The Grow Your Private Practice Show

If you’ve come across terms like E-E-A-T or YMYL recently and thought…

“I feel like I should know what that means…”

You’re definitely not alone.

In this episode, I’m joined by Theo Ruby - someone I’ve worked with for years and regularly refer people to when they need help with the tech and SEO side of their website.

We’re talking about what’s actually changing when it comes to Google… and why, for once, it’s actually good news for counsellors.

What we cover in this episode

W...

There are a few things I see on counselling websites all the time.

They’re not big, obvious mistakes. In fact, they’re usually things you’ve added because you’re trying to do things properly - be clear, professional, and helpful.

But the way they show up can quietly change how your website feels to someone who’s already unsure about reaching out.

And that small shift?

It can be enough to make someone hesitate… or leave.

In this episode, I’m talking through three of the most common things...

How do you feel when you hear the word 'niche'?

Because for a lot of counsellors, that’s the moment things start to feel… harder.

What sounds simple on the surface can quickly turn into overthinking, second-guessing, and feeling like you need to get it 'right'.

And that can be where everything stalls.

So ithis episode, I’m sharing something I’ve noticed over the years, and why I’ve stopped using the word 'niche' altogether.

Because the problem isn’t always what we think it is.

Inside this...

There’s something that doesn’t quite add up in counselling...

We’re trained to be a blank slate…

and yet we’re also trying to build connection, trust, and a sense that someone feels understood before they even reach out.

So where’s the line?

In this episode, I’m joined by Rainbow Tomes, a counsellor, coach and trainer who describes themselves as a ‘mum on a mission’.

Their work is shaped by lived experience, a strong sense of purpose, and a drive to challenge the systems that don’t always suppo...

There’s nothing wrong with most counselling websites.

They’re thoughtful. Careful. Full of good intentions.

And yet… people still leave.

In this episode, I’m talking about something I see all the time, websites that are trying to say too much. Not because you’ve got it wrong, but because you care, and you want to get it right.

I share what’s really going on when someone lands on your homepage, why adding more can actually make it harder for someone to choose you, and what to shift so the right cl...

There are a lot of counsellors out there.

And if you’ve ever looked at your website and thought,

this sounds fine… but it doesn’t really sound like me,

this episode will likely hit close to home.

Because clients aren’t choosing based on qualifications alone.

They’re choosing based on something much harder to define,

but much easier to feel.

In this episode, I’m exploring what’s really going on when someone is deciding who to work with, why two counsellors who look similar o...

Counsellor or Clone: Breaking Through the Monotony of Online Directories

If your directory profile sounds like everyone else’s, this might be why...

If your counselling directory profile isn’t bringing in enquiries, it might not be what you think.

Because often, it’s not about your qualifications…

or your experience…

or even your approach.

It’s because your profile sounds like everyone else’s.

In this episode, I’m sharing why so many counsellors end up blending in on online directories, and what’s really going on wh...

I talk a lot about connection in marketing.

How you build it, how you show it, and how it helps potential clients feel comfortable enough to reach out.

But there’s another way of looking at this: one that doesn’t get talked about as much.

And it might explain why someone can read everything you write… and still not take that next step.

In this episode, I’m exploring the know, like and trust factor, but from a slightly different angle. One that fits with the realities of being a counsell...

Many therapists worry about not getting enough clients in private practice.

But there’s another fear that rarely gets talked about.

What if you get too many?

In this episode, I explore a thoughtful email from therapist Laura, who is hesitant about marketing their practice - not because they don’t want clients, but because they are worried about over-committing and under-delivering.

We look at why this concern shows up for so many therapists, how it can influence your marketing decisions, and why avoiding visibility can sometimes lead to the feast-and-famine cycl...

You don’t need more time to blog.

You need it to stop feeling so big.

If you’re a counsellor who keeps meaning to write but never quite gets there, this episode explores what’s really getting in the way, and how to make blogging feel doable again.

