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PODCAST

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."

business careers

All Episodes

19:40

429: How to Grow Your Therapy Business Without Living...

Selling the Couch ·

2026/10/09

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 comes with a complicated relationship.You know it can help people discover your work, build trust, and create new opportunities. But you also know how easily it can pull you into constant checking, comparing, posting, and wondering whether you're doing enough.After 11 years of building Selling the Couch, Mel has seen both sides of social media

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20:45

428: The Marketing Advantage Therapists Don't Realize...

Selling the Couch ·

2026/10/01

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 hot takes, or turn every part of your life into content.And maybe that's not actually a problem.In this solo episode of Selling the Couch, Mel explores why conventional marketing advice can feel so uncomfortable for therapists, and why the very skills clinicians have spent years developing may actually be some of the most valuable content

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17:40

427: When Life Doesn't Fit Your Business Plan

Selling the Couch ·

2026/09/24

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 entering a new season of caregiving, and the difficult questions it has raised about business, ambition, family, and what success actually looks like when life gets heavy.For several years, Mel knew that increased caregiving responsibilities for aging parents would eventually become part of his family’s story. This summer, that season arrived.It

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41:00

426: How to Host a Small, Intimate Retreat as a...

Selling the Couch ·

2026/09/17

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 down with licensed psychologist Dr. Shawn Hondorp to talk about what she’s learned from creating small, intimate retreats — including the logistics, the challenges, and the deeper value of bringing people together in person.Shawn shares how her first retreat started with just eight people at an Airbnb near her home, how she finds and chooses

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29:20

425: A Relationship-First Approach to Getting...

Selling the Couch ·

2026/09/10

Could churches and other faith communities become one of your private practice's strongest referral sources?For many therapists, networking with churches can feel intimidating—or even a little unclear. Who do you contact? What do you say? Should you offer free workshops? And how do you build these relationships without feeling like you're simply asking for referrals?In this episode of Selling the Couch, Mel sits down with licensed therapist and group practice owner Whitney Owens to talk about a more

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30:03

424: Why Therapists Should Pay Attention To LinkedIn

Selling the Couch ·

2026/09/04

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 constantly, engage with bigger accounts, chase visibility, and keep feeding the algorithm.But what if there’s a quieter—and more sustainable—way to use LinkedIn?In this episode, Mel shares what he’s learned after nearly four years of experimenting with LinkedIn, growing from roughly 400–500 followers to nearly 5,000 and generating more than 700,000

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41:34

ENCORE: Finding Your Enough As An Entrepreneur with...

Selling the Couch ·

2026/08/27

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 practice clinicians naturally attracts many high achievers and recovering perfectionists, so we need to take a pause and periodically reassess and redefine what success looks like. Join us for a closer look at this important topic!Our Featured GuestJeanetta Garrison, LCSWJeanetta Garrison is an anxiety therapist in private practice in Charlotte, NC

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27:51

ENCORE: 5 Lessons from 2 Years on LinkedIn

Selling the Couch ·

2026/08/21

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 took me a long time to understand the purpose of LinkedIn and how it can be beneficial in connecting me to the right followers. Join me for an honest look at my experience and the biggest lessons learned.You’ll Learn:5 lessons learned over the last 2 years on LinkedIn:The magic is in the DMs.Focusing on thoughtful relationships is better than

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25:08

ENCORE: The Anxiety Of Finding A Private Practice Niche

Selling the Couch ·

2026/08/13

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 decision: I missed the therapy room, a clinical arm to my business is a wise move, and I’d be able to more strategically diversify my income. But this decision brought me some anxiety, insomnia, and depression.I address these issues with my wonderful therapist, and did all the things that we therapists tell our clients to do. My worries and

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22:08

ENCORE: Why Every Course Creator Should Start A Podcast

Selling the Couch ·

2026/08/06

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 is how to be thoughtful and creative in marketing your course, which becomes a separate income stream for your business. Starting a podcast is one of the best ways to market your course while creating a solid, compound income stream, and we are talking strategy in today's encore as I share what I’ve learned through my experience. Join us!You’ll

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29:14

ENCORE: Could Keeping Your Business Small Be the Next...

