Scaling Therapist Podcast: More Income, More Independence, More Impact (Not More Hours)

In this podcast episode, James Marland and Dr. David Hall discuss the benefits of referral relationships with other therapists for those who own their own practices. Dr. Hall says initially, some therapists may believe that they are in competition with one another for clients. The main question new therapists might ask is "Why would somebody even wanna make referral relationships with other therapists? Aren't you all competitors and competing to find clients? That's a mindset that a lot of people have." However, Dr. Hall emphasizes that building referral relationships can benefit all parties involved.

James and Dr. Hall go on to discuss the challenges of managing a full caseload of clients and the importance of having a steady stream of referrals. The host emphasizes the importance of being persistent in reaching out to potential referral partners and highlights the value of following up consistently. "One of the most important things that I learned in business and it's been helpful in therapy is that you, you need to be able to ask for what you want." They suggest that therapists should not assume that a lack of response from potential referral partners is a sign of competition, but rather a result of ignorance or neglect. It is important to remember that helping clients find the right therapist is more important than any competitive tension between therapists.

Dr. Hall also highlights the benefits of creating a referral network and ways to establish strong referral relationships. This includes asking other therapists for their ideal client, being clear about what kind of clients you are looking for, and reciprocating referrals when possible. Dr. Hall also suggests that therapists should explore community groups and referral networks in their area to find potential partners. A tip from Dr. Hall is "I always encourage therapists to have two or three different referral streams coming in. Because if one dries up, you don't want to have all your eggs in one basket."

Overall, this episode emphasizes the value of creating strong referral relationships with other therapists. Dr. Hall Says "Networking is a, is a long game. And so you're not necessarily gonna get an immediate return on investment. But over time, it pays off." The key takeaways include the importance of persistence in reaching out to potential partners, not assuming that a lack of response is due to competition, and the benefits of creating a referral network that reciprocates referrals. By building strong referral relationships, therapists can help more clients find the help they need while growing their own practices.

In this episode of the Scaling Therapy Practice podcast, Dr. David Hall shares his story of a failed attempt to create a therapy office that offered psychiatry. The lesson learned from this story is that it is important to seek advice from someone who has experience in the field you want to venture into.

David Hall talks about how he did a lot of research before starting his business, but he didn't talk to someone who had already gone through the process. He says, "What I didn't do was talk to a person and ask the questions of, 'Hey, I'm thinking about this. I see you've done something similar. What's been great about this? What are the things that you didn't know before you went into it that you wish you would've known? Now what are the things you regret?'" Had he talked to someone with experience, he could have avoided many mistakes that he made. Mike Michalowicz, author of "The Toilet Paper Entrepreneur" and "Profit First," advises that when starting a new business, you should not go into it alone. He says, "You need to surround yourself with people who can help you succeed. You need to find mentors, advisors, and other entrepreneurs who can give you advice and guidance. You also need to build a team of people who can help you execute your plan and bring your vision to life."

Another lesson learned from David Hall's experience is that it is important to have a solid plan before starting a business. He admits that he was "somewhat naive" and didn't have a clear idea of how he was going to make money. He says, "I didn't really have a business plan per se. I had an idea of what I wanted to do, but I didn't really think it through." Mike Michalowicz emphasizes the importance of having a plan and sticking to it. He says, "You need to have a plan that outlines what you want to accomplish and how you are going to do it. You also need to have a clear understanding of your target market and your competition. Once you have a plan, you need to stick to it and be persistent in your efforts to make it work." David Hall also talks about the importance of being patient and not expecting immediate success. He says, "I think I was pretty naive about how quickly things would grow and what it would take to actually build a practice."

Another lesson learned from David Hall's experience is the importance of having a clear understanding of your target market. He admits that he didn't have a clear idea of who his target market was and how to reach them. He says, "I didn't really understand who I was marketing to, and I didn't really understand how to get in front of them." Mike Michalowicz stresses the importance of understanding your target market and tailoring your marketing efforts to reach them. He says, "You need to have a clear understanding of your target market and what they are looking for. You also need to tailor your marketing efforts to reach them. This means using the right channels, creating the right messaging, and targeting the right people."

In conclusion, starting a new business is not an easy task, and it requires a lot of planning, research, and patience. It is important to seek advice from someone who has experience in the field you want to venture into, has a solid plan, is patient, and has a clear understanding of your target market. 

