You have a clinician who's been underperforming for three months. You’ve had the conversation twice, you’ve been patient and fair, and you still haven’t made the call. Why?

That’s your therapist brain in the driver's seat when your CEO brain needs to step in.

The qualities that make you a great clinician—your empathy, your rescue instinct, your ability to stay client-centred and accommodating—are skills you’ve spent years developing. But being a CEO requires a completely different muscle, and most of us don't realize how big the gap between the two is until we hit a decision that feels really hard.

We’re often quick to advocate for our clients and our team, but much slower to advocate for ourselves. That's where things get complicated: the difficult conversations about fees, the cancellation policy you don’t enforce, the team member who’s no longer the right fit, or the agreements that stopped working for you.

In this episode, we’re exploring the difference between your therapist brain and your CEO brain, and why learning when to use each is one of the most important leadership skills you’ll develop as a practice owner.

Topics covered on Therapist Brain, CEO Brain

1. The empathy that makes you a great clinician is the same empathy keeping a team member on your payroll for too long
2. You can challenge a client all day, but the second you have to go to bat for yourself on fees or your cancellation policy, conflict avoidance takes over
3. One of my clients was paying someone more than she paid herself for the same work
4. Integrating therapist brain and CEO brain in a way that will make you a better leader and a better clinician at the same time

Connect with Felicia:

• Get my freebie & join the email list: The Magic Sheets
• Instagram: @the_bad_therapist
• Website: www.thebadtherapist.coach

Quote:

“ Being a great CEO makes you a better therapist, and being a great therapist makes you a better CEO because you can bring all of those skillsets together.” - Felicia

I've been coaching therapists since 2019, and I keep seeing the same trajectory play out, in my clients and even in myself. We move through five stages when we grow something, and one of them feels like proof that something has gone wrong when it's really the opposite. Most people misread it completely, pull back from the very thing that was working, and then blame the strategy. There's also a kind of discomfort that feels identical but means the total opposite, and confusing the two will keep you handing off the wrong thing at the wrong time.

In this episode, I'm walking you through all five stages, how to tell which one you're in, and why all of this is really about buying back your time for the dance class you keep saying you'll get to.

Topics covered in this episode:

1. The importance of knowing the right moment to delegate in your private practice
2. The 5 stages every therapist moves through when growing a business, and how to tell which one you're in right now
3. The one feeling most therapists misread completely, and what it's actually trying to tell you
4. The mistake that makes a working strategy stop working

Resources from this episode:

• Liberated Business: www.thebadtherapist.coach/liberatedbusiness
• Buy Back Your Time: Get Unstuck, Reclaim Your Freedom, and Build Your Empire by Dan Martell
• The Big Leap: Conquer Your Hidden Fear and Take Life to the Next Level by Gay Hendricks

Connect with Felicia:

• Get my freebie & join the email list: The Magic Sheets
• Instagram: @the_bad_therapist
• Website: www.thebadtherapist.coach

Quote:

"Boredom doesn't mean something is wrong. It's a signal that you've outgrown the hands-on version of that task, and that's actually a win." - Felicia

Three years in, I've finally rebranded The Bad Therapist Show! For so many therapists, "good therapist conditioning" tells us we have to choose. We can be ethical or profitable. Dedicated or well-rested. Great clinicians or savvy business owners. I don't believe that's true and working with 100+ therapists has proven it.

In this episode, I'm sharing why I believe becoming a better business owner can make you a better therapist, why having a full life outside your practice matters, and why challenging these myths has become the mission behind everything I do.

You'll hear about the studio shoot where I literally wheeled my motorcycle onto set, the five concepts we wrestled with before landing on this one and the three personas you see in the new artwork. They aren't three different people. They're all parts of the same therapist: the therapist who's genuinely great at her job and cares deeply about her clients, the confident CEO, and a real human with a full life outside of work.

They're all me—and my hope is that when you see them, you see yourself too. Because I truly believe you can be an incredible therapist, build a profitable business, and create a life you genuinely love. Press play and meet the version of yourself good therapist conditioning told you to hide.

