Are you a therapist who wants to raise your rates, but the prospect of discussing it with new and existing clients makes you think twice? Talking about money with therapy clients can be awkward — but it's a necessary skill that all therapists need to develop, and this episode will show you the way. 

Why is money such a fraught topic, especially in the therapeutic relationship? Because we genuinely care about our clients. And sometimes, pushing for more money can feel unkind, or like it cheapens the relationship somehow. In reality, money is the boundary that our professional relationships require to remain healthy and balanced. 

If you dread "The Money Talk," changing your mindset about money and its role in your career is step one. This episode will help! Tune in to learn: 

• 01:04 Why talking about money can feel so difficult
• 04:18 The root causes of discomfort around money
• 06:13 Challenges for therapists transitioning into private practice
• 09:31 Legitimate concerns about filling a private practice
• 10:58 Imposter syndrome and your finances
• 16:02 Conflict avoidance and peacemaking tendencies
• 21:40 Cultural and family influences on money
• 25:31 Strategies for talking about money with confidence

You are a highly educated, skilled professional whose work literally changes the trajectory of people's lives. You deserve to make a good living. I hope this episode inspires you to make it happen!

xoxo, 

Dr. Lisa Marie Bobby 

P.S. — Are you at risk of therapist burnout? Take my free quiz and find out:  https://s.pointerpro.com/flourish 

One of the most difficult things about being a therapist is the sense of helpless we can feel about helping our clients create positive change. It's true that our clients are the experts on themselves and we can't do the work of growth for them — but I believe we have more opportunities to lead than we realize. 

When you embrace your expertise and your role as a leader in therapy, new avenues open up to you. It's the doorway not only to feeling more satisfied with your work, but also to helping your clients in the way they really want to be helped. 

On today's episode, we're talking about how you can become a leader in the therapy room, guiding your clients in a positive direction rather than feeling like you have to take a backseat to their process. 

Tune in to learn: 

• 00:00 The Impact of Embracing Leadership in Therapy
• 03:18 The Controversy of Therapists as Leaders
• 07:56 The Role of Therapists in Providing Guidance
• 10:54 Different Theoretical Orientations and Leadership
• 17:23 Striking a Balance Between Autonomy and Guidance
• 20:16 The Therapist's Role in Facilitating Growth
• 23:38 Leadership Questions for Therapists
• 29:19 Developing an Ethical and Positive Leadership Stance
• 32:34 Staying Connected to Your Why
• 35:48 The Intersection of Coaching and Therapy

And more. I hope you'll join me!

xoxo, 

Dr. Lisa

P.S. — Are you at risk of therapist burnout? Take my free quiz and find out: 

https://s.pointerpro.com/flourish 

Ending therapy sessions on time... it's something that all therapists have to master. And it can be harder than it sounds! When your client is getting into something important, the last thing you want to do is cut them off. 

But drawing that boundary around your time is about more than just running a tight ship around your practice (although that's important, too). It's about creating a safe container in the therapy session and keeping the dynamics of the relationship professional. 

So how can you get better at ending your sessions on time, without making your clients feel rushed out? This episode will show you the way! Tune in to learn: 

• 00:00 Why Ending Therapy Sessions on Time Matters
• 04:26 The Challenges of Ending Sessions on Time
• 07:16 How Money Factors Into It
• 09:35 The 'Doorknob Moment' and Managing Time
• 13:28 Building Trust and Maintaining Professional Boundaries
• 15:25 Preventing Burnout and Practicing Self-Care
• 18:41 Managing Administrative Tasks and Minimizing Stress
• 23:41 Strategies for Ending Sessions on Time
• 26:26 Developing a Closing Routine
• 27:25 Exploring Emotions and Seeking Support

And more! I hope you'll join me and that you'll take some valuable tips from the conversation. 

xoxo, 

Dr. Lisa Marie Bobby 

P.S. — Are you at risk of therapist burnout? Take my free quiz and find out: https://s.pointerpro.com/flourish 

Therapist friends, I have some advice — if you are primarily focused on the diagnosis and treatment of mental health conditions, the future of your career as a therapist is at risk. Moving away from the medical model is the best way to future-proof your career while building a thriving practice. On today's episode, I'm going to tell you why that is and how you can take action. 

