Ursula Kerr took many risks and leaps of faith, and through those moments of struggle and uncertainty, she has now created a thriving private practice that she enjoys working in each day. Life is not about working, but creating a job that you love doing is a great way to add value (and income) to your life!

By hiring a consultant, getting professional help or advice, and working in your passion and niche, you can create a workplace that you are excited to work in each day.

In this podcast episode, Ursula and I discuss her Canadian private practice journey from breaking out of the golden handcuffs of an agency job into building her dream practice. We talk about common struggles, tips, and ways for you to become inspired to take the next step.

MEET URSULA

Ursula is a social worker and therapist in British Columbia with over ten years of experience. She specializes in helping people address feelings of anxiety, with a focus on social anxiety, and trauma. She has a background in child welfare and has done extensive research on human trafficking in Canada.

Learn more about Ursula on her website and Psychology Today profile.

In this episode:

• Getting into private practice

• Navigating online and in-person counseling

• Be willing to take a risk

• The value of a consultant

• Marketing tips

Getting into private practice

At first, the counselling on the side was a source of extra income that Ursula wanted to create.

After some time, even though Ursula was working in a good agency job, she started to notice that she looked more forward to going to her counseling job than the government one.

Ursula had a busy caseload and a waitlist, so there was no lack of work there. She was working in a small town so people knew her well, she had built strong connections within the community, and had been telling people that she was going into counseling full-time. Everything was ready for her to take a risk.

Navigating online and in-person counseling

Before the pandemic, Ursula - like most counsellors - primarily worked with her clients in an in-person, one-on-one setting. During and after the pandemic, Ursula also had to quickly learn how to adapt and change her systems to accommodate for the lockdown to offer virtual therapy to her clients.

However, now that the world is shifting and in-person is becoming more desired again, Ursula is interested in reverting back to working with her clients in reality and not solely online.

Be willing to take a risk

For Ursula, advocacy is a life value. She incorporates this value and the intentionality that it comes with into her private practice. This type of work and value can seem like a risk, but she made it work, and it brought a whole new aspect of her practice to life.

Apart from incorporating your values, with Canadian private practice, you can choose your hours, your fee,your preferred niche, and much more! Work does not have to be a struggle and cause burn out.

The value of a consultant

Taking a risk is also where working with a consultant can be a huge help. These people have first-hand experience in going through what you are about to, and they can give you valuable insight and encouragement.

Working with a consultant also helps you to build a practice that is both successful but also ethical. They know what's required, which documents are necessary, who you should speak to professionally, and which legal papers to get to protect you, your clients, and your business.

Connect with me:

Instagram

Website

Resources mentioned and useful links:

Ep 86: Allyson Gassner: From Practicum to Private Practice | EP 86

Learn more about the tools and deals that I love and use for my Canadian private practice

Sign up for my free e-course on How to Start an Online Canadian Private Practice

Jane App (use code FEARLESS for one month free)

Learn more about Ursula on her website and Psychology Today profile

What are the essential fundamentals of setting up a private practice while you finish grad school? How can you use QR codes in your marketing to make it easier for your clients to find you? When is the right time or the best-suited time for you to step into Canadian private practice?

In this episode, Allyson and I discuss navigating how to structure the approach to working, setting up a new private practice, and seeking out community along the journey into Canadian private practice. We chat about marketing, navigating when to transition into solo practice, and considering the future.

MEET ALLYSON

Allyson has a MACP from Yorkville University. She started her PP a few months before finishing. She is a fully registered RP in Ontario, Canada. Allyson does ACT and CBT and mostly works with children and younger adults.

Learn more about Allyson on her LinkedIn, Instagram, and Psychology Today profiles and practice website.

In this episode:

• Allyson's entry into private practice

• Setting up the practice

• Future plans

• Allyson's marketing tips

Allyson's entry into private practice

In September of 2022, Allyson started seeing her own clients. She watched a webinar about regulations in Ontario while finishing up grad school, so Allyson was aware of what was needed for her to start seeing clients soon.

Allyson was able to start making income while she was completing the finishing touches of her practicum.

Setting up the practice

To begin her private practice, Allyson made sure to:

• Set up a great website. She used Canva to create a logo and brand herself and her practice well.

