Libsyn Directory

Danielle Blessing Taylor | Telehealth Creativity In Private Practice | TPOT 135

The Practice of Therapy Podcast with Gordon Brewer

Release Date: 06/29/2020

Diversifying a Private Practice Through Couples Work | Erin Valente | TPOT 418

The Practice of Therapy Podcast with Gordon Brewer

What if couples therapy isn’t about fixing the other person at all? In this episode, Gordon sits down with Erin Valente, a couples therapist based in Los Angeles, to talk about one of the most common mistakes couples make when they come to therapy—and why real change doesn’t live with one partner, but in the relationship itself. They explore why couples work can feel intimidating for therapists, how regulation and co-regulation shape meaningful conversations, and what it really takes to help couples move out of blame and into connection. Erin also shares how she’s structured her...

Free Continuing Education for Therapists | Tobin Richardson | TPOT 417

The Practice of Therapy Podcast with Gordon Brewer

In today’s episode, I’m excited to introduce you to Tobin Richardson, the founder of a platform called Save the Therapist. When I first learned about what Tobin is building, I knew this was something many of you would want to hear about. Continuing education is a requirement for all of us, but let’s be honest. It can be expensive, time-consuming, and sometimes hard to fit into an already full schedule. Tobin saw that problem firsthand and decided to do something about it. He created a platform that offers high-quality, accredited continuing education for therapists that is completely...

Preventing Burnout in Private Practice | Dr. Julie Merriman | TPOT 416

The Practice of Therapy Podcast with Gordon Brewer

There are some conversations you record where you know right away that they’re going to land differently. In today’s episode, I sit down with Dr. Julie Merriman, a therapist, professor, and longtime advocate for helpers who are quietly burning out. We talk about something that hits close to home for many of us in this profession: what happens when we’re really good at helping everyone else, but don’t know how to receive ourselves. Julie shares how so many therapists become what she calls “floating heads of competence.” We’re full of knowledge, skill, and clinical insight, yet...

When Narcissism Walks Into Your Therapy Office | Dr. Anthony Mazzella | TPOT 415

The Practice of Therapy Podcast with Gordon Brewer

If you’ve ever found yourself thinking, “Why is this client so hard to reach?” or “Why does every conversation turn into a power struggle?” this episode is for you. Today, I’m joined by Dr. Anthony Mazzella, a psychoanalyst who specializes in working with narcissistic dynamics. We go far beyond surface-level conversations about narcissism. This isn’t about labels, buzzwords, or quick fixes. It’s about what’s actually happening underneath the behavior and what truly helps. We talk about why arguing over “reality” never works, why confrontation often backfires, and how...

The Unconventional Path: Why Your Practice Doesn’t Need Another Resolution | TPOT 414

The Practice of Therapy Podcast with Gordon Brewer

As we step into a new year, many of us feel it—that quiet but persistent pressure to do more, fix more, and somehow have everything figured out right now. New goals, new systems, bigger numbers—and for practice owners, that pressure can feel especially heavy and often pretty lonely. In today’s episode, I want to invite you to think about January differently—not as a month for pushing harder or becoming more efficient, but as a chance to slow down and get honest about what you can actually hold. Drawing on Barbara Brown Taylor’s Home by Another Way and Oliver Burkeman’s 4,000 Weeks,...

How AI Can Transform Private Practice Marketing | Greg Goodman | TPOT 413

The Practice of Therapy Podcast with Gordon Brewer

I am so excited for today’s episode because we’re diving into one of the most transformative tools in private practice right now: AI. And joining me is someone who has been living at the intersection of mental health, creativity, and digital marketing for nearly two decades—Greg Goodman of Goodman Creatives. Greg isn’t a therapist, but his story is rooted deeply in the world of mental health. Inspired by his father’s work as a clinician, he built a career helping therapists share their voice, grow their practices, and create meaningful impact through smart, authentic marketing....

Why Private Practice Owners Feel Overwhelmed (and How to Fix It) | Samantha Parrinello | TPOT 412

The Practice of Therapy Podcast with Gordon Brewer

If you’ve ever ended a workday wondering, “Where did all my time go?”—this episode is going to change the way you run your business. In today’s conversation, I sit down with executive coach Samantha Perinello, a powerhouse in helping business owners reclaim their time, streamline their operations, and finally build the kind of practice that doesn’t rely on them for every little task. Samantha has a remarkable track record—her clients regularly get back 10 to 14 hours every single week—and she’s here to break down exactly how that happens. We dive into the real reasons so many...

How Personal Calling Shapes Your Private Practice | Derrick Boger | TPOT 411

The Practice of Therapy Podcast with Gordon Brewer

In today’s episode of The Practice of Therapy Podcast, I’m excited to introduce you to someone who made a big impact on me at the Wise Practice Conference—Derrick Boger. Derrick is a licensed clinical mental health counselor, military veteran, former firefighter, and the founder of Transformation Christian Counseling in Greensboro, North Carolina. His journey into the therapy world is rooted in a lifelong commitment to serving others, and you’ll hear that passion come through in every part of our conversation. In this episode, Derrick and I dive deep into what it really looks like to...