And if you’ve ever wished someone would just hand you the structure so you could get on with it, I’ll also share how Framework First Blogging Method — my £9/month mini membership — gives you a ready-to-use blogging framework on the first Monday of every month.

How to Organise Blog Posts and Keep Track of Your Content

Do you know exactly what blog posts you’ve written?

Could you find the right one quickly if a potential client needed it?

Or does your content feel scattered, hard to see at a glance and harder to use?

In this episode, I’m talking about how to organise blog posts and keep track of your content so your blog becomes something you can actually use, not just something you keep adding to.

And I’ve created a FREE B...

Have you ever started a blog post full of energy… only to abandon it halfway through?

If that sounds familiar, this episode is for you.

We’re not talking about laziness, discipline or “needing to try harder.” We’re talking about what really happens in the middle of a blog post - the moment where doubt creeps in, decisions multiply, and suddenly it feels easier to step away than to finish.

In this episode, I explore:

There’s a lot of pressure to be visible all the time.

Post more. Show up more. Keep going.

But what if the marketing that actually works for you doesn’t need you to be constantly ‘on’?

In this episode, I’m talking about a steadier way to get found. The kind that keeps working long after you’ve finished writing.

If you’ve ever wondered whether there’s a calmer way to build your practice — this one’s worth a listen.

You don’t need to be everywhere.

You need to be r...

Could Email Counselling Be the Quiet Hero of Therapy?

With Chloe Foster – Email Counselling Academy

Correction: In this episode I incorrectly called Chloes business 'The Email MARKETING Academy', which was wrong. It's 'The Email COUNSELLING Academy': they work using email counselling, not email marketing.

Also, my sincere apologies to Chloe for any mistakes I made with their pronouns in the recording.

Do you think counselling has to mean sitting face-to-face (or screen-to-screen) with a client?

Well, in this episode, I’m joined by Chloe Foster (they/she), founder of the...

Blogging can feel surprisingly confusing, especially when you care about getting it right.

In this episode, I’m talking about why writing can feel heavy and muddled for therapists, even when you’re thoughtful, experienced, and genuinely good at your work. If blogging has ever left you questioning yourself, abandoning drafts, or wondering why it feels harder than it ‘should’, this one will likely feel familiar.

In this episode, we explore:

Perfectionism in Writing, and the Goal That Actually Helps

You already understand perfectionism. You’ve probably talked about it with clients many times.

But when it shows up in your own writing, that understanding can disappear very quickly.

In this episode, I look at perfectionism from a different angle – not as something that just makes writing harder, but as something that can stop you improving at all.

I share what happened when I first started blogging, why knowing the theory didn’t help in the moment, and the one goal that’s helped...

If you’ve ever wondered whether all that blogging is actually doing anything - especially when things feel quiet - this episode might feel like a deep breath.

Because sometimes the hardest part isn’t the writing - it’s sitting with the silence afterwards.

In this episode, we’re gently lifting the curtain on what might really be happening behind the scenes when nobody comments, nobody emails, and nobody says, “Hey that helped.”

And we’ll talk about the one mindset shift that can take you from anxious, second-guessing writer… to grounded, steady voice you...

Do you ever wonder whether your blog actually helps anyone?

That doubt is common and it makes sense. Blogging is often talked about as “marketing”, but there’s something more important happening underneath.

In this episode, we look at how your blog can quietly support someone who’s struggling, and help them take the first step towards counselling even before they feel ready to reach out.

You’ll hear about:

If marketing feels harder than it used to (especially on social media), you’re not imagining it.

So what is currently working?

In this episode, I’m talking about the quieter, more sustainable strategies that are actually helping counsellors stay visible and build trust in 2026.

After nearly 20 years of doing this, I’ve seen trends rise and fall. And I’ve also seen what holds steady, what keeps working even when the platforms, algorithms, or advice all change.

Whether you’re feeling a bit jaded with social media, wondering where your time’s bes...

If social media leaves you feeling drained, confused, or just not like yourself, you're not alone.

