Private Practice Elevation with Daniel Fava

In this episode of the Private Practice Elevation Podcast, we're diving deep into the world of financial planning specifically tailored for therapists in private practice and how you can increase your returns and hit your goals.   We’re going to be talking all about the goals you have for your life and how those goals can actually drive the financial decisions you make in your private practice.   Navigating the financial planning side of running a business can take time and effort.   From bookkeeping to taxes, to whether you should be an S Corp or an LLC. There are so many questions to answer.   Well, today we’re talking with Ryan Derousseau and he helps us unpack the nitty gritty of getting started with your financial plan and increasing your returns in your private practice.   Ryan Derousseau is a fee-only financial planner based in Long Island, New York. He has a background in writing and has worked for publications such as Fortune, Money, and the New York Times. Ryan specializes in working with therapists to help them manage their finances and achieve their life goals.   Whether you're just starting your private practice or looking to elevate your financial game, this episode is packed with tips to lead you toward financial success.  In This Episode, You’ll Learn: The importance of understanding your business and life goals The importance of having emergency funds for personal and business How to balance business savings and retirement savings When does a S Corp make sense for your private practice? The business advantages of S Corps and the process to transition The importance of avoiding debt and tips to keep you safe Why ignoring the value of your private practice can impact retirement security. Links mentioned in this episode: https://thinkingcapfinancial.com/ The Financial Planning Checklist  

In this episode of The Private Practice Elevation Podcast, we will be discussing the topic of Return on Investment (ROI) for marketing in your private practice.    ROI stands for Return on Investment, which refers to the benefit that you expect from an investment activity.    In the context of marketing, ROI measures the effectiveness of your marketing efforts and helps you determine whether your investment is generating the desired results.    Our guest today is Carla Titus, the founder and CEO of Wealth and Worth Within, a fractional CFO firm that provides consulting and advisory services to growing businesses, especially in the mental health space.    Carla has extensive experience in finance and has helped numerous businesses improve their financial planning and decision-making. In This Episode, You’ll Learn: The importance of financial knowledge for small business owners The need to outsource and delegate financial tasks Definition and importance of ROI (Return on Investment) Mindset challenges and the need for cash reserves The importance of discipline and consistency in marketing Tracking and measuring ROI through data analysis The importance of conversion rates in marketing strategies Tips for tracking ROI and projecting future growth The role of financial planning in business growth  

In this episode, you’re going to learn about some expert tips on accounting and bookkeeping to help you set up a strong financial foundation for your private practice.   As a private practice owner, you may often focus on the clinical side of your business, providing quality care to your clients and helping them on their journey to wellness. However, it's crucial not to overlook the financial aspects of running a private practice.    It may not be sexy, but accounting, bookkeeping, and tax management are essential components of a successful business, and neglecting them can lead to unnecessary stress and financial difficulties down the line.   In this episode, I speak with Andrew Riesen, co-founder of Heard, a platform that offers accounting and bookkeeping services for clinicians in private practice.    Andrew shares valuable insights and advice on accounting and tax-related matters that are often overlooked by small business owners. He emphasizes the importance of separating personal and business finances, setting aside money for taxes, and tracking income and expenses.    Andrew also discusses various deductions that clinicians can take advantage of, such as professional development expenses, home office deductions, and retirement contributions.    He highlights the significance of planning for time off and taking care of mental health as a business owner. Andrew also provides an overview of the services offered by Heard, including software, reporting, and access to a team of professionals who can provide guidance and support throughout the year. In This Episode, You’ll Learn: The importance of separating your business accounts from your personal accounts How much should you save for taxes? Some expenses you maybe didn’t realize you could write off on your taxes Lessons I (Daniel) have learned from working with my own accountant Some of the accounting nuances therapists think about when setting up a private practice Retirement Accounts and why you should be thinking about retirement now How to plan for PTO in your business so that you can avoid burnout and feeling guilty about time off  