• Sign up with Jane App as her EMR. You can too by using the code "FEARLESS" at sign up to receive one month grace period!

• To make her marketing easier, Allyson uses QR codes for her clients to scan to go straight to her booking page.

'I started [using Jane App] right away and I think that had been really helpful to organize my notes, it was perfect … my client files, the booking page, and the booking page [itself] is so lovely.' – Allyson Gassner

Future plans

Even though Allyson's schedule is busy between seeing private clients and working an office job, and another job at an agency, she hopes to direct her focus to solely private practice in a few years.

'I think way down in the future, I would love to just do private practice [and] have total control and flexibility. But for now… I love being able to say, "Hey!" to my co-workers between sessions and ask them questions.' – Allyson Gassner

Although Allyson hopes to work in private practice, she currently enjoys working in a community with other therapists because working as a mental health practitioner can feel lonely at times.

'That's something that I do really miss and I guess [is] one of the drawbacks of private practice is that you can be isolated if you are working alone and if you are working alone online.' – Julia Smith

Either way, there are loads of opportunities available to you for how to set up your private practice. You can decide how to approach your work-life balance in a way that can support your wishes and dreams for the future.

Allyson's marketing tips

Allyson recommends two main aspects of successful marketing:

• Using Psychology Today

• Making sure that you are speaking to your niche

In her experience, she has found these two aspects important to her success rates of being able to connect with her ideal clients.

Connect with me:

Instagram

Website

Resources mentioned and useful links:

Ep 85: Tamara Reynolds: Building a Canadian Art Therapy Private Practice

Learn more about the tools and deals that I love and use for my Canadian private practice

Sign up for my free e-course on How to Start an Online Canadian Private Practice

Jane App (use code FEARLESS for one month free)

Learn more about Allyson on her LinkedIn, Instagram, and Psychology Today profiles and private practice website.

Rate, review, and subscribe to this podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon, and TuneIn

Are you thinking about starting an art therapy private practice? Do you struggle with getting clients? Have you tapped into the resources within your network and direct community?

The great thing about private practice is that even though the process of building it is unique to you (with your preferences and niche), there are so many things that you can learn from your fellow clinicians.

In this podcast episode, Tamara and I discuss a wide range of topics, from getting involved in the community to networking, the art therapy niche, and working ethically.

MEET TAMARA

Tamara was born and raised in Thunder Bay, Ontario, and went to Lakehead University graduating with a visual arts and education degree.

Tamara enrolled in the Toronto Art Therapy Institute (TATI) in 2017 and graduated as a registered art therapist in 2019. She is a Registered Psychotherapist and runs her own practice in Thunder Bay.

Learn more about Tamara on her Psychology Today profile and practice website.

In this episode:

• Art therapy as a treatment modality

• Work ethically

• Locating your practice

• Experimenting with schedules

• Develop your networking skills

Art therapy as a treatment modality

Art therapy is a therapeutic process whereby people use artistic practices like painting or drawing to help clients process emotions, self-regulate, or access mental spaces that are soothing and gentle amidst trauma in the early stages of treatment.

Art therapy can be used to treat first responders because this modality has been shown to reduce PSTD symptoms, and it can also be relatively non-verbal which is a plus for most first responders seeking therapy.

Work ethically

If you are working in a small town, or you are providing therapy for a niche of people that you once worked with, it is important that you get your ethics right to continue providing great therapy without harming yourself or your clients.

If you aren't within a regulated province, you can still reach out to the CCPA for assistance. In another Fearless Practice Podcast episode with Lindsey, we discussed lobbying the government for regulation – if you are interested in this topic, give it a listen!

Locating your practice

For Tamara, she preferred to keep her practice space separate from her home. She wanted to have that physical distance to maintain a personal and relaxing space away from work.

However, you can decide how you want to set up your Canadian private practice; online, in-person, at an office, or your home. You can set it up as best suits you and the needs of your clients!

Even then, if you would prefer to work for another private practice instead of running your own, you can do that too!

Experimenting with schedules

If you work for yourself, you can create a schedule that fits both your needs and the needs of your clients, and that includes their schedules as well.

