107. What to Do When the Clinic Culture Is Off

In this episode Miranda sits down with Jean Hoarder, a therapist and the Clinic Director at in Pittsburgh. Jean works closely with franchise owners Fred and Sharon (who are mentioned, but not a part of this episode).

Jean gets real about what it was like stepping into a clinic environment that wasn’t working—and how she helped turn things around. We talk about the importance of consistent leadership, honest communication, and celebrating wins. Jean shares the intentional ways she worked to rebuild trust, create a supportive team vibe, and make the clinic a place people actually want to work. If you're a clinic director or in any kind of leadership role, this one’s packed with insight and encouragement.

OUR HOST:

Miranda Barker, MSW, LICSW, has been practicing as a therapist for several years. She previously worked as a child protection investigator, adoption social worker, case manager, and the Director of Brand Content at Ellie Mental Health. Follow her on⁠⁠⁠ LinkedIn.⁠⁠⁠

The Therapist Thrival Guide is a podcast by⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Ellie Mental Health⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. We want to move therapists beyond surviving and into the realm of thriving by covering all the things that graduate school didn't teach you! This mental health podcast is hosted by Miranda Barker, LICSW and a rotating cast of seasoned therapists. Each episode features a therapist speaking to their areas of expertise to help us learn how to thrive as therapists.⁠⁠

Ellie is a national mental health brand organized around community-based outpatient mental health clinics. It all began with a single office in St. Paul, Minnesota back in 2015, and has expanded to an explosive number of locations nationwide after franchising our model in 2021. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Timestamps

00:21 – Meet Jean: Background and Role

00:30 – Walking into a toxic culture

02:08 – What positive change actually looks like

05:25 – Building trust and communication

09:54 – Doubts and growing through challenges

16:30 – Jean’s advice for clinic directors

18:42 – Wrapping it up