Selling the Couch

What happens to your private practice if you suddenly become incapacitated… or pass away?
It’s a difficult question, and one most therapists never want to think about.
But in this deeply practical and important conversation, Mel sits down with Dr. Robin Miller to discuss one of the most overlooked responsibilities in private practice: creating a professional will.
Dr. Miller shares the personal story that led her to found TheraClosure after unexpectedly losing a close colleague and stepping in to manage the aftermath of her private practice, client care, records, and continuity planning.
This conversation is thoughtful, grounded, and incredibly relevant for every clinician in private practice.
In this episode, we discuss:
What a professional will actually is
Why every therapist in private practice should have one
What happens to client care and medical records if a clinician dies unexpectedly
The emotional and ethical impact on clients after sudden therapist loss
How professional wills differ for solo practitioners vs. group practices
Common mistakes therapists make when planning for continuity of care
Why “I’ll deal with this later” can create major problems for loved ones and clients
How retirement, incapacitation, and practice sales impact continuity planning
What therapists should think about regarding passwords, EHR access, payroll, and two-factor authentication
Why professional wills are about protecting clients — not just protecting businesses

A powerful idea from this conversation:
“We can’t prevent loss. But we can prevent traumatic loss.”
Very few conversations ask: What happens if something happens to you?
This episode is an invitation to think proactively, ethically, and compassionately about continuity of care — for your clients, your loved ones, and your profession.
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RESOURCES
Building and managing the practice you truly want can feel overwhelming. That’s why Alma is here—to help you create not just any practice, but your private practice.
With Alma, you’ll get the tools and resources you need to navigate insurance with ease, connect with referrals that are the right fit for your style, and streamline those time-consuming administrative tasks. That means less time buried in the details and more time focused on delivering exceptional care to your clients.
You support your clients. Alma supports you.
Learn more at sellingthecouch.com/alma and get 2 months FREE–an exclusive offer for STC listeners.
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Ready to launch (or grow) your online course?
Haven is our membership for therapists who want to turn their expertise into sustainable online income through courses, content, and simple systems that actually work.
You’ll get access to trainings, live accelerators, and a community that supports you every step of the way.
Get on the waitlist: sellingthecouch.com/haven

In this deeply personal episode, Mel shares an honest update on a new chapter he’s building: one that sits at the intersection of psychology, nervous system regulation, golf, performance under pressure, and the future of clinical work in the age of AI.
This is not a polished “success story.” It’s a real-time reflection on what AI is changing in mental health, why traditional private practice models no longer fit for some clinicians, and how to build work that feels deeply aligned with your life instead of consuming it.
In this episode, Mel shares:
The childhood basketball story that shaped his understanding of pressure and performance
Why the same person can succeed under pressure one year and crumble the next
How AI is transforming therapy, healthcare, and human work
Why the future belongs to the irreplaceable parts of human connection
The difference between burnout from the work vs. burnout from the model
Why he chose not to return to traditional private practice
The vision behind a new golf-focused performance psychology retreat
How golf became a “laboratory” for understanding nervous system regulation under stress
Why experiences and human presence may become the most valuable forms of care in the AI era
The concept of building the one model only you could build

Questions to reflect on:
What population have you spent the most time with, and what do they truly need that nobody is delivering?
What life experiences or non-clinical skills could become part of the intervention itself?
What would you build if you weren’t trying to make it look like what a therapist is “supposed” to offer?

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RESOURCES
Building and managing the practice you truly want can feel overwhelming. That’s why Alma is here—to help you create not just any practice, but your private practice.
With Alma, you’ll get the tools and resources you need to navigate insurance with ease, connect with referrals that are the right fit for your style, and streamline those time-consuming administrative tasks. That means less time buried in the details and more time focused on delivering exceptional care to your clients.
You support your clients. Alma supports you.
Learn more at sellingthecouch.com/alma and get 2 months FREE–an exclusive offer for STC listeners.
--
Ready to launch (or grow) your online course?
Haven is our membership for therapists who want to turn their expertise into sustainable online income through courses, content, and simple systems that actually work.
You’ll get access to trainings, live accelerators, and a community that supports you every step of the way.
Get on the waitlist: sellingthecouch.com/haven