When the seasons change, people's activities change as well. Every therapist knows the dips and rises of seeing clients. What would happen if you changed your schedule every few months to match the busyness of the season? That's what Tamara does, and it allows her to see clients regularly throughout the year.

Develop your networking skills

Use your contacts within the community! The managers at the gyms, the restaurants, the players at your sports center, the massage therapists, the landlords in business sectors, the receptionists at businesses.

Speak to people, because it's one of the best things that you can do for your business.

Connect with me:

Instagram

Website

Resources mentioned and useful links:

Ep 84: Denise Marie: Why Passion is Good for Business | EP 84

Learn more about the tools and deals that I love and use for my Canadian private practice

Sign up for my free e-course on How to Start an Online Canadian Private Practice

Jane App (use code FEARLESS for one month free)

Learn more about Tamara on her Psychology Today profile, LinkedIn page, and practice website.

Listen to my episode with Lindsey about the CCPA and the government for regulation!

Do you enjoy the work that you do? Are you working in a field or with a group of clients that are the best-fit group for you? Is it possible to combine your passions with your work in a way that supports them both without burning you out in the process?

You don't need to use all your hobbies and passions as work ideas. However, it can help you – and your business – to work in an area that you are passionate about. Having that genuine interest and fulfillment can help you get through tough times, meet with great clients, and do work that makes you feel good – as well as helping you to pay the bills.

In this podcast episode, Denise and I chat about how she created her Canadian private practice from one of her passions, and how that decision helped her to create a steady business that she enjoys going to work in each day.

MEET DENISE

Denise Marie is a Licensed Therapist and Coach. She works exclusively with empathetic women who have spent a lifetime doing everything they are "supposed to do" and are now wondering why they haven't achieved happiness. Through the Journey to Worthiness, Denise supports her clients as they ditch societal expectations, understand their emotional needs, reconnect with their intuition and find peace in living a more authentic life.

Learn more about Denise on her Instagram profile, LinkTree account, and website!

In this episode:

• Using your passion in your business

• Transitioning from one job to another

• Align your work with your purpose

• Julia's tips for growth

Using your passion in your business

When you know who you want to help and why, and when you know why you want to solve a certain problem for someone or within the world and you know how you're going to do it, you get fuelled up to challenge and overcome the obstacles that may be in your way of starting and launching a private practice.

Transitioning from one job to another

Many new Canadian private practice owners have had to dig deep into their energy reserves to work two jobs while they launch their new practice. Sometimes gradually leaving the previous steady job before launching your new business is the slow and steady but often safer route.

If you can work two jobs, then stick it out and do it, because even though those few months might be more tiring and stressful, that extra income acts as a little safety net to help you get things ready for your private practice to receive clients before you fully jump aboard.

Align your work with your purpose

Sure, you can keep some hobbies and passions as something that you enjoy on the side. However, you can also align the work that you do with what brings you joy and joy to others – your purpose – to create a fulfilling work experience as well.

For example, Denise experiences immense joy and fulfillment from working with empathetic women to level up their lives. She is able to help them while enjoying the work that she does with them.

Being in alignment with your purpose and what makes you feel fulfilled in the work that you do day to day can help you pull back a little from comparing yourself to others.

How do you define success? How do you define fulfillment and feeling at peace in life?

Connect with me:

Instagram

Website

Resources mentioned and useful links:

Ep 83: Amber Sperling: The Journey from a New Practice to Success and Beyond | EP 83

Learn more about the tools and deals that I love and use for my Canadian private practice

Sign up for my free e-course on How to Start an Online Canadian Private Practice

Jane App (use code FEARLESS for one month free)

Listen to my podcast episodes on building a long-lasting website and how to hire a virtual assistant!

Learn more about Denise on her Instagram profile, LinkTree account, and website!

Rate, review, and subscribe to this podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, and Spotify.

For anyone who is building their Canadian private practice, or is thinking about starting, one of the most helpful things that you can do is listen to other therapist's stories who have gone on this exact journey before you.

Learning from others is a great way to give you ideas, help you think things through, and see what might – and might not – work for you.

In this podcast episode, Amber and I discuss her journey into launching her own Canadian private practice.

MEET AMBER

Amber Sperling is a Social Worker and psychotherapist who's passionate about the health and well-being of moms in the transition into parenthood. She started her career in hospital mental health then transitioned to over a decade in primary care, learning the intersections between physical and mental health, interdisciplinary care, and the power of the mind/body connection.

