Nicole Lobo: From Group Practice Back to Solo | Ep 199

What happens when the practice you worked so hard to build no longer fits the season of life you're in? How do you know when it's time to grow, and when it's time to simplify? In another installment from my mini-series, "Where are they now?" I'm chatting with Nicole Lobo, who was on the show back in 2023! In this episode, Nicole returns to the podcast to reflect on how her practice has evolved over the last three years, why she transitioned from group practice back to solo work, and how motherhood reshaped her understanding of success, sustainability, and balance.  From marketing struggles and wearing too many hats, to rediscovering groundedness in private practice, Nicole shares an honest look at what it means to build a business that fits the life you actually want to live. MEET NICOLE Nicole Lobo is a Registered Psychotherapist and founder of Be Well Therapy Studio in London, Ontario, with over nine years of experience supporting thoughtful, high-functioning adults through anxiety, burnout, perfectionism, and life transitions. Drawing on an integrative approach that weaves together CBT, DBT, ACT, emotion-focused therapy, attachment theory, and trauma-informed care, Nicole specializes in the in-between seasons of life — the moments when what once fit no longer does. She has a particular passion for working with millennial adults navigating the quiet pressure to hold it all together, including the profound identity shifts that come with parenthood. Beyond her clinical work, Nicole also provides supervision for Registered Psychotherapists and business coaching for therapists building sustainable practices. She holds a Master's in Counselling Psychology from Yorkville University and sees clients both in person in London and virtually across Ontario.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​ Learn more about Nicole on her practice website, Psychology Today, and LinkedIn profiles.  In this episode:  Nicole's private practice in 2023 Going from group back to solo practice How Nicole is marketing her practice Rebalancing virtual and in-person sessions What's next for Nicole   Nicole's private practice in 2023 Nicole had some big goals back in 2023, and all of them came to fruition over these past three years! She explains that she was passionate and motivated, and that by taking consistent steps, Nicole was able to bring all of these dreams together into the practice that she now runs.  Going from group back to solo practice While Nicole loved her time running a group private practice, at the beginning of 2026, she decided to restructure her business into a solo practice again.  Therefore, once Nicole's last contractor was ready to move on, she decided not to take on another and readjusted her practice to run as a solo practitioner. How Nicole is marketing her practice Nicole is honest about having had a difficult time marketing her practice when it was a group-focused entity.  Finding a way to honor everyone's skills in the practice of marketing is essential, and can be difficult to do. Therefore, shifting back to solo practice has also made marketing easier for Nicole, because now she's marketing herself only, and not having to do that heavy lifting for a team of other clinicians, as group practice owners often need to.  Rebalancing virtual and in-person sessions At first, Nicole would see more than half of her clients in person and offer a day or two for virtual sessions.  However, she unfortunately experienced numerous no-shows, last-minute cancellations, and other hiccups, which made it difficult for her to continue seeing most of her clients in person, especially when she needed to arrange childcare and commute to the office.  Therefore, Nicole has found a new balance to seeing clients: the majority online, and a few in person. That, combined with being a solo practitioner, has made it easier and little less stressful for Nicole to balance her work and personal life commitments.  What's next for Nicole For Nicole, the road ahead is smooth and steady.  While she's not closed off from potential opportunities, such as partnering with another clinician in the future or taking on contractors again, she is focused on this season of her professional life, which is to be a solo practitioner for the time being.  Connect with me: Instagram Website  Resources mentioned and useful links: Shulamit Ber Levtov: Building a Sustainable Practice Without Losing Yourself | EP 198 Learn more about the tools and deals that I love and use for my Canadian private practice Sign up for my free e-course on How to Start an Online Canadian Private Practice Jane App (use code FEARLESS2MO for two months free) Get started with Hushmail here and get one month for free! Learn more about Nicole on her practice website, Psychology Today, and LinkedIn profiles Click here to listen to the previous episode with Nicole Lobo Rate, review, and subscribe to this podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon, and TuneIn

