Mentored with Dr Brooklyn Storme PhD

In this episode, I sit down with Philip Armstrong, CEO of the Vocational Mental Health Professionals Association of Australia (VMHPAA), to unpack the National Standards for Counsellors and Psychotherapists — what’s true, what’s still uncertain, and what it all means for your private practice.

If you’ve felt confused or anxious about what these standards might mean for you as a counsellor, psychotherapist, or student — you’re not alone. In this conversation, we explore the facts behind the draft, the myths circulating in online communities, and the practical implications for vocational and higher-education qualified practitioners. Philip clarifies the differences between licensing, registration, and endorsement, and together we talk through why it’s not yet official, how the process works, and where counsellors’ voices are needed most.

You’ll hear:

If you’re a counsellor, psychotherapist, psychologist, or social worker in Australia trying to make sense of the evolving standards, this episode will help you understand the facts, stay calm, and know exactly where your professional voice matters.

For ongoing updates, advocacy, and to join the Vocational Mental Health Professionals Association of Australia, visit:

To learn more about my business coaching programs and resources for therapists, visit:

Q: Are the National Standards for Counsellors and Psychotherapists now official?

Q: What’s the difference between a license and registration?

Q: Can counsellors with a Diploma still practice privately?

Q: Should I be paying for a license now?

Q: How can counsellors get involved in consultation?

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If you’ve ever felt like you’re constantly chasing clients, posting endlessly on social media, or paying for ads that don’t work — this episode is for you. I’m diving deep into how to market less and still have consistent bookings in your private practice. You’ll learn why client retention matters more than constant marketing, how to improve it ethically, and how to create genuine connection through “surprise and delight” moments that make your clients remember and return to you.

This episode is perfect for women in private practice like counsellors, psychologists, social workers, and play therapists  who are ready to stop feeling behind, overwhelmed, or burnt out by endless marketing and start building a business that feels sustainable, aligned, and deeply fulfilling.

You’ll walk away understanding how to reduce the pressure on yourself by shifting from constant client chasing to creating memorable experiences that naturally support long-term bookings. You’ll also learn the difference between over-delivering and overworking and how to do less while helping your practice thrive.

Quick win: Pick one way to “surprise and delight” your clients this week, something small, thoughtful, and aligned with your values (like a check-in message, an unexpected resource, or a thank-you note). Notice how it strengthens your connection and energy.

If you’re ready to take your practice from stressful to steady, explore my most popular offers below:

Practice Momentum (12-month private coaching & consulting program):

Booked & Better | Monthly Tools for Private Practice:

Website Wellness Check | Get a personalised video review of your therapy website:

The Ultimate Private Practice | Free Community for Therapists:

The Un-Discovery Call | Learn how to structure discovery calls that convert:

Create an App for Your Private Practice!

The Happy Practice Etsy Store | Templates, forms & checklists:

Subscribe on YouTube for more episodes:

How to Simplify Your Social Media Marketing and Attract Inquiries (without posting everywhere)

I recorded this right after Facebook awarded me an “Emerging Talent” badge — and it got me thinking about how to use social media in a way that actually works for therapists. In this episode, I share how I simplify my marketing, why I only focus on one platform, and the exact approach I use to consistently attract inquiries without spending hours online. If you’re tired of creating endless Canva posts that don’t convert, this episode will feel like a breath of fresh air.

This one is for women in private practice — counsellors, psychologists, social workers, accredited mental health social workers, and play therapists — who want a simpler, calmer approach to marketing that still brings in clients. I talk about niching (and how it makes content effortless), why Facebook often works better than Instagram for our field, and how to “show not tell” your expertise so potential clients feel connected and safe reaching out.

You’ll walk away knowing how to pick one platform, post less but connect more, and create trust through genuine conversations — not algorithms. I also talk about authenticity, karma, and why giving freely online actually leads to more aligned clients.

Links mentioned in this episode

Timestamps

Action step for a quick win

Stop Waiting to Feel Ready: Build Confidence with Simple Systems for Your Private Practice

Show notes:

This episode is for women therapists—counsellors, psychologists, social workers, and play therapists—who love the work but feel stuck second-guessing decisions, winging it without processes, and relying on motivation that comes and goes. You’ll hear how to create safety and certainty in your business by putting simple processes in place (onboarding, cancellations, marketing routines) and tracking your progress so your brain sees real evidence that it’s working. I also talk about reframing fear as a sign of growth, and how systems reduce emotional load so you can show up confident and consistent.

You’ll walk away with a clear next step to create more stability and confidence fast: design one tiny process you can repeat—then track it for 30–90 days. If you want support implementing this quickly with on-demand help, you can work with me inside Practice Momentum. It’s like having an expert in your pocket, ready when you are.

How to start selling on Etsy for therapists - what you need to know before you begin so that you get great results! 

Get personalised help for your private practice: 

Get templates and create your own products to sell here:

How to Create a Successful Private Practice Faster (Without Burning Out) Description: In this episode, I share the real way to create a successful private practice faster—by mastering one thing at a time instead of layering on tasks that don’t move the needle.

If you’re a counsellor, psychologist, social worker, or play therapist who feels overwhelmed by “do-all-the-things” advice, this episode will help you find clarity and direction so you can fill your diary sooner. You’ll hear about the stages every therapist goes through (from uninformed optimism to informed pessimism), why your website is often the missing link, and how to tell if your funnel is broken at the top, middle, or bottom. You’ll also learn when passive income *actually* makes sense for your practice (hint: not until your main offer is stable).