Amber values ongoing learning, developing client-specific strategies and recognizes the impact of greater society/systemic barriers on individuals.

She currently operates a private practice based in Barrie Ontario with associates all trained in enhanced psychotherapy for perinatal mental health and trauma treatment while engaging in regional committees on perinatal mental health, birthing families, and holds a seat on the local hospital foundation cabinet.

Learn more about Amber on her website and LinkedIn profile.

In this episode:

• Amber's first steps into private practice

• Building up a network

• Hiring associates

• Going forward

Amber's first steps into private practice

After the pandemic, Amber was working mostly from home. For many months, she got settled into working from home and providing therapy for the practice she was working for. She was seeing 20 to 25 clients a week and noticed a huge need.

Amber knew that she could be doing this work for herself and on her own terms, and she knew that she could get clients that would want to work with her if she opened her own Canadian private practice.

In March of 2022, Amber was able to make the official switch and set out on her own.

Building up a network

In the very beginning, Amber created a simple to-the-point form on Google and sent it out to her colleagues that she knew, valued, and already trusted to meet and start networking to represent herself.

She also found organizations that she felt aligned with to contact and network with.

For anyone going into Canadian private practice, Amber recommends stepping past that initial fear and getting into contact with your colleagues!

Hiring associates

There are other great therapists out there that can help you and would want to work with you.

Depending on how you want to hire for your practice, you could either hire therapists that work outside of your niche and see the clients you might refer out, or hire a therapist that also works within your niche so that you don't have to put them on a waiting list or refer them out if your personal schedule is already full.

Going forward

It is important for Amber to grow her business in a way that aligns with her values, and this means centering connection as one of the foundational blocks.

In the future, Amber plans to develop her practice and hire more associates, developing the services that the practice offers, all while focusing on organic community and fostering powerful relationships that heal and collaborate together.

Connect with me:

Instagram

Website

Resources mentioned and useful links:

Ep 82: Live Consultation with Julie Burnett: Starting an Online Private Practice | EP 82

Learn more about the tools and deals that I love and use for my Canadian private practice

Sign up for my free e-course on How to Start an Online Canadian Private Practice

Jane App (use code FEARLESS for one month free)

Listen to my podcast episodes on building a long-lasting website and how to hire a virtual assistant!

Learn more about Amber on her website, Psychology Today, Instagram, and LinkedIn profiles!

Rate, review, and subscribe to this podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon, and TuneIn

What is your goal with your work? If you could set it up in the way that would best suit you and your long-term future ambitions, what would it look like? How can you create a work-life balance that is personalized to your life, needs, and desires?

One great way to learn is to listen to other people's journeys and stories. You may be in a similar place with your Canadian online private practice; new, curious, and weighing up the pros and cons.

In this live consultation, I chat with Julie about her new online private practice. We talk through the basics, how she can bring a new website up to speed, and what she can do to flourish afterward. Join us to learn more!

MEET JULIE

Julie Burnett is a Registered Social Worker who is starting her private practice in Ontario. She specializes in domestic violence and feminist/anti-oppressive approaches to therapy.

Learn more about Julie on her Psychology Today profile and Instagram account.

In this episode:

• Julie's desire for professional independence

• Work with what you love

• Setting up a great website

Julie's desire for professional independence

Starting a Canadian online private practice can be a daunting first step because it means that you are moving away from someone else's structure in another business to building your own structure, and making it work.

However, even though it can be scary, it is also well worth the attempt. Becoming your own boss can be scary but also a freeing and exhilarating experience. So rather than trying to avoid fear, focus on heading in the direction of where you want to go.

Additionally, owning your business allows you the space and opportunity to explore new creative projects.

Work with what you love

Your niche doesn't just relate to who your clients are. What is your passion? What is something that you really enjoy doing in sessions and with clients, and can you use it to build the foundation of your new Canadian online private practice?

Julie loves groups, and this can be a great Segway into her new successful online practice.

So, understand your clinical passions and use this in marketing yourself to future clients and to network with other therapists!