Building a business while caring for others can be deeply meaningful work, but it can also come at a cost if your own well-being is left behind. It can be easy to get absorbed in caring for others and accidentally lose focus on your own personal needs in the process.   Shulamit experienced this firsthand. In this episode, Shulamit Ber Levtov shares her unconventional path into therapy, from activism, graduating with a Master's degree at 48, and building a thriving group practice in a rural community.   She opens up about the realities of entrepreneurship, the mental health challenges that led her to step away from group practice ownership, and why sustainable success starts with taking care of yourself first. Join us for an insightful discussion!  MEET SHULAMIT Shulamit is known as The Entrepreneurs' Therapist. She's the mental health professional you hire when you're a woman business owner, and you want to build the internal steadiness--for your emotions and your money psychology-- to lead effectively through the uncertainty, weight, and complexity of running a business. Shulamit has been an entrepreneur for over 27 years and has more than 22 years of professional experience supporting women's mental health and personal growth. As a trauma survivor and Master's-level trauma therapist, with certifications in Dare To Lead™, Trauma of Money®, and Financial Social Work as well as somatic parts therapy, Shula brings a unique perspective and approach to supporting women in business. Learn more about Shulamit on her website, LinkedIn, and Instagram profiles.  In this episode:  Graduating with a Master's at 48! Evergreen marketing strategies  Going from group private practice to solo  Shula's plans for the future  Final takeaways for listeners  Graduating with a Master's at 48! Shulamit's story is an adventurous and inspiring one.  Shula explains how her mother was an activist, and that this type of work was prominent in her family lineage throughout her life. That, she explains, impacted how she wanted to contribute to the community around her, leading her to study Social Work.  However, after arguing with a professor about socialism and fighting on behalf of people who need to be paid a living wage, she was dropped from the programme because her grades (from this professor's class) pulled her average too low.  While Shula had attempted to complete her Master's degree twice before, this was the moment in her life, decades after that Social Work course, that she decided to bring everything together and really go for it.  Evergreen marketing strategies Back in 2012, after Shula graduated with her Master's and began her path to private practice, she decided on a location that (at the time) had relatively few therapists and counsellors.   Therefore, pre-COVID, Shula was marketing her brick-and-mortar group private practice in a small town that had a strong need for therapy services. What worked for her and her business then did not always continue to work post-COVID and into the online world.   So, Shulamit's main advice for consistently successful marketing is to be present and create deep connections with the community, whether that's in-person, online in videos on social media, or both.  Going from group private practice to solo  Shulamit explains that this is the reason why she's the entrepreneur's therapist: she went on a personal journey from group private practice to a solo business owner for her own well-being.   Shula came to realize that either she leaves her business or continues to suffer with poor mental health, and she chose her mental health.  Shula recognized that her associates were depending on her to bring in clients for the business to prosper, and for them to have an income as well.  But, when she understood the depth of her struggle, she had to remove herself from the practice and allow someone else to take her place to stop her entire team from suffering as well.  Shula's plans for the future In two words, here are Shulamit's goals for the future of her practice: sustainability and growth.  Sustainability for her solo practice, to continue to see her clients and sustain herself in the process, growth for the profession, and expansion in the research of caring for entrepreneurs.  As she continues to experiment and as the digital work continues to change, she's committed to finding strategies that will be evergreen.   Final takeaways for listeners  Shulamit wants you to take care of yourself. Don't let your mental, physical, and emotional well-being be an afterthought. So, take a regular temperature check on yourself once a week, or every now and then at least, to figure out what you are feeling, why, and how to help yourself move forward with less stress.   Secondly, don't let the nature of the work make you feel like you are failing. The work is hard because it is inherently hard, and not because you can't do it. You can.  Connect with me: Instagram Website  Resources mentioned and useful links: Paula Gonzalez: From Purpose to Practice and Scaling with Intention | EP 197 Learn more about the tools and deals that I love and use for my Canadian private practice Sign up for my free e-course on How to Start an Online Canadian Private Practice Jane App (use code FEARLESS2MO for two months free) Get started with Hushmail here and get one month for free! Learn more about Shulamit on her website, LinkedIn, and Instagram profiles Rate, review, and subscribe to this podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon, and TuneIn

Building a meaningful practice often starts with a personal story, and grows through courage, creativity, and a commitment to helping others.  In this episode, I talk with Paula Gonzalez. We discuss her journey into mental health, which was shaped by both her background and lived experience, and how it led her from community work to launching and scaling her own private practice.  From navigating the early days of going solo during COVID to building a supportive group practice, Paula offers an honest look at growth, purpose, and the systems that make it all sustainable. Join us for a great conversation! MEET PAULA Paula Gonzalez is a Toronto-based Registered Psychotherapist, Clinical Supervisor, and the founder of Infinite Horizons Psychotherapy, located in North York. After 15 years working in community mental health and private practice, Paula made the decision to follow her passion and expand her solo practice into a group practice. Now, she works with a team of therapists who align with her mission to transform the way people experience therapy. Learn more about Paula on her practice website, Psychology Today, Facebook, and Instagram profiles.  