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The Money Sessions

Tiffany McLain

Deep, thoughtful, raw conversations with real therapists who are in the midst of leaning into raising fees and making bank – all while working with the clients they are passionate about serving.

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  • 21 episodes
  • weekly
  • Avg 33 min
  • English

Episodes 21

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  • S5 · E189
    August 24 · 20 min

    A Seam in the White Room

    Ready to set your fee? You choose the dream, we'll do the math.🎁 Download our FREE Life First Fees Private Practice Calculator 👉🏽 https://www.leaninmakebank.com/free Ready to charge Life First Fees? Click here to fill out an application Most therapists think the hardest part is allowing themselves to want more. More income. More freedom. More creativity. More time off. A Life First Practice. But what happens after you let yourself want it? In this episode, Tiffany explores the next stage of growth—the one almost nobody talks about. Because once you stop wondering if a Life First Practice is possible and start moving toward it, something unexpected happens. You begin to see things you couldn't see before. A new possibility. A new level of clinical work. A new version of yourself. Tiffany calls it finding the seam in the white room. For years, you've been practicing inside the same room, doing meaningful work with your clients. Then one day, you notice what looks like a tiny seam in the wall. You get closer. And you realize it isn't just a seam. It's a door. A door that has been there all along. Opening that door changes everything. Not because the work you've been doing wasn't valuable—but because you suddenly discover there's an entirely new level of growth, clinical depth, and possibility waiting on the other side. And that's where the real work begins. In this episode, Tiffany unpacks: Why allowing yourself to want more is only the beginning of the journey What happens after you begin building a Life First Practice The powerful metaphor of "the seam in the white room" and what it reveals about clinical growth Why expansion often brings grief, regret, excitement, and uncertainty at the same time The hidden cost of trying to navigate new levels of growth by yourself Why every new level of success requires new resources, new support, and new ways of thinking How investing in yourself becomes part of becoming the therapist your future clients need Why the "messy middle" is not a sign you're failing—it's evidence you're growing The importance of surrounding yourself with people who have already walked through the next door How asking better questions opens opportunities that have been in front of you all along This episode is about far more than charging higher fees. It's about becoming the kind of therapist who is willing to keep opening doors. Because every time you step into a bigger room, you'll discover another seam. Another opportunity. Another level of yourself waiting to be explored. Growth doesn't end. It expands. And the therapists who build extraordinary practices aren't the ones who never feel overwhelmed. They're the ones who learn to stay curious enough to open the next door. If today's episode helped you see a seam you've never noticed before, email Tiffany at tiffany@leaninmakebank.com with the words: "I Want It." Because sometimes the biggest breakthrough isn't finding a new strategy. It's realizing the door has been there all along.

    • Transcript
  • S5 · E188
    August 17 · 54 min

    Rural Virginia: 8 Months to $40K Revenue Boost with Half the Caseload

    Ready to set your fee? You choose the dream, we'll do the math.🎁 Download our FREE Fun with Fees Calculator 👉🏽 https://www.leaninmakebank.com/free Ready to charge Life First Fees? Click here to fill out an application When therapists tell themselves, "I live in a rural area, so premium fees aren't possible here," Leah Harlan is living proof that assumption isn't true. In just 8 months, Leah increased her annual revenue by more than $40,000 while cutting her caseload nearly in half. And she did it in rural Virginia. In this conversation, Leah shares what it looked like to move from exhaustion and overwork into a practice that actually supports the life they want to live. They open up about the fears, mindset shifts, fee increases, and practical decisions that made this transformation possible—and why geography wasn't the barrier they once thought it was. If you've been convinced your location, market, or community can't support Life First Fees, this episode is a must-listen. IN THIS EPISODE WE COVER Why rural therapists often underestimate what clients are willing to invest in therapy The mindset shifts Leah had to make before raising their fee How they increased revenue by over $40,000 in less than a year What happened when they reduced their caseload instead of adding more sessions The fears that surfaced throughout the fee-raising process How Life First Fees created more sustainability inside and outside the therapy room The connection between therapist burnout and undercharging Why premium-fee clients exist in every community—including rural areas What changed in Leah's confidence, boundaries, and clinical work as their practice evolved Advice for therapists who believe their market "can't support" higher fees RESOURCES MENTIONED LIMB Academy LFF Calculator Leah's Website

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  • S5 · E187
    August 10 · 15 min

