Shows / Selling the Couch
Selling the Couch
With 1.81 million+ downloads, Selling the Couch is an Apple Top Career podcast for current and future mental health private practitioners who think differently. Psychologist Melvin Varghese interviews successful therapists in private practice about how they built their businesses as well as top entrepreneurs, business/marketing, and social media experts.* You'll learn how therapists get referrals, grow their practices, work through fears, find their enough, and stop "trading time for income."…
Episodes
- Selling the Couch
432: 11 Years, 2 Million Downloads, and the Business Lessons I Learned the Hard Way
What does 11 years of building a business actually teach you — especially when things don't go according to plan? In this final episode of Selling the Couch…
- Selling the Couch
431: How to Sell Your Online Course with Webinars and Email Marketing
What actually makes someone decide to buy your online course? It's not just the information you're teaching or how polished your webinar looks. More often…
- Selling the Couch
430: YouTube for Therapists: How to Grow Without Chasing the Algorithm
What if growing a YouTube channel as a therapist didn't require posting constantly, chasing trends, or becoming an influencer? In this episode of Selling the…
- Selling the Couch
429: How to Grow Your Therapy Business Without Living on Social Media
What if you could use social media to grow your therapy business without feeling like you have to be online all the time? For many therapists, social media…
- Selling the Couch
428: The Marketing Advantage Therapists Don't Realize They Have
Do you ever feel like you're just… bad at marketing? You don't want to become an influencer. You don't want to post every day, chase an algorithm, manufacture…
- Selling the Couch
427: When Life Doesn't Fit Your Business Plan
What happens when the life you’ve been building toward suddenly has to change? In this solo episode of Selling the Couch, Mel shares a personal update about…
- Selling the Couch
426: How to Host a Small, Intimate Retreat as a Therapist
What if hosting a meaningful retreat didn’t require a luxury resort, a huge audience, or 50 people in the room? In this episode of Selling the Couch, Mel sits…
- Selling the Couch
425: A Relationship-First Approach to Getting Referrals From Churches
Could churches and other faith communities become one of your private practice's strongest referral sources? For many therapists, networking with churches can…
- Selling the Couch
424: Why Therapists Should Pay Attention To LinkedIn
What if you didn’t need to post on LinkedIn every day to build real authority? For years, the dominant LinkedIn advice has been pretty consistent: post…
- Selling the Couch
ENCORE: Finding Your Enough As An Entrepreneur with Jeanetta Garrison, LCSW
More is not always better. We often find that what we are chasing in our pursuit of success is not what we thought it was. Entrepreneurship for private…
- Selling the Couch
ENCORE: 5 Lessons from 2 Years on LinkedIn
If you’ve been thinking about posting more on LinkedIn or if you’re curious about how to best use this social media platform, today’s encore is for you. It…
- Selling the Couch
ENCORE: The Anxiety Of Finding A Private Practice Niche
In today's encore, I share my journey of going into private practice, in addition to keeping STC running and growing. There were three main reasons for this…
- Selling the Couch
ENCORE: Why Every Course Creator Should Start A Podcast
If you have ever considered creating an online course, or if you are already a course creator, you have probably thought a lot about marketing. The challenge…
- Selling the Couch
ENCORE: Could Keeping Your Business Small Be the Next BIG Thing?
In today's encore, we will cover two questions that confront me daily: How big do I actually want to grow STC? What is the purpose of STC in relation to my…
- Selling the Couch
ENCORE: 3 Meetings 99% of Course Creators Don’t Schedule But Absolutely Need
Are you a course creator who wants to get better and better at your craft? Today's encore reflects on three non-negotiable meetings that I’ve implemented with…
- Selling the Couch
ENCORE: If I Were Launching An Online Course Soon, I'd Do This...
