The Grow Your Private Practice Show

There’s something that doesn’t quite add up in counselling...
We’re trained to be a blank slate…
and yet we’re also trying to build connection, trust, and a sense that someone feels understood before they even reach out.
So where’s the line?
In this episode, I’m joined by Rainbow Tomes, a counsellor, coach and trainer who describes themselves as a ‘mum on a mission’.
Their work is shaped by lived experience, a strong sense of purpose, and a drive to challenge the systems that don’t always support people in the way they should.
This is a really honest conversation about personal disclosure, visibility, and what it means to be ‘human’ in this work… without losing sight of boundaries.
So if you’ve ever found yourself wondering how much of yourself to share, this one will give you plenty to think about.
What we touch on
The tension between being a ‘blank slate’ and building real connection
What personal disclosure actually looks like in practice
The difference between what you share in a session and in your marketing
Why the therapeutic relationship can’t be one-sided
Stepping into visibility (even when it feels uncomfortable)
Systemic harm, grief, and why naming things matters
🔗 Links & Resources
Rainbow specialises in disenfranchised grief and loss, supporting experiences that are often unseen, unacknowledged, and too often not talked about.
She is the host of the Talking Grief podcast, where she explores these types of conversations in more depth
She is also the founder of The Mental Health People Ltd.
She trains and coaches leaders in more relational, human-centred approaches to mental health and performance. Her work is grounded in a humanistic, integrative approach, incorporating Internal Family Systems (IFS).
Alongside this, she runs a private practice, Rise with Rainbow.
Connect with her on LinkedIn

Start here - my free and paid resources (free resources)

There’s nothing wrong with most counselling websites.
They’re thoughtful. Careful. Full of good intentions.
And yet… people still leave.
In this episode, I’m talking about something I see all the time, websites that are trying to say too much. Not because you’ve got it wrong, but because you care, and you want to get it right.
I share what’s really going on when someone lands on your homepage, why adding more can actually make it harder for someone to choose you, and what to shift so the right clients can actually recognise themselves.
If you’ve ever looked at your website and thought, ‘this sounds fine… but something’s not quite working’, this will help you see why.
Overview
We’re getting into:
Why ‘more helpful’ can quietly turn into confusing
What potential clients are actually looking for when they land on your website
The subtle ways self-doubt shows up in your wording
Why people leave, even when you are the right counsellor for them
The small shift that helps someone think, ‘this sounds like me’

Links & next steps
If this episode has you looking at your homepage a bit differently, this is exactly what I help with in my Write Your Homepage sessions.
It’s a focused 90-minute session where we take what you’ve already written and shape it so the right people can actually see themselves in it, and feel ready to reach out.
There’s currently an introductory price available until 11th April.
👉 Take a look and see if it feels like the right next step
If you’re not quite ready for that, you can explore more free support here:
👉 Start Here

There are a lot of counsellors out there.
And if you’ve ever looked at your website and thought,
this sounds fine… but it doesn’t really sound like me,
this episode will likely hit close to home.
Because clients aren’t choosing based on qualifications alone.
They’re choosing based on something much harder to define,
but much easier to feel.
In this episode, I’m exploring what’s really going on when someone is deciding who to work with, why two counsellors who look similar on paper can create completely different reactions, and how small shifts in your wording can change everything.
If you’ve ever wondered why people land on your website and don’t reach out, this will give you a different way of looking at it.
Overview
What clients are actually responding to when they choose a counsellor
Why being ‘technically right’ in your wording isn’t always enough
The subtle differences that make someone think ‘this person gets me’
Why counselling isn’t one-size-fits-all, and why that matters in your marketing
How your website shapes the decision before you ever speak to someone

Your next step
If you’re listening to this and thinking,
‘I don’t think my website is doing that…’
That’s exactly what I focus on in my Write Your Homepage sessions.
We look at how your words are coming across, what your ideal client is picking up on, and how to shape your homepage so it helps the right people feel understood and ready to get in touch.
👉 Find out more about Write Your Homepage
👉 Or, if you want to explore a mix of free and paid support, you can start here

Counsellor or Clone: Breaking Through the Monotony of Online Directories
If your directory profile sounds like everyone else’s, this might be why...
If your counselling directory profile isn’t bringing in enquiries, it might not be what you think.
Because often, it’s not about your qualifications…
or your experience…
or even your approach.
It’s because your profile sounds like everyone else’s.
In this episode, I’m sharing why so many counsellors end up blending in on online directories, and what’s really going on when potential clients scroll past without reaching out.
Because when someone is looking for a therapist, they’re already feeling uncertain, overwhelmed… and often a little vulnerable.
So what makes them stop and think:
👉 “This is the person for me”?
And just as importantly… what makes them keep scrolling?
We’ll explore what might be holding your profile back (even if you’ve put a lot of thought into it already)…
And I’ll walk you through a simple step you can take to start changing how your profile connects - something you can put into practice straight away.
If you’ve ever wondered whether your directory profile is really doing its job…
This is well worth a listen.
Want some extra help?
If you’re listening and thinking “I know this needs work, but I don’t know what to change”…
That’s exactly what I help with inside Directory Revival.
👉 https://www.janetravis.co.uk/directory-revival/

I talk a lot about connection in marketing.
How you build it, how you show it, and how it helps potential clients feel comfortable enough to reach out.
But there’s another way of looking at this: one that doesn’t get talked about as much.
And it might explain why someone can read everything you write… and still not take that next step.
In this episode, I’m exploring the know, like and trust factor, but from a slightly different angle. One that fits with the realities of being a counsellor, and doesn’t rely on sharing more or stepping outside your boundaries.
If you’ve ever felt like your marketing is ‘working’ on paper but not quite leading to enquiries, this might give you a different way of understanding why.
What you’ll take away:
A different way of thinking about know, like and trust in your counselling marketing
Why connection on its own isn’t always enough
What people are really picking up on when they come across your website or content
A simple way to look at your own marketing with fresh eyes
Where tools like AI can help, and where they can make things feel a bit less like you

A small shift you can try:
There’s one simple question you can ask yourself after listening that can change how your marketing comes across.
I’ll talk you through it in the episode.
More info about The Armchair Test: The Armchair Test: The One Quiet Shift That Will Transform ALL Your Marketing
“Would I Feel Safe With You?” How Clients Really Choose a Counsellor
Want to go a bit deeper?
If you’d prefer to read and reflect on this in your own time, I’ve also shared a blog version of this episode.
👉 You can find that here:
[INSERT BLOG LINK]
Need support with your marketing?
Inside the Grow Your Private Practice membership, I support counsellors with the practical side of marketing — from your website to identifying your ideal client, blogging, mindset, and everything in between.
So if you’d like some guidance and support with this, you can find out more here:
https://www.janetravis.co.uk/thevault/

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