constant. She tried what many therapists try first—adding new offers like couples intensives—but nothing solved the underlying issue. Her fees simply weren't aligned with the life she needed to support. Inside this episode, Alana shares how she moved from a patchwork caseload with clients paying anywhere from $60 to $200, to building a private-pay practice where most of her clients now pay $250–$425 per session. Today, about 90% of her caseload pays $250+, her practice is full, and she's preparing for maternity leave with a level of financial stability she never thought possible. Her story is a powerful example of what happens when therapists stop waiting for referrals, marketing hacks, or new services to fix their income—and instead address the deeper beliefs keeping their fees low. In this episode, we cover: What Alana's practice looked like before raising her fees The concept of "pretend fees" and why many therapists unknowingly operate this way Why adding intensives didn't solve her income problem The emotional and psychological blocks that kept her undercharging The moment she realized waiting wasn't going to work What it was actually like raising fees with current clients How fee conversations can become powerful clinical work with couples Building a sustainable practice as a multi-racial therapist and solo breadwinner Resources Mentioned LIMB Academy FWF Calculator Alanna`s Website

    52 min
  3. The Internal Conflict of Life First Fees

    May 18

    The Internal Conflict of Life First Fees

    Ready to set your fee? You choose the dream, we'll do the math.🎁 Download our FREE Life First Fees Private Practice Calculator 👉🏽 https://www.leaninmakebank.com/free Ready to charge Life First Fees? Click here to fill out an application There's a part of you that wants more. More ease. More freedom. More money. More spaciousness. More time with your kids. More creativity. More life. And there's another part of you that is absolutely terrified of what it would mean to actually have it. In this deeply personal and psychologically rich episode, Tiffany unpacks the internal war therapists experience when they begin stepping toward Life First Fees, authority, freedom, and real financial expansion. Because wanting more is actually not the hard part. The hard part is surviving the voices inside you that say: "You're greedy." "What about the clients who need help?" "Who do you think you are?" "Good therapists don't want this." "You're becoming unethical." "You're hurting people." This episode explores what happens when one part of you longs for growth while another part is still deeply loyal to fear, conditioning, scarcity, and self-protection. And if you've ever listened to this podcast feeling simultaneously inspired and activated… Tiffany explains exactly why. In this episode, Tiffany breaks down: Why therapists often feel both captivated and threatened by the idea of charging Life First Fees The unconscious "committee" inside therapists that fights against change and expansion How childhood conditioning, family systems, and cultural beliefs become internalized voices about money and success Why many therapists intellectually want freedom while emotionally defending against it The difference between therapists who step into change—and therapists who stay stuck arguing with possibility Why being surrounded by people who share the same fear keeps you trapped in financial paralysis The importance of having both: a clear system for building a Life First Practice and a container that supports new ways of thinking How therapists in Lean In. MAKE BANK. move from fear and ambivalence into authority, clarity, and real financial growth Why your fees have nothing to do with your goodness, worthiness, or ethics The mindset shift that changes everything: "Yes… and more please." This episode is not just about money. It's about whether you are willing to become the version of yourself that can actually receive the life you say you want. Because for many therapists, the greatest obstacle isn't strategy. It's permission. Permission to want more. Permission to stop martyring yourself. Permission to build a business that fully supports your life. And permission to believe that wanting more does not make you bad. It makes you honest. If you're ready to step into a different way of thinking, living, and building your practice, apply to Lean In. MAKE BANK. through the link in the show notes. Or email Tiffany at tiffany@leaninmakebank.com with the subject line: "Yes and More Please." Because the version of you on the other side of this work? You haven't even met them yet.

    17 min
  4. From $107 to $265 per session: Katerina's escape from the scam as a BIPOC therapist

    May 11

    From $107 to $265 per session: Katerina's escape from the scam as a BIPOC therapist

