The Grow Your Private Practice Show

Hosted by Jane Travis

Business Entrepreneurship Health Fitness

Website RSS feed

Episodes

200

Latest episode

Jul 2026

Language

About the show

I’m Jane Travis and I’m an ex counsellor that now works with other therapists to grow their private practice, hence the name of the show. I’m the author of the Grow Your Private Practice book and also run the Grow Your Private Practice membership, where counsellors can get together and learn all about marketing, with a special love of all things blogging. Okay, that’s the official stuffy 'about me' bit out of the way, because honestly, it’s so much more than that. The truth is, the thing that really drives me, is helping counsellors - counsellors like you - to get more freedom and choice into your life so can work when you want to, how you want to and with the issues that you’re passionate about. And importantly, to get paid properly to do so. Because you have the freedom and choice to run a thriving private practice whilst also creating a fulfilling life for both yourself and your family. If you want that too, please click subscribe. I hope you enjoy listening.

Listen to episodes

60 recent

July 9, 202626 min

Why Good Counselling Websites Still Don’t Get Enquiries

You've spent time creating a professional website. It looks good, you've explained what you do, and you're proud of how it represents your practice.So why aren't more people getting in touch?In this episode, I'm exploring one of the biggest misconceptions about counselling websites. It isn't always the design, your qualifications or even your SEO that's stopping people from contacting you.Instead, we'll look at what might really be happening when someone lands on your website and leaves without taking the next step.If you've ever wondered why your website isn't bringing the enquiries you hoped for, this episode is for you.In this episode we'll explore:Why a "good" website isn't always enough.The hidden reason visitors leave without contacting you.The questions prospective clients are asking themselves.Small changes that can make a big difference.Whether you're creating a new website or improving the one you already have, this episode will give uou a few things to change to keep them around🌱 Read the accompanying blog:Why Good Counselling Websites Still Don't Get EnquiriesWrite Your Homepage (1:1)If you'd like my help creating a homepage that helps the right clients feel confident enough to get in touch, you can find out more here:https://www.janetravis.co.uk/write-your-homepage☕ Enjoyed this episode?If you'd like to support the podcast, you can buy me a coffee here:https://buymeacoffee.com/janetravis

July 2, 202617 min

The Unexpected Personal Growth That Comes with Private Practice

Running a private practice teaches us all sorts of practical things. We learn about websites, marketing, SEO, blogging, Google Business Profiles... the list goes on. But what if some of the biggest lessons have nothing to do with marketing at all?This week, I share something that happened during the recent UK heatwave that completely caught me by surprise. After missing a podcast episode for the first time in 255 weeks, I found myself asking why taking a break felt so uncomfortable - and the answer wasn't what I expected.It led me to think about the way our businesses can reveal old beliefs, habits and patterns we've been carrying around for years without even realising it.If you've ever struggled with guilt, boundaries, people-pleasing, procrastination, or simply feeling as though you should always be doing more, I think you'll find something to relate to in this episode.In this episode, we explore:What a heatwave unexpectedly revealed about me.Why taking time off felt much harder than I thought it would.The little voice in my head that I'd somehow never questioned.What running a private practice can teach us about ourselves.One simple shift that can change the way we respond to the challenges in our business.Why this mattersIt's easy to think our biggest challenges in private practice are about marketing, confidence or finding more clients. Sometimes they are. But sometimes they're pointing us towards something much deeper. The more we understand ourselves, the easier it becomes to build a business that feels sustainable, authentic and genuinely works for us.Links and resources🌱 Read the accompanying blog: The Unexpected Personal Growth That Comes with Private Practice🌱 Explore The Vault – my free library of resources for counsellors:https://www.janetravis.co.uk/vault/🌱 Find out more about how we can work together https://www.janetravis.co.uk/start-here

June 18, 202623 min

Your Contact Page: The Most Overlooked Page on Your Website (And How to Improve It)

Have you ever spent ages thinking about your homepage, your blogs or your directory profile... and then completely forgotten about your contact page?You're not alone.Most counsellors put a lot of effort into getting people to visit their website. But when someone finally decides they might want to get in touch, what happens next?In this week's episode, I'm talking about one of the most overlooked pages on a counselling website - your contact page.In this episodeWe explore why your contact page matters far more than many people realise, and some simple ways to make it feel more welcoming, reassuring and helpful for potential clients.You'll discover:Why your contact page isn't just an admin pageWhat nervous potential clients are often thinking before they make contactSmall changes that can make a big differencePractical elements that help people feel more confident about reaching outHow to make your contact page feel more humanYou may discover that one of the easiest ways to improve your website isn't getting more visitors at all - it's helping the visitors you already have feel ready to take the next step.LinksRead the accompanying blog:https://www.janetravis.co.uk/your-contact-page-the-most-overlooked-page-on-your-website-and-how-to-improve-it/Join the Grow Your Private Practice membership:https://www.growyourprivatepractice.co.ukStart here:https://www.janetravis.co.uk/start-here/

