Starting a private therapy practice in New York City is no small feat.

Growing it into a thriving business? That’s a whole different challenge.In this episode, therapist and content creator Lauren Larkin sits down with host Michael Fulwiler to share her journey of building a successful practice in one of the most competitive cities in the world. From navigating a saturated market to going viral on platforms like TikTok and Instagram, Lauren offers an inside look at what it takes to stand out and scale. She also dives into setting boundaries to prevent burnout, finding the right mentors, and financial strategies for long-term success.

In the conversation, they discuss:

• How sharing relatable and educational content has helped Lauren build trust with potential clients and clinicians and drive business growth in a competitive market like New York City
• The importance of setting clear boundaries and managing workload to avoid burnout in private practice
• Strategies for building a waitlist before expanding, allowing for a smoother transition when bringing on new therapists

Connect with the guest:
Visit her website: https://leltherapy.com/
Lauren on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@leltherapy
Lauren on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leltherapy/
Lauren on LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/lauren-larkin1/

Connect with Michael and Heard:
Michael’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelfulwiler/
Newsletter: https://www.joinheard.com/newsletter
Book a free consult: https://www.joinheard.com/welcome-form

Jump into the conversation:
(00:00) Introduction to Heard Business School with guest Lauren Larkin
(02:30) Creating viral content on social media
(03:14) How Lauren’s marketing background shaped her private practice
(07:51) Transitioning from a group practice to starting her own practice
(08:42) How Lauren navigated the financial aspects of starting a private practice
(12:13) Advice on handling the logistics and legalities of forming a private practice
(15:23) How to navigate leaving a group practice and transitioning clients
(17:41) The ethical complexities of raising therapy fees
(20:25) Building a waitlist before expanding a practice
(24:52) The challenges of growing a practice in a competitive city like New York
(27:26) Managing client demand and hiring her first clinicians
(32:01) The balance between content creation and clinical work
(36:24) Lauren’s personal experience with an eating disorder and how it shapes her practice
(40:01) Ethical self-disclosure and its impact on the therapeutic relationship
(45:57) How Lauren handles self-disclosure on social media while maintaining client confidentiality
(50:00) Mentoring and consulting for early-career therapists
(50:07) Five tips for private practice success
(56:38) The importance of outsourcing taxes and financial management
(01:00:23) Protecting your schedule and setting boundaries to avoid burnout
(01:03:10) Creating networking and social events for therapists

This episode is to be used for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal, business, or tax advice. Each person should consult their own attorney, business advisor, or tax advisor with respect to matters referenced in this episode.