Topics covered on Good Therapist Conditioning:

1. The deeper meaning behind The Bad Therapist Show rebrand
2. Good therapist conditioning teaches you that caring about money or having a life outside work makes you a worse therapist
3. Caring about money can make you a stronger clinician rather than a less ethical one
4. You get to be a skilled therapist, a confident business owner, and a full person all at once, instead of shrinking to fit good therapist conditioning

Connect with Felicia:

• Get my freebie & join the email list: The Magic Sheets
• Instagram: @the_bad_therapist
• Website: www.thebadtherapist.coach

Resources from this episode:

• Liberated Business: www.thebadtherapist.coach/liberatedbusiness
• What Your Therapist Thinks, the second podcast I co-host with Kristie Plantinga: https://www.youtube.com/@WhatYourTherapistThinks

Quote:

"You don't have to choose. You can be an incredible therapist and run a profitable business and have a life you love." Felicia

You've built a successful therapy practice. You've found your niche, filled your caseload, maybe even built a group practice. But now you're asking a different question:

How do I create more freedom and keep growing without sacrificing my life?

The Bad Therapist Show exists to help you do that.

Hosted by Felicia Keller Boyle, aka The Bad Therapist®, former six-figure private practice owner and therapist business coach, this podcast is for established solo therapists and group practice owners who want more—more freedom, more money, more impact, and a business built on their own terms.

Tune in every week for honest conversations about private practice growth, leadership, marketing, money, identity, boundaries, and what it really looks like to integrate all the parts of yourself: therapist, CEO, and human being.

f you're ready to challenge good therapist conditioning, think differently, and build a business that supports your life—not the other way around—you're in the right place.

Be sure to follow the show on your favourite listening app so you don't miss an episode.

Remember: bad therapists make the best therapists.

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Learn more about Business Coaching for Private Practice Therapists at www.thebadtherapist.coach.

Are you a therapist struggling with your marketing? Are you wondering why your potential clients aren't booking consultations? In today's episode, I dive deep into the one puzzle piece you might be missing in your marketing: talking about your client's problems.

In this replay episode, I'm sharing why pinpointing and empathizing with your clients' issues is not manipulative but essential if you want to connect with those seeking help. I'll guide you through understanding your clients' perspectives, using their language, and positioning yourself as the solution they've been searching for.

Plus actionable steps and resources that could transform your marketing approach, ensuring that your message resonates with the right people. Tune in to learn how to make your private practice stand out and attract the clients who need you most. Don't let another potential client slip through the cracks - tune in now and start making a real difference with your marketing!

Topics covered on this episode:

1. Why is it crucial for therapists to talk about clients' problems in their marketing
2. The fears therapists have about focusing on client problems, and how these can be addressed
3. How understanding a potential client's specific struggles can lead to better engagement
4. Common mistakes therapists make in their marketing, and how can they be fixed
5. Steps can you take to ensure your marketing resonates on an emotional level with potential clients
6. The simple challenge you can undertake this week to improve your connection with potential clients through social media

Connect with Felicia:

• Get my freebie & join the email list: The Magic Sheets
• Instagram: @the_bad_therapist
• Website: www.thebadtherapist.coach

Resources from this episode:

• Building a StoryBrand by Donald Miller

Related episodes:

• How to Build a Strategic Website That Will Bring More Clients to Your Practice With Sarah Busse [Ep 30]

Quote:

"Talking about your client's problem isn't manipulative. It's the first moment where we convey to them that we see them, we appreciate the pain they're in as they experience it right now, and we genuinely want to help them." - Felicia

Most therapists trying to grow their therapy practice are hiding behind brand colours, fonts, and logo tweaks instead of doing the work that actually books cash pay clients.

I've watched therapists drop thousands on stunning custom websites before booking a single client, then sit there confused about why the phone still isn't ringing. I've been there too, agonising over fonts and palettes with a mentor years before I had a paying client on my books. The uncomfortable part is that picking a logo feels productive and safe in a way that raising your fees or showing up on social media never will, and it's quietly costing therapists months of momentum.

In this episode, I'm diving into why messaging beats branding every time, choosing a therapist website template without getting stuck, the fees and policies conversation most therapists skip, and the exact moment branding actually starts paying off.

If you're mid build of your cash pay therapy practice and you've caught yourself tinkering with your logo for the third time this month, this will help you name what you're really avoiding.

Topics covered on Grow Your Therapy Practice:

1. Branding is one of the most expensive way to avoid growing your therapy practice
2. The 3 things that actually book cash pay clients (none of them are fonts)
3. The exact stage of business where investing in branding finally pays off
4. 5 questions to ask yourself before spending a dollar on a rebrand

Resources from this episode:

• Liberated Business: www.thebadtherapist.coach/liberatedbusiness
• Interested in an Obsession Audit?  Send Felicia an email with  ”Obsession Audit" in the subject line for more details! 

