Productive Therapist Podcast

Have you ever felt allergic to networking events?  Allergic to being “the brand,” or just plain overwhelmed by the loud, shiny world of online business… you're gonna want to hear this one.

Let's be real - most therapists were trained to be the calm in the storm. Stay grounded. Stay humble. Stay in your neatly labeled little lane.

What if the structure of your group practice is actually holding you back? The hierarchy. The unspoken rules. The way you've always done things. It might be time to shake it up. In this episode, I talk with therapist, consultant, and unicorn-in-human-form Sarah Buino about the dysfunction that shows up behind the scenes in group practices — and what to do about it. Sarah runs Group Practice Revolution, a bold new platform that supports both practice owners and employees.  She's on a mission to rebuild group practice culture from the ground up — with more transparency, collaboration, and heart. We dig into the real issues: power struggles, trust breakdowns, and why doing your own inner work isn't optional if you want to lead well. Whether you're a seasoned owner or just starting your group practice journey, this conversation will stretch your thinking — and maybe even spark your own mini-revolution. To find out more about Sarah and the work she's doing, check out the following links: https://grouppracticerevolution.com/ https://www.headheartbiztherapy.com/

Consent isn't just paperwork. It's protection, prevention, and partnership. You might be surprised to hear this, but informed consent is your #1 risk management tool. It's also an underrated way to provide better care to your clients. This is your invitation to revisit your informed consent process. Maybe even rethink the way you're using it in your practice. What happens when a social worker turned lawyer teams up with a clinical psychologist? Listen to this episode to find out. Clinical experts Dr. Karen Pavlidis and Fran Schopick from The Working Alliance share powerful insights on creating consent processes that are intentional, relational, and legally sound. Whether you're a solo therapist or leading a group practice, this conversation will change the way you think about consent—and help you sleep better at night. You'll learn: Why consent is more than a signature—it's the foundation for trust, boundaries, and safer client relationshipsHow transparent onboarding and over-communication can protect your practice and prevent future rupturesHow ongoing consent conversations support clarity and safety when working with teens, families, or in high-conflict cases Visit https://theworkingalliance.com/ to learn more and use coupon code PTFANS25 to get 25% off their document package.

Sometimes, strangers from the internet make the best business besties. Sounds weird, but it's true. Growing a private practice can be super lonely. And super hard. But the right community? It can make all the difference. Like the old saying goes: “If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.” That's exactly what I talked about with my friends Christy Pennison and Stephanie Korpal from The Practice Collab. In this episode, we dive into the power of community, collaboration, and accountability for practice owners—and why you don't have to figure it all out on your own. We cover: How authentic relationships can fuel your business growthPractical tips for finding your people—online and IRLWhy advice from people who get it beats anonymous internet threads every time Oh—and there were plenty of laughs mixed in with the strategy. Hope you enjoy this one!

What if you could replace ALL your marketing with a single story? And grow your practice with less effort. Yes, please. Sign me up. If that sounds awesome and almost too good to be true, give this episode a listen. I interviewed Kris Jones, a storytelling expert who turns expertise into sales success.  She has a background working with major brands like Adidas, Nike and Guinness. She was also hand selected for mentorship by StoryBrand's Donald Miller.  Kris explains how a single, compelling story can transform your marketing efforts and significantly increase your revenue.  And she shares her proven story selling system that helps businesses scale effectively without the need for endless content. Don't miss this one. Hope you enjoy the episode! Find out more about Kris Jones and her services at Red Door. And of course, check out the amazing resources over at productivetherapist.com.

This is one of my favorite frameworks. The 3 keys to productivity EliminationAutomationDelegation I've been talking about this for years. All the way back to episode 10 of the Productive Therapist Podcast!  But now it's 2025 and I have an update. The 3 keys . . . powered by AI.

You're a caring therapist and you love connecting people to helpful resources. Especially counseling services that can change their lives. Me too! In this episode I break down an almost perfect intake call that I did a few years back. Grab our FREE resource, the Magic Call Script to learn the exact words to say to turn more callers into happy therapy clients. Also, text a friend or colleague and tell them about the Productive Therapist Podcast!

Fake it until you make it. Not great advice when it comes to business finances. For many years, I was just winging it. Using my undeveloped instincts to make financial decisions. Oh boy! That is until I built my money team and gained the financial knowledge I needed. It has made all the difference in the world. In this episode I interview Carla Titus, the CEO of Wealth & Worth Within. Our conversation was both fun and informative. Here are the 4 things you will learn: Understanding gross margins and net profitEffective compensation structures for group practicesHow accountability drives profitabilityHow a CFO can help you grow your business Visit Carla's website to learn more and sign up for her email newsletter.