In this episode of The Private Practice Elevation Podcast, you’ll learn about one of the most important factors that may determine your success in private practice: how you handle your emotions.   Most people think they can land on some optimized marketing plan, a system for scaling, or a specific strategy that’s going to help them achieve success for their private practice.   While those things are all important, if you’re unable to handle your emotions and stressful situations successfully, you’ll likely sabotage your growth.   To be a successful private practice owner requires a deep understanding of human emotions and the ability to navigate them effectively. Starting without your own!   This is where emotional intelligence comes into play. Emotional intelligence, often referred to as EQ, is the powerful ingredient that can elevate private practice success to new heights.   Private practice professionals, such as doctors, therapists, lawyers, and consultants, face unique challenges in their daily interactions with clients. Building strong relationships, managing client expectations, and providing exceptional service are paramount. These tasks go beyond the technical and clinical skills acquired through education and experience.    They require a keen awareness of emotions, both our own and those of our clients, as well as our employees, and the ability to harness that awareness to make informed decisions and cultivate meaningful connections.   Today we’re talking with Jamey Schrier all about how you can become more self-aware and grow in your emotional intelligence - and why it’s crucial to your private practice success. As Jamey says:   “How you handle yourself under stress will determine your success as a private practice owner.” In This Episode, You’ll Learn: Why working harder is not the answer to achieving private practice success How emotional intelligence - how to handle emotions Why emotional intelligence is a more important factor to you your success than what you know as a therapist Tips for increasing your self-awareness - the first step for increasing your emotional intelligence A simple exercise to help you understand the things that trigger you  Jamey’s “10-second pause” exercise that will help you be more present with the clients and people around you Tips to be more socially-aware so that you can recognize the emotions and challenges in others so that you can handle challenging situations calmly and successfully How emotional intelligence can help you develop better relationships with referral partners and grow your business Steps for dealing with negative self-talk so you can move past your own barriers and grow your business Simple tips to reducing your schedule so you can focus on yourself and the tasks that matter  Links mentioned in this episode: Practice Freedom U Take The Practice Quiz Emotional Intelligence 2.0 - Book (affiliate link)  

In this special SEO Quick Tip episode, we will be discussing the importance of optimizing your titles and meta descriptions on your website.    These elements play a crucial role in on-page optimization, helping your website rank higher for the keywords you are targeting.    In this episode, we will explore the best practices for crafting effective titles and meta descriptions, and how they can impact your search engine rankings.   Your title tags and meta descriptions are the very first thing that users will see in those Google search results. It’s not only important to optimize them so that you improve your ranking, it’s equally important to make them enticing to users.   We want people to go from Google to your website right?    Well, listen up as we break down these crucial SEO factors and give you a quick rundown on titles, meta descriptions and how you can optimize them. In This Episode, You’ll Learn: What are titles tags and meta descriptions The importance of optimizing titles and meta descriptions on websites Best practices for creating optimized title tags for your website to help boost search engine rankings Tips for writing great meta descriptions to help your SEO

Today, we're diving into the topic of awkward money moments in running a therapy practice.    Join me as we explore the challenges therapists face when discussing fees, insurance, and rate increases with clients.    We'll uncover strategies to navigate these conversations with confidence and compassion.   To help us do that, we’ll be talking with Mor Goldberger. By day Mor leads Therapist Experience and Growth for Mentaya and by night she works as a couples therapist.  Introduction: The Uncomfortable Reality of Money in Therapy As a therapist, discussing money with clients can be an uncomfortable and challenging task. Many therapists find themselves ill-equipped to handle these conversations, as there is often a lack of business training in the field of therapy.    This can lead to feelings of discomfort and uncertainty when it comes to setting fees, discussing insurance, and addressing rate increases.   In this episode, we will delve into the world of awkward money moments in therapy. We will explore the experiences of therapists and the strategies they employ to navigate these conversations effectively.    Through the help of our guest, Mor Goldberger, we will gain a deeper understanding of the complexities surrounding money in therapy and discover practical tips to handle these situations with confidence. In This Episode, You’ll Learn: Why therapists often struggle with discussing money with clients How to maintain your boundaries around money so that you avoid getting into awkward conversations that display a lack of confidence Tips for discussing sliding scale fees with prospective clients Scripts to use when letting your clients know that you’re no longer accepting insurance Things you can do for framing conversations about raising rates Tips for sounding confident during consultations such as breathing and slowing down your pace of speaking Why being willing to refer poor-fit potential clients shows a high level of care Try Mentaya for free with promo code: PPE Links mentioned in this episode:  Mentaya.com (Try Mentaya for free with promo code: PPE) Subscribe & Review in Apple Podcasts If you’re not yet subscribed to the podcast I want to encourage you to do that today. This is the best way to make sure you don’t miss an episode! Click here to subscribe on iTunes.   And if you’re feeling extra generous, I’d love to hear what you think about the podcast. Reviews help others find the podcast plus I’d really love to hear what you think! Click here to leave a review. Just click on “Ratings & Reviews” then “Write a review.” Let me know what you like best about the podcast. Thank you!

