BTS of 20 Million Views on Reels with Therapist Lauren Auer [episode 72]
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Listen to BTS of 20 Million Views on Reels with Therapist Lauren Auer on: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTube | Your player of choice
I’m excited to welcome Lauren Auer to the podcast!
Lauren Auer is a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor, Certified Somatic Practitioner, and Private Practice Owner in central Illinois who has dedicated her career to helping people understand the often-invisible wounds of emotional trauma.
Through her practice, Steadfast Counseling, and her writing on Substack (where she reaches over 3,000 subscribers), Lauren bridges the gap between clinical expertise and real-world application.
Her Instagram account has grown to over 200,000 followers who connect with her honest, research-backed approach to topics like toxic positivity and the complex journey of trauma recovery.
What I love about Lauren is that her entire Instagram presence is rooted in HELPING people.
She’s not chasing trends or forcing growth. That intention has created an amazing ripple effect in her business.
And yeah, she had a pretty viral reel that blew up her Instagram (and her business)!!
In today’s episode, we’re going BTS of 20 million views on reels.
Two years ago, Lauren shared a simple reel that went CRAZY viral. It totally took on a life of its own, and now has over 20 million views!
This came with excitement, chaos, and everything in between. Ultimately, this gave Lauren even more confidence in her voice and her boundaries.
She realized she could continue to show up authentically, without trying to please everyone who landed on her page.
Since then, Lauren has leaned into topics like religious trauma and politics. She allows herself to be more honest, more exposed, and more supported.
She’s also grown a thriving Substack where she goes deeper. She loves building something she fully controls, with both free AND paid readers who genuinely value her work!
What I admire most about Lauren? Her goals are grounded in authenticity, NOT hustle. She’s exploring future, high-ticket offers, but she isn’t rushing.
Her focus is on impact AND integrity. Our conversation is a refreshing look at slow and aligned growth and what building a sustainable business is truly like.
I’m sooo proud of Lauren, and I know you’re going to love this one!!
In this episode, BTS of 20 Million Views on Reels with Therapist Lauren Auer, we cover:
Lauren’s deep trauma background + how her varied experience shaped her business
What showing up on Instagram looked like for her in the beginning
Why she now prefers speaking-style reels over lip-syncs or trends
Her IG growth journey + how one reel led to 20M views & changed everything
The real pros and cons of going viral
How Lauren navigates sharing more controversial topics online
What Substack is + how Lauren uses it to go deeper with her audience
Her thoughts on future offers + doing it in an aligned way
Marketing yourself without hustle & choosing strategies that genuinely fit YOU
Lauren’s simple, client-centered approach for content ideas & creation
Resources & Links:
⭐️ Lauren’s viral reel
⭐️ This episode is sponsored by Alma, the financially rewarding way to go in-network
⭐️ This episode is sponsored by Jane - use code: KELLY2MONTH for a 2-month grace period
⭐️ Private Practice Academy Bundle (PPA)
⭐️ Reels Membership
⭐️ Business Coaching Waitlist
⭐️ Free training
⭐️ Caption Guide
Connect with Lauren:
Follow on Instagram @yourtraumatherapist_
Follow on TikTok @YourTraumaTherapist
Join her Substack
Check out her website
More about the Business of Therapy podcast:
Are you a passionate therapist who’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, and more!
Kelly is a licensed therapist and business coach who grew her private practice on Instagram and has helped thousands of other therapists market themselves on social media and effectively start and scale their private practice.
These episodes will leave you feeling empowered and equipped to take action towards your dream of a successful private practice.
Make sure to hit follow/subscribe so you never miss an episode!
