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You're fully booked. The money is coming in. So why does your bank account still feel stressed? If you've ever thought, "I'm working this hard. Shouldn't I have more to show for it?" this episode is for you. I'm bringing back this conversation with CPA and cash flow strategist Emily Bowie because she and her colleague Andrea are joining us LIVE on October 15th at 11 AM Mountain Time for a special training on cash flow for therapists! In this episode, we're talking about why even successful private practices can struggle financially—and what it really takes to build a practice that's profitable, sustainable, and supportive of your life. In This Episode, You'll Learn: Why earning more doesn't necessarily mean keeping more The financial blind spots that can quietly undermine your practice's profitability How taxes and overlooked expenses can create unexpected cash flow problems Why understanding your financial statements is essential, even if you have an accountant What it takes to create a financially healthy practice that supports you, too Want to take the next step? Join us October 15th at 11 AM MT! Emily and Andrea are leading a live cash flow training specifically for therapists, and I'd love to see you there. Register for $59 — Includes the replay if you can't attend live. Join the Growth Collective for Therapists for $49/month — Get this training plus ongoing professional development, resources, and support. Cancel anytime! Because you deserve a practice that doesn't just look successful. You deserve one that actually supports the life you're working so hard to build. Xoxo, Dr. Lisa Marie Bobby Growing Self

What if the therapy meant to help your client heal is actually helping destroy a relationship that could have been repaired? It’s an uncomfortable question. And therapists need to talk about it. Dr. David Rosmarin, Harvard Medical School professor, psychologist, and author of Thriving with Anxiety, joins me for a provocative conversation about family estrangement, our profession’s relational blind spots, and what can happen when empathy, validation, “boundaries,” and one-sided information quietly become a recipe for cutoff. Because sometimes a “toxic” parent is genuinely dangerous. And sometimes they’re a flawed human being in a painful, messy relationship. Knowing the difference matters. You’ll learn: Why good therapists can accidentally reinforce family estrangement When validation stops helping and starts fueling the problem Why normal relationship distress can get mistaken for dysfunction How to distinguish gaslighting from ordinary relational conflict How to validate your client without making repair harder If you work with clients who talk about toxic parents, narcissists, gaslighting, boundaries, or cutting people off, you need to hear this conversation. And if you want thoughtful consultation and support for navigating complex cases like these, learn more about the Therapist Growth Collective. You don’t have to do it alone. Xoxo, Dr. Lisa Marie Bobby Growing Self

Can a therapist be a life coach? Absolutely. But there’s something I desperately want therapists to understand before they start coaching: Coaching may be unregulated. You are not. If you think calling your work “coaching” means the rules of being a therapist no longer apply, please listen to this episode. I’m a psychologist, LMFT, clinical supervisor, and Board Certified Coach. And somehow, I made it through two graduate programs without anyone teaching me about coaching psychology. When I finally discovered it, I realized just how much I didn’t know. Because coaching is not therapy with a different label. And if you’re a therapist who coaches, there are ethical and professional lines you can cross without even realizing they’re there.  You’ll learn: Why calling it “coaching” doesn’t necessarily protect you The biggest mistake therapists make when they start coaching Why your license and professional obligations follow you into coaching Why being an excellent therapist doesn’t automatically make you a competent coach How training, credentialing, informed consent, and documentation can help you build a more defensible coaching practice And I want to be clear: I’m not trying to scare you away from coaching. Quite the opposite. Learning how to coach changed the way I work. I believe coaching can open an incredible new chapter for therapists who want to help growth-oriented clients, expand their skills, and create a more energizing, sustainable career. But we need to do it right. If you’re coaching already, or even thinking about it, listen to this before you take another coaching client. Want to learn more? Join me for a casual (and free) conversation for therapists exploring professional coaching. Xoxo, Dr. Lisa Marie Bobby Growing Self

