Libsyn Directory

Chris Swenson | Self-Publishing for Therapists, Coaches, and Consultants | TPOT 189

The Practice of Therapy Podcast with Gordon Brewer

Release Date: 08/02/2021

Integrating Sexuality and Somatic Work in Private Practice | Darshana Avila | TPOT 408

The Practice of Therapy Podcast with Gordon Brewer

In today’s episode, I am sitting down with Darshana Avila for a truly fascinating and important conversation about the intersection of sexuality, somatic work, and trauma healing. As therapists, we often talk about the mind and body connection, but many of us shy away from exploring how that connection relates to our clients’ sexuality, intimacy, and sense of pleasure. Darshana brings a deeply trauma-informed and culturally sensitive approach to this work, helping clients reconnect with their bodies, navigate consent, and move beyond shame into embodied wholeness. In our discussion,...

Boundaries, Growth, and Private Practice Success | Dr. Jason Branch | TPOT 407

The Practice of Therapy Podcast with Gordon Brewer

Well, y’all are in for a treat today. My guest, Dr. Jason Branch, brings some serious fire and fresh perspective to this conversation. He’s been in the counseling world for over two decades, as a clinician, educator, and entrepreneur, and what I love most about him is how real he gets about the struggles we all face in private practice: imposter syndrome, perfectionism, and finding the courage to just keep showing up. Jason has an incredible way of using analogies that stick: salamanders, gators, and what he calls being D.U.N. - doing things that are different, uncomfortable, and new....

The Keys to Private Practice Success | Wendy Pitts Reeves | TPOT 406

The Practice of Therapy Podcast with Gordon Brewer

When I first connected with Wendy Pitts Reeves, I knew she was someone who truly gets it — the ups, downs, and constant balancing act of running a private practice. In this episode, Wendy joins me to share her powerful framework, The Seven Pillars of a Thriving Private Practice, and it’s one you’ll want to take notes on. Wendy has spent decades building her own successful practice in Tennessee and now helps other therapists do the same through her coaching and podcast, Ideal Practice. In our conversation, we dive into what it takes to build a business that’s not just profitable, but...

Low-Dose Ketamine Treatment Options in Private Practice | Sharon Niv, Ph.D. | TPOT 405

The Practice of Therapy Podcast with Gordon Brewer

Today’s episode is one I’ve really been looking forward to because we’re diving into something that’s transforming the way we think about mental health treatment: low-dose ketamine therapy. My guest, Dr. Sharon Niv, is the co-founder of Joyous, a public benefit company helping make this kind of care more accessible and affordable than ever before. Sharon brings a fascinating background in cognitive psychology, meditation, and technology, and she’s helping bridge the gap between neuroscience and therapy in a way that’s incredibly gentle, safe, and empowering for both clients...

Making Profit First Work For You in Private Practice | Julie Herres | TPOT 404

The Practice of Therapy Podcast with Gordon Brewer

I’m so glad to welcome Julie Herres back to the podcast! Julie is the founder of GreenOak Accounting, the host of the Therapy for Your Money Podcast, and the author of Profit First for Therapists. This time, she’s joining me to talk about her brand-new Profit First for Therapists Workbook — a hands-on companion to her original book that helps you actually implement the Profit First system in your practice. In this episode, we dig into what it really takes to build a financially sustainable practice. Julie explains how she helps therapists move from confusion to clarity by using simple...

Structuring Coaching Alongside Your Private Practice | Carly Hill | TPOT 403

The Practice of Therapy Podcast with Gordon Brewer

What if private practice wasn’t the end goal but the launchpad? In this episode, Gordon talks with Carly Hill, LCSW, business strategist and host of The Thriving Therapreneur Podcast, about how therapists can outgrow the office by adding coaching, creating digital offers, and building freedom-based businesses. Carly shares her journey from burnout to building a seven-figure coaching brand and breaks down exactly how clinicians can protect their license while expanding beyond therapy. You’ll learn the key differences between therapy and coaching, how to ethically separate your businesses,...

Boosting Private Practice Profit Without Adding More Clients | Brie Chrisman | TPOT 402

The Practice of Therapy Podcast with Gordon Brewer

Ops expert Brie Chrisman (CEO, BosCo) shares how to increase profit in private practice without adding more clients, clinicians, or ad spend—by tightening expenses, streamlining workflows, delegating $20 tasks, and optimizing client onboarding. In this episode, you’ll learn: Why “profit = revenue − expenses” (and why most owners only push the revenue side) How to reclaim 21+ hours/year with simple email templates The $20 vs. $200 task rule for smarter delegation SOPs that make onboarding, training, and busy-day brain fog easier The #1 lever for growth: client onboarding (lead →...

Streamlining Your Private Practice with AI | Uriah Guilford | TPOT 401

The Practice of Therapy Podcast with Gordon Brewer

I am thrilled to share this week’s episode with you because it’s not just any guest joining me—it’s my dear friend, Uriah Guilford. Uriah and I have traveled together, dreamed together, and collaborated on countless projects over the years. He’s one of the most creative people I know, and today we’re diving into something that’s changing the way therapists run their practices: AI and the future of intake. If you’ve ever wondered how to save time, stop drowning in admin work, and create a smoother experience for your clients, you do not want to miss this conversation. Uriah...