In this episode of The Private Practice Elevation Podcast, you’re going to learn how you can write copy that’s authentic, relatable, and helps you connect with and convert more clients.   Writing copy for our websites or online marketing doesn’t come easy for most of us.   The majority of therapists don’t have any training in marketing in business building.   So when you’ve got a website that your need to fill up with a bunch of words that are somehow going to get you more clients, that can be a daunting task.   What happens often is that we end up filling our therapy websites with therapist speak and information from the DSM.   But the trouble is that this type of language is not the language your ideal client uses to describe their feelings and the challenges they face.   So how can you create content that feels authentic to YOU and who you are, while also relatable to your ideal client?   How can you stand apart from other private practices so that you attract the best-fit clients to work with?   Patrick Casale is a Licensed Clinical Mental Health and Addictions Therapist in Asheville, NC, who helps mental health entrepreneurs break the mold, work through their fears and insecurities, and to embrace their Authenticity.   Listen in as he shares tips, exercises, and strategies you can use to  help you get past your copywriting roadblocks and create the best content for you and your clients  In This Episode, You’ll Learn: Why “relatability is accessibility” and the key to connecting with potential clients and getting them to take the next step Overcoming imposter syndrome in your copywriting How your niche can actually be a version of you and how you can use your story to create content Tips for niching down so you can begin writing content with a specific client in mind Why new environments can help spark creativity and write your best content Exercises to help you get out of your head and just start writing creative and captivating content How movie characters can help you write amazing content The reasons why launching a website when it isn’t perfect is a key to success with your marketing How to make time for content creation Links mentioned in this episode: All Things Private Practice Divergent Conversations Podcast Free impostor syndrome workbook + narrow down your niche guide + private practice startup guide   Top 3 reasons to listen to the entire episode:   Understand the difference between a good and bad therapist website and what key things to watch out for when developing your online presence.  Identify ways to make your website a safe space and establish a connection with potential clients. Learn how to create captivating content on landing pages, utilizing keywords and internal linking, as well as understand the impact of SEO on website visibility and attracting clients.   If you take the time to structure and maintain your therapist website in a strategic, authentic, and ethical way, you'll be more likely to see your ideal clients finding and choosing you as their therapist while knowing that you're going to be the best fit.   Listen Here.   This Episode is Brought To You By   Alma is on a mission to simplify access to high-quality, affordable mental health care by giving providers the tools they need to build thriving in-network private practices. When providers join Alma, they gain access to insurance support, teletherapy software, client referrals, automated billing and scheduling tools, and a vibrant community of clinicians that come together for education, training, and events.   Alma gives clinicians the tools they need to build thriving private practices. When you join their insurance program, you can get credentialed within 45 days, and access enhanced reimbursement rates with major payers. They also handle all of the paperwork, from eligibility checks to claims submissions, and guarantee payment within two weeks of each appointment.    In addition to their insurance program, Alma offers timesaving tools and administrative support — so you can spend less time on paperwork, and more time delivering great care to your clients.    Learn more about building a thriving private practice with Alma at helloalma.com/elevation.  Subscribe & Review in Apple Podcasts If you’re not yet subscribed to the podcast I want to encourage you to do that today. This is the best way to make sure you don’t miss an episode! Click here to subscribe on iTunes.   And if you’re feeling extra generous, I’d love to hear what you think about the podcast. Reviews help others find the podcast plus I’d really love to hear what you think! Click here to leave a review. Just click on “Ratings & Reviews” then “Write a review.” Let me know what you like best about the podcast. Thank you!

In this episode of The Private Practice Elevation podcast, we will be exploring 8 eye-opening statistics about website users and how they interact with therapy websites.    In today's digital age, having a strong online presence and professional website is crucial for any private practice, as more and more people turn to the internet to search for mental health services.    But just having a website is not enough.    It's important to understand how users behave on your website in order to optimize its design and content to serve their needs better.   Doing so can help you communicate your value and services more effectively, and improve the number of clients your website adds to your practice.   In this episode, we'll be sharing eight key statistics about website users that will change the way you think about your therapy website. Some of these may even lead you to get serious about that website redesign you’ve been thinking about!   From bounce rates to mobile usage, we'll dive into the data and provide insights on how to improve your website's user experience and ultimately attract more clients to your therapy practice.   Why User Experience is Crucial to the Success of Your Therapy Website   Understanding how users interact with your website is crucial because it can help you improve the user experience and ultimately attract more clients to your therapy practice.    By analyzing user behavior, you can identify areas of your website that may be causing frustration or confusion for visitors, and then make changes to address these issues. This could include optimizing the layout and design of your website, improving the content or navigation, or ensuring that the website is mobile-friendly.   Additionally, by looking at these statistics and understanding how potential clients interact with your website, you can gain insights into what types of content are most popular, which can help you tailor your website to better meet the needs of your target audience.   Plus, your website is often the first point of contact that potential clients have with your practice.  Therefore, optimizing the user experience on your website can help you make a positive first impression and ultimately attract more clients to your practice. Links mentioned in this episode: Original article from Sweor Google Pagespeed Insights     This Episode is Brought To You By   Alma is on a mission to simplify access to high-quality, affordable mental health care by giving providers the tools they need to build thriving in-network private practices. When providers join Alma, they gain access to insurance support, teletherapy software, client referrals, automated billing and scheduling tools, and a vibrant community of clinicians that come together for education, training, and events.   Alma gives clinicians the tools they need to build thriving private practices. When you join their insurance program, you can get credentialed within 45 days, and access enhanced reimbursement rates with major payers. They also handle all of the paperwork, from eligibility checks to claims submissions, and guarantee payment within two weeks of each appointment.    In addition to their insurance program, Alma offers timesaving tools and administrative support — so you can spend less time on paperwork, and more time delivering great care to your clients.    Learn more about building a thriving private practice with Alma at helloalma.com/elevation.   

