Maria Tsoukalas: From Forensic Assessments to Nomadic Therapy | Ep 204
Fearless Practice
Is there something you have been wanting to try in your Canadian private practice, but you’re unsure of how to approach it? Could you be waiting for permission to be creative? Well, here you have it! Maria pivoted her career from working as a forensic psychologist in prison systems and other group practices when she sat down with herself and was honest about chasing her goals: she wanted to travel the world while seeing her clients virtually. She figured it out, kept her clients at the center of her itinerary (including her interests), and found a way to bring her goal and dream...
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6 Mistakes to Avoid When Starting a Canadian Private Practice | Ep 203
Fearless Practice
Starting a Canadian private practice can be such an exciting time in your life, but also very overwhelming! This means that sometimes things can get missed, or too much time can be spent on one task, running the risk of other important steps falling through the cracks. In private practice, anything missing could have serious consequences! It is important to be thorough. So, I thought it would be helpful to share a couple of common mistakes and how to avoid them! In this episode: Waiting for perfect clarity before launching Using US advice without adapting to Canada ...
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Katie McLean: Combining Two Master’s Degrees Into One Practice | Ep 202
Fearless Practice
Some doors close so that others can open: when Katie didn’t get accepted into the original Master’s Education in Counselling program she wanted, it was disappointing. However, she ended up following another piece of her passion, and got her Master’s in Teaching and Education. Then, once she had graduated, she pursued her second Master’s in Counselling Psychology, achieving the degree she was initially looking for! Today, Katie runs her fully booked private practice where she combines her passion for education and psychology into one. Join us today as we discuss how...
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Sandra Karlin: From Tech to Therapist in Private Practice | Ep 201
Fearless Practice
Our paths can change in ways that we may not easily foresee. While Sandra was someone who always knew that she liked and wanted to help people, she only became a therapist later on in life: her first career was in tech! It was only after she completed her Master’s degree - studying part-time while working in the Canadian tech hub - that she pivoted her career, starting both from scratch and in a new industry in counselling. Over the last three years, Sandra has graduated, started, and grown her private practice from solo to group, and become a new mom. In this episode, we cover...
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My Biggest Takeaways From 200 Podcast Episodes! | Ep 200
Fearless Practice
This is an amazing milestone: I had no idea back in 2022 that the Fearless Practice Podcast would grow so big, and that I would still be here recording in 2026! Of course, I could not have done this by myself. Thank you to Jane App, my podcast department team, and you, the audience. You are as much a part of this team as we are, and your listenership helps us develop and continue publishing new episodes. In celebration of this milestone we’ve all achieved together, I’m sharing eight of my biggest takeaways from this journey with you. In this episode: The path is...
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Nicole Lobo: From Group Practice Back to Solo | Ep 199
Fearless Practice
What happens when the practice you worked so hard to build no longer fits the season of life you’re in? How do you know when it’s time to grow, and when it’s time to simplify? In another installment from my mini-series, “Where are they now?” I’m chatting with ! In this episode, Nicole returns to the podcast to reflect on how her practice has evolved over the last three years, why she transitioned from group practice back to solo work, and how motherhood reshaped her understanding of success, sustainability, and balance. From marketing struggles and wearing too many hats, to...
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Shulamit Ber Levtov: Building a Sustainable Practice Without Losing Yourself | Ep 198
Fearless Practice
Building a business while caring for others can be deeply meaningful work, but it can also come at a cost if your own well-being is left behind. It can be easy to get absorbed in caring for others and accidentally lose focus on your own personal needs in the process. Shulamit experienced this firsthand. In this episode, Shulamit Ber Levtov shares her unconventional path into therapy, from activism, graduating with a Master’s degree at 48, and building a thriving group practice in a rural community. She opens up about the realities of entrepreneurship, the mental health...
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Paula Gonzalez: From Purpose to Practice and Scaling With Intention | Ep 197
Fearless Practice
Building a meaningful practice often starts with a personal story, and grows through courage, creativity, and a commitment to helping others. In this episode, I talk with Paula Gonzalez. We discuss her journey into mental health, which was shaped by both her background and lived experience, and how it led her from community work to launching and scaling her own private practice. From navigating the early days of going solo during COVID to building a supportive group practice, Paula offers an honest look at growth, purpose, and the systems that make it all sustainable. Join us for a...
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Amber Sperling: Three Years of Private Practice Growth | Ep 196
Fearless Practice
Growth rarely happens by accident because it’s built through intention, care, and a willingness to evolve. In this episode of my mini-series “Where Are They Now?”, Amber Sperling reflects on the journey of expanding her practice from a single basement setup to a thriving, multi-location space rooted in accessibility and community care. Amber and I first spoke on the podcast in 2023! To get the full experience of the there-and-now conversation, you can click here to listen to . In our conversation in this episode, she shares how prioritizing clients over waitlists, investing...
