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What would happen if your marketing suddenly took off? Would you be ready for it?
When therapist Melissa Divaris Thompson decided to give TikTok a try, she had no idea she'd eventually build an email list of more than 90,000 people. (!)
But going viral brought more than new opportunities. It brought unexpected challenges, some hard-earned business lessons, and a few surprises along the way.
In this episode, you'll hear:
Melissa's story is a great reminder that you don't need fancy equipment, a huge budget, or a perfectly polished presentation to get started. You do need a willingness to experiment and to pay attention to what works - so you can build a business that supports the life you want.
Ready to take a fresh look at your own marketing? Listen in, take what resonates, and just think...
What could a small experiment open up for you?
I don't know - but it's fun to think about! :)
~Wendy
P.S. If you're ready for some personalized help figuring out your next best move in business, my Quick Start Consult might be just what you need. Learn more through the link below.
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TODAY’S GUEST:
Melissa Divaris Thompson is a licensed marriage and family therapist with sixteen years of experience helping couples find their way back to each other. Trained in the Gottman Method, Emotionally Focused Therapy, AEDP, and attachment based EMDR, she's the creator of Embracing Joy Consulting and the founder of Embracing Joy Psychotherapy, a group practice based in New York City. Through her courses, digital products, and content as @melissadivaristhompson on TikTok and Instagram, she makes real relationship skills feel doable for real couples. Originally from Cape Town, South Africa, Mel lives in Virginia Beach with her husband and two kids, and she's been married over sixteen years herself.
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Wendy Pitts Reeves, LCSW
Host, Ideal Practice
Private Practice Coach and Mentor
www.WendyPittsReeves.com
[email protected]
What if the marketing you're already doing could be more memorable, more personal, and maybe even a little more fun?
Does that sound crazy?
Maybe. But it's not. :)
You don't have to become a social media superstar or dream up some elaborate new marketing strategy to get noticed. Sometimes, all it takes is a little imagination and a willingness to do something differently. And that's what we're talking about this week on the podcast.
In this episode, you'll hear:
The goal isn't to pile more work onto your already overflowing to-do list. It's to bring more of YOU into the marketing you're already doing, so the right people can find you and get a sense of who you really are...
And if you've been putting off marketing because none of the usual approaches sound appealing, I'm hoping that the ideas I've shared today might give you just permission you've needed to try something completely different.
Here's my challenge for you, my friends: Grab a notebook, brainstorm a few possibilities, and circle the idea that makes you grin. Then pick ONE and give it a try. You might surprise yourself!
I certainly have done that many times... Why not you? :)
~Wendy
P.S. Next week, you'll meet Melissa DeVaris Thompson, a therapist whose creative approach to short-form video caught my attention so completely that I stalked her, lol, and invited her onto the show. You're going to love this conversation! (Share it with a friend!)
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MENTIONED
[Episode 153] The Unique Power of Equine EMDR: Julie Jerrolds and a Creative Private Practice
https://www.wendypittsreeves.com/blog/153
[Episode 203] How'd You Know That? When Good Marketing Feels a Little Like Magic
https://www.wendypittsreeves.com/blog/203
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WANT to BE MY GUEST?
We are currently scheduling interviews for the 1st half of next year. If you have a clear message, an engaging style, and a heart for healers, let's meet!
Submit your application right here - https://www.wendypittsreeves.com/guest-application
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FREE RESOURCES
• 31 Ways to Increase Cash Flow — https://www.wendypittsreeves.com/cashflow
Support the show
Wendy Pitts Reeves, LCSW
Host, Ideal Practice
Private Practice Coach and Mentor
www.WendyPittsReeves.com
[email protected]
What if one of the biggest things holding your private practice back isn't your clinical skill, your marketing, or even the economy? (I know - we can always blame things on the economy!)
What if it's the fact that you get all tied up in knots inside, any time something comes up around the word, or even the idea of profit? The very idea of making a profit in your practice??
If you're a therapist, an energy healer, an LMT, or another healing professional, I doubt you went into this work because you dreamed of managing bank accounts, setting fees, or tracking business expenses.
You got into it for the same reason I did: you just wanted to help people.
