This episode is a bold, heartfelt reflection on knowing when to step out of the fear and into your own power—especially as a therapist torn between agency life and building your dream private practice. Alicia shares her raw story, struggles, fears, and ultimate leap of faith that might just inspire your next move.

In today's episode:

• The red flags and early signs you might be in the wrong agency job

• How burnout and feeling unsafe in your environment signal it’s time to pivot

• Alicia’s personal story from dream job at the VA to quitting while pregnant

• How to recognize when your agency work drains your energy and vision

• Practical steps for planning your exit without burning bridges

• The importance of trusting your intuition and research when making big moves

• Building your practice on the side as a safety net and motivation

• Why keeping your “why” front and center fuels your courage

• Resources to help you prepare and launch your private practice

• A powerful Reddit thread on encouraging therapists to move forward

  
  

  Timestamps:

00:16 - Welcome and today's honest talk about leaving agency work

01:13 - My surgery and motherhood chaos—back to the topic

02:11 - Who this episode is for: therapists feeling stuck in agency roles

03:08 - My journey: from grad school to VA—what it really looked like

04:01 - The red flags early in my VA job—red flags you might miss

05:15 - Discovering I was unprepared and safety issues in the community role

06:42 - Shadowing and realizing I was underqualified for community work

08:31 - The political environment and how it eats up your soul

09:45 - The burnout spiral—calling my best friend to admit I hate my job

10:33 - Building my private practice alongside my agency role

11:04 - The secret side hustle—quietly creating my future

12:24 - How agency strife fueled my motivation to leave

13:37 - The chaos of bureaucracy and how it stifles good clinicians

14:04 - The reality: resilience and surviving tough agency environments

15:00 - The toll of drained therapists and unused client benefits

16:06 - Practical tools: Mentaya helps therapists reclaim their market value

17:15 - The decision-moment: when I knew I had to leave

18:23 - The pregnancy revelation—how life changed my plans

19:23 - The frustration of working unsafe conditions while pregnant

20:12 - Dropping the “I can’t do this anymore” bomb

21:29 - Financial planning and making the leap manageable

22:37 - Why I took a part-time job to ease the transition

23:14 - Building my practice quickly—what it took

24:39 - The fears: pensions, stability, and risk—yet I went for it

25:08 - Burning bridges vs. keeping doors open and how I handled it

26:24 - The courage and trust needed to leap into private practice

27:45 - Starting early: plan, prepare, and don’t wait too long

28:37 - Resources for launching and growing your private practice

29:30 - Therapist in the Threads: an empowering Reddit story about moving on

30:52 - Final encouragement: move your practice forward, no matter what

31:51 - Thanks for listening—your next step starts now

• Private Practice Launch Kit - everything you need to start your practice

• • The HQ Community - the support you need to grow your practice
  • Mentaya Benefits Checker - use code THERAPISTHQ at checkout

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  Connect with Alicia:

• • Instagram

  • Email

  If you're feeling that pull—trust it. Your future is waiting. Take the steps, plan wisely, believe in your power. You're not alone. Let's do this.
  

In today's episode, we're exploring the critical issue of burnout among therapists, highlighting my own personal experiences, structural challenges, and practical strategies to build sustainable practices.

In this episode:

• Therapist burnout and mental fatigue

• Structural issues in private practice

• Strategies for sustainable practice

• Income diversification and financial stability

• Self-care and boundary setting

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Burnout in Therapy

02:50 A Personal Journey Through Burnout

09:36 Structural Issues in Private Practice

11:43 Building a Sustainable Practice

17:43 Community Insights on Burnout

Resources

• ⁠⁠Mentaya⁠⁠ — Automate insurance billing and reimbursements

• ⁠⁠Private Practice Launch Kit⁠⁠ — Build a financially sustainable practice

• ⁠⁠Therapist HQ Community⁠⁠ — Supportive space for private practice growth

  
  

  
  

  Connect with Alicia:

• ⁠⁠Instagram

In today's episode, I'm sharing my personal journey balancing her private practice with motherhood, addressing burnout, scheduling, emotional resilience, and redefining success as a therapist parent.