In this episode:  Why Paula started working in mental health  Starting a private practice  Scaling from solo to group private practice  Using Jane App in private practice  Paula's advice to listeners  Why Paula started working in mental health  Over the last 15 years, Paula has dedicated her career to the mental health field.  'Even back in high school years, you know, when we had to volunteer, it's always been in mental health. Even in university and placements, and my Master's, and now being a therapist, so it's been a long time in this field!' - Paula Gonzalez When explaining how Paula came into the world of therapy, and what encouraged her to pursue becoming a therapist and working in mental health, Paula recalls her family lineage and that she came from a long line of women who worked in various helping professions.  'My mom being a social worker, my grandmother was a teacher, you know, my aunt is a doctor, so it's always been a part of my life to be in the helping profession. For me, having gone through my own experiences, like immigrating to Canada at a young age … That experience was very difficult for me … That made it clear … that I really wanted to become the kind of person I wish I had had at that time to get me through that.' - Paula Gonzalez Starting a private practice  Paula completed her Master's degree in 2016, and then she started working in community mental health, where she stayed for four years.  While Paula loved the community aspect of working with people in her city, it was difficult to find a full-time job at the time, especially since virtual sessions were not yet popular or common.  But when COVID hit in 2020, Paula started thinking about opening up her own solo virtual private practice.  'I did start in community mental health, and then I worked at a group practice. As a new grad, very new territory for me. Eventually, I decided, "I miss community mental health!" So I decided to go back. But then COVID hit. What led me to open up my own … during COVID … I felt so called to doing my part in working with folks directly.' - Paula Gonzalez  And so, Paula launched her online private practice! She would see clients in the evenings or even on weekends while she continued working in community mental health. Scaling from solo to group private practice  'Every day I wake up, and I'm like, "How, I can't believe I get to do this!" I'm still figuring it out as I go, but I love it.' - Paula Gonzalez  Creating the office spaces, editing the website, and social media content: all of these aspects are ways in which Paula gets to practice and unleash her creative freedom, and they are some of the things she loves the most about running a group practice.  More than that, Paula wanted to share the work and expand the impact by creating a team, which is what motivated her to take her practice from solo to group.  'I knew that I wanted to create a team … I loved my role as a clinical supervisor, but there's something about having a team of new grads, I love working with them, whether it is in a supervisory capacity or as colleagues, and knowing that we're all trying to figure this out … I find it so important to have a team as a part of our support system, and that aligns with what I'm hoping to put out there in the world.' - Paula Gonzalez  Using Jane App in private practice From her solo practice to her current group practice, Paula has consistently used Jane App for her business admin. '[Jane App] is so user-friendly. It's got everything that I need, I can pull the reports that I need to track metrics and see what's working, what's not … I've also gotten very good feedback from clients that use it too … Very user-friendly for both therapists and clients.' - Paula Gonzalez Jane App was designed to serve therapists and clients equally, while in different ways, and allows them both to navigate an easy interface that lets them communicate with each other smoothly. If you are ready to give Jane App a try, click here and use the code FEARLESS2MO for a two-month free trial!  Paula's advice to listeners  Focus your marketing on your client niche, and don't spread yourself too thin! The work you do is important, so take care of yourself to take better care of your clients.  Connect with me: Instagram Website  Resources mentioned and useful links: Amber Sperling: Three Years of Private Practice Growth | EP 196 Learn more about the tools and deals that I love and use for my Canadian private practice Sign up for my free e-course on How to Start an Online Canadian Private Practice Jane App (use code FEARLESS2MO for two months free) Get started with Hushmail here and get one month for free! Learn more about Paula on her practice website, Psychology Today, Facebook, and Instagram profiles Rate, review, and subscribe to this podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon, and TuneIn