You built the practice. Clients came. You were good at what you did. And then suddenly… nothing worked anymore. The decisions got bigger. The problems got messier. You started second-guessing yourself. And somewhere in the back of your mind came the terrifying thought: Maybe I’m just not cut out for this. You’re not imagining it. There is a ceiling—and almost nobody warns therapists that it’s coming. In this episode, I’m talking with business strategist, CPA, and Planning to Scale author Courtney De Ronde about the moment your clinical instincts stop being enough to run a growing business (and what has to replace them). I know this feeling personally. I built a 60-person practice and still reached a point where I wanted to give up. Getting business coaching changed the way I understood the problem. Because sometimes the problem isn’t you. You’ve simply reached the edge of what instinct can do. You’ll learn: Why successful therapists can suddenly feel completely incompetent as business owners The hidden identity shift that happens when you become a leader Why hiring more people can actually make your problems worse The business skills therapists were never taught (and why they matter as you grow) How to know what your business can actually handle before you take the next step If running your practice has gotten harder instead of easier, listen to this before you decide you’re the problem. Xoxo, Dr. Lisa Marie Bobby Growing Self

What if one of your clients was trying to tell you she was gay… and neither of you knew it yet? Women are coming out as lesbians in their 40s, 50s, and beyond…and some are finding other women safer to talk to than their therapists. Not because their therapists are homophobic. Because even well-intentioned, LGBTQ-affirming clinicians can completely misunderstand what’s happening. In this episode, psychotherapist Miriam Grace (who came out herself just before 50) reveals what therapists can get dangerously wrong when a woman begins questioning her sexuality in midlife. We’re talking menopause. Marriage. Grief. Identity. Minority stress. And the surprisingly harmful thing therapists can do when we’re desperate to help a client “figure it out.” You’ll learn: Why a “midlife crisis” may actually be a midlife reckoning How menopause can collide with identity, sexuality, and long-suppressed needs The subtle mistake that can make an affirming therapist feel unsafe Why trying to “figure out” a client’s sexuality can actually increase pressure How your need for certainty can get in the way of good therapy How to help a client navigate coming out, grief, and identity when she doesn’t know the answer yet And then Miriam says something I did not expect: You may not need another certification. You may need to stop needing the answer. If you work with adult women, this is one of those episodes that may make you think back to a former client and wonder: Oh no. Did I miss this? Because sometimes the most affirming thing we can do isn’t help a client find the answer. It’s become a safe enough place for her to discover it herself. Xoxo, Dr. Lisa Marie Bobby Growing Self

Some of the most damaging experiences clients have in therapy happen with therapists who genuinely wanted to help them…. But wound up harming them. Because they didn’t know what they didn’t know.  Sit with that one for a second. I was talking with psychologist Dr. Brianna Ector at APA 2026 when she told me how often clients come to her after being traumatized by kind, well-intentioned therapists who simply weren't competent to work with the issues or populations in front of them. I stopped her. “Wait. We need to record this.” Because every therapist needs to hear what she said next. Your scope of practice doesn't announce itself with flashing red lights. And sometimes, the most ethical answer isn't simply to refer out. It's to get competent. In this episode, you'll learn: How well-meaning therapists can unintentionally harm clients How to recognize when you've reached the edge of your competence When to refer (and when to expand your skills instead) The scope-of-practice mistake therapists make when working with couples How to refer without making a client feel rejected or stigmatized Why humility and continuing education are essential to ethical practice You don't need to know everything. You do need to know when you don't know enough. If you've ever wondered, “Am I actually qualified to help this person?” — this episode is for you. Xoxo, Dr. Lisa Marie Bobby Growing Self

Content advisory: This episode discusses sexual violence and homicide. What if your client told you exactly what was happening and you didn’t recognize the danger? A client describes choking. Pain. Humiliation. Control. And suddenly you’re wondering: Is this consensual kink… or abuse? Being a kink aware therapist requires more than being affirming and nonjudgmental. You also need to recognize coercion. And that distinction can be frighteningly subtle. In this live conversation from the APA Convention, I’m sitting down with forensic researcher, trainer, and consultant AJ Greer, whose work focuses on sexual violence, domestic violence, sexual sadism, psychopathy, and extreme offending. The big takeaway? The difference isn’t necessarily the behavior. It’s consent. And coercion can make genuine consent impossible. Listen to learn: How to distinguish consensual kink from abuse The subtle signs of coercive control therapists can miss Why strangulation should raise serious concerns How boundary-pushing can hide behind plausible deniability The questions that can reveal whether someone could safely say no Why being kink-affirming is important, but isn’t enough If this is a distinction you’re not completely confident you could make, this is a conversation worth hearing. Xoxo, Dr. Lisa Marie Bobby Growing Self

