When I was a first-time course creator in 2015, I was excited and scared at the same time. The tension around building fast or building thoughtfully was difficult to navigate. In today’s session, I’m discussing three important questions that I wish I had asked myself back then.  You’ll Learn: 3 questions to ask before launching your online course: Do I want a “strip mall or a skyscraper”? (This concept comes from a session with Nathan Barry of ConvertKit and Jay Klaus of Creator Science.)Both models require energy in different ways, and both have several benefits and challenges. The key question to ask: What do I want to optimize for?Why I have gone from a strip mall to a skyscraper mode
Where should I focus my marketing?Focus on one platform at a time.Remember that it takes time to build trust and rapport. 
How can I validate my online course?The secret is to validate with paying students each step of the way.Take a long-term view and grow slowly with care, intention, and thoughtfulness. 
Resources: Want to launch your online course? Please check out our free 7-Day Course Creator Starter Kit For Therapists: https://sellingthecouch.com/coursekit Looking to launch a successful podcast? Please check out our free "Using Podcasting To Grow Your Business" workshop for therapists: https://sellingthecouch.com/podcastingworkshop Mentioned in this episode: Check Out PsycCareers! 
If you’re a psychology professional who is ready to take the next step in their career, check out PsycCareers, the American Psychological Association Services, Inc’s career center. PsycCareers is home to over 400 open positions tailored specifically for psychology professionals. Start your journey today by exploring opportunities that inspire and challenge you at sellingthecouch.com/apa. 

339: 3 Vital Questions To Ask Before Launching An Online Course

With 1.81 million+ downloads, Selling the Couch is an Apple Top Career podcast for current and future mental health private practitioners who think differently.  Psychologist Melvin Varghese interviews successful therapists in private practice about how they built their businesses as well as top entrepreneurs, business/marketing, and social media experts.*

You'll learn how therapists get referrals,  grow their practices, work through fears, find their enough, and stop "trading time for income."  Melvin also shares the lessons as he grows his impact + income beyond the therapy room (podcasting, YouTube, writing, online courses, masterminds, investing, etc) and the tips and tools he uses to grow STC from a single-person business to the CEO of a 6-figure business.*

Featured in Psychology Today, Good Therapy, and Psych Central 

****Get show notes and even more good stuff at sellingthecouch.com/stcpodcast*

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Today’s session covers a topic that many clinicians are pondering. Many, like me, are having conversations with themselves in their heads about the available opportunities and the most efficient and ethical ways not to be left behind as technology presents new options in our field. The issue is how we can navigate the world of mental health tech startups that are available to join us to support our good work. Examples of what these startups provide are electronic health records, website design, marketing, and more. The truth is that the pandemic changed everything and catapulted the tech startup world into the range of billions of dollars. Don’t miss my enlightening conversation with today’s guest! Our Featured Guest Michael Fulwiler Michael Fulwiler is Head of Brand Marketing at Heard, a company that assists therapists with bookkeeping and financial needs. I’ve come to rely on Mike’s expertise as a good friend as I navigate the aspects of STC, trying to be a protector of our field while staying in alignment with my values. In this session, Mike and I discuss the mindblowing numbers around the multitude of mental health tech startups and how clinicians can be informed about which ones are most likely to succeed or fail. We also discuss the vitally important topic of client data privacy and the top three considerations we should have before signing up for a product or service.  Heard Website You’ll Learn: How to view tech startups in the mental health industry in terms of “headwind” and “tailwind” tendencies since the COVID-19 pandemicWhat the data shows about tech startups: 90% will fail!Why the big risk also comes with big opportunities in the startup worldWhat happens when a clinician contracts with a mental health tech startupWhy client data privacy is a valid concern when working with a tech startup (Hear Mike’s advice about watching out for red flags!)Top three considerations for a therapist about a tech startup:How they handle the data Whether or not there is a mental health professional on their team who helps with decisions and developmentHow compensation for therapists is structuredMike’s advice about doing your due diligence when contacted by a tech startupAn overview of Mike’s work and mission at Heard and what they provide for therapists
Resources: So you’ve probably heard that blogging is one of the best ways to attract your ideal clients as a therapist.  But I know that it can be intimidating to SEO optimize your blog post so that it’s actually getting found by your current and future clients.  Simplified SEO Consulting is a team of mental health professionals who genuinely want to help you attract more of your ideal clients using a proven on-page SEO process. Please visit https://sellingthecouch.com/simplifiedseo. **Use the code “MELVIN” to get 20% off any online, DIY SEO courses, and mention Melvin during your consultation for $100 off your onboarding fee for Done-For-You SEO services! Interested in becoming part of our affiliate program? Learn more at https://sellingthecouch.com/jointhehealthcasters   Want to launch your online course? Please check out our free 7-Day Course Creator Starter Kit For Therapists: https://sellingthecouch.com/coursekit Mentioned in this episode: Check Out PsycCareers! 
If you’re a psychology professional who is ready to take the next step in their career, check out PsycCareers, the American Psychological Association Services, Inc’s career center. PsycCareers is home to over 400 open positions tailored specifically for psychology professionals. Start your journey today by exploring opportunities that inspire and challenge you at sellingthecouch.com/apa. 