Growth rarely happens by accident because it's built through intention, care, and a willingness to evolve. In this episode of my mini-series "Where Are They Now?", Amber Sperling reflects on the journey of expanding her practice from a single basement setup to a thriving, multi-location space rooted in accessibility and community care.  Amber and I first spoke on the podcast in 2023! To get the full experience of the there-and-now conversation, you can click here to listen to the episode when Amber first came on the Fearless Practice Podcast.  In our conversation in this episode, she shares how prioritizing clients over waitlists, investing in genuine relationships, and leaning into what works have shaped her success, along with the practical lessons and marketing strategies that continue to guide her forward. Welcome to the conversation! MEET AMBER Amber Sperling is a Registered Social Worker, psychotherapist, and founder of Amber Sperling Social Work & Psychotherapy Services, a growing group practice specializing in perinatal mental health and trauma. She is EMDRIA-certified and one of the first clinicians in Canada to hold certification in perinatal mental health, known for helping clients experience meaningful change from the very first session. Amber is expanding her work through MARSHA Care—a broader model that integrates therapy, education, and community to support women's health across life transitions. She is passionate about building a practice that blends clinical excellence with connection and sustainable growth, so more mothers can access the support they need. Learn more about Amber on her private practice website, LinkedIn, and Psychology Today profiles.  In this episode:  How Amber's practice has grown from 2023 to 2026 What has changed How Amber's practice goes the extra mile in client care Amber's top 3 marketing tips Amber's lessons learned advice to listeners  How Amber's practice has grown from 2023 to 2026 Over the last couple of years, Amber's practice has grown.  During her first interview with the Fearless Practice Podcast, she was operating from her basement in her old house. However, now the practice has its own dedicated space!  What has changed  Amber credits her team and practice's drive to meet the needs of their community as the spark that pushed them to continue growing and building up the business.  As Amber explains, for her team, having some flexibility and availability is important so that every client that comes into the practice can get seen to in a matter of days.  It bothered Amber to keep clients on a waiting list, and that drive is what contributed to her growing her practice to meet more of the community's needs. How Amber's practice goes the extra mile in client care Amber deeply cares about her client niche because she also knows what it feels like to be sitting in the opposite chair.  As such, she and her team have made it a priority to care not just for the client's mental well-being, but also for the little things, through things like:  Keeping snacks on hand for the moms and toddlers  Making the building accessible for every type of ability or need  Offering free parking for clients  Offering both in-person and virtual options for sessions Amber's top 3 marketing tips  For Amber, networking has been the top marketing strategy, consistently growing her practice the most.  Even when she felt nervous or unsure, connecting with other mental health practitioners and practice owners has consistently created more and more referral sources, which have sustained her business and helped it expand. Secondly, Amber recommends utilizing social media. While it isn't for everyone, if it does work for you and allows you to market your practice creatively, use it. Make videos, use your voice, share professional photos or information; anything that can help build consistent traction and help place your practice in front of more people. Be authentic, because that resonates the most with your ideal clients.  And lastly, lean into what you enjoy doing, and do more of it. This could be networking, social media, or even public speaking, hosting community events, or anything that allows more people to interact positively with you, your staff, and your practice. Don't overthink it, and just do it! Amber's lessons learned and advice to listeners Over these three years, Amber credits the power of goal-setting and pursuing. Keep yourself focused on these goals, because there will be so many shiny objects in your periphery, so be specific about where you are going and what needs to be done to bring these dreams to fruition one at a time.  And, keep doing the things that work! Sure, try a bunch of new techniques, but once you start receiving feedback on what works and what doesn't, pick what does and scale it.  Connect with me: Instagram Website  Resources mentioned and useful links: How I Developed a Marketing Strategy for My Private Practice - Networking | EP 195 Learn more about the tools and deals that I love and use for my Canadian private practice Sign up for my free e-course on How to Start an Online Canadian Private Practice Jane App (use code FEARLESS2MO for two months free) Get started with Hushmail here and get one month for free! Learn more about Amber on her private practice website, LinkedIn, and Psychology Today profiles Rate, review, and subscribe to this podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon, and TuneIn

We're revisiting episode 7: How I Developed a Marketing Strategy for My Private Practice — Networking. In this encore episode, I share the networking strategies I used when I started my practice in Halifax almost 10 years ago, including my first outreach system, why a personal touch like a thank-you card matters, and the biggest lesson I learned. You can find the show notes to the original episode here. Connect with me: Instagram Website  Resources Mentioned and Useful Links: Quiet Hustle: Offline Marketing for Introverts in Private Practice | EP 194 Sign up for my free e-course on How to Start an Online Canadian Private Practice Learn more about the tools and deals that I love and use for my Canadian private practice Sign up for my free e-course on How to Start an Online Canadian Private Practice Jane App (use code FEARLESS2MO for two months free) Learn more about Jules's Canadian private practice Get some help and freebies on your website with WordPress!  Rate, review, and subscribe to this podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon, and TuneIn

