Wise Practice Podcast

Is there a more personal way to get credentialed and accept insurance in private practice? In this episode of the Wise Practice Podcast, Whitney Owens welcomes Nicholas Mancini, therapist and co-founder of Collective Counseling Solutions, to explore a clinician-led alternative to large third-party credentialing platforms. Nicholas shares how his background in community mental health inspired him to help therapists expand access to care while maintaining autonomy in their practices. He explains how Collective Counseling Solutions approaches credentialing, billing, and clinician support with transparency, fair compensation, and human connection at the center. Whitney and Nicholas discuss: • The transition from community mental health to private practice • How Collective Counseling Solutions began and grew • What sets a clinician-owned, self-funded business apart from investor-backed platforms • Why clear communication about insurance rates and billing matters • The value of community and responsive, personal support for therapists Whether you're considering accepting insurance or exploring alternatives to your current credentialing platform, this conversation offers a look at a relationship-focused approach to supporting your practice. 00:00 Welcome and Episode Introduction 03:35 Nicholas's Journey into Private Practice 08:44 Creating Collective Counseling Solutions 12:39 A Clinician-Led Alternative to Large Platforms 15:49 Human Connection and Community Support 20:57 Therapist Pay and Transparent Rates 23:26 How to Join the Collective 27:09 Closing Thoughts Watch on YouTube Meet Nicholas Mancini, Co-Founder & CEO, LMFT, LPC Therapist, Entrepreneur, and Idealist Supporter, Nicholas Mancini is on a journey to align his mission, vision, and values with opportunities to serve others. He is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and Licensed Professional Counselor in Denver, CO. In 2019 he co-founded Collective Counseling Solutions (CCS), a national collective of therapists dedicated to increasing access to mental healthcare through their insurance benefits. CCS is striving to disrupt the industry by being clinician and client-centric.  Nicholas Mancini's Links Website LinkedIn Links and Resources Learn More about Wise Practice Consulting Connect with Wise Practice on Instagram Connect with Whitney Owens on Facebook Check out all of the podcasts on the PsychCraft Network

You're investing in SEO, running Google Ads, and working to get your practice noticed—but the client inquiries still aren't coming. Could your website be getting in the way? Whitney Owens welcomes back Daniel Fava, founder of Private Practice Elevation, to explore why getting more website traffic doesn't always lead to more clients. They discuss how to identify where potential clients are getting stuck, when to prioritize a website redesign over SEO, and how clear messaging and simple calls to action can help more visitors take the next step. Whitney shares how her own practice's website redesign and intake data helped guide decisions about how clients connect with her team. Daniel also explains how AI is changing the way people find therapists and why answering your ideal clients' questions matters. In this episode, you'll learn: • Which website metrics to track beyond client inquiries • How to decide whether your website or SEO needs attention first • Why tracking phone calls, contact forms, and online booking separately matters • How to make the next step clear for potential clients • How AI search is changing website discovery and traffic • What to consider when redesigning your website to protect your SEO Daniel also introduces his Digital Trail Map session, a guided process that helps practice owners clarify their brand, ideal clients, and website strategy before investing in a redesign. Watch on YouTube 04:14 Meet Daniel Fava and Whitney's website redesign 07:56 Is your website holding back your marketing? 12:13 Tracking your numbers and prioritizing website improvements 16:57 Improving conversions and your intake process 21:52 How AI is changing the way clients find therapists 27:08 Protecting your SEO when changing websites 28:47 Daniel's Digital Trail Map session Meet Daniel Fava Daniel Fava is the owner and founder of  Private Practice Elevation, a website and SEO agency focused on helping private practice owners create websites that increase their online visibility and attract more clients. Private Practice Elevation offers web design services, SEO (search engine optimization), website copywriting, and WordPress support to help private practice owners grow their businesses through online marketing. Daniel lives in Atlanta, GA with his wife Liz, and two energetic boys. When he's not working he enjoys hiking by the river, watching hockey, and enjoying a pour of bourbon. Daniel's Links Website Instagram Facebook YouTube Digital Trailmap Session (Get $50 off with the code WISE) Links and Resources Learn More about Wise Practice Consulting Connect with Wise Practice on Instagram Connect with Whitney Owens on Facebook Check out all of the podcasts on the PsychCraft Network Wise Practice Masterminds