    Get Good Enough to Charge $600/Session

    Ready to set your fee? You choose the dream, we'll do the math.🎁 Download our FREE Life First Fees Private Practice Calculator 👉🏽 https://www.leaninmakebank.com/free Ready to charge Life First Fees? Click here to fill out an application What does it actually mean to be good enough to charge $600 per session? More certifications? Another modality? A better niche? A prettier website? Most therapists assume that charging premium fees is simply a reflection of clinical expertise. But in this episode, Tiffany challenges that assumption and asks a much deeper question: What if the thing that allows someone to charge $600 per session has less to do with what they know—and more to do with who they become? Because after working with therapists for over a decade, Tiffany has noticed something fascinating: The therapists who create Life First Practices don't just change their marketing. They change their relationship with themselves. They become freer. Freer from permission-seeking. Freer from fear. Freer from the opinions of colleagues. Freer from the invisible rules that tell them what's allowed and what's possible. And that freedom changes everything. In this episode, Tiffany explores: Why charging a Life First Fee is about far more than marketing or clinical skill What therapists often misunderstand about charging $600 per session The difference between earning more money and becoming more free Why SEO, Google Ads, copywriting, and marketing strategies are only the tip of the iceberg How internal limitations, fears, and unconscious beliefs create financial ceilings The surprising lesson Tiffany learned from a therapist successfully charging $600 per session who still didn't feel free Why making more money without doing the deeper work often leaves therapists trapped in new ways What it means to build a practice that gives you both time and money How personal transformation creates professional demand Why becoming more conscious, present, and fully yourself may be the greatest business strategy of all This episode is not about learning how to charge $600. It's about becoming the kind of person for whom charging $600 feels natural. Because there are therapists charging premium fees right now who are still trapped by anxiety, shame, people-pleasing, and fear. And there are therapists building extraordinary lives because they chose something deeper than a pricing strategy. They chose freedom. The kind of freedom that shows up in your relationships. In your parenting. In your business. In your ability to make decisions without constantly asking for permission. The real question isn't whether you're good enough to charge $600 per session. The real question is: What would happen if you became free enough to? If you're ready to build a Life First Practice that creates both financial success and personal freedom, we'd love to meet you. Apply to Lean In. MAKE BANK. through this link Or email tiffany@leaninmakebank.com with the subject line: "I'm Ready." Because the goal was never just $600 per session. The goal is becoming the version of yourself who no longer needs anyone else's permission to build the life you want.

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  • S5 · E186
    August 3 · 48 min

    $600/Session: A Mystery Guest You Cannot Miss

    Ready to set your fee? You choose the dream, we'll do the math.🎁 Download our FREE Life First Fees Private Practice Calculator 👉🏽 https://www.leaninmakebank.com/free Ready to charge Life First Fees? Click here to fill out an application What happens when a therapist charges $600 per session and becomes the target of criticism, projection, outrage, and endless commentary from other therapists? In this powerful and provocative episode, Tiffany sits down with a mystery guest we'll call Maverick—a Canadian trauma therapist who built a thriving premium fee practice and now charges $600 per session for deeply relational trauma work. Maverick shares the emotional reality of raising fees, the backlash they faced from colleagues, the clinical implications of becoming the "bad object," and why so many therapists remain trapped in martyrdom disguised as ethics. This conversation goes far beyond pricing. It's about desire. It's about self-abandonment. It's about what becomes possible when therapists stop organizing their lives around being perceived as "good." And it may completely change the way you think about money, power, accessibility, capitalism, and clinical work. In This Episode We Cover: Why Maverick chose to remain anonymous—and the surprising amount of hate they receive for charging $600 per session The journey from charging $80 per session to $600 in just two years Why simply raising your fee is not the hard part The emotional and identity-level work therapists face when stepping into premium fees How therapist training reinforces self-abandonment and martyrdom What therapists get wrong about accessibility, privilege, and client decision-making Why therapists often assume they know what clients can and cannot afford The clinical importance of becoming the "bad object" How fee conversations mirror relational trauma dynamics Why many therapists unconsciously organize their practices around avoiding discomfort The difference between living in fantasy versus living in reality How Maverick learned to stop collapsing criticism into "I am bad" Why being well-rested, well-trained, well-supported, and financially secure makes therapists better clinicians The connection between premium fees and providing transformational trauma therapy Maverick's take on capitalism, social justice, and why therapists are often the wrong target Why AI will replace many forms of transactional therapy—but not deeply relational work The future of private practice and what therapists need to do to remain valuable How therapists unknowingly model self-abandonment to clients through their businesses What therapists lose when they prioritize being liked over being effective Resources Mentioned: LIMB Academy Life First Fee Calculator About The Money Sessions The Money Sessions is the podcast for therapists who are ready to stop treating money as separate from clinical work. Each week, Tiffany McLain brings you honest conversations about private practice, premium fees, therapist identity, wealth, desire, marketing, and the emotional realities of building a sustainable business. Because the therapist you become when you're financially resourced is often the therapist your clients need most. If this episode resonated with you, share it with a therapist who needs to hear it. And if you're ready to build a premium fee private practice, email tiffany@leaninmakebank.com with the word Ready.

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  • S5 · E185
    July 27 · 14 min

    The Myth of the Insurance Boogeyman

    Ready to set your fee? You choose the dream, we'll do the math.🎁 Download our FREE Life First Fees Private Practice Calculator 👉🏽 https://www.leaninmakebank.com/free Ready to charge Life First Fees? Click here to fill out an application Therapists are afraid of a lot of things. Raising their fees. Leaving insurance panels. Being visible. Being judged. Failing publicly. But according to Tiffany, one of the biggest obstacles standing between therapists and the lives they actually want isn't reality. It's a story. A story that says: Insurance is the only safe option. The market is too competitive. Clients won't pay. The economy won't support it. Someone out there is stopping you from succeeding. In this episode, Tiffany challenges one of the most persistent myths in private practice: The belief that there is a boogeyman standing between you and the business you want. Because while insurance companies certainly create challenges, many therapists have unknowingly built entire careers around reacting to fear instead of responding to possibility. And that fear comes at a cost. A cost measured in exhausted evenings. Financial anxiety. Overloaded caseloads. Missed time with family. And years spent living far below your actual potential. In this episode, Tiffany explores: Why therapists often give away their power to systems they believe control them The hidden emotional payoff of believing someone else is responsible for your limitations How fear-based thinking keeps therapists trapped in business models they no longer want Why insurance isn't the true obstacle for most therapists The difference between reacting to circumstances and creating a vision for your future How chronic financial stress quietly impacts your quality of life Why many therapists have stopped imagining what they actually want The invitation to stop building a practice around fear and start building one around possibility What it means to become the hero of your own story instead of waiting to be rescued How to begin imagining "you to the max" and building a practice that supports that vision This episode is ultimately about reclaiming agency. Because the question isn't whether insurance is frustrating. The question is: What are you going to do with the one life you have? Will you continue organizing your business around fear? Or will you finally give yourself permission to imagine something bigger? A practice where you see fewer clients. Charge fees that support your life. Spend more time with your family. And stop carrying the constant weight of financial anxiety. As Tiffany asks in this episode: Who are you at your fullest potential? Who are you to the max? Because the future you want won't be built by hiding from fear. It will be built by deciding that fear no longer gets to make your decisions. If you're ready to stop playing defense and start building a Life First Practice, fill out an application through this link Or email tiffany@leaninmakebank.com with the subject line: "I'm Ready." Because there is no insurance boogeyman powerful enough to stop a therapist who has finally decided to put their life first.