Connect with Felicia:

• Get my freebie & join the email list: The Magic Sheets
• Instagram: @the_bad_therapist
• Website: www.thebadtherapist.coach

Quote:

"You can't brand your way out of a messaging problem. These are two distinct problems, and your messaging problem is actually more important to solve first." Felicia

You became a therapist because you love working with people, so why does running your own practice feel so painfully isolating? In today's episode, I'm sharing how to feel less lonely in therapy practice without forcing yourself into networking events you'll dread or joining every Facebook group you can find.

I'm getting honest about the hidden costs of going it alone, like the bad decisions you make when there's no one to gut check your ideas, the imposter syndrome that gets louder in silence, and the burnout that creeps in faster than you think. I'm also walking you through the different types of connections that have shaped my own career, from business besties to paid communities, and why I stopped trying to bootstrap my way through everything.

Plus, I'm sharing the one belief that kept me playing small for way too long, and the text message you can send this week to start changing things. Your practice was never meant to be built in isolation, and the fix might be simpler than you think.

Topics covered on Feel Less Lonely in Therapy Practice:

1. The hidden business costs of a lonely therapy practice that have nothing to do with sadness
2. The one trait your business bestie needs to have or you won't feel less lonely in therapy practice no matter how many people you add to your circle
3. The internal voice telling you that you should be able to do this alone is keeping you broke, and I'm naming exactly where it comes from
4. Other therapists are not your competition, and the mindset shift that turned the people I used to unfollow into some of my closest collaborators
5. The introvert-friendly, low-effort move you can make this week to feel less lonely in therapy practice without going to a single networking event

Resources from this episode:

• Liberated Business: www.thebadtherapist.coach/liberatedbusiness
• What Your Therapist Thinks podcast: https://www.youtube.com/@WhatYourTherapistThinks
• Kristie Plantinga: @kristie_placedigital
• Tiffany McClain: @leaninmakebank
• Danielle Swimm: @entrepreneurialtherapist
• Linzy Bonham: @moneynutsandbolts
• Dr. TK: @doctortkpsych

Connect with Felicia:

• Get my freebie & join the email list: The Magic Sheets
• Instagram: @the_bad_therapist
• Website: www.thebadtherapist.coach

Quote:

"Your business bestie needs to be somebody who's gonna challenge you, cheer you on, and isn't gonna give you side eye or be grossed out by your ambition." Felicia

Want to attract ideal therapy clients? You know, the ones who actually show up, commit, and do the work? Then stop marketing the way most therapists do.

I see it all the time. Clients tell me they've found their perfect client match, BUT that person won't book weekly, won't pay their fee, or isn't even sure they want therapy. That's not your ideal therapy client.

In today's episode, I'm sharing the three components that make up an ideal therapy client (most therapists are missing two of them). I'm walking you through the website copy, consult call questions, and social media language that accidentally repel motivated clients and what to say instead.

If your consult calls feel like you're convincing people to hire you, something in your messaging is off. But don't worry, I'll show you where and how to fix it so your ideal therapy clients feel excited when they find you and everyone else just keeps scrolling.

Topics covered on Attract Ideal Therapy Clients:

1. The real reason your "ideal therapy client" keeps ghosting you or pushing back on your fee
2. Most therapists only define one of three components when building their ideal therapy client profile
3. Your background in agency work is quietly sabotaging your efforts to attract ideal therapy clients in private practice
4. One consult call question that instantly separates ready clients from ambivalent ones
5. What to post on social media to attract ideal therapy clients who are ready to commit
6. Being more selective in your messaging is actually the kindest thing you can do for everyone (including the people who aren't ready yet)

Resources from this episode:

• Liberated Business: www.thebadtherapist.coach/liberatedbusiness
• My Secret to Turning 10 Min Intake Calls Into Paying Clients [Ep 7]

Connect with Felicia:

• Get my freebie & join the email list: The Magic Sheets
• Instagram: @the_bad_therapist
• Website: www.thebadtherapist.coach

Quote:

"Being selective about who you work with isn't gatekeeping. It's not elitist. It's actually the kindest thing you can do for everyone involved, including the people who aren't ready yet." - Felicia

Most therapists who own group practices think more revenue means taking on more clients themselves. Jason Marx proved that completely wrong. In this episode, I sit down with Jason to share how growing a group therapy practice to consistent 20K months required him to do less clinical work and more CEO work.

We talk about why he rebranded mid-growth, what happened when he stopped putting his own name on the practice, and the Five Guys french fry analogy that completely changed how he thinks about client experience (before anyone even books a session). Jason also shares something I rarely hear group practice owners admit out loud—he had no idea what he was doing and he told his first clinician exactly that.

