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How might your work change if time freedom, not productivity, was the starting point? What if your private practice was designed around the life you want? What becomes possible when you stop practicing counseling the way you’re “supposed to” and start practicing it in alignment with your limits and values?
In this podcast episode, Joe Sanok discusses building the life you want with your private practice with Dr. Amanda Buduris.
Podcast Sponsor: Alma
As a clinician, you probably chose this field because you wanted to support people in navigating challenges and finding personal growth. But many mental health care providers end up spending almost as much time on billing, insurance, and other documentation as you do in sessions with clients.
That’s where Alma can help.
Alma supports clinicians in building rewarding private practices—with simplified insurance credentialing in under 45 days, enhanced reimbursement rates, and guaranteed two-week payback.
Plus, a free profile in their searchable, filterable directory—making it easy for clients who are the right fit for your practice to find you.
Learn more about how Alma could support you in building a thriving private practice at helloalma.com/joe.
Meet Dr. Amanda Buduris
Dr. Amanda Buduris is a licensed psychologist and trauma-informed therapist based in Seattle, Washington, who specialises in helping adults and couples heal from trauma, improve self-esteem, and build secure, connected relationships through evidence-based approaches like Brainspotting, EMDR, and Emotionally-Focused Couples Therapy. She offers both traditional and intensive therapy formats, working collaboratively with clients to create meaningful change that honours their authentic selves. In her private practice, Amanda emphasises deep, personalized work that meets clients where they are and supports lasting transformation. She also coaches other therapists on designing sustainable, values-aligned practices.
Visit Trauma Therapist Coach, PNW Psychological Wellness, and connect on Instagram.
In This Podcast
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Doing private practice your own way
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Structuring work around free time
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Raising rates
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How to level up in the therapy services you provide
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Dr. Amanda Buduris’ advice to private practitioners
Doing private practice your own way
Running intensives is a big part of how Dr. Buduris maintains her successful private practice, but it wasn’t always this way.
Initially, Amanda had structured her client sessions the same way that everyone else did; 45 to 60 minute sessions a few times a week.
When I started my private practice, I just did what everyone says you’re supposed to do, which is you meet with someone for 45 to 60 minutes, and that’s what you do day in and day out, and working with trauma and couples, we realized that there’s just not enough time in 60 minutes to really get any work done. (Dr. Amanda Buduris)
However, within the first six months, she and her clients found that they both enjoyed longer sessions, sometimes running over weekends, and that kickstarted her implementation of intensives in her counseling practice.
Therapy intensives really started to take off for me early in 2023, when my practice was less than a year old. (Dr. Amanda Buduris)
Structuring work around free time
Even before Amanda went into private practice, she always had the socially-encouraged feeling that life had to revolve around work.
But Amanda knew that she wanted something different, which is another reason why she started her own private practice in the first place.
She wanted time freedom and the ability to place her life at the core of her schedule, and have her work structured around it, rather than vice versa. This is where offering therapy intensives allowed her the chance to dive into that work/ life balance.
Now it feels like, I very intentionally, at the beginning of every year, set out how much time I want to take, and then it’s about figuring out how the work fits in that, as opposed to [the usual], “Where can I find the time to fit life in with my work?” (Dr. Amanda Buduris)
Now, Amanda plans her lifestyle first, and the work second.
Raising rates
For Amanda, when it comes to raising rates, she goes slowly. Ever year she assesses her finances and decides whether or not to raise them, according to the economy and her personal financial needs.
With her clients, she’ll go in batches, and will start with the ones of whom she has the better sense of their financial capabilities.
I’ll start with them, letting them know what my rate is going to be, and then that gives me the confidence of, those three people said, “Good!” Okay, so I can go to the next two people! … I was very intentional of doing it in this step-wise fashion. (Dr. Amanda Buduris)
How to level up in the therapy services you provide
In order to feel more comfortable with the work you do, and to feel more comfortable charging a higher rate for it, Amanda recommends that you:
- Pay attention to your personal limits and not to push yourself beyond them too often, unless it’s an emergency
- Reflect on the type of therapist you want to be
- Use systems that support you
Dr. Amanda Buduris’ advice to private practitioners
Building the practice that works for you helps you to build the life that works for you.
Sponsors Mentioned in this Episode:
Learn more about how Alma could support you in building a thriving private practice at helloalma.com/joe.
Work with us one-on-one!
Resources mentioned in this episode:
Visit Trauma Therapist Coach, PNW Psychological Wellness, and connect on Instagram.
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Check out these additional resources:
- Building Great Lakes Online Counseling: I Accidentally Spent $956 on LinkedIn! | POP 1344
- Practice of the Practice Network
- Group Practice Launch
- Group Practice Boss: www.practiceofthepractice.com/grouppracticeboss $149 a month
- PoP Group Practice Owners Facebook Group
- Free resources to help you start, grow, and scale
- Work with us
- Practice of the Practice Network
Meet Joe Sanok
Joe Sanok helps counselors to create thriving practices that are the envy of other counselors. He has helped counselors to grow their businesses by 50-500% and is proud of all the private practice owners who are growing their income, influence, and impact on the world. Click here to explore consulting with Joe.
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