Abundant Practice Podcast

You know that feeling when you want two full weeks completely offline but the logistics feel impossible, who covers crisis calls, how do you tell clients without destabilizing them? Today I'm back with Rebecca Smith, my Limitless Practice grad with the premium fee private pay practice in New Orleans, to get into exactly that. We talk about why the fear of leaving usually isn't based on the reality of your actual caseload, how to time treatment so you're not cracking someone open right before you disappear, & why putting an out of office responder with crisis line info is enough...

You know that feeling when you've got a niche but you're still missing where these people actually are & how to go find them? Today I'm working with Anna, who wants to work with moms of upper elementary kids just diagnosed with ADHD, moms who don't want to medicate & don't know what to do as it creates havoc in their marriage & home. We get into who to network with beyond the obvious, testing psychologists, psych prescribers, chiropractors who specialize in kids, neurofeedback places, even homeschool communities & private schools since so many of these families end up there. Anna & I also...

You became a therapist to sit with people & do deep clinical work, not to post reels & chase a following, so is there a version of private practice that doesn't require you to be glued to social media? Today I'm back with Rebecca Smith, my Limitless Practice grad with the premium fee private pay practice in New Orleans, for a hot take episode on exactly that. We get into why most consultants telling you that you need social media are the ones selling courses on how to do it, why going viral actually creates more problems than it solves (hate...

You know how hard it is to explain why the relationship between you & your client matters, especially when parents are Googling DBT & EMDR & rapport just doesn't sound flashy enough? Today I'm working with Katie, who specializes in high achieving teens & adults who think their self-criticism & anxiety are what's keeping them motivated. We get into how to own being great at connecting with anxious teens fast (even calling yourself the teen whisperer) instead of hiding behind research & clinical language. Katie & I also dig into how to talk to parents who are freaked out after their kid's meltdown, and why a...

You know that feeling when you've been doing this work for over a decade & still don't have a real vision for what your practice looks like in five years, you're just reacting & surviving? Today I'm back with Rebecca Smith, my Limitless Practice grad with the premium fee private pay practice in New Orleans, to get into exactly that. We talk about why scheduling specific blocks of time (not vague to-do list items like "marketing") is what actually gets long-term thinking done, & why the real first step isn't planning your practice at all, it's figuring out what you want your...

Feeling isolated in private practice but can't get yourself to prioritize connection unless there's a reason on the calendar? Kelly McCullough gets it & she's turned that exact problem into a brunch & learn series that's grown to six or seven events, all for about $30 in Costco pastries. Kelly walks through how she built her invite list from one-on-one networking coffees, why she keeps the speaker portion under 30 minutes (people aren't really there for the speaker, it just gives them a reason to show up), and how she scored a free venue by partnering with someone in her network who had...

You know that feeling when you set a number you need to hit each month, get close to it, and then take on just one more client & suddenly the number's moved again? Today I'm joined by Rebecca Smith, a Limitless Practice grad with a premium fee private pay practice in New Orleans, who texted me about this exact thing last week while she was over full herself. We get into why that income number has to come from real math (bills, retirement, your kid's college fund, slumps) instead of a round number that just feels right, plus what to...

In today's episode, I chat with Abundance Party member Lori, who works with sober curious professional millennial women, about finding her footing after leaving government work for private pay. We map out where her networking energy should actually go (functional medicine docs, non-alcoholic bars, other therapists), why a group could pay her more per hour while making the work more affordable, & why she should go all in on Chicago instead of spreading herself thin. We also get into why becoming the therapist AI recommends might matter more than SEO these days. 

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You built a private practice & accidentally recreated your agency job. In today's Ask Abundance, I'm joined by Rebecca Smith & we're chatting about what it actually takes to use the freedom private practice gives you, why your sliding scale clients probably don't need a sliding scale, & why the stuff showing up in your business is showing up everywhere else in your life too. 

Sponsored by TherapyNotes®: Looking to switch EHRs? Try TherapyNotes® for 2 months free by using promo code ABUNDANT at therapynotes.com.

Need help building and filling your practice? Check out the Abundance Party...

In today's episode, I chat with Abundance Party member Rachael, who wants to bring some structure to her marketing & finally fill those last few spots. We map out a realistic weekly networking rhythm, figure out why her Instagram content isn't converting (hint: post more of what already went viral), & get her comfortable reaching out to schools & doctors' offices without the dread. We also uncover the real reason her daytime hours keep getting turned down (spoiler: it's not the hours) & why she can raise her fee today instead of waiting until January.

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A full caseload doesn't stop the panic. Turns out abundance and scarcity can live in your chest at the exact same time. In today's Ask Abundance, I'm joined by Rebecca Smith & we're getting into why abundance isn't a destination you finally arrive at, what actually drags you back into scarcity mode (hi, doom-scrolling therapist Facebook groups), & how to steady yourself without waiting for the fear to disappear for good. 