Celebrating 400 Episodes: Private Practice Insights You Can’t Miss | TPOT 400

The Practice of Therapy Podcast with Gordon Brewer

I can hardly believe we’ve reached 400 episodes of The Practice of Therapy Podcast! When I started this show back in 2017, my goal was simple: to share resources, lessons, and encouragement for therapists building their practices. Over the years, I’ve learned so much (often the hard way), and I’ve been blessed by the many incredible guests and colleagues who have shared their wisdom here. In this special milestone episode, I’ve invited friends, past guests, and fellow practice owners to share their #1 tips for success in private practice. You’ll hear insights on money, delegation,...

Kristin Meador | Building a Profitable Private Practice | TPOT 399

The Practice of Therapy Podcast with Gordon Brewer

Running a private practice is rewarding, but the financial side can feel overwhelming. That is why I am excited to have Kristin Meador, CPA on the show today. Kristin is not only a Certified Public Accountant but also a Profit First Professional who works closely with therapy practice owners across the country. She is here to take the stress out of your numbers and show you how to build a more profitable and sustainable practice. In this episode, you will learn: How to simplify your bookkeeping and actually use your numbers to make decisions Why Profit First works so well for private practice...

More Episodes

In this episode, Chris talks about the process he uses to self-publish books. If you don’t think writing a book is worth it, Chris is here to tell you otherwise. You may not make a ton of money from royalties; however, self-publishing has many other benefits. You can diversify your income when you’re known as an authority figure and as an expert in your field. Tune in as Chris dives deep into the self-publishing process, including the importance of an outline, an editor, and how to navigate imposter syndrome.

Meet Chris Swenson

Chris Swenson, LMFT is the author of the recently published book, “Private Practice Warrior.” He is the Owner/Founder/solo-operator of Rhino Wellness Center which is Chris’ successful full-time solo practice in rural Colorado. Chris is a true Private Practice Warrior who is currently developing a program called, “Private Practice Warrior – A Powerful Mindset for Ambitious Practice Owners – The “Way” to True Fulfillment in Life and Business. To receive a free pdf copy of “Private Practice Warrior” and a special bonus, click https://rhinomentality.lpages.co/pp-warrior-ebook-pdf-giveaway/

The Benefits of Writing A Book

Some people want to write a book, but they don’t think they’ll make a significant amount of money from it. Chris says you may not make a lot of money from the royalties, but the benefits will pay off in the long run. When you write a book, you’ll gain a lot of credibility as an expert in your industry. When you are an authority on your topic, you’ll get invites to speak at events and programs. It’s like having a business card – you can show people what you have done and put yourself out there.

The Self-Publishing Process

First, start with an idea. What is something that you have always wanted to write about? If you help people with something all the time, that can be an excellent topic for your book. When you have an idea in mind, check out other books on Amazon and Barnes & Noble. Spend some time looking at the reviews for similar books. That way, you can see what people liked about the books and what people think the author could improve. Next, you’ll want to identify your purpose for writing the book. The purpose will guide you through the process. If you forget why you’re writing a book, then you are going to get off track.

Pick A Style and Start Your Outline

Think about the style of book you are looking to write. Are you going to be more on the traditional and scientific side of writing? Or will you write your book more like a story? You can follow a character as they learn life lessons. After you know the style, then you need to start your outline. The outline helps with the writing process – it can be challenging to start. One way to start an outline is by doing a brain dump. Write everything and anything that you think of in your head. From there, you can bundle ideas into themes. Get as creative as you can with the outline; it will make the writing process more streamlined.

Finding Time To Write Your Book

When you’re finding time to write your book, that’s where the purpose comes into play. Remember why you decided to write the book in the first place. If you don’t have a purpose for writing the book, you will never find time to finish it. To help with the process, come up with a writing plan. If you know what day you want to publish by, then you can work backward. Think about how many chapters you need to write each week to finish the book on time. If you don’t finish in time, it’s okay! Keep trucking along and continue writing. Chris likes to speak into his phone instead of writing it down. That way, the process goes by way faster.

Should You Hire An Editor?

A lot of people who self-publish will recommend that you hire an editor to go over your book. Remember that there are different kinds of editors. Some people will edit for content, development, and even grammatical. If you’re not sure where to find an editor, you can hire a freelance one using the website Fiverr. When you edit your own book, you may keep adding and adding things – it will drag the process on. So, please stick to your schedule and get it done. If you need to add more, then don’t be afraid to write another edition.

Create Your Title & Cover

While the book is being edited, you can finally start thinking of a title and draft the cover of your book. Chris loves to use Canva for his covers. If you’re publishing an eBook, then Canva is the way to go. If you want something that looks a little more professional, then you can hire a graphic designer. Again, you can check out Fiverr to hire a freelancer for the job. Always go back to the purpose and who you want to reach. That way, it will determine if you need a cover for an eBook, printed book, or both!

Imposter Syndrome As An Author

You’re never going to overcome imposter syndrome as an author. Instead, it would be best if you worked through the thoughts and the feelings you have. Those thoughts are going to be there – you need to accept them and embrace them. Then, you can move through it and continue the writing process. If you are going to put yourself out there, you will hear the whispers of imposter syndrome. Part of the process is accepting those whispers. These are the same topics that our clients deal with all the time. Think about what you would tell your clients about dealing with their internal critics. It’s better to take imperfect action than perfect action. Put the draft out there and finetune your book afterward.

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