Hiring a coach can absolutely change your business. Lord knows it has mine! It can also challenge your identity, your habits, your leadership, your willingness to change, and the stories you’ve been telling yourself about what’s possible.

Yeah. ALL of that.

So in this episode, I want to slow that conversation down a bit.

Because before you start searching for the right coach, the more important question to ask yourself is: are you actually ready for coaching - at all?

In this conversation, I’ll walk you through 5 great questions every private practice owner should ask themselves before making that leap — whether your business feels stuck, overwhelming, wildly successful, or somewhere in between!

In this episode, you’ll learn…

1. Why coaching is about way more than strategy or accountability.
2. The uncomfortable truth about growth, leadership, and change. (You know this part!)
3. What it really means to be “coachable”... (Are you?)
4. Why timing matters when investing in this level of support
5. The difference between looking for rescue… and learning to lead. 😎

We’ll also talk about how to evaluate the fear you may be feeling, so that you can make a thoughtful, grounded decision about whether coaching is actually the right next step for you right now.

Take some time with these questions. Journal about them. Talk with someone you trust. Be honest with yourself about where you are and what you really want next.

And if coaching does feel like the right next step? I got you covered. :)

In the next episode, I’ll help you figure out how to evaluate whether a coach may be the right one for you.

Good stuff, this. :)

~Wendy

P.S. If you’d like a low-pressure way to experience what coaching (with me, at least!) is actually like, learn more about the Quick Start Consult below…

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MENTIONED

• Quick Start Consult: If you’re ready to get out of your own way, this 1:1 coaching work session could make all the difference. Learn more here.
  
  

Support the show

Wendy Pitts Reeves, LCSW
Host, Ideal Practice
Private Practice Coach and Mentor

www.WendyPittsReeves.com
Wendy@WendyPittsReeves.com

As healers, we understand clinical work. We know how to help what hurts in our clients.

But very few of us are taught how to build a business at all - much less one that genuinely fits who we are.

Today, I’m joined by somatic coach & educator Chelsea Horton for a rich conversation about creativity, embodiment, and building a private practice around an unconventional modality — dance and movement therapy — without losing what makes it unique in the first place.

Chelsea is the founder of Healing Embodied, where she trains therapists, coaches, and wellness professionals to integrate somatic work, nervous system healing, creativity, and emotional processing into the way they serve clients.

But this conversation goes far beyond somatic work.

What struck me most about her story is this: while her work is deeply intuitive and body-centered, she is also incredibly thoughtful and strategic in the way she has built her business. (Though I’m not sure she even realized that until this convo.)

She didn’t just “follow her passion.”

Nope.

She paid attention to outcomes, listened closely to client feedback, developed a unique methodology, refined her messaging, created a progression of offers, and intentionally positioned herself as what she calls a “category of one.”

Oh my beating heart. 😍

So in this episode you’ll hear:

• The powerful - and success enhancing - difference between building a business from “what should work” and building a business in alignment with who you are.
• How Chelsea built a thriving practice around a creative, unconventional modality.
• Why creativity works best inside structure — not chaos.
• The often overlooked relationship between embodiment, intuition, and strategic thinking.
• Why your own healing work directly impacts the quality of your client work. (Don’t miss this part!)

All that and so much more.

As I shared in the intro, this may well be one of my favorite conversations that I’ve had in a long time. I don’t even think Chelsea realized how much she’s done, until I reflected back to her what I was hearing.

So. Good.

This episode is thoughtful, practical, inspiring…

Learn from this.

~Wendy

P.S. If you want to take action on inspiration you gain from this episode, but aren’t sure where to start, a Quick Start Consult might help.

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TODAY’S GUEST: CHELSEA HORTON

Chelsea is a somatic coach, educator, and founder of Healing Embodied, who combines body-based practices, nervous system healing, and trauma-informed care to help people move beyond traditional talk therapy and fully process emotions in the body.