Think you can tell how your client is doing just by looking at them? Think again. What if one of your biggest clinical blind spots is sitting right in front of you and you don’t even know you’re looking at it? You’ve probably done serious work around bias. Race. Gender. Class. Ability. Culture. But have you ever deliberately examined the way a client’s face, body, clothes, grooming, attractiveness, even how “put together” they look changes what you assume about them? Because it does. And here’s the part that should make every therapist sit up a little straighter: The client who looks like they’re doing great may be the client you’re most likely to underestimate. In this special Live From APA conversation, I sit down with clinical psychologist Dr. Allycin Powell-Hicks, author of The Problem with Pretty: Beauty, Bias and the Surprising Science of Good Looks, to talk about a form of implicit bias hiding in plain sight: appearance bias in therapy. But this conversation isn't really about beauty. It’s about assessment. Judgment. Attention. And the frightening ease with which “what I see” can quietly become “what I believe.” In this episode you’ll learn: The hidden appearance bias most therapists have never examined Why “she looks fine” can be a dangerous assumption Which clients may be easier to underestimate than you realize What to pay attention to instead of what your eyes are telling you If you consider yourself a thoughtful, culturally responsive, bias-aware therapist, this episode may challenge you most. Xoxo, Dr. Lisa Marie Bobby Growing Self

Do you work with domestic violence or intimate partner violence survivors? Then what just happened at the APA Council could eventually impact you and your clients. I sat down live at APA 2026 with Dr. Shannon Goecke-Watson, PsyD, LP, Minnesota’s representative to the APA Council of Representatives and Chair of the APA Rural Health Caucus, to find out what actually happens inside APA Council. And honestly? I didn’t realize how much influence these psychologists have. Think of APA Council representatives almost like the state representatives of psychology. They debate and vote on policy, work with APA’s advocacy office, and even go to Capitol Hill to meet with members of the House and Senate. Shannon just helped move forward an APA resolution addressing intimate partner violence and gender-based violence, created in collaboration with APA advocacy to support work around the Violence Against Women Act. You’ll hear: What actually happens at APA Council How APA resolutions can make their way from psychologists to Capitol Hill What Shannon and other APA representatives discuss with members of Congress The new IPV and gender-based violence resolution Shannon helped advance Why therapists may have more power to influence public policy than we realize What clinicians still need to understand about domestic violence, IPV, and competent care This is how psychology moves beyond the therapy room and starts changing systems. Xoxo, Dr. Lisa Marie Bobby Growing Self  If you or someone you’re working with needs immediate support: National Domestic Violence Hotline, 1-800-799-7233, or text START to 88788.

Ever had a dream client vanish the second you said, “I don’t take insurance”?  In this rerun episode of Love, Happiness, and Success for Therapists, I’m breaking down one of the most frustrating, deflating, and pivotal conversations we have in private practice: ⁠⁠how to talk to therapy clients about insurance⁠⁠ and self-pay therapy (without spiraling, apologizing, or selling yourself short). I walk you through exactly how to handle that record-scratch moment with clarity, confidence, and integrity—so you can stop losing ideal clients and start owning your value. We’ll explore why the insurance model was never built for growth work, how to frame your services outside of the medical model, and how self-pay therapy and coaching can be transformational for both you and your clients. Whether you’re a seasoned pro or just getting started, this conversation will help you rethink the way you show up, speak up, and set yourself up for long-term success. You'll learn: The Insurance Dilemma Empowering Therapists: Navigating Insurance Questions Why Don’t Some Therapists Take Insurance? The Disconnect Between Client Needs and Insurance Ethical Considerations and Challenges Are Self Pay Therapy Clients More Motivated? (Yes. Here's why.) How to Stop Feeling Guilty For Charging Self Pay Rates How to Communicate Your Value Can I Build a Practice Without Taking Insurance? How to Become a Certified Coach as a Therapist Clarity and Confidence in Practice If you’re longing for a practice that aligns with your passion for growth work—it might be time for a new approach. In my ⁠⁠ BCC-Accredited Coaching Certification for Therapists⁠⁠, I guide licensed clinicians just like you to: Ethically expand beyond the limitations of the insurance model Work confidently with self-pay clients who are motivated and ready to change Learn the language, structure, and mindset of transformational coaching psychology Build a sustainable practice doing the work you actually want to do with your dream clients. This program rewards up to 50 CE hours. Come learn how to create a thriving, ethical, and fulfilling practice from someone who’s walked this road. And hey—if we haven’t connected on LinkedIn yet, let’s do so! I’d love to follow your journey, cheer you on, and swap notes on what’s working (and what’s not) in our evolving world of therapy and coaching. Come say hi and ⁠⁠connect with me right here⁠⁠. Xoxo, ⁠⁠Dr. Lisa Marie Bobby⁠⁠ ⁠Growing Self⁠ P.S. If this episode made you nod, scribble notes, or rethink your client scripts, share it with a fellow therapist or drop it in your favorite consultation group. Let’s rise together. 💛

