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Selling the Couch

Melvin Varghese, PhD

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." Melvin also shares the lessons as he grows his impact + income beyond the therapy room (podcasting, YouTube, writing, online courses, masterminds, investing, etc) and the tips and tools he uses to grow STC from a single-person business to the CEO of a 6-figure business.*

Featured in Psychology Today, Good Therapy, and Psych Central

****Get show notes and even more good stuff at sellingthecouch.com/stcpodcast*

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  • 24 episodes
  • weekly
  • Avg 27 min
  • English

Episodes 24

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  • April 24 · 42 min

    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 explore a powerful and often overlooked idea: human-centric marketing—and how to apply it in a way that feels grounded, ethical, and aligned. If you’ve ever felt uncomfortable with marketing… overwhelmed by social media… or unsure how to grow your practice without becoming someone you’re not, this conversation is for you. In this episode, we explore: What human-centric marketing really means (and why it matters more than ever) Why marketing can start to feel “transactional” instead of relational The tension between running a business and staying values-driven The rise of therapist influencers, audience growth, and revenue pressure How to create content that feels authentic, not performative Practical ways to build connection, compassion, and trust online The role of AI in marketing and how to use it without losing your voice Why “less but better” content may be the future A few key takeaways: People aren’t just “clients” or “data points”, they’re humans navigating real struggles Your website, social media, and content should meet people where they are You don’t need to post constantly (consistency ≠ overproduction) The goal of marketing isn’t just visibility, it’s trust and connection At the end of the day… Marketing isn’t about getting more people in the door. It’s about helping the right people feel seen, safe, and supported, before they ever reach out. -- RESOURCES Connect with Shayna: 🌐 https://shaynavanceetc.com -- Building and managing the practice you truly want can feel overwhelming. That’s why Alma is here—to help you create not just any practice, but your private practice. With Alma, you’ll get the tools and resources you need to navigate insurance with ease, connect with referrals that are the right fit for your style, and streamline those time-consuming administrative tasks. That means less time buried in the details and more time focused on delivering exceptional care to your clients. You support your clients. Alma supports you. Learn more at sellingthecouch.com/alma and get 2 months FREE–an exclusive offer for STC listeners. -- Ready to launch (or grow) your online course? Haven is our membership for therapists who want to turn their expertise into sustainable online income through courses, content, and simple systems that actually work. You’ll get access to trainings, live accelerators, and a community that supports you every step of the way. Get on the waitlist: sellingthecouch.com/haven

  • April 16 · 9 min

    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 conversations with other business owners: Even though AI makes it easier to write, create, and move faster… many of us aren’t using that time to slow down. In this episode, we explore: Why AI doesn’t actually create freedom (and what it creates instead) The subtle trap of turning efficiency into more work How “doing more” quietly pulls us away from the life we wanted to build The difference between efficiency vs. alignment Why protecting empty space is more important than ever How to define “enough” in a world where there’s always more you could do Grounding reminders shared in this episode: Efficiency is not alignment Just because you can do more doesn’t mean you should. Empty space is not a problem That quiet time? That slower pace? That’s the whole point. If you don’t define “enough,” it disappears Without friction, there’s always one more thing to do. The goal was never to do more. It's to build a life that feels like your own. -- RESOURCES Building and managing the practice you truly want can feel overwhelming. That’s why Alma is here—to help you create not just any practice, but your private practice. With Alma, you’ll get the tools and resources you need to navigate insurance with ease, connect with referrals that are the right fit for your style, and streamline those time-consuming administrative tasks. That means less time buried in the details and more time focused on delivering exceptional care to your clients. You support your clients. Alma supports you. Learn more at sellingthecouch.com/alma and get 2 months FREE–an exclusive offer for STC listeners. -- Ready to launch (or grow) your online course? Haven is our membership for therapists who want to turn their expertise into sustainable online income through courses, content, and simple systems that actually work. You’ll get access to trainings, live accelerators, and a community that supports you every step of the way. Get on the waitlist: sellingthecouch.com/haven

  • April 9 · 44 min

    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... this episode is for you. In this conversation, I sit down with Daniel Fava from Private Practice Elevation to explore what’s actually changed with blogging, SEO, and content creation, and what still works today. In this episode, we cover: Why blogging has traditionally been such a powerful strategy for therapists The biggest shifts in SEO and content creation since the rise of AI What Google’s E-E-A-T framework really means, and why it favors therapists How to make your content stand out in an AI-saturated world The role of social signals in building authority A smarter way to approach blogging Where to start if you haven’t blogged in months (or ever) Blogging isn’t dead, but generic blogging is. In an AI-driven world, storytelling is your unfair advantage. Because blogging isn’t about writing on a weekly schedule. It’s about creating content that actually connects, builds trust, and compounds over time. -- Connect with Daniel & Private Practice Elevation: Website: https://privatepracticeelevation.com Free Clarity Call: https://privatepracticeelevation.com/kickoff -- RESOURCES Building and managing the practice you truly want can feel overwhelming. That’s why Alma is here—to help you create not just any practice, but your private practice. With Alma, you’ll get the tools and resources you need to navigate insurance with ease, connect with referrals that are the right fit for your style, and streamline those time-consuming administrative tasks. That means less time buried in the details and more time focused on delivering exceptional care to your clients. You support your clients. Alma supports you. Learn more at sellingthecouch.com/alma and get 2 months FREE–an exclusive offer for STC listeners. -- Ready to launch (or grow) your online course? Haven is our membership for therapists who want to turn their expertise into sustainable online income through courses, content, and simple systems that actually work. You’ll get access to trainings, live accelerators, and a community that supports you every step of the way. Get on the waitlist: sellingthecouch.com/haven

  • April 2 · 18 min

    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 of assumptions. In this episode, I break down what actually drives podcast downloads today, based on real-world insights and my own experience growing Selling the Couch into a top 0.5% podcast. Because here’s the truth: Audience size doesn’t guarantee downloads Big-name guests aren’t the growth lever you think they are And visibility alone isn’t what moves the needle In this episode, we cover: Why audience size ≠ downloads (and what matters more) The real difference between a “vitamin” vs. “painkiller” episode Why titles matter more than your guest list How to write titles that get 2–3x more downloads The ideal episode length How to think about podcast guesting strategically (not randomly) The strategy that beats social media for growth Your best discovery tool The biggest shift in downloads Plus, we'll go over a simple experiment to try to see what your audience actually responds to, and how to double down on it. If your podcast isn’t growing the way you expected, it may not be your consistency. It may be your alignment—between your title, your topic, and the real problems your listeners are trying to solve. If you found this helpful, consider sharing it with a friend or colleague who is building (or thinking about starting) a podcast. And don’t forget to subscribe for more insights on podcasting, online business, and building something that compounds quietly over time. -- RESOURCES Building and managing the practice you truly want can feel overwhelming. That’s why Alma is here—to help you create not just any practice, but your private practice. With Alma, you’ll get the tools and resources you need to navigate insurance with ease, connect with referrals that are the right fit for your style, and streamline those time-consuming administrative tasks. That means less time buried in the details and more time focused on delivering exceptional care to your clients. You support your clients. Alma supports you. Learn more at sellingthecouch.com/alma and get 2 months FREE–an exclusive offer for STC listeners. -- Ready to launch (or grow) your online course? Haven is our membership for therapists who want to turn their expertise into sustainable online income through courses, content, and simple systems that actually work. You’ll get access to trainings, live accelerators, and a community that supports you every step of the way. Get on the waitlist: sellingthecouch.com/haven

Showing 21–24 of 24 episodes