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  • S5 · E184
    July 20 · 56 min

    Danielle's Journey to $255 & Full: A Journey through the VERY Messy Middle

    Ready to set your fee? You choose the dream, we'll do the math.🎁 Download our FREE Life First Fees Private Practice Calculator 👉🏽 https://www.leaninmakebank.com/free Ready to charge Life First Fees? Click here to fill out an application What if the "messy middle" isn't proof you're failing… but proof you're growing? In this deeply honest episode, Tiffany sits down with Danielle Robbins, an LMHC in New York, who went from opening a private practice with one client at a $200 fee to charging $255/session, nearly full, and preparing to leave group practice for good. But this is not a shiny overnight success story. This is the story of fear. Shame. Doubt. Identity shifts. October–November panic spirals. Networking while terrified. Feeling like "everyone else can do it but me." And continuing anyway. Danielle shares what it actually looked like to build a Life First Fee practice while navigating deep internal conflict, grief around leaving scarcity behind, and the emotional reality of stepping into more—especially as a Black woman therapist navigating messages about service, struggle, and success. If you've ever thought: "Maybe this works for other therapists, but not me…" This episode is for you. Because Danielle thought the exact same thing. And now? They're here telling you why you can do it too. In this episode we cover: How Danielle went from 1 client at $200 → 8 full-fee clients at $255 and growing What it really feels like in the "messy middle" (spoiler: doubt doesn't magically disappear) Why so many therapists mistake normal growth cycles for failure The shame Danielle experienced around success, money, and "doing well" How being a young Black therapist shaped their beliefs about wealth, visibility, and belonging The unspoken money dynamics in therapy—and how Danielle's own experience as a free pro bono client changed how they practice What happened when inquiries slowed down and fear got LOUD Why networking became Danielle's biggest growth strategy (even though they were terrified) How stepping into higher fees required stepping into a new identity The difference between "failure" and simply being on page three of chapter one Why Danielle says therapists don't need confidence to do this—they can do it scared The mindset shift that helped them keep going when nothing seemed to be working What it means to stop colluding with scarcity and start building a practice rooted in desire, freedom, and sustainability If this episode hit home, send it to one therapist who needs permission to stop mistaking the messy middle for failure. And if you're ready to stop white-knuckling your way through private practice and finally build a business that supports your actual life? Email tiffany@leaninmakebank.com with the word "Ready." Resources mentioned: LIMB Academy Fun With Fees Calculator Danielle's website: Connect with Danielle: danielle@soulfulharmonycounseling.com

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  • S5 · E183
    July 13 · 25 min

    Come to the Hamptons With Me

    Ready to set your fee? You choose the dream, we'll do the math.🎁 Download our FREE Life First Fees Private Practice Calculator 👉🏽 https://www.leaninmakebank.com/free Ready to charge Life First Fees? Click here to fill out an application What if the thing standing between you and your Life First Practice isn't strategy? What if it's the story you tell yourself about who you're allowed to be? In this deeply personal episode, Tiffany shares a surprising encounter that sparked a profound realization about wealth, self-concept, and the invisible limits therapists place on themselves. A simple conversation about the Hamptons uncovered something many therapists do every day: They automatically rule themselves out. Not because they can't. Not because it's impossible. But because somewhere along the way they decided: "That's for those people. Not for me." Whether it's a trip to the Hamptons, charging $350 per session, making $20,000 a month in private practice, speaking on bigger stages, or simply taking up more space in the world—many therapists unconsciously reject opportunities before they ever give themselves permission to consider them. And that's exactly what Tiffany challenges in this episode. In this episode, Tiffany explores: Why therapists often disqualify themselves from the very lives they want before they even try The hidden psychological cost of choosing what's "comfortable" instead of what's actually aligned with your goals How self-concept—not marketing—is often the biggest barrier to charging Life First Fees Why therapists routinely shrink themselves around wealth, success, authority, and visibility The surprising ways Tiffany caught herself minimizing her own success in real time What your desired fee symbolizes psychologically, emotionally, and relationally Why therapists readily accept negative projections ("struggling therapist," "martyr," "burned out clinician") but resist positive ones like authority, expertise, and abundance How to begin expanding your capacity to hold more success, more visibility, and more ease without abandoning yourself The paradigm shift required to build a practice that generates both freedom and meaningful income This episode isn't really about the Hamptons. It's about the places, spaces, opportunities, and identities you've quietly decided aren't available to you. It's about the part of you that wants more—and the part of you that immediately explains why you can't have it. And it's about learning to stay present long enough to question whether those stories are actually true. Because the therapists who build Life First Practices aren't necessarily smarter. They're not better marketers. They're simply willing to ask: "Who would I have to become if this were actually possible for me?" If you're ready to step into a new paradigm—one where $350 sessions, $20,000 months, spacious mornings, creative work, and financial ease are no longer things that happen to "other people"—this episode is for you. Email tiffany@leaninmakebank.com with the word "Paradigm." Because the goal isn't the Hamptons. The goal is becoming the version of yourself who no longer automatically assumes you don't belong there.