Working with a virtual assistant can be a huge hassle. Or it can change your life. Listen to this episode to avoid the most common mistakes and find success working with a virtual assistant. Also, learn how Uriah used Notebook LM to create this engaging podcast episode from his online course, The Virtual Advantage.

An effective follow-up process will absolutely increase your conversion rates! People are busy and life is full. Also, many people are somewhat ambivalent about starting therapy. Your consistent helpful follow-up might be just the nudge they need to follow through on getting help. This episode provides some simple tips to improve your follow-up process. For access to our full course on streamlining your intake process, check out Intake Accelerator.

At Productive Therapist our virtual assistant team turns calls & clicks into clients. Every single day. Therapists want to know how we do it. We get asked all the time for our secret sauce. Here's the thing. Creating a great first impression is vital. A potential client's first interaction with your practice is key to helping them know, like and trust you. A good call script is an important first step in optimizing your intake process. In this episode Uriah breaks down the 7 elements of the Magic Call Script and explains the intention and importance of each one. It's a short listen, but a good one! Download our Magic Call Script HERE.

You should fire your intake coordinator. Here me out. I found a way that you can save money and still provide great client care. No, I'm not talking about replacing a human with artificial intelligence. Something a bit more unexpected. Empowering your clinicians to do their own consultation calls. For many practices this would be a huge change. But, you might be surprised how well it could work out for you. In this episode I talk with John Clarke about his recent experiments with changing up his intake processes. Removing the need for an intake coordinator. Completely revamping the client journey and seeing some positive results. John has a group practice in San Francisco and has also been a business consultant for therapists for many years. I always enjoy talking to him and learning from his insights. Top 3 thing you will learn: How to increase your conversion ratesWhile saving money by replacing your intake coordinatorAnd empowering your clinicians to do their own initial consults A Few Links: Magic Call ScriptCalm Again CounselingPrivate Practice Workshop

You are losing potential clients by responding too slow. Uh-oh! If it was humanly possibly . . . You and I both would answer every single call on the spot. We would respond to absolutely every email and text within minutes. Of course that's not super realistic. Still, there are some great ways to increase your response time to new inquiries. In this episode we share tips for solo practices and group practices. If you want to grow your practice with more happy clients, don't miss this episode. Top 3 things you will learn: The impact of outstanding client care3 quick response tips for solo practices3 quick response tips for group practices A few quotes: "The first person that they actually speak to, is likely to be the practice that they go with." "It takes so much courage for someone to pick up the phone for the first time and call a therapy practice. You want them to feel like they're seen and heard as a human being." A few links: Well ReceivedIntake AcceleratorThe Power of Online Scheduling14 Qualities of a Great Intake CoordinatorQuiz - Are you ready for an intake coordinator?

You want to grow your practice in 2025. Here are the 3 best ways. Enjoy your work moreEngage in communityInvest in support services Listen to the episode for details on each option. Need help? Reach out to us at support@productivetherapist.com

You want more clients. You also want your website to work for you 24 hours a day. Good news. You can have both of those things! In this episode, Uriah Guilford and Luci Carrillo share some valuable tips that you can apply to your website today. You will learn how to get more clients from your therapy website by creating: Clear messagingClear call to actionClear next steps for new clients A Few Links: Intake AcceleratorInTune Family Counseling

Are you using the best software for your intake process? The ultimate goal is to create a seamless intake experience. To effortlessly guide your potential client from first contact to first session. The answer: Choose the best tools and using them effectively. This will help you turn more calls and clicks into clients. Something every therapist wants! Enjoy this episode with Uriah Guilford, the Head Nerd and Luci Carrillo, the Director of British Accents.

Growing a private practice can be a thrilling and scary adventure. Every adventure needs a hero - and the hero for this adventure is you! What are the four key stages of private practice? How can you reach your full potential in each stage? Join me, Uriah Guilford, as I share with you how to be the hero of your story! Click to listen now!

Ready to dive into the world of group practice scaling?  This week's guest is Nicole McCance. She's a retired psychologist turned business coach, shares her transformative journey from growing a thriving group practice in Toronto to coaching therapists on how to scale to seven-figures. Nicole provides insights into her 5-step scaling method. Simple, yet profound. We explore her passion for empowering therapists, discuss the challenges of scaling, as well as some tips on making it a smoother journey. Join us as Nicole imparts valuable advice on building successful group practices and the importance of aligning business efforts with personal strengths. Whether you're a seasoned group practice owner or just getting started, this episode offers practical tips to scale your practice. Top 3 takeaways: Nicole's 5 step scaling methodHow to work less and make more moneyThe challenges and opportunities of group practice ownership Snappy Quotes: The team will set you free.Consistency is the key to success. A Few Links: Nicole's InstagramNicole's Facebook groupFree MasterclassWant Expand Your Practice Starter Kit Special Bonus: Use this link to sign up for Jane and get one free month! Just use the coupon code mccance1mo.