And yet, if you want to keep doing that good meaningful work for years to come, your practice has to take care of you, too. We want you to last, my friend. :)
So in this episode, I'm sharing a conversation I had with financial professional Randall Avery on his show, Practice Prosperity. He asked questions I don't often get asked, and we ended up talking about everything from the money mistakes I've made (ugh) to the practical systems I've finally landed on that have helped me build a healthier business.
In this episode, you'll hear:
We'll also talk about the mindset shifts that make those practical business decisions possible, especially when working with money feels so uncomfortable to so many of us.
Because when you make those shifts, you can begin building a practice that supports your clients, honors your work, and gives you more freedom to live the REAL life you want.
Would you like to change your own relationship with money?
My Mind Over Money™ course was created for healing professionals who want to feel more confident, comfortable, and intentional about the financial side of their work.
For 31 days, you'll get a small, delightful dose of inspiration and practical strategy designed to help you rethink the way you relate to money, in no more than five minutes a day. It's such a support that many of my students tell me they miss it when it ends!
The course is normally $97, but you can use the code IDEAL50 to save $50 and get it for just $47.
Learn more at www.wendypittsreeves.com/mind.
Let's start having some fun with this. Life is short, y'all.
And I want you to do well.
~Wendy
P.S. BTW - have you done your Q4 planning yet? My coaching clients have been asking me about this, which reminded me to share it with you too. Now is a great time to step back and take a fresh look at your practice. My free Quarterly Success Checker will help you see what's working, what needs attention, and where to focus next. Get your copy at www.wendypittsreeves.com/quarter.
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MENTIONED
Learn more about Randall Avery’s work at the following:
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LET’s CONNECT!
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MIND over MONEY™:
This is a hidden gem among all that I do. One of my most popular courses, designed to bring you a breath of fresh financial air each day. Develop a whole new abundance mindset with inspiration AND strategy in just 5 minutes a day for 31 days. You’ll thank me later. :)
Use the Promo Code “Ideal50” to get $50 off. (Sweet!)
Learn more at www.WendyPittsReeves.com/mind.
Support the show
Wendy Pitts Reeves, LCSW
Host, Ideal Practice
Private Practice Coach and Mentor
www.WendyPittsReeves.com
[email protected]
You work hard to help people find your practice.
You build the website. Create the content. Go to those awkward networking coffees. Nurture referral relationships as best you can. Maybe you even show up on social media when you'd really rather not, thankyouverymuch. 😝
But what happens AFTER someone finds you?
That's the question at the heart of my conversation today with business growth strategist Chanel Rose. Because marketing isn't only about attracting new people: it's also about what happens once they're standing at your virtual front door.
Can they figure out what to do next? Do they know you've received their inquiry? Is it easy to schedule with you? Do they feel cared for along the way?
And what happens to the ones who don't quite make it through the door?
Chanel calls this internal marketing, and I love that way of looking at it. Because every system, every follow-up, and every interaction is teaching people something about what it's like to work with you.
And when all that goes well, people feel cared for, connected, and are more likely to stay.
NOTE: We covered a lot of ground here, including ideas about referrals, client follow-up, wellness communication and even gifts. Some ideas may not be appropriate for your particular industry. As always, adapt any business or marketing strategy to the ethical standards, licensing requirements, privacy rules, and scope-of-practice guidelines that apply to your profession.
(That said, I can't help but ask: if you can't do something suggested here, is there a creative way you could still tap into the idea behind it?)
In this episode, you'll hear:
🔎 Why the client journey starts before someone ever contacts you, and where good potential clients may disappear along the way.
💬 What “internal marketing” actually means, and why the experience you're creating inside your practice matters just as much as the marketing you're doing outside it.
🤝 How to take better care of your referral relationships, including the surprisingly simple practices many of us forget once the referrals start coming.
⚙️ Where a few thoughtful systems can reduce friction, from inquiries and scheduling to waitlists, follow-up, and staying connected.
🌱 Why overwhelm doesn't have to be part of the job, and how better systems can help you reclaim energy you're spending holding everything together.
If you've been working hard to bring more people into your practice, our conversation today is an invitation to look in a really different direction than you're used to looking.
What happens once they get there?
Because sometimes the next step in growing your practice isn't more marketing.
It's taking better care of the people your marketing has already reached.