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  • S5 · E182
    July 6 · 43 min

    From $6K Months to $10K+ Months… and Having WAY Fewer Sessions with Hillary Pilotto

    Ready to set your fee? You choose the dream, we'll do the math.🎁 Download our FREE Life First Fees Private Practice Calculator 👉🏽 https://www.leaninmakebank.com/free Ready to charge Life First Fees? Click here to fill out an application What happens when the practice you built starts feeling like a trap? In this deeply honest Money Sessions episode, Tiffany sits down with therapist Hillary Pilotto to unpack the emotional, financial, and identity-level shifts that helped them go from exhausting $6K months to consistent $10K+ months… while seeing WAY fewer clients. And here's the thing: Hillary already had what many therapists think they want. A thriving group practice. An associate. An admin team. Insurance referrals flowing in. A "successful" business on paper. But underneath? They were overworking, overwhelmed, disconnected from their own life… and quietly realizing they didn't actually want the business they had built. This conversation is about what happens when you finally stop abandoning yourself to keep everyone else comfortable. It's about: ✨ Leaving insurance ✨ Letting yourself disappoint people ✨ Rebuilding your relationship with money ✨ Releasing "good therapist" conditioning ✨ Learning to trust your own desires ✨ And creating a business that actually supports your LIFE And perhaps most importantly? Hillary talks openly about the grief and fear that comes with changing — even when the change is exactly what you need. Because no… This process isn't easy. But it is possible. In this episode we cover: Going from 20+ sessions a week to just 10–13 clients Increasing fees to $280/session Why "successful on paper" can still feel deeply unsustainable The emotional labor of owning a group practice Leaving insurance despite fear, guilt, and external pressure Why so many therapists stay trapped at the $5K–$6K/month ceiling The difference between marketing strategy and mindset work How community support changed everything Releasing scarcity and stepping into abundance Building a practice around motherhood, spaciousness, and nervous system regulation The identity shifts required to charge Life First Fees One of the most powerful moments in the episode? When Hillary says: "If I don't want to do something anymore, I don't question it or feel guilty. I just know… I don't want to do that." WHEW. If you've been secretly fantasizing about working less… If you've built a practice that no longer fits your life… If you've been telling yourself "this is just how private practice has to be"… This episode will crack something open for you. And if this episode hit you somewhere deep… If you're realizing you've been over-functioning, over-giving, and undercharging for far too long… Email Tiffany directly at tiffany@leaninmakebank.com with the word READY. Resources mentioned: LIMB Academy Fun With Fees Calculator Hillary´s Website Hillary´s Instagram Connect with Hillary: Hillary@betterbalancecounseling.com

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  • S5 · E181
    June 29 · 17 min

    The Travesty of the Cupcake Shop

    Ready to set your fee? You choose the dream, we'll do the math.🎁 Download our FREE Life First Fees Private Practice Calculator 👉🏽 https://www.leaninmakebank.com/free Ready to charge Life First Fees? Click here to fill out an application There is a reason so many therapists are exhausted, resentful, financially anxious, and quietly fantasizing about leaving the profession altogether. And it's not because they "aren't good at business." It's because most therapists are trying to run their private practice like a cupcake shop. In this sharp, disruptive, and deeply clarifying episode, Tiffany unpacks one of the biggest misunderstandings therapists have about the work they do—and why it's leading directly to burnout, overwork, low fees, and emotional collapse. Because therapy is not a commodity. You are not selling cupcakes. You are not selling a cute, inexpensive, endlessly reproducible product designed for mass consumption. You are offering highly specialized, relational, psychologically sophisticated work that changes lives. And yet therapists continue to price, market, and emotionally position themselves as if they are competing in a bargain marketplace. The result? Overfull caseloads. Constant financial stress. And therapists trying to survive on business models that fundamentally do not match the depth or intensity of the work being provided. In this episode, Tiffany breaks down: Why therapists unconsciously market themselves like low-cost consumer businesses The dangerous psychological consequences of treating therapy like a commodity How scarcity thinking drives therapists to overload their caseloads Why "affordable for everyone" often becomes unsustainable for the therapist themselves The hidden resentment and burnout that emerge when therapists continually undercharge How clients experience therapists who are financially stretched and emotionally depleted Why premium fees are often necessary for deeper, more attuned clinical work The difference between transactional services and transformational relationships Why therapists must stop comparing themselves to mass-market industries What shifts when you begin treating your work like a true profession instead of a hustle for survival This episode is ultimately about professional identity. Because the way you price your work reflects the way you understand your value. And if you continue operating like a cupcake shop—high volume, low margin, emotionally unsustainable—you will build a practice that consumes your life instead of supporting it. Therapy is intimate. Complex. Transformational. And your business model needs to reflect that reality. If you're ready to stop building a burnout machine and start building a Life First Practice, apply to Lean In. MAKE BANK. through this link Or email Tiffany at tiffany@leaninmakebank.com with the subject line: "Cupcake Shop." Because the future of therapy belongs to clinicians who stop commodifying themselves— and start valuing the depth of what they actually do.