Many practice owners struggle with marketing their practice. What are some simple ways to market your practice effectively? Join me, Uriah Guilford, as I share with you some simple tips for optimizing your marketing. Click to listen now!

AI notetaking and copywriting tools, like ChatGPT, can revolutionize the clinical admin side of your practice. What are some factors to bear in mind when using AI tools like this? How can you use AI tools to streamline and supercharge your processes? Join me, Uriah Guilford, and my friend and AI genius, Kym Tolson, as we explore this fascinating topic. Click to listen now!

Having your practice's procedures and policies organized and easily accessible is vital to scaling your practice in a healthy way. It's also vital to being able to take a real vacation! Are you finding yourself drowning under mountains of documents?  Or are you just not sure where to start with creating a knowledge base for your practice? I'm super excited to share with you the life-changing tool we use at Productive Therapist to create a simple, solid company knowledge base! Join me, Uriah Guilford, as I chat with Mike Bandar of Waybook about this brilliant tool for scaling your practice.  Click to listen now!

Do you dream of taking a vacation and not having to worry about your practice? Join me, Uriah Guilford, as I share the simple (and not-so-simple!) secrets to being able to vacate your mind while on vacation!

Do you want to give your intake person the tools they need match your clinicians with the ideal potential clients? Therapy Intake Pro is the gold standard training for intake coordinators. It's stuffed to the gills with comprehensive training on all aspects of the intake process. In this special episode, we share you with you just one of those in-depth trainings. Share it with your intake person and empower them to get your clients matched to help they really need. If you enjoy the training, you can check out the rest of Therapy Intake Pro at TherapyIntakePro.com Click to listen now!

Intakes are the lifeblood of any practice. How can you optimize your intake process so you convert more callers into clients? Join me, Uriah Guilford, and my Director of Sales & Marketing, Luci, as we share some simple tips for streamlining and supercharging your intakes. Click to listen now!

Tracking KPIs, metrics, and data is not the most exciting part of being a practice owner! But having easy access to this information can give you huge advantages as you grow your practice. Is there an easy way to track the data you need? Find out as I chat with the founder of PracticeVital, Tory Krone, about how to automate this vital part of your practice. Click to listen now!

Phone tag can be so frustrating! It can seem impossible to get a potential client back on the phone once they're reached out to your practice. Are there any simple, proven strategies for improving or even eliminating phone tag? Join me, Uriah Guilford, as I share with you the strategies that we've found consistently work. Click to listen now!

AI is here; there's no escaping it. So how can you use the different forms of AI to support your practice? Join me, Uriah Guilford, as I chat with Claude AI enthusiast Gabrielle Juliano-Villani about how she uses this AI software in her practice. Click to listen now!

An amazing practice manager is an essential part of a stable group practice.  What do you look for in a great practice manager? If you're a practice manager, what can you do to support your practice and practice owner even better? Join us for part of this special panel discussion between Whitney Owens, Lindsay Keisman, Jaclyn Fortier, Uriah Guilford, and Luci Carrillo. To access the full panel discussion, check out Practice Manager Pro at GroupPracticeMadeSimple.com Click to listen now!

As a business owner, knowing how to organize your taxes can be vital to the continued health and growth of your practice. Could you do with a few good financial pointers, tailored to therapy practices? Me too! Join me in as chat with my good friend, David Frank from Turning Point HQ, as he shares some super-helpful tips you can use today. Click to listen now!

You became a therapist for a purpose: to help people. But often the pressures of running and growing a business, combined with the necessarily business of life, can lead to exhaustion and burnout. How can you grow your business in a healthy way and avoid burnout? Join me, Uriah Guilford, as I chat with former Productive Therapist member, Jamal Jones, about practical ways you can become a purpose-driven therapist. Click to listen now!

You became a therapist for a purpose: to help people. But often the pressures of running and growing a business, combined with the necessarily business of life, can lead to exhaustion and burnout. How can you grow your business in a healthy way and avoid burnout? Join me, Uriah Guilford, as I chat with former Productive Therapist member, Jamal Jones, about practical ways you can become a purpose-driven therapist. Click to listen now!

How can you stand out in a crowded market? Join me, Uriah Guilford, as I share with you three simple ways to stand out from the crowd. Click to listen now!

