Selling the Couch

Hosted by Melvin Varghese, PhD

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Episodes

300

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Aug 2026

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About the show

With 1.81 million+ downloads, Selling the Couch is an Apple Top Career podcast for current and future mental health private practitioners who think differently. Psychologist Melvin Varghese interviews successful therapists in private practice about how they built their businesses as well as top entrepreneurs, business/marketing, and social media experts.* You'll learn how therapists get referrals, grow their practices, work through fears, find their enough, and stop "trading time for income." Melvin also shares the lessons as he grows his impact + income beyond the therapy room (podcasting, YouTube, writing, online courses, masterminds, investing, etc) and the tips and tools he uses to grow STC from a single-person business to the CEO of a 6-figure business.* Featured in Psychology Today, Good Therapy, and Psych Central ****Get show notes and even more good stuff at sellingthecouch.com/stcpodcast*

Listen to episodes

60 recent

August 13, 202625 min

ENCORE: The Anxiety Of Finding A Private Practice Niche

In today's encore, I share my journey of going into private practice, in addition to keeping STC running and growing. There were three main reasons for this decision: I missed the therapy room, a clinical arm to my business is a wise move, and I’d be able to more strategically diversify my income. But this decision brought me some anxiety, insomnia, and depression. I address these issues with my wonderful therapist, and did all the things that we therapists tell our clients to do. My worries and fears are probably normal for someone who feels the pressure to be successful in multiple businesses and endeavors. Join me as I share my insights on finding my private practice niche. You’ll Learn: What is a niche, and how did I choose my niche for private practice? Who do I want to work with? My top four insights on finding my private practice niche: Niches are living and breathing things that evolve over time. Family and friends will always recommend people outside your niche. There is a relational component to marketing beyond your website. Even though my niche focuses on tech and business founders, working within other branches of these niches will add diversity to my work. -- Ready to launch (or grow) your online course? Haven is our membership for therapists who want to turn their expertise into sustainable online income through courses, content, and simple systems that actually work. You’ll get access to trainings, live accelerators, and a community that supports you every step of the way. Get on the waitlist: sellingthecouch.com/haven

August 6, 202622 min

ENCORE: Why Every Course Creator Should Start A Podcast

If you have ever considered creating an online course, or if you are already a course creator, you have probably thought a lot about marketing. The challenge is how to be thoughtful and creative in marketing your course, which becomes a separate income stream for your business. Starting a podcast is one of the best ways to market your course while creating a solid, compound income stream, and we are talking strategy in today's encore as I share what I’ve learned through my experience. Join us! You’ll Learn: Why starting a podcast has been one of the most rewarding personal and professional endeavors of my life Why podcasts are the perfect way to produce authentic, evergreen content and establish trust How a podcast becomes a way to avoid burnout and take self-care breaks while staying consistent with releasing and re-releasing content How podcasts allow dynamic ads, which are pure magic ( Captivate makes it easy!) and help build your email list How the podcasting format allows pre-roll, mid-roll, and end-roll ads to market your courses/resources consistently How the “flywheel effect” serves to compound your efforts over time if you leverage your existing course students on your podcast -- Ready to launch (or grow) your online course? Haven is our membership for therapists who want to turn their expertise into sustainable online income through courses, content, and simple systems that actually work. You’ll get access to trainings, live accelerators, and a community that supports you every step of the way. Get on the waitlist: sellingthecouch.com/haven

July 30, 202629 min

ENCORE: Could Keeping Your Business Small Be the Next BIG Thing?

In today's encore, we will cover two questions that confront me daily: How big do I actually want to grow STC? What is the purpose of STC in relation to my overall life? Freedom is my most important value, and building my business around my life, family, and health is most important to me. Not every entrepreneur has the same goals, but these are questions for every entrepreneur to consider. Let’s take a closer look in today’s session! You’ll Learn: How I was compromising to fit life around my business instead of optimizing the business to fit the life I wanted 5 key concepts I learned from Paul Jarvis in his book Companies of one reject limitless growth. We should set firm growth limits to keep opportunity costs small. Companies of one are okay with limited success. More profits mean more productivity, sales, customers, and infrastructure to manage. Develop your business out of a side gig. Your business needs time to incubate and grow so you can devote yourself to it full time. Target a specific audience to find your niche. The more specific your target is, the easier it is to connect, build trust, and distinguish your audience’s needs. Embrace the power of simplicity and personality. Amplify your uniqueness by sharing your most powerful asset: yourself and your personality. -- Ready to launch (or grow) your online course? Haven is our membership for therapists who want to turn their expertise into sustainable online income through courses, content, and simple systems that actually work. You’ll get access to trainings, live accelerators, and a community that supports you every step of the way. Get on the waitlist: sellingthecouch.com/haven