Setting up a great website

'If [you live] in a large city, then you want to niche down as much as possible because there are so many other therapists out there … the bigger the city, the more [necessary it is] to niche down.' – Julia Smith

Your website is your virtual window storefront, and I recommend Beam Local to build your website. Set it up well so that a curious client who's looking over your information can see exactly what you offer, why you are a good fit, and how they can 'enter' your business to find out more information and contact you.

Niching down is one of your biggest assets. You can develop this by adding pages to your website that offer more information about your niche, should your clients want it. These extra pages also make Google like you more and rank you higher, which is a bonus!

But in the beginning, focus on one niche, and build it out on your website. Once your website is building traction for you, consider hiring a virtual assistant to organize your emails and admin so that you can remain focused on offering high-quality therapy to your clients.

Connect with me:

Instagram

Website

Resources mentioned and useful links:

Ep 81: 3 Steps to Starting Your Private Practice While Still in Grad School | EP 81

Learn more about the tools and deals that I love and use for my Canadian private practice

Sign up for my free e-course on How to Start an Online Canadian Private Practice

Jane App (use code FEARLESS for one month free)

Listen to my podcast episodes on building a long-lasting website and how to hire a virtual assistant!

Learn more about Julie on her Psychology Today profile and Instagram account

Rate, review, and subscribe to this podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon, and TuneIn

Are you going into your master's degree knowing that you want to start a private practice as soon as you have graduated? Be assured – and inspired – that this is totally possible! With your master's degree and clinical supervision, you can be well on your way toward your Canadian private practice.

There are a couple of things you can do for your private practice while you are in grad school to build a good foundation and to make it easier for you to launch and dive in once you have graduated.

In this podcast episode, I go over the three simple steps that you can take to get yourself ready for your private practice – and to get your private practice ready for you! – if you know that this path is one of your goals to walk.

In this Episode:

• Figure out your business name

• Build your website

• Blog on the new website

Figure out your business name

The first step to starting a Canadian private practice is to think of a great name! Get creative and combine it with your potential specialty if you'd like. However, my top tip would be to avoid using your personal name.

'When you're considering a business name, I highly recommend that you do not use your own name. Although that can be more affordable when you register your [business] name with your government, it can lead to issues in the future.' – Julia Smith

Maybe you would like to hire some associates, or down the line another clinician or two, and then you would have to redo all of your marketing materials and rebrand the business. Give yourself – and your new practice – some freedom and autonomy by naming it something separate from you.

Once you have your name, register it as a domain. Try out this service to help you register your domain for the new private practice!

'[Using this service] can really help you to figure out what your name is going to be and what it's not going to be because if you can't purchase that domain name, then you're probably not going to want to use that as your business name because your website name ideally should be the same name as your business, or very similar.' – Julia Smith

Build your website

My advice to you is to use a WordPress website because it is open source and you have creative freedom, with unlimited options! Check out my tools and deals page to get started with your WordPress website on the right foot.

Even though proprietary website-building companies can be more affordable or offer other services, if you ever decide to leave, you will lose everything that you created with them since they own the platform that the website was built upon.

If you want to learn more, check out this article. Furthermore, I recommend the WordPress website company Beam Local, which allows you to keep your website if you ever decide to leave!

Blog on the new website

Now that you have a website, start investing in it! Your SEO (search engine optimization) can take some time to build up and rank you higher, so the sooner you start using your website and putting content out there, the better.

Make sure to make it clear that you are not yet practicing as a therapist, but use that to your advantage. Post "Launching in 2024!" or something to that extent on your website so that your clients know you are still learning and can get excited to work with you.

Connect with me:

Instagram

Website

Resources Mentioned and Useful Links:

Ep 80: How Branding Can Attract Clients| EP 80

Learn more about the tools and deals that I love and use for my Canadian private practice

Article: How to Set Up a Canadian Private Practice Website

Sign up for my free e-course on How to Start an Online Canadian Private Practice

Jane App (use code FEARLESS for one month free)

Rate, review, and subscribe to this podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon, and TuneIn

Does your branding need a little refresher? When last did you make sure that your branding is consistent across all the branches of your business?