If you have been listening to recent episodes of the Fearless Practice Podcast, you know that there are many ways to market your private practice, and that in a saturated market, you really need to make the effort to stand out! However, this can be really tough for the more introverted therapists, especially if you prefer doing offline marketing. In this podcast episode, I sketch out a few ideas with steps that you can try. Remember to take it slow and choose one system to implement and maintain, one step at a time! In this episode:  Offline marketing benefits Why offline marketing works today  'Quiet' versions of offline marketing Offline marketing benefits Let's first clear up the distinction: online marketing includes paid ads, Instagram posts, reels, and videos, whereas offline marketing includes networking, warm introductions, and in-person connections with your local community.  The former helps with branching out and generally putting your Canadian private practice's name out there, whereas the latter really helps your community to get to know you.  'Physical channels of marketing work because they create fewer, better impressions and higher-trusted pathways. There's less competition with physical channels versus crowded digital feeds. In physical spaces, like community bulletin boards, local meet-ups, small events … there are fewer businesses consistently showing up in person, so it's a great opportunity to stand out from the crowd in this saturated market.' - Jules Smith  Why offline marketing works today  Physical channels work because they create fewer, higher-trust impressions. Some more reasons to consider offline marketing include:  Having less competition in physical channels vs. crowded digital feeds, which is a very saturated market. People can see your adverts in real time, giving them a chance to read them and take in the information, whereas most people's attention is fragmented on social media.  Tangibility effect: People remember what they touched, saw in a place, or experienced lived. It also helps to build trust through referrals and by showcasing your community presence.  '[Offline marketing] builds trust. People can trust proximity: the same towns, small groups, same values, and in-person contact reduces the perceived risks because you're real and reachable, not just a photo or a video online. With offline marketing, you are participating - not just posting!' - Jules Smith  However, for introverted therapists, offline marketing can seem daunting! But this is not a disadvantage.  'Offline marketing rewards consistency and trust, which are two things that introverts can build extremely well.' - Jules Smith  'Quiet' versions of offline marketing Here are a few ideas that you can brainstorm when it comes to offline marketing that is relaxing and non-invasive:  Coffee hangs over big mixers. With a coffee hang, you don't have to ask every practitioner that you know to have a coffee with you. Your goal could be to meet up once or twice a month, which allows you to really develop a working relationship with them.  'The goal is to enjoy the coffee hangs, so don't put pressure on yourself!' - Jules Smith  Building partnership referrals over cold intros. Stay consistent, and remember that trust compounds slowly.  Putting up posters/pamphlets as "silent salespeople" to ensure that you leave your practice's mark within your community without unnecessary social stress.  'Once you figure out your offline marketing strategy, these are systems that you can set up once and maintain, making sure that you're doing one to two coffee hangs a month with fellow practitioners, joining groups that you find fun, and finding sponsorships in your community. All you have to do is maintain! Which can fit with introverted therapists who prefer consistency and clear structure.' - Jules Smith  Connect with me: Instagram Website  Resources mentioned and useful links: Taylor Nelson: Growing a Group Private Practice Through Passion | EP 193 Learn more about the tools and deals that I love and use for my Canadian private practice Sign up for my free e-course on How to Start an Online Canadian Private Practice Jane App (use code FEARLESS2MO for two months free) Get started with Hushmail here and get one month for free! Rate, review, and subscribe to this podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon, and TuneIn

How do you get the word out about your private practice in your local community organically, and in a way that shows you really care about your clients? Do you really need a Psychology Today profile? How can you build a space for creativity to flourish? These are some of the questions that my guest today, Taylor, has asked herself throughout her journey so far in Canadian private practice. Upon discovering that the only thing she loved about journalism was people's stories, she pivoted to therapy and has never looked back.  In our conversation today, we discuss opening a private practice, creative marketing strategies, and ways in which to keep working with intention. Come and join!  MEET TAYLOR Taylor Nelson is a Certified Play Therapist and Registered Social Worker with a Master of Social Work (MSW) who specializes in child and youth mental health. She is the owner of Family Tree Therapy in Belleville, Ontario, where her group practice focuses on expressive, play-based approaches for children, teens, and families. Taylor enjoys helping young people feel safe, seen, and supported as they build resilience and strengthen relationships. Learn more about Taylor on her personal website, private practice website, Psychology Today, and Facebook profiles.  