Selling the Couch

Melvin Varghese, PhD
  • 4.9 (329)
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Selling the Couch

With 1.81 million+ downloads, Selling the Couch is an Apple Top Career podcast for current and future mental health private practitioners who think differently. Psychologist Melvin Varghese interviews successful therapists in private practice about how they built their businesses as well as top entrepreneurs, business/marketing, and social media experts.* You'll learn how therapists get referrals, grow their practices, work through fears, find their enough, and stop "trading time for income." Melvin also shares the lessons as he grows his impact + income beyond the therapy room (podcasting, YouTube, writing, online courses, masterminds, investing, etc) and the tips and tools he uses to grow STC from a single-person business to the CEO of a 6-figure business.* Featured in Psychology Today, Good Therapy, and Psych Central ****Get show notes and even more good stuff at sellingthecouch.com/stcpodcast*

  1. 2 DAYS AGO

    ENCORE: Low Risk Ways To Host Your First Retreat with Megan Gunnell

    Hosting a retreat sounds like a great idea, right? When you stop and think about all the logistical and financial details, that’s when many fears and questions come to the surface. Perhaps the biggest fear is whether enough people will pay for your retreat to make it a success. Join us as we dive into this topic with today’s expert guest! Our Featured Guest Megan Gunnell In addition to being a business owner, author, and triathlete, Megan Gunnell is a Clinical Social Worker who has been hosting 1-day retreats, workshops and weekend/week long retreats for 20+ years. She hosted her first one at a local community center–complete with harp music! From these humble beginnings, Megan’s retreats have evolved into weekend retreats and international retreats that started in 2012 in Costa Rica, Italy, France, and other places around the globe. In this episode, we discuss why therapists find it so appealing to consider hosting a retreat, along with common fears related to the risk of hosting your first retreat. Megan explains how to find suitable venues that offer 100% refund options and points out the important legal and logistical considerations. We wrap up our conversation by discussing retreat marketing, which is vital to the success of your retreat. Megan shares what she has learned along her journey as a retreat host.  Megan's Website and Thriving Therapists ® Facebook Group You’ll Learn: Megan’s inspiration to expand beyond private practice into hosting retreatsMegan’s #1 lesson learned: Start small and grow later.The attraction of retreats? They are transformative spaces for people to pull away from everyday life and reinvigorate their passion and purpose.The major differences between private practice work and group retreats as income sourcesLegal considerations around liability, disclaimers, emergencies, etc.Megan’s low-risk tips for hosting retreats:Start small with a test audience and test venue with a half-day or one-day retreat.Look for 100% refundable venues through a certain date prior to the event.Do the math and “beta-test” your audience.Making your retreat a profitable ventureFinding 100% fully refundable venues—and why international properties are desirableMegan’s top marketing strategies for retreats:Be very clear about your intentions. (Who is this for, and what is the purpose?)Think about your runway. (Make sure it is long enough to “land the plane.”)Build a warm excitement with your audience around the date for open registration.Handling the cancellation or rebooking of your retreat with flexibility and transparency Resources: Want to launch your podcast? Check out our free podcasting workshop https://sellingthecouch.com/podcastingworshop Want to launch your online course? Please check out our free 7-Day Course Creator Starter Kit For Therapists: https://sellingthecouch.com/coursekit Mentioned in this episode: Course Creator Starter Kit I know that many of us are thinking and planning for the upcoming year. If an online course is on your radar, I want to encourage you to download our free online course starter kit. It's a seven-day email course that will help you validate your course idea. Now, it's going to be 10 years for me...