In this episode of the Scaling Therapy Practice podcast, host James Marland welcomes Rocky Lalvani, a certified Profit First professional who teaches business owners how to prioritize profit in their financial management. Rocky shares insights on the Profit First formula, knowing your numbers, and why every therapy office deserves to be profitable.

Rocky explains that understanding financial documents is crucial to making informed business decisions. However, he cautions that these documents, such as profit and loss statements, were not made for business owners, but for tax authorities and other parties. Rocky emphasizes the importance of using the Profit First system, which helps practice owners look at their business's real numbers to make daily business decisions.

Rocky's mission is to change the traditional accounting formula of "sales minus expenses equal profit" to "sales minus profit equals expenses." He believes that prioritizing profit is essential for any business to thrive. Rocky advises therapists to set up separate bank accounts for profit, owner's pay, and operating expenses to ensure that profit comes first in their financial management.

Rocky stresses the importance of knowing your numbers and how they tell a story. Just as a therapist can identify a patient's problems and behavior, Rocky can look at financial numbers and see what story they tell about a business's bottlenecks and issues. Understanding your numbers and using them to make informed decisions can help your therapy office become more profitable.

Rocky believes that every business, including therapy offices, deserves to be profitable. He emphasizes that making a profit is not about prioritizing money at all costs but about putting people first. Profitable businesses can better serve their clients and employees, and creating a profitable therapy office can improve the quality of care you provide.

In this episode, Rocky Lalvani shared valuable insights on knowing your numbers, using the Profit First formula, and making your therapy office profitable. By prioritizing profit, understanding your numbers, and using them to make informed decisions, you can create a successful therapy practice that benefits both you and your clients.

"If you know anything about financial documents, those financial documents, uh, he says they, they were not made for you. They were made for, you know, um, the tax man or other people. Your profit and loss statement, your revenue, your income statement, and those other things, uh, they might not be your best source of information for making day-to-day business decisions."

"The profit First system helps the practice owner, uh, look at the real numbers of their business to make business decisions for themselves."

"The numbers tell a story. Just how you can look at somebody's symptoms and behavior and problems and some of their, you know, the things they check off on their list and what they come in for, and you can kind of fill in the gaps about the story of their life and how they get there and how you can help them."

"When you look at your numbers when you understand your numbers, then you have clarity, and that clarity can allow you to make decisions."

"Profit is not an event. Profit is a habit. It's a habit that you create, and it's a habit that you make sure you're always doing."

"The way to make more money is to have more profit. So, the more profit you have, the more money you make, and it's not just about cutting expenses. It's about growing your revenue."

"Every therapy office deserves to be profitable. You are running a business. You are providing a valuable service to your clients, and you should be compensated fairly for it."

"If you don't understand your numbers, if you don't understand your financials, then you're not running a business. You're just playing a very expensive hobby."

In the interview, Michael Ashford, Director of Marketing at The Receptionist, talked about his background as a journalist and how it shaped his approach to marketing. He emphasized the importance of storytelling and humanizing brands, and how these elements can help scale companies. 

While he had initial doubts about leading a marketing team without a formal marketing education, Ashford found that his communication skills and curiosity served him well in the field. He also mentioned how his experience interviewing experts for his podcast, The Fabric, has helped him understand the psychology of change and how people can be prompted to make positive changes in their lives. In the Tool Tip and Tech of the Week segment, Marland shared a recommendation from Amy Porterfield book Two Week Notice to believe in yourself just a little more than you doubt yourself. Ashford mentioned the importance of problem-solving and approaching challenges from a collaborative perspective, rather than trying to "win" or outdo others.

Later in the interview, James Marland and Ashford discussed the importance stepping out of their comfort zone and taking risks in order to create progress and positive change. They also touched on the idea of collaboration and problem-solving, rather than seeing competition as a zero-sum game. Ashford shared that The Receptionist's core values are fun, authentic, bold, respectful, innovative, and collaborative (which conveniently spell out the word "fabric"). These values guide the company's approach to customer service and product development.

Owning the customer's journey means taking complete responsibility for the entire customer experience, from the moment they step through the door to the moment they leave. Creating a welcoming environment is an essential aspect of owning the customer's journey, especially when they check in. The check-in process sets the tone for the rest of the stay, and a warm and friendly greeting can make a significant difference in how the customer feels about their experience. From the staff's demeanor to the cleanliness and comfort of the lobby area, every detail should be taken into consideration to ensure the customer feels welcomed and valued. By owning the customer's journey and making them feel at home, you can create a lasting impression and build customer loyalty.