June 11, 202617 min

Why Experienced Counsellors Forget How Much They Know

Have you ever had that experience where you attend a training course, read a book or listen to a podcast and realise you already know most of it?That's what sparked this week's episode.It's easy to assume that if something feels obvious to us, it must be obvious to everyone else too. But what if that's not true? What if some of the things you've stopped noticing are actually some of the most valuable things you know?In this episode, I'm exploring why experienced counsellors often underestimate their own knowledge, how familiarity can disguise expertise, and why the insights that feel most ordinary to you may be exactly what somebody else needs to hear.In this episode we talk about:Why expertise rarely arrives with a fanfareThe marketing training that made me realise how much I'd learnedThe lightbulb moments that stayed with me from TA trainingWhy clients often remember things that counsellors take for grantedHow familiarity can hide the value of what you knowA question I'd love you to spend some time thinking aboutLinks☕ Support the podcast (and the occasional cappuccino): Buy Me a Coffee🌱 Grow Your Private Practice membership🌐 Jane TravisFor all my free and paid resources, Start Here

June 4, 202619 min

Who Decided You Were Behind? (And Why So Many Counsellors Feel That Way)

Do you ever get the feeling that everyone else has somehow worked it all out?That they're more confident, more organised, more successful, and somehow managing to keep up with all the things you're convinced you should be doing?Perhaps you've found yourself thinking:'I should have sorted my website by now.''I should be posting more.''I should know what I'm doing by now.'If any of that sounds familiar, you're not alone.In this episode, I'm exploring a word that fascinated me when I worked as a counsellor, and one that I still hear all the time in conversations about private practice and marketing.It's a tiny word, but it often carries far more weight than we realise.We'll look at what might be hiding underneath those thoughts about websites, blogs, visibility and confidence, and why so many capable counsellors end up feeling as though they're falling short.And somewhere along the way, I'd like to ask a question that might change how you think about your private practice:Who decided you were behind in the first place?In this episodeThe counselling question I used to ask whenever I heard a client use a particular wordWhy private practice can become a breeding ground for unrealistic expectationsThe hidden comparison sitting underneath many marketing worriesA simple idea that might help you see your progress more clearlyLinks and Resources📖 Related blog:From Self-Doubt to Self-Confidence: 8 Strategies for Therapists to Overcome Imposter Syndrome📚 The Vault - Free resources for counsellorsFor all my free and paid resources, Start Here☕ Enjoying the podcast?If you'd like to support the show, you can buy me a coffee using the link below. Every contribution helps me keep creating free blogs, podcast episodes and resources for counsellors in private practice.Buy Me A Coffee

May 28, 202619 min

Why So Many Counsellor Websites Sound The Same

If you've ever looked at another counsellor's website and thought:"That sounds really professional. Maybe I should say something like that."… you're not alone.Most counsellors learn how to be counsellors before they learn how to market themselves, so it's only natural that we look around at other websites and directory profiles for clues about what we're "supposed" to say.The trouble is that when everybody uses the same language, potential clients can struggle to work out who they're looking at and whether that counsellor is the right fit for them.In this episode, I'm exploring why phrases like safe, confidential and non-judgemental aren't the problem in themselves, but why they may not be enough to help potential clients understand what makes you different.We talk about:Why so many counsellors end up using similar website wordingWhat potential clients are really looking for when choosing a counsellorWhy a safe, non-judgemental space is the starting point, not the outcomeThe difference between describing a problem and demonstrating understandingWhy recognition matters so much in counselling marketingHow to communicate what you know without making unrealistic promisesMentioned in this episodeWrite Your HomepageIf you're struggling to turn what you know into website copy that helps potential clients recognise themselves and get in touch, you'll find details of my Write Your Homepage session here: Write Your HomepageBuy Me a CoffeeA huge thank you to Kate for recently buying me a coffee (and cake!).If you've found the podcast helpful and would like to support the time that goes into creating these episodes and blog posts, you can buy me a coffee here: Buy Me A CoffeeRelated readingCan You Help Your Clients... And Do They Know It?

May 22, 202646 min

You Don’t Need To Become An Extrovert To Grow Your Practice, with Melitta Campbell

What if the reason marketing feels so hard… is because you’ve been trying to do it in a way that doesn’t actually fit you?Because so many counsellors believe they need to be:LouderMore visibleMore confident onlineOr constantly “performing” in order to grow their practiceAnd this conversation goes in a very different direction.This week, I’m joined by the fabulous Melitta Campbell, award-winning business coach, TEDx speaker, and author of Value Whispering.We talk about the kind of marketing that feels more human, more relationship-driven, and far more sustainable for people who don’t want to spend their lives trying to be the loudest person online.There’s also a really interesting part of the conversation where we accidentally drift into talking about sales… and why counsellors may already be far better at those conversations than they realise.This episode is for you if:Marketing leaves you drainedYou’ve ever thought ‘I’m just bad at visibility’Social media feels performativeYou worry about sounding salesyOr you’ve been trying to force yourself into strategies that simply don’t feel like you.Links & ResourcesMelitta’s free chapter of Value WhisperingThe Art of Value Whispering podcastMelitta Campbell websiteConnect on LinkedIn