If you are considering launching an online course, today’s encore is for you! I’ve learned a lot as a course creator, and I’m sharing an honest look at my…
- Selling the Couch
ENCORE: Leaving Therapy for Coaching with Dr. Corey Wilks
Today’s encore is about leaving psychotherapy for coaching. This transition is one that many therapist colleagues have made, and the reality is that many more…
- Selling the Couch
ENCORE: Designing a Life-First Business In An Uncertain World
Today’s encore is at the heart of the Quiet Builder philosophy. The question is, “How do we design a business that supports our lives, not swallows it?” This…
- Selling the Couch
ENCORE: What Therapists Get Wrong About Selling Their First Online Course
Today’s encore is on what therapists often get wrong about selling their first online course, considering all the assumptions we make and the misconceptions we…
- Selling the Couch
ENCORE: A Live vs. Pre-Recorded Online Course
Today’s encore is from a live coaching call talking about the many nuances of online courses. I hope this episode will be helpful to you and bring new ideas if…
- Selling the Couch
ENCORE: The Process of Creating and Marketing Your Product Using the Feelings Wheel
In today's encore, we're tapping into creative thinking. How are you at thinking outside the box? This episode is perfect for everyone who has thought about…
- Selling the Couch
ENCORE: The Power of Depth Over Scale
Today's encore is on the 400th episode of Selling the Couch! It was truly surreal to think back to 2015 and the show’s humble beginnings; reaching this…
- Selling the Couch
423: Why Google Is Done With Your Reels (And What Smart Therapists Are Creating Instead)
Are therapists focusing on the wrong kind of content in the age of AI? In this episode, Mel explores one of the biggest shifts happening online right now: why…
- Selling the Couch
422: What Happens to Your Clients If Something Happens to You?
What happens to your private practice if you suddenly become incapacitated… or pass away? It’s a difficult question, and one most therapists never want to…
- Selling the Couch
421: A Quick Clinical + Life Update
In this deeply personal episode, Mel shares an honest update on a new chapter he’s building: one that sits at the intersection of psychology, nervous system…
- Selling the Couch
420: How A Therapist's Website Shapes A Client's First Impression
Do therapist websites still matter in the age of AI? With platforms like ChatGPT, Claude, Google AI Search, social media, and online directories changing how…
- Selling the Couch
419: Why Smart, Thoughtful Professionals Are Pulling Back From Social Media
Are therapists quietly leaving social media… on purpose? In today’s episode, we explore a growing shift: not burnout, but intentional withdrawal from platforms…
- Selling the Couch
418: Human-Centric Marketing: Choosing Connection Over Algorithms
What does it actually look like to market your work… without losing your humanity? In today’s episode of Selling the Couch, I’m joined by Shayna Vance Roman to…
- Selling the Couch
417: Is Ai Killing Our Ability To Protect Time?
Is AI actually giving us more freedom… or just more to do? In this episode, I reflect on something I’ve been noticing lately, both in my own life and in…
- Selling the Couch
416: Is Blogging Still Worth It In The AI Age?
If you’ve been told to “just start a blog” to grow your private practice and be seen online, but you’re now wondering if AI has made that advice outdated…
- Selling the Couch
415: What Actually Drives Podcast Downloads Based on Real Data
After 11 years, 400+ episodes, and nearly 2 million downloads, I thought I understood what drives podcast growth. Then I saw the data, and it challenged a lot…
- Selling the Couch
ENCORE: Researching and Finding an Audience for Your E-Course
Today’s encore is covering creating and selling an E-Course. Since creating Healthcasters, I’ve definitely made many mistakes that I’m happy to share with you…
- Selling the Couch
ENCORE: How to Show Up Imperfect In Your Marketing
If there is one thing I’ve learned as a small business owner, it’s that it takes courage to show up imperfect. We want so badly to be perfect and put together…
- Selling the Couch
ENCORE: Pro Tips To Improve The Quality Of Live Videos
We use video for meetings, live sessions, live-streaming, and other content, so it’s important to have the best quality possible. Michael Rothermel is my…
- Selling the Couch
ENCORE: How I’m Thinking About YouTube as a Podcaster (and Dad)
Since the beginning of this podcast in 2015, I’ve thought a lot about how I can use YouTube to maximize the impact of STC. I’ve pondered many questions about…
- Selling the Couch
414: Why Most Online Courses Fail (Even If the Content Is Good)
“If you build a great course, they’ll come.” I wish that were true. Over the past decade, both as a course creator (since 2015) and as a teacher helping…
- Selling the Couch
413: What They Don’t Tell Therapists About Owning a Small Business
Most conversations about private practice are highlight reels. But what about the parts no one posts about? In today’s episode of Selling the Couch, I’m joined…
- Selling the Couch
412: How to Create a Podcast That Actually Pays Off
Most podcasts never make a dollar. Not because the host isn’t talented. Not because their strategy is bad. But because they quit too soon, or they measure ROI…
