Episode Summary: Private Practice Startup Podcast — Episode 194: Up Close and Personal with Maureen Werrbach

Hosts: Dr. Kate Campbell (B) & Katie Lemieux (C)
Guest: Maureen Werrbach (E), LCPC
Date: June 15, 2020

Episode Overview

In this candid, lighthearted episode, the hosts welcome Maureen Werrbach for an “Up Close and Personal” exploration. Listeners get an insider’s look at Maureen's personal journey from her multicultural childhood and introverted nature to leading multiple thriving mental health businesses. The conversation balances professional insights, leadership lessons, and Maureen’s quirks, with plenty of laughs and relatable stories for therapists and entrepreneurs.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Early Life and Cultural Background

Growing Up Multicultural:
- Born in Germany to an American father (military) and a German mother. Moved to Chicago at age five.
  - “My half of my family lives in Germany and my dad's half lives here in Chicago.” (04:45)
- Name story: Parents debated between an American name (for Germany) and a German name (for the US).
  - “I was named after my dad’s sister, but obviously the assumption was we were going to be living in Germany.” (05:32)
- Only child; introverted by nature, found it tough to make lasting peer connections—context for later career choices.
  - “As a kid growing up, I am introverted, so. And I have a military dad and a German mom. So that, you know, combination is very fun to have as a child.” (10:15)

2. Family Dynamics — Working with Her Mom

Mom as Practice Manager:
- Maureen’s mother manages billing and payroll at Urban Wellness after retiring from Lufthansa.
  - “I couldn't have anyone that I trust more to manage the financial part.” (07:10)
  - On working together: “I get annoyed with her more than normal because I feel like I'm around her a lot … But we both love it.” (07:50)
- Cultural nuances: Maureen helps her mom navigate “stern” German communication in the US.
  - “I'm just like, hey, your German side's coming out a little.” (08:44)

3. Childhood, Family & Relationship

Only Child Perspective:
- Regretted being an only child growing up. Now as a mom: “Two, because I'm never effing having one.” (12:00)
Love Story:
- Met husband Steve in first grade, reconnected at a bar in their twenties (“Let’s just say I was 21 because I was at a bar.”) and have now been together 16 years.
  - “He broke up with his girlfriend that night. And we started dating and got engaged a year later.” (14:48)

4. Marriage & Personality Differences

Quirks With Her Husband:
- Steve is a Halloween and horror enthusiast, which Maureen doesn’t share:
  - “He loves scary things … I am afraid of everything … I thought you were gonna grow out of this. And he was like, I don’t know what made you think that.” (17:19)
- Steve is annoyed by Maureen’s compulsive tidying and work habits; she once lost her wedding ring for years by putting it in a ‘safe place.’
  - “I am constantly picking up after the kids and after him. So our house doesn’t look like anyone lives in it.” (19:11)

5. Professional Structure & Delegation

Business Portfolio and Time Management:
- Urban Wellness Group Practice: Only a few hands-on hours per week; heavy delegation.
  - “I probably don't spend more than a few hours a week on the group practice.” (21:06)
- Conference (Group Practice Builders): Work ebbs and flows around event times.
- Group Practice Exchange: Most time-consuming, but recently hired a CMO to streamline operations.
- Compulsively clears notifications to maintain mental “cleanliness.”
  - “Notifications on my phone bother me. I have the impulse to check it and just take away the check boxes.” (23:55)

6. Work-Life Balance & Self-Care

Not Emotionally Attached to Objects:
- “I’m not emotionally attached to pretty much anything except my kids and my husband. Even gifts … if I'm not using it, I'm like, okay, it's done.” (24:30)
- Finds joy in decluttering: “Clear house, clear space … it just feels so good.” (25:16)
Travel & Mindfulness:
- Loves traveling outside the US: “Each year my husband and I pick one place that we go for, you know, a week or two.” (33:06)
- Most restorative trip: Scotland—felt truly able to disconnect from work. (34:13)
- During quarantine: Walking twice daily has become a crucial mental health routine. (43:38)