In this episode:  How Taylor became a Registered Social Worker Why Taylor opened her own private practice Marketing the private practice Taylor's advice to listeners  How Taylor became a Registered Social Worker Taylor studied journalism, but quickly realized that it wasn't for her. She discovered that the only part of journalism she really enjoyed was learning about people's stories, which led her into the therapy world, where that plays a large part.  While Taylor loved working in a clinical setting initially, it began to take a toll. Therefore, she pivoted and started working solo to continue serving her community on more of her own terms.  Why Taylor opened her own private practice In 2023, Taylor opened up her private practice while she was still working in an agency to help make the transition a little easier financially.  She started her private practice by renting space to see her first clients one day a week, and she instantly knew that it was the best fit for her - to see clients as a practitioner.  Initially, Taylor kept her private practice as a solo practitioner. After a few years, she began hiring her first staff. Now, building a space where practitioners feel creative, filled up, and filled with possibility is one of Taylor's practice mottos, and the type of system she's designing for her clinicians and clients.  Marketing the private practice While Taylor has maintained her network from when she was a solo practitioner into becoming a group practice owner, there are a few networking techniques that she uses to make sure her clinicians have clients coming in often:  Dropping off print materials at various locations, such as pediatrician offices, schools, and local community centers  Following up regularly with networking points of contact  Making sure that they have their most up-to-date contact information  Being clear with expectations for referrals  As the practice grows, Taylor is intentional about staying in touch with the practice's heart-centered approach to their work, and to make the practice a place where the practitioners can also rest, nest, and be creative.  Taylor also invests a lot in building community networks, so most of the practice's marketing comes from this community connection, which brings along warm referrals and word-of-mouth recommendations.  In a more fun marketing technique, Taylor's private practice has sponsored a local children's sports team, so the kids' jerseys will have the practice name! Taylor's advice to listeners  There's longevity in this work. So many people are starting from the beginning, or are further down the road, but all of this work is needed, necessary, and you are part of it!  Connect with me: Instagram Website  Resources mentioned and useful links: Sonya JF Barnett: Becoming a Private Practice Sex Therapist as a Second Career | EP 192 Learn more about the tools and deals that I love and use for my Canadian private practice Sign up for my free e-course on How to Start an Online Canadian Private Practice Jane App (use code FEARLESS2MO for two months free) Get started with Hushmail here and get one month for free! Learn more about Taylor on her personal website, private practice website, Psychology Today, and Facebook profiles  Rate, review, and subscribe to this podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon, and TuneIn

Sonya joined a life drawing class as a participant over 15 years ago. Little did she know at the time that this decision would end up leading her to hosting her own art sessions, taking it in a sexually inclusive and explorative angle, and later become a sex therapist who completed her Master's in her 40s and now runs her own (mostly) virtual private practice. As you can see, she has a unique story to share! In this podcast episode, Sonya and I discuss her exciting journey from start to finish, and share some insights from her lessons learned.  MEET SONYA Sonya JF Barnett is a Registered Psychotherapist, certified sex educator, and lover of trees. She has a varied history in art direction, feminist erotica production, intimacy coordination, and fierce feminist organizing. She has written about, filmed, spoken on, studied, and is a fierce activist for sexual rights, education, and wellbeing. Learn more about Sonya on her website, Instagram, and Psychology Today profiles.  In this episode:  From art into therapy How Sonya became a therapist  Running a private practice What's next for Sonya From art into therapy  Before joining the profession, Sonya had another career working as an art director for design agencies.  After trying out a few life drawing classes, Sonya started hosting her own classes. Later, the classes turned into a larger-than-anticipated community, which had a big focus on sexuality.  Sonya's work with life drawing and the deeper exploration was called "Keyhole Sessions", and it was her hobby alongside her career as an art director. However, over the course of a few years, Keyhole Sessions encouraged Sonya to step into counselling and become a therapist.  How Sonya became a therapist  Sonya played around with the idea of creating something more official and tangible from her work with Keyhole Sessions, which led up to her decision to become a sex therapist.  She got involved in as much sexual therapy education as she could get into at the time, which, compounded over time, led her to become a fully fledged therapist. She completed her undergrad at the University of Toronto.  From there, Sonya completed an online program for her Master's in Counseling Psychology, which was in 2016.  Running a private practice Sonya sees most of her clients virtually, but also offers walk-and-talk sessions outdoors in natural settings. She enjoys using nature-based therapy and wants to help her clients by incorporating the benefits of being outdoors during therapy sessions.  