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  • S5 · E180
    June 22 · 44 min

    From $5K months to $17K months with 15 sessions: Canadian-based therapist Amelia Sloan leans all the way in

    Ready to set your fee? You choose the dream, we'll do the math. 🎁 Download our FREE Fun with Fees Calculator 👉🏽 https://www.leaninmakebank.com/free Ready to charge Life First Fees? Click here to fill out an application Think therapists in Canada can't charge premium fees? Think again. In this episode of The Money Sessions, Tiffany sits down with Amelia Sloan, a Canadian-based therapist whose journey challenges the belief that geography, culture, or the therapy industry determines what you can earn. Before making changes in their practice, Amelia was seeing 15–18 clients a week, charging roughly $80–$140 per session, and bringing in about $5K–$6K months in private practice. Like many therapists, they carried a deep sense of responsibility to make therapy accessible—often subsidizing clients while quietly watching their own quality of life decline. But when Amelia realized they couldn't even afford the services they valued from others, something shifted. Instead of continuing to sacrifice their own sustainability, Amelia decided to rethink everything about how they approached fees, value, and the role they played in their own business. Today, their practice looks radically different. They see about 15 clients per week, charge $300 per session, and recently hit a $17K month—all while creating more space in their life as a parent of a young child. Their story is a powerful reminder that building a Life-First Practice isn't about working more—it's about aligning your work, values, and fees in a way that actually supports your life. In this episode, we cover: What Amelia's practice looked like before raising their fees The moment they realized they were subsidizing everyone except themself How social justice values and money beliefs kept them undercharging Why many therapists get stuck around $5K–$6K months The grief and fear that often come with raising fees Moving from $80–$140 sessions to a $300 Life-First Fee Hitting $17K months while seeing just 15 clients per week Why raising fees actually improved their clinical presence and capacity The mindset shift from scarcity to abundance and mutual exchange Building a thriving practice in Canada—even when people say it's impossible Resources Mentioned LIMB Academy FWF Calculator Amelia`s Website ameliasloantherapy@gmail.com

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  • S5 · E179
    June 15 · 26 min

    Modalities That Offer Rapid Results

    Ready to set your fee? You choose the dream, we'll do the math.🎁 Download our FREE Life First Fees Private Practice Calculator 👉🏽 https://www.leaninmakebank.com/free Ready to charge Life First Fees? Click here to fill out an application Therapists are asking the wrong question. The question is not: "How do I get more clients?" The real question is: "How do I become a therapist whose work creates powerful, noticeable transformation?" Because in 2026, clients are no longer simply looking for weekly emotional maintenance. They are looking for results. And therapists who can confidently help clients experience meaningful movement—without collapsing into hustle, overwork, or performative "fixing"—will become increasingly valuable. In this episode, Tiffany breaks down the conversation almost nobody in the therapy industry wants to have openly: Why certain modalities create faster, deeper transformation—and how that impacts your positioning, authority, and ability to charge Life First Fees. This is not about gimmicks. It's not about promising overnight healing. And it's definitely not about becoming a "therapy influencer" chasing quick wins. It's about understanding that clients who are paying premium fees are often looking for therapists who: can articulate how change happens, understand transformation deeply, and practice with intentionality, precision, and confidence. In this episode, Tiffany explores: Why "results" have become increasingly important in the therapy marketplace The difference between transformational work and endless processing How modalities that create rapid insight and nervous system shifts naturally position therapists differently Why many therapists secretly fear effectiveness because it threatens long-term dependency models The relationship between clinical confidence and premium fees How clients experience therapists who deeply trust their own process Why high-value clients are often seeking clarity, momentum, and measurable internal shifts The danger of becoming overly rigid or dogmatic about any one modality Why relational depth still matters more than technique alone How therapists can evolve clinically without becoming performative or salesy This episode is ultimately about professional evolution. Because therapists who understand how transformation works—and can confidently guide clients through it—will not need to convince people to value therapy. The work will speak for itself. And in a rapidly changing world where AI and low-cost mental health platforms are flooding the market, therapists who offer deep, nuanced, high-impact work will increasingly stand apart. If you're ready to build a Life First Practice rooted in both clinical depth and financial sustainability, apply to Lean In. MAKE BANK. through this link Or email Tiffany at tiffany@leaninmakebank.com with the subject line: "I'm Ready." Because the future belongs to therapists who know how to create transformation— and who are finally willing to value it accordingly.

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  • S5 · E178
    June 8 · 51 min

    Half the Income & Happier Than Ever with Krissy Johnson, LMFT

    Ready to set your fee? You choose the dream, we'll do the math. 🎁 Download our FREE Fun with Fees Calculator 👉🏽 https://www.leaninmakebank.com/free Ready to charge Life First Fees? Click here to fill out an application What happens when you cut your income in half… and feel more free than ever? In this unforgettable episode of The Money Sessions, Tiffany sits down with Krissy Johnson, LMFT, whose path into private practice is anything but traditional. Before becoming a therapist, Krissy toured the country as a performer. When COVID shut down the industry, she finally used the therapy degree she had earned years earlier—quickly building a full private practice on insurance panels and seeing 25 clients a week. On paper, things looked great. She was bringing in around $8K a month. But behind the scenes, she was exhausted—often juggling 20–25 clients a week while performing in a musical eight shows a week in Las Vegas. Even though her practice was "full," her time wasn't hers. Her schedule was packed, her energy was drained, and she knew something had to change. Today, Krissy charges a $310 Life-First Fee, works with a highly specific niche, and sees about 5–6 clients per week. Her income is currently lower than it was before—but her life is completely different. She has spacious mornings, time to write music, and the freedom to build a practice around the work that truly matters to her. In this episode, we cover: Krissy's journey from touring musician to therapist Building a "full" practice on insurance panels—and why it still felt unsustainable Seeing 25 clients a week while performing eight shows a week The fear of leaving insurance and having the first conversation with clients Why the first fee conversation changed everything in her body Gradually raising her Life-First Fee from $150 → $210 → $310 Seeing fewer clients while creating more freedom and spaciousness Marketing by showing up where your ideal clients actually are Attending a major adult-industry expo as the only therapist in the room Reclaiming her voice after years of silence—and how that shaped her niche Krissy now specializes in working with women in the adult industry and women living "double lives." Her work is deeply personal, rooted in her own lived experience and commitment to helping clients find their voice. Her story is a powerful reminder that building a Life-First Practice isn't just about money. Sometimes it's about reclaiming your time, your creativity, and the parts of yourself that were silenced along the way. Resources Mentioned LIMB Academy FWF Calculator Krissy Johnson`s Website Krissy Johnson`Instagram

