The Bad Therapist Show

Hosted by Felicia Keller Boyle | Business Coach for Therapists

Business Entrepreneurship

Website RSS feed

Episodes

183

Latest episode

Aug 2026

Language

About the show

Ever felt like being a great therapist, having a successful practice, and living a life you love are somehow mutually exclusive? If so, you're in the right place. The Bad Therapist Show is the go-to resource for established solo therapists and group practice owners who want to grow profitable businesses, lead with confidence, and create more freedom, flexibility, and fulfillment in their lives. Hosted by Felicia Keller Boyle, aka The Bad Therapist®, LMFT, former six-figure private practice owner, therapist business coach, and creator of the Liberated Business™ method, this show challenges the belief that therapists have to choose between helping people, making money, and enjoying their lives. Through her coaching, courses, and innovative private practice fee calculator, The Magic Sheets™, Felicia has helped hundreds of therapists build more profitable practices, create additional income streams, and step into true business ownership—without sacrificing the work they love or the life they’re building. Each week, you'll hear honest conversations about private practice growth, marketing, leadership, money, boundaries, identity, and the realities of running a therapy business. Whether you're growing a solo practice, leading a group practice, or building revenue streams beyond the therapy room, you'll learn how to think like a CEO, scale sustainably, and build a business that supports your life—not the other way around. Tune in for answers to questions such as: 👉🏽How do I grow my private practice without sacrificing my personal life? 👉🏽What are the best marketing strategies for established therapists? 👉🏽How do I raise my rates with confidence? 👉🏽How do I grow my income beyond one-to-one therapy? 👉🏽What does it take to transition from therapist to CEO? 👉🏽How do I build a business that supports the life I actually want? You don't have to choose between being an exceptional therapist, a successful business owner, and a whole human. Follow the show wherever you listen to podcasts and start building a business that gives you more income, more freedom, and more of what matters most. Because bad therapists make the best therapists. --- Learn more about Business Coaching for Private Practice Therapists at www.thebadtherapist.coach.

Listen to episodes

60 recent

September 7, 202621 min

Financial Planning for Therapists: Three Smart Money Moves [Ep 182]

Money comes into your practice, the bills come out of one account, and whatever remains becomes your pay. There’s a better system for managing your wealth and putting your money to work. If you've ever felt stressed during tax season, wished you were making faster progress toward your financial goals, and want to give back without decreasing your own financial security, this episode is for you. Today I’m celebrating my 40th birthday! And I’m looking back at ten years with money, from student debt and skipped weddings to giving each dollar a purpose. This is financial planning for therapists through the lens of my own business. I’ll share why I give every dollar that comes into my business a specific job, how an accountant who understands our industry helps me make tax decisions without holding all the information myself, and what changed when I stopped letting a good month inflate the account I used for ordinary expenses. We’ll also talk about S corp filing, giving back, and high-yield cash cash savings. Topics covered on financial planning for therapists How a Profit First structure separates money for taxes, expenses, pay, and future opportunities How to never be behind on taxes again and why I think every therapist needs an accountant When you should transition to S corp status How a prudent reserve helped me fund a $15,000 business investment without draining monthly operations fund A way to give back that does not require therapists to under-earn or overwork Why I keep some cash in a high-yield account instead of checking or investments Resources from this episode Wealthfront , the high-yield cash account I use to separate earmarked money into categories, with a 0.75% interest boost for both of us when you use my referral link Liberated Business , my signature group coaching program for therapists who want to build a multi-six-figure private practice Connect with Felicia Get my freebie and join the email list: The Magic Sheets Instagram: @the_bad_therapist Website: www.thebadtherapist.coach Quote “Over the course of your career, over the course of running your private practice, millions of dollars will actually flow through your hands.” - Felicia

August 31, 202622 min

Networking for Therapists: How to Stop Feeling Salesy and Start Building Referrals [Ep 181]