    51 min

  2. DEC 12

    ENCORE: When An Idea For An Online Course Comes From Therapy Sessions

    Many therapists have created online courses or have thought about creating an online course. It’s one of the best ways to increase your visibility, establish your expertise, and expand your audience and impact in the world. The course creation journey is not an easy one, and it’s full of challenges and ups and downs. Join us for a transparent look at the process from today’s guest! Our Featured Guest Linda Murphy, MEd, MA, LMHC Linda Murphy is a group practice owner in Florida, and she’s a member of the STC Online Course Mastermind group for therapists. Linda is the founder of the Banana Man Society and the Relationship and Divorce Counseling Center. She developed her idea to create a course for dealing with a difficult person because she saw that topic come up often for her clients, and she realized over time that there had to be a better way to distill and share information beyond 1:1 therapy. She created “Banana Man” as a metaphor for dealing with a difficult person–and the Banana Man Society was born. In this session, Linda gives an open, honest look at her course creation journey, along with insights into how she refined her idea. She shares tips and strategies she has learned that might be helpful to others in the course creation process.  Website You’ll Learn: How to embrace the mindset of connection, support, and collaborationHow Linda realized in her first career, as a teacher, that connection is more important than contentHow Linda developed the idea for her online courseThe origins of Banana Man as a metaphor for options in dealing with difficult peopleWhy Linda created an animated video of the Banana Man story (through the STC Mastermind group)Linda’s best tips for others about creating a successful online course:Lean into who you are and be authentic.Market yourself and be creative with social media.Where Linda sees her course going in the future with a specifically targeted nicheLinda’s thoughts about the impact and benefits of the STC Online Course Mastermind group  Resources: Mentioned in this session: Sign up for the newsletter for high-achievers! Want to launch your podcast? Check out our free podcasting workshop for therapists (and therapists turned coaches and consultants). Visit https://sellingthecouch.com/podcastingworkshop. Want to launch your online course? Please check out our free 7-Day Course Creator Starter Kit For Therapists: https://sellingthecouch.com/coursekit Mentioned in this episode: Course Creator Starter Kit I know that many of us are thinking and planning for the upcoming year. If an online course is on your radar, I want to encourage you to download our free online course starter kit. It's a seven-day email course that will help you validate your course idea. Now, it's going to be 10 years for me as a course creator next year, and the validation part is the most important part of an online course. You can download it over at coursecreatorstarterkit.com.

    42 min

  3. DEC 5

    ENCORE: Behind The Scenes Of A Rebrand

    Today’s session is all about rebranding. We are taking a behind-the-scenes look at how different circumstances might affect the business you’ve established and force you to rebrand. Should you view this kind of pivot as a failure? Absolutely not! Let’s explore this topic together. Our Featured Guest Kevon Cheung Kevon Cheung is the founder and head teacher at Small School. He was a previous guest on the podcast several years ago, and I’ve taken his Build in Public Mastery Course to help overcome my fears about posting on social media. I learned a lot of helpful information about creating effective posts on LinkedIn, YouTube, and the STC podcast. Kevon’s wisdom and practical knowledge have helped me lean into vulnerability in many areas. In light of his rebranding from Public Lab to Small School, Kevon shares the pain and difficulties in business building and rebranding, why he felt the need to rebrand, and what he teaches in his online “small courses.” He also explains where he sees course creators stumbling the most.  Small School You’ll Learn: The painful parts of Kevon’s rebranding process (Changing your identity and “rebuilding what you’re known for”)Kevon’s thoughts about working through the inevitable feelings of failure when a change became necessary (How to reframe your mindset about a pivot)The biggest mistake course creators makeKevon’s #1 piece of advice for entrepreneurs and course creatorsKevon’s reasoning behind his “all in” attitude about online coursesKnowing when to add a course as a new offering (Have you validated your expertise with your audience?)Where course creators stumble the most–and why the goal is to create an experience that connects, surprises, and delightsKevon’s perspective on what a “small course” is Resources: Mentioned in this session: Sign up for the newsletter for high-achievers! Want to launch your podcast? Check out our free podcasting workshop for therapists (and therapists turned coaches and consultants). Visit https://sellingthecouch.com/podcastingworkshop. Want to launch your online course? Please check out our free 7-Day Course Creator Starter Kit For Therapists: https://sellingthecouch.com/coursekit Mentioned in this episode: Course Creator Starter Kit I know that many of us are thinking and planning for the upcoming year. If an online course is on your radar, I want to encourage you to download our free online course starter kit. It's a seven-day email course that will help you validate your course idea. Now, it's going to be 10 years for me as a course creator next year, and the validation part is the most important part of an online course. You can download it over at coursecreatorstarterkit.com.