May 14, 202617 min

The open letter I nearly didn’t publish (and why this kind of blog works so well)

There are some blogs you sit down and plan, and then there are the ones that keep coming back when you’re trying to switch off.This episode is about one of those.It started with something I kept noticing about counsellors, and the more I saw it, the harder it became to ignore. Not just what people were struggling with, but what they were making it mean about themselves… and how much weight that was carrying.I didn’t set out to write a blog about it. I just found myself wanting to say something to those people.This is about what happened next, and why I nearly didn’t share it.🔗 The open letters I mentionedIf you want to see the kind of blogs I’m talking about, these are the ones that came from moments like that:An open letter to therapists with mental health issuesAn open letter to new counsellors and therapistsAn open letter to the counsellor who’s finding marketing hardDear Santa🌱 Want to try writing one?This month’s Framework First walks you through exactly how to write this kind of blog, step by step: Framework First Blogging Method👋 New here?If this is the first time you’ve come across my work, this is the best place to start: Start Here

May 7, 202626 min

E-E-A-T for Counsellors: What It Actually Means, with Theo Ruby

If you’ve come across terms like E-E-A-T or YMYL recently and thought…“I feel like I should know what that means…”You’re definitely not alone.In this episode, I’m joined by Theo Ruby - someone I’ve worked with for years and regularly refer people to when they need help with the tech and SEO side of their website.We’re talking about what’s actually changing when it comes to Google… and why, for once, it’s actually good news for counsellors.What we cover in this episodeWe talk about:What E-E-A-T actually means (in plain English)What YMYL is and why counselling websites are treated differentlyWhy this isn’t about learning a whole new strategyHow to make small changes that can make a big differenceWhy your experience matters more than everHow to use AI without losing your voiceWhat Google is really looking for (and what it’s starting to ignore)Why this mattersThis isn’t about trying to “keep up with SEO.”It’s about something much simpler.👉 helping the right people find you👉 helping them recognise themselves in what you write👉 and making it easier for them to feel confident reaching outAnd actually…Most counsellors are already doing parts of this.It’s just about being a bit more intentional with it.A simple example we talk aboutInstead of writing:“Anxiety can be managed using…”You might say:“In my work with clients, I’ve found…”Same idea but now you’re showing:Your experienceYour understandingHow you actually workAnd that’s exactly the kind of thing Google is starting to prioritise.One key takeawayThis is the bit I really want you to take away:You don’t need to:Write moreSound more “professional”Or become an SEO expertYou just need to:👉 show more of what you already bring to your workHelpful linksTheo’s guide to E-E-A-T: EEAT for Therapists: A Practical Guide to E-E-A-T and YMYLJoin our FREE live workshop with myself and Theo on 14th May : Make Your Private Practice Website Stand Out OnlineAbout Theo RubyTheo Ruby has spent 8 years working exclusively with private practice owners across the UK. He helps therapists, counsellors, and hypnotherapists attract the right clients through SEO, website design, and digital marketing.Theo knows the mental health sector well. He understands why generic marketing advice rarely fits a private practice, and he builds his work around the specific needs of each practitioner. Having supported hundreds of practice owners, he brings grounded, practical experience to every project. His approach is clear, straightforward, and focused on results that matter. Find out more at theoruby.com.

April 30, 202613 min

The Website Mistakes That Are Costing You Clients as a Counsellor

There are a few things I see on counselling websites all the time.They’re not big, obvious mistakes. In fact, they’re usually things you’ve added because you’re trying to do things properly - be clear, professional, and helpful.But the way they show up can quietly change how your website feels to someone who’s already unsure about reaching out.And that small shift?It can be enough to make someone hesitate… or leave.In this episode, I’m talking through three of the most common things I see - the kind that don’t look like a problem on the surface, but can make your website feel heavier, more formal, or just a bit harder to connect with.If your counselling website isn’t bringing in as many enquiries as you’d expect, there’s a good chance one of these is sitting there.What we touch on:The kind of wording that can make your website feel more “official” than you intendedWhy timing matters just as much as what you sayA small shift that can change how safe your website feels to a potential clientMentioned in this episode:I’ve been exploring this idea a bit more here - how trying to say too much on your counselling website can actually get in the way:👉 Why your counselling website might be trying to do too muchIf this has you thinking about your own website…If it feels like something’s not quite landing , like you’re saying all the “right” things but it’s still not connecting - this is exactly what we work through inside Write Your Homepage.We take everything that’s currently a bit muddled and turn it into something clear. Clear enough that the right person lands on your page and thinks, ‘that’s me’.With love,Jane xx