Sponsored by TherapyNotes®: Looking to switch EHRs? Try TherapyNotes® for 2 months free by using promo code ABUNDANT at therapynotes.com.

Feeling the platform squeeze but scare...

In today's episode, I chat with Abundance Party member Tessa about niching into end of life and terminal illness work as an older therapist. We talk through how to market a niche you didn't plan for, why hospice and oncologists can be both competitors and referral sources, how to find a collaborator to handle grief work with family members so you can stay in your lane, and the annoying-but-necessary reality of promoting a group when you're teaching other therapists how to run one. Tessa also opens up about what it's like to age alongside your clients, and we get...

Going private pay full-time doesn't have to mean carrying guilt about who gets left out. In today's Ask Abundance, I'm joined by Rebecca Smith & we're digging into the question of whether leaving insurance is a values conflict, why the idea that private pay only serves rich clients is a myth, & the real, tangible ways to give back that don't require torching your business model to do it. 

Sponsored by TherapyNotes®: Looking to switch EHRs? Try TherapyNotes® for 2 months free by using promo code ABUNDANT at therapynotes.com.

You're on the platforms, and you're tired of it...

In today's episode, I chat with Abundance Community member Halina, who's weighing whether to stay in her current office or move closer to home as her lease comes up for renewal. We talk through the real trade offs of commuting versus working from home, why her beloved office community & layout matter more than shaving a few minutes off the drive, & how to think through a big decision like this with questions about regret & what feels like the next evolution of your practice instead of just chasing convenience. 

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You're a therapist and a parent of young kids & you feel like you're failing at both. You're not alone & there is a way through. In today's Ask Abundance, I'm joined by Rebecca Smith. Between us we've raised four kids in private practice. We're getting into what actually makes this work, why it mostly comes down to your fee and your schedule, & why you have more control over this than you think. 

Sponsored by TherapyNotes®: Looking to switch EHRs? Try TherapyNotes® for 2 months free by using promo code ABUNDANT at therapynotes.com.

Feeling the platform squ...

In today's episode, I chat with Susan Saint-Rossy, LCSW, LICSW, a couples therapist who helps other couples therapists build their practices, about the nuances that make marketing to couples so different from marketing to individuals. We dig into writing to two buyers at once (who often have different agendas), why niching within a niche means describing the relational dynamic you love working with, why couples usually find you in an act of desperation rather than through a friend's referral, & why individual therapists are your best referral source. Susan's also doing a full training on this for Abundance Party members...

Filling your caseload in private practice: some say it happened really fast, some say it took forever & neither answer is particularly useful. In today's Ask Abundance, I'm joined by Rebecca Smith & we're getting into what a realistic timeline actually looks like, what factors move the needle most, & why the answer is so much more in your control than you think. 

Sponsored by TherapyNotes®: Looking to switch EHRs? Try TherapyNotes® for 2 months free by using promo code ABUNDANT at therapynotes.com.

Need help filling your practice? Check out the Abundance Party (only $345 -or- $69/mo with a 6-month minimum commit...

In today's episode, I chat with Abundance Party member Jo-Ann, who niches in women diagnosed later in life with ADHD, about why her marketing isn't quite matching her ideal client yet. We talk through why networking with psychiatric practices & testing psychologists is worth doubling down on since it's already working for her, why YouTube & Instagram may not be the right fit unless she genuinely loves creating content, & how to speak directly to her ideal client's daily overwhelm (aging parents, kids, & the grief of a late diagnosis) instead of getting caught up comparing herself to the bigger ADHD conversation happening...

You just found out you're pregnant & your second emotion is panic about your practice. Nobody tells you about the business side of this & there is a lot to figure out. In today's Ask Abundance, I'm joined by Rebecca Smith. Four kids between us, both in private practice. We know some things & we're sharing all of it, what we did right, what we'd do differently, & how to actually protect your income & your clients without losing your mind. 

Sponsored by TherapyNotes®: Looking to switch EHRs? Try TherapyNotes® for 2 months free by using promo code ABUNDANT at therapynotes.com.<...

In today's episode, I chat with Abundance Community member Heather, who's three years into private practice, full at 25-27 clients a week, but working harder than she wants to. We dig into why increasing her private pay visibility, raising her rate, & taking insurance off her website will move the needle way more than hiring a clinician, subleasing office space, or building a course. We also talk about sliding scale and why it's worth sitting with what you actually want for your practice instead of what you think you "should" want.

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In today's Ask Abundance, I'm joined by Rebecca Smith & we're chatting about filling your practice & hating your schedule. Turns out you're more stuck in your head than in your actual situation, it's codependency not logistics, & there's absolutely a way to fix it without blowing everything up. We get into what that actually looks like & why so many full therapists stay stuck way longer than they need to. 