    36 min

  4. NOV 28

    ENCORE: What I Learned from Creating a Course for CEUs with Matthew Bierds

    Many of us have thought about creating continuing education courses and wondered how the process works and what factors are involved. Who better to learn from than someone who has done this successfully? Being successful at CEU course creation takes innovation, creativity, and an entrepreneurial spirit. Join us for informative insights from today’s guest! Our Featured Guest Matthew Bierds Matt Bierds, from Duke City Counseling, is a licensed professional counselor, course creator, and professional speaker who does in-person and virtual counseling and LPC supervision in Texas and New Mexico. As far back as ten years ago, Matt realized that the world of online education was expanding, and he knew there were interesting opportunities for LPCs in the area of online courses. After jumping into this arena, Matt went through a “failing forward” phase before making a few tweaks and creating a course for LPC supervisors. In today’s session, Matt shares the lessons learned along his fascinating journey and the mistakes and successes that have brought him to where he is today.  Matt's Website You’ll Learn: Matt’s wisdom: “I learned the hard way that selling general continuing education courses online is pointless and a waste of time and money.”The value in pivoting and niching down when something isn’t workingDiscovering the sweet spot: How Matt created a course designed for a specific person in a specific situationCourse creation is successful when you see the need and solve the pain point.Matt’s path to building trust and cultivating repeat customersThe progression and development of Matt’s 40-hour course and 6-hour refresher coursesThe challenges in maintaining compliance and navigating changes in licensing requirementsCourse creation challenges: creating content and incorporating more video interaction and student engagementMatt’s biggest mistakes and successes in marketing his courses Resources: So you’ve probably heard that blogging is one of the best ways to attract your ideal clients as a therapist.  But I know that it can be intimidating to SEO optimize your blog post so that it’s actually getting found by your current and future clients.  Simplified SEO Consulting is a team of mental health professionals who genuinely want to help you attract more of your ideal clients using a proven on-page SEO process. Please visit https://sellingthecouch.com/simplifiedseo. **Use the code “MELVIN” to get 20% off any online, DIY SEO courses, and mention Melvin during your consultation for $100 off your onboarding fee for Done-For-You SEO services! Interested in becoming part of our affiliate program? Learn more at https://sellingthecouch.com/jointhehealthcasters   Want to launch your online course? Please check out our free 7-Day Course Creator Starter Kit For Therapists: https://sellingthecouch.com/coursekit Mentioned in this episode: Course Creator Starter Kit I know that many of us are thinking and planning for the upcoming year. If an online course is on your radar, I want to encourage you to download our free online course starter kit. It's a seven-day email course that will help you validate your course idea. Now, it's going to be 10 years for me as a course creator next year, and the validation part...

    40 min

  5. NOV 21

    ENCORE: How To Work Through Perfectionism When Launching Your Online Course (Katie Lear, LCMHC, RPT, RDT)

    If you’ve had a standoff with perfectionism in starting something new, you’ll want to join us for this coaching call in today’s session. Like most clinicians who are branching out with an online course, my guest is struggling with her fears about this new endeavor and whether she will get it right. Join us to hear the conversation. Our Featured Guest for today’s coaching call Katie Lear, LCMHC, RPT, RDT Katie Lear is a therapist in solo private practice near Charlotte, NC. She was part of the Online Course School Live Cohort, and she’s part of the Online Course School Mastermind this year. She is preparing for the beta group launch of her course, and her next step will be to record the digital version. This process gives a chance to collect feedback from beta students on the lessons and modules before creating the digital version. Join us for this open and honest conversation around fear and perfectionism. Katie's Website You’ll Learn: A look at how Katie arrived at her private practice niche working with preteens and tweens around anxiety and OCD symptomsWhy Katie decided to jump into the online course worldHow an online course income stream helps clinicians build a balanced life outside their career, have more time and capacity for family, and utilize another way to reach clientsThe starting point for content in Katie’s course: teaching about coping skillsHow Katie is looking to incorporate a playful element into her courseHow Katie is dealing with “blank-page syndrome” in creating her course slidesTips for Katie in distilling and refining the content for her courseWhy heart and intent matter more in an online course than “Hollywood-level” productionWhy there is great value in teaching with the structure of three tips, three steps, and common mistakes Resources: Interested in becoming part of our affiliate program? Learn more! Want to launch your online course? Please check out our free 7-Day Course Creator Starter Kit for Therapists at https://sellingthecouch.com/coursekit. If you are a seasoned therapist who wants to move from clinical to online course income, we have a specific mastermind for you. We meet together to build, grow, and scale our online courses. You can learn more at https://sellingthecouch.com/mastermind. Mentioned in this episode: Course Creator Starter Kit I know that many of us are thinking and planning for the upcoming year. If an online course is on your radar, I want to encourage you to download our free online course starter kit. It's a seven-day email course that will help you validate your course idea. Now, it's going to be 10 years for me as a course creator next year, and the validation part is the most important part of an online course. You can download it over at coursecreatorstarterkit.com.

