The Build Your Private Practice Podcast

Private practice is changing.

There are more therapists entering the field.

Clients have more options.

AI and digital platforms are reshaping how people access support.

And being a strong clinician, while absolutely essential, may no longer be enough on its own.

In this episode of The Build Your Private Practice Podcast, Liane sits down with Michael Kerman, founder and president of Leading Edge Seminars, to talk about what he's seen change across more than 30 years of working with Canadian therapists—and where he believes the profession is heading next.

Michael has had a front-row seat to the way therapists learn, grow, and build their careers.

And one thing is clear:

The therapists who thrive in the years ahead will be the ones who keep learning.

Clinically.

Professionally.

And as business owners.

In this episode, we cover:

• How therapist training has changed over the past 30 years

• Why therapists are becoming more integrative in their clinical work

• How virtual care changed the way therapists work and learn

• What Michael noticed at BYPP's 10-year celebration

• Why specialization and reputation are becoming increasingly important

• Why clinical skill and business skill need to work together

• How therapists can stand out without becoming "marketers"

• Why speaking, community involvement, and professional visibility matter

• What AI could mean for the future of therapy

• Why therapists need to keep challenging themselves as the profession changes

• What newer therapists should invest in now

• Why experienced clinicians still benefit from lifelong learning

• The importance of caring for yourself alongside your clinical and business growth

• How Leading Edge Cancún combines professional development with actual rest

One of the biggest messages from this conversation is simple:

Never stop learning.

Your clinical skills matter.

Your business skills matter.

Your ability to adapt matters.

And so does your willingness to keep growing as a person.

Because building a long, meaningful career in this profession isn't about reaching a point where you finally know everything.

It's about staying curious enough to keep learning.

Michael also shares the story behind Leading Edge Cancún, where therapists can combine high-quality clinical training in the mornings with time to rest, recharge, and enjoy the afternoons.

Liane will also be presenting an evening session on:

Protecting the Work Only You Can Do: The Forces Reshaping Private Practice and How to Stay Ahead

If the idea of meaningful professional development paired with a real break sounds good to you, you can learn more here:

https://leadingedgecancun.com/?ck_subscriber_id=4286739213

Use code BYPP100 to save $100 off your training/accommodations package.

Explore tools, programs, and support at: https://buildyourprivatepractice.ca/

Join our Facebook community for Canadian therapists: https://www.facebook.com/groups/buildyourprivatepractice

Listen and subscribe here: https://thebuildyourprivatepracticepodcast.libsyn.com/

Gratitude is something we talk about a lot this time of year.

But what if it could be more than a feeling?

What if gratitude was something you intentionally practiced in your private practice?

In this Thanksgiving episode of The Build Your Private Practice Podcast, Liane is reflecting on what she's most grateful for after celebrating 10 years of Build Your Private Practice—and why the people and relationships behind the work matter so much.

Because no private practice is built entirely on your own.

There are colleagues who answer questions when you're stuck.

Referral partners who trust you with the people they care about.

Team members who keep things moving behind the scenes.

Friends and family who hold things together when your workday runs late.

And sometimes, one of the most meaningful things you can do is simply let those people know you noticed.

In this episode, we cover:

• What Liane is most grateful for after 10 years of Build Your Private Practice

• Why gratitude is more than something we feel once a year

• How a simple thank you can strengthen professional relationships

• Why being specific makes a thank-you note more meaningful

• The three people Liane encourages you to thank this Thanksgiving

• Why a genuine thank you should come without an ask attached

• How small acts of appreciation help build stronger communities

• Why the strongest practices are often deeply connected to the people around them

• How to make gratitude an intentional part of your private practice

• Why relationships matter when you're building something sustainable

This Thanksgiving, Liane has one simple challenge for you:

Write three thank-you notes.

One to someone who has supported your practice professionally.

One to a colleague who has been there when you needed them.

And one to someone who helps make your work possible behind the scenes.

Keep them short.

Make them specific.

And leave the ask out.

Because sometimes the most powerful thing you can say is simply:

I noticed what you did, and it mattered.

Private practice can feel isolating, but you don't build something sustainable alone.

