I’m excited to welcome holistic trauma therapist Jaclyn Sappah to the podcast today!

In her own work, Jaclyn integrates EMDR, yoga, and Reiki energy healing to help women heal childhood trauma, break toxic patterns, regulate their nervous systems, and reconnect with themselves.

If you’ve ever felt like Instagram is “working” but not actually bringing in clients, Jaclyn’s story will definitely hit home!

In today’s episode, we’re diving into the secret to getting 29 clients from Instagram in 9 months.

In this episode, we cover:

• How Jaclyn grew from ~200 to 2k followers with zero clients at first
• What happened when Jaclyn joined PPA in June 2025
• How Jaclyn generated 29 clients from Instagram over 9 months
• How she shifted from mostly insurance to primarily private pay
• Her experience with bringing in ~$20k from EMDR intensives alone
• Jaclyn’s simple ad strategy for consistent client flow + audience growth
• Why her private pay clients converted faster + more consistently
• How Jaclyn uses Instagram to fill both her own caseload + her associates’
• How she reduced her posting frequency while still growing with ads
• Why growth ≠ conversion + strategy is everything

Connect with Jaclyn:

• Follow on Instagram @holistictraumatherapy
• Check out her website

Connect with Kelly:

• Follow on Instagram @businessoftherapy and @sitwithkelly
• Check out the Business of Therapy® website

Make sure to hit follow/subscribe so you never miss an episode!

Resources & Links:

• This episode is sponsored by Alma, the financially rewarding way to go in-network
• I recommend setting up an intro call scheduler within Jane - use code: KELLY2MONTH for a 2-month grace period
• Private Practice Academy Bundle (PPA)
• Reels Membership
• Business Coaching Waitlist
• Free training
• Caption Guide

Mentioned in this episode:

PPA is 52% off! Sign up here!

If your Instagram isn’t bringing in clients, it’s usually not a consistency problem.

It’s a balance problem!

Most therapists lean too far one way - either constantly teaching OR constantly relating.

But you don’t get clients from just one. Connection builds trust, and authority drives decisions.

You need BOTH working together if you really want to fill your caseload!

In today's episode, I'm talking about how to balance connection vs. authority content on Instagram (so you actually get clients).

In this episode, I cover:

• Why you need BOTH connection + authority content on Instagram
• Why leaning too far into one type hurts conversions
• How connection content builds trust through relatable & personality-driven posts
• How authority content builds credibility through solutions, tips + actionable guidance
• How reels build connection and carousels build authority
• Why authority content may not go viral + what it CAN lead to
• Why strong content = connection AND authority
• Examples of balancing both connection + authority on Instagram
• How to keep content ethical & general

Connect with Kelly:

• Follow on Instagram @businessoftherapy and @sitwithkelly
• Check out the Business of Therapy® website

Make sure to hit follow/subscribe so you never miss an episode!

Resources & Links:

• SitWithKelly Connection Reel
• SitWithKelly Authority Post
• BusinessOfTherapy Connection Reel
• BusinessOfTherapy Authority Post
• This episode is sponsored by Alma, the financially rewarding way to go in-network
• I recommend setting up an intro call scheduler within Jane - use code: KELLY2MONTH for a 2-month grace period
• Private Practice Academy Bundle (PPA)
• Reels Membership
• Business Coaching Waitlist
• Free training
• Caption Guide

Mentioned in this episode:

PPA is 52% off! Sign up here!

Ever feel like your private practice is growing, but your to-do list is growing even faster??

If so, it’s probably time to hire a virtual assistant!

One of the FIRST things I recommend once your caseload is full is getting support behind the scenes.

Hiring a VA will allow you to get that time back (that you desperately need) AND do the things you love.

And yes, doing this will help you continue to grow and scale your private practice!

In today's episode, I'm talking about hiring a virtual assistant.

In this episode, I cover:

• When it’s the right time to hire a virtual assistant
• Why hiring a VA can help you scale + avoid burnout
• The best tasks to delegate first to a virtual assistant
• What to look for in the right virtual assistant
• Where to find a quality VA for your business
• How to get started with hiring and onboarding a VA

Connect with Kelly:

• Follow on Instagram @businessoftherapy and @sitwithkelly
• Check out the Business of Therapy® website

Make sure to hit follow/subscribe so you never miss an episode!

