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Have you been thinking about starting and offering intensives? How can you begin funnelling in clients? Why should you always bring in your own enthusiasm?
In this podcast episode, Andrew Burdette speaks about offering intensives with Stacey Curnow.
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Meet Stacey Curnow
Stacey Curnow is a Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor, the founder of Asheville Family Counseling, and the creator of “Repair Your Relationships,” both the book and Counseling Intensive. She specializes in helping people heal attachment trauma and enjoy more connection and happiness in their most important relationships. To find out more about Stacey’s book, click here. For details about her Counseling Intensive, click here.
Visit Asheville Family Counseling and find out more about The “Repair Your Relationships” Counseling Intensive. Connect on Facebook and LinkedIn.
In This Podcast
- Bringing clients into intensives
- The nuts and bolts of crafting a group program
- Why you should consider offering intensives
- “Build the plane as you’re flying it”
Bringing clients into intensives
To bring folks into her intensives, Stacey has begun a funnel system from her group sessions and group work into her intensives. Clients can then get used to the dynamic within group work sessions so that an intensive doesn’t seem like a step that’s too far or new to take.
They very much complement each other. As I’m seeing it right now, the couples group is more of a funnel into the intensive, rather than the other way. (Stacey Curnow)
Additionally, Stacey always says that there are “many paths to healing” so that her clients know that they can find ways that best suit them and that guide them forward into the next phase, whether that’s one-on-one counseling, working in a group, or trying an intensive.
I love [having] the many different offerings so that they are empowered to choose what’s best for them. (Stacey Curnow)
The nuts and bolts of crafting a group program
As in Stacey’s case, the group programs are often longer than the intensives and they can funnel clients into the intensives as a “next step”, but it would mean that you need a good group program if you want to try offering this route yourself.
For me, it was really just drawing from what I had learned in my group counseling class … I created the group so that it meets once a week for two hours over twelve weeks, and I do think as far as creating … For me, I think you should have a methodology. (Stacey Curnow)
For the listeners, Stacey recommends that you consider having a methodology or a curriculum that you and the group move through together and that they have access to prior to the sessions.
Why you should consider offering intensives
One of the main reasons that I created the intensive is because I felt frustrated by how slow it was to get to this tipping point where they were actually able to engage, right? The idea is that we should be teaching our clients how to fish! (Stacey Curnow)
You know the story of giving a man a fish, he’ll eat for a day, but if you teach a man to fish then he’ll eat for life? That’s the example that Stacey uses with counseling and therapy, and that clients get fish in session, but at the end of the day, they need to learn to fish for themselves, and intensives provide that hands-on practice experience.
Offering intensives is a powerful way to get clients to practice with the knowledge that you give them so that they don’t have to always depend on you to receive it, which empowers them to begin making genuine changes in their own lives, through their own efforts.
“Build the plane as you’re flying it”
Don’t keep yourself out of trying this if you’re interested just because things aren’t fully set up yet!
The cost of entry is low, so start a group and even take insurance for it if you’d like, and then develop a funnel into an intensive.
You’re a counselor. You know how to hold space for clients, and people want this … They love it … They make it their own, and they’re transformed in that process. (Stacey Curnow)
Books mentioned in this episode:
Stacey Curnow – Repair Your Relationships: Reset, Reconnect, and Enjoy Your Most Important Relationships James J. Sexton – If You’re In My Office, It’s Already Too Late: A Divorce Lawyer’s Guide to Staying Together
Useful links mentioned in this episode:
- Visit Asheville Family Counseling and find out more about The “Repair Your Relationships” Counseling Intensive. Connect on Facebook and LinkedIn.
- Trust me, don’t waste any more of your time, and try TherapyNotes.
Check out these additional resources:
- Kids and Family Considerations with Jill Williams | GP 216
- 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 Andrew Burdette
Andrew founded Mindful Counseling PLLC in Asheville, NC shortly after completing his graduate program in clinical mental health counseling. At the start of the pandemic, he pivoted to an online solo practice, and in 2022, began to grow a group practice. He most enjoys helping clients and colleagues identify what ignites their passions and assisting them in creating a life rooted in authenticity. Andrew approaches his business development with alignment in mind and enjoys the integration process connecting the many puzzle pieces and systems required to run a successful practice.
Visit Andrew’s website and Apply to work with him.
Email him at [email protected]
