Private Practice Skills

What if the things that actually help you thrive as a therapist weren’t taught in grad school at all?

In this episode, I’m sharing the honest truths I wish someone had told me earlier — from the myths we hear about productivity and private practice, to the real emotional weight of this work, and why nourishing yourself isn’t just okay…it’s essential.

Whether you're just starting out or years into the field, this is your reminder that you're not doing it wrong — the system just left a few (dozen) things out.

🧠 Topics include:

• Why your effectiveness doesn’t depend on how long you’ve been practicing

• The truth about long hours and client load expectations

• Private practice myths (and why it’s not selfish to go that route)

• What your professors didn’t teach you about boundaries, advocacy, and burnout

• The healing power of real therapist friendships and genuine self-care

  
  

You’re not alone in figuring this all out. Let’s unpack it together.

FREE Guide: Start a Private Practice in Counseling:https://tinyurl.com/y9ek9en8Links Mentioned:Article referencing declining therapist effectiveness over time:

“#3. Clinical Practice vs. Deliberate Practice: Why Your Years of Experience Doesn’t Get You Better”:

http://darylchow.com/Daryl_Chow/Blog/wordpress/blog/2015/01/17/3-clinical-practice-vs-deliberate-practice/Video: "15 Alternative Career Options for Therapists":

https://youtu.be/jdsKse4Yf1w

LINKS:

*Some links are affiliate links. A percentage of purchases come back to me and help my channel immensely!

👉 FREE Guide: Start a Private Practice in Counseling: https://tinyurl.com/y9ek9en8

👉 All my filming gear: https://kit.co/privatepracticeskills/all-my-gear

This podcast is geared toward therapists of all kinds, including psychologists, MFTs, LPCCs, social workers, and others in the clinical counseling field. Welcome to Private Practice Skills! I’m Dr. Marie Fang, psychologist in private practice. I post videos offering tools I learned the hard way about starting and growing private practice so that you don’t have to.

Website: www.privatepracticeskills.com

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/privatepracticeskills

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/privatepracticeskills/

This podcast is not intended as professional or legal advice. Be sure to seek the services of a professional if you are in need of them.

In this episode, I’m answering questions that therapists don’t usually get asked. These reflections offer a behind-the-scenes look at the human side of being a therapist.

If you’re a fellow therapist or just curious what it’s like behind the scenes, I hope this feels like a warm, thoughtful conversation with a colleague or friend.

Thank you to Paubox for sponsoring this episode. Paubox makes HIPAA-secure email easy and streamlined. Check them out here:

https://bit.ly/pps_paubox_spotify

*Get $250 off your first year with Paubox with coupon code "SKILLS"

*Bonus Deal:* If you add the Paubox badge to your website you get an extra $100 off your first year - that means you can get your whole first year free if you apply both deals!

Check out Heard's bookkeeping plan for $50/month:

bit.ly/affordable-bookkeeping-YT

(this is an affiliate link)

Fav protein bar:

https://bit.ly/4l0ful2

LINKS:

*Some links are affiliate links. A percentage of purchases come back to me and help my channel immensely!

👉 FREE Guide: Start a Private Practice in Counseling: https://tinyurl.com/y9ek9en8

👉 All my filming gear: https://kit.co/privatepracticeskills/all-my-gear

This podcast is geared toward therapists of all kinds, including psychologists, MFTs, LPCCs, social workers, and others in the clinical counseling field. Welcome to Private Practice Skills! I’m Dr. Marie Fang, psychologist in private practice. I post videos offering tools I learned the hard way about starting and growing private practice so that you don’t have to.

Website: www.privatepracticeskills.com

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/privatepracticeskills

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/privatepracticeskills/

This podcast is not intended as professional or legal advice. Be sure to seek the services of a professional if you are in need of them.

Therapist burnout doesn’t always look like overwhelm.
Sometimes it looks like losing your sense of identity.
Or believing you should be able to do more than you can.

In this episode, I share 5 tools that help me keep burnout at bay — not just by working less, but by shifting how I relate to my work. These include autonomy, emotional load, support, narrative acceptance, and personal identity. Plus, a bonus thought on work-life balance from my early-career burnout story.

This one’s for any therapist who’s ever wondered if it’s just them.
(It’s not.)

Thank you to Paubox for sponsoring this episode. Paubox makes HIPAA-secure email easy and streamlined. Check them out here:

https://bit.ly/pps_paubox_spotify

*Get $250 off your first year with Paubox with coupon code "SKILLS"

*Bonus Deal:* If you add the Paubox badge to your website you get an extra $100 off your first year - that means you can get your whole first year free if you apply both deals!