How do you build your practice's online reputation when asking clients for reviews raises ethical concerns? In this episode, Whitney Owens welcomes Brent Stutzman, founder of TheraSaaS, for a conversation about Google reviews and the challenges therapists face when marketing their practices. Whitney and Brent discuss the ethical concerns surrounding review requests, ways to make your Google Business Profile more visible, and how AI is changing the way potential clients find therapists. Whitney also shares her experience with negative reviews, prompting a discussion about responding to criticism, protecting client privacy, and whether paying to remove bad reviews is worth it. Listen in for a candid conversation about navigating online feedback and taking a more intentional approach to your practice's reputation. Watch on YouTube 05:33 Why Google reviews matter for your practice 11:36 Ethical concerns around requesting reviews 16:03 Google's review policies and common pitfalls 23:10 Building your practice's online presence 30:21 Handling negative reviews and responding thoughtfully 34:15 Creating a consistent review strategy 35:50 Connect with Brent and learn about TheraSaaS Meet Brent Stutzman After helping his wife launch her counseling practice in 2016, Brent Stutzman saw the need to help other practice owners build powerful sales and marketing funnels. Since then, he's launched over a dozen private-pay practices nationwide, founded TheraSaaS a marketing and intake CRM for therapists. His mission is to simplify sales and marketing for private practices so they can confidently grow their practice (and have fund doing it!) Brent is recognized as an expert in digital marketing and AI within the mental health community. Brent lives in Chicagoland with his wife of 22 years and their four children.  Brent Stutzman's Resources TheraSaaS Facebook YouTube Links and Resources The Ethical Google Reviews Checklist Learn More about Wise Practice Consulting Connect with Wise Practice on Instagram Connect with Whitney Owens on Facebook Check out all of the podcasts on the PsychCraft Network Wise Practice Masterminds

Are you making decisions about your practice based on what the numbers say—or how things feel? Y'all, I know tracking data can feel like one more thing on an already overflowing to-do list. But understanding your numbers can help you stop putting out fires and start making decisions with more confidence. In this episode, I'm joined by Jeff Bourque, creator of Group Practice Dashboards, to talk about the data every practice owner needs to know and how to get started without making it complicated. Jeff began building dashboards for his wife's group practice and now helps other owners bring their numbers together in ways they can actually use. We talk about tracking inquiries, understanding which referral sources turn into appointments, and using reports you already have in your EHR. I also share a rebooking metric that surprised me in my own practice—and why I'm paying closer attention to it. Watch on YouTube In this conversation, we cover: • Simple ways to organize inquiries and track conversion rates • What your numbers can reveal about therapist performance • How to delegate data collection to your admin team • Why rebooking rates and paid no-shows deserve your attention • How clinician profitability can guide compensation decisions • Using data to identify clients who may need follow-up and support Before we jump in, I'm also sharing a personal milestone: saying goodbye to the office where I started my practice more than 12 years ago and preparing for our next chapter. Knowing your numbers can help you build a sustainable practice, support your team, and serve your community well. Start with one thing, and build from there. 02:55 Meet Jeff Bourque 07:15 Simple ways to start tracking your practice's data 11:38 Moving beyond overwhelm and gut feelings 17:57 Using EHR reports and delegating data collection 19:34 Rebooking rates, no-shows, and payment policies 25:44 Understanding clinician profitability 28:12 Custom dashboards and a special listener offer Special Offer Jeff is offering Wise Practice listeners $150 off the one-time setup fee for Group Practice Dashboards. Mention Whitney Owens and the Wise Practice Podcast in the referral field when scheduling your free consultation. Meet Jeff Bourque I began creating dashboards for group practices in 2023, starting with my wife Kelly Bourque's practice, Red Therapy Group. After tracking our metrics for a few months, she showed our dashboard to some of her group practice owner friends, and I've been busy ever since. I've been in the data world since 2016, and I've built many corporate-level dashboards for large companies like Sony and HealthTrust who needed to summarize millions of rows of data. This data-wrangling experience coupled with being married to a group practice owner has me uniquely positioned to present group practice owners their data in meaningful ways. Jeff's Resources Website LinkedIn Links and Resources Learn More about Wise Practice Consulting Connect with Wise Practice on Instagram Connect with Whitney Owens on Facebook Check out all of the podcasts on the PsychCraft Network Wise Practice Masterminds  