How do you network without being awkward, salesy, or draining your energy? In today's episode, I'm sharing a version of networking for therapists that feels less transactional and a lot more powerful: hosting your own networking event. When you create the event, everything changes. You have a clear reason to reach out to colleagues, you get to choose the kind of gathering that fits your energy, and you make it easier for other people to remember who you are and what you do. And believe it or not, this can be simple and easy. We'll talk about why local referrals still matter while online marketing and algorithms keep changing, what makes networking feel so uncomfortable in the first place, and why a full practice is not a reason to disappear from your local community. I’ll also give you ideas for making an event fit your actual energy, whether you would rather host six people over dinner or invite a bigger group somewhere casual. If networking has always felt salesy or exhausting, this episode will help you create a version that feels generous and realistic enough to keep doing. Topics covered on Networking for Therapists Why therapist networking can feel transactional before the first conversation even starts What it feels like to be the person who can make exactly the right referral How to approach another practitioner when you want to build a referral relationship Why hosting your own event can feel easier than asking strangers to meet one on one How to choose a gathering that fits your energy, capacity, and appetite for planning Why local relationships still matter when algorithms and online buyer behavior keep changing Why a full caseload is not a reason to stop building your referral community How group practice owners can help local providers get to know the clinicians in their team How to secure wins in your first events, even if they feel small Connect with Felicia Get my freebie and join the email list: The Magic Sheets Instagram: @the_bad_therapist Website: www.thebadtherapist.coach Related episodes 5 Ways to Feel Less Lonely in Therapy Practice (Without Joining Another Facebook Group) [Ep 167] : a companion episode on building the professional relationships and support your practice needs Quote "And remember that hosting the room means that you're the first name multiple providers think of rather than one of many that they might not even remember." - Felicia

August 24, 202639 min

How to Market Yourself as a Therapist Without Relying on Instagram: Using SEO and Podcasting to Get Consistent Inquiries [Ep 180]

When Brittney Scott first came on The Bad Therapist Show, she was still in the early stages of producing her podcast, Mother Daughter Relationship Show, and figuring out what kind of marketing she could keep doing without forcing herself to become an Instagram person. A lot has changed since then. In this episode, Brittney is back to talk about what happened when she gave her marketing enough time to work. We get into the reality of publishing when almost no one is listening, the mindset that helped her stay with it, and why she approaches problems in her business so differently now. Brittney also shares how her podcast, website, email list, and social media started working together. We talk about what she needed to understand before she felt ready to hand parts of the process to someone else, and why understanding the craft and knowing what sounds like her made that handoff possible. We also talk about a much bigger change in her business: creating a coaching offer alongside her therapy work. Brittney explains why that shift made sense for her life, what she had to do to make the coaching offer genuinely different from therapy, and her advice if you’re considering the same move. If you have been wondering whether to keep going with your marketing, build a new offer, or finally delegate so you can get some of your time back, this conversation is for you. More about Brittney Scott Brittney Scott is a therapist and mother-daughter relationship coach. She helps mothers and daughters improve their relationships through a clearly defined coaching program, and she hosts the Mother Daughter Relationship Show. Brittney is also a two-time graduate of Liberated Business. Topics covered on Coaching for Therapists What helped Brittney keep publishing before her podcast had an audience How giving herself permission to be a beginner changed the way she works Why podcasting and SEO felt like a better fit than relying on social media What happens when your marketing channels begin supporting one another How Brittney knew she was ready to hand off more of her podcast production Why learning a process first can make you much better at hiring for it How being a military spouse informed what Brittney needed from her business The work involved in making coaching genuinely different from therapy Why adding coaching is not the obvious next step for every therapist What customized business support gave Brittney that a rigid formula could not Resources from this episode The Liberated Business Program: https://www.thebadtherapist.coach/liberatedbusiness Reference book: Buy Back Your Time: Get Unstuck, Reclaim Your Freedom, and Build Your Empire by Dan Martell Connect with Felicia: Get my freebie & join the email list: The Magic Sheets Instagram: @the_bad_therapist Website: www.thebadtherapist.coach Connect with Brittney Scott: Website: www.brittneymscott.com Podcast: Mother Daughter Relationship Show Instagram: @theBrittneyScott Threads: @thebrittneyscott Related episodes Finding Your Authentic Marketing Strategy as a Therapist with Brittney Scott [Ep 114] How to Get Off Insurance and Build a Cash Pay Practice Without the Income Dip [Ep 163] Quote “I think if you're not interested in marketing at all, you're not interested in having a business at all.” - Brittney Scott

