As the calendar turns to a new year, it’s natural to take stock of where you’ve been and where you want to go. In this episode of The Practice of Therapy Podcast, Gordon Brewer invites us into a deeply personal and insightful reflection on the past year while guiding us to set meaningful intentions for 2025.

This isn’t your typical “New Year’s resolutions” conversation. Gordon’s experiences in 2024—a year shaped by profound personal loss and transformative growth—serve as a powerful foundation for exploring how reflection and purpose-driven planning can lead to real change. Whether you’re a therapist, practice owner, or simply someone looking to embrace the year ahead with clarity and intention, this episode offers actionable strategies and heartfelt wisdom.

Resources Mentioned In This Episode

Read the full show notes here

Use the promo code "GORDON" to get 2 months of Therapy Notes free

Sign up for free at berries.icu, enjoy 20 sessions, and use promo code CRAFT50 for 50% off your first month!

SMART Goals Worksheet

Start Consulting with Gordon

The Practice of Therapy Collaborative

The Practice of Therapy Community

Mental Health Wear TN

Full Focus Planner

What’s the secret to bridging the gap between big business goals and actually achieving them?

In this episode of The Practice of Therapy, TJ unpacks the often-missed “step two” in business planning, using the hilarious (and surprisingly insightful) “underpants gnomes” analogy from South Park. With practical advice on building detailed, actionable roadmaps for growth, TJ explains how breaking goals into manageable steps—like analyzing financial data, aligning marketing with intake targets, and systemizing operations—can transform a business. From learning to let go and delegate effectively to creating structured onboarding processes that set employees up for long-term success, this conversation is packed with strategies to help you step back, see the bigger picture, and steer your business toward success. Don’t miss this deep dive into mindset shifts, proactive planning, and the power of trust!

Resources Mentioned In This Episode:

• Use the promo code "GORDON" to get 2 months of Therapy Notes free
• Ready to give it a try? Sign up for free at berries.icu, enjoy 20 sessions, and use promo code CRAFT50 for 50% off your first month!
• Start Consulting with Gordon
• The PsychCraft Network
• The Practice of Therapy Community
• Mental Health Wear TN
• Full Focus Planner
• Crowsnest Mindset
• TJ on LinkedIn
• Crowsnest Mindset on LinkedIn

Meet TJ Slattery

TJ Slattery is the owner and founder of Crowsnest Consulting. A lifetime entrepreneur and strategic advisor, TJ harnesses his decades of experience to create clarity and stability for business owners immersed in the day-to-day on an entrepreneurial island.

With honest, relatable candor (and a stylish neckerchief), TJ helps small business owners across industries create and improve operational systems and develop proactive processes to forge a path forward—one that leads directly to their personal and professional goals.

By leveraging business acumen, experience, and relentless curiosity, TJ enables his clients to connect the dots between the business they have and the vision they want to achieve. He is passionate about empowering entrepreneurs to stop treading water and get up into the Crowsnest where they belong.

Medical necessity—a term that seems straightforward—often becomes a complex hurdle in the world of healthcare, especially in mental health. Joe Feldman, founder of Cover My Mental Health, sheds light on the disconnect between clinical care and legal frameworks, and shares how his nonprofit empowers patients and clinicians to navigate these challenges effectively.

What is Medical Necessity?

Contrary to what many assume, "medical necessity" is not a clinical term; it’s a legal one. As Feldman explains, most healthcare professionals are trained in safe, effective care aligned with ethical standards, not in decoding the legal intricacies of medical necessity. This disconnect often leads to insurance denials, leaving patients stranded without the care they need.

Feldman highlights a key concern: insurance companies often deny claims for higher levels of care, such as intensive outpatient programs or residential treatment, by deeming them “not medically necessary.” This decision-making process frequently prioritizes cost-cutting over patient well-being.

Resources Mentioned In This Episode

• Read the full show notes here
• Use the promo code "GORDON" to get 2 months of Therapy Notes free
• Start Consulting with Gordon
• The PsychCraft Network
• The Practice of Therapy Community
• Mental Health Wear TN
• Full Focus Planner
• Cover MY Mental Health
• LinkedIn

Meet Joe Feldman

Cover My Mental Health President and Founder Joe Feldman began advocating for access to mental health care after overcoming denials for his daughter’s residential care, including with a successful federal lawsuit.

Feldman developed Cover My Mental Health based on his own success overcoming insurance obstacles, with input from leading litigators, appeals experts, clinicians, insurance regulators, and former insurance industry insiders.