Website: https://healingembodied.com

Instagram: @healing.embodied

Her certification program: https://healingembodied.com/ge

Support the show

Wendy Pitts Reeves, LCSW
Host, Ideal Practice
Private Practice Coach and Mentor

www.WendyPittsReeves.com
Wendy@WendyPittsReeves.com

There may be more than one reason your practice feels harder than it should.

And no — it’s probably not because you need better marketing, a new niche, or another certification.

In this conversation (from my appearance as a guest on The Practice of Therapy with Gordon Brewer), we stepped back and looked at the whole picture — what it actually takes to build a practice that works.

Not just one piece of it. All of it.

Because the truth is, there’s no single fix.

There are seven key areas that every successful practice has to navigate — and most clinicians are either skipping critical steps or trying to fix things out of order.

This is a faster-paced conversation than what you usually hear from me — but it’s packed with the big ideas that shape everything else.

If your practice feels scattered, stalled, or just heavier than it should…this is a powerful place to reset.

WHAT YOU’LL HEAR IN THIS EPISODE

• Why your purpose has to come first (and what happens when it doesn’t).
• How to identify the people you actually want to serve (not just who shows up).
• What it means to create an offer that truly works — beyond the therapy hour.
• How to promote your practice without feeling salesy or scattered.
• And the one pillar that truly drives all the rest (and can sabotage everything if ignored)

This episode gives you a clean, big-picture framework to assess what’s actually working in your practice — and what’s not — so you can stop guessing and start making intentional changes that create real momentum.

And the cool part? When you’re operating at a healthy place in all or most of these, your practice becomes something you genuinely enjoy showing up to — for the long haul.

Precisely what I want for you. 💟

~Wendy

P.S. Which one of these key areas are you feeling the best about? Shoot me an email (wendy@wendypittsreeves.com) and share. I’d love to know!

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MENTIONED

Episode 160: How do you serve clients when you’re barely surviving yourself?

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MIND Over MONEY™
This is a gem. One of my most popular courses, designed to bring you a breath of fresh financial air each day. Develop a whole new abundance mindset with inspiration AND strategy in just 5 minutes a day for 31 days. You’ll thank me later. :)

For this episode, use the Promo Code “Gordon” to get $50 off. (Sweet!)
Learn more at www.WendyPittsReeves.com/mind.

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FREE RESOURCES

Take a big picture snapshot of what's working in your practice with the IP360 Scorecard: https://www.wendypittsreeves.com/360

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Wendy Pitts Reeves, LCSW
Host, Ideal Practice
Private Practice Coach and Mentor

www.WendyPittsReeves.com
Wendy@WendyPittsReeves.com

Four years ago, I hit “publish” on the very first episode of this podcast — not entirely sure what would come of it.

Since then? I’ve learned a lot.

In this episode, I’m taking you behind the scenes — not just of podcasting, but of what it really takes to grow a private practice in today’s world.

Because here’s the truth that no one talks about:

Most clinicians aren’t struggling because they’re not good at what they do.

They’re struggling because the way they’re trying to reach people… isn’t working.

Before podcasting, I tried blogging (for seven freaking years), YouTube (for a full year), speaking, networking — all of it. Some of it worked. Some of it didn’t.

But the bigger lesson?

👉 You have to find the platform and style that fits you first.
👉 You have to commit long enough to get good at it (no small thing…)
👉 And you have to build systems that make that consistency possible.

Because a thriving practice doesn’t come from random posts or occasional effort.
It comes from strategic, sustained visibility over time.

Inside this episode, I’ll walk you through:

• What it really takes to produce consistent content.
• Why most marketing efforts fall flat.
• How to find your voice (and a channel you’ll actually enjoy!).
• A behind-the-scenes look at producing a weekly podcast.
• And what to expect if you want your practice to grow.

And if you’re not sure what’s working in your practice right now, I’ve got something for you. I’ll point you to a few of my favorite free resources — including tools to help you assess where you are and what needs attention next.

