Abundant Practice Podcast: Episode #643 Summary

Release Date: April 26, 2025
Title: How To Switch Niches In An Established Practice
Host: Allison Puryear

Introduction

In Episode #643 of the Abundant Practice Podcast, host Allison Puryear addresses a common dilemma faced by established therapists: transitioning to a new niche within a private practice. The episode delves into strategic approaches for integrating a new area of expertise without disrupting existing operations, ensuring both personal fulfillment and business growth.

Listener's Question

A listener reached out with the following query:

"I've been in private practice treating individual women with trauma for 10 years, but I'm getting bored and feeling like I'd like to change it up and try out couples therapy after getting some training and supervision. If and when I start adding this to my practice, can I add a page on couples counseling since I work so hard at SEO? Or do you recommend starting an entirely new website and building up that niche from scratch? How can I talk about having two niches with other providers without confusing them? Thanks."

Allison's Response

1. Embracing Flexibility in Niches

Allison begins by reassuring the listener that it's entirely feasible to evolve one’s therapeutic focus. She emphasizes that niches are not rigid and that diversifying services can enrich both the therapist's and clients' experiences.

“I love that you're switching it up to keep things interesting. I hope that other people listening or watching this know that you are not stuck with your niche, with your modality, with your services.”
— Allison Puryear [00:50]

2. Identifying the Couples Counseling Niche

Allison suggests that the listener define a more specific niche within couples counseling to seamlessly integrate it with her existing trauma-focused practice. For instance, specializing in couples where one or both partners have experienced trauma can create a cohesive service offering.

3. Strategic Integration Based on Practice Goals

Allison outlines four distinct scenarios to guide therapists in deciding how to incorporate a new niche:

a. Primarily Individual with Supplemental Couples Counseling

“If your ideal balance is couples to individual sessions, you can keep your current site and SEO and write up your couples page and SEO that as well.”
— Allison Puryear [02:30]

• Action Steps:
  • Add a dedicated couples counseling page to the existing website.
  • Incorporate references to couples services on the homepage.
  • Highlight the ability to handle both individual and couples therapy in networking efforts.

b. Primarily Couples Counseling with Trauma Focus

“If your ideal client is impacted by trauma and you want to do primarily couples counseling, make your homepage about couples, the dynamics that happen when there has been some trauma.”
— Allison Puryear [03:05]

• Action Steps:
  • Shift the homepage focus to couples therapy while maintaining specialty pages for individual counseling.
  • Continue SEO efforts with new content targeting trauma-impacted couples.
  • Emphasize couples counseling in networking to attract relevant referrals.

c. Couples Counseling as a Distinct Service Separating from Trauma

“If your couple's work is as much of a departure from trauma as you can get and you just want to sprinkle some in, I would consider a specialty page or a separate site.”
— Allison Puryear [04:15]

• Action Steps:
  • Create a separate specialty page or an entirely new website for the distinct couples counseling niche.
  • Strategically share the new site with relevant therapists and couples counselors.
  • Develop separate online listings (e.g., Psychology Today) tailored to the new niche.

d. Transitioning Predominantly to Couples Counseling

“If you want to go whole hog with your non-trauma couples niche and make it the majority of your practice, I would transition your current site. I'd switch up the homepage.”
— Allison Puryear [05:10]

• Action Steps:
  • Redefine the homepage to cater primarily to the new couples counseling focus.
  • Develop specialty pages centered around couples therapy.
  • Adjust blogging and SEO strategies to attract the new target demographic.
  • Continue to handle individual trauma clients, referring them out if necessary to manage workload.

4. Practical Tools and Programs

Allison introduces her Limitless Practice program, designed to assist therapists in making significant changes such as switching niches or establishing new ones. She highlights that graduates of the program often work fewer hours while earning more, underscoring its effectiveness.

“Our Limitless Practice program helps you make those changes, whether it's switching niches or establishing a niche. It also can help you get off insurance or increase your private pay rate.”
— Allison Puryear [05:50]

5. Resources for Implementation

To aid listeners in defining their niches, Allison offers a free Niche versus Ideal Client worksheet, which is intended to clarify target demographics and streamline marketing efforts.

“Today's free worksheet is the Niche versus Ideal Client sheet. It's going to help you get more specific so that your marketing is much, much easier.”
— Allison Puryear [06:00]

Listeners are encouraged to message her the word "sheets" to receive the resource.

Conclusion

Allison wraps up the episode by reiterating the importance of strategic planning when expanding or changing niches within a private practice. She empowers therapists to embrace new opportunities while maintaining the integrity and success of their existing services.

Key Takeaways

• Flexibility is Key: Therapists are not confined to a single niche and can successfully integrate new services.
• Strategic Integration: Choose from different models (supplementary, primary shift, distinct separation) based on your practice goals.
• Utilize Resources: Leverage programs like Limitless Practice and available worksheets to facilitate smooth transitions.
• Maintain Balance: Ensure that expanding services does not overwhelm the practice by managing client loads and referrals appropriately.

Resources Mentioned

• Limitless Practice Program: Aimed at helping therapists switch or establish niches, increase private pay rates, and reduce reliance on insurance.
• Free Worksheet: Niche versus Ideal Client available by messaging Allison with the word "sheets".
• AbundancePracticeBuilding.com: Access to worksheets, training, and further support.

Connect with Allison

For additional support or inquiries:

• Email: help@abundancepracticebuilding.com
• Website: www.abundancepracticebuilding.com

Empower your private practice with strategic niche integration to achieve more free time, increased income, and greater professional fulfillment.