The Build Your Private Practice Podcast

Have you ever wondered whether you could travel the world without stepping away from your private practice?
In this episode of The Build Your Private Practice Podcast, Liane sits down with Maria Tsoukalas, Calgary-based psychologist and founder of Nomadic Minds, to talk about what it really takes to work with clients while living and travelling abroad.
Maria shares how discovering her regulatory college's telepsychology guidelines opened up a new possibility: as long as her clients were located in Alberta, she could provide care from elsewhere. That realization led her to digitize her practice, build strong virtual systems, and eventually spend more than a year travelling while continuing her clinical work.
This conversation explores both the freedom and the responsibility involved in working abroad as a therapist. Maria explains why it is essential to check your own regulatory requirements, have reliable privacy and technology systems in place, and make sure your clients are appropriate for virtual care.
She also shares how she manages time zones, scheduling, internet access, and continuity of care. While the logistics can feel overwhelming at first, she has found that clients are often more flexible than expected when communication is clear and the quality of care remains consistent.
Maria also speaks honestly about the challenges of long-term travel, including decision fatigue, constant planning, and the importance of keeping a manageable caseload. At the same time, working while travelling helped her recover from burnout, slow down, reconnect with her interests, and become more grounded in her work.
Most importantly, Maria wants therapists to know that this kind of freedom is possible. It does not have to mean becoming a full-time digital nomad. It may simply mean allowing yourself to imagine a different way of working and taking the first practical steps toward it.
In This Episode, You'll Learn
How Maria began working with clients while travelling abroad

Why checking with your regulatory college is an essential first step

What systems you need for a strong virtual practice

How to manage time zones, scheduling, and continuity of care

Why clients may be more flexible than you expect

How to decide whether your caseload is appropriate for virtual work

The difference between vacation travel and living abroad while working

Why long-term travel can create decision fatigue

How travel helped Maria recover from burnout

The first step to take if you are considering working while travelling

Connect with Maria Tsoukalas
Learn more about Maria and Nomadic Minds:
https://nomadicminds.ca
Explore the Nomadic Minds Live group program:
https://nomadicminds.ca/live-group
Build a Practice That Supports Your Life
For practical resources, programs, and support created for Canadian therapists, visit:
https://www.buildyourprivatepractice.ca

The middle of the year is a natural time to pause.
You have six months of real information about how your private practice is working — not just what you hoped would happen when you made your plans in January.
But looking at your revenue, caseload, fees, cancellations, and referrals can bring up a lot of feelings.
Am I earning enough?
Am I working too much?
Is my practice actually sustainable?
Before those questions turn into judgment or panic, it helps to remember:
Your numbers are not a grade.
They are information.
In this episode of The Build Your Private Practice Podcast, Liane is walking you through a calm, grounded mid-year checkpoint so you can understand what the first half of the year is telling you — and make thoughtful decisions for the months ahead.
Because a number rarely tells the whole story.
Lower-than-expected revenue may not mean you need more clients. It may mean your fee needs attention.
Strong revenue paired with exhaustion may point to a capacity problem.
An unpredictable income pattern may be connected to your cancellation policy.
And relying on one referral source may leave your practice more vulnerable than it appears.
The goal is not to judge the first six months of the year.
It is to take an honest compass reading and decide where you want to point next.
 
In this episode, we cover:
Why the middle of the year can be more useful than January for reviewing your practice
How to look at your business numbers without treating them like a measure of your worth
The key numbers to review, including revenue, sessions, new clients, referrals, fees, cancellations, and no-shows
How to complete a simple mid-year checkpoint without fancy software or a complicated accounting project
Why your revenue may actually be telling you a fee, capacity, policy, or referral story
How to identify what is working — and what may need to change before the fall intake surge
Why a full caseload does not always mean your practice is financially sustainable
How to protect your energy by choosing a realistic caseload for the fall
Why you should choose only one or two intentions for the second half of the year
A simple "what, what, and when" structure for turning your insights into action
This episode is not about creating a giant list of everything you need to fix.
It is about looking gently and honestly at what has happened so far, choosing one or two meaningful priorities, and making decisions based on evidence instead of fear.
You do not need a perfect audit.
You need an honest, good-enough picture.
Rough and real beats precise and never done.
Your numbers do not define your value as a clinician or a person. They simply help you understand where you are so you can build a practice that remains financially healthy, ethically grounded, and sustainable for the long term.
Take your compass reading.
Be kind to yourself while you do it.
Then point yourself toward a second half of the year that supports the life you actually want.
Explore tools, programs, and support at:
https://buildyourprivatepractice.ca
Join us inside our Facebook community for Canadian therapists:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/buildyourprivatepractice
If this episode resonated with you, subscribe to The Build Your Private Practice Podcast and share it with another Canadian therapist who may need a gentle reminder that looking at their numbers is not greedy — it is part of building a practice that can last.
Build Your Private Practice is turning 10!
Celebrate with us on Friday, September 25, 2026.
We'll be gathering live in person in Toronto, Ontario, with a virtual option available for those joining us from home.
You can view the details and register here:
https://pages.buildyourprivatepractice.ca/bypp-10yr-registation