ENCORE: What Therapists Should Know As Billions Are Invested In Mental Health Startups

Many of us have thought about creating continuing education courses and wondered how the process works and what factors are involved. Who better to learn from than someone who has done this successfully? Being successful at CEU course creation takes innovation, creativity, and an entrepreneurial spirit. Join us for informative insights from today’s guest! Our Featured Guest Matthew Bierds Matt Bierds, from Duke City Counseling, is a licensed professional counselor, course creator, and professional speaker who does in-person and virtual counseling and LPC supervision in Texas and New Mexico. As far back as ten years ago, Matt realized that the world of online education was expanding, and he knew there were interesting opportunities for LPCs in the area of online courses. After jumping into this arena, Matt went through a “failing forward” phase before making a few tweaks and creating a course for LPC supervisors. In today’s session, Matt shares the lessons learned along his fascinating journey and the mistakes and successes that have brought him to where he is today.  Matt's Website You’ll Learn:Matt’s wisdom: “I learned the hard way that selling general continuing education courses online is pointless and a waste of time and money.”The value in pivoting and niching down when something isn’t workingDiscovering the sweet spot: How Matt created a course designed for a specific person in a specific situationCourse creation is successful when you see the need and solve the pain point.Matt’s path to building trust and cultivating repeat customersThe progression and development of Matt’s 40-hour course and 6-hour refresher coursesThe challenges in maintaining compliance and navigating changes in licensing requirementsCourse creation challenges: creating content and incorporating more video interaction and student engagementMatt’s biggest mistakes and successes in marketing his courses
Resources: So you’ve probably heard that blogging is one of the best ways to attract your ideal clients as a therapist.  But I know that it can be intimidating to SEO optimize your blog post so that it’s actually getting found by your current and future clients.  Please visit https://sellingthecouch.com/simplifiedseo. **Use the code “MELVIN” to get 20% off any online, DIY SEO courses, and mention Melvin during your consultation for $100 off your onboarding fee for Done-For-You SEO services! Interested in becoming part of our affiliate program? Learn more at https://sellingthecouch.com/jointhehealthcasters   Want to launch your online course? Please check out our free 7-Day Course Creator Starter Kit For Therapists: https://sellingthecouch.com/coursekit Mentioned in this episode: Check Out PsycCareers! 
If you’re a psychology professional who is ready to take the next step in their career, check out PsycCareers, the American Psychological Association Services, Inc’s career center. PsycCareers is home to over 400 open positions tailored specifically for psychology professionals. Start your journey today by exploring opportunities that inspire and challenge you at sellingthecouch.com/apa. 

ENCORE What I Learned from Creating a Course for CEUs with Matthew Bierds

To keep you informed, this will be the last session before I take a summer break. Along with taking time for much-anticipated rest, I’ll be busy with my family and many STC-related projects! STC will still be here, though, as we run replays of our best episodes for you during this time. I look forward to returning in a few weeks with another great season of podcast sessions for you!  As I prepare to see clients very soon in my return to private practice, I’ve been given unique opportunities to do two talks related to mental health for folks near my childhood home of Dallas, Texas. Through a childhood friend, I became connected to a nonprofit there and was asked to share my personal experience with mental health. As a high-achiever, I grew up as a South Asian kid in the US, struggling with anxiety and depression. It was REAL and led me to see a psychologist, prompting my love for psychology and changing the course of my life. I shared my story with parents of high-achieving kids through this nonprofit and led a Q & A session with them; it was truly one of the most amazing experiences of my life. I was subsequently asked to do a second talk with another organization on a similar topic, focusing on risk factors for kids/teens growing up in hyper-competitive public and private schools. These kids are in what I call “the gilded pressure cooker,” feeling enormous pressure to achieve almost impossible feats. In today’s session, I want to share the three biggest lessons I’ve learned as a result of these unexpected opportunities to talk about the intersection of my experiences, passions, and callings.  You’ll Learn: My three biggest takeaways after doing these talks:Leaning into social media platforms, podcasting, and teaching workshops has helped me refine my speaking skills and learn to enjoy public speaking. (I’ve learned to silence my ever-present inner critic!)Doing talks like these takes a LOT of work and planning. (These were pro bono talks, but I will charge a fee in the future because of the multiple hours required. I don’t want to focus on revenue but on reach)For every talk I do in the future, I will capture the email addresses of the audience members to expand my community. (Adding people to your email list takes them from a “rented” audience on social media to an “owned” audience.)My thoughts and plans for the future in creating community, products, and services for this niche of families of high-achieversThis is a new area for me, but I would love to connect with more groups and organizations around this topic of high-achieving kids and their parents. If you have a contact for me, please email me!
Resources: Mentioned in this session: Sign up for the newsletter for high-achievers! Want to launch your podcast? Check out our free podcasting workshop for therapists (and therapists turned coaches and consultants) sellingthecouch.com/podcastingworkshop Want to launch your online course? Please check out our free 7-Day Course Creator Starter Kit For Therapists: https://sellingthecouch.com/coursekit Mentioned in this episode: Check Out PsycCareers! 
If you’re a psychology professional who is ready to take the next step in their career, check out PsycCareers, the American Psychological Association Services, Inc’s career center. PsycCareers is home to over 400 open positions tailored specifically for psychology professionals. Start your journey today by exploring opportunities that inspire and challenge you at sellingthecouch.com/apa. 