    54 min

  6. NOV 14

    ENCORE: How To Give Better Virtual Presentations with Lorraine Lee

    In today’s busy online world, virtual presentations are everything in how you are received AND perceived. If you put forth the effort to create an online course, webinar, or speaking engagement, you want to show up authentically and masterfully to engage your audience. This is an important area in which there is always room for improvement! My guest today is a proven expert in virtual presentation, and she’s here to share her knowledge with us. Join us to learn more! Our Featured Guest Lorraine K. Lee Lorraine Lee is a top career and business virtual keynote speaker who has been featured in several publications and on podcasts with numerous accomplishments and awards throughout her career. She has worked in several editorial roles at LinkedIn and Prezi and has built a LinkedIn following of over 300,000, so she is very much immersed in the world of virtual presentations and online learning. She is the perfect person to help us understand more about improving our virtual presentations.  Lorraine's Website You’ll Learn: How virtual presentations give you access to a wider audience and help you stand out in your expertiseWhy the entertainment factor of virtual presentations cannot be ignoredExamples of different types of virtual presentationsLorraine’s tips for improving your virtual presentations:Add movement to your presentations and incorporate “state changes.”Curate your background with features that are calming, positive, personable, and professional.Include visuals on your screens to help people learn and remember. (90% of the information processed by our brains is visual!)Use eye contact to improve your connection to your audience.How to implement visuals like logos, color gradients, and simple info on your screenHow to use artwork, photos, and personal elements to cultivate a deeper connectionHow to set up your monitor, camera, laptop, etc. to maximize eye contact with your audienceLorraine’s tips for introverts in showing up better in visual presentationsAn overview of Lorraine’s expanding consulting business Resources: Interested in becoming part of our affiliate program? Learn more! Want to launch your online course? Please check out our free 7-Day Course Creator Starter Kit for Therapists at https://sellingthecouch.com/coursekit. If you are a seasoned therapist who wants to move from clinical to online course income, we have a specific mastermind for you. We meet together to build, grow, and scale our online courses. You can learn more at https://sellingthecouch.com/mastermind. Mentioned in this episode: Course Creator Starter Kit I know that many of us are thinking and planning for the upcoming year. If an online course is on your radar, I want to encourage you to download our free online course starter kit. It's a seven-day email course that will help you validate your course idea. Now, it's going to be 10 years for me as a course creator next year, and the validation part is the most important part of an online course. You can download it over at coursecreatorstarterkit.com.

    40 min

  7. NOV 7

    378: If I Were Launching An Online Course Soon, I'd Do This...

    Here we are, all set for the final episode of 2024. We will fill the next few weeks with replays of popular episodes and be back in 2025 with exciting new episodes. During this hiatus, I’ll be using these “Walden months,” as I call them, for extra rest and taking time to work on specific projects, like my online course. If you are considering launching an online course, today’s episode is for you! I’ve learned a lot over the last 9 years as a course creator, and I’m sharing an honest look at my biggest lessons learned and what I would tell anyone on this course creation path.  You’ll Learn:  5 things I want to share about launching an online course:Focus on what you already know and love to teach. (Stay within your niche!)Hear my thoughts on course creation and AI.Start small and build slowly. (Think about your “value ladder.”)Think about recurring offers related to your course.Validation is non-negotiable. (Validate your course idea before you proceed.)Download the free Course Creator Starter Kit. Embrace the tech, but don’t let it overwhelm you. Start with “good enough,” and upgrade your sound, lighting, and camera when you can.Hear my recommendations for basic tech for someone just starting out in course creation. Take a “defaulting to action” perspective rather than waiting for perfectionism. Build your audience early.Don’t wait until your course launch to build your email list.Use social media and discovery platforms. Use these affiliate links for more information: Teachable, ConvertKit, and Cartra Resources: Try Upheal Secure AI Therapy Notes! Visit https://sellingthecouch.com/upheal and enter the promo code “COUCH” to get 50% off for the first three months!  Interested in becoming part of our affiliate program? Learn more! Want to launch your online course? Please check out our free 7-Day Course Creator Starter Kit for Therapists at https://sellingthecouch.com/coursekit. If you are a seasoned therapist who wants to move from clinical to online course income, we have a specific mastermind for you. We meet together to build, grow, and scale our online courses. You can learn more at https://sellingthecouch.com/mastermind. Mentioned in this episode: Course Creator Starter Kit I know that many of us are thinking and planning for the upcoming year. If an online course is on your radar, I want to encourage you to download our free online course starter kit. It's a seven-day email course that will help you validate your course idea. Now, it's going to be 10 years for me as a course creator next year, and the validation part is the most important part of an online course. You can download it over at coursecreatorstarterkit.com.