If your marketing has been feeling scattered, inconsistent, or just a little frustrating…

This one will help you reset and refocus.

Give it a listen, and see what shifts for you!

________________________
FREE RESOURCES:

• Click here >>> for My Most Popular Tools

________________________
MINDSET MAGIC:

Mind Over Money™

👉 If money stress is part of what’s been getting in the way, start here, with this little gem. One of my most popular courses, here to help with money stress. :) Develop a whole new abundance mindset with inspiration AND strategy in just 5 minutes a day for 31 days. You’ll thank me later. :)

Use the Promo Code “Ideal50” to get $50 off. (Sweet!)

Support the show

Wendy Pitts Reeves, LCSW
Host, Ideal Practice
Private Practice Coach and Mentor

www.WendyPittsReeves.com
Wendy@WendyPittsReeves.com

Eventually, most successful practices hit a certain kind of ceiling.

Caseloads are full. Marketing falls off. Systems strain.

And growth? It stalls… or starts to feel like it would break everything.

So today, Chris McShanag shares a new way of thinking about remote support — not as a way to offload tasks, but as a way to expand capacity.

So interesting - because he even challenged my thinking a bit! 🤔

When we think about hiring, we focus on tasks like…

• Billing
• Scheduling
• Phone calls
• Filing paperwork…

You know - admin.

What we don’t consider is:

→ using support to drive referrals (totally new idea!).
→ staying in consistent contact with your network.
→ building systems that allow your practice to grow without burning you out.

Whoa.

Whether or not you ever go that far - there’s something important here.

Is a limited perspective limiting your success???

If so, that may be costing you more than you know - in time, energy, and missed opportunities.

That’s where I want to go with this.

(And hey - if this gets you thinking about what might be possible in your practice with the right support — take a look at the IP360 Scorecard. It’s an easy way to assess where your next best move might be.)

WHAT YOU’LL HEAR IN THIS EPISODE

• The difference between relief hiring and growth hiring.
• What it actually means to have “capacity” in your practice (and why that matters more than you think.)
• How overwhelmed systems cost you clients and limit your influence.
• The concept of $100/hour work vs. $10/hour work — and how to shift that balance.
• What to think about before you hire anyone (especially if you’re doing this on your own.)

Because here’s the thing.

If you’re the bottleneck — even in small ways — your growth will always be limited by your capacity.

On the other hand, with the right hiring strategy, you could build something that can hold the level of work you say you want. That means more space, more stability, and more sustainable growth … without having to kill yourself in the process.

Worth considering, don’t you think?

Give this a listen.

~Wendy

P.S. Don’t forget! Check out your free copy of the IP360 Scorecard. Could be super helpful!

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TODAY’S GUEST: CHRIS McSHANAG

Founder and CEO of Virtual Teammate, Chris has guided over 2,500 virtual professionals to thrive in organizations worldwide, supporting more than 600 clients. His mission is to transform the virtual assistant industry by creating seamless, supportive, and valuable experiences for both clients and assistants. Passionate about building real partnerships, he believes the future of healthcare and business is virtual, scalable, and limitless. His leadership sets new standards in virtual staffing and operational excellence.

WEBSITE: www.virtualteammate.com

SOCIALS: Linked In, Instagram

Support the show

Wendy Pitts Reeves, LCSW
Host, Ideal Practice
Private Practice Coach and Mentor

www.WendyPittsReeves.com
Wendy@WendyPittsReeves.com

In the last couple of episodes, I spoke with two very different guests — Rachel Robertson and Emma Lagerlow – two very different women doing very different things on completely opposite sides of the world.

And yet, as I thought about those conversations - I couldn’t help but notice something they had in common. In fact, I noticed a pattern that I think I’ve seen among many of the outstanding guests I’ve had here on the show.

Both of these entrepreneurs are continuously evolving their work to match their life.