Ever find yourself wondering, "Is running a group practice even worth it anymore?" In this episode, Whitney talks with Lisa Catallo about burnout, leadership, loneliness, and what happens when the business you built starts asking more from you than you ever expected. Lisa shares why she chose to downsize her practice, what she learned in the process, and how practice owners can tell whether they need to quit, restructure, or simply get better support. 02:56 Meet Lisa Catallo 07:30 Why Group Practice Owners Start Questioning Everything 10:02 How to Protect Yourself as the Owner 11:47 Burnout, Overwhelm, and Knowing Something Has to Change 15:43 Lisa's Decision to Downsize 22:14 Growth, Leadership, and When the Business Has to Change 26:44 What to Do Before Closing Your Group Practice 27:48 Lisa's CEO Audit + How to Connect Watch on YouTube Meet Lisa Catallo, RCC, CCC, ACS Lisa Catallo is a Canadian psychotherapist, group practice owner, and business coach who has spent the last eight years helping practice owners lead with clarity, confidence, and sustainable systems. Through the Group Practice Network and her podcast, Empowered to Lead, she supports therapists who want to build values-driven practices without burning out or losing themselves in the day-to-day. Her work is calm, grounded, and focused on helping leaders step fully into the CEO role their practice needs them in. Lisa's Resources Website Facebook Instagram Group Practice Audit Links and Resources Learn More about Wise Practice Consulting Connect with Wise Practice on Instagram Connect with Whitney Owens on Facebook Check out all of the podcasts on the PsychCraft Network

Whitney Owens sits down with returning guest Brittany Schank, LCSW, and owner of Solace Counseling, to talk about why the traditional 60/40 split model stopped working in her group practice. Brittany shares what it was like to realize her clinicians were sometimes taking home more than she was, why the numbers were no longer sustainable, and how she transitioned toward salary and per-session pay. They also discuss the hidden costs of running a group practice, why higher percentages do not always mean a better opportunity for therapists, and how work-life balance, support, and strong practice culture can matter just as much as compensation. Brittany also shares her new I'm Here client check-in app, designed to make the waiting room process easier for both clinicians and clients. 00:00 Welcome + episode introduction 04:26 Meet Brittany Schank 05:19 Why the 60/40 split stopped working 09:26 When resentment signaled a needed change 14:31 What your practice offers beyond pay 16:03 Moving from splits to salary 23:58 Why pay percentages can be misleading 26:29 The reality of starting your own private practice 29:48 Changing pay structures for existing clinicians 33:16 The "I'm Here" client check-in app 36:03 Where to connect with Brittany Watch on YouTube Meet Brittany Schank I'm Brittany Schank. I'm a licensed clinical social worker, and I own a group practice called Solace Counseling up in Fargo, North Dakota, home of extremely friendly people and extremely unfriendly winters. We've got 11 clinicians now, which still catches me off guard some days, since this thing started as just me and a caseload. Somewhere along the way I also started a directory that connects therapists with clinical supervisors and consultants, because finding the right supervisor should not feel like online dating. And most recently, I built an app called I'm Here. It's really nothing fancy, just a simple way for clients to text that they've arrived so nobody has to sit in an awkward waiting room making eye contact with a stranger. I built it because I was tired of that problem in my own practice, and it turns out a lot of other practices had the exact same headache. Outside of all that, I'm a mom to four kids and married to my husband Landon, who is also the COO of our counseling practice (we met working together, so when he joined full time it felt like a full-circle moment). In my free time, you can find me watching my kids play while in cozy socks and an oversized sweatshirt and sweats, drinking an iced coffee, beating my kids in a game of Uno, or out catching the biggest fish! Brittany's Links I'm Here WP122 | Leading with Wisdom: Adding Supervision to Your Practice with Brittany Schank, LCSW Links and Resources Learn More about Wise Practice Consulting Connect with Wise Practice on Instagram Connect with Whitney Owens on Facebook Check out all of the podcasts on the PsychCraft Network