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How I Developed a Marketing Strategy for My Private Practice — Networking | EP 195
Fearless Practice
We’re revisiting episode 7: How I Developed a Marketing Strategy for My Private Practice — Networking. In this encore episode, I share the networking strategies I used when I started my practice in Halifax almost 10 years ago, including my first outreach system, why a personal touch like a thank-you card matters, and the biggest lesson I learned. You can find the show notes to the original episode . Connect with me: Resources Mentioned and Useful Links: Sign up for my free e-course on Learn more about the that I love and use for my Canadian private practice Sign up for my free...
info_outlineThis is an amazing milestone: I had no idea back in 2022 that the Fearless Practice Podcast would grow so big, and that I would still be here recording in 2026!
Of course, I could not have done this by myself. Thank you to Jane App, my podcast department team, and you, the audience. You are as much a part of this team as we are, and your listenership helps us develop and continue publishing new episodes.
In celebration of this milestone we’ve all achieved together, I’m sharing eight of my biggest takeaways from this journey with you.
In this episode:
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The path is rarely linear - and that’s not a problem!
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Values are a business strategy
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Offline marketing still works!
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Clarity is essential
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Sustainable scheduling prevents burnout (6) 09:06
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Privacy tools and EMRs are your best friends
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Everyone benefits from mentorship
The path is rarely linear - and that’s not a problem!
‘Across 200 episodes, one of the most consistent themes that I’ve seen is that Canadian private practice rarely follows a clean timeline.’ - Jules Smith
From the interviews I’ve shared on the Fearless Practice Podcast, a consistent thread that continues through them all is that the path to private practice is varied.
Many therapists didn’t graduate and open a private practice with a full caseload, and many therapists start in agencies, hospitals, or even have to take steps back from private practice throughout their careers for different reasons.
‘For myself, I started working for the BC Government, moved to Halifax, opened a private practice, and then worked at Dalhousie for a bit as I grew my private practice. And then, once COVID hit, I went completely online and built my private practice as a virtual [one] … And it took almost 10 years!’ - Jules Smith
Remember this: just because your path takes turns doesn’t mean that you aren’t on the right path! Keep going, take stock when needed, and enjoy the ride.
Values are a business strategy
‘Values aren’t just something you put on your website, they’re a decision-making tool. On this podcast, there have been so many conversations with Canadian private practice owners about their values and how it helps [them] guide their private practice.’ - Jules Smith
When you’re clear on what matters, such as community, accessibility, autonomy, and integrity … You suddenly have a filter for the big decisions. These big decisions could pertain to your schedule, who you hire, and how you spend your time working.
At the end of the day, the foundation upon which you build your practice is rooted in the values that mean a lot to you.
Offline marketing still works!
One thing that shows up in the podcast conversations again and again is how Canadian private practice owners are focusing on offline or in-person marketing and networking - especially in this saturated market.
‘[Offline marketing] is working for private practice owners because therapy is trust-based, and when they meet you in person, it builds that connection and trust. Plus, it helps you stand out in a saturated market.’ - Jules Smith
Having a conversation with a community member about your private practice will take you further in a way that posting about it on social media may not be able to. The power of meeting people where they’re at, and in person, cannot be overstated in building rapport with your community.
Clarity is essential
Clarity is what helps the right clients choose you quickly. I discuss clarity in-depth in my free workbook on how to start a Canadian private practice, and who you help and why.
Remember, the more that you niche, the more you stand out, and that can be really helpful for someone who’s looking for help with a specific problem.
Sustainable scheduling prevents burnout
‘One of the biggest lessons that shows up repeatedly when I’m talking to Canadian private practice owners, as well as when I’m doing my solo episodes, is that scheduling isn’t just a lifestyle preference: it’s part of clinical care.’ - Jules Smith
Edit your mindset to only see success as something that is sustainable. If something requires you to continuously push yourself beyond your limits mentally, physically, and professionally, then it may not be success in the holistic sense.
Whatever helps you do great work and supports your well-being is essential to being successful, so try challenging yourself to start to see it that way!
Privacy tools and EMRs are your best friends
As you know, I love and use Jane App as my practice management system.
I love that I can do bookings, reminders, invoicing, notes, intake forms, direct billing: everything that you need to start and grow a private practice!
They will walk you through the solutions to your problems step-by-step. And, they’re a Canadian-founded business as well. They take so much stress away so that we can focus on being the best therapists that we can be!
Also, I’ve been using Hushmail for my emails, and I sleep so much better at night knowing that my emails and my client’s personal information are all secure.
Everyone benefits from mentorship
‘Everyone benefits from mentorship, consultation, and shared learning. Private practice can be very isolating, so make sure that you have clinical and community support so that you’re not alone!’ - Jules Smith
Consider joining group consultations with other therapists, renting out office space if you have extra, and collaborating with other therapists - such as listening to this podcast!
Connect with me:
Resources mentioned and useful links:
Nicole Lobo: From Group Practice Back to Solo | EP 199
Learn more about the tools and deals that I love and use for my Canadian private practice
Sign up for my free e-course on How to Start an Online Canadian Private Practice
Jane App (use code FEARLESS2MO for two months free)
Get started with Hushmail here and get one month for free!
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