Something we all know we need to do - and often don’t.
Something that sounds so simple.
So reasonable.

Something that is so much harder than it looks. :)

So in this episode, you’ll hear:

• The subtle pattern behind sustainable success in private practice.
• Why even high-capacity, driven professionals still get stuck. (#nojudgementzone)
• Why insight doesn’t always lead to action, and progress can feel so elusive…
• What it really takes to change something that’s “working well enough”. 🤨
• A simple way to identify where your practice may no longer fit your life.

You’ll hear why so many smart, capable clinicians stay stuck — not because they don’t know what to do, but because what comes next requires more than just getting clear…

And my hope is that by the end of this reflection, you’ll be able to recognize your own “growth edge,” and begin moving forward with more intention, courage, and support.

If this episode resonates with you — if you can see the place where something in your practice just doesn’t fit anymore — this is exactly the kind of work I help people sort through in a Quick Start Consult.

You really don’t have to figure this out alone.

Learn more or schedule yours here.

And let’s get you moving again.

~Wendy

P.S. Insight is powerful. But insight + strategic, aligned support? That’s where magic happens, and real momentum begins…!

_______________

RESOURCES

• Quick Start Consult: If you’re ready to get out of your own way, this 1:1 coaching work session could make all the difference. Learn more here ➜ https://www.wendypittsreeves.com/consult.
  
  
• Mind Over Money™
  A lot of my clients start with this little gem. One of my most popular courses, open just in time to help with tax season stress! Develop a whole new abundance mindset with inspiration AND strategy in just 5 minutes a day for 31 days. (You’ll thank me later. 😎)
  
  Use the promo code: Ideal50 to get $50 off. (Sweet!)
  Learn more at www.WendyPittsReeves.com/mind.
  
  
• Want to be a Guest on Ideal Practice™? Submit your application here: www.wendypittsreeves.com/guest-application

Support the show

Wendy Pitts Reeves, LCSW
Host, Ideal Practice
Private Practice Coach and Mentor

www.WendyPittsReeves.com
Wendy@WendyPittsReeves.com

It’s easy to think that once your practice is “working”… everything else will fall into place.

But what if success is actually where things fall apart - but in a quiet way you may miss?

Today, wealth coach and author Emma Lagerlow talks with us about the 5 Pillars of True Wealth — and why so many practice owners lose themselves right when things start going well.

In this episode, you’ll hear…

• Why even “doing well” in your practice can still leave you feeling tired & depleted.
• The 5 pillars of true wealth – and how they actually show up in real life...
• The most common place practice owners drift out of alignment. 🫣
• How burnout can sneak up on you — even when you love your work.
• Simple, practical ways to ground yourself and protect your energy - daily.

We’ll also talk about why self-care isn’t a luxury — that it is in fact one of the responsibilities of leadership – so you can build a practice that actually supports your life instead of taking it over!

If this episode stirred something for you — that moment of “yeah… something’s off” — don’t ignore it.

That’s often the point when healthy change (and real growth) begins.

And hey - if money, your capacity to serve, or the overall sustainability of your business are part of what’s feeling tight, I can help. Take a look at my mini-course, Mind Over Money™ below — it’s one of the simplest ways to start getting your footing back. (And you’ll love the journal I’ve added to it!)

Breathe…. k?

~Wendy

P.S. You don’t need a total life overhaul. Emma and I talked about her “15 Minute Fix”. How about trying that first? :)

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TODAY’S GUEST: EMMA LAGERLOW

Emma Lagerlow, a wealth and mindset coach, author, and host of the “It’s a Mindset” podcast, helps women bridge the gap between inner worth and outward success.

Through her work, Emma guides individuals to deepen self-knowledge, strengthen self-trust, and build lives that feel purposeful, abundant, and aligned with their values.

Drawing on her own journey through reinvention, family life, and entrepreneurial growth, she brings warmth, clarity, and practical insight to conversations about identity, resilience, and intentional living.

