Podcast Summary: Private Practice Startup Podcast

Episode 186: “When Doing Therapy Just Isn't Enough: How to Develop Alternate Streams of Income”
Hosts: Dr. Kate Campbell & Katie Lemieux
Guest: Marissa Lawton, Counselor, Business Strategist & Online Marketing Expert
Date: May 16, 2020

Episode Overview

This episode dives into why and how private practice therapists can develop alternate streams of income outside of traditional therapy sessions, especially in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. With therapy practitioners facing capped earnings, burnout, and practical/lifestyle constraints, the conversation emphasizes the vast range of skills clinicians already possess that can be repurposed to diversify income—without needing more certifications or degrees.

Guest Marissa Lawton, a licensed counselor and business coach, shares practical guidance, reflection exercises, and real examples for therapists looking to supplement or stabilize their earnings, enhance work-life balance, and even find new creative outlets.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Why Alternative Income Streams Matter

• Therapy as "Time for Money": In traditional clinical practice, income is directly tied to hours worked, which can be limiting, especially in times of personal or global crisis.
• Pandemic Pressures: COVID-19 has forced many therapists to balance work with parenting, home life, and decreased caseloads, highlighting the need for flexibility and financial stability from diversified income.

Quote:
“Therapy is, you know, you’re trading your time for money. And it’s easy maybe when there’s a structure or you have a sitter…but when you have like no time, you’re trying to figure out how that’s all working.”
— Katie Lemieux (04:29)

• Burnout & Capacity Issues: Some therapists have expanding caseloads due to pandemic stress, others have less work but more emotional heaviness.

Quote:
“All of the topics are so heavy—COVID, COVID, COVID... Having another income stream, or something else, can kind of lighten the load.”
— Marissa Lawton (09:14)

2. You Already Have the Skills You Need

• No Extra Credentialing Required: The clinical, psychoeducational, coaching, and teaching skills therapists use every day can be “repackaged.” There’s no need for another degree or certification to start many non-therapy income streams.
• Hidden Skills: The early sessions heavy in psychoeducation, the strategic thinking in treatment planning, group facilitation—these are all foundations for viable products and services.

Quote:
“You don’t need another degree, you don’t need a coaching certificate… Our clinical skills are so valuable not only in session, but they translate to so many areas and avenues outside of session.”
— Marissa Lawton (05:25)

3. Reflection Before Action

• Start with Intention: Decide if you want a low-key supplement (like group meditations or book clubs) or a larger-scale new business arm (like online courses or coaching programs).
• Questions to Ask:
  • How big do I want this to be?
  • Who do I want to serve?
  • How much money do I want or need to make?
  • Do I prefer “hands-on” interactive work or passive income models?

Quote:
“You need to answer a few questions first—mainly, do you want to do something on a big scale or on a small scale?”
— Marissa Lawton (10:33)

4. Creative Examples of Alternative Income Streams

• Online Meditation Groups: Clients pay a nominal fee for guided online meditations—quick to set up, easy to market, leverages existing skills.
• Themed Book Clubs: Curated by the therapist for specific client demographics (e.g., books for women approaching empty nest), with value added through expert-led discussions.
• Workshops & Trainings: Convert popular in-person workshops to online platforms; charge per seat and serve larger audiences with less individual time input.
• Consulting & Brain-Picking Sessions: Charge for specific advice or strategy sessions, both within and outside clinical expertise.
• Leverage Non-Therapy Talents: Skills unrelated to clinical work (e.g., rose gardening) can be monetized online.

Notable Segment:
“One of my students is doing a book club—she’s not charging a ton… It’s books curated by an expert… Your knowledge of where they are in the lifecycle, what they’re going through at that time… You can totally charge for that!”
— Marissa Lawton (17:35)

5. The Practicalities of Online Offerings

• Online is Easier to Launch: No need for months of marketing; you can ideate and launch quickly, even in a few days.
• One-to-Many Model: Online platforms make group programs or webinars more profitable and less draining than live events.
• Adaptability: The move online allows continuity, even in crisis situations (e.g., pandemic, hurricanes).

Quote:
“With virtual stuff, you can have an idea on Monday and it be launched in a few days… You have the opportunity to almost create money with your ideas.”
— Katie Lemieux (23:39)

6. The Mindset Shift

• From Scarcity to Inspired Action: The hosts and Marissa encourage viewing new ventures as opportunities, not as reactions to crisis or scarcity.
• Feedback, Not Failure: Trying out and iterating products/services is part of the process—market reaction provides useful guidance for refining offers.

Quote:
“Sometimes marketing is a crapshoot… Part of this is just doing it and experimenting with it. If it goes great, awesome. If it doesn’t, that’s okay—it’s not a failure, it’s just more information.”
— Katie Lemieux (18:56)

7. Future-Proofing Your Practice

• Economic Resilience: Having multiple “faucets” of income allows for flexibility if primary streams are interrupted.
• The Rise of the Gig Economy: The coronavirus pandemic is expected to only speed up the trend towards multiple, flexible income sources.

Quote:
“The gig economy... was going to be 30% by 2030. And I am going to bet that it happens even more so [now].”
— Marissa Lawton (24:23)

Offerings, Reflections & Takeaways

• Experiment & Brainstorm: Try Marissa's “365 ways to make money” exercise—get creative, even silly, and see where ideas lead.
• Monetize All Your Knowledge: Not just clinical skills; personal talents and life knowledge can be of value to others.
• Charge for Brain-Picking: Be intentional about giving away advice, and don’t be afraid to put a value on your time and expertise.

Quote:
“You can charge for your ideas… But don’t negate the other talents, skills, and things you have that you can totally monetize.”
— Marissa Lawton (26:16)

• Final Message:
  “I never want to take anyone out of mental health… but we can do both, and. You have everything you need, and you can really take your income into your own hands.”
  — Marissa Lawton (28:11)

Notable Quotes

• On mindset:
  “I invite you to look at these things not from a scarcity mindset, but from inspired action. Something that really lights you up.”
  — Katie Lemieux (13:49)

• On online ease:
  “If you have 500, 800, 1,000 people on Zoom… for myself, I get nervous live… [but] it feels a lot easier, more effortless, and more fun that way.”
  — Kate Campbell (21:38)

Useful Timestamps

• [03:49] – Introduction of Marissa Lawton and episode purpose
• [05:25] – The myth that more credentials are needed; leveraging existing skills
• [10:33] – How to start: the importance of reflection and intention
• [13:49] – Inspired action vs. scarcity mentality during crisis
• [17:35] – Book club and creative, simple monetization ideas
• [23:39] – Speed of launching online vs. in-person events
• [24:23] – The gig economy and future of flexible work
• [28:11] – Key takeaway: therapists can do both/and, not either/or

Resources & Call-to-Action

• Marissa’s Quiz: Helps therapists determine best-fit online income streams (coaching, courses, memberships, etc.)
  marissalawton.com/quiz ([29:31])
• Private Practice Startup: Free A to Z Cheat Sheet for building and growing a dream practice ([03:05])

Tone & Atmosphere

Warm, supportive, and practical—full of encouragement for clinicians seeking to supplement or reshape their professional lives. The conversation is realistic about challenges but relentlessly focused on creative solutions, abundance, and the power of therapists’ existing skills.

For those wanting to diversify their income, now or in the future, this episode serves as both a motivational boost and a hands-on toolkit for action.