    Ready to set your fee? You choose the dream, we'll do the math. 🎁 Download our FREE Fun with Fees Calculator 👉🏽 https://www.leaninmakebank.com/free Ready to charge Life First Fees? Click here to fill out an application What if the system you were told would "fill your practice" is actually the thing keeping you underpaid and overwhelmed? In this episode of The Money Sessions, Tiffany sits down with Katerina Pogosov, a therapist who spent 14 years working in school-based mental health before opening her private practice and encountering the same structures many therapists rely on—insurance panels and large therapy platforms promising steady referrals. Instead of freedom, she found administrative friction, tech headaches, and a model that quietly capped both her income and autonomy. Katerina started her practice charging $107 per session while relying heavily on insurance platforms. Over time, she began to see what many therapists eventually discover: the systems that promise "full caseloads" often create burnout, instability, and income ceilings. So she made a different move. Today, Katerina runs a private pay practice charging $265 per session, with a smaller, intentional caseload designed around sustainability and alignment with the clients she most wants to serve. Her work now focuses on BIPOC professionals navigating identity, class mobility, money narratives, and generational expectations—a niche deeply connected to her own lived experience. This conversation is about recognizing the scam many therapists were trained into, reclaiming agency over your practice model, and building a business that actually supports your life.   In this episode, we talk about: Why insurance panels and therapy platforms can quietly cap therapist income The hidden administrative and emotional costs of relying on large therapy platforms How Katerina increased her fee from $107 to $265 per session Recognizing and stepping away from systems that keep therapists underpaid Creating a niche rooted in lived experience and cultural context Supporting BIPOC professionals navigating identity, money, and class mobility Designing a practice that prioritizes sustainability instead of burnout   Resources mentioned LIMB Academy FWF Calculator Katerina`s Website firepoppytherapy@protonmail.com

    49 min
  5. Who to Trust When It Comes to the Ethics of Fees?

    May 4

    Who to Trust When It Comes to the Ethics of Fees?

    Ready to set your fee? You choose the dream, we'll do the math.🎁 Download our FREE Fun with Fees Calculator 👉🏽 https://www.leaninmakebank.com/free Ready to charge Life First Fees? Click here to fill out an application Every therapist has asked this question— even if only silently: "Is it ethical for me to charge this much?" And underneath that… "Who gets to decide?" In this episode, Tiffany takes on one of the most confusing, loaded, and emotionally charged topics in our field: the ethics of fees. Because right now, therapists are getting very mixed messages. Charge more—but don't be greedy. Take care of yourself—but don't abandon accessibility. Build wealth—but stay humble. Value your work—but don't make clients uncomfortable. So who do you listen to? Your grad school training? Your licensing board? Your colleagues in Facebook groups? The loudest voices on Instagram? Or the quiet voice in your own body that knows something isn't working? In this episode, Tiffany cuts through the noise and names the deeper issue: Most therapists are outsourcing their ethical authority. And it's keeping them stuck, under-earning, and disconnected from the very clients they're meant to serve. In this episode, Tiffany breaks down: Why the "ethics of fees" conversation is often rooted in fear, not actual ethics The difference between ethical responsibility and emotional discomfort How therapist culture reinforces confusion, guilt, and second-guessing around money Why looking to misaligned peers for guidance will keep you stuck The role of personal responsibility in determining your fees What it actually means to run an ethical, sustainable, professional practice Why undercharging can be just as unethical as overextending yourself How to start trusting your own clinical and financial authority This episode is not about giving you a number. It's about giving you your authority back. Because ethics are not determined by the loudest, most anxious voices in the room. They are determined by your ability to think clearly, act responsibly, and build a practice that actually works—for you and your clients. If you're ready to set fees that are both ethical and sustainable email tiffany@leaninmakebank.com with the subject line "I'm Ready." Because the real question isn't: "Is this ethical?" It's: "Am I willing to take responsibility for building a practice that actually works?"

    21 min
  6. From $110 to $250/session with Jesse Hernandez, LPC

    Apr 27

    From $110 to $250/session with Jesse Hernandez, LPC

    Ready to set your fee? You choose the dream, we'll do the math. 🎁 Download our FREE Fun with Fees Calculator 👉🏽 https://www.leaninmakebank.com/free Ready to charge Life First Fees? Click here to fill out an application In this episode of The Money Sessions, Tiffany talks with Jesse Hernandez, LPC, a therapist practicing in a small Texas town who made the bold decision to significantly increase his session fee. When Jesse first started exploring the idea of charging more, he was seeing around 12–15 clients per week at about $110 per session—while also working a weekend night job to supplement his income. Financial pressure was real. But so was the self-doubt. Could clients in a small town actually afford higher fees? Would people still book with him? Jesse decided to test those assumptions. Over time, he raised his rate to $250 per session, confronting imposter syndrome and internal resistance along the way. In this episode, Jesse shares the vulnerable moments that came with that transition—including the fears, the unexpected lessons, and the role community support played in helping him stay the course. In this episode, we explore: What it's like building a premium-fee practice in a small town The fears therapists often face when raising their rates Jesse's journey from $110 to $250 per session How self-doubt and imposter syndrome show up in private practice Why community and mentorship can change the trajectory of a business What it looks like to build a practice aligned with your values and goals Resources mentioned: LIMB Academy FWF Calculator Jesse`s Website jessehernandez@elevatemh.com