In this episode, I’m sharing a simple, free, and often-overlooked way for counsellors to get found by more of the right clients without needing a website or being all over social media.

You'll learn:

Do you need a perfectly planned-out content strategy to stay consistent? Or can you just show up, speak from the heart, and see what sticks?

In this episode, I'm joined by my brilliant friend and fellow therapist Sarah (aka The Binge Eating Therapist) as we get honest about how we each approach content creation — and how different those approaches are.

We’ve both been creating weekly content for year with blogs, podcasts, YouTube, and in this chat, we’re pulling back the curtain on:

If marketing your counselling practice feels like a wobbly, messy, “what-the-heck-am-I-doing” kind of experience… this episode is for you.

Because today, we’re not talking strategy or content plans. We’re talking about you - the human behind the posts. The one quietly trying to make it work while wondering if you're getting it all wrong.

In this open letter, I’m sharing a personal message to the part of you that’s second-guessing, doubting, and wondering if you're cut out for all this “visibility” stuff.

Spoiler: You are.

We’ll talk about:

Ever feel like you’re doing all the right things… yet nothing seems to be moving fast enough?

In this episode, we’re peeling back the curtain on the slow, quiet build that nobody talks about but every thriving private practice is built on.

If you’ve ever wondered why other counsellors seem to be racing ahead while you’re still trying to find your rhythm, you’re not alone. And no, you’re not doing anything wrong. In fact, you might be closer than you think.

Inside this episode, we explore:

Have you ever worried you’re too boring, too ordinary, or not “expert enough” for clients to pick you?

You’re not alone and you’re not seeing what clients actually look for.

Because when someone is scrolling through counsellor profiles, they’re asking one quiet question: “Would I feel safe with you?”

That’s The Armchair Test and it matters far more than perfect blogs, fancy qualifications or polished bios.

In this episode, we explore:

When someone searches for a therapist, they’re not scanning for qualifications, they’re searching for a feeling:

“Will I feel okay with you?”

“Can I tell you something hard and not feel judged?”

That’s what I call The Armchair Test, and once you understand how it works, you’ll never look at blogging (or marketing) the same way again.

In this episode, we explore:

You’re doing all the right things, more CPD, new qualifications, more training, but your counselling practice is still quiet.

So what’s going on?

In this episode, we’re exploring the hidden trap many counsellors fall into — using learning as a way to feel productive when marketing feels uncomfortable.

If you’ve ever thought,

“Once I’ve done this next training, then I’ll work on my marketing…” this one’s for you.

We’ll unpack:

Ever feel like everything you could possibly say about self-care, stress, or slowing down has already been said?

As a counsellor, you want to share ideas that genuinely help people but when every blog and social post seems to repeat the same advice, it’s easy to worry that your writing won’t stand out.

In this episode, we’re talking about how to make your counselling blogs feel fresh, human, and authentic even when you’re writing about familiar topics.

You’ll learn how to go deeper than surface-level “tips,” write in a way that con...

You close the laptop after your final session. The house is quiet.

And even though you’ve spent all day talking, you haven’t actually connected with anyone.

That quiet ache you sometimes feel? That’s loneliness. And it’s more common than counsellors admit.

In this heartfelt episode, we’re talking honestly about what it’s like to work alone in private practice - the isolation, the silence, and the subtle way it can creep in.

We’ll explore:

Overthinking doesn’t always feel like fear, sometimes it looks like planning, researching, or endlessly tweaking things instead of actually starting.

In this episode, we’re exploring what overthinking really looks like for counsellors and coaches, how it shows up in sneaky ways, and what to do when you feel completely stuck.

I’m also sharing a personal story about getting stuck in naming my own program, and the moment I finally realised I wasn’t being strategic, I was just avoiding.

If you’ve been circling an idea without ever getting it off the gr...

You hold space for everyone else - clients, family, friends. From the outside, it looks like you’re coping. But inside? You’re tired in a way that rest doesn’t touch.

In this episode, I share my own story of counsellor burnout, the subtle signs you might be missing, and a few gentle ways to support yourself when you’re running on empty. 