~Wendy
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TODAY'S GUEST
Chanel Rose is a business growth and revenue strategist serving independent healthcare, wellness, and professional-service businesses. With more than 15 years of experience in business development, banking, fundraising, and revenue strategy, she works with practice owners to strengthen the connection between visibility, inquiry response, client experience, retention, and referrals. Her approach centers on building sustainable revenue systems that protect the owner's time, energy, and capacity. A fourth-generation entrepreneur and former political campaign manager, Chanel brings a relationship-centered perspective to growth, helping owners create financially healthy practices without relying on hustle, pressure, or constant personal involvement.
Connect with Chanel: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chanelrose/
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MENTIONED
Episode 204: Ready to Hire Help for Your Private Practice? Start Here. (Part 1)
https://www.wendypittsreeves.com/blog/204
Episode 205: How to Write the Best Ad So You'll Hire the Best People (Part 2)
https://www.wendypittsreeves.com/blog/205
Episode 206: How to Interview Candidates So You Actually Hire the Right Person (Part 3)
https://www.wendypittsreeves.com/blog/206
Episode 207: How to Turn a Great Hire Into an Even Better Team Member (Part 4)
https://www.wendypittsreeves.com/blog/207
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LET’s CONNECT:
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FREE RESOURCE
• IP360 Scorecard — https://www.wendypittsreeves.com/360
Support the show
Wendy Pitts Reeves, LCSW
Host, Ideal Practice
Private Practice Coach and Mentor
www.WendyPittsReeves.com
[email protected]
If the thought of "selling" in any way makes you a bit squirmy, you are SO not alone.
Most therapists and helping professionals were never taught how to have a sales conversation of any kind. And in fact, if you're anything like many of my clients, you associate selling with pressure, persuasion, or the whole "used-car sales" kind of energy.
But y'all - if you own a private practice, sales conversations are part of the job. The good news is: it doesn't have to be something you hate. Not at all.
In this episode, I'm showing you how selling can actually be an act of service instead.
In fact - I'll give you six simple steps for having an aligned sales conversation with clarity, integrity, and confidence.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
The most important thing you'll hear today?? Why respecting someone else's financial reality does not mean taking responsibility for it.
You owe it to yourself (and your clients) to learn how to sell from a place of service rather than sacrifice... so you can build a financially healthy practice that takes good care of your clients and takes good care of you. 🥰
And hey - if you'd like to get a sense of where your practice needs the most attention right now, I have a gift you can use! Take the free IP360 Scorecard for a quick look at all Seven Pillars of an Ideal Practice™ - what's working, what isn't, and where to focus next.
Wonder if it might be... um... sales? ;)
~Wendy
P.S. The next time someone asks what you charge, notice what happens inside you. Defensive? Apologetic? Or grounded enough to explain, invite - and release? 🫣🙌😘
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MENTIONED
The IP360 Scorecard — https://www.wendypittsreeves.com/360
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LET’s CONNECT:
Support the show
Wendy Pitts Reeves, LCSW
Host, Ideal Practice
Private Practice Coach and Mentor
www.WendyPittsReeves.com
[email protected]
Who gets to call the shots in your private practice?
Because whether you realize it or not, there are plenty of outside forces that would be happy to answer that question for you. 🤨
In this week's wide-ranging conversation, I sat down with Kelly Higdon of ZynnyMe to talk about what’s changing in our profession – from insurance companies and venture-backed platforms to AI, certification culture, and more.
But underneath all of that was a much bigger question:
How do you hold on to your own authority as the CEO of your business in the middle of so much increasing pressure to conform?
That's what I want to explore today.
In this episode, you’ll hear…
→ Why some of the newest trends in private practice look an awful lot like the managed care playbook of the 1990s, and what that means for us as practice owners. Ugh.
→ How stepping outside the usual rules can open the door to more creative, effective – and sustainable – ways of serving your clients. (You know I loved that part!)
→ Why Kelly sometimes puts coaching clients on a “certification diet.” Made me laugh!! 😉
→ What your mind, heart, body, and spirit can tell you about the decisions you’re making in your business. #truth
→ And why human connection may matter more than ever in a world increasingly shaped by AI.
And - oh my gosh - this is soooo important. Kelly and I will also explore what happens when you stop looking outside yourself for permission (!) and start trusting what you already know.
Why? Because that's how you build a practice that serves your clients well, supports you well, and lets you run YOUR practice YOUR way.
That's what I want for you, my friend. xoxo
Join us.
~Wendy
P.S. If this conversation has you thinking about what you really want your practice to look like – and where you may have handed over more authority than you realized – let's talk.
