Private Practice Startup Podcast Episode 193: Up Close and Personal with Katie K. May Release Date: June 15, 2020
Hosts: Dr. Kate Campbell & Katie Lemieux
Guest: Katie K. May

Episode Overview

This episode of the Private Practice Startup Podcast is part of their "Up Close and Personal" series, featuring Katie K. May—widely known as “The Group Guru.” Rather than focusing exclusively on business strategies, Dr. Kate Campbell and Katie Lemieux dive into Katie K. May’s personal journey: her upbringing, family life, transition from journalism to therapy, experiences building a group private practice, her struggles and triumphs, and how she finds meaning and balance in her life as an entrepreneur, partner, and parent.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Getting to Know Katie K. May: Life & Personality

• First Impressions & Tacos

  • The hosts reminisce about meeting Katie and sharing tacos at Cantina Feliz in Pennsylvania—Katie’s favorite Mexican spot, and somewhere that accommodates her celiac disease (05:03).
  • Quote: “I have celiac disease and I can't eat gluten. And they are just like rock stars at knowing me, knowing my allergies...” —Katie K. May (05:03)

• Childhood & Family Dynamics (06:07–07:26)

  • Raised in suburban Springfield, PA; describes herself as “the black sheep,” feeling she didn’t fit in until adulthood.
  • Parents’ divorce at age 10 was tumultuous and colored her worldview and teenage years.
  • Has an older brother and younger sister, both still part of her family circle.

Career Path & Professional Evolution

• From Journalism to Therapy (07:34–08:35)

  • Originally pursued journalism, which later benefited her in writing and marketing.

  • The turning point: becoming a mother led her to re-evaluate her purpose and eventually pursue a path in therapy.

  • Quote: “Learning that I was expecting helped me to realize there was something outside of myself and wanting to shift some of my own mindset to be in alignment with my values.” —Katie K. May (07:34)

• Graduate School as Self-Discovery (10:05–11:18)

  • Grad school provided family systems insight and the realization that her sensitivity was a strength, not a flaw.
  • Developed the ability to form healthy self-relationship and adult relationships for the first time.

Family Relationships & Handling Estrangement

• Current Relationships (11:39–12:15)
  • Now only maintains contact with immediate family; estrangement from extended family was painful but ultimately freeing.
  • Quote: “In the end, it was really a gift for me because I was released from so much...that I was carrying that was holding me back...” —Katie K. May (11:39)

Teenage & Early Adult Interests

• Quirky Hobbies (12:24–13:38)
  • Childhood obsession with Sylvester Stallone, Rocky and Rambo movies.
  • In high school, was “goth,” gravitated toward metal and punk music; strong bonds with friends who are still close today.

Specialization & Building Her Practice

• Accidental Specialty with Teens (13:46–14:46)

  • Entered field intending to work with women; fell into adolescent therapy through job opportunities and found her passion for working with teens.
  • Noted a natural knack for connecting with adolescents.

• Growing Multiple Businesses (15:05–16:24)

  • Owns a group private practice with 14 employees and 3 locations; continues to see clients due to her passion for therapy.

  • Her consulting brand "The Group Guru" emerged from sharing her group therapy successes with other therapists online.

  • Quote: “Everything we're doing, everything that works well, I'm just sharing those successes and teaching them to other therapists.” —Katie K. May (15:05)

Private Practice Startup Story

• First Steps & Hustle (17:28–19:39)
  • Started in 2014 by subletting office space on Sundays, building her first caseload through Psychology Today.
  • Groups became the hallmark of her practice, eventually leading to a client overflow that supported referral expansion and business growth.

Transition to Group Practice

• From Solo to Group (19:48–20:56)

  • Managed seven groups solo while maintaining a robust caseload.

  • Reluctance to refer out teens with high-level needs led her to hire and train her first employee.

  • Expansion occurred organically—"always just taking that next step."

  • Quote: “I just kept taking that next step with no commitment whatsoever until I found myself in a five year lease and with one employee...” —Katie K. May (19:48)

Self-Discovery Through Entrepreneurship

• Challenges of Leadership & Delegation (21:10–22:13)
  • Greatest challenge: managing people and being direct in communication.
  • Learned the importance of clear expectations and upholding her vision, despite discomfort with confrontation/social anxiety.