Links to Burnout Resources:

ProQOL Measure:

https://proqol.org/proqol-measure

Video: "Let’s talk about Therapist Burnout"

https://youtu.be/-oUOQa_jnPc

APA Article: "Practitioners are overworked and burned out, and they need our support"

https://www.apa.org/monitor/2023/04/psychologists-covid-burnout

LINKS:

*Some links are affiliate links. A percentage of purchases come back to me and help my channel immensely!

👉 FREE Guide: Start a Private Practice in Counseling: https://tinyurl.com/y9ek9en8

👉 All my filming gear: https://kit.co/privatepracticeskills/all-my-gear

This podcast is geared toward therapists of all kinds, including psychologists, MFTs, LPCCs, social workers, and others in the clinical counseling field. Welcome to Private Practice Skills! I’m Dr. Marie Fang, psychologist in private practice. I post videos offering tools I learned the hard way about starting and growing private practice so that you don’t have to.

Website: www.privatepracticeskills.com

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/privatepracticeskills

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/privatepracticeskills/

This podcast is not intended as professional or legal advice. Be sure to seek the services of a professional if you are in need of them.

Even after years in the field, being a therapist is still hard sometimes.

In this episode, I asked therapists to share what they still struggle with in their work—and the responses were honest, heartfelt, and deeply relatable. From setting boundaries to managing imposter syndrome, this conversation is a reminder that you're not alone if parts of the job still feel challenging.

Let this be a validating space to reflect on the invisible labor, emotional complexity, and humanity we carry as therapists.

LINKS:

*Some links are affiliate links. A percentage of purchases come back to me and help my channel immensely!

👉 FREE Guide: Start a Private Practice in Counseling: https://tinyurl.com/y9ek9en8

👉 All my filming gear: https://kit.co/privatepracticeskills/all-my-gear

This podcast is geared toward therapists of all kinds, including psychologists, MFTs, LPCCs, social workers, and others in the clinical counseling field. Welcome to Private Practice Skills! I’m Dr. Marie Fang, psychologist in private practice. I post videos offering tools I learned the hard way about starting and growing private practice so that you don’t have to.

Website: www.privatepracticeskills.com

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/privatepracticeskills

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/privatepracticeskills/

This podcast is not intended as professional or legal advice. Be sure to seek the services of a professional if you are in need of them.

Therapists mess up too—because we’re human. In this episode, I explore what happens when we make mistakes in session, from forgetting details to saying the wrong thing, and how to handle those moments with care.

✨ You’re not a bad therapist—you’re a human therapist.

Thank you to Paubox for sponsoring this episode. Paubox makes HIPAA-secure email easy and streamlined. Check them out here:

https://bit.ly/pps_paubox_spotify

*Get $250 off your first year with Paubox with coupon code "SKILLS"

*Bonus Deal:* If you add the Paubox badge to your website you get an extra $100 off your first year - that means you can get your whole first year free if you apply both deals!

LINKS:

*Some links are affiliate links. A percentage of purchases come back to me and help my channel immensely!

👉 FREE Guide: Start a Private Practice in Counseling: https://tinyurl.com/y9ek9en8

👉 All my filming gear: https://kit.co/privatepracticeskills/all-my-gear

This podcast is geared toward therapists of all kinds, including psychologists, MFTs, LPCCs, social workers, and others in the clinical counseling field. Welcome to Private Practice Skills! I’m Dr. Marie Fang, psychologist in private practice. I post videos offering tools I learned the hard way about starting and growing private practice so that you don’t have to.

Website: www.privatepracticeskills.com

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/privatepracticeskills

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/privatepracticeskills/

This podcast is not intended as professional or legal advice. Be sure to seek the services of a professional if you are in need of them.

Marketing as a therapist can feel deeply uncomfortable — like you're trying to "sell" yourself in a way that doesn’t align with your values. In this episode, I explore why marketing feels gross (especially for therapists), and how to approach it from a more human, authentic place.

We’ll talk about:

• The hidden fears behind showing up authentically

• Why feeling “not special enough” stops so many of us

• Practical shifts to help marketing feel more aligned

If you’ve ever struggled to write your website bio or talk about what you do without cringing, this episode is for you.

Thank you to Paubox for sponsoring this episode. Paubox makes HIPAA-secure email easy and streamlined. Check them out here:

https://bit.ly/pps_paubox_spotify

*Get $250 off your first year with Paubox with coupon code "SKILLS"

*Bonus Deal:* If you add the Paubox badge to your website you get an extra $100 off your first year - that means you can get your whole first year free if you apply both deals!

