Abundant Practice Podcast: Episode #727

Workshops, Ethics, & Marketing
Host: Allison Puryear
Guest: Katie (Private Practice Therapist & Workshop Facilitator)
Date: January 28, 2026

Episode Overview

This episode centers on Katie’s journey in developing and marketing a transformative collage and writing workshop for women—one that began in local jails and has grown to serve broader community and professional audiences. With her private therapy practice running smoothly, Katie’s focus is on expanding her workshop, all while ensuring ethical boundaries, effective marketing, and sustainable personal and professional growth. The conversation is candid, practical, and full of encouragement, aimed at therapists looking to branch out, run groups, or launch workshops of their own.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Workshop Origin & Mission

[02:26–06:27]

• Katie’s “Origin Story”: She shares her personal transformation through sobriety and rediscovering art, which inspired her to volunteer at the jail using collage with women inmates.
  • “It’s my workshop that I really birthed... which is just my heart and soul.” – Katie [02:26]
• The workshop's popularity grew organically, leading to positive feedback like, “I have been going to traditional talk therapy for over 10 years, and today I figured out something in just one of these collage and writing sessions that I’ve never been able to see before.” [04:24]
• Transitioned from the volunteer setting to for-profit spaces, with the broader goal of expanding its reach and impact.

2. Ethics of Running a Therapy-Adjacent Workshop

[06:27–15:40]

• Business Structure:
  • Katie separates her therapy practice (PLLC) and her workshop business (LLC), originally set up as a coaching LLC for creative control and ethical clarity.
• Dual Relationships & Referrals:
  • Ethical boundary: She does not take workshop participants as clients in her therapy practice and instead offers quality referrals or coaching options.
    • “I cannot take them as a therapy client. I can either set them up with a bomb ass referral... or use it as an opportunity... to offer my online coaching services.” – Katie [09:14]
• Legal & Insurance Considerations:
  • Has consulted lawyers, obtained general liability insurance for events, and is considering trademarks and copyright for the workshop material.
  • “When it comes to networking... it hasn’t really led to a ton of... therapy referrals, but it’s led to really solid friendships, and therapists coming to my workshop.” – Katie [10:33]
• Photo/Video Permissions & Testimonials:
  • Struggles to ask for photos and testimonials, but collects organic feedback.
    • Allison suggests, “People want to give back to you... So this is just your stuff coming up and you can just let them give back to you.” [15:13]
  • Solution: Use consent releases and consider written post-event evaluations with an opt-in for using their comments.

3. Workshop Marketing Strategies

[15:40–29:23]

• Personal, Authentic Word-of-Mouth:
  • Relies heavily on conversations and organic invitations, especially since traditional ads and posts yield limited results.
    • “My mantra is like, conversations equals conversions... I just try to tell as many people as possible.” – Katie [17:11]
• Creative Promotions:
  • Shared a story of incentivizing attendees by tipping servers 100% during a solo dinner outing if someone signed up while she was present, directly engaging a psychology student/server who attended herself. [16:18–17:49]
• Social Media & Videos:
  • Experimented with Facebook videos that surprisingly garnered thousands of views, even if direct signups didn’t match those numbers.
• Confidence & Asking for the Sale:
  • Katie acknowledges the uncomfortable but necessary step of inviting people directly.
    • Allison notes, “When people are training to be salespeople, it seems really obvious that you need to ask for the sale. Right? But as therapists... we’re like, I’m not asking, I’m laying a path... And I think, as therapists, like, I just make the assumption everybody’s signing up from the call.” [20:11]
  • Katie is building comfort, especially with strangers or those who show interest.

4. Follow-Up, Retention, and Leveraging Past Participants

[23:47–27:21]

• Reinviting Past Attendees:
  • Allison encourages following up with former participants, offering ‘first dibs’ on future workshops.
    • “Anybody who’s done it in the past... as a former participant, before I open this up to everybody else, I’m going to give you dips.” – Allison [26:09]
  • Katie plans to act on this, especially after her biggest event (22 attendees in Dec 2024).
• Ease of Registration:
  • Allison recommends prioritizing seamless signup processes—links, simple registration, and repeated (but not excessive) reminders.
    • “When we get off this call, I want you to figure out... on Facebook, how do you make it easier... And how annoying are you willing to be?” – Allison [28:39]

5. Ongoing Growth & Mindset

[29:08–29:23]

• Mindset management and self-kindness are discussed as Katie gets comfortable with new tech, marketing, and embracing a learning curve.
• Allison’s take: “If you can make it so smooth and easy, then they’ll come in at a much quicker pace.” [29:22]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Impact and Calling:
  • “I truly believe I was put on this earth to serve women through my collage and writing workshop.” – Katie [05:09]
• On Boundaries in Marketing Ethical Non-Therapy Services:
  • “My gut tells me that I have to explain to them that I cannot take them since...that would be like a dual relationship.” – Katie [07:23]
• On Asking for the Sale (and Therapist Mindsets):
  • “As therapists, we’re like, I’m not asking, I’m laying a path... but with this workshop, you are going to have to just be like, you should come. I’d really love to have you in there.” – Allison [20:11]
• On Participant Experience:
  • “Everyone leaves with this deer in headlights look of, like, what just happened? That was incredible. Most common feedback I get is, ‘This was so much more than what I’d bargained for.’” – Katie [22:21]
• On Following Up with Past Attendees:
  • “If people have already gotten great results and it’s not like, okay, life’s fixed, I’m cooked. So making sure that your former people are maybe the first to know...” – Allison [25:54]

Timestamps for Key Segments

| Timestamp | Topic | |------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | [02:26] | Katie’s workshop origin story and personal motivation | | [04:24] | Participant feedback illustrating impact | | [06:27] | Structure and legal/ethical considerations for separating therapy and workshop businesses | | [10:33] | Networking, outreach to university professors, and audience targeting | | [13:57] | Ethics of testimonials, photos, and participant permissions | | [15:40] | Approaching marketing creatively, using Facebook and word-of-mouth | | [20:11] | Sales mindset shifts for therapists | | [22:21] | The power of direct invitations and dealing with self-doubt | | [26:09] | Strategy for re-engaging previous workshop participants | | [28:39] | Action plan: streamlining sign-up and asking directly | | [29:22] | Closing advice: make it easy for people to say yes |

Key Takeaways for Therapists

• Separate Legal Entities Simplify Boundaries: Establish separate businesses for therapy and non-therapy offerings to clarify roles and avoid dual relationships.
• Ethics Matter—But Don't Paralyze: Consult legal counsel when in doubt, especially regarding marketing, photos, and testimonials.
• Marketing is Personal: Direct invitations and passionate storytelling often outperform passive flyers or ads. Don’t underestimate the value of authenticity and consistent follow-up.
• Leverage Your Raving Fans: Prioritize those that already love your offerings—make them feel special and keep them in the loop.
• Make Sign-Up Frictionless: Remove technology hurdles for your audience, and don’t be afraid to (persistently and kindly) ask for the sale.
• Practice Self-Compassion: Marketing, especially as a therapist, stretches comfort zones—incremental progress is still progress.

If you’re a therapist considering workshops or alternative income streams, this episode offers both practical guidance and morale-boosting wisdom for your next steps.