In this episode of the Wise Practice Podcast, I'm talking with Di Luden, co-founder of Ubuntu Freelancers, about how virtual assistants can support therapy practices with intake, admin, marketing, billing, and more. Di shares how Ubuntu connects U.S.-based practices with highly skilled team members in South Africa, why their model creates a win for both practice owners and their assistants, and how they handle challenges like time zones, training, HIPAA compliance, and live phone coverage. We also talk about their incredibly low staff turnover and why that can make such a difference when you're building a reliable support team.  If you've been telling yourself you need to get more organized before hiring help, this episode is especially for you. Di explains how an assistant can actually help you document your workflows, create SOPs, and build stronger systems as you go. Plus, Wise Practice listeners can receive five free hours of onboarding when they sign up with Ubuntu Freelancers.  02:57 Meet Di Luden 04:05 How Ubuntu Freelancers Started 08:51 Why Hire a Virtual Assistant Overseas? 12:50 Live Phone Support + Intake Coordination 15:29 Additional VA Services for Practices 17:13 Training, EHRs, and CRMs 22:13 HIPAA Compliance + Onboarding 23:45 Five Free Onboarding Hours for Wise Practice Listeners 25:39 How to Get Started With Ubuntu Freelancers Watch on YouTube Meet Di Luden Di Luden is the Co-Founder of Ubuntu Freelancers, helping therapy practices, behavioral health organizations, and coaching businesses build exceptional client coordination and administrative support teams using highly skilled South African talent. She has partnered with hundreds of practice owners to streamline operations, improve the client experience, and free clinicians to focus on what they do best. Passionate about people and partnerships, Di is committed to creating meaningful employment opportunities while helping businesses grow. Di Luden's Links Website LinkedIn Instagram Facebook Links and Resources Wise Practice Summit Learn More about Wise Practice Consulting Connect with Wise Practice on Instagram Connect with Whitney Owens on Facebook Check out all of the podcasts on the PsychCraft Network

I've used Google Ads in my own practice, especially during seasons when we needed to fill caseloads quickly, so I was excited to sit down with Google Ads expert Brandon Grill and really dig into what makes them work. In this episode, Brandon and I talk about how to know if your practice is actually ready for Google Ads, why your website and overall digital presence matter so much, and why getting more specific with the services you advertise can make a huge difference. We also talk about the numbers you should be watching, including click-through rates and conversion rates, how to tell if the problem is your ad or your landing page, and why practice owners still need to stay involved even when someone else is managing their campaigns. We also get into insurance versus private pay practices, how Google Ads can work alongside SEO, and what can go wrong when campaigns aren't set up or tracked well. If you've been wondering whether Google Ads are worth the investment for your private practice, this episode will give you a much clearer picture of what to consider before you start spending money. Watch on YouTube  03:22 – Brandon's Journey Into Google Ads 05:40 – Who Is a Good Candidate for Google Ads? 08:30 – Why Your Digital Footprint Matters 09:46 – Google Ads for Insurance vs. Private Pay Practices 11:50 – Why Run Google Ads for Your Practice? 13:57 – Click-Through Rates and Conversion Rates 16:34 – Common Google Ads Myths and Mistakes 18:53 – Improving Lead Quality and Landing Pages Meet Brandon Grill Brandon Grill is a Google Ads expert focused on helping therapists and mental health practices. He specializes in improving every part of the lead generation process, from ads to conversion tracking to landing pages to conversion rate optimization (or CRO). His work is focused on helping private practices turn more clicks into qualified inquiries while making the most of their marketing budget. Brandon's Links Brandon's LinkedIn Free Google Ads Guide Website Links and Resources Learn More about Wise Practice Consulting Connect with Wise Practice on Instagram Connect with Whitney Owens on Facebook Check out all of the podcasts on the PsychCraft Network