His advocacy work has included policy-driven discussions with legislators and regulators, a board role with The Kennedy Forum Illinois, presentations to parent groups, and publication of actionable guidance, such as a 2021 article in the Journal of Psychiatric Practice on medical necessity letters.

Feldman also serves on the board of Thresholds, a Chicago-based firm providing support to those living with mental illness, and Acadian Kitchens, a for-profit seasonings business in Louisiana.

Starting and running a private practice is a journey filled with challenges, growth opportunities, and the potential for both professional and personal fulfillment. Gordon Brewer, a seasoned mental health professional and founder of The Practice of Therapy, reflects on his journey into private practice, sharing insights that are both inspiring and practical for current and aspiring private practitioners.

The Journey to Autonomy

Gordon began his private practice journey in 2006 after gaining extensive experience working in nonprofit agencies. While he credits his nonprofit work for providing invaluable clinical training, he found himself drawn to private practice for its autonomy and financial potential. Transitioning to full-time private practice in 2010 marked a pivotal moment in his career, one that required him to embrace the challenges and opportunities of running his own business.

Mindset Matters: Developing a Business Perspective

A recurring theme in Gordon’s advice is the importance of adopting a business mindset. To thrive in private practice, clinicians must view their work not just as a therapeutic endeavor but as a business venture. This includes understanding:

• Return on Investment (ROI): Assessing where to invest time and money to maximize success.
• Profitability: Ensuring income exceeds expenses to sustain and grow the practice.
• Systems and Processes: Establishing efficient workflows to optimize operations.

“Clarity around your ‘why’ is essential,” Gordon emphasizes. For many, the “why” includes achieving autonomy, earning more, and escaping the bureaucracy of agency work.

Don't miss Gordon's invaluable advice on starting and scaling a private practice, overcoming challenges, and building a supportive network. Tune in now to take your practice to the next level! 🙌

Resources Mentioned In This Episode

Read the full show notes here

Use the promo code "GORDON" to get 2 months of Therapy Notes free

Start Consulting with Gordon

The Practice of Therapy Collaborative

The PsychCraft Network

The Practice of Therapy Community

Mental Health Wear TN

Full Focus Planner

Productive Therapist: https://productivetherapist.com/

GreenOak Accounting: https://www.greenoakaccounting.com/

In this episode of The Practice of Therapy Podcast, Keith Kurlander opens up about growing his therapy practice in Boulder, Colorado, navigating high competition and high demand. From door-knocking to diving into the digital world with paid advertising, Keith shares how embracing online marketing and specializing in sought-after areas helped him stand out in a crowded field. He also offers strategies for new and growing practitioners, from networking basics to expanding into group practices. Plus, Keith dives deep into the future of psychedelic therapy, exploring its transformative potential for treating trauma and treatment-resistant conditions like PTSD and depression, with promising results from MDMA, ketamine, and psilocybin. Don’t miss this fascinating conversation about the intersection of traditional therapy and cutting-edge treatments!

Resources Mentioned In This Episode

• Use the promo code "GORDON" to get 2 months of Therapy Notes free
• Start Consulting with Gordon
• The PsychCraft Network
• The Practice of Therapy Community
• Mental Health Wear TN
• Full Focus Planner
• Keith’s Website
• Keith on LinkedIn
• Integrative Psychiatry Institute on Facebook
• Keith on Instagram

Meet Keith Kurlander

Keith Kurlander, MA, LPC, is the Co-Founder of the Integrative Psychiatry Institute, the largest professional education company specializing in integrative mental health and psychedelic therapy, listed in Inc. 5000 as one of the 100 fastest-growing startups in the U.S., top 10 in healthcare, and top 3 in education.

He also co-hosts the Higher Practice Podcast for Optimal Mental Health and co-founded the Integrative Psychiatry Centers, a clinic revolutionizing mental healthcare with cutting-edge psychedelic therapy and integrative psychiatry treatments.

With over 20 years of experience in psychotherapy and coaching individuals, couples, and families, Keith’s journey began after nearly committing suicide at age 19 following a psilocybin mushroom experience. His battle with severe mental illness persisted into adulthood until he overcame it through decades of trial and error.

Now a successful entrepreneur, Keith is passionate about teaching methods that can eradicate mental illness and empower people to reach their full potential.

In this episode of The Practice of Therapy podcast, host Gordon Brewer talks with Nicole McCance, who shares her insights on scaling a therapy practice through effective systems and strategic hiring. Nicole emphasizes the importance of systemizing processes before bringing new hires on board, helping therapists avoid the overwhelm of constant questions and task management. She reveals that many therapists dive into hiring without setting up essential workflows, which can quickly turn them into “chief question answerers” rather than effective leaders.