A Quick Start Consult is 90 minutes devoted entirely to you, your practice, and whatever is getting in your way. We'll sort through what's working, what's not, and what needs to happen next so you can move forward with more clarity and confidence.
Schedule your Quick Start Consult here → https://www.wendypittsreeves.com/consult
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TODAY’S GUEST
Kelly Higdon, LMFT thinks the conversation therapists avoid most is the one about whether therapy is working. As co-founder of ZynnyMe and co-creator of Business School for Therapists, they have spent twenty years teaching clinicians to measure outcomes, talk about them honestly with clients, and build practices that hold up financially because of it. Kelly co-authored Therapist Burnout and Beyond the Hour, co-hosts Starting a Private Practice, and has reached more than 100,000 clinicians worldwide. They believe private practice is one of the solutions to access, and that therapists being the worst-paid master's degree is a fixable problem, not a fact of life.
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MENTIONED
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LET’S CONNECT:
Support the show
Wendy Pitts Reeves, LCSW
Host, Ideal Practice
Private Practice Coach and Mentor
www.WendyPittsReeves.com
[email protected]
What if the skills and knowledge you already have could become the foundation for an entirely different kind of business? 💡
That’s exactly what happened for my guest today, Dr. Jason Troyer. Jason is a counseling psychologist who spent nearly 15 years as a college professor before an unexpected opportunity introduced him to the death care industry – and eventually led him to leave a tenured position and become a full-time entrepreneur.
What I love about Jason’s story is that none of this started with some grand business plan. He followed his curiosity, paid attention to what people needed, experimented with different ideas, and learned how to turn what he knew into services people were willing to pay for.
Seriously. This is a GREAT story.
Along the way, he discovered that you don’t have to be the world’s leading expert, create something bigger and better…
…or even stay inside the professional lane you were trained for. 😎
So in this episode, you’ll hear:
And perhaps most importantly, you’ll hear why Jason believes it all starts with empathy: simply understanding what people actually need, then finding a way to give it to them.
That’s something we as healers already know how to do. Right? ❤️
So if you’ve ever wondered what else you could do with everything you know – or how you could make more money without simply adding more clients to your caseload – this one should get your wheels turning.
What would happen if you followed your curiosity?
~Wendy
P.S. Listen all the way to the end, because I came back to share the three ideas from our conversation that I’m still thinking about, and one of them gave me something to work on. 😉
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TODAY’S GUEST
Dr. Jason Troyer is a counseling psychologist, author, speaker, and entrepreneur who built a profitable business without maintaining a therapy caseload. He helps funeral homes, cemeteries, and other organizations better serve grieving families through recurring services, educational booklets, workshops, and scalable grief-support resources. After nearly 15 years as a psychology professor, Jason left his tenured position when his business outgrew his academic career. His work shows how helping professionals can turn specialized expertise into ethical, practical, and sustainable income.
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FREE RESOURCE
If you’re looking for even more creative ways to boost your income, check this out. Every single one of these are steps I’ve successfully used in my own practice!
31 Practical Ways to Increase Cash Flow In Your Private Practice (Without Becoming Salesy, Sleasy or Someone You Don't Even Like): https://www.wendypittsreeves.com/cashflow
Support the show
Wendy Pitts Reeves, LCSW
Host, Ideal Practice
Private Practice Coach and Mentor
www.WendyPittsReeves.com
[email protected]
When I began my career as a young therapist, I thought there was a right way to do therapy. Assess. Make a plan. Follow the plan. Know what you’re doing.
Almost four decades later? I no longer think that way.
In this deeply personal solo episode, I’m sharing some of what all those years (and more than a few mistakes) have taught me about doing healing work well.
Experience hasn’t taught me that I’m to always know the answer. It’s taught me how to trust myself, how to pay attention, and how to discern what comes next.
In this episode, you’ll hear:
More than anything, my hope is that you’ll come away from this episode learning to trust your own experience even more, that you’ll listen to your intuition and own your perfectly imperfect humanity while continuing to grow in the skill of this work.
So good!
I’d love to know what resonates for you. What has experience taught you about doing your work well? Shoot me an email and tell me. I’d really love to hear your story.
~Wendy
P.S. Has this episode brought another therapist, coach or healer to mind? Help them out. Send it their way…. They may thank you later.
