How to Network & Get Private Pay Clients with Couples Therapist Alea DiGirolamo [episode 90]
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Listen to How to Network & Get Private Pay Clients with Couples Therapist Alea DiGirolamo on: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Your player of choice
I’m excited to welcome Alea DiGirolamo to the podcast today!
Alea DiGirolamo, LCSW, is a couples therapist and founder of ATD Therapy in New York City. She specializes in helping couples strengthen communication, rebuild trust, and create healthier, more fulfilling relationships. With advanced training in the Gottman Method, Alea works with couples, individuals, and parents navigating relationship challenges, life transitions, and family dynamics.
Alea has been in private practice since 2022, and her business has changed a LOT in that time.
When she first started, she was earning $4200 per month. Alea joined PPA and Reels Membership in 2024, and since then, her business has totally transformed.
She’s grown her Instagram community from 1k to over 13.5k followers.
She now earns between $250,000 - 300,000 per YEAR, which is incredible!!
What’s been the biggest factor contributing to Alea’s growth during this time? Networking!
In today’s episode, we’re talking about how to network & get private pay clients.
Building a premium private pay practice does NOT happen overnight (nor by accident).
Networking has been Alea’s secret to keeping her caseload full. Instead of relying heavily on insurance panels, she’s focused on building genuine relationships with other therapists, attorneys, matchmakers, and referral sources.
She’s not trying to do allll the things, or be everywhere online!
Over time, these connections became a consistent source of premium private pay referrals.
For Alea, building a business while being an introvert and mom of two hasn’t been easy. She’s struggled with social anxiety around networking, balancing admin work, client sessions, and family life.
Fortunately, she has learned to create a practice that feels both successful AND sustainable!
If you are trying to build a premium private pay practice, Alea’s story is a reminder that you do NOT need to do everything “perfectly.”
Keep showing up, networking, and building authentic relationships. You’ll be amazed at how much this will transform your business (and your life)!
In this episode, How to Network & Get Private Pay Clients with Couples Therapist Alea DiGirolamo, we cover:
How Alea grew her practice from $4,200 per month to $250k-300k/year
Why networking has been the biggest driver of her premium private pay referrals
How Alea built referral relationships with therapists, attorneys & matchmakers
Why offering referrals first can help create stronger networking relationships
How she balances motherhood, admin work, and a full client caseload
The role Instagram & social media have played in growing her practice
Why consistency matters MORE than perfection with marketing
How raising her fees helped her finally reach her income goals
Why trusting yourself is one of THE most important parts of building a business
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)
⭐️ Reels Membership
⭐️ Business Coaching Waitlist
⭐️ Free training
⭐️ Caption Guide
Connect with Alea:
Follow on Instagram @atdtherapy
Check out her website
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 burn out, 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!