If you're investing in SEO, how do you actually know if it's working? In this episode, I'm joined by Mary Walker of Simplified SEO Consulting to break down Google Search Console and show practice owners how to use it to understand what's happening with their website. We look at real data from my own counseling practice, including impressions, clicks, search queries, average position, and which pages are gaining or losing traction. Mary also explains how to identify the keywords bringing people to your website, determine whether those searches are actually attracting your ideal clients, and find opportunities to strengthen services you want to grow. We also talk about what to look for if you've been paying an SEO company and want to know whether your investment is actually improving your visibility over time. The best part? Google Search Console is free, and the information inside it can give you actionable ideas for your website, blogs, and overall marketing strategy. Mary is also offering Wise Practice listeners a waived onboarding fee for foundational SEO programs—a $350 value—as well as 10% off an SEO consulting package. If you've ever wondered, "Is my SEO actually working?" this episode will help you figure out exactly where to look. Watch on YouTube 06:13 – Why Therapists Struggle to Measure SEO 08:17 – Free Tools to Understand Your Website 10:45 – Why Google Search Console Is So Helpful 13:03 – Looking Inside Whitney's Search Console 19:13 – Are You Attracting the Right Clients? 22:31 – Finding SEO Opportunities in Your Data 27:04 – How to Know If Your SEO Company Is Working 32:03 – Can Your SEO Keep Improving? 33:54 – Special SEO Offer for Wise Practice Listeners Show Sponsor Wise Practice Summit (Ticket sales end 9/11) If you're enjoying today's episode, I want to personally invite you to one of my favorite events of the year—the Wise Practice Summit, happening October 8th through 10th in Nashville, Tennessee. If you're a practice owner who wants practical strategies to grow your business, become a stronger leader, and connect with other faith-based practice owners who truly understand the unique challenges of this work, this event is for you. Over three days, you'll hear from incredible speakers, gain actionable tools you can implement right away, and connect with trusted partners like GreenOak Accounting and other experts who are dedicated to helping private practice owners thrive. More importantly, you'll be surrounded by a community of people who share your heart for serving others while building healthy, sustainable businesses. We're just a few weeks away, so if you've been thinking about joining us, now is the time to grab your ticket. I'd love to meet you in Nashville and spend those three days learning and growing together.  Learn more here: https://www.wisepracticeconsulting.com/summit-2026-1 Meet Mary Walker Mary Walker is the owner of Simplified SEO Consulting, where she helps private practice owners grow their businesses through ethical, strategic SEO. With dual Master's degrees in Psychology and Digital Marketing, she brings a unique blend of human insight and technical expertise to her work. Mary is passionate about helping therapists and helping professionals feel confident in their online presence without losing the heart of what they do. She is also a mom of five and a strong advocate for building a business that supports both professional success and personal fulfillment. Mary Walker's Resources Website (I'd love to offer listeners a waived onboarding fee for our foundational SEO programs, which is a $350 value, as well as 10% off our SEO consulting package). Facebook Instagram LinkedIn Links and Resources Learn More about Wise Practice Consulting Connect with Wise Practice on Instagram Connect with Whitney Owens on Facebook Check out all of the podcasts on the PsychCraft Network

If you take insurance in your practice, there's a good chance you're losing money somewhere in the process without even realizing it. In this episode, I'm joined by Justin Ith, co-founder and CEO of Aria, to talk about the hidden costs of accepting insurance and the places where revenue tends to slip through the cracks. We break down credentialing, eligibility verification, claim submission, and denials, and Justin shares what practice owners should be paying attention to in each area. We also talk about why so many denials actually start much earlier in the process, how small errors can turn into lost revenue, and how automation can help growing group practices reduce administrative work without continually adding more staff. If you're running an insurance-based practice and want to protect your revenue while making the administrative side of your business easier, this episode is for you. Watch on YouTube 04:41 Meet Justin Ith, Co-Founder of Aria 05:27 The Story Behind Aria 10:07 Four Ways Insurance-Based Practices Lose Money 11:32 Credentialing Mistakes That Delay Revenue 14:28 Eligibility Checks & Medicaid Challenges 16:52 Claim Submission, Modifiers & Human Error 19:02 Why Insurance Denials Really Happen 23:56 How Aria Helps Practices Automate & Scale Show Sponsor Wise Practice Summit If you're enjoying today's episode, I want to personally invite you to one of my favorite events of the year—the Wise Practice Summit, happening October 8th through 10th in Nashville, Tennessee. If you're a practice owner who wants practical strategies to grow your business, become a stronger leader, and connect with other faith-based practice owners who truly understand the unique challenges of this work, this event is for you. Over three days, you'll hear from incredible speakers, gain actionable tools you can implement right away, and connect with trusted partners like GreenOak Accounting and other experts who are dedicated to helping private practice owners thrive. More importantly, you'll be surrounded by a community of people who share your heart for serving others while building healthy, sustainable businesses. We're just a few weeks away, so if you've been thinking about joining us, now is the time to grab your ticket. I'd love to meet you in Nashville and spend those three days learning and growing together.  Learn more here: https://www.wisepracticeconsulting.com/summit-2026-1 Meet Justin Ith Justin Ith is the co-founder and CEO of Aria, the practice automation platform for growing group practices. He has spent the past decade in health technology, with a focus on billing and revenue cycle, working with organizations of every size, from solo practices to large systems like Optum, Providence, and Seattle Children's. What he cares about most is the business side of running a practice: the owners who set out to help people and end up buried in back-office work they never trained for. That is the problem he started Aria to work on. Justin's Resources Justin's LinkedIn Aria on LinkedIn Aria Links and Resources Wise Practice Summit Learn More about Wise Practice Consulting Connect with Wise Practice on Instagram Connect with Whitney Owens on Facebook Check out all of the podcasts on the PsychCraft Network