Sponsored by TherapyNotes®: Looking to switch EHRs? Try TherapyNotes® for 2 months free by using promo code ABUNDANT at therapynotes.com.

Need help filling your practice? Check out the Abund...

I chat with Abundance Party member Zack about reorienting his practice while grieving the loss of his father, covering when to raise rates versus focus on networking, why discovery call no-shows are becoming more common, using AI search tools to get found by ideal clients, and why personal relationships will always beat VC-backed platforms on referrals. 

Sponsored by TherapyNotes®: Looking to switch EHRs? Try TherapyNotes® for 2 months free by using promo code ABUNDANT at therapynotes.com.

Need help building and filling your practice? Check out the Abundance Party. For only $345, you'll get access to on-d...

In today's Ask Abundance, me and Rebecca Smith, Ph.D. are talking about what to do when you're seeing 32 clients a week and can feel yourself burning out. Rebecca's been there too, and she walks through the exact math that got her from 35 sessions a week down to 20 without losing income. We get into raising your rates, why more clients stay private pay than you'd think, and the number that actually makes reducing your caseload realistic.

Sponsored by TherapyNotes®: Looking to switch EHRs? Try TherapyNotes® for 2 months free by using promo code ABUNDANT at therapynotes.com.<...

In today's episode, I chat with Dr. Ann Krajewski, PsyD, about building a private practice while living abroad. We bust the big myths: that it's illegal, that malpractice insurance won't cover you, that virtual practices can't be profitable, that living abroad is expensive, & that time zones make everything too complicated. Ann's actually done this, in Morocco, Thailand (where she gave birth for way less than most people's deductible), & beyond, & she talks about how seeing way fewer clients can still mean living really well. Consider this your permission slip to start fantasizing about running your practice from somewhere with an...

In today's Ask Abundance, me and Rebecca A. E. Smith, Ph.D. are talking about whether an in-person office is actually worth it. Rebecca went from "I'm never leaving my house" to signing an office lease, and started seeing new referrals almost right away. We get into what changed, why it worked, and the one part of having an office she genuinely didn't see coming.

Sponsored by TherapyNotes®: Looking to switch EHRs? Try TherapyNotes® for 2 months free by using promo code ABUNDANT at therapynotes.com.

Need help filling your practice? Check out the Abundance Party (only...

In today's episode, I chat with Abundance Party member Stephanie, a school counselor of 16 years who's transitioning into private practice across two states. She loves working with tweens & teens navigating friendship drama, but was getting jumbled trying to niche down without losing the variety she loves. We talk through her niche, why she shouldn't undercharge just because she's on the cheaper side of a state line, & how to talk directly to teens (& their parents) on her website.

Sponsored by TherapyNotes®: Looking to switch EHRs? Try TherapyNotes® for 2 months free by using promo code ABUNDANT at thera...

Rebecca Smith joins me today to answer a listener question: why do I say social media isn't necessary for marketing, but Abundance Practice Building still has an Instagram presence? We get into who social media actually works for, why a huge following doesn't guarantee a full caseload, why the same content can flop on TikTok & take off on Instagram, & how platforms like YouTube can help people choose you even when they're not bringing in new clients directly. Grab today's free worksheet, Common Marketing Strategies for Therapists, via the links below.

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In today's episode of the Abundant Practice Podcast, I chat with Abundance Party member Rachel about why raising her rate backfired, and it wasn't the number that was the problem. Rachel built part of her practice around clients who kept finding her by accident, at the expense of the ones she'd clone ten times over if she could. We talk about how to tell the difference between a real niche and a topic that just happens to bring people to your door, why "financial therapy" was filling her calendar with the wrong clients, and how to get specific enough...

On today's Ask Abundance, Rebecca Smith (Limitless Practice grad) & I get into something I see people struggle with constantly: knowing whether you're actually ready to leave your agency job, or just desperate to escape it. This week's question: "I've been at my agency job for four years & I can't tell if I'm staying because it's smart or because I'm scared to leave."   Emotional readiness & financial readiness are two totally different conversations, & waiting to feel ready is how people stay stuck for years. We talk through choosing your hard, what real financial preparedness looks like in 2026, & why building on the side, e...

In today's episode of the podcast, I speak with Gabrielle Juliano-Villani, LCSW, about taking Medicaid & Medicare in private practice, & why it's not as terrifying (or as poorly paying) as you might think. We bust some big misconceptions: the rates are actually decent in a lot of states, the clients are great (let's stop blaming a population for systemic issues), & compliance is very doable with good systems in place. We also cover what community mental health got wrong, the extra codes you may be able to bill, & why these clients might be exactly who fills that 10am Wednesday spot you've...

On today's Ask Abundance, Rebecca Smith (Limitless Practice grad) & I dig into a question I get a lot: "Is 15 clients a week enough? Is 30 too many? How do I actually know my number?"