    29 min

  8. OCT 31

    377: Corporate Transparency Act: What Therapists Need to Know

    If you are a therapist in private practice in the US, this episode will be helpful for you. We are breaking down the new legal requirements under the Corporate Transparency Act. This act requires that you comply by the end of 2024, so time is running out. This act is part of an effort to reduce money laundering by shell companies, focusing on business ownership. If you have an LLC or an S-corp, please take the time to listen and learn more.   Our Featured Guests Dan Mayer and Dr. David Yood Dan Mayer is an attorney who works with many mental health and healthcare practitioners. Dr. David Yood is a licensed psychologist and private practice owner who gives his perspective of the Corporate Transparency Act and its requirements. Dan and Dave co-host the Protecting Your Practice Podcast for mental health practitioners. In this session, they use simple language to explain what the CTA is, what the filing requirements and processes are, the implications of non-compliance, and the constitutionality of the act.  Dan's website Dave's website Protecting Your Practice Podcast You’ll Learn: What is the Corporate Transparency Act (CTA)?Dave’s perspective about the CTA, his private practice, and compliance requirementsA look at the compliance requirements of the CTA (mostly about ownership of companies)Who needs to register under the CTA? (Get professional help if you aren’t sure!)Thoughts on the constitutionality of the CTADave’s perspective on what the CTA requires of himConsequences of not filing under the CTADan’s recommendations for business ownersFind out more about the CTA and how to file (in just a few minutes): fincen.gov Resources: Interested in becoming part of our affiliate program? Learn more! Want to launch your online course? Please check out our free 7-Day Course Creator Starter Kit for Therapists at https://sellingthecouch.com/coursekit. If you are a seasoned therapist who wants to move from clinical to online course income, we have a specific mastermind for you. We meet together to build, grow, and scale our online courses. You can learn more at https://sellingthecouch.com/mastermind. Mentioned in this episode: Course Creator Starter Kit I know that many of us are thinking and planning for the upcoming year. If an online course is on your radar, I want to encourage you to download our free online course starter kit. It's a seven-day email course that will help you validate your course idea. Now, it's going to be 10 years for me as a course creator next year, and the validation part is the most important part of an online course. You can download it over at coursecreatorstarterkit.com.

    33 min
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4.9
out of 5
329 Ratings

About

With 1.81 million+ downloads, Selling the Couch is an Apple Top Career podcast for current and future mental health private practitioners who think differently. Psychologist Melvin Varghese interviews successful therapists in private practice about how they built their businesses as well as top entrepreneurs, business/marketing, and social media experts.* You'll learn how therapists get referrals, grow their practices, work through fears, find their enough, and stop "trading time for income." Melvin also shares the lessons as he grows his impact + income beyond the therapy room (podcasting, YouTube, writing, online courses, masterminds, investing, etc) and the tips and tools he uses to grow STC from a single-person business to the CEO of a 6-figure business.* Featured in Psychology Today, Good Therapy, and Psych Central ****Get show notes and even more good stuff at sellingthecouch.com/stcpodcast*

Information

  • Creator
    Melvin Varghese, PhD
  • Years Active
    2015 - 2024
  • Episodes
    302
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Selling The Couch LLC
  • Show Website
    Selling the Couch

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