In this episode:

• Therapist burnout and caseload management
• Balancing professional and parental identities
• Flexible scheduling and systems automation
• Emotional resilience and transition strategies
• Part-time practice as a sustainable model

Chapters

00:00 Navigating Burnout in Therapy Practice

02:11 Balancing Parenthood and Professional Identity

03:32 The Reality of Pregnancy and Practice

07:10 Mindset Shifts for Therapist Parents

10:43 The Importance of Systems and Automation

11:44 Emotional Complexity of Being a Therapist Parent

14:17 Redefining Success in Private Practice

15:39 Designing Your Schedule for Sustainability

16:58 Embracing the Journey of Parenthood and Practice

Resources

• ⁠Mentaya⁠ — Automate insurance billing and reimbursements

• ⁠Private Practice Launch Kit⁠ — Build a financially sustainable practice

• ⁠Therapist HQ Community⁠ — Supportive space for private practice growth

  
  

  
  

  Connect with Alicia:

• ⁠Instagram

From Solo to Group Practice: Embracing Growth and Change

Ever wonder how to make that leap from solo practice to a thriving group? In this episode, Alicia shares her deeply personal journey, revealing the fears, insights, and practical steps behind building a scalable, sustainable business that evolves with your life. Whether you’re feeling stuck or dreaming big, this episode is your call to action to design your practice on your terms.

• Alicia’s experience with launching her first virtual group and the possibilities it unlocked

• Insights from the 2025 Private Practice Financial Report about billing and income gaps

• The emotional and logistical shifts from solo clinician to practice owner

• How to recognize if you’ve hit a structural ceiling and when to grow

• The basics of starting and scaling a virtual group practice with intentionality

• Legal, operational, and leadership considerations every practice owner must know

• Tips on hiring, building systems, and managing costs effectively

• Real talk about expenses, profit margins, and setting realistic financial goals

• The importance of aligning your business moves with your life circumstances

• Stories from therapists at different stages, emphasizing community and shared wisdom

00:16 - Welcome and life updates from Alicia
00:41 - Launching her first virtual group practice
01:32 - The inspiration behind expanding her business
02:00 - Key findings from the 2025 Private Practice Financial Report
02:53 - Personal story: why Alicia chose to transition to group practice
03:14 - Challenges during early motherhood and shrinking client hours
04:09 - The cap on solo practice income and how to break through it
05:23 - Introducing Mentaya and how private pay can boost revenue
06:20 - Reimagining referrals: Keeping them in-house
07:08 - Moving from clinician to practice owner — the emotional shift
08:31 - Debunking the myth that group practice is complicated
08:54 - The financial structure: fee splits and revenue growth
09:22 - The operational essentials: systems, legal, and leadership
10:13 - When and why to consider a practice expansion
11:10 - Aligning growth with your real-life needs
11:36 - Growing intentionally: hiring policies and onboarding
12:29 - Success stories: how therapists stay engaged and grow
14:23 - Supporting therapists through infrastructure and systems
15:19 - Resources for building your practice: launch kits, communities, and more
16:03 - "Therapist in the Threads": Reddit community insights
16:28 - Realities of practice splits, benefits, and legal considerations
17:48 - Lessons learned from running a group practice
19:05 - The true costs and expenses of owning a practice
20:00 - Final encouragement: Build with intention, not just ambition

Links:

• Mentaya - Benefits and claims automation for private pay

• Private Practice Launch Kit

• The HQ Community

  
  

  Connect with me:

• Instagram

• Website

Your practice is yours to evolve. Trust your timing, prepare thoroughly, and grow intentionally. Your next chapter is waiting—boldly step into it.

The Hidden Costs of In-Network Therapy: What Every Therapist Must Know

Brace yourself for a truth bomb about insurance panels that can change how you see your practice. This episode dives deep into the real, often overlooked, costs of going in network, and what it means for your financial and clinical freedom.

In this episode:

• The severe disparity between private pay and insurance reimbursement rates

• How insurance billing eats into your time and revenue

• The hidden dangers of clawbacks and compliance headaches

• The loss of clinical autonomy with insurance panels

• Practical strategies to build a sustainable practice without sacrificing your values

• How to make informed decisions when choosing insurance panels

• The benefits of a hybrid model and sliding scale options

• Real stories from therapists navigating the insurance maze

• Resources to help you reclaim your practice and sanity

  
  

  Timestamps:

00:00 - Why therapists need to understand the true cost of insurance panels
02:38 - The current policy environment: less regulation, less protection for therapists
04:58 - Why accepting insurance isn't always in your best financial interest
06:26 - The staggering revenue loss with insurance reimbursement differences
07:10 - The time-consuming, unpaid toll of billing and claims management
08:36 - Clawbacks: the unexpected financial bombshell
10:01 - How insurance can compromise your clinical independence
11:22 - The impact of session caps, diagnoses, and review processes on your practice
12:20 - The burnout crisis fueled by declining reimbursements and high caseloads
13:18 - How Mentaya boosts out-of-network reimbursement effortlessly
14:11 - The vital role of insurance for access and its limitations
15:39 - How to ethically and strategically build your practice with insurance in mind
16:35 - Navigating the hybrid model for sustainable success
17:29 - The pitfalls of in-network panels' restrictions on out-of-network benefits
18:24 - Knowing you can leave insurance panels at any time—no guilt needed
19:24 - The sliding scale model: balancing access and financial health
20:48 - The importance of full transparency before signing any insurance contract
21:49 - Real-world stories from therapists balancing insurance struggles and successes
24:38 - Tailoring your decision to your unique market and values
25:06 - Final thoughts: arm yourself with the TRUTH, build sustainably

Resources

• Mentaya — Automate insurance billing and reimbursements

• Private Practice Launch Kit — Build a financially sustainable practice

• Therapist HQ Community — Supportive space for private practice growth

  
  

  
  

  Connect with Alicia:

• Instagram

Are you tired of feeling like running your practice is just a never-ending clinical grind?

What if I told you that stepping into the CEO role could transform not only your business but also your confidence and freedom?

This episode is an unfiltered call to all therapists ready to break free from the overwhelm and truly own their practice’s future.

In this episode:

• Why most therapists struggle to think like business owners — and it’s NOT your fault
• The real meaning of a CEO mindset and why it matters more than branding or marketing tricks
• How to start thinking like a CEO today—practical steps you can take NOW
• The emotional hurdles and self-doubt we all face (yes, even us!), and how to crush them
• Why charging your full fee isn’t selfish — it’s survival for your practice and your clients
• The critical difference between working IN your business versus ON your business
• The importance of tracking your numbers and envisioning your ideal practice
• Real stories from therapists who decided to learn the business side and thrived

Timestamps:
00:00 - Why therapists are underprepared for the business side (and what to do about it)
02:17 - The common trait among thriving therapists right now: thinking like a CEO
03:41 - Breaking down the true meaning of a CEO mindset—big picture, data-driven, strategic
07:39 - The difference between working in your practice and working on your practice
08:35 - How to use numbers to make empowered, strategic decisions
09:31 - Clarity on your vision—why it shapes everything you do
10:53 - Practical ways to carve out “CEO time” weekly
11:21 - Getting clear on your financials—your first step to mastery
12:45 - How to start confidently calling yourself a “business owner”
13:10 - The game-changing tool: Mentaya’s benefits checker for private pay growth
14:03 - Why thinking like a CEO is the ultimate act of self-care and sustainability
15:00 - How building a strong business protects your mission to help others
15:56 - The resources to jumpstart your CEO journey today

Resources and Links:

• ⁠Mentaya Benefits Checker⁠ (Use code THERAPISTHQ for a 30-day free trial)
• ⁠Practice Launch Kit⁠ — Your step-by-step guide to starting or growing your practice
• ⁠Therapist HQ Membership⁠ — Monthly trainings, tools, community for ongoing growth

Connect with Alicia:

• ⁠Instagram⁠

• ⁠Website⁠

Remember — you didn’t come this far just to stay stuck. Building a CEO mindset is your most powerful act of care for yourself, your practice, and your clients. You are more capable than you think. It’s time to lead, to strategize, and to thrive. Let’s do this together!

The podcast episode discusses the first 90 days in private practice, emphasizing the importance of building a private practice as a business and navigating the business side of private practice. It covers topics such as business structure, registration, website creation, networking, referral relationships, payment models, and the significance of consistency over perfection in practice building.

Takeaways

• First 90 days in private practice

• Building a private practice as a business

• Navigating the business side of private practice

• Importance of business structure and registration

• Setting up a business bank account

• Creating a website and Google My Business profile

• Networking and referral relationships

• Choosing a payment model and setting fees

• Consistency over perfection in practice building

Grab a free private practice checklist here: https://stan.store/The_Therapist_HQ

Grab the full private practice launch kit here: https://stan.store/The_Therapist_HQ/p/the-complete-launch-kit

Join our community here: https://stan.store/The_Therapist_HQ/p/the-therapist-headquarters

Follow Alicia on Instagram at instagram.com/thetherapisthq