There are already AI programs that can do much of what we were taught to do in counseling school when it comes to recognizing mental health symptoms and devising treatment plans. And if your business model relies on insurance billing, you should know that insurance companies are already finding ways to avoid paying therapists to do this work. 

What does that mean for you? It means it's time to broaden your skillset and your practice to focus on concerns that the medical model was never designed to address: Personal growth, healthy relationships, life satisfaction, goal attainment and career success. Taking this opportunity to move beyond the medical model will help you connect with a wider range of clients, prosper in private practice, and prepare for our new technological reality. 

Tune in to learn how. We'll be exploring: 

• 00:00 The Rise of AI in Therapy
• 03:24 The Impact on Therapists
• 07:38 The Role of Insurance Companies
• 09:53 The Power of New Technologies
• 14:00 The Ethical Dilemma of Insurance Billing
• 16:23 Pivoting Away from the Medical Model
• 18:14 The Advantages of Coaching
• 22:53 The Future of Coaching

And more. I hope you'll join me! 

xoxo, 

Dr. Lisa Marie Bobby 

P.S. — Are you at risk of therapist burnout? Take my free quiz and find out: https://s.pointerpro.com/flourish 

All therapists have blindspots, and learning to recognize them is deep personal and professional growth work. It will make you more empathetic, more insightful, and more insightful, not only as a therapist, but also as a human.  

But the thing about blindspots is... we can't see them! Uncovering your blind spots to become a more culturally competent therapist is a process of self-exploration that will unearth perspectives and conditioning that you're not even aware of yet. It requires openness and courage, and it strengthens your capacity for self-reflection and connection to others. 

That exploratory process is what we're talking about on this episode of Love, Happiness and Success for Therapists. My guest is Dr. Diane Estrada, a veteran of the craft and my long-time mentor. Diane brings so much heart and wisdom to her practice, as well as to her work helping others become the best therapists they can be. She's a treasure, and I'm so excited that I get to share her with you!

Tune in to learn: 

• 02:10 The Impact of Cultural and Identity Biases in Therapy
• 04:01 How to Develop Self-Awareness as a Therapist
• 12:08 Recognizing the Influence of Eurocentric Models
• 23:33 Reckoning with Feelings of Anger and Resentment
• 28:01 Seeing the Presence of Culture and Belief Systems
• 35:52 Practices for Growth and Development
• 39:52 The Importance of Checks and Balances
• 40:59 The Challenge of Engaging in Difficult Conversations
• 42:07 Understanding Your Clients' Context
• 43:30 Creating Courageous Space
• 44:18 Balancing Emotional Safety and Growth
• 45:08 Overcoming the Discomfort of Addressing Race

  And more!   I hope you'll join us, and that you'll find our conversation as insightful and helpful as I did.    With love,    Dr. Lisa Marie Bobby    P.S. — Are you at risk of therapist burnout? Take my free quiz and find out: https://s.pointerpro.com/flourish

This week on Love, Happiness and Success for Therapists, we are spotlighting an organization that is making a positive difference in the lives of current and former foster care children: A Home Within. 

A Home Within is a collective of volunteer therapists who offer no-cost therapy to current and former foster care children, for as long as they need it. This is the kind of transformative, meaningful work that we all want to be a part of, and I'm so honored to have the opportunity to shine a light on this fantastic organization. 

My guest is Candice Simonds, chief program officer and a volunteer with A Home Within. Candice is sharing tips on working with people impacted by foster care, helping clients overcome a difficult childhood, and how you can use your therapist superpowers to become a beacon of hope for disadvantaged kids in your community. 

Tune in to hear: 

• 08:19 The Importance of This Work
• 15:42 Supporting Clinicians and Clients
• 25:26 Community Experience for Home Within Volunteers
• 26:41 Therapist Choice and Caseloads
• 28:20 Long-Term Trajectories and Outcomes
• 29:20 Research and Client Needs
• 32:10 Positive Impact of Therapy
• 33:06 Building Safety and Engagement
• 39:33 Creating an Environment of Healing and Joy
• 40:57 Resilience and Hope
• 42:21 The Power of Love
• 44:37 Being Part of the Solution
• 47:28 How to Get Involved

And more! I hope you'll join us for this enlightening conversation, and consider joining this amazing group of therapists.    xoxo,  Dr. Lisa Marie Bobby    P.S. — Are you at risk of therapist burnout? Take my free quiz and find out: https://s.pointerpro.com/flourish 

 

Vicarious trauma: It's an occupational hazard for us as therapists. It's also something that we're all exposed to sooner or later. 