Resources & Links:

• Free VA Matchmaking Service with Sara Wiles
• This episode is sponsored by Alma, the financially rewarding way to go in-network
• I recommend setting up an intro call scheduler within Jane - use code: KELLY2MONTH for a 2-month grace period
• Private Practice Academy Bundle (PPA)
• Reels Membership
• Business Coaching Waitlist
• Free training
• Caption Guide

Mentioned in this episode:

PPA is 52% off! Sign up here!

I’m excited to welcome couples therapist Alea DiGirolamo to the podcast today!

Alea has been in private practice since 2022, and her business has changed a LOT in that time.

When she first started, she was earning $4200 per month. Alea joined PPA and Reels Membership in 2024, and since then, her business has totally transformed.

She’s grown her Instagram community from 1k to over 13.5k followers, and she now earns between $250,000 - 300,000 per YEAR, which is incredible!!

What’s been the biggest factor contributing to Alea’s growth during this time? Networking!

In today’s episode, we’re talking about how to network & get private pay clients.

In this episode, we cover:

• How Alea grew her practice from $4,200 per month to $250k-300k/year
• Why networking has been the biggest driver of her premium private pay referrals
• How Alea built referral relationships with therapists, attorneys & matchmakers
• Why offering referrals first can help create stronger networking relationships
• How she balances motherhood, admin work, and a full client caseload
• The role Instagram & social media have played in growing her practice
• Why consistency matters MORE than perfection with marketing
• How raising her fees helped her finally reach her income goals
• Why trusting yourself is one of THE most important parts of building a business

Connect with Alea:

• Follow on Instagram @atdtherapy
• Check out her website

Connect with Kelly:

• Follow on Instagram @businessoftherapy and @sitwithkelly
• Check out the Business of Therapy® website

Make sure to hit follow/subscribe so you never miss an episode!

Resources & Links:

• This episode is sponsored by Alma, the financially rewarding way to go in-network
• I recommend setting up an intro call scheduler within Jane - use code: KELLY2MONTH for a 2-month grace period
• Private Practice Academy Bundle (PPA)
• Reels Membership
• Business Coaching Waitlist
• Free training
• Caption Guide

Mentioned in this episode:

PPA is 52% off! Sign up here!

Your Instagram bio is one of the most overlooked parts of your marketing. But it’s also one of the MOST important!

Your IG bio is where people decide (in seconds) if they’re going to follow you or click away.

If they don’t follow you, they don’t get nurtured. They don’t see your content, and they don’t become a client.

If your goal is to fill your caseload with private pay clients, your bio needs to be doing a LOT more heavy lifting than you think!

In today's episode, I'm diving into how to optimize your IG bio to attract private pay therapy clients.

In this episode, I cover:

• Why your IG bio is a conversion tool (not just a formality)
• How your bio impacts follows, consult calls & paying clients
• What to include in your name field for better searchability
• Why clients aren’t searching your credentials + what to use instead
• The crucial 3-line bio formula
• How to make your bio instantly clear + easy to scan
• Why your links should be simple + what to prioritize
• The importance of having an intro call scheduler in your bio
• How using your client’s language increases connection + conversions
• Common bio mistakes that are costing you followers and clients

Connect with Kelly:

• Follow on Instagram @businessoftherapy and @sitwithkelly
• Check out the Business of Therapy® website

Make sure to hit follow/subscribe so you never miss an episode!

Resources & Links:

• Original IG bios shared in episode
• Connect with Kristina on IG @amindfuljourneyllc
• Connect with Ashley on IG @thatanxietytherapist
• Connect with Megan on IG @everworthcounseling
• This episode is sponsored by Alma, the financially rewarding way to go in-network
• I recommend setting up an intro call scheduler within Jane - use code: KELLY2MONTH for a 2-month grace period
• Private Practice Academy Bundle (PPA)
• Reels Membership
• Business Coaching Waitlist
• Free training
• Caption Guide

Mentioned in this episode:

PPA is 52% off! Sign up here!

If you’ve been feeling like Instagram is harder than it used to be, you’re not wrong. What worked in 2020 (or even last year) isn’t what’s working now. If you’re still creating content the same way, it’s probably not landing the way you want it to.

Honestly though? Reels are KEY to growing on Instagram. Once you know what you’re doing, they can be sooo much fun to create!!