August 17, 202624 min

Your Therapy Cancellation Policy May Be Costing Your Private Practice Money [Ep 179]

Your calendar can look packed while your income tells a different story. Clients come every other week, summer cancellations open holes you can't replace, and a crowded roster creates more admin. On paper, your therapy practice looks successful. In reality, it may not support the life you built it for. In today's episode, I'm asking you to look past client count and assess what's actually happening in your business. We'll examine the gap between a busy practice and a profitable one, why another income stream won't repair a leaky foundation, and what to consider before changing your fees or therapy cancellation policy. Those changes can feel wasteful after you've worked so hard to attract clients. They also involve real uncertainty. Some clients may leave, others may stay, and you can't predict every response. You can assess the risk, communicate clearly, and use your clinical skill without pushing anyone toward a choice that isn't right for them. If the end of summer brings enough relief that you stop looking at the problem, this episode will help you see the cycle before another year passes. Press play to decide what a more stable practice requires from you now. Topics covered on this episode: Why a packed calendar can create a false sense of safety when income remains unstable What client count misses about attendance, pricing, admin load, and the health of your practice The risk questions to ask before changing your fees or therapy cancellation policy Why passive income won't repair a practice that keeps leaking revenue How “good therapist” conditioning and sunk-cost thinking make necessary business changes feel wasteful or uncaring Using clinical skill to hold honest money conversations while respecting each client's choice Resources from this episode: The Fee Formula : Felicia's course on setting fees, strengthening policies, and building a more stable private practice Connect with Felicia: Get my freebie & join the email list: The Magic Sheets Instagram: @the_bad_therapist Website: www.thebadtherapist.coach Related episodes: How to Get Off Insurance and Build a Cash Pay Practice Without the Income Dip [Ep 163] : Felicia's framework for assessing financial risk before leaving insurance Quote: "More clients don't necessarily equal more money, especially if they're low frequency or low fee." - Felicia

August 10, 202616 min

The Real Reason Your Therapy Practice Feels Stuck at Great and You've Been Wondering "Why Am I Not More Motivated?" [Ep 178]

The more you've built, the harder it gets to want the next thing. You've crossed milestones a past version of you only dreamed of and instead of momentum you're finding yourself busy with the safe stuff, the tasks you've already mastered, while the thing that would actually move your practice forward keeps waiting. If you've been asking yourself, "Why am I not motivated?" this episode is for you. I’ve seen the pattern in myself and some of my most successful clients: the mundane, comfortable tasks robbing us of our next level goals. Today I'm showing you why the old fuel that got you here won't get you to the next level. We'll look at why the urgency that pulled you out of scarcity isn't available anymore and how hiding in mastery can look exactly like productivity. The strategies that built your first six figures were built for different stakes, and that mismatch is fixable. By the end of this episode, you'll choose the one move that matters this week for that next-level goal and know how to keep busyness at bay so you can make real progress. Tune in! Topics covered on why am I not motivated: Why the next goal feels harder to want than the last one, even when you're more resourced than ever How low motivation disguises itself as busyness: the mundane, already-mastered tasks that feel urgent but aren't The stages from resistance to boredom, and how hiding in mastery keeps you coasting instead of growing Why the strategies that built your first six figures were built for different stakes, and why external accountability matters more now, not less The one awareness exercise that starts the shift: name the scary goal you're circling and the task you're substituting for it Connect with Felicia: Get my freebie & join the email list: The Magic Sheets Instagram: @the_bad_therapist Website: www.thebadtherapist.coach Resources from this episode: Liberated Business: www.thebadtherapist.coach/liberatedbusiness Income and Emotional Well-Being: A Conflict Resolved : the PNAS study by Killingsworth, Kahneman and Mellers behind the money and happiness research Felicia references Related episodes: A Time Blocking Method for Therapists Ready to Build Their Next Offer [Ep 177] : the calendaring episode to revisit when you're ready to make the change The Five Growth Stages Every Successful Therapist Goes Through [Ep 171] : the stages episode that maps moving from resistance to mastery to boredom Quote: "You need different fuel to move you to your next level of goals, not just more of the old fuel, because that's just not gonna work anymore." - Felicia