When Jason joined Liberated Business in June 2025 he was still finishing his doctorate and figuring things out as he went. Six months later he hit his first 20K month. If you’ve been telling yourself you will grow your group therapy practice "later" or once the timing is right, Jason’s story will challenge that in the best way.

More about Jason Marx:

Dr. Jason Marx is a Psychologist and Licensed Clinical Social Worker practicing in both California and NYC where he owns Midtown NYC Therapists, a boutique out of network group practice. He is Jungian and psychodynamically oriented in his approach, working to help patients foster an authentic experience of being and discovery. Dr. Marx has experience working in severe mental health, community mental health, the Brooklyn VA Hospital Outpatient Mental Health Clinic, outpatient substance abuse with sex offenders on parole, child and family psychoanalysis, individual and couples psychoanalysis, group psychotherapy, private practice, and group private practices.

Topics covered on Growing a Group Therapy Practice:

1. The arbitrary barriers you set for yourself are what’s actually slowing down the growth of your group therapy practice
2. Your group therapy practice should not have your name on it and what changes psychologically when you remove it
3. The Five Guys french fry strategy and how it applies to your client experience before anyone even picks up the phone
4. How Jason went from "I have no idea what I'm doing" to consistent 20K months without exploiting himself through the process
5. Growing a group therapy practice means shrinking your own caseload not expanding it
6. Rebranding in the middle of Jason's journey gave him more freedom, better boundaries, and a group therapy practice he actually enjoys running

Resources from this episode:

• Liberated Business: www.thebadtherapist.coach/liberatedbusiness
• Building a StoryBrand by Donald Miller

Connect with Jason Marx:

• Website: midtownnyctherapists.com
• Instagram: @midtownnyctherapists

Connect with Felicia:

• Get my freebie & join the email list: The Magic Sheets
• Instagram: @the_bad_therapist
• Website: www.thebadtherapist.coach

Quote:

"It's amazing the psychological shift that occurred when it was no longer my name on the practice. Suddenly the behind the scenes work and the day to day felt easier, even when it's hard." - Dr. Jason Marks

Scaling your therapy practice doesn't have to mean hiring a team of clinicians, dealing with HR headaches, or becoming a group practice owner overnight. If you've hit an income ceiling with one-to-one sessions but the idea of running a group practice makes you want to run in the opposite direction, this episode is going to feel like a long-overdue exhale.

I'm walking you through three fun, doable ways to scale your therapy practice without ever managing a single employee. We're talking therapy intensives that let you earn more without stacking more weekly sessions, retreats that open up a completely different way of working with people, and workshops that help you test ideas and reach clients your therapy license can't reach.

Most therapists think their only options are staying solo forever and running a full group practice. But there’s a third option that lets you serve more people, make more money, and keep your business lean and values aligned.

One of these paths might surprise you. I jumped in headfirst and made a mistake I’d want you to avoid before you try it yourself.

Topics covered on Scale Your Therapy Practice:

1. Therapy intensives are the easiest first step to scale your therapy practice without adding more weekly sessions to your schedule
2. Retreats let you work with people in ways the traditional therapy container simply does not allow and there are a few things you need to have in place before you lead one
3. Offering workshops is one of the smartest ways to test a bigger idea before you fully commit to it
4. Here's how therapists with a growing online audience are serving people outside their licensed area without providing therapy
5. You can still be a company of one even as you scale your therapy practice and what that looks like in real life is probably not what you are imagining

Connect with Felicia:

• Get my freebie & join the email list: The Magic Sheets
• Instagram: @the_bad_therapist
• Website: www.thebadtherapist.coach

Resources from this episode:

• Liberated Business: www.thebadtherapist.coach/liberatedbusiness

Related episodes:

• Replace One Month of Private Practice Income by Leading One High-Ticket Retreat Per Year [Ep 64]
• Essential Legal Tips for Therapists Planning Wellness Retreats with Lisa Fraley [Ep 68]
• How Therapy Intensives Can Rescue Your Private Practice from the Summer Scaries [Ep 119]
• The Anatomy of a $20K Month for Solo Therapists (It's Simpler Than You Think) [Ep 149]
• Hosting a Profitable Retreat: How Sarah Lazarewicz Added $3,000 To her Income With Her First Retreat [Ep 150]
• Therapy Intensives Might Be the Income Solution You're Sitting On When You're Booked Out [Ep 158]
• Grow Your Private Practice with Me in Your Corner:How Rio Doubled Her Monthly Revenue [Ep 80]

Quote:

"You are not boxed into the either stay solo forever or start a group practice binary. You have options." - Felicia