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What would change if your income weren’t tied only to the hours you worked? Are you intentionally building a practice that supports your life? How can your expertise continue helping people beyond the therapy room?
In this podcast episode, Joe Sanok discusses how to make your practice fit your life with Dr. Marie Fang.
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. Marie Fang
Dr. Marie Fang is a licensed psychologist, entrepreneur, and the founder of Private Practice Skills, a platform dedicated to helping therapists build sustainable and values-aligned private practices. Through her courses, podcast appearances, YouTube content, and educational resources, she teaches clinicians how to diversify income streams, grow engaged audiences, and create businesses that support both their professional goals and personal lives.
Visit Private Practice Skills and connect on Instagram and YouTube.
In This Podcast
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Unwinding your time from your money
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How to build an income outside of the therapy room
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How to create and maintain successful email lists
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Dr. Marie Fang’s advice to private practitioners
Unwinding your time from your money
That one-on-one exchange, of, “I sit with you here for an hour, and then I get paid for that hour, if I’m sick or anything … and I’m not there for that hour, I don’t get paid.” I realized that if I wanted to have flexibility, I had to have a different way of getting paid. (Dr. Marie Fang)
While Marie loves seeing her clients and still cares deeply about providing therapy herself for the community, she also knew that she had to find another way of earning an income that wasn’t tied to how many hours she’d worked.
As a mother and business owner, Marie found herself thinking about new ways to generate revenue without having to work wall-to-wall hours.
Now, she has set up diversified streams of income that allow her to continue earning money and bringing in revenue without having to sit for hours in the chair.
A lot of it is steadied by sponsorships and affiliate sales, and then just ongoing SEO … People are visiting my website even though I haven’t touched it, and maybe they’re buying courses or clicking on different links … So there’s stuff that carries on based on the things I’ve worked on. (Dr. Marie Fang)
How to build an income outside of the therapy room
If you’re interested in diversifying your income streams beyond the counseling chair, Dr. Marie’s advice to you is: Dream big, and start small!
I always say, “Start small … Dream big, but start small!” How do we make that into the baby steps? If it is that you’re an expert on couples and whatever your special thing is, your special sauce … It doesn’t have to be fancy. It could even be an e-book, or something that you could do … and put it out there. (Dr. Marie Fang)
Are you noticing any of the following patterns:
- The same or similar questions are being asked by your clients
- You find yourself repeating the same important phrase or lesson over and over again
- Your clients get stuck on the same problem in their healing journeys
These are all signs that your clients are all battling similar issues, and that there is a big need for the solution that you could offer in the form of that tailored product or service.
These are ways for you to add value to them outside the therapy room.
How to create and maintain successful email lists
Dr. Marie has shared that her email lists have more engagement than her social media or podcasts – they are a powerful marketing and client-connection tool!
People are reading my emails way more than they’re watching my videos … So I think of it that way, that that’s my primary platform, and I try to see it as special: they subscribed, they gave me their email … I have to be trustworthy with it … So I add some personal touch. You’re not just getting the rehashed version of what I shared in my video this week. (Dr. Marie Fang)
When you make an offering, offer it in a way that clients sign up with their email to receive it, and that allows you to build the email list. However, as Marie explains, treat it carefully. Avoid sending them too many emails, as it may cause them to unsubscribe.
Make sure to offer them exclusive content, or new versions of your content, so that they feel glad to be on the email list, and stay there.
Dr. Marie Fang’s advice to private practitioners
Build something that is in alignment with who you are and how you want to live.
I hope folks are building something that feels like it aligns with their life or their values, something that feels like, “What would I most enjoy or feel whole doing?” and make sure that the private practice fits the holistic life that you want to build. (Dr. Marie Fang)
In the same way that you make your life your own, make your practice your own too. From your branding and messaging to business style, tailor everything to suit you and your ideal clients to bring you both together in the work that means the most to you.
Resources mentioned in this episode:
Visit Private Practice Skills and connect on Instagram and YouTube.
Work with us one-on-one!
Sign up for Group Practice Boss!
Check out these additional resources:
- Building Great Lakes Online Counseling: Interviews, Google Workspace, and References | POP 1373
- 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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