Joe Sanok’s Inner Critic – with Emily Pagone | POP 1376

Podcast: Play in new window | Download | Embed

Subscribe: Spotify | Email | RSS | More

Is your sense of urgency actually helping you, or is it being driven by your inner critic? What happens when perfectionism becomes a way to hide pain instead of process it? As a business owner, how can you ensure you are spending your energy on the work you truly love?

In this reverse podcast episode, Emily Pagone and Joe Sanok discuss how Joe deals with his inner critic. 

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 Emily Pagone

Emily Pagone is a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC), trauma specialist, educator, and founder of Authentic Growth Wellness Group. She specializes in trauma-informed therapy, Internal Family Systems (IFS), EMDR, perinatal mental health, parenting support, and helping high-functioning individuals navigate anxiety, burnout, and inner criticism.

Emily is also the host of The Inner Critic Podcast, where she explores perfectionism, emotional healing, relationships, and personal growth through thoughtful conversations and clinical insight. Alongside her clinical work, she teaches psychology at the university level and leads workshops and educational initiatives focused on mental health and authentic living.

Visit the Inner Critic Website and connect with Emily on Facebook and Instagram.

Be mindful of blind urgency 

The sense of urgency and timeliness in the economy and working world is a byproduct of modernity. However, it did not exist in the way it does today previously in human history. 

But for many people, a sense of urgency is closely tied to their inner critics. They may shun themselves for being “slow” or tying a sense of success to doing them quickly, rather than taking time to do them. 

What we can say is what values does urgency give us? And what value does urgency take away from us? If I’m always feeling urgency, the people who are more introverted in my time, more thoughtful, who notice problems … They get steamrolled. (Joe Sanok)

So, you can ask yourself: “Do you value things getting done quickly? Or do I value deep thought and consideration?” 

While there may be a time when speed is more essential, it is important to be mindful when it is better to go slower and with more consideration, so as not to miss essential aspects.

By removing some of that urgency, which really is self-imposed, is saying, “You know what, I do want to create a thoughtful, deeper community here that isn’t based on the false value of urgency.” (Joe Sanok)

Noticing when the inner critic comes out

When Joe found himself to be an unexpected single dad, going through a divorce, all on the road during the COVID pandemic, he explains that his inner perfectionist came out in full force, and that it was the first sign of his inner critic coming to fruition. 

Now that I’m years out from that, I wanted my family and friends to see that I had my crap together, and that it wasn’t affecting me. That the pain, the anger, the hurt, all that wasn’t affecting me [when it was]. (Joe Sanok) 

Sometimes, while perfectionism can seem healthy and good on the outside, it stems from unhealed and untreated stress or fear on the inside. 

Now, in 2026, Joe can look back over the path that he came, and differentiate his growth from the habits he developed with his inner critic. 

Advice for business owners

To take back your passion for the work that needs to be done, and to hone in on what you can do best yourself, Joe wants you to ask yourself: 

• What do I love doing in my job that I can keep doing? 
• What do I hate doing in my job that I don’t necessarily have to do myself? 
• What can I hand off to someone I trust to get the job done?

That’s what I think the movement for most owners is, is saying in the day-to-day, “What do I hate doing and what can I hand off? What do I love doing and I shouldn’t be doing, and what do I love doing that I should be doing?” Really [itemizing] that love-hate list can be super helpful. (Joe Sanok)

Resources mentioned in this episode:

Work with us one-on-one!

Join the Practice Academy!

Sign up for Group Practice Boss!

Check out these additional resources:

• Building Great Lakes Online Counseling: Building a Remote Therapy Team | POP 1375
• 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.

Thanks For Listening!

  Feel free to leave a comment below or share the social media below!