7. Journey Into Mental Health & Business

Why She Chose This Path:
- Desired to be a support for children who feel isolated or bullied, influenced by her own childhood.
  - “I really wanted to be able to be a safe space for kids and teens that were not feeling like they were connecting with other peers.” (25:41)
- Evolved to working with adults and entrepreneurs. (26:27)
Becoming a Leader — Growing Through Discomfort:
- Never pictured herself running a large group practice:
  - “Again, it doesn’t connect with my personality style to have something like this.” (26:53)
- Major challenge: Shifting from people-pleaser to empowered leader, skilled in difficult conversations.
  - “It took a lot of work to be able to have difficult conversations … That was a hard place to get to as a leader.” (28:39)
  - Husband calls her “Maureen 2.0” for her growth as a leader. (29:26)

8. Writing & Aspirations

If Not a Therapist:
- Would write books or be involved in creative solitary pursuits.
  - “I think I'd be a book writer. I'm writing a book right now … Leadership is a harder concept to really grasp.” (30:29, 31:16)
- Current book project: Leadership for group practice owners—merging stories and concepts.

9. Fun & Personal Quirks

Guilty Pleasure:
- Real Housewives (any city), despite not fitting her image.
  - “It’s not me ... but it’s one of those ... I can have a mini retreat in my head when I’m watching that.” (35:10)
Superpower:
- “I feel like I’m really good at coming up with an idea and getting it to work.” (38:42)
Favorite Adult Beverage:
- Transitioned from white wine to red; recently into Moscow Mules. (39:08)
Most Embarrassing Professional Moment:
- “I feel embarrassed all the time … Perpetually embarrassed.” (40:29)
Meeting Mike Michalowicz:
- Enjoyed meeting the business author/speaker: “He’s funny, he’s charismatic … the opposite of me … it can bring that out in me a little bit.” (41:18)
Quarantine Habit:
- Double daily walks to Starbucks—a new appreciation for simple self-care. (43:38, 44:44)

Notable Quotes & Moments

On only children:
- “Two, because I'm never effing having one.” — Maureen (12:00)
On her mom working for her:
- “Her German side will come out ... It’s not the American way to say that.” — Maureen (08:44)
On people-pleasing and leadership:
- “It took a lot of work to be able to have difficult conversations … That was a hard place to get to as a leader, but also as a person who just doesn't love conflict at all.” — Maureen (28:39)
On decluttering:
- “I'm not emotionally attached to pretty much anything except my kids and my husband.” — Maureen (24:30)
On guilty pleasures:
- “Don't judge. It's the Real Housewives. It's so not me.” — Maureen (35:10)
On self-perception:
- “I always felt like I wasn’t going to be much of anything, you know? And so I get really excited ... when other people ... do something exciting.” — Maureen (42:43)
On leadership growth:
- “My husband’s like, you're Maureen 2.0.” (29:39)

Timestamps for Key Segments

[04:41] Maureen’s childhood, immigration, and family story
[07:05] Working with her German mother
[10:01] Reflections on being an only child, introversion
[12:00] Parenting philosophy—never just one kid!
[12:41] Meeting and marrying Steve
[17:19] Spousal quirks—horror films and cleanliness
[21:06] How Maureen divides her workweek among businesses
[25:41] Reasons for getting into the mental health field
[26:53] How leadership challenges changed her
[31:16] Book writing ambitions focused on leadership
[34:13] Favorite travel destination for restoration
[35:10] Guilty pleasure: Real Housewives
[38:42] Superpower: Idea execution
[39:08] Favorite adult beverage
[41:18] On meeting Mike Michalowicz
[42:43] What inspires her: Seeing others succeed
[43:38] Quarantine routine: daily walks, Starbucks run

Tone & Style

The episode is very conversational, candid, and light. The hosts ask insightful but easy-going questions, supporting humor and vulnerability. Maureen is open, self-deprecating, and relatable, discussing both business victories and personal quirks, making this a fun episode with plenty of practical and personal takeaways for private practice owners.