We sit with our clients' most difficult life experiences every single day. We care so much... and sometimes our empathetic hearts lead us to take on the emotional residue of the stories we hear. 

But there are things you can do to avoid becoming vicariously traumatized, and to cope with vicarious trauma once it's already set in. That's what we're talking about on today's episode. 

My guest is Dr. Lisa Corbin, a therapist, educator, and thought leader on preventing and managing vicarious trauma. Dr. Lisa C. is sharing some sage advice that will keep you happy, healthy and effective, throughout your career. You won't want to miss it!

You'll learn: 

• 00:00 What Is Vicarious Trauma? 
• 10:06 Dr. Lisa Corbin's Personal Experience with Vicarious Trauma
• 19:04 Recognizing and Addressing Vicarious Trauma
• 25:08 What to Do About Traumatized Colleagues
• 39:36 Acceptance and Self-Care
• 40:51 Physical Rituals and Grounding Exercises
• 42:21 Supporting Each Other as Therapists
• 43:15 Infusing Trauma Discussions into Supervision
• 44:23 Spirituality and Religion as Coping Mechanisms
• 45:48 Invoking Higher Power to Help
• 46:43 Sharing Traumatic Experiences with Colleagues
• 50:28 Increasing Awareness and Seeking Support

I hope you'll join me!

xoxo, 

Dr. Lisa Marie Bobby

P.S. — Are you at risk of therapist burnout? Take my free quiz and find out: https://s.pointerpro.com/flourish

Being a therapist is incredibly rewarding, especially when you get to do what you do best: Help people grow. And the best way to help your clients break through barriers and achieve the next step in their evolution is by learning how to coach. Why? That's what we're talking about on today's episode of Love, Happiness and Success for Therapists!

Tune in to learn about:

• 02:26 The Need for Coaching in Therapy 
• 05:04 How to Incorporate Coaching into Therapy
• 08:20 Differences Between Therapy and Coaching
• 11:08 Coaching for Growth and Positive Change
• 13:25 The Effectiveness of Coaching
• 16:15 How to Get Started

And so much more!

I hope this episode inspires you to take the next step in YOUR professional growth by adding a coaching credential to your skill set. I know you'll be glad you did — and so will your clients when they experience the real-world results that you can help them create.  

xoxo, Dr. Lisa Marie Bobby

P.S. — Are you at risk of therapist burnout? Take my free quiz and find out: https://s.pointerpro.com/flourish 

Burnout is an occupational hazard for us as therapists. Our caring hearts make us great at what we do... but when you combine high levels of empathy with complex cases, overwhelming workloads, and unsupportive environments, you have a recipe for burnout and exhaustion. 

Unfortunately, many therapists leave the profession after a bad experience with burnout. But it doesn't have to be this way. There are skills and strategies that protect therapists from burnout and allow you to build a thriving career with your wellbeing at the center. And that's what we're talking about on today's episode! 

We're discussing: 

Why therapists are uniquely vulnerable to burnout. 

Strategies to prevent burnout before it starts. 

How to know if you're in an environment where your wellbeing is not supported. 

How to manage the symptoms of therapist burnout once it has set in. 

How to build a balanced, sustainable career as a therapist. 

All of that and more for you on today's show, dear listener. I hope you'll tune in. 

And, if you want to know about YOUR unique risk factors for burnout, I've created a free quiz for you! You can take it here: https://s.pointerpro.com/flourish

xoxo, 

Dr. Lisa Marie Bobby 

As therapists, we are laser-focused on helping our clients achieve personal growth. But we can't neglect our own never-ending growth journeys.

Continuing to invest in our growth keeps us engaged, healthy, and sharp. It helps us help our clients, and it leads to a more satisfying and fulfilling career for us.

So how can we embrace our own growth, while continuing to nurture growth in others? That's what we're talking about on today's episode of Love, Happiness and Success for Therapists!

I hope you'll join me!

xoxo, Dr. Lisa Marie Bobby

P.S. — Are you at risk of therapist burnout? Take my free quiz and find out: https://s.pointerpro.com/flourish