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MENTIONED
Episode 209: The Power of Inner Silence: Why Your Presence Matters More Than Your Method with Lex Santi’
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LET’s CONNECT!:
Support the show
Wendy Pitts Reeves, LCSW
Host, Ideal Practice
Private Practice Coach and Mentor
www.WendyPittsReeves.com
[email protected]
What does it really mean to be fully present with your clients?
As healers, we spend a LOT of time mastering techniques and promising new methods, pursuing certifications and figuring out new ways to help people feel better.
And all of that matters.
But there’s something even more foundational underneath all of that, something we can easily lose sight of: our ability to slow down, quiet our own minds and really see the human being sitting in front of us.
My guest today is psychotherapist, writer and fellow LCSW Lex Santí. Lex is developing a new psychometric framework called AMI—Acceptance Motivation Inquiry—designed to help clinicians better understand a client’s motivation for therapy and their relationship to the problem they’re facing.
But our conversation became about something bigger than the framework itself.
In this episode, you’ll hear…
We explored the seduction of methodology, the surprising problem with our “best” clients, what AI can (and cannot!) replicate about human connection, and the extraordinary courage it sometimes takes just to walk through your door.
There is nothing quite like being fully seen by another human being.
And as our tools get faster, smarter and more sophisticated, I believe our ability to offer that kind of presence is going to matter more than ever.
So listen to this one with your clinician hat on.
And the next time you sit down with a client, see what happens when you quiet your own mind, stay curious…and let them show you who they really are.
~Wendy
P.S. I’d love to know what this brings up for you. How does presence show up in your work? Drop me a note at [email protected] and share your thoughts. I’d love to hear from you.
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TODAY’S GUEST
Lex E. Santí, LCSW, is a psychotherapist, novelist, and founder of A Key Therapy in New York state. He has been in private practice since the early days of COVID-19, helping adults navigate anxiety, life transitions, relationships, and questions of meaning through mindfulness, narrative therapy, and Acceptance & Motivation Inquiry (AMI), a framework he developed to support lasting change. He is the author of multiple published books, including a novel, and previously worked as a therapist at Family & Children’s Service of Ithaca and Cornell University. Lex is currently pursuing his Doctor of Social Work (DSW) at the University of Kentucky.
Learn more:
A Key Therapy: https://www.akeytherapy.co/
Lex Santí: https://www.lexenricosanti.com/
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MENTIONED
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LET’s CONNECT:
Support the show
Wendy Pitts Reeves, LCSW
Host, Ideal Practice
Private Practice Coach and Mentor
www.WendyPittsReeves.com
[email protected]
What could happen if you stopped waiting for permission?
Permission to want something more…
Permission to try something brave…
Permission to go after that crazy idea that's been calling you forward for so long — even though you have no freaking idea how to make it happen. 😬
That's where we're going this week.
Last spring, I was invited by Emma Lagerlow, host of the Australian podcast It's a Mindset, to be a guest on her show — and our conversation went somewhere I don't often go, here on Ideal Practice.
So I asked if I could share it with you all, too. :)
We had a beautiful conversation about courage and confidence, self-worth and intuition, money and adventure — and I shared quite a few of the experiences that have shaped who I am and how I approach my work.
I also walked her through the seven-step Courage to Confidence Success Cycle — a process I first began to recognize decades ago in my own life, and one I've used over and over again anytime I've set out to do something big, scary or (seemingly) impossible.
In this episode, you’ll hear:
We’ll also wander through Switzerland, the Appalachian Trail, hang gliding, kayaking, violin lessons, money, marketing and a few other adventures along the way. Because apparently that's what happens when someone else gets to ask me the questions. 😂
But underneath all of it is something I believe deeply:
Life is meant to be lived. Fully. Wholeheartedly.
You don't have to know exactly how you're going to get there. You don't have to be fearless. And you certainly don't have to wait until you feel confident.
You just have to give yourself permission to begin.
Enjoy. :)
~Wendy
P.S. Emma originally shared this conversation as Episode 92 of It's a Mindset. I'll also link her earlier appearance here on Ideal PracticeTM, Episode 188, in the resources below.
____________________Support the show
Wendy Pitts Reeves, LCSW
Host, Ideal Practice
Private Practice Coach and Mentor
www.WendyPittsReeves.com
[email protected]
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