Take a few minutes this week to acknowledge the people who have helped you along the way.

Explore tools, programs, and support at: https://buildyourprivatepractice.ca/

Join our Facebook community for Canadian therapists: https://www.facebook.com/groups/buildyourprivatepractice

Listen and subscribe here: https://thebuildyourprivatepracticepodcast.libsyn.com/

Ten years.

That's how long Build Your Private Practice has been supporting therapists as they navigate the business side of private practice.

And in this episode of The Build Your Private Practice Podcast, Liane is taking you behind the scenes of BYPP's 10-year celebration—and sharing some of the biggest lessons she's learned along the way.

From what went right to what went sideways, this episode is a look at what it really takes to build something that lasts.

Because whether you're building a business, growing a private practice, running a workshop, or trying something new, things will not always go exactly as planned.

And that doesn't mean you're doing it wrong.

What matters is how you respond, what you learn, and whether you keep moving forward.

In this episode, we cover:

• What the BYPP 10-year celebration looked like behind the scenes

• Why nobody builds a sustainable business or private practice alone

• What happened when parts of the event didn't go according to plan

• Why people often remember how you handled a problem more than the problem itself

• What Liane learned from the feedback after the event

• Why documenting your systems and processes makes future growth easier

• How workshops can be a simple, natural way to grow your private practice

• Why sharing what feels "basic" to you can be incredibly valuable to someone else

• The lesson behind asking for the testimonial, opportunity, consult, or next step

• Why therapists may need to get a little louder about the expertise they already have

One of the biggest takeaways from the day?

You don't have to have everything perfectly figured out before you take the next step.

Your workshop does not need to be revolutionary.

Your event does not need to run flawlessly.

Your marketing does not need to be complicated.

Sometimes, the most powerful thing you can do is share what you already know, make the invitation, and give people a chance to say yes.

Because if you don't ask, the answer is already no.

And if you've been sitting on an idea for a workshop, a group, a talk, or another way to share your expertise, this episode is a reminder that you may already know more than enough to begin.

If you're feeling full of ideas but unsure what to prioritize next in your practice, Liane can help you get clear on your next move.

Learn more about Accelerate Your Practice here: https://www.buildyourprivatepractice.ca/accelerate-your-practice

Learn more about Scale Your Practice here: https://www.buildyourprivatepractice.ca/scale-your-practice

Explore tools, programs, and support at: https://buildyourprivatepractice.ca/

Join our Facebook community for Canadian therapists: https://www.facebook.com/groups/buildyourprivatepractice

Listen and subscribe here: https://thebuildyourprivatepracticepodcast.libsyn.com/

Your calendar is full. Clients are coming in. Revenue is coming in.

So why does your private practice still feel financially stressful?

Being busy and being profitable are not the same thing.

In this episode of The Build Your Private Practice Podcast, Liane shares the story of a therapist who had her first truly profitable month—without adding a single new client or working more hours.

What changed?

She got clear on her cash flow, started planning properly for taxes, and finally understood what the money coming into her practice actually needed to do.

Because a full calendar tells you about your revenue. It doesn't necessarily tell you whether you have a profitable private practice.

And when you're already fully booked but not making enough—or constantly worrying about money—the answer usually isn't squeezing more clients into your schedule.

Sometimes, you need better systems around the income you're already earning.

In this episode, we cover:

• Why a full practice can still feel financially stressful

• The important difference between revenue and profit

• Why a booked-out calendar doesn't necessarily mean your practice is profitable

• How unclear cash flow can make a thriving practice feel financially tight

• Why setting money aside for taxes matters

• Why seeing more clients isn't always the answer to making more money

• How better financial systems can create more stability without increasing your caseload

• Why follow-up is one of the most underused ways to turn inquiries into clients

• What profitability gives you beyond the numbers

• How to build a practice that supports your life instead of draining it

If your practice is full but money still feels tight, start by looking at the money you're already making.

Can you clearly see your cash flow?

Are you consistently setting aside what you'll need for taxes?

Do you know what's actually available to you after your practice expenses and obligations are covered?

The goal was never just to be busy.

It's to build a profitable, sustainable practice that gives you more freedom—not one that asks you to keep working harder.