August 3, 202617 min

A Time Blocking Method for Therapists Ready to Build Their Next Offer [Ep 177]

Your caseload is full, but the idea for your next offer has been living in your notes app for months. You think about it in the shower or while walking the dog, but it still isn’t real. That may feel like a time problem. It’s usually a decision problem. In today’s episode, I’m sharing a time blocking method that helps you see what it will actually take to build your next offer. I’ll show you why thinking about a course, group program, intensive, or retreat can feel like progress without producing any, and why putting the project on your calendar makes every compromise visible. We’re also looking at the business underneath the calendar. If you’re underpricing your therapy, granting reschedules, or saying yes to work you decided was off the table, your practice may not have enough room to support the next thing. A new offer can’t rescue a practice you’re not yet willing to optimize. This episode will help you see where your time goes, protect space for experimentation, and make the pricing and boundary decisions that create more freedom. You don’t need perfect clarity before you begin, you need a block on the calendar and the willingness to show up. Topics covered: Why thinking about your next offer can feel like progress without making you accountable to a calendar How a protected project block makes you choose whether to move it, delete it, or defend it What putting client work, admin, and life obligations on the calendar reveals about your actual capacity Why underpricing, client reschedules, and broken boundaries prevent your practice from making room for something new How showing up to create and experiment moves the offer out of your head and into the world Connect with Felicia Get my freebie and see how much money you can make (and vacation you can take) with my revenue stimulator: The Magic Sheets Instagram: @the_bad_therapist Website: www.thebadtherapist.coach Related episodes: Quarter Two Planning: How to Stay Accountable & Consistent in Your Business Goals (Ep 110) Grow Your Private Practice with a 90 Day Sprint (Ep 101) Quote “The freedom you want is actually downstream of the discipline that you’ve been avoiding.” - Felicia

July 27, 202619 min

Opening a Group Practice Could Be the Best or Worst Move of Your Year. 3 Questions Tell You Which [Ep 176]

Opening a group practice can feel like the obvious next step once your private practice is full and you’re turning away potential clients every week. But too often, therapists make that decision from a place of scarcity instead of strength, and that’s exactly why it backfires. In today’s episode, I’m sharing the three questions I wish every therapist would answer before hiring their first clinician. If you can’t confidently say yes to all three, opening a group practice probably isn’t your next best move—at least not yet. I'm diving into whether you genuinely have an abundance of time and money (or just enough demand to feel busy and stretched), what consistent long-term demand really looks like, and the identity shift from clinician to business owner that catches so many therapists by surprise. If you’re thinking about expanding into a group practice, these three questions will help you decide whether you’re truly ready and give you a roadmap for what needs to happen first. Topics covered on Opening A Group Practice: The one financial question that decides whether you're expanding from strength or scarcity Full private practice isn't always the green light for opening a group practice The uncomfortable gut check: would you feel excited or a little sick handing your favorite clients to someone else The identity shift nobody warns you about, and why it lights some therapists up and wrecks others Resources from this episode: Liberated Business: www.thebadtherapist.coach/liberatedbusiness Website: www.thebadtherapist.coach Connect with Felicia: Get my freebie & join the email list: The Magic Sheets Instagram: @the_bad_therapist Related episodes: Growing Your Group Practice: Why Your First Hire Should Be A 'Mini-You' w/ Nicole McCance [Ep 124] What You Need to Know Before Hiring a Team Member for Your Private Practice [Ep 17] Quote: "A group practice adds complexity, it adds responsibility, and it adds overhead before it adds freedom." Felicia

July 20, 202611 min

Can Your Practice Survive Two Weeks Without You? How to Take Time Off as a Therapist [Ep 175]