Are you a therapist who's curious about coaching but not sure where to begin? If you've ever felt like your clients need more than insight alone, if you're craving a more energizing, action-oriented way to help people grow, or if you've wondered whether coaching could be the next evolution of your career, this episode is for you. In this conversation, I unpack why coaching psychology isn't a replacement for therapy. It's a powerful complementary skill set that can help you create better outcomes, expand your opportunities, and fall back in love with your work. As therapists, we're experts at helping people heal. But many of us were never trained in how to help clients create meaningful change once they're no longer in crisis. That's where evidence-based coaching psychology comes in. It's a natural extension of the work you already do and one that can transform both your clients' lives and your own professional future. In this episode, you'll learn: Why coaching psychology is becoming one of the most valuable skills therapists can add to their practice The real differences between therapy and coaching, and when each approach is most appropriate How coaching can help your clients create lasting action, not just insight Why coaching psychology can make your work more rewarding, effective, and sustainable How becoming a coach can expand your career options, attract ideal clients, and increase your income What to look for in a coaching certification program designed specifically for licensed therapists Whether you're simply coaching-curious or seriously considering adding coaching to your practice, this episode will give you a clear, ethical framework for understanding what's possible. I hope you'll join me, and that this conversation inspires you to embrace the coach within. Want to learn more? I host regular live information sessions where I answer your questions about the Growing Self Coaching Certification for Therapists, explain the different training pathways, and help you decide whether this program is the right fit for you. Click here to register for an upcoming information session. I hope to see you there! Xoxo,Dr. Lisa Marie Bobby Growing Self

Your client may not be stuck for the reasons you think. When a client seems overwhelmed, shut down, or unable to move forward, it's easy to assume trauma is the driving force. But what if there's another important piece of the puzzle? In this conversation, I sit down with nervous system educator Alyssa Blask Campbell to explore how sensory processing influences nervous system activation, and why it's an assessment lens many therapists were never taught to consider. We discuss how sensory experiences can shape behavior, emotional regulation, and a client's capacity to engage, offering a broader framework for understanding what may be happening beneath the surface. In this episode, you'll learn: Why nervous system activation isn't always rooted in trauma How sensory processing can influence behavior, emotions, and engagement The nine sensory systems and why they matter in clinical practice How expanding your assessment lens can lead to more effective interventions Practical ways to integrate these insights into your work with clients Whether you're a therapist, coach, or helping professional, this conversation will expand the way you think about nervous system activation and leave you with practical ideas you can begin using right away. Xoxo, Dr. Lisa Marie Bobby Growing Self P.S. If this conversation sparks your curiosity, don't miss Alyssa's free CEU training on September 17th, where she'll take an even deeper dive into recognizing sensory-driven nervous system activation and share practical strategies you can immediately integrate into your clinical work. We'd love to have you join us. Register here.