If you're ready to turn your full practice into one that feels more profitable, sustainable, and supported, Scale Your Practice can help.

Learn more here: https://www.buildyourprivatepractice.ca/scale-your-practice

Explore tools, programs, and support at: https://buildyourprivatepractice.ca/

Join our Facebook community for Canadian therapists: https://www.facebook.com/groups/buildyourprivatepractice

Listen and subscribe here: https://thebuildyourprivatepracticepodcast.libsyn.com/

If you've ever looked around at all the therapists in your city, scrolled through an online directory, or found someone with your exact niche and thought, "The market is saturated," you're not alone.

It can feel like there's no room left.

And once you start believing that, it can quietly change the way you build your practice.

You stop marketing. You hesitate to change your fees. You make yourself less visible. You may even wonder whether starting or growing your practice is worth it at all.

But there's an important distinction we need to make:

Seeing more therapists does not automatically mean there's no demand for what you offer.

In this episode of The Build Your Private Practice Podcast, Liane is unpacking the saturation story—and why the better question isn't whether the market is too full, but whether the right clients can clearly recognize that you're the right therapist for them.

Because clients aren't choosing from a faceless crowd of interchangeable therapists.

They're looking for the person who understands their specific needs.

In this episode, we cover:

• Why "the market is saturated" can feel so convincing

• The difference between seeing more competition and understanding actual client demand

• Why finding the right therapist is often a matching problem

• How clients really choose the therapist they want to work with

• Why clarity about who you help matters more than trying to appeal to everyone

• How the saturation story can keep therapists invisible

• Why fear can stop you from marketing, changing your fees, or even starting

• The real cost of assuming there's no room for your practice

• The question to ask instead of "Is the market too full?"

• How becoming clearer and more findable can help the right clients recognize themselves in your message

Your practice isn't built by competing with every therapist around you.

It's built one right-fit client at a time.

Instead of asking, "Is the market too full?"

Try asking:

"Am I clear and findable to the specific people I'm the right fit for?"

That's a question you can actually do something about.

Explore tools, programs, and support at: https://buildyourprivatepractice.ca

Join our Facebook community for Canadian therapists: https://www.facebook.com/groups/buildyourprivatepractice

Listen and subscribe here: https://thebuildyourprivatepracticepodcast.libsyn.com

Build Your Private Practice is turning 10! 🎉

Join us on Friday, September 25, 2026, for a full day focused on the operations, finances, marketing, and mindset behind building a private practice that actually works for you.

Attend live in Toronto or join us virtually from anywhere.

Register here: https://pages.buildyourprivatepractice.ca/bypp-10yr-registation

If your private practice income feels inconsistent, it's easy to assume you're doing something wrong.

One month feels steady. The next feels frighteningly quiet. And somewhere along the way, you start wondering why everyone else seems to have figured out the business side of private practice when you haven't.

But there's something important we don't talk about enough:

Money was never on the syllabus.

Your training taught you how to be a therapist. It taught you ethics, assessment, clinical judgment, and how to care for your clients.

It probably didn't teach you how to set your fees, fill a caseload, follow up with inquiries, prepare for slower seasons, or create more predictable income.

In this episode of The Build Your Private Practice Podcast, Liane is talking about the business education therapists were never given—and why struggling with the money side of private practice isn't a personal failing.

It's a skill gap.

And business skills can be learned.

In this episode, we cover:

• Why inconsistent income is so common in private practice

• The business skills most therapists were never taught

• Why struggling financially doesn't mean you're bad at business

• The quiet shame therapists can carry around money

• Why comparing your practice to someone else's can make that shame worse

• How intentional fees can create a stronger financial foundation

• Why follow-up is one of the most underused tools in private practice

• The importance of understanding your numbers

• How consistent visibility can help create more predictable income

• Why becoming a stronger business owner has nothing to do with your value as a clinician

You didn't graduate knowing how to run a business.

You graduated knowing how to help people.

The business side is something you learn next.

