Advertise on podcast: The Practice of the Practice Podcast | Where Modern Psychology Meets the Business of Therapy

Should counselling in 2026 include AI skills? How do counsellors market their practices with AI? Why should therapists learn about AI - if only to answer their clients' questions? In this episode, Joe Sanok speaks with Dr. Lindsay Oberleitner about the growing role of artificial intelligence in mental health care and why therapists need to understand it, even if they choose not to use it in their own practices. They explore the potential benefits and risks of AI in counselling, the importance of ongoing education, and how clinicians can evaluate AI-generated content and engage in informed conversations with clients about its use.

How can you recognize the patterns of narcissistic abuse before they undermine your sense of self? What role can reconnecting with your body play in the journey toward healing? How can practitioners help survivors rebuild their self-worth with patience, compassion, and care? In this podcast, Joe Sanok speaks with Deanna Scaldaferri about recognizing narcissistic abuse, healing from emotional trauma through mind-body practices like Reiki, and rebuilding self-worth through patience, compassion, and intentional self-care.

What are the biggest gaps holding your practice back from being more profitable? How do you know if your practice is actually healthy financially? If you stopped doing everything yourself tomorrow, would your practice keep running, or would the whole thing fall apart? In this podcast, Joe Sanok and Micah Adler explore how to identify and close the biggest gaps in your practice across leadership, revenue, margins, and operations to build a more efficient and sustainable business.

What does it really take to succeed in solo private practice, and when might a group practice be the better choice? In this episode, CPA and CAC Advisors founder James Childress joins the conversation to unpack the financial and business realities of running a therapy practice. Drawing on his research into more than 9,000 Google reviews of private practices, James reveals that 65% of one- to four-star reviews focused not on the quality of therapy, but on the experience surrounding it including scheduling, billing, communication, and access to care. The conversation explores the hidden costs of solo practice, including overhead, administrative work, and the potential trade-off between earning more per session and taking home less overall. James also shares strategies for making therapy easier to access, creating multiple pathways for clinicians to contribute within group practices, and building practices where clinicians can grow their entrepreneurial skills while earning more. Ultimately, the episode challenges the assumption that solo practice is automatically more profitable or desirable, and offers therapists a more practical framework for deciding which practice model best fits their goals, finances, and professional life.

Can you boost one Facebook ad per month? How can you use barcodes on your marketing materials? What is a good way to start AB testing on Facebook ads? In this episode, Joe Sanok checks in with Jen on the progress of building Great Lakes Online Counseling and explores practical ways to begin marketing the new practice. Joe and Jen discuss creating posters focused on specific client needs, using QR codes to connect potential clients directly to the website, and experimenting with Facebook advertising.

What should therapists know before bringing ketamine-assisted therapy into their practice? Could psychedelic-assisted therapy help clients move beyond feeling stuck in traditional treatment? What mistakes should therapists avoid when stepping into this emerging field? In this episode, Joe Sanok speaks with Jonathan Sabbagh and Myriam Barthes, Co-Founders of Journey Clinical, about the growing field of psychedelic-assisted therapy and how therapists can begin incorporating ketamine-assisted psychotherapy into their practices. Jonathan and Myriam share what led them to create Journey Clinical, how ketamine-assisted therapy can complement existing therapeutic relationships, and what the process typically looks like for both therapists and clients. They also discuss common mistakes therapists make when entering this emerging field, including undercharging for their work and underestimating the skills they already bring to psychedelic-assisted care.

In our current economy, is it worth being a landlord? Can you buy a property without spending any money? Have you ever considered creative financing?  In this episode, Joe Sanok speaks with Emily Runyan about the pros and cons of owning your own practice building, creative financing options, and how practitioners can think strategically about real estate as a long-term investment. Emily shares how she used equity and local bank relationships to purchase property, the financial and professional benefits of becoming a landlord, and the responsibilities that come with it. She also offers advice for practitioners who want to build a practice and lifestyle that fit their long-term goals.

