The Build Your Private Practice Podcast

Have you ever worried that choosing a niche means limiting your opportunities, turning clients away, or putting yourself into a box?
You're not alone.
For many therapists and private practice owners, the idea of niching down can feel uncomfortable. We've been trained to help people. Many of us entered this profession because we genuinely want to support as many people as possible.
But what if trying to help everyone is actually making it harder to create the impact you want?
In this episode of The Build Your Private Practice Podcast, Liane sits down with Stacey to explore what it really means to build a niche and why finding your area of focus can transform both your work and your business.
Stacey shares her journey from working as a generalist clinician to becoming a recognized expert in supporting individuals who have experienced narcissistic abuse and complex trauma. What began as curiosity about patterns she noticed in her clients eventually evolved into a thriving niche, a published book, educational programs, and opportunities to teach clinicians around the world.
Together, Liane and Stacey unpack some of the biggest misconceptions therapists have about niching, including the fear of excluding potential clients, the belief that we should be able to help everyone, and the scarcity mindset that often keeps practitioners stuck.
You'll also hear why niching is about far more than marketing. When your work aligns with your strengths, interests, and expertise, it creates deeper trust, stronger therapeutic relationships, and better outcomes for your clients.
If you've been wondering whether it's time to get more specific about who you serve, this conversation will help you approach niching from a place of curiosity, confidence, and alignment.
Because your niche isn't about putting yourself in a box.
It's about discovering where you can make the greatest impact.
In This Episode, You Will Learn
Why so many therapists struggle with the idea of choosing a niche

The difference between being a generalist and a specialist in private practice

How Stacey discovered her niche by paying attention to patterns in her client work

Why curiosity and passion are often the best clues when identifying your niche

The common misconception that niching means turning people away

How trying to help everyone can contribute to burnout

The role scarcity thinking plays in keeping therapists from specializing

Why a clear niche often leads to stronger client outcomes and deeper trust

How becoming known for one area of expertise can open new opportunities beyond one-to-one therapy

Practical questions to help you identify the clients and topics you're most drawn to

Why alignment between your interests, expertise, and client needs creates a more sustainable practice

How niching can help you become the go-to expert in your area of focus

Ready to Get Clear on Your Niche?

Learn more here:


Here is the link to her website: StaceysandersonStacey Sanderson | Holistic Psychotherapist & Life Coach
Here is the link to her compassionate self-inquiry StaceysandersonHeart Wide Open Book

https://www.buildyourprivatepractice.ca/niche-and-copy-crash-course

If you've spent Mental Health Awareness Month advocating for your clients, your community, and the importance of mental health care, this episode is for you.
Because while many therapists are excellent at speaking publicly about burnout, rest, boundaries, and access to care, their own private practices may be quietly running on stress, overextension, and duct-taped systems behind the scenes.
The truth is, your practice is part of your mental health advocacy. The way you structure your time, set your fees, manage your bookings, protect your energy, and build sustainability into your business directly impacts your ability to keep doing this work for the long haul.
In this episode of The Build Your Private Practice Podcast, I'm closing out Mental Health Awareness Month with an honest conversation about what it really means to build a practice that supports your life—not drains it.
We are talking about the difference between public advocacy and private sustainability, the quiet ways therapists' practices can contribute to burnout, and why taking care of your business is also part of taking care of your clients.
If you are ready to stop duct-taping things together and start treating your practice with the same care you offer your clients, this episode will help you look at what needs your attention next.
In this episode, we cover:
• Why a barely surviving practice cannot sustainably serve anyone
• How your practice structure impacts your own mental health and capacity
• The four areas where therapists often experience quiet leakage: booking, pricing, pipeline, and boundaries
• Why your booking system may be costing you more than time
• How outdated pricing can lead to resentment and burnout
• Why a steady client pipeline is protective, not pushy
• The difference between the boundaries you teach and the boundaries you actually keep
• Why taking care of your practice is part of taking care of your clients
• How to choose one practice area to look at before June begins
This is the kind of work we support inside Build Your Private Practice, where we help Canadian therapists build sustainable, values-aligned practices with more clarity, structure, and support.
Explore programs, resources, and support here:
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 therapist who needs the reminder that their practice matters, too.