Explore tools, programs, and support at: https://buildyourprivatepractice.ca

Join our Facebook community for Canadian therapists: https://www.facebook.com/groups/buildyourprivatepractice

Listen and subscribe here: https://thebuildyourprivatepracticepodcast.libsyn.com

Build Your Private Practice is turning 10! 🎉

Join us on Friday, September 25, 2026, for a full day focused on the operations, finances, marketing, and mindset behind building a private practice that actually works for you.

Attend live in Toronto or join us virtually from anywhere.

Register here: https://pages.buildyourprivatepractice.ca/bypp-10yr-registation

If your private practice felt quiet this summer, September can feel like the moment you've been waiting for.

Routines return. Calendars tighten up. And people who have been thinking about starting therapy finally begin looking for someone to work with.

But there's one mistake therapists often make: waiting until the demand arrives to start marketing.

In this episode of The Build Your Private Practice Podcast, Liane is talking about the September intake window—why fall is such an important time for private practice growth, what gets in the way of filling your caseload, and what you can do right now to make it easier for potential clients to find you and take the next step.

Because when your marketing feels like it's going nowhere, it may not mean you're bad at business.

Often, it comes down to two things: timing and consistency.

In this episode, we cover:

• Why September can create a natural increase in demand for therapy

• Why therapists should prepare for fall intake before clients start looking

• What may really be happening when your marketing feels like it's going nowhere

• Why timing and consistency matter in private practice marketing

• How to increase visibility without creating an entirely new marketing strategy

• Simple ways to remind referral sources that you have availability

• Why potential clients should be able to understand who you help and how to book within seconds

• How unclear booking processes can cost you interested clients

• Why responding promptly to inquiries matters

• The overlooked power of following up with potential clients

• What to do if you feel like you missed the August preparation window

• A simple three-step checklist to help you get more therapy clients this fall

If you're feeling behind, you haven't missed your opportunity.

The September intake window doesn't close on September 1.

Start with three things this week:

Be visible. Choose one place where your ideal clients are already looking and show up consistently.

Make the next step easy. Check your website, directory listing, contact form, and booking process. Make sure a potential client immediately knows what to do next.

Follow up. Look back at the people who have contacted you recently but haven't booked. A warm, human follow-up may be all they need.

You don't need to become louder or completely reinvent your private practice marketing.

You need to be findable when the right people are ready for support.

The clients come back.

Let's make sure they can find you.

Explore tools, programs, and support at: https://buildyourprivatepractice.ca

Join our Facebook community for Canadian therapists: https://www.facebook.com/groups/buildyourprivatepractice

Listen and subscribe here: https://thebuildyourprivatepracticepodcast.libsyn.com

Build Your Private Practice is turning 10! 🎉

Join us on Friday, September 25, 2026, for a full day focused on the operations, finances, marketing, and mindset behind building a private practice that actually works for you.

Attend live in Toronto or join us virtually from anywhere.

Register here: https://pages.buildyourprivatepractice.ca/bypp-10yr-registation

Have you ever stopped yourself from posting something because it felt too obvious?

Maybe you assumed everyone already knew it.

Maybe you worried your colleagues would think it was too basic.

So instead, you said nothing—or turned a simple idea into something more advanced, clinical, and complicated.

But your future clients are not looking for the most sophisticated take.

They are looking for the therapist who helps them feel understood.

In this episode of The Build Your Private Practice Podcast, Liane is explaining why the content you almost do not post may be exactly what connects with the right clients.

Because what feels basic to you may be the first time someone has heard their experience explained clearly.

In this episode, we cover:

• Why therapists often overcomplicate their marketing

• How the curse of knowledge affects the content you create

• Why your peers and potential clients respond to different things

• The difference between simplifying an idea and "dumbing it down"

• Why clarity and recognition matter more than sounding impressive

• How jargon-heavy content can unintentionally push people away

• Why simple content can still demonstrate deep expertise

• How relatable posts help potential clients feel less alone

• Why clear, human content is more likely to be shared

• How to find your next content idea inside a client conversation

• A simple test for deciding whether an idea is worth posting

You do not need to find a more original or advanced idea.

Think about the last time a client said:

"I have never thought about it that way."

The sentence you said immediately before that moment may be your next post.

Write it in plain language.

Share it without jargon, citations, or unnecessary explanation.

