Libsyn Directory

113: Empowering Therapists: Marissa Wells on Building a Purposeful, Cash Pay Private Practice

A Simple Therapy Podcast: Honest Conversations on Therapy, Mental Health, Healing and Self-Growth

Release Date: 07/28/2025

126: Bring Your Whole Self: Cultural Humility and Authentic Presence in Therapy with Gino Titus-Luciano

A Simple Therapy Podcast: Honest Conversations on Therapy, Mental Health, Healing and Self-Growth

In this episode of A Simple Therapy Podcast, Sindee Gozansky welcomes Gino Titus-Luciano, LMHC—CEO of Kokua Mental Health and Wellness Group, president of the Hawaii Counselors Association, and a therapist who believes you can't show up as a textbook and expect real healing to happen. Calling in from Honolulu, Gino brings insight into what culturally grounded care actually looks like and why bringing your authentic self into the room doesn't mean losing your professional boundaries. Together, Sindee and Gino explore how to balance being real with staying professional, why cultural...

125: Profit Isn't Selfish: Financial Self-Care and Why Your Practice Can't Run on Empty with Carla Titus

A Simple Therapy Podcast: Honest Conversations on Therapy, Mental Health, Healing and Self-Growth

In this episode of A Simple Therapy Podcast, Sindee Gozansky welcomes Carla Titus—finance expert, founder of Wealth & Worth Within, and fractional CFO who helps practice owners build sustainable, profitable businesses. Carla brings warmth and clarity to a topic many therapists avoid: money. She shares how financial burnout starts with not paying yourself at all and why the "everyone else first" mindset is quietly destroying your business. Together, Sindee and Carla explore why profit isn't selfish, how to stop being scared of your own bank account, and the difference between...

124: Sustaining the Therapist Self: Values-Based Self-Care and Why Your Netflix Binge Isn't Working with Lorain Moorehead

A Simple Therapy Podcast: Honest Conversations on Therapy, Mental Health, Healing and Self-Growth

In this episode of A Simple Therapy Podcast, Sindee Gozansky welcomes Lorain Moorehead, LCSW—psychotherapist, clinical supervisor, EMDR consultant, and host of the Self Careapist Therapist Podcast—for a conversation about burnout, perfectionism, and why most therapists are doing self-care all wrong. Lorain shares how she reverse-engineered her own self-care after realizing her TV binges left her feeling worse, not better. Together, Sindee and Lorain explore how childhood wounds of “be the role model” drive our over-functioning, why competitive athletes can’t just “work out” and...

123: The Therapist as a Tool: Emotional Awareness, Boundaries, and Self-Care with Alyssa Scarano

A Simple Therapy Podcast: Honest Conversations on Therapy, Mental Health, Healing and Self-Growth

In this deeply reflective episode of A Simple Therapy Podcast, Sindee Gozansky sits down with Alyssa Scarano to talk about what it really means to care for ourselves while doing emotionally demanding work. While Alyssa’s background in family therapy shaped her clinical lens, this conversation goes far beyond technique. Together, Sindee and Alyssa explore how a therapist’s internal emotional experience — the frustration, ache, exhaustion, or even invisibility felt after a session — can become valuable information rather than something to push away. Alyssa shares a pivotal supervision...

122: Becoming Him: Freedom, Burnout, and the Gator Life with Dr. Jason Branch

A Simple Therapy Podcast: Honest Conversations on Therapy, Mental Health, Healing and Self-Growth

In this episode of A Simple Therapy Podcast, Sindee Gozansky welcomes Dr. Jason Branch—therapist, educator, podcaster, and self-proclaimed Gator—for a conversation about burnout, authenticity, and becoming the best version of yourself. Dr. Branch shares his raw journey through severe burnout as a new clinician and how an unexpected detour into bartending school helped him evolve into “Him.” In this fun episode, Sindee and Jason laugh, get real, and go deep as they explore the beliefs that keep us stuck, the power of doing something different, uncomfortable, and new (DUN), and why most...

121: Holding the Holidays: Boundaries, Burnout, and Being Human as a Therapist

A Simple Therapy Podcast: Honest Conversations on Therapy, Mental Health, Healing and Self-Growth

In this gentle, heart-centered holiday episode, Sindee offers simple, grounding guidance for therapists moving through a season that can feel both beautiful and overwhelming. She explores how to set clear, ethical boundaries, how to approach crisis concerns with steadiness, and how to notice the early signs of burnout before the new year hits hard. Sindee also shares practical ways to support clients through family dynamics without diving into heavy trauma work right before a break—focusing instead on preparation, coping tools, and loving limits. Throughout the episode, she reminds us...