In running her practice, Sonya also uses Jane App to run her systems and complete admin tasks. If you'd like to give it a try, use Jules' code FEARLESS2MO for a two-month discount! Sonya also enjoys experimenting with her schedule in her Canadian private practice. She enjoys finding ways to take care of her practice and clients while also taking care of herself. What's next for Sonya Sonya explains how she has been feeling the lack of community while working as a virtual therapist. While she prefers running a solo private practice, since she sees her clients virtually or for nature-based walk-and-talk therapy, she does miss the community that one has when working with more people. Therefore, one of her upcoming goals is to build a peer group.  Furthermore, Sonya is designing and building out a sex therapist retreat in September 2026! Connect with me: Instagram Website  Resources mentioned and useful links: Dr. Anusha Kassan: Purchasing a Group Private Practice in Canada | EP 191 Learn more about the tools and deals that I love and use for my Canadian private practice Sign up for my free e-course on How to Start an Online Canadian Private Practice Jane App (use code FEARLESS2MO for two months free) Get started with Hushmail here and get one month for free! Learn more about Sonya on her website, Instagram, and Psychology Today profiles Click here to check out Sonya's upcoming retreats! Rate, review, and subscribe to this podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon, and TuneIn  

After 10 years of working as a Registered Psychologist and dabbling initially in private practice, Dr. Anusha Kassan and her cofounder, Alyssa Hasham, purchased and freshened up an already existing Canadian private practice. With creativity, passion, and drive, they have developed the space into a community that they share with other clinicians to thrive in.  In this podcast episode, Anusha and I discuss her journey into therapy, private practice, and the experiences she's had in recent years both as a psychologist and a practice owner.  MEET ANUSHA Anusha Kassan, PhD, RPsych (she/her), resides and works on the traditional territories of the people of Treaty 7 in Southern Alberta and Métis Nation of Alberta (Districts 5 and 6). She also works on the territories of the Musqueam People; she is an Associate Professor at the University of British Columbia. She is also the co-owner of The Psychology Group, a private practice in Calgary. Anusha's scholarship is influenced by her own bicultural identity and is informed by an overarching social justice lens. She is a Fellow of the Canadian Psychological Association, and she recently received the organization's Award for Public, Community Service, and Human Rights and Social Justice in Psychology. Learn more about Anusha on her website, Instagram, university post, and practice websites.  In this episode:  Why Anusha became a psychologist  When Anusha started private practice Purchasing a private practice Marketing the private practice  What Dr. Kassan is looking forward to  Why Anusha became a psychologist Anusha explains that her path to becoming a psychologist was paved by both purposeful and spontaneous events.  When she had to choose an undergraduate major, Anusha applied to programs in the helping professions, such as psychology and education. Later on, when she had to choose one, she chose psychology because it offered a wider scope. Dr. Kassan explains that within her family, there was a near-death experience, and she met incredible mentors. These events encouraged her to keep going and pursue additional training and schooling, which led her to complete her PhD at McGill University, and later to join the faculty at British Columbia University.  When Anusha started private practice It took about 10 years! Dr. Kassan completed a lot of clinical work through her grad school, and dabbled in private practice part-time.  However, for a few years after, Anusha's priorities shifted, and she focused more on building her career and caring for her young children, and so private practice was placed on the back burner for the time being.  Her private practice started as a small one, and mostly as a way for her to keep her skills fresh and engage with people, since being in private practice helped her to be a better teacher, and teaching helped her succeed in her private practice.  However, it has now turned into something larger. She took over from the previous owners and purchased the psychology group where she was working. Together with her cofounder, Alyssa Hasham, Anusha now runs her growing Canadian group collective.  Adopting a private practice Alyssa, Dr. Kassan's co-founder, had many conversations about starting this collective practice. They shared an office and had conversations about expanding slowly and bringing on clinicians. Things were already laid out; they just freshened up the group private practice.  However, Anusha has had to learn a few skills quickly when she became one of the founders, and that process will continue as she and the practice grow and develop over the years. Marketing the private practice Right now, Anusha and Alyssa are still figuring out what works best for their practice in terms of marketing the collective to potential clients.  Anusha and her team have invested some money into Google Ads and SEO to help boost their marketing efforts, and she has implemented some helpful tips from the Fearless Practice Podcast, too!  What Dr. Kassan is looking forward to In the upcoming months and years, Anusha is looking forward to more stability and security, since their group private practice has undergone a few changes and shifts. Additionally, Anusha wants to expand her creativity in business and implement it more into their collective.  Connect with me: Instagram Website  Resources mentioned and useful links: Christina Page: Private Practice Lessons in Growth | EP 190  Learn more about the tools and deals that I love and use for my Canadian private practice Sign up for my free e-course on How to Start an Online Canadian Private Practice Jane App (use code FEARLESS2MO for two months free) Get started with Hushmail here and get one month for free! Learn more about Anusha on her website, Instagram, university post, and practice websites Rate, review, and subscribe to this podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon, and TuneIn