July 23, 202612 min

ENCORE: 3 Meetings 99% of Course Creators Don’t Schedule But Absolutely Need

Are you a course creator who wants to get better and better at your craft? Today's encore reflects on three non-negotiable meetings that I’ve implemented with my online courses. This simple technique has played a massive role in making over $300K more than the original course. Join me! You’ll Learn: Three meetings course creators need: After-action review (AARS)--takes place after a launch. Ask and answer three questions: What went well? What did not go well? What was missing? This simple step has a massive impact on course growth and future scaling. Live chat–is a way to “put yourself out there” I recommend a quarterly live chat with existing students, whether one-on-one or in a group. This feedback gives you an idea of what’s working/what’s not and allows you to come up with better offers in the future. Learning time–is a way to be a student for life. Block off time weekly to get better at your course topic and related topics by learning more “Being a lifelong student of your course topic opens up a lifetime of opportunities.” -- Ready to launch (or grow) your online course? Haven is our membership for therapists who want to turn their expertise into sustainable online income through courses, content, and simple systems that actually work. You’ll get access to trainings, live accelerators, and a community that supports you every step of the way. Get on the waitlist: sellingthecouch.com/haven

July 16, 202630 min

ENCORE: If I Were Launching An Online Course Soon, I'd Do This...

If you are considering launching an online course, today’s encore is for you! I’ve learned a lot as a course creator, and I’m sharing an honest look at my biggest lessons learned and what I would tell anyone on this course creation path. You’ll Learn: 5 things I want to share about launching an online course: Focus on what you already know and love to teach. (Stay within your niche!) Hear my thoughts on course creation and AI. Start small and build slowly. (Think about your “value ladder.”) Think about recurring offers related to your course. Validation is non-negotiable. (Validate your course idea before you proceed.) Download the free Course Creator Starter Kit . Embrace the tech, but don’t let it overwhelm you. Start with “good enough,” and upgrade your sound, lighting, and camera when you can. Hear my recommendations for basic tech for someone just starting out in course creation. Take a “defaulting to action” perspective rather than waiting for perfectionism. Build your audience early. Don’t wait until your course launch to build your email list. Use social media and discovery platforms. -- Ready to launch (or grow) your online course? Haven is our membership for therapists who want to turn their expertise into sustainable online income through courses, content, and simple systems that actually work. You’ll get access to trainings, live accelerators, and a community that supports you every step of the way. Get on the waitlist: sellingthecouch.com/haven

July 9, 202644 min

ENCORE: Leaving Therapy for Coaching with Dr. Corey Wilks

Today’s encore is about leaving psychotherapy for coaching. This transition is one that many therapist colleagues have made, and the reality is that many more are shifting from the field of therapy into coaching. Several major factors play into this decision, and my guest today gives a transparent look at his experience in this transition. Join us to learn more! Our Featured Guest Dr. Corey Wilks Dr. Corey Wilks is a good friend and licensed psychologist who joins us for an open and honest look at his transition from therapy to coaching. In giving a glimpse into the circumstances and perspectives that led him to make this decision and shift his career, he shares how his career goals have changed over the years, what autonomy means to him, and why it is important. We wrap up by discussing mistakes that therapists often make in this career change and the drawbacks to leaving a traditional career in mental health. Corey's Website You’ll Learn: Corey’s career goals back in grad school—and how they have changed Understanding autonomy, freedom, and why these are Corey’s top priorities Corey’s realizations about therapy, wellness, and burnout Considerations in making the shift to entrepreneurship The biggest mistake people make in turning from therapy to coaching The difference in coaching as a much more solo-based endeavor than therapy Corey’s advice to a therapist considering becoming a coach The distinction between the roles of therapist and coach—and how Corey navigates “the line” -- Ready to launch (or grow) your online course? Haven is our membership for therapists who want to turn their expertise into sustainable online income through courses, content, and simple systems that actually work. You’ll get access to trainings, live accelerators, and a community that supports you every step of the way. Get on the waitlist: sellingthecouch.com/haven

