Listen to The Reality of Balancing a Full-Time Job & Starting a Private Practice on: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTube | Your player of choice
I’m excited to welcome Michelle Stiles to the podcast!
Michelle Stiles, LMHC, is a licensed mental health counselor based in Syracuse, New York, where she provides virtual therapy throughout the state. She specializes in panic disorder, OCD, and anxiety using evidence-based approaches like CBT and exposure therapy.
Michelle opened her private practice part-time during the pandemic and steadily grew it into a thriving full-time practice.
She’s also a Private Practice Academy Bundle (PPA) alumna, and her journey mirrors mine in so many ways.
In today’s episode, we’re talking about the reality of balancing a full-time job while building a private practice.
Michelle shares what it was really like working in community mental health while slowly building a private practice on the side. Although her full-time job offered stability, she was deeply burned out. The more clients she saw in private practice, the more she realized this was the work she truly wanted to do.
Making the leap wasn’t easy. We discuss the fear of leaving a steady paycheck, navigating health insurance, and eventually making the decision to transition completely to private pay.
Those difficult decisions paid off. Michelle now charges $200 per session while working fewer hours than she did before.
We also talk about the importance of niching down and learning how to confidently market yourself online. Instagram initially felt uncomfortable for Michelle, but it ultimately became a valuable source of both ideal clients and strong referral relationships with other therapists.
Her story is proof that slow, intentional growth, combined with the right support, can completely change both your business and your life.
In this episode, The Reality of Balancing a Full-Time Job & Starting a Private Practice with Michelle Stiles, we cover:
- What it really looks like to balance a full-time job while gradually building a private practice
- Michelle’s breaking point with burnout in community mental health
- The “sink or swim” moment that led her to fully commit to private practice
- Navigating the fear of leaving a stable job
- Why Michelle decided to leave insurance panels and transition to private pay
- How niching down helped her market with more clarity and confidence
- Using Instagram to attract clients and build referral relationships
- How charging premium rates allowed her to work fewer hours while earning more
- What Michelle’s practice and life look like today
- Advice for therapists who are just getting started
Resources & Links:
⭐️ This episode is sponsored by Jane – use code: KELLY2MONTH for a 2-month grace period
⭐️ This episode is sponsored by Alma, the financially rewarding way to go in-network
⭐️ Private Practice Academy Bundle (PPA)
Connect with Michelle:
- Follow on Instagram @panicandanxiety
- Check out her website
Related Episodes:
- Episode 26: How She Filled Her Caseload in 4 Months with Maria Reiter
- Episode 28: Niching Down & Gaining 27k Instagram Followers with Therapist Dr. Salena Justice
- Episode 63: How to Get Clients from Instagram with a Small Following with Trauma Therapist Sarra Lashhab
More about the Business of Therapy podcast:
Are you a passionate therapist that’s burnt out and ready to transition to private pay? You’re asking yourself questions like “how do I build a business?”, “how can I effectively use Instagram to market myself?” and “how can I scale a private practice?”
Welcome to the Business of Therapy podcast where we’ll answer those questions and more! Here you’ll find honest conversations about the good and the bad of being a therapist, tactical advice and best practices for marketing yourself on Instagram, and solidarity and community to find your own version of success as a therapist.
Join your host, Kelly McKenna, and her guests as they dive deeper into topics such as navigating burnout, mastering your mindset and boundaries, and tactics and strategies for marketing on Instagram.
Kelly is a licensed therapist and business coach who grew her private practice on Instagram and has helped thousands of therapists market themselves on social media while building successful private practices.
These episodes will leave you feeling empowered and equipped to take action toward building the private practice you’ve been dreaming about.
Be sure to follow or subscribe so you never miss an episode!