Abundant Practice Podcast - Episode #667: Ask Allison Live

Release Date: July 14, 2025
Host: Allison Puryear

In Episode #667 of the Abundant Practice Podcast, host Allison Puryear engages with listeners in a live "Ask Allison" session, addressing a range of questions from therapists striving to build, launch, and expand their private practices. This detailed summary captures the essence of the discussions, offering valuable insights and actionable advice for therapists navigating the challenges of private practice.

1. Launching a Bare Bones Practice on a Tight Budget

Speaker: Elliot
Timestamp: [01:54] - [07:56]

Elliot, a first-time participant, shares her struggle to launch a private practice amidst financial constraints and family responsibilities. She seeks guidance on establishing a minimalistic practice setup.

Key Points:

• Virtual Practice: Allison emphasizes the importance of operating virtually to significantly reduce overhead costs, such as office rent.

  "I would say first, the most obvious is be virtual. Right. That's going to be a lot less than rent somewhere." [02:39]

• Defining a Niche: Elliot specializes in serving transracial adult adoptees dealing with identity and trauma. Allison advises deepening this niche by understanding where ideal clients seek help and the specific problems they aim to resolve.

• Networking with Medical Providers: Allison recommends leveraging relationships with primary care physicians (PCPs) as a primary referral source. She highlights that most referrals come from one's own medical providers rather than broader networks.

  "I think the most referrals I've gotten from any medical providers have been my own medical providers." [05:25]

• Public Speaking and Community Engagement: To increase visibility, Allison suggests participating in conferences for adoption professionals and conducting webinars for adoption groups. Engaging in public speaking can position Elliot as an expert in her niche.

• Local Resources: Given Elliot's location in Minnesota—a state heavily involved in adoption—Allison encourages connecting with local adoption agencies and educational programs to foster referrals and collaborations.

2. Expanding into Group Practice and Leadership Challenges

Speaker: Carmen
Timestamp: [09:24] - [21:43]

Carmen, a somatic therapist specializing in burnout prevention for busy women professionals, seeks advice on transitioning to group work and enhancing visibility.

Key Points:

• Leadership in Group Practice: Allison underscores that managing a group practice requires strong leadership skills. She warns that without proper training, group practices can quickly become dysfunctional.

  "Leadership is the most important piece of group practice." [09:46]

• Setting Clear Expectations: Effective leadership involves setting clear expectations, maintaining accountability, and providing consistent follow-ups to prevent a toxic work environment.

• Financial Management: Understanding and managing the financial aspects is crucial. Allison points out that profit margins in group practices are often slimmer than anticipated, necessitating careful tracking of client numbers and expenses.

• Legal Considerations: Compliance with state-specific laws regarding employee benefits and taxes is essential. Allison advises group practice owners to be well-versed in these regulations to avoid legal pitfalls.

• Resources for Group Practice Owners: She recommends the Group Practice Exchange, a membership site offering contracts, leadership guidance, and support tailored for group practice owners.

3. Balancing Marketing Efforts with a Growing Client Base

Speaker: Brand
Timestamp: [21:47] - [25:56]

Brand, a private practitioner nearing her weekly client goal, grapples with maintaining marketing activities without overwhelming her schedule.

Key Points:

• Selective Marketing Strategies: Allison advises focusing on the most effective marketing channels that yield the highest return with minimal effort. This approach prevents burnout and ensures sustained client acquisition.

  "It's finding like, what one recurring thing can you do that has worked best in the past that you, you don't have to do it every single, you know, you don't have to do it twice a week, maybe once a week and see how that works." [24:12]

• Leveraging Existing Relationships: Re-engaging with previous referral sources, such as a trusted doctor's office, can rekindle referrals without extensive new marketing efforts.

• Streamlining Marketing Efforts: Allison emphasizes reducing scattered marketing activities by concentrating on one or two proven strategies, making marketing more manageable and less time-consuming.

• Addressing Marketing Anxiety: Recognizing the anxiety associated with fluctuating referrals, Allison encourages therapists to identify low-effort, high-impact marketing tactics that align with their current client load and business goals.

4. Overcoming Marketing and Writer's Block

Speaker: Rachel
Timestamp: [26:01] - [32:37]

Rachel, a therapist working with neurodivergent and LGBTQIA+ individuals, seeks solutions for writer's block hindering her marketing efforts.

Key Points:

• Brain Dumping Techniques: Allison suggests outward expression methods like brain dumping or audio recordings to bypass perfectionism and generate raw content that can later be refined.

  "If it's like more bottom up, then I would love you just to brain dump. Like, don't try to make it cohesive, just brain dump." [28:00]

• Utilizing Tools and Support: Leveraging AI tools like ChatGPT for editing or hiring copywriters can help organize and polish marketing content without stifling creativity.

• Collaborative Editing: Enlisting the help of friends or colleagues adept at editing can provide the necessary support to transform raw ideas into coherent marketing messages.

• Clarifying Niche and Messaging: Allison emphasizes the importance of clearly defining the niche and articulating the specific pain points and relief clients seek, which can streamline marketing content creation.

• Addressing Financial Concerns in Marketing: Rachel also touches on the temptation of loans for funding marketing efforts. Allison advises cautious consideration of loan terms and exploring community-based support options as alternatives to minimize financial risk.

5. Additional Insights and Recommendations

Throughout the session, Allison offers overarching advice applicable to all participants:

• Niche Specificity: Clearly defining and understanding your niche allows for more targeted and effective marketing strategies.

• Thoughtful Marketing: Emphasizing quality over quantity in marketing efforts ensures that activities are sustainable and aligned with business objectives.

• Community Engagement: Building and nurturing relationships within relevant communities can lead to organic referrals and sustained practice growth.

• Resource Utilization: Taking advantage of membership programs, such as the Abundance Party and Group Practice Exchange, provides therapists with tools, training, and support essential for practice building and management.

Conclusion

In this live "Ask Allison" episode, Allison Puryear provides insightful and practical advice to therapists at various stages of their private practice journey. From launching a cost-effective virtual practice and expanding into group practice management to balancing marketing efforts and overcoming creative blocks, Allison's guidance is tailored to empower therapists to build thriving, fulfilling private practices. Her emphasis on leadership, niche clarity, and strategic marketing serves as a valuable roadmap for listeners seeking to enhance their professional paths.

Notable Quotes:

• "Leadership is the most important piece of group practice." – Allison [09:46]
• "It's finding like, what one recurring thing can you do that has worked best in the past that you, you don't have to do it every single, you know, you don't have to do it twice a week, maybe once a week and see how that works." – Allison [24:12]
• "If it's like more bottom up, then I would love you just to brain dump. Like, don't try to make it cohesive, just brain dump." – Allison [28:00]

For more resources, visit www.abundancepracticebuilding.com to access free checklists, worksheets, and additional support to build your private practice.