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  • S5 · E177
    June 1 · 24 min

    Quantum Shit & Getting Marketing Scammed

    Ready to set your fee? You choose the dream, we'll do the math. 🎁 Download our FREE Fun with Fees Calculator 👉🏽 https://www.leaninmakebank.com/free Ready to charge Life First Fees? Click here to fill out an application What if the biggest thing holding back your private practice isn't your marketing… it's the paradigm you're operating in? In this episode, Tiffany dives into one of the most uncomfortable (and liberating) truths about money, business, and therapists: many of us are unknowingly operating in a zero-sum paradigm where someone always has to lose. And if that's the world you believe in? It becomes almost impossible to build a thriving private practice. Because every exchange of money starts to feel like exploitation. Charging your fee feels like hurting someone. Investing in yourself feels like getting scammed. Growing your practice feels morally suspicious. So you stay stuck. This episode explores the two completely different financial realities therapists live inside—and why choosing a new paradigm might be the most important business decision you ever make. Tiffany also shares her own story of growing up with deeply ingrained scarcity beliefs, how those beliefs shaped her relationship to money and business for years, and what finally allowed her to step into a completely different way of operating. Because here's the truth: You can build your practice inside a world where someone always loses. Or you can step into a paradigm where everyone wins—and growth compounds for everyone involved. Your clients. Your colleagues. And you. If you've ever wondered why your income stalls, why raising fees feels terrifying, or why every investment in your business feels like a potential scam—this conversation will hit deep. And it might just change how you see your practice forever. In this episode, we talk about: The two financial paradigms therapists unknowingly operate inside Why the "I win, you lose" mindset silently sabotages private practices How scarcity beliefs make charging fees feel unethical or dangerous Why therapists often stall around the same income ceilings How suspicion around money blocks growth, investment, and connection The hidden clinical consequences of feeling "scammy" about charging clients What it actually looks like to run a business in a true win-win paradigm Ready to build a practice where everyone wins? Inside Lean In. MAKE BANK., Tiffany helps therapists step into their Life-First practice—charging premium fees while seeing fewer clients and creating financial and emotional stability. If you're ready to explore what that could look like for you, fill out an application through the link in the show notes. Your future clients are looking for a therapist they can trust with both their healing and their money.

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  • S5 · E176
    May 25 · 51 min

    From $60/session to $425 as a Multi-racial, Solo Breadwinning Mom of Littles

    Ready to set your fee? You choose the dream, we'll do the math. 🎁 Download our FREE Fun with Fees Calculator 👉🏽 https://www.leaninmakebank.com/free Ready to charge Life First Fees? Click here to fill out an application When Alana started her private practice, she was charging as little as $60 per session. Like many therapists, she deeply believed therapy should be accessible. But as a multi-racial therapist, solo breadwinner, and mom of a young child, the reality of running a practice quickly caught up with her. Despite being an excellent clinician and working hard, her practice was bringing in $4K–$6K months, and the financial pressure was constant. She tried what many therapists try first—adding new offers like couples intensives—but nothing solved the underlying issue. Her fees simply weren't aligned with the life she needed to support. Inside this episode, Alana shares how she moved from a patchwork caseload with clients paying anywhere from $60 to $200, to building a private-pay practice where most of her clients now pay $250–$425 per session. Today, about 90% of her caseload pays $250+, her practice is full, and she's preparing for maternity leave with a level of financial stability she never thought possible. Her story is a powerful example of what happens when therapists stop waiting for referrals, marketing hacks, or new services to fix their income—and instead address the deeper beliefs keeping their fees low. In this episode, we cover: What Alana's practice looked like before raising her fees The concept of "pretend fees" and why many therapists unknowingly operate this way Why adding intensives didn't solve her income problem The emotional and psychological blocks that kept her undercharging The moment she realized waiting wasn't going to work What it was actually like raising fees with current clients How fee conversations can become powerful clinical work with couples Building a sustainable practice as a multi-racial therapist and solo breadwinner Resources Mentioned LIMB Academy FWF Calculator Alanna`s Website

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  • S5 · E175
    May 18 · 16 min