The Exit Plan Every Therapist Should Have (But Most Don’t) | Carla Titus | TPOT 410

The Practice of Therapy Podcast with Gordon Brewer

Welcome back to the Practice of Therapy Podcast! I’m Gordon Brewer, and I am so glad you’re here today because we’re diving into a topic that every private practice owner needs to be thinking about—whether you’re brand new or decades into the work. I’m thrilled to welcome back my friend and financial powerhouse, Carla Titus. Every time Carla joins us, she brings clarity, strategy, and a whole lot of honesty about what it really takes to run a profitable, sustainable practice. And today, we’re talking about something most of us don’t think about until we’re exhausted, burned...

How Traditional Therapy Misses the Mark for Men | Marc Azoulay | TPOT 409

The Practice of Therapy Podcast with Gordon Brewer

Today’s episode is one I’ve been looking forward to for a long time. We’re diving into a topic that doesn’t get talked about nearly enough in our field—men’s mental health—and why so many traditional therapy approaches miss the mark when it comes to helping men heal. My guest is Marc Azoulay, LPC, LAC, CGP, ACS—the founder of Men’s Therapy Online and host of The Men’s Therapy Podcast. Marc brings a powerful blend of psychoanalysis, neuroscience, and Buddhism to his work, and he’s built an incredible community that helps men get real, get connected, and get results. In...

More Episodes

In this episode, Danielle Blessing Taylor reveals her creative avenue for telehealth. Before COVID-19, Danielle was already utilizing telehealth services for her clients. So, COVID-19 wasn’t as much of a shock to her therapy business – essentially nothing changed! Danielle describes how subleasing an office can save you loads of money, and she also gives her telehealth tips and tricks. Tune in later as Danielle and I speak about working with couples and high-risk patients virtually.

Meet Danielle Blessing Taylor

Danielle Blessing Taylor is a Licensed Marital and Family Therapist in DC, MD, VA, and PA who has been providing therapy since 2010 and has built her ever-growing private practice which was created in 2015. In addition to specializing in Telehealth, she also specializes in helping individuals, families, and couples to cultivate healthy relationships. She helps people to make sense of their past and create healthy changes for a happier life within themselves and in relationships with others.

Starting Your Private Practice

Danielle uses her EHR as the base for her practice; it is straightforward. It has everything you need like scheduling, billing, and all of that. At first, Danielle started off having an Excel spreadsheet, and her husband would track how much she was making. It just became a headache. Danielle says to set up your LLC or sole proprietorship to keep it separate from your personal stuff. When tax season comes, it’s easier to look at your business credit card and bank statement. Then, write it off from there.

Telehealth Tips

Danielle shows private practice owners how to position the camera at the top of the screen and put their head at the top of the screen. That way, it looks like you’re making more eye contact. If the internet goes out, Danielle encourages therapists to restart their computers and update their browsers. Also, clearing the cache in the browser and updating the actual computer system will help with any audio issues.

Danielle gives a tips and tricks sheet to her clients for the initial set up, which also explains how to troubleshoot if they have issues. Also, think about where you will be practicing therapy virtually. You need to be comfortable at home in a private space, where nobody can hear you. Do not be in a moving car. Danielle says it’s important to know where your clients are. If the client is in a different place, you need to be licensed in that state. Especially in the summer, clients will be on vacation all over the place, and not even realize that it will affect their therapy.

Telehealth Is The New Normal

Gordon was surprised how smooth the transition was for telehealth. However, some clients did not want to do it. Gordon is seeing 1/3rd of his clients online. At first, telehealth can be uncomfortable. Therapists are used to seeing people in person. It’s a little weird not being able to see people from the waist down. So, Danielle has started asking specific questions on her questionnaire. For instance, now, Danielle asks: do you have any physical limitations? Sometimes, you can’t even tell if someone is in a wheelchair when you’re talking online. Telehealth has become second nature for Danielle. Plus, her clients are so open when they are in the comfort of their own home.

Couples’ Work in Telehealth

Knowing your client’s names is essential. You have to keep addressing each person by name because they won’t be able to tell who you are looking at. Couples’ work in telehealth can be challenging. Not being able to move around puts you in an interesting position. A therapist can only get so loud. So, Danielle uses telehealth to her advantage. For instance, she will ask one of the partners to go in the other room and calm down. Having another place to cool down in isn’t something you can usually do in the office.

Higher Risk Clients in Telehealth

Danielle says that higher risk clients need someone in person that they can also see. Someone needs to be monitoring this person, especially if they have severe depression. A few of Danielle’s clients have been suicidal. She cannot call 911 when she is in a different room than them. So, you have to find the right emergency number to call. Plus, it’s essential to have current emergency contact numbers up to date. Seeing an actively suicidal person on telehealth is a liability.

Consent Forms

Danielle built in her telehealth consent form into her other paperwork. There is a separate section on technology and everything else the client needs to know. There is a clause where Danielle encourages them to be sober during therapy sessions. Also, there are crisis numbers in the forms too. Basically, Danielle adds anything a client should know about telehealth into the paperwork she already needs to give out.

Subleasing An Office

Danielle blocks off a week every couple of months and rents the office by the hour. It is the same office every time, as long as they have the same rent situation, Danielle will keep renting out that space. Having the same space every time she speaks with clients helps them feel more comfortable and familiar with telehealth. Plus, it helps have a balance between in-person practice and telehealth. Essentially, Danielle has created a hybrid practice.

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