If it helps the right person feel seen, it is worth saying.

Explore tools, programs, and support at: https://buildyourprivatepractice.ca

Join our Facebook community for Canadian therapists: https://www.facebook.com/groups/buildyourprivatepractice

Listen and subscribe here: https://thebuildyourprivatepracticepodcast.libsyn.com

Build Your Private Practice is turning 10!

Celebrate with us on Friday, September 25, 2026, live in Toronto or online.

Register here: https://pages.buildyourprivatepractice.ca/bypp-10yr-registation

Has Psychology Today—or another therapist directory—suddenly stopped sending you inquiries?

It is easy to assume you did something wrong.

Maybe your profile needs another rewrite. Maybe your fees are the problem. Maybe you are no longer standing out.

But the issue may not be you.

A directory can make you findable, but it cannot guarantee that you will be chosen.

In this episode of The Build Your Private Practice Podcast, Liane is explaining why relying on a directory is not the same as having a marketing strategy—and what helps create a practice that remains steady when a platform goes quiet.

Because your practice should not depend on a list you do not control.

In this episode, we cover:

• Why directory inquiries can slow down without anything changing about your clinical skills

• The difference between being findable and being chosen

• Why many therapist profiles sound interchangeable

• How referral relationships create a more stable source of clients

• Why networking does not have to feel pushy or sales-focused

• How one strong referral relationship can support your practice for years

• Why trying to speak to everyone often connects with no one

• How a specific message helps potential clients recognize themselves

• Why your website, directory profile, content, and introductions should share the same message

• How to rewrite the first two lines of your directory listing

• One simple action to begin building a practice you own—not visibility you rent

You do not need to delete your directory listing.

A directory can be a useful front door.

The mistake is treating the front door like the entire house.

This week, write one sentence describing the specific person you most want to help.

Then share that sentence with one person who may be able to refer the right clients to you.

That is how a chosen practice is built:

One clear message shared with one right person at a time.

Explore tools, programs, and support at: https://buildyourprivatepractice.ca

Join our Facebook community for Canadian therapists: https://www.facebook.com/groups/buildyourprivatepractice

Listen and subscribe here: https://thebuildyourprivatepracticepodcast.libsyn.com

Build Your Private Practice is turning 10!

Celebrate with us on Friday, September 25, 2026, live in Toronto or online.

Register here: https://pages.buildyourprivatepractice.ca/bypp-10yr-registation

If every task in your private practice still runs through you, it is no wonder your week feels so full.

The intake emails, invoices, appointment changes, website updates, insurance receipts, and marketing may each seem small.

Together, they can swallow hours of your time and leave very little capacity for your clients, your business, or your life.

In this episode of The Build Your Private Practice Podcast, Liane is talking about delegation—and why handing off work is not about lowering your standards or losing control.

It is about protecting the work that only you can do.

Because "I have always done it" does not mean "I have to keep doing it."

In this episode, we cover:

• Why doing everything yourself can increase stress

• How to identify the work only you can do

• Which private practice tasks may be ready to delegate

• A four-box exercise for sorting your workload

• Why urgent does not always mean important

• How unclear instructions create many of the errors practice owners fear

• The different levels of delegation and how trust develops

• Why delegation requires a process—not a rushed handoff

• How regular one-on-one meetings make delegation work

• Why handing off tasks can improve response times and client experience

• How delegation creates capacity for clinical work, strategic decisions, and your life

You do not need to hire someone or overhaul your practice today.

Start by writing down everything you did in your business this week.

Then sort each task into one of four categories:

Do. Schedule. Delegate. Delete.

That simple exercise can show you where your time is going—and where you may be the bottleneck.

You do not have to figure this out alone.

Explore tools, programs, and support at: https://buildyourprivatepractice.ca

Join our Facebook community for Canadian therapists: https://www.facebook.com/groups/buildyourprivatepractice

Listen and subscribe here: https://thebuildyourprivatepracticepodcast.libsyn.com

Build Your Private Practice is turning 10!

Celebrate with us on Friday, September 25, 2026, live in Toronto or online.

Register here: https://pages.buildyourprivatepractice.ca/bypp-10yr-registation