120: The Phoenix Within: Radical Healing and the Power of Community with José Rosario

A Simple Therapy Podcast: Honest Conversations on Therapy, Mental Health, Healing and Self-Growth

In this episode of A Simple Therapy Podcast, Sindee Gozansky sits down with José Rosario—therapist, human rights speaker, and founder of The Phoenix Empowered—for a powerful and heartfelt conversation about radical healing, identity, and the systems that shape our mental health. Born to young Puerto Rican parents and living with cerebral palsy, José’s story is one of defiance, resilience, and community. From being told as a child that he would “never accomplish anything” to becoming a leading voice in intersectional mental health, José shares his deeply personal journey of finding...

119: Finding Peace of Mind: Courage, Connection, and Healing with Jonathan Kemp

A Simple Therapy Podcast: Honest Conversations on Therapy, Mental Health, Healing and Self-Growth

In this episode of A Simple Therapy Podcast, Sindee Gozansky sits down with Jonathan Kemp—mental health advocate, entrepreneur, and author of Finding Peace of Mind—for an honest conversation about living with undiagnosed bipolar disorder, addiction, and dyslexia, and what it means to find healing later in life. Jonathan shares the many twists and turns of his journey—from working in the Australian outback and serving in law enforcement in the UK to completing a master’s degree in international finance—all while navigating systems and self-doubt that told him he couldn’t do...

118: Your Pain Has a Name: Identity, Healing, and Compassion with Monica DiCristina

A Simple Therapy Podcast: Honest Conversations on Therapy, Mental Health, Healing and Self-Growth

In this episode of A Simple Therapy Podcast, Sindee Gozansky sits down with Monica DiCristina, LPC, therapist, writer, and podcaster, to explore the healing power of naming our pain. Monica shares her personal journey of living with undiagnosed OCD and intrusive thoughts, and how finding a name for her struggle became the first step toward freedom. Together, Sindee and Monica talk about separating identity from wounding, why coping behaviors don’t define us, and the importance of listening to the “trauma whispers” in our daily lives. They also discuss the cultural pull toward quick...

117: Healing the Helpers: Emotional Labor, Boundaries, and Community with Kara Cruz

A Simple Therapy Podcast: Honest Conversations on Therapy, Mental Health, Healing and Self-Growth

In this episode of A Simple Therapy Podcast, Sindee Gozansky talks with Kara Cruz, LMFT, PMH-C, a therapist, supervisor, and community builder dedicated to “healing the helpers.” Kara has created spaces like the Supervisor Circle and Therapist Group Bootcamp to support clinicians in their professional and personal growth. They dive into the emotional labor of caregiving professionals, how fear and self-abandonment keep therapists from setting boundaries, and why building supportive communities is essential to prevent burnout. Kara also shares her passion for group work, offering practical...

More Episodes

Empowering Therapists: Marissa Wells on Building a Purposeful, Cash Pay Private Practice

In this episode of A Simple Therapy podcast, licensed professional counselor and supervisor Marissa Wells returns to focus on helping new therapists find their footing, start their own cash pay private practices, and truly lean into their purpose. Marissa discusses the importance of finding one's niche, aligning business with personal values, and overcoming financial barriers.

She highlights the role of financial peace, purpose, and community support in creating a successful practice. The episode also addresses common misconceptions and fears new therapists face, offering valuable advice on how they can confidently step into cash pay private practice. Marissa’s journey is a powerful reminder of what’s possible when you lead with purpose—in both life and work.

00:00 Introduction to the Podcast
01:10 Marissa Wells' Journey to Private Practice
02:07 Challenges and Rewards of Cash Pay Practice
03:26 Empowering New Therapists
04:45 Integrating Spirituality in Business
08:49 Financial Freedom and Its Impact
14:12 Helping Therapists Find Their Niche
17:39 Finding Purpose in Your Practice
17:56 Navigating Group Practice Dynamics
18:30 Insurance vs. Cash Pay Practices
18:55 Balancing Accessibility and Specialization
19:44 The Importance of Boundaries and Generosity
21:45 Avoiding Burnout and Finding Your Niche
24:18 Addressing Common Fears and Misconceptions
26:44 The Need for Business Education in Therapy
30:47 Encouragement for Aspiring Private Practitioners
32:22 Resources and Final Thoughts