    The Internal Conflict of Life First Fees

    Ready to set your fee? You choose the dream, we'll do the math.🎁 Download our FREE Life First Fees Private Practice Calculator 👉🏽 https://www.leaninmakebank.com/free Ready to charge Life First Fees? Click here to fill out an application There's a part of you that wants more. More ease. More freedom. More money. More spaciousness. More time with your kids. More creativity. More life. And there's another part of you that is absolutely terrified of what it would mean to actually have it. In this deeply personal and psychologically rich episode, Tiffany unpacks the internal war therapists experience when they begin stepping toward Life First Fees, authority, freedom, and real financial expansion. Because wanting more is actually not the hard part. The hard part is surviving the voices inside you that say: "You're greedy." "What about the clients who need help?" "Who do you think you are?" "Good therapists don't want this." "You're becoming unethical." "You're hurting people." This episode explores what happens when one part of you longs for growth while another part is still deeply loyal to fear, conditioning, scarcity, and self-protection. And if you've ever listened to this podcast feeling simultaneously inspired and activated… Tiffany explains exactly why. In this episode, Tiffany breaks down: Why therapists often feel both captivated and threatened by the idea of charging Life First Fees The unconscious "committee" inside therapists that fights against change and expansion How childhood conditioning, family systems, and cultural beliefs become internalized voices about money and success Why many therapists intellectually want freedom while emotionally defending against it The difference between therapists who step into change—and therapists who stay stuck arguing with possibility Why being surrounded by people who share the same fear keeps you trapped in financial paralysis The importance of having both: a clear system for building a Life First Practice and a container that supports new ways of thinking How therapists in Lean In. MAKE BANK. move from fear and ambivalence into authority, clarity, and real financial growth Why your fees have nothing to do with your goodness, worthiness, or ethics The mindset shift that changes everything: "Yes… and more please." This episode is not just about money. It's about whether you are willing to become the version of yourself that can actually receive the life you say you want. Because for many therapists, the greatest obstacle isn't strategy. It's permission. Permission to want more. Permission to stop martyring yourself. Permission to build a business that fully supports your life. And permission to believe that wanting more does not make you bad. It makes you honest. If you're ready to step into a different way of thinking, living, and building your practice, apply to Lean In. MAKE BANK. through the link in the show notes. Or email Tiffany at tiffany@leaninmakebank.com with the subject line: "Yes and More Please." Because the version of you on the other side of this work? You haven't even met them yet.

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  • S5 · E174
    May 11 · 48 min

    From $107 to $265 per session: Katerina's escape from the scam as a BIPOC therapist

    Ready to set your fee? You choose the dream, we'll do the math. 🎁 Download our FREE Fun with Fees Calculator 👉🏽 https://www.leaninmakebank.com/free Ready to charge Life First Fees? Click here to fill out an application What if the system you were told would "fill your practice" is actually the thing keeping you underpaid and overwhelmed? In this episode of The Money Sessions, Tiffany sits down with Katerina Pogosov, a therapist who spent 14 years working in school-based mental health before opening her private practice and encountering the same structures many therapists rely on—insurance panels and large therapy platforms promising steady referrals. Instead of freedom, she found administrative friction, tech headaches, and a model that quietly capped both her income and autonomy. Katerina started her practice charging $107 per session while relying heavily on insurance platforms. Over time, she began to see what many therapists eventually discover: the systems that promise "full caseloads" often create burnout, instability, and income ceilings. So she made a different move. Today, Katerina runs a private pay practice charging $265 per session, with a smaller, intentional caseload designed around sustainability and alignment with the clients she most wants to serve. Her work now focuses on BIPOC professionals navigating identity, class mobility, money narratives, and generational expectations—a niche deeply connected to her own lived experience. This conversation is about recognizing the scam many therapists were trained into, reclaiming agency over your practice model, and building a business that actually supports your life. In this episode, we talk about: Why insurance panels and therapy platforms can quietly cap therapist income The hidden administrative and emotional costs of relying on large therapy platforms How Katerina increased her fee from $107 to $265 per session Recognizing and stepping away from systems that keep therapists underpaid Creating a niche rooted in lived experience and cultural context Supporting BIPOC professionals navigating identity, money, and class mobility Designing a practice that prioritizes sustainability instead of burnout Resources mentioned LIMB Academy FWF Calculator Katerina`s Website firepoppytherapy@protonmail.com

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  • S5 · E173
    May 4 · 21 min

    Who to Trust When It Comes to the Ethics of Fees?

    Ready to set your fee? You choose the dream, we'll do the math.🎁 Download our FREE Fun with Fees Calculator 👉🏽 https://www.leaninmakebank.com/free Ready to charge Life First Fees? Click here to fill out an application Every therapist has asked this question— even if only silently: "Is it ethical for me to charge this much?" And underneath that… "Who gets to decide?" In this episode, Tiffany takes on one of the most confusing, loaded, and emotionally charged topics in our field: the ethics of fees. Because right now, therapists are getting very mixed messages. Charge more—but don't be greedy. Take care of yourself—but don't abandon accessibility. Build wealth—but stay humble. Value your work—but don't make clients uncomfortable. So who do you listen to? Your grad school training? Your licensing board? Your colleagues in Facebook groups? The loudest voices on Instagram? Or the quiet voice in your own body that knows something isn't working? In this episode, Tiffany cuts through the noise and names the deeper issue: Most therapists are outsourcing their ethical authority. And it's keeping them stuck, under-earning, and disconnected from the very clients they're meant to serve. In this episode, Tiffany breaks down: Why the "ethics of fees" conversation is often rooted in fear, not actual ethics The difference between ethical responsibility and emotional discomfort How therapist culture reinforces confusion, guilt, and second-guessing around money Why looking to misaligned peers for guidance will keep you stuck The role of personal responsibility in determining your fees What it actually means to run an ethical, sustainable, professional practice Why undercharging can be just as unethical as overextending yourself How to start trusting your own clinical and financial authority This episode is not about giving you a number. It's about giving you your authority back. Because ethics are not determined by the loudest, most anxious voices in the room. They are determined by your ability to think clearly, act responsibly, and build a practice that actually works—for you and your clients. If you're ready to set fees that are both ethical and sustainable email tiffany@leaninmakebank.com with the subject line "I'm Ready." Because the real question isn't: "Is this ethical?" It's: "Am I willing to take responsibility for building a practice that actually works?"