LINKS:

*Some links are affiliate links. A percentage of purchases come back to me and help my channel immensely!

👉 FREE Guide: Start a Private Practice in Counseling: https://tinyurl.com/y9ek9en8

👉 All my filming gear: https://kit.co/privatepracticeskills/all-my-gear

This podcast is geared toward therapists of all kinds, including psychologists, MFTs, LPCCs, social workers, and others in the clinical counseling field. Welcome to Private Practice Skills! I’m Dr. Marie Fang, psychologist in private practice. I post videos offering tools I learned the hard way about starting and growing private practice so that you don’t have to.

Website: www.privatepracticeskills.com

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/privatepracticeskills

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/privatepracticeskills/

This podcast is not intended as professional or legal advice. Be sure to seek the services of a professional if you are in need of them.

Let’s talk numbers — the honest, encouraging kind.

In this episode, I’m joined by Michael Fulwiler, Director of Brand at Heard, to unpack the key findings from Heard’s 2025 Financial State of Private Practice Report. We dig into what therapists are actually earning, how much they’re spending on their practices, and the financial challenges (and wins!) that private practitioners are facing right now.

It’s an honest, supportive conversation for anyone who’s feeling uncertain or curious about the financial side of being a therapist.

Download the 2025 Financial State of Private Practice Report:

https://www.joinheard.com/resources/downloads/the-heard-2025-financial-state-of-private-practice-report

Heard just launched a new, affordable bookkeeping plan starting at only $50/month. Schedule a free consult call to learn more:

https://bit.ly/affordable-bookkeeping-YT

(this is an affiliate link)

Check Out Heard for a free 15-minute phone consultation:

https://bit.ly/3rNmDJx

(this is an affiliate link)

Watch last year’s interview: “The State of Private Practice Finances in 2024”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mvVlpsT-zPk

Check out Heard’s Business School Podcast:

https://www.joinheard.com/podcast

Podcast Episode: "Leveraging YouTube to Build Your Therapy Business with Dr. Marie Fang”

https://www.joinheard.com/podcast/episode/leveraging-youtube-to-build-your-therapy-business-with-dr-marie-fang

Playlist of Prior Videos with Heard:

https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLi4iw1FZZYrCeMCOvYxz1zfYqtNxFFnZz&feature=shared

LINKS:

*Some links are affiliate links. A percentage of purchases come back to me and help my channel immensely!

👉 FREE Guide: Start a Private Practice in Counseling: https://tinyurl.com/y9ek9en8

👉 All my filming gear: https://kit.co/privatepracticeskills/all-my-gear

This podcast is geared toward therapists of all kinds, including psychologists, MFTs, LPCCs, social workers, and others in the clinical counseling field. Welcome to Private Practice Skills! I’m Dr. Marie Fang, psychologist in private practice. I post videos offering tools I learned the hard way about starting and growing private practice so that you don’t have to.

Website: www.privatepracticeskills.com

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/privatepracticeskills

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/privatepracticeskills/

This podcast is not intended as professional or legal advice. Be sure to seek the services of a professional if you are in need of them.

This episode explores the quiet — and sometimes chaotic — inner world of therapists after the session ends. From compassionate reflections to intrusive worries, “therapist brain” doesn’t always clock out at 5pm.

I’ll share some common (and totally human) thoughts that might pop up after seeing clients, why they happen, and how we can meet them with compassion instead of shame.

New episodes every week to support your growth as a therapist, especially if you’re early in your career or building your practice.

Thank you to Paubox for sponsoring this episode. Paubox makes HIPAA-secure email easy and streamlined. Check them out here:

https://bit.ly/pps_paubox_spotify

*Get $250 off your first year with Paubox with coupon code "SKILLS"

*Bonus Deal:* If you add the Paubox badge to your website you get an extra $100 off your first year - that means you can get your whole first year free if you apply both deals!

FREE Guide: Start a Private Practice in Counseling:

https://tinyurl.com/y9ek9en8

LINKS:

*Some links are affiliate links. A percentage of purchases come back to me and help my channel immensely!

👉 FREE Guide: Start a Private Practice in Counseling: https://tinyurl.com/y9ek9en8

👉 How to DIY a Therapist Website that Fills your Practice: https://privatepracticeskills.teachable.com/

👉 All my filming gear: https://kit.co/privatepracticeskills/all-my-gear

This podcast is geared toward therapists of all kinds, including psychologists, MFTs, LPCCs, social workers, and others in the clinical counseling field. Welcome to Private Practice Skills! I’m Dr. Marie Fang, psychologist in private practice. I post videos offering tools I learned the hard way about starting and growing private practice so that you don’t have to.