Branding is more than just the colors you pick or the layout of your website. It's the feeling that you want your clients to have when they interact with you or your business materials. To create cohesion and maintain professionalism while attracting your ideal clients, it is important to be intentional with your branding decisions,

In this podcast episode, I share my top recommendations for simple, affordable and high-quality tools that you can use to brush up the branding for your business!

In this Episode:

• A quick recap of what branding is

• Why consistency is important

• The basics of branding

A quick recap of what branding is

Branding is essential to your Canadian private practice because it helps to set your business apart from the rest, makes it look professional, and can put your clients at ease and make them feel excited to work with you.

At its core, branding is the experience that you want your clients to associate with working with you. Branding includes your colour scheme and logo, as well as your office aesthetics and business cards, but it ties all these things together into the 'atmosphere' that you want your business to have.

Why consistency is important

Consistency creates trust and also allows your clients to recognize you and your work.

Something small but effective that I also like to do is to wear black when I see clients – like a uniform, and it helps me to feel prepared for work and allows the clients to also see me in a consistent way.

The basics of branding

• Colour scheme: do some research into color theory and pick some colours that would create the desired effect within your client's mood, as well as some of your favorite colours too. Make sure to get the colour code!

• Create a logo: this logo will go on your website, marketing materials, and social media postings.

'My favorite thing is Fiverr – it's an online platform where freelance artists, designers, and copywriters … [are] on that platform, and you can scroll and find so many cool designers and a lot of them are really affordable!' – Julia Smith

Check out my tools and deals page where you can find a link to Fiverr to create your logo!

• Create business cards: business cards are rarely used nowadays, but it is still important and helpful to have a few on hand. There are loads of free and great options to help you design beautiful business cards.

'Depending on how many [business cards] you need, you might want to go with a business like MOO which I love! Their cards are professional, high-quality, and beautiful, and again you can find them on my tools and deals page … they are just the best types of cards and I highly recommend this company!' – Julia Smith

• Design a website: make sure that the color scheme and the logo that you have chosen are incorporated into your website design.

I love my Canadian online private practice because it is much more affordable to market and brand. However, if you do have a physical office space, be sure that your office and its interior design principles match those of your branding too. Use the same or similar colours to help with consistency and cohesion.

Connect with me:

Instagram

Website

Resources Mentioned and Useful Links:

Ep 79: How to Hire a Social Media Manager | EP 79

Learn more about the tools and deals that I love and use for my Canadian private practice

Article: How to Set Up a Canadian Private Practice Website

Sign up for my free e-course on How to Start an Online Canadian Private Practice

Jane App (use code FEARLESS for one month free)

Rate, review, and subscribe to this podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon, and TuneIn

Social media is here to stay, but it doesn't have to be difficult for you to do.

There are enough people out there with all sorts of skills that you don't have to bootstrap it and do everything – frankly, it's better if you hire out and let someone do what they're good at so that you can focus on providing great therapy!

So, do you want to expand your Canadian private practice by connecting with more of your ideal clients in a way that feels authentic to you and your brand, but you don't know what the first step is? Consider hiring a social media manager.

In this Episode:

• Why I hired a social media manager

• How I hired my first social media manager

• Training my top candidate

• What I've learned from this experience

Why I hired a social media manager

In the current marketing environment, social media can be a very useful tool to connect with your ideal clients and spread the word about your Canadian private practice.

However, social media is an investment of both time and energy. If you are running a Canadian private practice, seeing clients, organizing the billing, and all the rest of it, adding being a social media manager on top of your standard duties can be a lot of extra work.

At first, I was worried that it would cost too much to pay someone to manage my socials each month, but I knew that I needed to spend my time where it mattered the most, so I decided to hire someone.

How I hired my first social media manager

I used Indeed to help connect me with potential social media managers. It has different features that can make it easier for you to post, advertise, filter, and find people that you think would best suit your practice and the role that you are looking to fill.

It was important for me that my top candidate had the skills I was looking for and was someone that I felt I would enjoy working with. Luckily, she accepted!

For the social media manager position, I decided to start her off with a training wage for three months and then bump her up to a living wage which gave me time to figure out what her role would be, how it would work, and to train her for the scope of the role.

Training my top candidate

To lay out some foundational steps for myself and for her, I decided that we would first only meet once a month, unlike with my VA whom I meet with once a week.