Taking time off as a therapist feels borderline reckless, even though your clients disappear for two weeks every summer without a flicker of guilt. Summer arrives, the cancellations roll in, your calendar opens up, and instead of enjoying the space you feel that dread I call the summer slump. Good therapist conditioning taught you that being available equals being dedicated, so stepping back feels like letting people down, and underneath it sits one big fear: if I am not in the room, my business will fall apart. In today's episode, I'm diving into what has to be true for time off to feel safe, the revenue streams and coverage that make it possible, and how to build the business around the life you want rather than the other way around. If your clients can vanish for two weeks and everything keeps running, it might be time to ask why you can’t. Let's find your date. Topics covered on How to Take Time Off as a Therapist: The reason taking time off as a therapist feels so scary in summer, and why your vacation ends up feeling twice as expensive Good therapist conditioning and the belief that constant availability is what makes you dedicated What has to be in place before time off feels safe instead of like a gamble Why most therapists build their practice backwards, and the order that finally fits your life Connect with Felicia: Get my freebie & join the email list: The Magic Sheets Instagram: @the_bad_therapist Website: www.thebadtherapist.coach Quote: "If your clients can disappear for 2 weeks and everything's fine, it might be time to ask why you can't." Felicia

July 13, 202634 min

Private Practice Case Study: From Corporate to 6-Figure Private Practice with Ben Sollenberger (REPLAY) [Ep 174]

Ready for a private practice success story that’ll light a fire under you? In this episode, I’m joined by Ben Sollenberger, who left his full time corporate operations role and built a nearly full private practice, on track for six figures, in just a few months of joining Liberated Business! Ben shares the pivotal moment he stopped playing it safe, the mindset shift that helped him tune out the doubters, and the strategic moves that sped up his growth. From leveraging his corporate background to learning a new skill set, his journey is full of unexpected turns and practical takeaways. If you're on the fence about starting your own private practice or wondering if it's really possible to succeed quickly in today's market, Ben's journey might just be the nudge you need to finally make your move. More about Ben Sollenberger: Ben is a resident in counseling who specializes in counseling men in their 20s and 30s. In addition to loving counseling, Ben continues to enjoy working as a contractor in business operations, his first career. Topics covered on Private Practice Success Story: How Ben found a big gap in the mental health market and used it as a key element in his private practice's success story The surprising ways Ben’s corporate background helped him (and also didn't fully prepare him) for private practice The exact moment that convinced Ben to finally take the leap into private practice after months of hesitation Ben's clever Psychology Today profile hack that helped him stand out in a saturated directory The strategic investments Ben made that led to his private practice filling quickly The dual income strategy Ben uses to feel more confident and calm while building his therapy business Resources mentioned in this episode: Liberated Business: https://www.thebadtherapist.coach/liberatedbusiness Hold Space Creative Connect with Ben Sollenberger: Website: https://www.virginiatherapyservicesforyoungmen.com Connect with Felicia: Get my freebie & join the email list: The Magic Sheets Instagram: @the_bad_therapist Website: www.thebadtherapist.coach Related episodes Liberated Business: How to Transform Your Private Practice in Six Months [Ep 63] Quote “ It's definitely not gonna work out if you don't have that blind trust in the universe.” - Ben Sollenberger

July 6, 202618 min

Marketing for Established Therapists: From Getting Found to Getting Known [Ep 173]

When was the last time you stepped back and reconsidered your marketing instead of simply doing what you’ve always done? Most marketing advice for therapists is built for people chasing their first 10 clients. But if your caseload is already full, that same advice might be keeping you stuck at a ceiling you don’t even realise exists. In this episode, I explain why marketing for established therapists is a different job entirely. The goal moves from getting found to getting known. I'll walk through the shift from survival marketing to authority marketing, the 10/80/10 rule for systematising what already works, and selling your point of view rather than your services. There’s a version of your private practice where your reputation does the heavy lifting and the right people reach out without you working harder. This is what marketing for established therapists looks like. Not grinding for visibility, but building the reputation that does the heavy lifting for you. Ready to learn how? Tune in! Topics covered on Marketing For Therapists: What it means to be an established therapist The difference between survival marketing and authority marketing How to audit the marketing channels that are already working The 10/80/10 rule and how to systematise what already works so boredom does not pull you into self sabotage Real client examples of authority marketing in action Connect with Felicia: Get my freebie & join the email list: The Magic Sheets Instagram: @the_bad_therapist Website: www.thebadtherapist.coach Related episodes: The Five Growth Stages Every Successful Therapist Goes Through [Ep 171] Quote: "Early stage therapists market what they do, but established therapists market how they think." Felicia