Spoiler: your old agency caseload doesn't count. We talk through the real signs your number's too high (it's not just tired, it's snapping-at-your-kids tired), why your fee & your caseload are basically the same decision, & the vacation story that made me realize just how deep the overworking habit can run.

Remember: Your practice is supposed to fund your whole life, not just keep...

In today's episode of the podcast, I speak with my good friend Katie Read, marketing & AI expert, about how to use AI in your marketing without it sounding stupid, salesy, & robotic. We cover why your homepage needs a serious update now that AI search has changed how clients find you, when to let AI write for you (& when not to), the small "dream team" of AI employees Katie swears by, & how non-techy therapists are vibe coding websites better than any template ever gave us. Katie's doing a training for Abundance Party members on Tuesday, July 28th at 11am ET...

On today's Ask Abundance, Rebecca Smith (Limitless grad, now on Team Abundance) tackles a question so many of us feel in our bones: "I still get low-grade anxiety every time I look at my bank account, even when things are fine."   We each share how we personally handle variable income (we do it totally differently), talk about why separate business & personal accounts are non-negotiable, & the weekly ritual that helps take the zing out of checking your accounts.   Does the anxiety ever fully go away? We get into that too. Plus: if you're that anxious about money, there might be a bi...

In today's episode, I'm chatting with Abundance community members Karen, Kenzie, and Amanda — three therapists at various stages of leaving the platforms — about what drew them to therapy platforms in the first place, the bait-and-switch realities of referrals and reimbursement rates, and why the guilt of leaving clients behind is the hardest part of moving toward private pay.

If this conversation with Karen, Kenzie, and Amanda hit close to home, you already know the platforms aren't working for you. Platform to Private Pay is a 12-week group program that walks you through the transition, without abandoning your clie...

In today's Ask Abundance, I'm joined by Rebecca Smith, Limitless Practice grad, now on Team Abundance, premium-fee private pay practice in New Orleans. We're talking about leaving a "secure" job (pension, health insurance, predictable salary) to start a private practice when everyone around you thinks you've lost your mind.   Spoiler: you probably haven't. You've probably already made the decision. We get into why safety is more of a feeling than a fact, what you actually need to make this work in 2026, & why the people calling you crazy might just be bad psychics.   Sponsored by TherapyNotes®: Looking to switch EHRs? Try Ther...

In today's episode, I talk with Maya Benattar, LCAT, a licensed creative arts therapist in New York, about what happens when you discover your entire license type has been left out of major mental health legislation and you decide to do something about it. Maya shares how she built a coalition that became a full 501(c)4 non-profit, hired a lobbyist, and is fighting to get LCATs the insurance coverage mandates and diagnostic privileges they deserve. We also talk about how she keeps her practice sustainable while doing all of this, including why staying out of network has given her...

In today's Ask Abundance, I'm joined by Rebecca Smith — Limitless Practice grad, now on Team Abundance, premium-fee private pay practice in New Orleans. We're talking about why a full year of networking can still get you nowhere.

Coffee chats. Emails. Showing up to all the things. & still no referrals.

Turns out more events was never the fix. We get into why a fuzzy niche makes you instantly forgettable, how to spot if you're networking with the wrong people entirely, & why this is actually just relationships, not a numbers game. 

Sponsored by TherapyNotes®: Looking to sw...

Becky DeGrossa, MA, from CounselingWise joins me in today's episode to break down what's actually working in SEO for therapists right now and why the core strategies still matter most for local practices. She shares what's worth paying attention to with AI and SEO, what's mostly hype, and how to focus on the strategies that continue to bring therapists consistent website traffic and client inquiries.

Attention Abundance Party members: Becky is our trainer this month! Check out the 'Upcoming Events' section of your Simplero membership dashboard and/or the 'Events' section of the Abundance Community Facebook group for de...

In today's Ask Abundance, I'm joined by Abundance consultant Rebecca A.E. Smith, Ph.D., and we're talking about dropping insurance panels. Specifically, the part nobody warns you about: the fear. We're getting into why the timing is never going to feel right, what it actually looks like to make this move strategically without blowing up your income, and why having a needle-thin niche is the thing that makes all of it possible. Rebecca did this herself and her life is so much better on the other side. Come hear what she has to say. 

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In today's episode, I'm chatting with Abundance Party member Weston, a geropsychologist building a private pay LGBTQ+ focused practice, about honing his niche around queer grief and loss, why blogging beats social media for his ideal client, and how to position himself as the go-to referral source in a specialized niche. 

Sponsored by TherapyNotes®: Looking to switch EHRs? Try TherapyNotes® for 2 months free by using promo code ABUNDANT at therapynotes.com.

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Need help building & filling your practice? Check out the Abundance Party (only $345!). Members have access to monthly group calls with me a...