The main problem that we had to overcome initially was figuring out how long it would take to write, create, and edit the social media posts, especially when my associate and I also had to edit and confirm some information.

Therefore, the new system of editing posts was just to go through me, and I would confirm it, and it would be posted.

What I've learned from this experience

You have to be clear about how many hours you are willing to give each month.

Additionally, you need to streamline the processes so that there aren't too many cooks in the kitchen when it comes to deciding on a post and how to edit it.

This is one thing that you can easily outsource. So, if you are interested in hiring a social media manager, you can always reach out to us!

Connect with me:

Instagram

Website

Resources Mentioned and Useful Links:

Ep 78: Rebecca Steele: How Raising Your Rates Can Improve the Quality of Your Work | EP 78

Learn more about the tools and deals that I love and use for my Canadian private practice

Article: How to Set Up a Canadian Private Practice Website

Sign up for my free e-course on How to Start an Online Canadian Private Practice

Jane App (use code FEARLESS for one month free)

Rate, review, and subscribe to this podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Stitcher, Spotify, Amazon, and TuneIn

What are the long-term benefits of raising your rates? Why does raising your rates ultimately help your clients as well as your work-life balance?

Many therapists are nervous about raising their rates and so continue to work for the same pay for years. Ultimately, raising your rates can make you a better therapist, and your clients will come to see that.

If you know that you want to raise your rates to create time freedom within your work schedule, then this episode is for you.

MEET REBECCA

For 9 years Rebecca has worked towards helping adults dealing with anxiety, depression, or trauma to find their healing path and experience relief, wholeness, and fulfillment. She loves using a depth-therapy approach to support clients' healing process.

She has two masters-level clinical counselling degrees: a Master of Social Work (MSW) degree and a Master of Arts (MA) degree in Spiritual Care and Psychotherapy.

She is a Registered Social Worker, Psychotherapist, and a Canadian Certified Counsellor. She is also a HeartHealing® Practitioner and a Clinical Counselling Hypnotherapist (C.Hyp™)

Learn more about Rebecca on her website, Psychology Today, and LinkedIn profiles.

In this episode:

• Rebecca's Canadian private practice experience

• Overcoming the initial fear of raising rates

• The benefits of time freedom

• How raising rates supports your work

Rebecca's Canadian private practice experience

Rebecca has been running her private practice for the past seven years. Once she got her Masters of Social Work (MSW), she noticed fewer issues with people leaving therapy because more insurance companies cover social workers.

To grow her Canadian private practice, Rebecca invested in good quality services for herself to help her run the business and to provide high-quality service with a professional feel for her clients.

Overcoming the initial fear of raising rates

A burned-out therapist may struggle to provide the standard of therapy that they aspire to for their clients, let alone their work; long hours for little money can take a huge toll on a therapist's mental and physical health since the work they do is already intensive.

Raising your rates is therefore not only beneficial to the work that you do in terms of giving yourself the chance to take off extra hours which a raised rate allows you to do, but it also helps your clients.

The benefits of time freedom

For most therapists like Rebecca, starting and running a Canadian private practice opens a doorway to experiencing more time freedom because you become your own boss and choose your hours and your work experience. You get to structure your days and weeks how you need to so that you can suit your professional life with your personal one.

How raising rates supports your work

Of course, not all clients were pleased with the increase in the beginning, but the long-term benefits for both the clients and the therapist outweigh that initial discomfort and change.

It is important for you – as a therapist and as a human being – to have a life outside of work that fulfills you so that you can then do what you like to do without dreading each new week.

Of course, you can offer a sliding scale, refer out, or talk about accessibility options to clients of yours that you know need the extra support, so that there is a continuation of care.

Connect with me:

Instagram

Website

Resources mentioned and useful links:

Ep 77: Trying a 50/50 Work Week | EP 77

Learn more about the tools and deals that I love and use for my Canadian private practice

Sign up for my free e-course on How to Start an Online Canadian Private Practice

Jane App (use code FEARLESS for one month free)

www.beamlocal.com/fearless get some discounts for your new website!

Listen to my podcast episode on how to ethically and sustainably raise your rates to help yourself, your business, and your clients!

Learn more about Rebecca on her website, Psychology Today, and LinkedIn profiles – and check out her free dream journal prompt!