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

What It Really Takes to Run a Profitable Private Practice | Brandy Mabra | TPOT 431

The Practice of Therapy Podcast with Gordon Brewer

Thinking about starting a private practice in 2026? There’s a lot to consider… and it’s not as simple as it used to be. In this episode of The Practice of Therapy Podcast, I’m joined by Brandy Mabra, who brings nearly two decades of experience across private practice, corporate healthcare, and entrepreneurship. We dig into what’s really happening in the industry right now—from AI and changing business models to profitability and long-term sustainability. If you’re wondering whether now is the right time to start (or grow) a practice, this conversation will help you think more...

Why A Lot of Therapists Struggle in Private Practice | Katie Piura | TPOT 430

The Practice of Therapy Podcast with Gordon Brewer

Thinking about starting a private practice… but feeling unsure where to begin? In this episode, Katie Piura shares the mindset shifts every therapist needs to make before launching (or growing) a successful practice. From burnout in agency work to building something aligned and sustainable, Katie breaks down the real challenges therapists face and why being a great clinician isn’t always enough. We also get into the business side of private practice that grad school never taught you, including money mindset, marketing, and why asking for help might be the most important step you take. If...

How This Simple Method Transforms Private Practice Sessions | Tanya Dantus | TPOT 429

The Practice of Therapy Podcast with Gordon Brewer

What if the thing keeping your clients stuck isn’t what they’re talking about… but what they’re avoiding feeling? In this episode, I’m joined by Tanya Dantus, and we dive into a really practical way of helping clients move through what’s actually underneath the surface. Tanya shares her RIFRA Method, which stands for Root, Impact, Feel, Reflect, and Act, and how this process helps clients stop intellectualizing and start creating real change. We talk about why so many people struggle to access their emotions, how that shows up in therapy, and what it looks like to guide someone...

Are Superbills Worth It in Private Practice? | Mark Florian | TPOT 428

The Practice of Therapy Podcast with Gordon Brewer

Thinking about taking insurance in your private practice or trying to figure out a better way to handle out-of-network clients? This is one of those decisions that almost every therapist wrestles with at some point. On one hand, insurance can help fill your caseload and make therapy more accessible. On the other hand, the admin work, lower reimbursement rates, and constant back and forth can leave you feeling stretched thin and frustrated. In this episode, I’m joined by Mark Florian, founder of Deputy Care, and we get into what is really happening behind the scenes with insurance,...

Private Pay vs Insurance: What Therapists Get WRONG | Avivit Fisher | TPOT 427

The Practice of Therapy Podcast with Gordon Brewer

Private pay versus insurance is one of the biggest decisions therapists face, and honestly, it’s also one of the most misunderstood. In this episode, we’re breaking down what therapists often get wrong when thinking about these two models. It’s not just about money or convenience. It’s about how you want to run your practice, who you want to serve, and where you’re willing to spend your time and energy. If you’ve been going back and forth on whether to take insurance, go private pay, or try a hybrid approach, this conversation will help you think about it in a much clearer way....

Thoughts on AI and Tech Platforms in Private Practice | TPOT 426

The Practice of Therapy Podcast with Gordon Brewer

What happens when you open the floor and let your audience ask anything? That’s exactly what we did in this episode, and the questions did not disappoint. We’re diving into the big ones therapists are quietly asking right now. Is AI going to replace us? Are companies like BetterHelp helping or hurting the field? And how do you actually stand out when clients can talk to a chatbot instead of a human? I’m sharing my honest thoughts on where all of this is headed, what most therapists are getting wrong about AI, and why the human connection in therapy still matters more than ever. If...

Helping Clients Navigate Digital Overwhelm in Private Practice | Eli Singer | TPOT 425

The Practice of Therapy Podcast with Gordon Brewer

Most of us know the feeling. You pick up your phone to check one thing and suddenly twenty minutes have disappeared. For many people, this has become a daily pattern, and it is starting to show up more and more in therapy sessions. In this episode, I sit down with Eli Singer to talk about digital overwhelm and the complicated relationship many of us have with our phones and devices. Eli has spent years working in the digital world, including building one of the early social media agencies in North America. After stepping away from that work, he began focusing on helping people develop...

How Therapists Can Use Social Media Without Feeling Fake | Jazzmyn Proctor | TPOT 424

The Practice of Therapy Podcast with Gordon Brewer

Marketing can feel uncomfortable for a lot of therapists. Most of us were trained to be neutral, private, and to keep the focus on the client. So when someone tells you that you need to show up on social media or talk about your work publicly, it can feel a little strange. But visibility matters more than ever when it comes to building a private practice. In this episode, I’m joined by Jazzmyn Proctor, a therapist, podcaster, and marketing mentor who helps clinicians show up online in ways that feel authentic and sustainable. Jazzmyn shares how she started building her presence while still...

Scaling a Private Practice with Intensives, Classes, and Conferences | Dr. Wyatt Fisher | TPOT 423

The Practice of Therapy Podcast with Gordon Brewer

Couples therapy can be some of the most rewarding work we do as therapists, but it can also be one of the most challenging. Many couples don’t reach out for help until things feel like they’re falling apart. By the time they sit down in your office, there are often years of resentment, hurt, and miscommunication built up beneath the surface. In this episode, I’m joined by Dr. Wyatt Fisher, a psychologist and couples therapist who has spent years refining his approach to helping couples work through those deeper issues. Wyatt shares how his own personal and professional experiences shaped...

Doing Couples Therapy as a Husband-and-Wife Team | Kiana & Andrew Joyner | TPOT 422

The Practice of Therapy Podcast with Gordon Brewer

If you’ve ever thought about offering couples therapy in your private practice but felt intimidated by the complexity of it, you’re going to love this conversation. In this episode, I’m joined by Kiana and Andrew Joyner, a married duo who run their practice together and specialize in couples work. Kiana is a licensed therapist, and Andrew is a certified professional coach, and together they bring a really unique dynamic into the therapy room. We talk about what it actually looks like to do couples counseling as a husband and wife team, how they divide roles between therapy and coaching,...

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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