In this episode of Scaling Therapy Practice, James Marland interviews Anne Burkart, a marriage and family therapist in Charlotte, North Carolina. Anne shares her journey to becoming a therapist and how she approaches therapy through the idea that we are all in relationships that affect our emotional and daily lives.

Anne believes that relationships are a fundamental aspect of our lives, and that we are all in relationships that affect us in different ways. It could be a person we live with, someone we wish was in our life, or even ourselves. In therapy, Anne encourages her clients to explore these relationships and the impact they have on their emotional and daily lives. She believes that by embracing our relationships, we can grow and find new opportunities.

Anne's journey to becoming a therapist was not easy. She went through a divorce, became a single mother, and had to rebuild her life from scratch. Despite these challenges, Anne persevered and eventually found her calling as a therapist. Her experiences have given her a unique perspective and empathy for her clients, allowing her to better understand and support them.

Anne shares a new perspective on money that she learned from a colleague: "restriction is poverty." This idea resonated with her because it aligns with her philosophy of embracing life's experiences. Anne believes that limiting ourselves can hold us back and prevent us from growing. By removing restrictions, we can open ourselves up to new opportunities and experiences.

In this interview, Anne Burkart shares her unique perspective on therapy and the importance of relationships. She encourages her clients to embrace their relationships and explore the impact they have on their lives. Through her own experiences, Anne has learned the value of resilience, empathy, and embracing life's experiences. By removing restrictions and embracing change, we can find new opportunities for growth and fulfillment.

Soul Grit podcast host Ann Taylor McNeese is interviewed on the Scaling Therapy Practice podcast, where she shares her insights into starting a podcast and growing a business. In the introduction, it is explained that the Soul Grit podcast is about integrating faith with mental health. Taylor has been a therapist for many years and runs her own practice, Soul Grit, in Southern California. She discusses her love for podcasting and how it became a natural extension of the conversations she has with her clients in her therapy practice.

The interview then moves onto the main topic of starting a podcast. Taylor shares her wisdom on how she got started and kept going despite the challenges. She explains that having grit is essential in order to start a podcast when there are no sponsorships, audience, or extra funding. Taylor highlights the importance of passion and being true to oneself when starting a podcast, stating that people can tell when the podcast host is not being authentic. She also emphasizes the importance of consistency, making sure that the podcast is released on the same day and at the same time every week.

The interview then moves onto how podcasting has helped Taylor scale her business. She explains that podcasting has helped her to connect with more people and grow her network, leading to new clients and business opportunities. Taylor also discusses how podcasting has helped her to become an expert in her field and to be recognized as a thought leader.

The interview concludes with a tool tip or tech of the week, where Taylor reminds listeners to take care of foundational stuff first. She emphasizes the importance of getting enough sleep, eating well, and exercising, stating that it is essential to take care of oneself in order to be successful in business and in life. Overall, the interview provides valuable insights into the world of podcasting and how it can help mental health professionals to grow their businesses and reach more people.

Mental health should be treated as seriously as physical health.

Social media has both positive and negative effects on mental health, and it's important to use it in a healthy way.

Being vulnerable and opening up to others can be incredibly healing.

Self-care is crucial, but it's also important to recognize that it's not a one-size-fits-all solution.

It's important to prioritize mental health and seek help when needed.

In this podcast transcript, David Hall and James Marland discuss the need for administrative support for therapists. They highlight the importance of identifying bottlenecks in the process and getting help to avoid cheating oneself and family. They also discuss the benefits of using virtual assistants (VAs) in a therapy practice, emphasizing the return on investment of using VAs to perform administrative tasks. Additionally, the hosts explore the pros and cons of hiring a virtual assistant and provide resources for finding and training them.

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In this episode of the show, James Marland and Dr. David Hall delve into the topic of discomfort and how it can be a sign of growth. They discuss the importance of having a dream and how it starts in our heads, but it is only when we write it down that it takes life. They also touch on the idea that writing down your dreams can help you make the changes necessary to achieve them.

Discomfort is often seen as a negative thing, but in reality, it is a sign that something is growing. Just like how trees grow stronger when they face disruptions that force their roots to go deep. The same goes for our personal growth and development, facing challenges and overcoming them is what helps us grow stronger.

James shares his own personal experience with writing down his dreams and how it transformed his life. He emphasizes the impact of putting your dreams on paper, as it not only helps you to structure your thoughts and goals but also serves as a constant reminder of what you are working towards.

The next step after writing down your dreams is to take action and make them a reality. James stresses the importance of taking the initiative and making the changes necessary to bring your dreams to life. It's not enough to just have them written down, you have to take the steps necessary to make them happen.