In this episode of The Private Practice Elevation Podcast, you’re going to learn how you can intentionally create a team culture in your private practice that hs clinicians begging to work with you.   One thing I’ve learned from watching my wife build and grow her own group practice is that, well, it’s hard!   It can be a struggle to find great therapists to join your team and then provide enough benefits to ensure they stay.   Not only that, it can be hard to find others who share your vision and values for this practice that you’re building.   So what can you do to begin building a team culture at your private practice?   How do you nail down your hiring process from start to finish so that at the end of it, you know you’re hiring someone who cares about your vision and the impact you want to create through your private practice?   Today we’re speaking with Dawn Gabriel.   Dawn is the founder and CEO of Authentic Connections Counseling Center, a group practice consultant, and host of Soul Care for Therapists podcast. She is passionate about helping people achieve freedom from what is keeping them stuck and invites others to take a non-judgmental look deeper into their spirituality and faith.   Whether you’re just starting to build your private practice team or you’ve got a team already, you’re going to get some great advice from an experienced group practice owner on creating deep connections with your team so that you can build a team you love that cares about your vision.   In This Episode, You’ll Learn: How to hire therapists that share your values and your vision, not just to fill a chair Ideas and examples for creating a mission statement that can guide you through the interview process The importance of screening candidates before even thinking about inviting them in for an interview Creative perks you could offer your therapists and how to incorporate them into your job description and attract better candidates Exercises and resources you can use to foster connections between team members and support one another The Ennigram and how it can help you understand your team’s strengths and personalities better Steps for building your leadership team so that you can focus on what you love and what you’re good at Links mentioned in this episode: Faith Fringes Soul Care for Therapists Authentic Connections Counseling Center  

In this episode of the Private Practice Elevation Podcast, you’re going to learn how our perceived failures can be turned into learning opportunities that can help you reach your private practice goals.   Like all things in life, your business will go through seasons.   There will be highs and lows, and tons of challenges along the way.   But it’s how we view those challenges that can mean the difference between feeling stagnant in your business growth and truly thriving while growing your business.   One of the main things that can hold you back from growing your business is fear.   It can be scary to pay the money you feel like you don’t have to invest in Google Ads, a coaching program, or maybe a mastermind group.   But as our guest explains, you can shift to view these things as investments that you can trust will be returned exponentially.   Maira Holzmann is the owner of Somatic Therapy Partners in Denver, CO and she loves helping other therapists find the tools, support, and guidance necessary to build a thriving, soul-aligned private practice.   After three failed attempts at private practice and ending burnout and overwhelm for good, Maira is committed to serving therapists in creating better outcomes with their clients and living a balanced life with more joy.    Listen to our conversation as we share experiences of the highs and lows of business building and how you can come to terms with investing (even learn to love it!) in your business so that you grow and build a business and life that you love. In This Episode, You’ll Learn: Mistakes people make when first starting out in private practice Why you need marketing so that people can find your business The difference between investment and cost and how investing in yourself and your business can make a huge impact on your growth How to calculate your return on investment for Google Ads so you can confidently market your practice and attract clients How investments open possibilities for you Maira’s tips for being in FLOW - “Feeling love over worry” and how when you’re in the FLOW, you’re able to be more creative, confident, and at peace How to confront resistance as you grow your private practice Why it’s so important to trust you will get an ROI when investing in your business Why investing in a thriving life is the best thing you can do for your clients This Episode is Brought To You By   Alma is on a mission to simplify access to high-quality, affordable mental health care by giving providers the tools they need to build thriving in-network private practices. When providers join Alma, they gain access to insurance support, teletherapy software, client referrals, automated billing and scheduling tools, and a vibrant community of clinicians that come together for education, training, and events.   Alma gives clinicians the tools they need to build thriving private practices. When you join their insurance program, you can get credentialed within 45 days, and access enhanced reimbursement rates with major payers. They also handle all of the paperwork, from eligibility checks to claims submissions, and guarantee payment within two weeks of each appointment.    In addition to their insurance program, Alma offers timesaving tools and administrative support — so you can spend less time on paperwork, and more time delivering great care to your clients.    Learn more about building a thriving private practice with Alma at helloalma.com/elevation.    Links mentioned in this episode:  Somatic Therapy Partners