Do therapist websites still matter in the age of AI?
With platforms like ChatGPT, Claude, Google AI Search, social media, and online directories changing how people search for support, many therapists are wondering:
Is it even worth investing in a website anymore?
In this episode, Mel sits down with Sarah Gershon of Strong Roots Web Design to explore why therapist websites may actually matter more than ever, especially in a world where AI is becoming the intermediary between clinicians and potential clients.
Together, they unpack how websites shape a client’s first impression, why authenticity matters more than “marketing,” and how therapists can create websites that feel safe, human, and deeply aligned with their values.
We cover:
* What potential clients are really looking for in the first few seconds on a therapist website * Why websites still matter in the AI era
* The difference between “rented” platforms (social media) vs. owned platforms (your website)
* How to write website copy that feels authentic instead of salesy
* Why therapists are uniquely positioned to create high-quality, human-centered content
* Google’s evolving EEAT standards
* A simple homepage audit exercise every therapist should do this month
Your website isn’t just a marketing tool.
It’s a place where potential clients can feel safe, understood, and begin building trust before they ever reach out.
If you want to improve your website this month: ask: Would a hurting person feel safe here?
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RESOURCES
Building and managing the practice you truly want can feel overwhelming. That’s why Alma is here—to help you create not just any practice, but your private practice.
With Alma, you’ll get the tools and resources you need to navigate insurance with ease, connect with referrals that are the right fit for your style, and streamline those time-consuming administrative tasks. That means less time buried in the details and more time focused on delivering exceptional care to your clients.
You support your clients. Alma supports you.
Learn more at sellingthecouch.com/alma and get 2 months FREE–an exclusive offer for STC listeners.
--
Ready to launch (or grow) your online course?
Haven is our membership for therapists who want to turn their expertise into sustainable online income through courses, content, and simple systems that actually work.
You’ll get access to trainings, live accelerators, and a community that supports you every step of the way.
Get on the waitlist: sellingthecouch.com/haven

Are therapists quietly leaving social media… on purpose?
In today’s episode, we explore a growing shift: not burnout, but intentional withdrawal from platforms that promise connection... but often create fragmentation.
If you’ve ever felt conflicted about social media—needing it for visibility but feeling drained by it—this conversation will hit close to home.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
Why social media isn’t a neutral tool, it’s a shaping force
The “dysregulation paradox” therapists face online
What social media actually does to your brain (especially as a clinician)
Why intentional creators are stepping back, or redesigning their relationship with it
How to market your work without handing over your nervous system
A simple framework to decide if social media is still serving you

Key insights:
We teach nervous system regulation… on platforms designed for dysregulation
Social media often trains reactivity, comparison, and fragmented attention
Leaving (or limiting) social media isn’t about productivity, it’s about protecting your attention
You don’t owe any platform your presence
The most meaningful work rarely comes from constant scrolling, it comes from depth, slowness, and focus

Because the real question isn’t just: “Should I be on social media?”
It’s: “What is this platform shaping me into?”
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RESOURCES
Building and managing the practice you truly want can feel overwhelming. That’s why Alma is here—to help you create not just any practice, but your private practice.
With Alma, you’ll get the tools and resources you need to navigate insurance with ease, connect with referrals that are the right fit for your style, and streamline those time-consuming administrative tasks. That means less time buried in the details and more time focused on delivering exceptional care to your clients.
You support your clients. Alma supports you.
Learn more at sellingthecouch.com/alma and get 2 months FREE–an exclusive offer for STC listeners.
--
Ready to launch (or grow) your online course?
Haven is our membership for therapists who want to turn their expertise into sustainable online income through courses, content, and simple systems that actually work.
You’ll get access to trainings, live accelerators, and a community that supports you every step of the way.
Get on the waitlist: sellingthecouch.com/haven

What does it actually look like to market your work… without losing your humanity?
In today’s episode of Selling the Couch, I’m joined by Shayna Vance Roman to explore a powerful and often overlooked idea: human-centric marketing—and how to apply it in a way that feels grounded, ethical, and aligned.
If you’ve ever felt uncomfortable with marketing… overwhelmed by social media… or unsure how to grow your practice without becoming someone you’re not, this conversation is for you.
In this episode, we explore:
What human-centric marketing really means (and why it matters more than ever)
Why marketing can start to feel “transactional” instead of relational
The tension between running a business and staying values-driven
The rise of therapist influencers, audience growth, and revenue pressure
How to create content that feels authentic, not performative
Practical ways to build connection, compassion, and trust online
The role of AI in marketing and how to use it without losing your voice
Why “less but better” content may be the future

A few key takeaways:
People aren’t just “clients” or “data points”, they’re humans navigating real struggles
Your website, social media, and content should meet people where they are
You don’t need to post constantly (consistency ≠ overproduction)
The goal of marketing isn’t just visibility, it’s trust and connection

At the end of the day… Marketing isn’t about getting more people in the door.
It’s about helping the right people feel seen, safe, and supported, before they ever reach out.
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RESOURCES
Connect with Shayna:
🌐 https://shaynavanceetc.com
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Building and managing the practice you truly want can feel overwhelming. That’s why Alma is here—to help you create not just any practice, but your private practice.
With Alma, you’ll get the tools and resources you need to navigate insurance with ease, connect with referrals that are the right fit for your style, and streamline those time-consuming administrative tasks. That means less time buried in the details and more time focused on delivering exceptional care to your clients.
You support your clients. Alma supports you.
Learn more at sellingthecouch.com/alma and get 2 months FREE–an exclusive offer for STC listeners.
--
Ready to launch (or grow) your online course?
Haven is our membership for therapists who want to turn their expertise into sustainable online income through courses, content, and simple systems that actually work.
You’ll get access to trainings, live accelerators, and a community that supports you every step of the way.
Get on the waitlist: sellingthecouch.com/haven