Vision for the Future

• Scaling with Intention (23:07–24:18)
  • Vision includes growing her existing centers, training interns, and building charitable elements into her practice.
  • Emphasis on evolving but maintaining the integrity of her brand.

Personal Life & Relationships

• Love Story & Marriage (24:23–27:20)

  • Reconnected with high school crush Adam through Facebook years later, now her husband and biggest supporter.
    • Memorable Anecdote: Their first interaction: a raunchy poem for his “alt lit” magazine project in high school.
  • Adam and his family provided Katie with a model for healthy family dynamics.
  • Quote: “For somebody to believe in me and help me see what it's like to have a really solid and healthy relationship, he's been so critical as a part of that.” —Katie K. May (24:29)

• Family Fun & Pandemic Life (27:56–30:25)

  • Activities include working out together, family board games, Dungeons & Dragons, charades, and food adventures.
  • COVID-19 brought the family together at home, allowed Katie to appreciate time away from the office.

• Self-Care & Boundaries (30:25–31:56)

  • Admits to struggling with boundaries between work and life; business is a huge part of her identity.

  • Self-care is often scheduled, and creative work itself can be restorative.

  • Quote: “Creating is my self care, so it really aligns with what I'm doing... it's just tuning into what I need and doing that thing.” —Katie K. May (31:56)

• Couple Dynamics: Both Entrepreneurs (32:08–32:53)

  • The couple sets intentional “no business” times (during workouts and dinner), but acknowledges flexibility when work emergencies arise.

Hobbies, Bucket List, and Reflections

• Favorite Vacation: Lake house in Sandusky, Ohio with Adam’s family (32:58–34:09).
• Bucket List: Travel to Europe, especially England and Germany where relatives reside (34:18–35:04).
• Alternate Career: Would be a high school English teacher, still passionate about helping teens (35:19).
• Inspirations: Draws inspiration from public figures like AOC, Tina Fey, and Amy Poehler; no single person is her “role model” (36:29).

Memorable Quotes & Moments

• On Transforming Her “Otherness”:
  “It wasn't until I became an adult that I realized that that was actually, like, my superpower rather than something that made me bad or wrong or defective.” —Katie K. May (06:07)

• On Entrepreneurship:
  “If I want to uphold the brand and reputation and vision for this empire that I want to build, that I need to be creative, clear, and direct in my expectations, even when that's uncomfortable for me.” —Katie K. May (22:13)

Lightning Round Highlights (37:32–39:55)

• Biggest Pet Peeve: Poor customer service.
• Funky Socks: Wears dog-themed, fun socks.
• Spirit Animal: Unicorn.
• Favorite Junk Food: Coconut milk snickerdoodle ice cream.
• Favorite Song: "Amazing" by Aerosmith.
• Favorite Business Book: Book Yourself Solid by Michael Port.

Important Timestamps

• [03:45] – Reconnecting and taco talk; establishing Katie's personality and connection
• [06:07] – Katie shares childhood, family of origin, and feeling like the black sheep
• [07:34] – Shift from journalism to therapy, inspired by motherhood
• [11:39] – Family estrangement and personal growth as a result
• [13:46] – Realization of connection with teens, falling into her specialization
• [15:05] – Structure of her businesses, how she balances therapy and consulting
• [17:28] – The $500 question and business launch advice
• [19:48] – How she grew from solo to group practice
• [21:10] – Leadership lessons and the discomfort of managing others
• [23:07] – Evolving vision for her practice and impact on her community
• [24:23] – Love story with Adam, growth through a healthy relationship
• [27:56] – Family routines & activities during the pandemic
• [30:25] – Self-care, boundaries, and finding restoration through both solitude and creative work
• [32:08] – Navigating business as an entrepreneurial couple
• [36:29] – Who/what inspires Katie

Tone & Style

The episode maintains a friendly, open, and conversational tone, laced with humor and authenticity. The hosts and Katie keep things light even as they touch on difficult subjects, fostering an environment where vulnerability and inspiration coexist.

For listeners interested in practice building, entrepreneurship, work-life balance, and personal growth, this episode offers not just tactical insights but genuine encouragement and connection. Katie’s openness about business, family, and “being the black sheep” makes this a standout installment in the UP Close and Personal series.