What does it really mean to build a brand that feels aligned, clear, and sustainable as a therapist or private practice owner?
In this guest episode of The Build Your Private Practice Podcast, Liane sits down with branding and visual storytelling expert Nathalie Amalie to talk about brand clarity, authenticity, and the role your messaging plays in attracting the right clients.
This conversation explores how therapists can create a brand presence that reflects who they are, communicates their values clearly, and supports long term business growth without feeling performative or overwhelming.
Whether you are launching your private practice, refining your niche, or evolving your visibility online, this episode offers grounded insight into building a brand that feels both strategic and human.
Inside this episode, we cover:
• Why brand clarity matters more than trying to stand out
• Common messaging mistakes therapists make online
• How to communicate your value in a clear and aligned way
• The connection between confidence and visibility
• Practical ways to simplify your brand and marketing
Resources and Links:
Nathalie Amalie's Free Brand Clarity Workbook:
Download the Brand Clarity Workbook
Join the Build Your Private Practice Facebook Community:
Build Your Private Practice Facebook Group
Explore more support and resources for Canadian therapists:
Build Your Private Practice- https://www.buildyourprivatepractice.ca/resources/
If this episode resonated with you, make sure to subscribe, leave a review, and share it with another therapist who would benefit from this conversation.

If you've been hoping referrals will keep your caseload full, this episode is for you.
Referrals can be wonderful. They can bring in aligned clients, strengthen your reputation, and help your practice grow through trusted relationships. But referrals alone are not a strategy, and if they are the main thing you are relying on, your practice may start to feel unpredictable.
One month you might have a wave of inquiries. The next month, things feel quiet and uncertain. That inconsistency can leave you second guessing yourself, wondering what changed, and feeling like you have very little control over where your next client is coming from.
The truth is, referrals are helpful, but they are also passive. They depend on someone else remembering you, understanding who you help, and sending the right person your way at the right time. That is not something you can fully plan, measure, or rely on.
In this episode of The Build Your Private Practice Podcast, I'm talking about why referrals are not enough to build a consistent private practice and what therapists need to focus on instead.
We are looking at the difference between being well-liked and being clearly positioned, why word-of-mouth can only take you so far, and how to start creating a more intentional client attraction system that gives you more stability and confidence.
If you are ready to stop waiting for referrals and start building a practice with more predictability, this episode will help you take a more proactive approach.
In this episode, we cover:
• Why referrals are helpful, but not a complete marketing strategy • How relying on word-of-mouth can keep your practice growth unpredictable • The difference between hoping for clients and creating a client attraction system • Why clear messaging matters if you want people to remember and refer to you • How to make it easier for ideal clients to understand who you help • Why therapists need more than visibility to create consistent inquiries • What to focus on instead if you want a steadier flow of clients
This is exactly the work we focus on inside Accelerate Your Practice, where we help therapists simplify their marketing, strengthen their messaging, and build a consistent, reliable flow of ideal clients.
Learn more about Accelerate Your Practice here: https://www.buildyourprivatepractice.ca/accelerate-your-practice
Join us inside our Facebook community for Canadian Therapists: https://www.facebook.com/groups/buildyourprivatepractice
Explore more tools, resources, and support at: https://buildyourprivatepractice.ca
If this episode resonated with you, subscribe to The Build Your Private Practice Podcast and share it with another therapist who needs to hear this.

If you've been showing up, putting in effort, and still feeling unsure where your next client is coming from, this episode is for you.
Maybe you've tried social media, directories, networking, or referrals and you are still not seeing the consistency you want. It can start to feel confusing and frustrating, especially when it seems like everyone is giving different advice.
The truth is, not all marketing strategies work the same way and not all of them are meant for the stage of practice you are in. What actually creates consistent clients is not doing more. It is doing the right things with clarity and consistency.
In this episode of The Build Your Private Practice Podcast, I break down what is actually working right now to help therapists build a steady stream of clients and what might be keeping you stuck without realizing it.
We are talking about the difference between busy marketing and effective marketing, the common traps therapists fall into, and how to start focusing your time and energy on what truly moves the needle.
If you are ready to stop second guessing and start building real consistency in your practice, this episode will help you simplify your approach.
In this episode, we cover:
• Why more marketing does not always mean more clients
• The most common strategies that waste time without creating results
• What actually creates consistency in client attraction
• The difference between visibility and conversion
• How to identify what is working in your practice right now
• Why clarity in your messaging changes everything
• How to focus your efforts so you can build momentum instead of starting over
This is exactly the work we focus on inside Accelerate Your Practice, where we help therapists simplify their marketing, strengthen their messaging, and build a consistent, reliable flow of ideal clients.
Learn more about Accelerate Your Practice here:
https://www.buildyourprivatepractice.ca/accelerate-your-practice
Join us inside our Facebook community for Canadian Therapists:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/buildyourprivatepractice
Explore more tools, resources, and support at:
https://buildyourprivatepractice.ca
If this episode resonated with you, subscribe to The Build Your Private Practice Podcast and share it with another therapist who needs to hear this.