368: What I Learned After My First Two Talks

As I’m moving back into clinical work, I’m compelled to do more clinical-related podcasts. Today’s session fits that bill as it delves into psychedelic psychotherapy, an area of clinical work that is exploding with interesting potential. There is a lot to navigate within this topic; join us to learn more! Our Featured Guest Keith Kurlander Keith Kurlander is the co-founder of the Integrative Psychiatry Institute (IPI) and the co-host of the Higher Practice Podcast. The IPI is the largest training provider of clinicians in psychedelic psychotherapy. In this conversation, we explore psychedelic psychiatry, the drugs available for use, and the causes of the recent surge in this field. We also discuss the practical cautions and considerations for therapists.  Keith's Website and The Integrative Psychiatry Institute You’ll Learn:A simple definition that helps us understand psychedelic psychotherapyCauses of the recent surge of interest in this field and a briefing on the history and current researchThe current mental health crisis is changing the landscape of mental health care!Right now is an opportune time for therapists to get on board with psychedelic psychotherapy and get their training.The differences between traditional talk therapy modalities and psychedelic psychotherapyA glimpse into the often uncomfortable intensity of a psychedelic psychotherapy sessionThe logistics of a psychedelic psychotherapy session around the length of sessions and payment/insurance parametersCommon psychedelic psychotherapy medications: ketamine, psilocybin, and LSDThe type of client who is well-suited for psychedelic psychotherapy
Resources Want to launch your podcast? Check out our free podcasting workshop for therapists (and therapists turned coaches and consultants) sellingthecouch.com/podcastingworkshop Want to launch your online course? Please check out our free 7-Day Course Creator Starter Kit For Therapists: https://sellingthecouch.com/coursekit Mentioned in this episode: Check Out PsycCareers! 
If you’re a psychology professional who is ready to take the next step in their career, check out PsycCareers, the American Psychological Association Services, Inc’s career center. PsycCareers is home to over 400 open positions tailored specifically for psychology professionals. Start your journey today by exploring opportunities that inspire and challenge you at sellingthecouch.com/apa. 

367: Psychedelic Therapy: What You Need To Know As A Therapist

More is not always better. We often find that what we are chasing in our pursuit of success is not what we thought it was. Entrepreneurship for private practice clinicians naturally attracts many high achievers and recovering perfectionists, so we need to take a pause and periodically reassess and redefine what success looks like. Join us for a closer look at this important topic! Our Featured Guest Jeanetta Garrison, LCSW Jeanetta Garrison is an anxiety therapist in private practice in Charlotte, NC. She is the perfect person to share insights into today’s topic. In this episode, Jeanetta shares a personal story about what she learned about money during her childhood, along with how we navigate our aspirations and what we go after to achieve success. We wrap up with a discussion of knowing what is “enough” and being cautious about who we follow after as mentors and examples.  Crown Counseling & Consulting You’ll Learn:Common characteristics of entrepreneurs in private practiceJeanetta’s family story of how she learned about money from her upbringingHaving big hearts of service sets us up to allow boundaries to be crossedThe need for clarity in communication with clients about cancellations and no-showsChasing the proverbial “carrot” to reach successJeanetta’s advice: “Remember your WHY and center your head, heart, and spirit around it.”Think about your success in terms of what you are sacrificing for it!Navigating the ebbs and flows that are inherent in entrepreneurshipHow Jeanetta grounds herself with what is “enough” for her in her businessThinking about money in terms of what it symbolizes to us (“All money is not good money.”)
Resources: Want to launch your podcast? Check out our free podcasting workshop for therapists (and therapists turned coaches and consultants) https://sellingthecouch.com/podcastingworshop Want to launch your online course? Please check out our free 7-Day Course Creator Starter Kit For Therapists: https://sellingthecouch.com/coursekit Mentioned in this episode: Check Out PsycCareers! 
If you’re a psychology professional who is ready to take the next step in their career, check out PsycCareers, the American Psychological Association Services, Inc’s career center. PsycCareers is home to over 400 open positions tailored specifically for psychology professionals. Start your journey today by exploring opportunities that inspire and challenge you at sellingthecouch.com/apa. 

339: 3 Vital Questions To Ask Before Launching An Online Course

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