Growing a practice can be challenging. Growing a practice while dealing with ADHD brings its own unique challenges. What are some of the challenges for practice owners living with ADHD? How can you work WITH your ADHD to achieve your goals? Join me, Uriah Guilford, as I chat with neuro-spicy therapist and consultant, Amber Hawley, as we share some tips and tools for ADHD practice owners. Click to listen now!

Many practice owners and therapists would like to improve in their community marketing skills. How can you spread the word in your community? How can you gather great quality community referrals? Join me, Uriah Guilford, and my guest, David Steinberg, as we break down this topic and share some simple tips with you. Click to listen now!

Many practice owners are confused with their marketing. And understandably! As therapists, we went to school for therapy, not for marketing or business development! The power of story to revolutionize your marketing cannot be overestimated. How can you cut through the confusion and make your marketing work? How can you use the power of story to attract your ideal clients? Join me, Uriah Guilford, and my guest, Brent Stutzman, as we explore the power of story and the Storybrand framework to simplify your marketing. Click to listen now!

As a business owner, overcoming self-doubt can be an ongoing challenge. How can you live your life with unwavering confidence and achieve your goals? Join me, Uriah Guilford, and my friend, Kasey Compton, as we take a deep dive into the lessons she's learned in her life and businesses that can also help you. Click to listen now!

Every practice owner wants to make sure no potential client falls through the cracks and that everyone gets connected with the help they need. Is there any software that can automate this for you? What is a CRM (Customer Relationship Manager)? How can you use a CRM to help you grow your practice? Join me, Uriah Guilford, and the founder of PracticeAxis, Berit Elizabeth, as we take a deep dive into this fascinating topic. Click to listen now!

Being a therapist can be incredibly rewarding. It can also be exhausting and difficult to sustain. How can you identify and avoid burnout? How can you improve your feelings of wellbeing? And how can you achieve the work-life balance that works for you? Join me, Uriah Guilford, and my guest, Dr Connor McClenahan of Here Counseling, as we discuss the answers and simple solutions to these vital questions. Click to listen now!

Practice managers can often be the superheroes of a practice! But more often than not, practice managers learn 'on the job.' How can you empower your practice manager to bring their A-game to your practice? If you're a practice manager, how can you level up your skills to help your practice grow and thrive? Join Luci Carrillo & Jamie Mache as they share with you an amazing resource specifically for practice managers. Click to listen now!

Helping potential clients find your practice and want to work with you is an ongoing challenge for therapy practices. How can you identify and dismantle your own obstacles? How can you market yourself in authentic, congruent, compelling ways? Join me, Uriah Guilford, as I chat with Jenn Fredette of A Thinker's Guide about depth marketing for therapists. Click to listen now!

Is it possible to use machine learning to find patterns in mental health care? What is the connection between mental health care and AI? And how can you use this powerful tool to help even more clients? Join me, Uriah Guilford, as I chat with Christine Li of Mentaya about this fascinating topic. Click to listen now!

No one likes to think about a sudden, lifechanging event. But if the unexpected DID happen, are you prepared? Would you business be able to continue without you? How can you prepare your personal, business, and business continuance for a sudden change? Join me, Uriah Guilford, and my guest, Mary Beth Simon, as we discuss this uncomfortable but vital topic. Click to listen now!

Working with an executive assistant can be a game-changer for a business owner. How do you know when you need an executive assistant?

Many group practices offer clinical supervision for prelicensed therapists. What is the secret to being a great clinical supervisor?

Enjoy my short interview with the stellar Desiree Vargas who was a speaker at the 2023 Wise Practice Summit in Savannah, Georgia. Find out more about our products, programs and services at productivetherapist.com.

Enjoy my short interview with the super rad Roma Williams who was a speaker at the 2023 Wise Practice Summit in Savannah, Georgia. Find out more about our products, programs and services at productivetherapist.com.

Enjoy my short interview with the awesome Chris Thayer who was a speaker at the 2023 Wise Practice Summit in Savannah, Georgia. Find out more about our products, programs and services at productivetherapist.com.

Enjoy my short interview with the intriguing Joshua Brummel from Therapy Flow who was a speaker at the 2023 Wise Practice Summit in Savannah, Georgia. Find out more about our products, programs and services at productivetherapist.com.

Enjoy my short interview with the outstanding Whitney Owens, the creator and mastermind behind the 2023 Wise Practice Summit in Savannah, Georgia. Find out more about our products, programs and services at productivetherapist.com.

Enjoy my short interview with the amazing Laura Long who was a speaker at the 2023 Wise Practice Summit in Savannah, Georgia. Find out more about our products, programs and services at productivetherapist.com.