Ever feel like something’s “off” in your therapeutic relationships but can’t quite put your finger on it? The answer might lie in hidden power dynamics that could be impacting your clients in ways you didn’t realize. In today's episode, we're revisiting the subtle, often unnoticed imbalances that naturally occur between therapist and client—and more importantly, what you can do to manage them effectively so that they don't sabotage the work. I’ll walk you through practical strategies to create more equitable relationships, promote client autonomy, and avoid the common pitfalls of disempowerment and dependency. With over 50 therapists under my supervision, I’ve seen firsthand how even well-meaning professionals can fall into these traps. I’ll also be sharing personal insights and tools you can start using in your next session. Join me for this vital conversation and let’s work together to ensure we’re empowering our clients in every way possible AND avoiding the pitfalls that can ruin therapy (and even get you in hot water as a therapist).   What You’ll Learn: 03:24:Why Power Differentials Are Unavoidable 11:21: The Consequences of Unmanaged Power Dynamics 22:26: Strategies for Reducing Imbalances in Your Sessions 25:00: How to Collaborate and Be Transparent with Clients  32:11: Final Thoughts & Free Resources for Therapists  I can’t wait for you to tune in! Dr. Lisa Marie Bobby And don’t forget! I have a *FREE* 2-part training just for therapists, where I’ll show you how to get clear about your professional trajectory, and integrate coaching techniques into your practice for even more effective results. You can access it at ⁠growingself.com/coaching⁠

You're fully booked. The money is coming in. So why does your bank account still feel stressed? If you've ever looked around your practice and thought, "I should be making more than this..." you're not imagining it. In this episode, I sit down with CPA and cash flow strategist Emily Bowie to talk about cash flow for therapists and the financial trap nobody warned us about: earning more is not the same thing as keeping more. Here's the uncomfortable truth: You can have a thriving practice. You can bring in hundreds of thousands of dollars. You can even build a multi-million-dollar business... ...and still have no idea where your money is going. I know because I did exactly that. At one point,I was leading a practice that looked to be very successful from the outside, but because I didn't know how to read a financial statement, there was so much I was missing and it caused major problems. In this episode, you'll learn: Why "just get more clients" is often the worst solution to money stress The hidden reason tax season feels like a yearly ambush How to know if your sessions are actually profitable The expense leaks quietly draining your practice Why charging more isn't selfish—and may actually be ethical The financial blind spots that can impact your clinical decisions How to build a practice that supports both your clients and your future Because financial stress doesn't stay in your bank account. It follows you into your boundaries, your burnout, your pricing, and your decisions. And until you understand your numbers, you're flying blind. If you've ever thought, "I'm working this hard. Why doesn't it feel easier?" This episode is for you.

If your practice is growing but you're more exhausted than ever... if you're working nights and weekends just to stay caught up... if you're making more money but somehow feeling less free... this episode is for you. Because here's the truth nobody tells therapists: you can be exceptional at helping clients and still build a practice that quietly burns you out. In this conversation, I'm joined by Dr. Jennifer Wisdom, a consulting psychologist and organizational consultant who has spent more than 25 years studying how organizations actually function. She helps leaders identify the hidden problems that keep businesses stuck, and today we're applying those insights directly to therapy practices. Because the biggest threat to your practice isn't a lack of clients. It's the management skills nobody ever taught you. The same qualities that make you a wonderful therapist—being deeply empathetic, avoiding conflict, carrying more than your share, and putting everyone else's needs first—can become the exact things that create overwhelm, chaos, and burnout when you're running a business. In this episode, you'll learn: Why so many successful therapists secretly feel trapped by the practices they've built The hidden difference between being a great clinician and being an effective practice owner Why more clients and more revenue don't automatically create more freedom The leadership mistake that leaves therapists carrying everything on their backs How "being nice" can quietly undermine your team, culture, and profitability Why AI, EHR systems, and productivity tools can't solve a management problem The burnout warning signs that show up long before the numbers reveal a problem The money metrics every practice owner should understand—but most never look at How to delegate, give feedback, and lead without feeling like the bad guy Where to start when your practice feels disorganized, overwhelming, or out of control This episode is a reality check, but it's also a roadmap. Because if you've been telling yourself that you just need to work harder, be more organized, or somehow get better at juggling it all, I want you to know something: the problem may not be you. It may be that nobody ever taught you how to run the business you built. And once you understand the difference, everything starts to make a lot more sense. Xoxo, Dr. Lisa Marie Bobby Growing Self