Have you ever felt guilty for wanting to earn more, raise your fees, or build real financial security as a therapist?
In this episode of The Build Your Private Practice Podcast, Liane sits down with Kris Sabramsky, certified financial planner and founder of Therapist Financial, to talk about how therapists can build lasting wealth without compromising their values or their commitment to client care.
Kris shares what he has learned from working with more than 100 therapists across Ontario, including why so many practice owners feel unclear or overwhelmed when it comes to their money. From unpredictable session-based income and cancellations to taxes, retirement planning, and the lack of an employer pension, therapists face financial realities that traditional advice does not always account for.
This conversation offers a grounded, practical look at what financial stability can mean for therapists—not a lavish lifestyle or chasing arbitrary income goals, but having the clarity and security to pay your bills, plan for the future, enjoy your life, and continue doing meaningful clinical work without constant financial stress.
You'll hear why getting organized is the first step, how a financial plan can reduce anxiety and support better decisions, and why starting small is still worthwhile when it comes to saving and investing.
Kris also breaks down Canadian savings and investment accounts in plain language, including RRSPs, TFSAs, corporate investment accounts, and FHSAs. He explains why keeping your investment strategy simple may be more effective than trying to outsmart the market—and why incorporation is not automatically the right choice for every successful therapist.
In This Episode, You'll Learn
Why financial stability can help you show up more fully for your clients

How guilt around fees and wealth can affect therapists

Why understanding your income and expenses is the first step toward financial clarity

What a financial plan can tell you about your current position and future goals

How living within your means can support both your present lifestyle and long-term plans

Why starting to save early makes such a significant difference

How compound growth and the Rule of 72 work

Why simple, long-term investing strategies can be so effective

The differences between RRSPs, TFSAs, corporate accounts, and FHSAs

What to consider before deciding to incorporate your private practice

The first practical step to take when you feel behind or overwhelmed by your finances

Connect with Kris Sabramsky
Learn more about financial planning created specifically for therapists and book a short fit call with Kris:
https://therapistfinancial.com
Build a Practice That Supports Your Life
For practical resources, programs, and support created for Canadian therapists, visit:
https://www.buildyourprivatepractice.ca

The summer slowdown can feel unsettling.
Clients go on vacation. Families get busy. Sessions get rescheduled. Your calendar may suddenly have more white space than usual.
And if you are newer in private practice, it can be easy to wonder:
Is something wrong?
Did I do something?
Are people not coming back?
But what if the summer slowdown is not a sign that your practice is failing?
What if it is actually build season?
In this episode of The Build Your Private Practice Podcast, Liane is talking about the seasonal rhythm many Canadian therapists experience in the summer — and how to use the quieter months of June, July, and August with intention instead of panic.
Because the fall wave is coming.
Every year, as routines return and school starts again, inquiries tend to pick up. The things people put off over the summer often move back to the top of the list in September.
The question is not whether the wave will come.
The question is whether your practice will be ready to receive it.
In this episode, we cover:
Why the summer slowdown is normal for Canadian therapists

Why a quieter caseload does not mean your practice is failing

How to reframe summer as build season instead of panic season

Why fall often brings a back-to-school intake surge

How to strengthen your intake process before inquiries pick up

Why a simple wait list system can help you hold clients with care

How to build referral relationships before you urgently need them

Why summer is a good time to review your fee, capacity, boundaries, and offers

How to choose one small area to build without turning summer into another grind

This episode is not about packing your summer with more work.
It is about using a small slice of the quieter season to build intentionally, gently, and steadily.
You do not need to overhaul everything.
You can choose one area — systems, referral relationships, or your own readiness — and give it a small, regular place in your week.
Because steady always beats frantic.
And when the fall wave comes, you do not want to be building the boat while you are already in the water.
You want to be standing on solid ground, ready to catch it well.
Explore tools, programs, and support at: https://buildyourprivatepractice.ca
Join us inside our Facebook community for Canadian Therapists: https://www.facebook.com/groups/buildyourprivatepractice
If this episode resonated with you, subscribe to The Build Your Private Practice Podcast and share it with another Canadian therapist who may need this reminder that the quiet season is not something to fear.
Build Your Private Practice is turning 10! 🎉
Celebrate with us on Friday, September 25, 2026.
We'll be gathering live in person in Toronto, Ontario, with a live-stream option available for those joining us virtually.
You can view the details and register here:
 https://pages.buildyourprivatepractice.ca/bypp-10yr-registation

Have you ever looked at your full caseload and wondered, "Could this become something bigger than just me?"
In this episode of The Build Your Private Practice Podcast, Liane sits down with Amanda Hill, founder of Connections of Hope, to talk about the real-life experience of growing from solo therapist to group practice owner.
Amanda shares how she went from a practice of one to five practice locations, what she learned about hiring, delegation, leadership, and systems, and why growth requires more than just strategy. It also requires learning to manage fear, protect your energy, and trust yourself as a business owner.
This conversation is honest, grounded, and deeply encouraging for therapists who feel the pull to grow but are unsure what the next step should look like.
You'll hear why Amanda believes time is one of your most valuable assets, how trying to do everything yourself can actually hold your practice back, and why self-care becomes non-negotiable when you are holding a bigger vision.
In This Episode, You'll Learn
Why Amanda decided to grow beyond solo practice

What it felt like to hire and expand into multiple locations

The biggest lessons Amanda learned about time, billing, and delegation

How to preserve the heart of your practice as your team grows

Why fear and doubt are normal parts of scaling

How systems and planning make growth feel more manageable

What Amanda would say to therapists who are scared to take the next step

Ready to Scale Your Practice?
If you're ready to grow beyond one-to-one work with more strategy, support, and sustainability, explore Scale Your Practice here: https://www.buildyourprivatepractice.ca/scale-your-practice
Connect with Amanda Hill
Website: https://connectionsofhope.com
Instagram: @connectionsofhope4u