How can couples counselling help elevate the whole community? What is the best way for couples to regulate and find solutions together after conflict? Can you validate your partner's feelings without agreeing with their perspective? In this episode of Practice of the Practice, Joe Sanok speaks with Julie Menanno, MA, LMFT, LCPC, about how couples can build secure, lasting relationships and why healthier relationships can have a ripple effect beyond the couple themselves. Julie explains why relationship struggles are often rooted in patterns between partners rather than one person being "the problem," and why couples need to address emotional wounds before communication skills can truly take hold.

How much time is Medicaid credentialing costing your private practice? What could your team accomplish if repetitive billing and eligibility checks were automated? How can AI help you spend less time on admin and more time working with your clients? In this podcast episode, Joe Sanok speaks with Justin Ith from Aria about the biggest administrative time sucks facing private practice owners, including Medicaid credentialing, eligibility checks, and supervisory billing. They explore why working with Medicaid can be complicated and time-consuming, from outdated credentialing portals to the ongoing need to verify patient eligibility.

Are we expecting one person to give us everything we're missing in life? What if our relationships could teach us more about ourselves than we ever expected? Could the smallest acts of love be the ones that matter most? In this episode, Robin Ducharme discusses her journey from realtor to matchmaker and ultimately love coach, driven by her passion for helping people build healthier, more fulfilling relationships. She challenges common myths about love, particularly the idea that a partner should "complete" us or that relationships should be effortless. Robin emphasizes honesty, transparency and shared values when entering new relationships, especially after divorce or heartbreak. She also views relationships as opportunities for personal growth and encourages people to approach them with curiosity. Finally, she highlights the importance of small, everyday acts of kindness and presence, and reminds private practitioners that supporting healthy relationships is meaningful work that contributes to overall well-being.

This episode explores the transition from CAQH to DataSpring and what the change means for therapists and independent practice owners. Melissa Schneider speaks with Dr. Alex Ding about clinician data privacy, insurance company access, credentialing, and the move from a nonprofit to a for-profit model. He explains how DataSpring aims to reduce administrative burden while maintaining clinician control, security, and transparency around professional information.

When life gets difficult, are you reaching for a quick fix or building the inner resources to depend on? Why is self-improvement more about learning to accept yourself while continuing to grow than trying to constantly "fix" yourself? How can you truly build a fulfilling life? In this episode, Joe Sanok sits down with Dr. Celeste Birkhofer to discuss her book, Beyond Quick Fixes, and why lasting mental health requires more than temporary solutions. They explore the five inner resources that support a fulfilling life: a healthy sense of self, emotional intelligence, mental capacity, relational capacity, and healthy coping skills. They also discuss why self-improvement isn't about "fixing" yourself, but balancing self-acceptance with growth, and Dr. Birkhofer shares advice for private practitioners on caring for themselves while helping others.

Could assessment be the key to growing your practice? Are there ways to ethically offer testing in your practice, even if you don't employ a psychologist? How can you use testing to scale your practice without compromising care? In this episode, Joe Sanok talks with Dr. Casey Mangnall about how psychological assessment helped her grow the Utah Center for Psychological Services from a side gig into a seven-figure practice in just three years. They explore how private practitioners can determine whether testing is a natural fit for their existing services and how to integrate assessment ethically without turning it into a high-volume, transactional service. Casey shares practical advice on choosing appropriate testing protocols, knowing when a psychologist is required, working with insurance and billers, and using assessment relationships to build referral networks. She also explains why thorough testing can provide clients with a deeper understanding of themselves and help guide more effective treatment.

Are you targeting the right Google keywords? Could location-based keywords outperform "online therapy" and virtual ones? Is your website helping Google find your practice? In this episode, Joe Sanok works with digital marketing strategist Mike Zoladkowski to develop a Google Ads and SEO strategy for Great Lakes Online Counseling. They explore why targeting "online therapy" and "virtual therapist" keywords may not be the most effective approach, and why geographic and population-based keywords can often deliver better results. Mike explains how to start with the goal of an advertising campaign, choose keywords based on specific services and client populations, and structure website content so Google can understand exactly who and where the practice serves. The episode also looks at how SEO, website design and paid advertising work together to attract the right clients.