Quick win action step: Open your website and ask yourself, “Would a time-poor, stressed parent know what I do and how to book in under 10 seconds?” If not, update your homepage today with one clear headline, one short proof statement, and one bold “Book Now” button.

Helpful links:

Practice Momentum:

[https://sales.brooklynstorme.com/momentum/](

https://sales.brooklynstorme.com/momentum/)

Booked & Better Monthly Private Practice Tools:

[https://sales.brooklynstorme.com/booked--better/]

(https://sales.brooklynstorme.com/booked--better/)

Website Wellness Check:

[https://sales.brooklynstorme.com/website-wellness-check-up-aud/]

(https://sales.brooklynstorme.com/website-wellness-check-up-aud/)

The Ultimate Private Practice | Free Community for Therapists:

[https://sales.brooklynstorme.com/ultimate-private-practice-free-community/]

(https://sales.brooklynstorme.com/ultimate-private-practice-free-community/)

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If you’ve ever wondered why your private practice isn’t generating as much revenue as it could, this episode is for you. I share how to stop “selling the candle” and start communicating true value in a way your clients actually connect with. Whether you’re offering therapy sessions, courses, workshops, or even freebies like PDFs or apps, the difference between struggling and thriving often comes down to how you present the value of what you do.

In this conversation, I walk you through the mistakes I see therapists making with their websites and social media, why niching matters so much, and how to use plain, relatable language that converts inquiries into bookings. I also share what we can learn from big launches (like Alex Hormozi’s record-breaking book launch) and how therapists can adapt those strategies without the overwhelm.

If you’re not sure how your website is performing or if you’re struggling to attract the right clients, book a Website Wellness Check and let me give you tailored feedback on your messaging and visibility. Or, if you’d like to brainstorm your practice strategy with me directly, grab a Complimentary 15-Minute Business Strategy Session. Both are designed to give you clarity and practical next steps to help you generate more revenue with ease.

Timestamps

Join Booked & Better Monthly Resource Subscription here

Are you tired of offering freebies on your website that no one downloads? In this episode of the Private Practice Podcast, I share the new way to attract more inquiries and client bookings using interactive, implementation-based resources that actually work.

Traditional PDFs and ebooks no longer carry the value they once did—thanks to AI, clients can find the same information in seconds. But by creating interactive tools that provide real results and experiences, you can build trust, credibility, and genuine engagement that turns website visitors into paying clients.

This episode is for therapists, counsellors, psychologists, social workers, and play therapists who want to stand out in private practice. You’ll walk away knowing how to:

Replace outdated freebies with tools that actually convert

Build stronger connections and authority with potential clients

Use interactive resources across multiple areas of your practice—supervision, referrals, waitlist support, and even passive income

Get a quick win by evaluating your current freebie and making it more engaging

Quick Action Step: Review your freebie today and ask yourself—does this help my client create a real change or result? If not, it’s time to update it into something more interactive.

Timestamps:

Private practice marketing private practice therapist counsellor business coach how to get more therapy clients psychology private practice counselling private practice social worker private practice play therapist marketing for therapists therapy website inquiries therapy bookings client referrals therapist lead magnet therapist freebies therapy marketing tips counselling business ideas practice momentum therapy marketing strategy therapy business growth therapist resources therapist private practice tools

In this episode of the Private Practice Podcast, I’m diving into one of the most powerful yet often-overlooked tools for creating stability and growth in your private practice: a business plan. Now, before you roll your eyes and think it sounds boring or too “corporate,” hear me out. A business plan doesn’t need to be rigid or overwhelming. In fact, when you approach it with both structure and flow—balancing the masculine and feminine energies—it can help you create more confidence, more clarity, and a business that actually works for you, not the other way around.

If you’ve ever felt like you’re on the hamster wheel of chasing bookings, reacting to cancellations, or grabbing at shiny marketing tactics without a clear direction, this episode is for you. I share how your business plan can help you shift from chaotic and reactive into calm and focused, while still feeling aligned with who you are and how you like to work. Whether you’re structured and thrive on ticking things off a list, or you prefer a more intuitive and flexible approach, you’ll walk away with practical insights that can help you design a plan you’ll actually stick with.

I also talk about what happens when we lean too heavily into either masculine or feminine energy in our practices, why neither extreme works, and how integrating both is the key to creating a thriving, sustainable private practice. By the end of this episode, you’ll have a simple framework for your next quarter that doesn’t feel overwhelming—and a way to bring joy, fulfillment, and confidence back into the way you run your business.

If you’d like my help to map out your quarterly plan in a simple, supportive way, you can book a free 15-minute call with me here: Book Your Complimentary Planning Call

And if you’re ready to go deeper with ongoing, on-demand support to truly build the practice you want, check out Practice Momentum.

Timestamps:

Struggling with cancellations in your private practice? In this episode, I share my own mistakes with cancellation policies, boundaries, and fee increases—and how they cost me money, clients, and confidence. You’ll discover why strong cancellation policies aren’t about punishing clients, but about protecting your time, your income, and creating better outcomes for the people you help.

I’ll walk you through what the research says about 24-hour vs 48-hour policies, how much money is lost when you don’t use them, and why a 48-hour full-fee cancellation policy is the best way to safeguard your practice and serve your clients well.

👉 Action step: Review your cancellation policy today. Does it protect your time, income, and clients’ outcomes? If not, update it this week—you’ll feel more confident and in control.

✨ Links & Resources:

⏰ Timestamps:

🔑 Keywords: cancellation policy private practice, therapy cancellation fees, therapist boundaries, private practice revenue, counsellor cancellations, therapy no-show policy, private practice success, therapist confidence, therapy fee increase policy, private practice income