Emma lives in Sydney, Australia with her family and speaks globally on mindset, wellbeing and meaningful success.

Her book: Worthy and Wealthy

Her website: https://www.emmalagerlow.com/

Her podcast: It's a Mindset

Social:

• https://www.instagram.com/emmalagerlow/
• https://www.facebook.com/emmalagerlowcoach
• https://www.linkedin.com/in/emma-lagerlow-4a2849/

_______________

Mind Over Money™

One of my most popular courses, open just in time to help with tax season stress! Develop a whole new abundance mindset with inspiration AND strategy in just 5 minutes a day for 31 days.

And now, you’ll ALSO get a custom designed digital journal my students tell me they love! Try this. You’ll thank me later. :)

Use the Promo Code “Ideal50” to get $50 off. (Sweet!)
Learn more at www.WendyPittsReeves.com/mind.

Support the show

Wendy Pitts Reeves, LCSW
Host, Ideal Practice
Private Practice Coach and Mentor

www.WendyPittsReeves.com
Wendy@WendyPittsReeves.com

At some point in the life of any kind of service-based business, something shifts.

The work is meaningful.
Clients are coming in.
Your calendar may even be full.

And inevitably, the day comes when you start asking yourself… Hang on a minute. This is good but it’s a LOT… Is this sustainable? Can I keep this up?

Not just financially — but energetically.

This week on the podcast, I’m joined by Rachel Robertson, a kinesiologist, Pilates instructor, and studio owner on Vancouver Island who has navigated that exact transition.

Rachel started where many practitioners do — working one-to-one with clients. But over time, she began asking a deeper question:

What kind of business actually supports the life I want?

That led her through several evolutions — contracting, workshops, online training, and eventually building a studio and team of instructors.

So today, I wanted to talk to her about the very real growing pains of expanding a service-based business.

In this episode, you’ll hear:

• What happens when your 1-to-1 work is no longer enough. (Time to stretch!)
• What Rachel’s learning about hiring… (it’s been interesting…😉)
• How money discomfort impacts your staff, much less your clients.
• How designing your business around your life changes everything

Managing growth doesn’t always mean working more hours; sometimes it means redesigning the model entirely.

I wanted to share this so you can begin thinking more intentionally about the next stage of your practice — whether that’s adding team members, expanding services, or simply building something more sustainable.

If you haven’t done this already, you may want to try my IP360 Scorecard, a quick and easy way to get a birds eye view of your own business development. I’ll even send you some information afterwards that will help you figure out what phase you’re in - and where you could grow next.

(You’ll find the link to that below.)

Rachel had so much to teach us in this episode. Do check it out!

~Wendy

P.S. If you're someone who secretly wonders whether you’re the only one figuring this business thing out as you go…You’re definitely not. 😉

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TODAY’S GUEST: RACHEL ROBERTSON

Rachel Robertson is a kinesiologist, Pilates instructor, and founder of Return to Form on Vancouver Island. With more than a decade of experience in movement and rehabilitation, Rachel helps both clients and practitioners rethink how sustainable movement — and sustainable businesses — are built.

Her work blends science, movement, and practical business insight, and she now leads a growing Pilates studio while also teaching workshops and webinars for healthcare professionals.

Her website: returntoform.ca | Find her on Instagram: @returntoformkinesiology

_______________

MENTIONED

• Mind Over Money™
  One of my most popular courses, open just in time to help insulate you from holiday stress. Develop a whole new abundance mindset with inspiration AND strategy in just 5 minutes a day for 31 days. You’ll thank me later. :)
  
  Use the Promo Code “Ideal50” to get $50 off. (Sweet!)
  Learn more at www.WendyPittsReeves.com/mind.

Support the show

Wendy Pitts Reeves, LCSW
Host, Ideal Practice
Private Practice Coach and Mentor

www.WendyPittsReeves.com
Wendy@WendyPittsReeves.com