The Build Your Private Practice Podcast

Your Financial Forecast: How to Plan for Sustainable Income in 2026 Being fully booked doesn't always mean your private practice is financially stable. In this episode of The Build Your Private Practice Podcast, Liane walks you through how to take a grounded, realistic look at your private practice finances—and why income planning matters as you head into 2026. If you've ever wondered why you're working hard but still feeling financially stretched, this conversation will help you identify where money leaks happen and what to do about them. You'll learn how to forecast your income in a way that feels simple, ethical, and sustainable—without spreadsheets taking over your life. This episode is about shifting from "staying busy" to intentionally planning for income that actually supports you. In This Episode, You'll Learn:

• Why a full caseload doesn't automatically equal financial stability
• How to calculate your real monthly income needs (and what that number tells you)
• Common money leaks in private practice—like unpaid admin, cancellations, and sliding scale overload
• How to set compassionate, professional boundaries around fees and policies
• Why client retention plays a bigger role in your income than you might think
• How a weekly "CEO hour" can help you make clearer, calmer financial decisions
• What 2026 income planning really looks like for therapists who want sustainability—not burnout

Ready to Create More Stability in Your Practice? If you're ready to build a steady stream of aligned, full-fee clients without relying on referrals or running yourself ragged—check out Accelerate Your Practice. This signature program is designed to help you create income stability, confidence, and ease in your private practice. 👉 Learn more here: https://www.buildyourprivatepractice.ca/accelerate-your-practice Explore More Support:

Visit https://www.buildyourprivatepractice.ca for free resources, programs, and tools to support your next stage of growth.

Digital marketing does not have to feel overwhelming, salesy, or unethical, even for therapists.

In this episode of the Build Your Private Practice Podcast, Liane Wood is joined by Adam Jesperson, co-founder of Fractal Marketing, to break down what is actually working in digital marketing for Canadian therapists right now, and what to stop wasting your time and money on.

They talk about:

• Why marketing feels so uncomfortable for many therapists and how to reframe it

• What has changed in digital marketing over the last few years

• The role of Google Ads, SEO, and GEO (Generative Engine Optimization) in 2026

• How therapists can ethically use marketing to reach people who are actively seeking help

• Simple, low-cost ways to improve your online presence

This conversation is especially helpful if:

• Marketing makes your stomach drop

• Your website is not converting into inquiries

• You feel torn between helping and selling

• You want sustainable visibility without burning out

Listen now to learn how to approach digital marketing in a way that feels ethical, effective, and aligned with your values as a therapist.

Connect with Adam:

• Website: https://www.fractalmarketing.ca/

• LinkedIn: Adam Jesperson https://www.linkedin.com/in/adam-growyourpractice/

Resources:

→ Learn more about https://www.buildyourprivatepractice.ca/accelerate-your-practice

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

→ Visit the Build Your Private Practice Homepage https://www.buildyourprivatepractice.ca/

If your income in private practice feels like a rollercoaster—one month strong, the next unpredictable—you're not alone. Many therapists were never taught how to plan their income… just how to work more when things feel tight.

In this episode, Liane walks you through a simpler, more sustainable way to approach income as a therapist in private practice. This isn't about working harder or raising your rates just because someone on Instagram told you to. It's about building a financial foundation that actually supports your real life.

What You'll Learn:

• Why income unpredictability is often built into your current model

• How to reverse-engineer your monthly income goal

• What most therapists forget to factor into their rates

• How capacity, pricing, and boundaries work together to create sustainability

• A mindset shift to help you feel more in control of your numbers

Links + Resources: → Learn more about Accelerate Your Practice → Learn more about Scale Your Practice → Visit the Build Your Private Practice Homepage

If the end of the year feels more chaotic than calm, this episode is for you.

Inside, I'm walking you through four practical steps to help you wrap up your private practice before the holidays hit—so you can breathe easier, feel more in control, and start 2026 with a clean slate.

Whether you're behind on admin, dreading your finances, or just feeling scattered, this is your simple, no-fluff guide to ending the year with more ease and clarity.

In This Episode, You'll Learn:

• The client communication updates to send before the holidays

• How to get your EHR system ready for a smoother 2026

• What to review in your finances (and how to simplify it)

• The forms and policies that might need a refresh before January

• How to plan for rest and revenue in the new year

Helpful Links + Resources

• Free tools and support: www.buildyourprivatepractice.ca

Subscribe & Review

If this episode helped you feel a little less overwhelmed, I'd love for you to subscribe and leave a quick review as it helps other therapists find the show.

If you've been waiting for referrals to fill your caseload, this episode is your permission slip to stop relying on chance.

Referrals can be a helpful part of your marketing, but they aren't a growth strategy. They're unpredictable, passive, and completely out of your control. And when your practice depends on them, growth slows down and income stays inconsistent.

In this episode, Liane unpacks three key reasons referrals might be holding you back and walks you through how to shift into a more intentional, sustainable visibility strategy. One that brings the right clients to you—without needing to be on every platform or shout into the void.