- Selling the Couch
411: Making Peace with Your Becoming: Navigating Brand Evolution as a Therapist
In this deeply honest and practical conversation, I’m joined by fellow clinician and creative coach TJ Walsh as we explore what it means to evolve your brand…
- Selling the Couch
410: Why Many Therapists Quietly Reject Social Media Fame
In today’s episode, I’m diving into a topic many therapists and thoughtful professionals wrestle with: the pressure to be seen on social media, and what it…
- Selling the Couch
409: How to Use AI for Content Creation—Without Losing Your Voice
AI can be an incredible tool to save time, boost creativity, and streamline your content, but how do you use it without losing your authentic voice? In this…
- Selling the Couch
408: If I Were in Grad School Again: 5 Career Shifts I'd Make
Whether you're in grad school for psychology, counseling, social work—or mentoring someone who is—this episode is for you. After 20+ years in the mental health…
- Selling the Couch
407: How to Build Emotional Fitness as a Therapist and Quiet Leader
What is emotional fitness, and why is it more important than ever for therapists, helpers, and quiet leaders? In this episode of Selling the Couch, I’m joined…
- Selling the Couch
406: How to AI-Proof Your Online Course as a Therapist
Melvin kicks off Season 11 of Selling the Couch with a powerful and timely conversation on how therapists and online educators can AI-proof their online…
- Selling the Couch
ENCORE: Charging Premium Prices For Your Online Course (Money Blocks + Fears)
Today’s show is a coaching call about online courses and the imposter syndrome that sneaks in with fear and doubt. Join us to learn more! Our Featured Guest…
- Selling the Couch
ENCORE: Mental Roadblocks Of Going From Clinician To Coach with Angela Williams, LCSW
Many clinicians are left wondering if their best work lies in the clinical field or the coaching/consulting arena. I’ve felt this dilemma myself, pondering how…
- Selling the Couch
ENCORE: 3 Tips To Become An Awesome Storyteller Online
Today’s topic is a fascinating one for me. As therapists, we are wired for stories, but telling an effective story online is a struggle for many of us…
- Selling the Couch
ENCORE: The 10 Biggest Mistakes I Made As An Online Course Creator
I’ve been focused on building a life around my family and self-care rather than fitting those things around a career. I’ve learned that there is much wisdom in…
- Selling the Couch
ENCORE: Where Should I Focus My Online Course Marketing?
Our Featured Guest for today’s call: Heather McKenzie, LCMHCS Heather McKenzie came through Online Course School as a beta student back in the fall of 2021…
- Selling the Couch
ENCORE: 7 Questions to Ask Before Launching an Online Course
Today’s episode takes a closer look at a major passion of mine: online courses. Let’s talk about the important questions to ask–and answer–before launching an…
- Selling the Couch
ENCORE: Burnout in High-Achieving Mental Health Professionals
The perfect recipe for burnout is to work in a caring profession, be a slave to perfectionism, and neglect your needs. As clinicians, we realize that we work…
- Selling the Couch
405: I’m Shutting Down Our $9K Mastermind. Here’s Why.
Here we are at the last episode of 2025, our 10th year of the podcast. For the last episode of the year, I usually try to focus on reflections about lessons…
- Selling the Couch
404: Building an Anti-Racist Practice in Times Like These
What does it mean to have an “anti-racist practice”? With all the changes taking place regarding DEI and the current US political climate, this is a…
- Selling the Couch
403: Turning Your Podcast into a Deeper Platform for Courses, Your Book, and Speaking
This session is the second part of a series called “Podcasting for Therapists.” You can check out the first part of the series on launching your podcast with…
- Selling the Couch
402: Closing Your Private Practice: What Therapists Need to Know
Today’s session is about shutting down your private practice, which is an inevitable step in the journey for many therapists. The two main options are to sell…
- Selling the Couch
401: How To Create An Online Course That Actually Gets Finished
Today’s session is all about designing a therapist-friendly course that actually gets finished. This is the third in our series, The Therapist’s Path to a…
- Selling the Couch
400: The Power of Depth Over Scale
This is the 400th episode of Selling the Couch! It is truly surreal to think back to 2015 and the show’s humble beginnings; reaching this milestone is beyond…
- Selling the Couch
399: How to Create a Personal Brand With Authenticity, Heart, and Grace with Adrienne Wilkerson
Today’s topic strikes fear into the hearts of many clinicians. We are talking about branding, not in the sales-y way that feels icky, but with authenticity…
- Selling the Couch
398: What Therapists Get Wrong About Selling Their First Online Course
Today’s solo episode is the second of a three-part series we call The Therapist’s Path to a Successful Online Course. Today’s focus is on what therapists often…
- Selling the Couch
397: Mindful Race Talk: How Clinicians Can Use Language For Conversations That Matter
Welcome to our fall season of new episodes! After a busy summer of family time and travel, I’m excited to be back with you on the podcast. Today’s conversation…