There is a lot of great content out there to help you think through many different aspects of your practice, while staying inspired and informed. Here is some of what I've found most exciting.

Podcasts & Online Content

Selling the Couch Podcast. This is the first podcast I discovered that caters to the mental health community. I don't know if Melvin was the first podcaster in the space, but he's certainly one of my favorites. He explores a wide range of topics, and is passionate about expanding beyond traditional therapy.

The Practice of Therapy. I find Gordon's podcast to be super down-to-earth and accessible. As he describes it, "The #1 reason clinicians fail in private practice is that they don't know how to navigate the business and financial sides of running a practice. The Practice of Therapy Podcast helps clinicians get the knowledge they need to have a profitable and sustainable practice that fits their lifestyle." 

Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Podcast. I'm really enjoying digging through the archives of this podcast right now. Katie Vernoy & Curt Widhalm explore how modern therapists "present ourselves as whole people, with authenticity, purpose, and connection." They also host the annual Therapy Reimagined Conference.

The Abundant Practice Podcast. Allison Puryear offers practical advice for counselors starting and building a private practice. The podcast follows a twice-weekly format, so plenty of great content to dig into here!

The Practice of the Practice Podcast. The POP podcast has perhaps been around the longest. Joe's episode count is up in the 300's... so, yah there is QUITE a bit of content there for you to digest. To help you wade through the content, they've kindly developed this podcast guide organized by topic. Their Blog also offers great articles on a wide range of subjects.

The Group Practice Exchange Podcast. As you might imagine, this podcast is all about running a group practice. So if you're a solo practitioner looking to make the leap, or if you're running a group practice and looking for some great ideas to level up, this podcast is for you.

Private Practice Skills YouTube Channel. Dr. Marie Fang is a psychologist in San Jose, CA and shares quick, entertaining and informative videos on a wide range of private practice topics. New videos come out every Friday and there are a TON of great ones in the archives!

Productive Therapist Podcast. Uriah Guilford's podcast covers a wide range of practice topics, especially operational and productivity related ones.

Thriving Therapy Practice Podcast hosted by Jennifer Sneeden covers a wide range of practice management topics. She also offers business building trainings.

Books

Building Your Ideal Private Practice. This book is Lynn Grodzki's really excellent resource on how to build a practice which suits you. Lynn also offers business coaching for therapists in private practice. This is a great way to think through what you want your business to look like, and how to get it there.

Fix This Next for Healthcare Providers. I'm super excited about Kasey Compton's book. It explores how to think of your business like one of your clients and provide it what it most needs to thrive. Kasey's website also offers great resources to get started.

Coursework & Consulting

ZynnyMe is the very fanciful name Kelly & Miranda came up with for their coaching business. And they're not called private practice experts without reason! They offer a ton of online education content for free and also offer the Business School Bootcamp for Therapists. You didn't get your MBA in running a therapy practice?! Well, Kelly & Miranda are here to help. Kelly & Miranda also host the Starting a Counseling Practice Podcast.

Practice of the Practice offers a wide range of both coursework and one-on-one coaching depending on where you are in your private practice journey. This page even provides a handy flowchart to help you decide which of their services best fits you.

Private Practice Workshop. John Clarke will help you get more clients consistently, grow a profitable practice, and become the business owner you’ve always imagined. He also hosts the Private Practice Workshop Podcast.

Jane Carter Consulting provides business coaching focused on strategies and mindset to build your dream business.

Tamara Suttle helps you build your private practice from the inside out. She offers 1:1 coaching as well as an accountability group.

Megginson Consulting is a husband and wife team who are also group practice owners. They offer personalized business consulting for introverted service-based entrepreneurs.

April Snow Consulting helps Highly Sensitive Introverts and Therapists (HSTs) embrace their Sensitive Strengths and calm the storm of overwhelm, self-doubt, and perfectionism that stops them from living their best life.

Your Badass Therapy Practice. Laura Long offers courses to help guide therapists through the confusing world of marketing, organizing their systems and growing their practices - fast.

Private Practice Skills. Dr. Marie Fang (of YouTube fame) offers this page on her website to help you get started building your private practice.

Casale Coaching & Consulting. Patrick Casale is a coach and strategist who helps therapists leave their agencies and create the private practice of their dreams.

Starting a practice can feel overwhelming. I aim to provide a lot of great resources on my website (and through my email newsletter!) to help you navigate all this stuff.

I've put together a special email guide to the finance, accounting and business sides of starting (or improving!) your private practice. 🥰

👉  Click here to register and get that free guide!

AND at the same time you really need more support and guidance. You're in luck! In recent years there are more and more groups springing up to help you get started.

These are a few that I'm aware of - and I know there are more... so if you know of one I don't have listed - please let me know!

• The Practice of Therapy Practice Launch Club.  
• Patrick Casale's Take the Leap Program.
• ZynnyMe - many free resources & business school bootcamp.
• Thriving Well Institute offers a Build a Thriving Practice Course.

If you're looking for support specifically around navigating the financial world of your new practice, I would also consider the DIY bookkeeping, finance and tax educational content the Simple Profit community offers. Money Skills for Therapists is another great option to consider.

Money Sessions Podcast. This podcast hosted by Tiffany McLain is legit one of the most inspiring and exciting podcast I listen to. If you want to raise your fees and feel great about doing it, this is the podcast for you.

Lean In. MAKE BANK. This is Tiffany's course, and I think the name gives you a solid sense of the topic and the inspiring energy Tiffany brings. This course will help you work on your own money "stuff" and help you build a private practice that... well, makes bank. LIMB is a five-week course teaching you the skills to earn more in your practice. 

Money Nuts & Bolts. Linzy is a therapist & entrepreneur who will help you develop the foundational skillset to keep your practice finances in order, and help you feel calm and in control of your finances. This workshop will help you implement a finance and bookkeeping system that works for you (not just for your accountant). Tired of waking up in a cold sweat from accounting- fueled nightmares? Check Linzy's course out!

Mind Money Balance. This is Lindsay Bryan-Podvin's financial therapy & coaching practice, and she also offers financially-oriented content for therapists in private practice on her blog. She also offers a nine-week coaching program entitled "Grow a Profitable Practice from the Inside Out." Last but certainly not least, Lindsay also hosts the Mind Money Balance Podcast.

Megan Hale is business strategist and former therapist who helps you step into the business of your dreams, radically take charge of your cash flow, & make the massive impact you're here to make!

Kat Love is a therapist marketing consultant. Kat helps therapists build meaningful, profitable businesses they love with writing, marketing consultancy, and website review services.

The Private Practice Startup. Kate & Katie will help you master branding, marketing and entrepreneurship to build a thriving, full-fee private practice. They host The Private Practice Startup Podcast and offer coaching as well as an online marketing course.

Flymit helps therapists and coaches create beautiful promotional videos. Video is a great way to connect with your ideal clients. Get a head start on crafting an effective video by working with Ernesto.

Abundance Practice-Building helps therapists build full, happy private practices. Allison offers a variety of services, including the Inner Circle, their most exclusive and high-touch offering with 1:1 coaching.

Get Down to Business Consulting. Cathy Hanville offers private practice coaching especially in the areas of marketing, business development, website and SEO.

LIFELINE Digital Solutions is a technology and consulting firm that implements proprietary software and systems to identify motivated potential clients, connect them with your practice, and foster those leads to become consistent, high-value, revenue-generating clients, month after month.

Looking to start a website for your practice? Or want to up-level the website you've got? You're in luck! There are a number of companies specifically focused on helping therapists create effective websites.

I talk more about the different ways you might create and host your website in my Guide to Financial Planning for Therapists. Click here to get access to this free resource!

Coursework, Content & Coaching

Private Practice Elevation Podcast. Daniel Fava covers a wide range of important topics, most of them related to website & online presence. He and his team also offer website design and SEO services through Create My Therapist Website & Private Practice Elevation.

Kat Love will help you create website copy that sounds like you. Check out their services at Empathycopy. Kat also offers smart website and marketing insights for therapists at Empathysites. 

Dr. Marie Fang  offers a course on how to DIY a SquareSpace website.

Savvy Marketing Services offers SEO services specifically for private practice owners.

Simplified SEO Consulting helps you get to the top of the search engines and fill your practice with ideal clients.

Website Vendors for Therapists

Each of the companies below offers services in slightly different ways (and at varying price points). Check a few of the below companies out and see which resonate with you.

Brighter Vision.

My Digital Maven.

Camile McDaniel.

Therapy Sites.

Hold Space Creative.

Psychotherapy Sites.

Strong Roots Web Design.

Mindful Web Solutions.

Level Up Your Practice.

Design for Therapists.

Therapy Tribe Website Offering. 

Counseling Wise.

All of us business owners need to keep our financial books up to date... and oh yah we have to run the gauntlet or preparing our taxes each spring. You can do a lot of that work on your own (but do you really want to...?! 🙈) If you choose to get some help in this area of your business, you're lucky to have a bunch of professionals out there who specialize in working in therapists in private practice!

Content & Coaching

Therapy for Your Money Podcast. Julie Herres, founder of GreenOak Accounting covers all matter of topics important for the financial health of your private practice.

Andi Smiles is a small business financial consultant. She'll help you get the financial side of your business sorted in no time. I also enjoy her entertaining and actionable podcast, Ask Andi.

Profit First Book 📚 This revolutionary way to think about the financial side of your practice has transformed many private practices.

Bookkeeping & CPA Services

GreenOak Accounting. Julie & her team offer specialized accounting for mental health professionals & therapists. They're also experts in implementing Profit First in private practice.

Navigator Bookkeeping. Nate and his team focus not just on the fundamentals of bookkeeping, but also helping practice owners truly understand the story their financials are telling them. They meet with clients monthly to make sure that the financial story is a good one - and gets better over time.

Simple Profit. If you don't have the budget to outsource bookkeeping and tax - or would just prefer to DIY it - Simple Profit is for you. I can't recommend it highly enough. Jennie has put together amazing tutorials in her online community. It's reasonably priced AND she also offers a free Facebook group just for clinicians. 

Michael Spencer Bookkeeping. Looking for a therapist turned bookkeeper who really speaks your language? Look no further! Michael's passion is helping private practice owners become empowered with their business finances.

The CPA for Psychotherapists. The name pretty much says it all. They offer a wide range of options including outsourced CFO services, tax prep and planning.

Grow the Books. Bookkeeping services with a therapist niche. I especially love how Greg takes the time each quarter to review the financial reports his firm creates.

TL;DR Accounting. Accountants out of Seattle who focus on private practitioners. They also offers some great blog content on their website.

Wellness Fi.  Bookkeeping & tax advisory for the wellness community.

Therapeutic Bookkeeping. I think the name says it all! They provide bookkeeping services for therapists.

Heard is the new kid on the block, having started operations in 2020. They are a technology-forward bookkeeping & tax service provider for therapists in private practice. They also offer an ongoing webinar series that has hosted some pretty interesting conversations.

Vendors

Gusto. For processing payroll for small businesses, Gusto is tremendously popular. There are other providers like ADP out there certainly, but I suspect you'd find the larger companies offering services more poorly tailored to the small to medium sized business most therapy practices are.

The ongoing financial planning services I offer aren't right for everyone.

If you're confident a short-term or hourly engagement better fits your needs, I'd encourage you to check out advisors at XY Planning Network or the directory at the Fee Only Network.

If you're simply looking for investment management services, I would consider Vanguard Digital Advisor or if you're looking for a higher-touch solution, Vanguard Personal Advisor Services. Another good automated investing solution to consider is Betterment. In my experience, all of these offer solid investment solutions at reasonable prices.

No Cost Office Hours (Ask me anything!)

I also hold no cost "office hours" for therapists. I hold these group calls about every other month. They're designed to provide therapists who aren't yet in the position to work with me an opportunity to get the perspective of a fiduciary, fee-only financial planner. 

👉 Click here to register for the next office hours session.

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Get your free Personal Finance Quick Start Guide for Therapists!

Click here to access!

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For looking up specific information, I've found The Balance (& The Balance for Small Business), Nerd Wallet & Investopedia websites to be fairly good resources. Sure, they're going to try and sell you something, or get you to sign up for some credit card, since that's how they make money, but the basic facts they provide are usually quite good. These resources are usually going to be in the top search results if you just Google your finance question, so they're quite easy to find.

My Top Three Investing Books

If you're looking for a great, general overview of how to manage your financial life and get started with investing, an easy and very approachable read is The Index Card: Why Personal Finance Doesn't Have to be Complicated.

If you want to go a bit deeper, especially on the investing side, I also love The Bogleheads' Guide to Investing. This book also provides a great overview of personal finance in general. WTF is a Boglehead? Read the book and you'll find out.! You might even become one.

And if you really want to go deep into the academic underpinnings of sensible investing and Modern Portfolio Theory, check out A Random Walk Down Wall Street. While academic leaning, it's still quite readable.

Podcasts, Blogs & More Books!

Real Personal Finance Podcast. This is hosted by my friends James Conole and Scott Frank. Scott is the financial planner that I've hired to help me manage my financial life. I sought out my own financial planner because I really value having a partner to think things through. All of the financial knowledge in the world does me little good if I've spent too much time alone inside my head! 🙂

Workable Wealth Podcast. Mary Beth Storjohann is an inspiration to me, and I think she will be for you too. She brings such upbeat clarity and agency to conversations around money. It's always an enjoyable conversation, and I love hearing her perspectives on all things personal finance. I'm pretty sure she coined the phrase (which I love to use) "personal finance is just that: personal." Her Workable Wealth Blog also has some amazing written content. AND she has also written the book Work Your Wealth: 9 Steps to Making Smarter Choices With Your Money. 👌👌👌

Money Owners Podcast. This is one of the personal finance podcast i'm sure to listen to every time it comes out. I like her approach and clarity of thought. And her husband happens to be a big proponent of Bitcoin, so if you're interested in cryptocurrencies she has episodes for you. Morgan has also written a book which I can highly recommend: Personal Finance QuickStart Guide. 👍

Afford Anything Podcast. Paula Pant is one of the OGs of the personal finance podcasting world. She brings a special expertise on real estate investing, but she brings her clear thinking and extensive personal financial knowledge to bear on a wide range of personal finance topics.

Student Loan Planner Podcast. This podcast is an authority on all thing student loans. I listen to it to make sure that I stay up to date and all the latest changes to the student loan repayment landscape. Travis hosts fairly technical conversations, but especially if you want to DIY your student loan debt management, this is a great resource.

Vendors

Vanguard. Vanguard is the OG in the low-cost, passive investing space. I've used them historically for all of my investing needs. I've switched to Dimensional Funds which I believe offers a small, but meaningful, improvement over Vanguard funds. Dimensional Funds are only available when investing through an investment professional. If you're curious, yes, I offer Dimensional Funds through my my ongoing financial planning services.

Betterment. Betterment is a pretty nifty technology-enabled investing service. They provide access to a lot of different investment funds (including Vanguard). Betterment makes it easy to create different goals to save for, and then to invest appropriately given the time horizons of those goals. They also do neat things like tax loss harvesting and automatic rebalancing. You can do these things yourself when investing directly through Vanguard, but Betterment does it for you, giving you one less complicated thing to think about. You have to pay for that benefit of course. They charge a small percent (under 1%) of the money you invest with them each year.

Productive Therapist provides courses and support programs primarily focused around efficiency, delegation, team building and hiring virtual assistants.

Private Practice Preparedness 📚 This book provides a comprehensive overview of how to establish a continuity plan for your private practice, and also includes customizable forms. Preparing for our own incapacity and death is never something super fun to think about... AND it's a really important task to undertake. This book makes the process more approachable and manageable.

Niche Partnership Consulting. Mary Beth at NPC helps practice owners get both their personal and professional business emergency preparedness plans in order. An estate planning and professional wills are great starting points - but without a plan to implement those documents aren't that useful. NPC provides the support, structure and accountability to ensure you have an emergency plan for both your personal life and your practice.

Person Centered Tech provides teletherapy and HIPAA security compliance training, tools, and support for Mental Health Professionals.

Tame Your Practice offers coaching and consulting on increasing the efficiency of your practice, so you can spend more time for what's most important to you.

If you're looking for some guidance taking your therapy practice online and implementing telehealth best practices, check out Online Practice Builder.

The Online Therapy Academy from by Amber Lyda offers everything you need to start and grow an online therapy practice, including a bunch of free resources.

Rebel Therapist.  Helps therapists create programs that will launch the next phase of their business. If you're thinking about moving beyond traditional one-on-one therapy, becoming a Rebel might be where it's at. Annie also offers the inspiring Rebel Therapist podcast.

Katie Read Consulting helps therapists grow and OUTgrow their private practices. She offers coursework to grow your practice as well as create a coaching program or course that can bring in six figures a year.

Million Dollar Private Practice 📚 This book by David Steele is also a great read to help you think through what you want your business (and your impact on the world) to look like. Part of me was almost a bit turned off by the "million dollar" part of the title... and yet the book offers a valuable challenge to think through how to grow your impact.  And how to earn money commensurate with that impact.

Healthcasters Podcasting Course. Melvin, host of the Selling the Couch Podcast, offers this course to help you launch a impactful podcast.

Become a Group Guru. Katie K. May will grow your impact and your income by helping you market, fill and run effective group programs.

Practice management & EHR Software can be a real help when running your private practice. It can help boost the operational efficiency of your back-office operations as well as help ensure HIPAA compliance. 

The four most common EHRs seem to be Simple Practice, Therapy Notes, TheraNest and Jane.

A few other vendors you might consider, include iCouch, Therapy Partner and CounSol. Be sure and play around with the different software and get a feel for which might work best for you.

👉  The Therapy for Your Money podcast has a great overview of the pricing of the big four EHRs - and why TheraNest might be the best option for the price conscious clinicians just starting out on their own.

Tame Your Practice offers this page on EHR Reviews, which includes access to a guide to choosing the software that's the best fit for you.

Jill Shook has also written a piece on how to choose an EHR. Her advice is tailored to Speech Language Pathologists, but I suspect you might find her approach applicable to your practice.

Facilitating Financial Health. This book is an excellent overview of how helping professionals can help their clients (and themselves) with money issues. The authors are experts both in mental health and in finance, which gives them a unique perspective. I found this book really interesting and insightful.

The Financial Therapy Association also offers a ton of resources around, you guessed it, money and finance. They also work to bring together both financial and clinical professionals to learn from one another and improve client outcomes.

Simple Practice Learning. Offered by the creator of the eponymous practice management software, they even offer some free resources to get started.

Between Sessions offers downloadable tools and forms to build skills to facilitate growth in your clients.

Resiliency Mental Health. Dr. Amy Marschall is a Licensed Psychologist and offers worksheets, articles, classes, and other resources for therapists.

Productive Therapist offers Virtual Assistants and specialize in serving therapy practices. They also offer great educational resources on their website.

Therapist Admin provides administrative assistants to help with scheduling, client communication and email management.

Move Forward Virtual Assistants provides services specifically tailored to mental health practices.

Practice Solutions offers Billing & Credentialing services for practices working with insurance payors.

Looking for other pages like this one that compile helpful resources for therapists? You're in luck, there are several! Here are the ones I've found helpful:

Productive Therapist offers this Master List of Resources, including quite a few Virtual Assistant (VA's) providers you might consider.

Selling the Couch Resources Page. Melvin has a ton of great stuff here... and I'd also like to up vote his recommendations on investing.

Selling the Couch (aka STC) Covid-19 Resources Page. This pages contains a roundup of STC podcast episodes covering topics to help your income survive the pandemic. There are also links to a wealth of other resources toward the bottom of the page.

GreenOak Accounting offers this list of providers covering a wide range of topics. 

The Practice of Therapy Cool Resources page also offers some great ideas to guide your private practice journey. (And it IS a pretty cool page.)

Simple Practice Resource Page. The practice management software company Simple Practice also offers some great free resources.