Website: www.privatepracticeskills.com

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/privatepracticeskills

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/privatepracticeskills/

This podcast is not intended as professional or legal advice. Be sure to seek the services of a professional if you are in need of them.

Therapists aren’t immune to tough days—or tough seasons. In this episode, I normalize the experience of being a therapist who’s not okay, and share practical strategies to help you navigate client work when your emotional reserves are low.

From deciding whether to cancel a session to bigger questions about sustainability, we’ll explore what it means to show up for others without abandoning yourself.

Thank you to Paubox for sponsoring this episode. Paubox makes HIPAA-secure email easy and streamlined. Check them out here:

https://bit.ly/pps_paubox_spotify

*Get $250 off your first year with Paubox with coupon code "SKILLS"

*Bonus Deal:* If you add the Paubox badge to your website you get an extra $100 off your first year - that means you can get your whole first year free if you apply both deals!

FREE Guide: Start a Private Practice in Counseling:

https://tinyurl.com/y9ek9en8

LINKS:

*Some links are affiliate links. A percentage of purchases come back to me and help my channel immensely!

👉 FREE Guide: Start a Private Practice in Counseling: https://tinyurl.com/y9ek9en8

👉 How to DIY a Therapist Website that Fills your Practice: https://privatepracticeskills.teachable.com/

👉 All my filming gear: https://kit.co/privatepracticeskills/all-my-gear

This podcast is geared toward therapists of all kinds, including psychologists, MFTs, LPCCs, social workers, and others in the clinical counseling field. Welcome to Private Practice Skills! I’m Dr. Marie Fang, psychologist in private practice. I post videos offering tools I learned the hard way about starting and growing private practice so that you don’t have to.

Website: www.privatepracticeskills.com

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/privatepracticeskills

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/privatepracticeskills/

This podcast is not intended as professional or legal advice. Be sure to seek the services of a professional if you are in need of them.

Can AI replace therapy? Probably not—and here’s why.
In this episode, I take a deep dive into what AI can (and can’t) do when it comes to mental health support. From helpful tools to serious limitations, we explore how therapists and clients might use AI platforms like ChatGPT—and where they should be cautious.

We cover:

• How AI *could* (maybe?) support therapy work

• Why I think AI will never fully replace human connection

• Ethical and privacy concerns with AI in mental health

  
  

  And, I put AI to the test by challenging it to answer some mental health-related questions it claims to be able to help with. How does it hold up?

  
  

  Thank you to Paubox for sponsoring this episode. Paubox makes HIPAA-secure email easy and streamlined. Check them out here:

  https://bit.ly/pps_paubox_spotify

  *Get $250 off your first year with Paubox with coupon code "SKILLS"

  *Bonus Deal:* If you add the Paubox badge to your website you get an extra $100 off your first year - that means you can get your whole first year free if you apply both deals!

  
  

  FREE Guide: Start a Private Practice in Counseling:

  https://tinyurl.com/y9ek9en8

  
  

  Reddit post: “Yet another reason why AI can’t replace therapy”:

  https://www.reddit.com/r/therapists/comments/1k9k1ue/yet_another_reason_why_ai_cant_replace_therapy/

  
  

  Watch the short and snappy version of this episode (with bonus skits):https://youtu.be/71Vr8LPfQuw

  
  

  LINKS:

  *Some links are affiliate links. A percentage of purchases come back to me and help my channel immensely!

  👉 FREE Guide: Start a Private Practice in Counseling: https://tinyurl.com/y9ek9en8

  👉 How to DIY a Therapist Website that Fills your Practice: https://privatepracticeskills.teachable.com/

  👉 All my filming gear: https://kit.co/privatepracticeskills/all-my-gear

  
  

  
  

  This podcast is geared toward therapists of all kinds, including psychologists, MFTs, LPCCs, social workers, and others in the clinical counseling field. Welcome to Private Practice Skills! I’m Dr. Marie Fang, psychologist in private practice. I post videos offering tools I learned the hard way about starting and growing private practice so that you don’t have to.

  
  

  
  

  Website: www.privatepracticeskills.com

  YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/privatepracticeskills

  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/privatepracticeskills/

  
  

  
  

  This podcast is not intended as professional or legal advice. Be sure to seek the services of a professional if you are in need of them.