Nicole discusses the power of documenting every step of your practice in a Google Doc, which not only streamlines daily operations but also fosters team independence and enables automation. Reflecting on her own journey, she explains how hiring a business coach early on was instrumental to her success, giving her the clarity and direction to create her own coaching program, where she now teaches therapists the systems and marketing strategies that fueled her rapid growth. From crafting SOP manuals with tools like Loom and ChatGPT to making your first hire a “mini-me” who mirrors your style, Nicole shares a practical and empowering guide for therapists ready to grow their practice with intention and efficiency.

Resources Mentioned In This Episode

• Read the full show notes here
• Use the promo code "GORDON" to get 2 months of Therapy Notes free
• Start Consulting with Gordon
• The PsychCraft Network
• The Practice of Therapy Community
• Mental Health Wear TN
• Full Focus Planner
• Nicole’s Website
• Nicole’s Instagram
• Nicole’s Facebook Group
• Nicole’s Free Masterclass

Meet Nicole McCance

Nicole is a Psychologist (retired) turned Business Coach for therapists scaling to a group practice. She expanded her private practice to 55 therapists and multiple seven figures in 3 years (with toddler twins at home). Nicole sold her clinic in her 4th year and then retired as a Psychologist in her 5th year. She now teaches therapists how to help more people, make more money, and have more freedom following her proven method.

Crystal Adams-Scott shares the powerful story behind Hope Unite, a movement born from her and her son’s act of kindness. Driven by the message “You matter,” which she believes could have saved her husband’s life, Crystal discusses how simple cards adorned with a purple rose serve as reminders of worth and invitations to spread kindness. With volunteers distributing these cards across the U.S. and beyond, the initiative not only promotes kindness but also connects individuals in crisis to vital resources like the National Suicide Prevention hotline.

Crystal emphasizes the importance of community involvement and outlines two key volunteer roles that support their mission. By fostering a holistic network of vetted therapists, healers, and community services, Hope Unite aims to address mental, physical, and spiritual health in a comprehensive way. Crystal encourages listeners to embrace daily acts of intentional kindness, highlighting their profound impact on mental well-being and the potential for collective action to create meaningful change. Don’t miss this episode that blends personal healing with a powerful call to action for kindness and community support.

Resources Mentioned In This Episode:

• Read the full show notes here
• Use the promo code "GORDON" to get 2 months of Therapy Notes free
• Start Consulting with Gordon
• The PsychCraft Network
• The Practice of Therapy Community
• Mental Health Wear TN
• Hope Unite
• The Hope Unite Story
• See the Impact of Hope Unite

Meet Crystal Adams-Scott:

Crystal Adams-Scott is the founder of Hope Unite International, their mission is dedicated to providing hope and support for individuals facing life's most challenging moments. After losing her husband to suicide, Crystal found herself grappling with unimaginable grief, but it was through this personal loss that she discovered her calling to help others navigate their own darkest times.

Driven by a deep commitment to break the silence around mental health and create a community of understanding, Crystal founded Hope Unite International with the vision of offering compassionate resources, emotional support, and a safe space for those struggling with mental health challenges, grief, and personal hardship. Hope Unite's Kids for Kindness initiative is dedicated to help our youth in the early developmental years to gain healthy social and emotional development tools alongside academic learning to help reduce teen depression and suicide rates.

Navigating the world of therapy payments can be a maze for both therapists and clients, especially when insurance and out-of-network benefits come into play. Sanjana from Thrizer breaks down how their platform simplifies this process and how it helps make therapy more accessible for clients while ensuring clinicians get paid their full rate.

Resources Mentioned In This Episode

• Read the full show notes here
• Use the promo code "GORDON" to get 2 months of Therapy Notes free
• Start Consulting with Gordon
• The PsychCraft Network
• The Practice of Therapy Community
• Mental Health Wear TN
• Start your free trial and enjoy waived credit card fees for your first $2,500 in charges: https://join.thrizer.com/practiceoftherapy
• Thrizer’s Instagram
• Thrizer’s LinkedIn

Meet Sanjana Sathya

Sanjana is a co-founder at Thrizer. She is passionate about helping people access quality and affordable mental healthcare. Thrizer’s mission is to make cash-pay therapy more accessible. Clients just pay a copay for sessions, while clinicians get their full cash pay rate upfront, creating a win-win for both. She is a long-time therapy-goer herself who credits much of her own growth to therapy. She is excited to share more about her story and how it led her to Thrizer.