What You'll Learn:

• Why referrals become less reliable as your practice grows

• What makes you invisible to the clients you'd love to work with

• The difference between being visible and being findable

• How to simplify your marketing so it actually works

• The mindset shift that helps marketing feel more aligned and less overwhelming

Links + Resources: → Learn more about Accelerate Your Practice → Learn more about Scale Your Practice → Visit the Build Your Private Practice Homepage

Most therapists don't set out to become entrepreneurs—but running a private practice means you're building a business whether you planned to or not. In this episode, I sit down with business strategist Ryan Duncan to talk about what it really takes to build a sustainable practice without burning yourself out.

We unpack the behind-the-scenes realities therapists face as accidental business owners, why hustle-driven growth eventually breaks down, and how slowing down to build the right foundations can actually move you forward faster. If you've ever felt behind, overwhelmed, or unsure whether your practice is truly supporting your life, this conversation will help you reframe growth and make more intentional decisions for your next stage.

Build Your Private Practice Homepage: https://www.buildyourprivatepractice.ca/

Our Signature Program: Scale Your Practice https://www.buildyourprivatepractice.ca/scale-your-practice

Facebook Community for Canadian Therapists: https://www.facebook.com/groups/buildyourprivatepractice

What We Cover in This Episode:

• Why so many therapists become "accidental entrepreneurs"

• The hidden cost of hustle-driven, burnout-based growth

• How missing foundations create overwhelm and instability

• Why feeling "behind" is usually a structure problem—not a personal failure

• The role clarity plays in sustainable business growth

• What to focus on now based on your stage of practice

In this episode, we're unpacking a common and frustrating experience for private practice therapists: your schedule is full, but your income still feels unpredictable—or even too low. Sound familiar? You're not alone, and you're not doing it wrong. You may have simply outgrown your current structure.

Liane breaks down why more clients doesn't always mean more income, where hidden revenue leaks might be hiding in your practice, and what it actually takes to create more predictable, sustainable income—without adding more sessions or sacrificing your sanity.

What You'll Learn:

• Why being fully booked doesn't guarantee consistent income

• How undercharging, cancellations, and sliding scale spots affect your bottom line

• The mindset shift therapists need to stop trading time for burnout

• Five actionable ways to restructure your practice for sustainability

• What to track and adjust before raising your rates

Links + Resources:

→ Learn more about Accelerate Your Practice

→ Learn more about Scale Your Practice

→ Visit the Build Your Private Practice Homepage

When most therapists think about money, they think about tax time. But your numbers tell a much bigger story and learning how to read them can give you confidence, clarity, and peace of mind all year long.

In this episode of The Build Your Private Practice Podcast, I'm joined by Fractional CFO, CPA, and educator Jami Monte, founder of Chillbooks, to explore the simple systems that help solopreneurs take control of their finances.

We talk about financial rituals, common bookkeeping mistakes, and how to use QuickBooks without the overwhelm. Plus, Jami shares her free Solopreneur Write-Off Guide to help you save money and keep more of what you earn.

Links & Resources:

• Free Solopreneur Write-Off Guide: https://pages.jamimonte.com/writeoff

• Learn more about Chillbooks: https://jamimonte.com/chillbooks/

• Get support for your practice: https://buildyourprivatepractice.ca

Still doing everything yourself in private practice? It might be time to rethink that.

In this episode of The Build Your Private Practice Podcast, we're talking about the therapy admin tasks that may be draining your time, energy, and income—without adding value. From email templates to scheduling tools to simple automation, you'll learn what to let go of and how to free up space for the work that matters most.

This isn't about outsourcing your whole business. It's about making intentional choices that support your sustainability and growth.

Links and Resources:

• Visit buildyourprivatepractice.ca for tools, templates, and training

• Recommended Tools:

• Jane App for scheduling and billing

• Meta Business Suite or Later for social media batching

• Free Resources for Private Practice: https://www.buildyourprivatepractice.ca/resources

• Explore Programs:

• Launch Your Practice

• Accelerate Your Practice

• Scale Your Practice

Most therapists don't think about insurance until they have to—but by then, it might be too late. In this episode, I sit down with insurance advisor Aviva Abraham to unpack how Canadian therapists can protect their income, practice, and future with the right insurance at the right stage of business. Whether you're just starting out or scaling to something bigger, this conversation will give you the clarity (and confidence) to take smart steps now.

Special Gift from Aviva Abraham

Want a clear, stage-by-stage guide to the insurance coverage your practice needs? Email [email protected] to get your free copy of: The Healthcare Professional's Insurance Roadmap Protect yourself and your business at every stage of growth.

Links & Resources

Build Your Private Practice Homepage: buildyourprivatepractice.ca Our Signature Program: Scale Your PracticeFacebook Community for Canadian Therapists: Join Here

What We Cover in This Episode:

• The surprising risks most therapists overlook when it comes to income

• The difference between disability and critical illness insurance

• What kind of insurance you need based on your business stage

• Why insurance isn't "just a cost"—and how it can be a smart business move

• How to avoid common insurance pitfalls that cost therapists big time