    43 min
  7. AI IS Replacing Therapists: Here's What You Can Do About It

    Apr 20

    AI IS Replacing Therapists: Here's What You Can Do About It

    Ready to set your fee? You choose the dream, we'll do the math.🎁 Download our FREE Fun with Fees Calculator 👉🏽 https://www.leaninmakebank.com/free Ready to charge Life First Fees? Click here to fill out an application AI is already here. And yes—it is replacing therapists. Not all therapists. But many. And the ones most at risk? They're not who you think. In this episode, Tiffany cuts through the noise, the panic, and the denial to tell you the truth about what's actually happening in the therapy industry—and what you must do right now if you want to stay relevant, in demand, and well-paid in 2026 and beyond. Because this isn't about fear. It's about positioning. If your work is standardized, manualized, surface-level, or transactional… AI can—and will—replace it. But if your work is relational, complex, deeply attuned, and rooted in true psychological expertise? AI can't touch you. The problem is: most therapists are being trained, incentivized, and pushed into models that make them easier to replace. And almost no one is talking about it. In this episode, Tiffany breaks down: What AI is actually replacing in therapy (and why it's accelerating fast) Why insurance-based, high-volume models are the most vulnerable How "checkbox therapy" and worksheet-driven work set you up to be replaced The difference between transactional care and transformational work Why undercharging is no longer just a money issue—it's a survival issue What clients who can pay premium fees are really looking for (and why AI can't replicate it) How to position yourself as irreplaceable in a rapidly changing industry Why your relationship with money directly impacts your long-term relevance The role of authority, depth, and clinical leadership in the future of therapy This episode is a line in the sand. Because the therapists who thrive in 2026 will not be the ones who waited. They will be the ones who adapted, elevated, and claimed their value early. If you're ready to build a practice that AI cannot replace… Inside Lean In. MAKE BANK., you'll learn how to create a Life-First Practice—charging premium fees, working fewer hours, and positioning yourself as a high-level clinician clients trust deeply. email tiffany@leaninmakebank.com with the subject line "I'm Ready." Because AI can replace tasks. It can replace scripts. It can replace surface-level care. But it cannot replace you—if you build your practice the right way.

    21 min
  8. From $100/session avg to $225: Kara Cruz's journey from CMH to scaled offerings

    Apr 13

    From $100/session avg to $225: Kara Cruz's journey from CMH to scaled offerings

    Ready to set your fee? You choose the dream, we'll do the math. 🎁 Download our FREE Fun with Fees Calculator 👉🏽 https://www.leaninmakebank.com/free Ready to charge Life First Fees? Click here to fill out an application In this episode of The Money Sessions, Tiffany sits down with therapist Kara Cruz, who began building her private practice while working full-time in community mental health. Like so many clinicians leaving CMH, Kara started out charging relatively low fees and trying to grow her caseload during evenings and weekends while balancing the demands of a full-time job. But as her practice evolved, Kara began thinking more strategically about sustainability, impact, and income. Over time, she raised her average fee from $100 to $225 per session and began expanding beyond traditional one-to-one therapy by developing scaled offerings like therapy groups, consultation, and trainings for other clinicians. Her journey highlights an important truth for many therapists: a sustainable practice doesn't have to rely solely on individual sessions. In this conversation, Kara shares how she moved from burnout and overwork toward a practice model that includes multiple revenue streams and greater flexibility. In this episode, we explore: Kara's transition from community mental health to private practice The challenges of building a caseload while working a full-time job Why raising fees often requires both financial and mindset shifts How Kara increased her average session fee from $100 to $225 The role therapy groups and consulting play in scaling a practice Why therapists benefit from diversifying income streams Resources mentioned: LIMB Academy FWF Calculator Kara`s website Kara`s Instagram kara@karacruz.com

    52 min
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4.9
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About

Deep, thoughtful, raw conversations with real therapists who are in the midst of leaning into raising fees and making bank – all while working with the clients they are passionate about serving.

Information

  • Creator
    Tiffany McLain
  • Years Active
    2019 - 2026
  • Episodes
    181
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    ©2019
  • Show Website
    The Money Sessions

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