Abundant Practice Podcast Summary
Episode #664: How To Market Non-Traditional Therapy
Host: Allison Puryear
Release Date: July 5, 2025
Introduction
In Episode #664 of the Abundant Practice Podcast, host Allison Puryear delves into the challenges therapists face when marketing non-traditional therapy modalities. The episode addresses the common struggle of explaining unconventional therapeutic approaches without overcomplicating the message, ensuring potential clients feel understood and attracted to the unique offerings.
Understanding the Challenge
Allison begins by acknowledging the widespread difficulty therapists encounter when presenting non-traditional therapies such as expressive arts therapy or somatic therapy. These modalities diverge from the conventional image of therapy—typically two chairs and verbal dialogue—and often require a different approach to communicate their value effectively.
“When the way you work looks different from what people picture when they hear the word therapy, it's really common to feel like you have to over explain it, defend it, justify it.”
— Allison Puryear [04:30]
Shifting the Focus: From Modality to Client Experience
Instead of diving deep into the specifics of the therapeutic techniques, Allison emphasizes the importance of connecting with clients by reflecting their experiences and emotions. The key is to make clients feel seen and understood, which naturally builds trust and piques their curiosity about the therapy offered.
“The way to help people get non-traditional therapy isn't to explain the modality. It is to describe their lived experience so clearly and compassionately that they feel seen.”
— Allison Puryear [07:15]
Crafting Resonant Messaging
Allison provides practical examples of how therapists can articulate their approach by focusing on the client's pain points and desires. Instead of starting with technical jargon, she suggests beginning with statements that mirror the clients' struggles and aspirations.
Examples include:
- “You've tried talk therapy before. Maybe it helped a little, but you still felt stuck.”
- “You had a hard time putting words to what you're going through.”
- “Your anxiety isn't just a thought loop. It's tightness in your throat, restlessness in your legs.”
- “You're exhausted from intellectualizing everything, but insight hasn't brought you peace.”
“When you reflect back how frustrating it is to know something's wrong but not be able to talk your way out of it, they're going to lean in.”
— Allison Puryear [12:45]
Introducing Your Unique Approach
After validating the client's experience, Allison recommends briefly introducing your therapeutic approach as a solution tailored to their specific needs. This method ensures that the explanation is both relevant and engaging without overwhelming the client with information.
Sample Introductions:
- “In my work, we slow down and listen to the body because sometimes the body holds things we can't quite say.”
- “Sometimes I'll invite you to express something through movement or art or sound, not because it needs to be pretty or perfect, but because it helps your system process in a way that words can't always reach.”
- “This isn't traditional therapy, and that's on purpose. It's for people who've tried traditional therapy and didn't feel it went deep enough.”
“Notice how you're not explaining your entire modality. You're giving just enough of a window into why your approach helps them.”
— Allison Puryear [18:20]
Emphasizing Experiential and Embodied Healing
Allison highlights that non-traditional therapies often work by bypassing the "talking brain" and accessing deeper emotional and physiological layers. This experiential and embodied approach is challenging to convey through words alone, underscoring the importance of creating an environment where clients can experience the therapy firsthand.
“The truth is, a lot of these non-traditional approaches work because they bypass the talking brain. They access emotions and memories and healing in ways that are experiential, embodied, intuitive.”
— Allison Puryear [22:10]
Filtering and Attracting Ideal Clients
A crucial aspect of effective marketing, according to Allison, is filtering out clients who may not resonate with your approach while attracting those who are actively seeking the unique services you offer. This selective process ensures that therapists do not burn out attempting to convince everyone, but instead focus on engaging with clients who will truly benefit from their methods.
“You don't need to appeal to every client. Let your messaging gently filter out the people who aren't ready or interested and pull in the ones who are quietly hoping that something different is out there.”
— Allison Puryear [26:55]
Practical Tools and Resources
Allison concludes the episode by introducing a free worksheet on website copy tips, designed to help therapists articulate their non-traditional approaches effectively. She encourages listeners to utilize these resources to refine their messaging, making it more aligned with the language that resonates with their target clients.
“Today's free worksheet is website copy tips. It's good for all therapists no matter how you practice, but I find it really clarifying for those who do things less traditionally.”
— Allison Puryear [30:00]
Conclusion
Marketing non-traditional therapy requires a delicate balance of validating client experiences and introducing your unique approach succinctly. By focusing on the client's lived experiences and emotions, therapists can effectively communicate the value of their services without overcomplicating the message. Allison Puryear provides actionable insights and resources to guide therapists in refining their marketing strategies, ensuring they attract the right clients while maintaining a fulfilling practice.
For additional support and resources mentioned in this episode:
- Free Worksheet: Access website copy tips at AbundancePracticeBuilding.com
- Membership Program: Learn more about the Abundance Party at www.abundanceparty.com
- Support Email: help@abundancepracticebuilding.com