July 2, 202613 min

ENCORE: Designing a Life-First Business In An Uncertain World

Today’s encore is at the heart of the Quiet Builder philosophy. The question is, “How do we design a business that supports our lives, not swallows it?” This becomes increasingly important as the world grows more uncertain and our responsibilities grow daily. This episode is for anyone building a business that fits into real life, and not the other way around. You’ll Learn: My story of stepping back and reassessing my business 3 anchors for building a life-first business in an uncertain world: Design for margin, not maximum. Clarity comes from creating margin, not hustling. Designing for margin is how we stay well enough to serve others. Build products that don’t require your constant presence. Design for asymmetry, where value isn’t tied to one-to-one time. A life-first business scales impact, not just hours. Plan around what you can’t plan for. Your business should be designed to absorb disruption, not collapse under it. Strategies that work for me are “Walden months,” a hard growth ceiling on STC, and allowing maximum flexibility to travel when loved ones need extra help. To sum up today’s topic: “A resilient business doesn’t break when life happens; it bends with grace.” --- Ready to launch (or grow) your online course? Haven is our membership for therapists who want to turn their expertise into sustainable online income through courses, content, and simple systems that actually work. Our next Accelerator, Building Authoritative Guides That Stand Out In The Age of AI , begins soon. Learn more here: https://melvinvarghese.kartra.com/page/july2026

June 25, 202615 min

ENCORE: What Therapists Get Wrong About Selling Their First Online Course

Today’s encore is on what therapists often get wrong about selling their first online course, considering all the assumptions we make and the misconceptions we hold about online courses. I’m bringing full transparency to today’s topic as I share what I’ve learned through my years of experience with online courses. You’ll Learn: The guilt loop running in my head (“I became a therapist to help people, not to sell things.”) Mindset shift that made it all make sense to me Ethical selling: a path to transformation with deep care and clarity 3 sales mistakes therapists make—and what to do instead: Thinking “sales equals sleazing” Think of aligned sales as clear communication with a gentle and generous invitation. Avoiding the “ask” entirely If someone is clearly interested, don’t make them guess how to work with you. Give them a clear call-to-action. Not believing in the value of your course Your confidence comes from alignment. Focus on the transformation you can offer. --- Ready to launch (or grow) your online course? Haven is our membership for therapists who want to turn their expertise into sustainable online income through courses, content, and simple systems that actually work. Our next Accelerator, Building Authoritative Guides That Stand Out In The Age of AI , begins soon. Learn more here: https://melvinvarghese.kartra.com/page/july2026

June 18, 202635 min

ENCORE: A Live vs. Pre-Recorded Online Course

Today’s encore is from a live coaching call talking about the many nuances of online courses. I hope this episode will be helpful to you and bring new ideas if an online course is on your radar. Our Featured Guest-Kristen Boice, LMFT Kristen Boice is a therapist in private practice and a fellow podcaster. She has realized the need among her listeners for an online course. Her podcast, Close the Chapter, is about closing the chapter on certain things in our lives so we can open ourselves up to new opportunities. In today’s coaching call, I’ll share some lessons I’ve learned along the way about online courses. We’ll talk about the rationale behind creating a live course vs. a pre-recorded one. We will wrap up with a pre-launch strategy to help get buyers for your course before you launch. Pathways To Healing Counseling Kristen Boice You’ll Learn ● Why Kristen started her podcast about two years ago to provide another opportunity for deeper work for her clients ● How an online course can help you get more information out to curious people ● The options for your course and other services ● Why niching down is a big challenge for therapists ● How Kristen sees the epidemic of people feeling “not good enough” and being scared to speak up ● How a niche can help you offer value and find your sweet spot ● How the best courses take people from one place to another ● Why Kristen focuses on helping with the hard conversations ● How to use phraseology that appeals to people and addresses their need ● Step-by-step actions to build your email list and create effective opt-ins ● How to create value on the front end of your course by validating your content --- Ready to launch (or grow) your online course? Haven is our membership for therapists who want to turn their expertise into sustainable online income through courses, content, and simple systems that actually work. Our next Accelerator, Building Authoritative Guides That Stand Out In The Age of AI , begins soon. Learn more here: https://melvinvarghese.kartra.com/page/july2026

June 11, 202637 min

ENCORE: The Process of Creating and Marketing Your Product Using the Feelings Wheel

In today's encore, we're tapping into creative thinking. How are you at thinking outside the box? This episode is perfect for everyone who has thought about creating, marketing, and selling a product. What is the process like? How do you take care of all the little details? What about the marketing piece of your product? We’re diving deep into these questions and more on today’s show. My guest is Rosanne Marmor, LCSW, in Portland, Oregon. She created a Feelings Wheel as a way for clients to identify their feelings both inside and outside the therapy room. Rosanne went on a journey that took almost two years of gathering data, development, and production. She was finally able to put this tool in the hands of her clients and has been overwhelmed by its success.