In today's episode, I'm sharing what’s working with Instagram Reels in 2026.

In this episode, I cover:

• Why shorter reels (under 10 seconds) are still dominating
• How spicy & opinionated framing makes content more engaging and shareable
• Why showing your face is non-negotiable for building trust + converting clients
• How intentional B-roll helps tell a story & improves overall performance
• Recreating content that’s already working instead of constantly starting from scratch
• Shifting from “you” content to “I/me” content to build a stronger connection
• Why your voice matters more than generic AI-generated content
• Asking specific questions to boost engagement + build community
• Using ultra-specific hooks + strong conviction to drive follower growth & consult calls
• Why you shouldn’t delete underperforming posts or “post and ghost”
• Treating content creation like it’s part of your job because consistency matters

Connect with Kelly:

• Follow on Instagram @businessoftherapy and @sitwithkelly
• Check out the Business of Therapy® website

Make sure to hit follow/subscribe so you never miss an episode!

Resources & Links:

• My oldest daughter reel
• My daycare reel
• My raising your rates by $100 reel
• My spitting out coffee reel
• My clown reel
• My unhinged Q reel
• My rates reel
• Morgan’s reel
• Amma’s reel
• Megan’s reel
• This episode is sponsored by Alma, the financially rewarding way to go in-network
• I recommend setting up an intro call scheduler within Jane - use code: KELLY2MONTH for a 2-month grace period
• Private Practice Academy Bundle (PPA)
• Reels Membership
• Business Coaching Waitlist
• Free training
• Caption Guide

Mentioned in this episode:

PPA is 52% off! Sign up here!

I’m excited to welcome trauma therapist Irene Koutsidis-Martelli to the podcast today!

Irene primarily works with millennial women who are struggling with relational and complex trauma. She is a mom of a toddler boy and expecting baby number 2. She knew that her life's work would be best served by balancing motherhood and her career.

By the time this episode is released, Irene will most likely have her 2nd little one here! Our conversation is SUCH a powerful reminder that you truly get to build your business around your life (not the other way around).

In today’s episode, we’re talking about building a private pay practice as a new mom.

In this episode, we cover:

• Why Irene chose to start her private practice at 8 months pregnant
• How her initial insurance-based model led to burnout + wasn’t sustainable long-term
• Irene’s decision to niche down + get more support inside PPA
• How Irene transitioned off insurance panels in intentional “tiers”
• Her deeper “why” behind building a private pay practice
• Embracing big life transitions and trusting that you CAN build what you want
• Learning the power of saying “no” and prioritizing aligned, ideal-fit clients
• Building a business that fits your life instead of one that just “looks good on paper”

Connect with Irene:

• Follow on Instagram @talktoirene
• Check out her website

Connect with Kelly:

• Follow on Instagram @businessoftherapy and @sitwithkelly
• Check out the Business of Therapy website

Make sure to hit follow/subscribe so you never miss an episode!

Resources & Links:

• This episode is sponsored by Alma, the financially rewarding way to go in-network
• I recommend setting up an intro call scheduler within Jane - use code: KELLY2MONTH for a 2-month grace period
• Private Practice Academy Bundle (PPA)
• Reels Membership
• Business Coaching Waitlist
• Free training
• Caption Guide

Mentioned in this episode:

PPA is 52% off! Sign up here!

I’ve had sooo many questions about brand deals recently. If you listened to episode 83 (where I broke down how I earned $854,316 in 2025), then you already know brand deals were a BIG piece of that!

Honestly? Brand deals are one of my FAVORITE parts of my business! They’re creative, flexible, and feel like a hobby I get paid for. In this season of life as a new mom, they’ve been such a fun AND supportive stream of income!

I knew it was time to dive in and give you allll the deets here! In today's episode, I'm diving into how I earned $200,738 from brand deals in 2025 as an Instagram therapist.

In this episode, I cover:

1. Why brand deals can be a flexible + high-profit income stream
2. Keeping ethics in mind when you’re doing brand deals
3. Why influence over numbers matters
4. How to create content that brands can see themselves in
5. How to normalize selling by sharing consistent & unsponsored recommendations
6. How to choose your model for brand deals
7. Why long-term partnerships + pitching consistently = the most sustainable growth
8. Using affiliate links to build skills + create trust with your audience

Connect with Kelly:

1. Follow on Instagram @businessoftherapy and @sitwithkelly
2. Check out the Business of Therapy website

Make sure to hit follow/subscribe so you never miss an episode!