Because burnout doesn’t always look like collapse. Sometimes it looks like silence, stillness, or sighing at another message you can’t face replying to.

If that sounds familiar, this episode...

Many counsellors feel awkward about charging, or even apologetic when talking about their fees. In this episode, I share my own experiences from being told off by an electrician friend for undervaluing myself, to walking up Lincoln’s Steep Hill every week to pay for counselling when my self-esteem was at rock bottom.

We’ll explore:

If you’ve eve...

Walking into the gym after a long break can feel so hard.

You look around and everyone seems to know what they’re doing - toned, confident, striding on machines that look more like torture devices than exercise equipment.

Meanwhile, you’re tugging at your leggings, feeling out of place, and wondering if it would be easier to give up and buy a big box of Maltesers on the way home.

That’s exactly how marketing your private practice can feel.

You see other counsellors with slick websites, polished blogs, or big so...

Procrastination doesn’t mean you’re lazy; it means your energy is stuck.

In this episode, I share why getting stuck feels so frustrating (especially when you compare yourself to other counsellors who seem to be doing it all), and how you can see it in a completely different way.

You’ll discover:

If you’ve ever found yourself tidying yo...

You’ve probably been told:

“You need a niche before you can start blogging.”

It sounds responsible. It feels strategic.

But for many counsellors? It becomes a fancy-sounding form of procrastination.

In this episode, we’re busting one of the most persistent blogging myths out there, the idea that you can’t start sharing your voice until your niche is perfectly figured out.

If you’ve been staring at a blinking cursor, endlessly tweaking your website or bio instead of actually writing… this one’s for you.

We’ll cover:

What if your next big breakthrough in private practice isn’t a brand-new strategy, but simply making the most of what you’ve already got?

In this episode, I’m sharing 10 small-but-mighty areas to check in on. The kind of practical tweaks that can bring more ease, more focus, and yes… even more client enquiries.

Most counsellors skip this kind of business reset. They keep pushing forward, adding more to their plate and end up stuck.

But you don’t have to. With a little reflection (and some cushion-and-throw-style updates), you can refresh your pract...

If you find yourself opening just one more tab before writing a blog post, this episode is for you.

Many counsellors fall into the research trap, thinking more information will make blogging easier. But what if that habit is actually slowing you down and watering down your voice?

In this episode, I’m sharing how counsellors should approach blog research in a simpler, more sustainable way so you can stop second-guessing and start writing with more ease and confidence.

🎧 Hit play to learn a more effective way to blog and find out if this...

If you’ve ever avoided hitting publish because your blog felt “too short,” you’re not alone. Many counsellors get stuck on word count, but focusing on blog length too soon can actually stop you from getting found by clients.

In this episode, I share:

Whether you’re new to blogging or ready to improve your private practice marketing, you’ll leave this episode wit...

What does giving up ironing have to do with counsellor marketing? More than you’d think!

In this episode, I talk about the invisible “shoulds” we carry, especially around marketing and how they quietly eat up your time, energy, and confidence.

We’ll look at some of the most common ones counsellors follow (often without realising), and I’ll share how to replace them with something that actually works for you.

In This Episode, You’ll Hear:

You sit down to write a blog with a helpful idea in mind…

But suddenly you’re deep-cleaning the fridge, questioning your niche, and wondering if you should just start a podcast instead.

Why is it so hard to actually start writing?

In this episode of the Grow Your Private Practice Show, we’re talking about how to get into a state of writing flow – where the words come easier, your inner critic quiets down, and blogging doesn’t feel like such a slog.

You’ll hear:

You sit down to write a blog post with a warm, helpful idea in your heart… and suddenly it sounds like a CPD presentation.

Formal. Polished. Slightly robotic.

Why does “Professional Mode” take over the second you start typing?

In this episode of the Grow Your Private Practice Show, we’re talking about why so many counsellors struggle to sound like themselves when they write, and how to change that.

You’ll hear: