Fearless Practice copertina

Fearless Practice

Fearless Practice

Di: Jules Smith
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Where are you in your private practice journey? How's it going for you? I'm Jules Smith, and I'm so glad you're here. The Fearless Practice podcast is your go-to resource for building a thriving private practice in Canada. Whether you're just starting out or looking to grow, this podcast is here to guide you every step of the way. I share practical tips on everything from launching your practice and filling your schedule to expanding into a group practice. But you won't just hear from me—I also interview Canadian therapists from across the country who share their real-life experiences, challenges, and wins. These honest conversations offer valuable insight, inspiration, and support to help you confidently create a private practice that works for you. Let's learn, grow, and build fearless practices—together. Economia Gestione e leadership Igiene e vita sana Leadership Psicologia Psicologia e salute mentale
Episodi
  • Paula Gonzalez: From Purpose to Practice and Scaling With Intention | Ep 197

    Paula Gonzalez: From Purpose to Practice and Scaling With Intention | Ep 197
    May 20 2026
    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 ...
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    27 min
  • Amber Sperling: Three Years of Private Practice Growth | Ep 196

    Amber Sperling: Three Years of Private Practice Growth | Ep 196
    May 13 2026
    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 -...
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    33 min
  • Ep 195: How I Developed a Marketing Strategy for My Private Practice — Networking

    Ep 195: How I Developed a Marketing Strategy for My Private Practice — Networking
    Mar 25 2026

    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
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    22 min
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