Resources & Links:

1. Get started on ShopMy
2. The Talent Agency I work with
3. This episode is sponsored by Alma, the financially rewarding way to go in-network
4. I recommend setting up an intro call scheduler within Jane - use code: KELLY2MONTH for a 2-month grace period
5. Private Practice Academy Bundle (PPA)
6. Reels Membership
7. Business Coaching Waitlist
8. Free training
9. Caption Guide

Mentioned in this episode:

PPA is 52% off! Sign up here!

One of the biggest myths in the online business space? You need to have a huge audience to create meaningful income and impact.

But today’s guest, EMDR therapist Carolyn Solo, is proof that simply is NOT true!

Carolyn has built an incredibly successful second business, helping therapists launch EMDR intensives. I had the pleasure of being her 1-1 business coach as she made this transition and scaled beyond clinical therapy!

And no, she didn’t have thousands of followers on Instagram either. She’s had a very small and highly niche audience!

In today’s episode, we’re talking about scaling beyond 1-1 therapy with a small Instagram audience.

In this episode, we cover:

1. How Carolyn built a successful second business w/a small, highly niche audience
2. Why micro-niching can lead to stronger results, deeper trust & higher conversions
3. Carolyn’s journey from a full private practice to offering EMDR intensives
4. Key benefits of adding EMDR intensives as a therapist
5. What Carolyn learned while figuring out the intensive model in real time
6. The REAL reason Carolyn started coaching other therapists on intensives
7. How launching a podcast + 2nd Instagram page helped her grow her authority
8. Why high-ticket offers should also be high-touch for the best client results
9. Carolyn’s advice for therapists w/a small audience who want to launch something new

Connect with Carolyn:

1. Follow on Instagram @futuretemplateparent and @integritas_intensive_emdr
2. Listen to the Future Template Parent Podcast
3. Check out her website

Connect with Kelly:

1. Follow on Instagram @businessoftherapy and @sitwithkelly
2. Check out the Business of Therapy website

Make sure to hit follow/subscribe so you never miss an episode!

Resources & Links:

1. Get Carolyn’s Free EMDR Workbook
2. This episode is sponsored by Alma, the financially rewarding way to go in-network
3. I recommend setting up an intro call scheduler within Jane - use code: KELLY2MONTH for a 2-month grace period
4. Private Practice Academy Bundle (PPA)
5. Reels Membership
6. Business Coaching Waitlist
7. Free training
8. Caption Guide

Mentioned in this episode:

PPA is 52% off! Sign up here!

If you’ve ever had a launch not go the way you planned, this episode is for you.

Created in 2021, the Private Practice Academy Bundle (PPA) is my signature program. It’s helped 900+ therapists start and scale their private practices, which is pretty incredible! I typically put it on sale a few times a year. These flash sales bring in around 30 enrollments at $997 (it’s normally priced at $1497).

This time, though? I set a lofty goal of 50. After the initial 3-day flash, I had 21. Unfortunately, that was only 42% of my goal, and nowhere near where I wanted to be. Instead of spiraling, I looked at the data. I want to share allll the nitty-gritty details with you here!

In today's episode, I'm diving into a BTS of how I turned around my FLOPPED launch.

In this episode, I cover:

1. What went into the 3-day PPA flash sale
2. The initial results + red flags happening mid-launch
3. How I used the data to diagnose the REAL problem instead of spiraling
4. Why I added a 24-hour extension + led with transparency
5. Strategic pivots I made + turnaround results
6. The biggest lesson I learned from this launch
7. Why knowing your numbers is essential if you want to scale like a CEO

Connect with Kelly:

1. Follow on Instagram @businessoftherapy and @sitwithkelly
2. Check out the Business of Therapy website

Make sure to hit follow/subscribe so you never miss an episode!

Resources & Links:

1. This episode is sponsored by Alma, the financially rewarding way to go in-network
2. I recommend setting up an intro call scheduler within Jane - use code: KELLY2MONTH for a 2-month grace period
3. Private Practice Academy Bundle (PPA)
4. Reels Membership
5. Business Coaching Waitlist
6. Free training
7. Caption Guide

Mentioned in this episode:

PPA is 52% off! Sign up here!