Welcome to Scaling Therapy Practice, the podcast where we explore the challenges of growing a therapy practice and offer guidance on how to achieve professional development goals. In this episode, we continue our discussion on goal setting with Dr. David Hall. Dr. Hall is a therapist and professional development expert who has been in the industry for many years. He shares his insights on the importance of showing up, taking initiative and building connections when it comes to achieving goals.

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One of the main points that Dr. Hall emphasizes in this episode is the importance of showing up. He believes that simply being present and putting yourself out there can make a big difference when it comes to achieving your goals. He uses his own experience as an example, discussing how he met James Marland and how that led to new opportunities and connections.

Dr. Hall also encourages listeners to not be afraid to reach out to people for help or information. He believes that you never know who will respond and what kind of opportunities may come out of it. He also points out that, while it is important to have goals, it is also important to be flexible and open to new opportunities that may arise.

Another key point that Dr. Hall discusses in this episode is the power of building connections. He explains that building connections can open up new opportunities and help you achieve your goals. He also discusses the importance of being mindful of the connections you make and how to nurture them effectively. Building connections is a key part of any professional development plan, and Dr. Hall offers advice on how to do this effectively.

Dr. Hall also talks about the importance of setting and achieving goals. He emphasizes that setting and achieving goals is an ongoing process, not something that is accomplished overnight. He encourages listeners to start by setting small, achievable goals and then build on them as they progress. He also offers tips on how to stay motivated and focused, even when things get tough.

In conclusion, this episode of Scaling Therapy Practice offers valuable insights into the importance of showing up, taking initiative and building connections when it comes to achieving professional development goals. Dr. David Hall, with his years of experience in the therapy industry, provides practical advice on how to set and achieve goals, and how to build connections that can help you achieve your goals. If you're a therapist looking to grow your practice and achieve your professional development goals, be sure to tune in to Scaling Therapy Practice, and don't forget to subscribe to our show to stay up to date on the latest tips and advice on how to optimize your therapy practice for success.

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Strategies for Raising your Rates and Growing your Therapy Practice

Welcome to the Scaling Therapy Podcast, where we explore different ways to grow your therapy practice. In this episode, hosts James Marland and Dr. David Hall take a closer look at raising and increasing rates for therapy offices. They discuss the importance of setting competitive prices and providing exceptional customer service to attract and retain clients.

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Links and Resources in this Episode

Raising Rates In Your Therapy Practice

One of the key topics discussed in this episode is the importance of raising rates for therapy offices. James and David stress that scaling your practice doesn't always mean more work, and that growth is unique to each individual practice. They discuss various strategies for increasing rates, such as focusing on niche services, building a strong reputation, and providing exceptional customer service.

There are a few things to consider when a therapist raises their rates:

How Often do you review rate increases 

There is no set frequency for reviewing your rates, as it can depend on a variety of factors such as your experience level, the cost of living in your area, and the demand for your services. Some therapists review their rates annually, while others may review them every few years.

There are a few steps you can follow when reviewing your rates:

It's important to be transparent and professional when communicating rate increases to your clients. You may also want to consider offering a limited-time discount or package to help ease the transition.

It's also a good idea to consider the reasons for the rate increase. Are your expenses increasing? Are you investing in additional training or education? Communicating the reasons for the rate increase to your clients can help them understand and may make the rate increase more palatable.

There are a few mistakes that therapists may make when raising their rates:

Sample Letter for Raising Rates in a Therapy Office

It's important to approach rate increases with sensitivity and to be transparent with your clients about the reasons for the change.

Dear [Client],

I wanted to let you know that my rates for therapy services will be increasing as of [date]. The new rates will be [new rate] for [length of session] sessions.

I understand that this may be a significant change for you, and I want to assure you that I value your commitment to your therapy and well-being. I have made the decision to increase my rates because [reason for rate increase, e.g. "I am investing in additional training to better serve my clients" or "my business expenses have increased"].

I will do my best to make this transition as smooth as possible for you. If you have any questions or concerns, please don't hesitate to reach out to me.

Sincerely, [Your Name]

Successfully Scale Your Earning with Raising Rates

By implementing these strategies and providing exceptional customer service, therapy practitioners can successfully scale their practice, attract more clients and increase their rates. This will help you establish a competitive advantage over other practices, and build a reputation for providing high-quality services.

Quotes from the Episode about Raising Your Rates in a Therapy Office

Links and Resources in this Episode

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