In this first installment of my series, "Where Are They Now?", I'll be interviewing past Canadian therapists that I've had on the show to see how their private practice is doing. Today, I'm checking in with Christina Page! Tune in to gain extra insight into where she was when we first spoke, and see the progress she has made!  We discuss the surprising discoveries she has made along the way, the discomfort she has overcome, and the wonderful lessons that she has learned from both. Join our conversation, and see if you can pick up an informative gem to help you on your path in Canadian private practice! MEET CHRISTINA Christina Page is a Certified Perinatal Therapist and the owner of Whole Family Psychotherapy - a collective of heart-centered perinatal specialists offering virtual counselling services across Ontario to parents and parents-to-be. Christina's team offers individual therapy, couples therapy, family therapy, group therapy, and parenting support sessions for folks through pre-conception journeys, during pregnancy, postpartum, and beyond into later stages of family life. The team at Whole Family understands that when parents feel whole, family systems thrive.  Learn more about Christina on her practice website, Psychology Today, and LinkedIn profiles.  In this episode:  A quick recap  Christina's group practice update to today  Stepping fully into the CEO role  The importance of having an emergency savings fund Christina's goals for the future A quick recap Christina re-listened to her first appearance on the Fearless Practice Podcast as well, and she discusses how much it brought back for her.  At the beginning of her group private practice journey, Christina wore most of the hats. She was the clinical director, admin, and saw a full caseload of clients, all while being a mother to young children. While she loved it too, she knew that it wasn't sustainable.  Therefore, over the year and a half since our first podcast episode, she has smoothed and straightened out her practice to the extent that she can take a step back and enjoy it more, rather than just running from task to task.  Christina's group practice update to today Her practice has grown! They are now a team of seven therapists, including an intern. She has full admin support, which Christina explains has been one of the biggest benefits to date.  As Christina explains, the most crucial element for success that she has seen in her private practice over the months is to support its flexibility.  The businesses needed to handle an increased number of clients coming in, admin requests, and paperwork, which meant the business's foundation needed to be broadened, strengthened, and made as autonomous as possible so that Christina herself didn't become the bottleneck.  Secondly, Christina's next biggest lesson was learning how helpful it can be to slow down. Not everything needs to be treated as a crisis, and not everything needs your response right away.  Stepping fully into the CEO role Another big change that Christina hadn't ever thought would happen is that she has stopped seeing clients herself! She has since stepped fully into the role of being the practice CEO, the leader of her team, and the business entity.  Christina took a leap of faith and trusted the process. She was able to work through the initial discomfort of not knowing what might happen and navigating uncertain financial situations, and while things are still not yet where she wants them to be financially, they are improving.  All this was made possible by her recognizing that it would be good for her practice to take a step back from seeing clients and step forward into a more leadership role.  The importance of having an emergency savings fund Having an emergency fund is crucial, and specifically for two reasons:  1 - To give you leeway to make changes in your practice, such as Christina going from a full caseload of clients to being the full-time boss only, and having some financial cushioning can help you make these transitions easier  2 - To make it through uncertain times in the economy or when client conversion rates dip, which is common in private practice  Take good care of yourself and your nervous system, because tolerating the uncertainty of business in private practice, in our world today, requires you to have a sense of groundedness.  Christina's goals for the future Now, Christina's goals for the future are to create stability for the practice to support and nurture what they are currently doing well. She's going to remain open and flexible in terms of what's to come!  Connect with me: Instagram Website  Resources mentioned and useful links: Tina Bells: Balancing Non-Profit and Private Practice | EP 189 Learn more about the tools and deals that I love and use for my Canadian private practice Sign up for my free e-course on How to Start an Online Canadian Private Practice Jane App (use code FEARLESS2MO for two months free) Get started with Hushmail here and get one month for free! Learn more about Christina on her practice website, Psychology Today, and LinkedIn profiles  Listen to the previous episode with Christina Page here!  Rate, review, and subscribe to this podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon, and TuneIn