Selling the Couch ·

2026/07/30

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 overall life? Freedom is my most important value, and building my business around my life, family, and health is most important to me. Not every entrepreneur has the same goals, but these are questions for every entrepreneur to consider. Let’s take a closer look in today’s session!You’ll Learn:How I was compromising to fit life around my business

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12:03

ENCORE: 3 Meetings 99% of Course Creators Don’t...

Selling the Couch ·

2026/07/23

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 my online courses. This simple technique has played a massive role in making over $300K more than the original course. Join me!You’ll Learn:Three meetings course creators need:After-action review (AARS)--takes place after a launch. Ask and answer three questions: What went well? What did not go well? What was missing?This simple step has a

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30:44

ENCORE: If I Were Launching An Online Course Soon,...

Selling the Couch ·

2026/07/16

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 biggest lessons learned and what I would tell anyone on this course creation path. You’ll Learn: 5 things I want to share about launching an online course:Focus on what you already know and love to teach. (Stay within your niche!)Hear my thoughts on course creation and AI.Start small and build slowly. (Think about your “value ladder.”)Think about

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44:49

ENCORE: Leaving Therapy for Coaching with Dr. Corey...

Selling the Couch ·

2026/07/09

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 are shifting from the field of therapy into coaching. Several major factors play into this decision, and my guest today gives a transparent look at his experience in this transition. Join us to learn more!Our Featured GuestDr. Corey WilksDr. Corey Wilks is a good friend and licensed psychologist who joins us for an open and honest look at his

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13:38

ENCORE: Designing a Life-First Business In An...

Selling the Couch ·

2026/07/02

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 becomes increasingly important as the world grows more uncertain and our responsibilities grow daily. This episode is for anyone building a business that fits into real life, and not the other way around.You’ll Learn:My story of stepping back and reassessing my business3 anchors for building a life-first business in an uncertain world:Design

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15:53

ENCORE: What Therapists Get Wrong About Selling Their...

Selling the Couch ·

2026/06/25

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 hold about online courses. I’m bringing full transparency to today’s topic as I share what I’ve learned through my years of experience with online courses. You’ll Learn:The guilt loop running in my head (“I became a therapist to help people, not to sell things.”)Mindset shift that made it all make sense to meEthical selling: a path to

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35:59

ENCORE: A Live vs. Pre-Recorded Online Course

Selling the Couch ·

2026/06/18

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 an online course is on your radar.Our Featured Guest-Kristen Boice, LMFTKristen Boice is a therapist in private practice and a fellow podcaster. She has realized the need among her listeners for an online course. Her podcast, Close the Chapter, is about closing the chapter on certain things in our lives so we can open ourselves up to new

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37:04

ENCORE: The Process of Creating and Marketing Your...

Selling the Couch ·

2026/06/11

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 creating, marketing, and selling a product. What is the process like? How do you take care of all the little details? What about the marketing piece of your product? We’re diving deep into these questions and more on today’s show.My guest is Rosanne Marmor, LCSW, in Portland, Oregon. She created a Feelings Wheel as a way for clients to identify

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13:13

ENCORE: The Power of Depth Over Scale

Selling the Couch ·

2026/06/04

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 milestone is beyond anything I ever dreamed of 10 years ago. I wanted to use this milestone to reflect on a few meaningful thoughts about staying the course to reap the quiet rewards. What does it mean to choose depth over scale and to build intentionally and slowly when the world often tells us to go fast? The truth in this concept of depth over

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19:30

423: Why Google Is Done With Your Reels (And What...

Selling the Couch ·

2026/05/28

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 Google and AI-powered search are quietly rewarding depth-first, human-centered, experience-based content, while most social media content disappears within 24–48 hours.If you’re a therapist building:a private practice,a podcast,a course,a coaching business,or a thought leadership platform…this conversation may completely change how you think

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