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  • S5 · E172
    April 27 · 42 min

    From $110 to $250/session with Jesse Hernandez, LPC

    Ready to set your fee? You choose the dream, we'll do the math. 🎁 Download our FREE Fun with Fees Calculator 👉🏽 https://www.leaninmakebank.com/free Ready to charge Life First Fees? Click here to fill out an application In this episode of The Money Sessions, Tiffany talks with Jesse Hernandez, LPC, a therapist practicing in a small Texas town who made the bold decision to significantly increase his session fee. When Jesse first started exploring the idea of charging more, he was seeing around 12–15 clients per week at about $110 per session—while also working a weekend night job to supplement his income. Financial pressure was real. But so was the self-doubt. Could clients in a small town actually afford higher fees? Would people still book with him? Jesse decided to test those assumptions. Over time, he raised his rate to $250 per session, confronting imposter syndrome and internal resistance along the way. In this episode, Jesse shares the vulnerable moments that came with that transition—including the fears, the unexpected lessons, and the role community support played in helping him stay the course. In this episode, we explore: What it's like building a premium-fee practice in a small town The fears therapists often face when raising their rates Jesse's journey from $110 to $250 per session How self-doubt and imposter syndrome show up in private practice Why community and mentorship can change the trajectory of a business What it looks like to build a practice aligned with your values and goals Resources mentioned: LIMB Academy FWF Calculator Jesse`s Website jessehernandez@elevatemh.com

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  • S5 · E171
    April 20 · 20 min

    AI IS Replacing Therapists: Here's What You Can Do About It

    Ready to set your fee? You choose the dream, we'll do the math.🎁 Download our FREE Fun with Fees Calculator 👉🏽 https://www.leaninmakebank.com/free Ready to charge Life First Fees? Click here to fill out an application AI is already here. And yes—it is replacing therapists. Not all therapists. But many. And the ones most at risk? They're not who you think. In this episode, Tiffany cuts through the noise, the panic, and the denial to tell you the truth about what's actually happening in the therapy industry—and what you must do right now if you want to stay relevant, in demand, and well-paid in 2026 and beyond. Because this isn't about fear. It's about positioning. If your work is standardized, manualized, surface-level, or transactional… AI can—and will—replace it. But if your work is relational, complex, deeply attuned, and rooted in true psychological expertise? AI can't touch you. The problem is: most therapists are being trained, incentivized, and pushed into models that make them easier to replace. And almost no one is talking about it. In this episode, Tiffany breaks down: What AI is actually replacing in therapy (and why it's accelerating fast) Why insurance-based, high-volume models are the most vulnerable How "checkbox therapy" and worksheet-driven work set you up to be replaced The difference between transactional care and transformational work Why undercharging is no longer just a money issue—it's a survival issue What clients who can pay premium fees are really looking for (and why AI can't replicate it) How to position yourself as irreplaceable in a rapidly changing industry Why your relationship with money directly impacts your long-term relevance The role of authority, depth, and clinical leadership in the future of therapy This episode is a line in the sand. Because the therapists who thrive in 2026 will not be the ones who waited. They will be the ones who adapted, elevated, and claimed their value early. If you're ready to build a practice that AI cannot replace… Inside Lean In. MAKE BANK., you'll learn how to create a Life-First Practice—charging premium fees, working fewer hours, and positioning yourself as a high-level clinician clients trust deeply. email tiffany@leaninmakebank.com with the subject line "I'm Ready." Because AI can replace tasks. It can replace scripts. It can replace surface-level care. But it cannot replace you—if you build your practice the right way.

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  • S5 · E170
    April 13 · 52 min

    From $100/session avg to $225: Kara Cruz's journey from CMH to scaled offerings

    Ready to set your fee? You choose the dream, we'll do the math. 🎁 Download our FREE Fun with Fees Calculator 👉🏽 https://www.leaninmakebank.com/free Ready to charge Life First Fees? Click here to fill out an application In this episode of The Money Sessions, Tiffany sits down with therapist Kara Cruz, who began building her private practice while working full-time in community mental health. Like so many clinicians leaving CMH, Kara started out charging relatively low fees and trying to grow her caseload during evenings and weekends while balancing the demands of a full-time job. But as her practice evolved, Kara began thinking more strategically about sustainability, impact, and income. Over time, she raised her average fee from $100 to $225 per session and began expanding beyond traditional one-to-one therapy by developing scaled offerings like therapy groups, consultation, and trainings for other clinicians. Her journey highlights an important truth for many therapists: a sustainable practice doesn't have to rely solely on individual sessions. In this conversation, Kara shares how she moved from burnout and overwork toward a practice model that includes multiple revenue streams and greater flexibility. In this episode, we explore: Kara's transition from community mental health to private practice The challenges of building a caseload while working a full-time job Why raising fees often requires both financial and mindset shifts How Kara increased her average session fee from $100 to $225 The role therapy groups and consulting play in scaling a practice Why therapists benefit from diversifying income streams Resources mentioned: LIMB Academy FWF Calculator Kara`s website Kara`s Instagram kara@karacruz.com

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