Question or comment? 🙋‍♀️ Send me a text message!

Today, I'm talking with the truly talented Michelle Knox, a brand strategist and designer who has become not only one of my closest friends, but also one of my most trusted advisors over the years.

Michelle helps women entrepreneurs, small businesses, and nonprofits cut through the noise and create messaging that actually makes the right people stop and pay attention.

In this episode, we’ll dive deep into why most people are starting their branding journey completely backwards, and how to fix that before wasting another dollar on pretty graphics that don't convert.

Michelle breaks down her powerful "3 C's" framework and shares some seriously eye-opening stories about what happens when you finally get clear about who you really serve.

(And, uhm, we’ll include a behind-the-scenes look at my own brand evolution that I hadn't exactly planned to share…😅).

In our conversation, you'll learn:

• The essential step you must take before you even think about designing a logo or a website.
• Why your messaging should REPEL most people from working with you. (And yes, I meant to say that.)
• The one fear that you must face, if you want to stop looking and sounding like everyone else. (And please, for the love of your clients, do stop looking and sounding like everyone else!)
• A simple way to test whether your messaging is landing with the right people (Spoiler alert: this one could take you out of your comfort zone.)

Michelle also shares that standing out isn't about being louder (or prettier or more poetic or more clever or…whatev’s).

It's about being clearer.

#TRUTH: Bland branding might feel safe, but it's also invisible.

One of the things I love about Michelle is her ability to call it out when she sees me making a mistake in my own branding.

Today - you will learn from her too, just as I have.

Give it a listen.

~Wendy

P.S. Did this make you think? If so, good. That’s what my goal is here on the Ideal Practice podcast. And if that happens often - if you love the value that we bring to you each week - would you please give us a 5 star review and a few words over on Apple Podcasts?

_______________

TODAY’S GUEST: MICHELLE KNOX

Michelle Knox is the owner of Lone Red & Co., an online branding & marketing collaborative. They help entrepreneurs with decades of experience brand their mastery so they can market with confidence, earn more money, create a bigger impact, and feel inspired about what's next in their businesses (and lives!).

In addition to Lone Red & Co.'s marketing services, Michelle also offers growth consulting to small businesses and nonprofits who are looking to grow their revenue and impact. Partnering with them to identify and fix the leaks in their marketing and sales systems so they can scale without having to hire more staff.

Her Website: lonered.com

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/loneredandco/

_______________

MENTIONED:

And excellent book: Start With WHY, by Simon Sinek

Support the show

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

www.WendyPittsReeves.com
Wendy@WendyPittsReeves.com

Question or comment? 🙋‍♀️ Send me a text message!

Are you a relationship expert in one way or another?

Feel like that’s something you have a pretty good handle on?

As healers - especially therapists - we often consider ourselves experts on what it takes to develop healthy relationships - but how often do you think about the relationship you have with yourself?

The truth is, many of us struggle with the very foundation of all healthy connections: trust. And especially: with trusting ourselves.

Today I'm talking with Human Connection expert Railey Molinario, who is passionate about the concept of "Relationship Intelligence™". She says there is a missing component we can all use to truly develop the life we dream of having - and it starts with learning to listen to ourselves.

In this episode, you'll learn:

• Why the quality of our relationships determines the quality of our life (and how to make sure yours are thriving).
• The one skill we all master as healers, but often lack in our own lives - and what happens when we start to practice it with ourselves. (Oooh - that’s interesting!)
• Why brainstorming is one of the most valuable skills you have – and how to use it to change your life.
• A simple hack to shift yourself out of the “I’ll be happy when …” mindset.

This conversation is packed with a ton of truth bombs, y'all, but here's what I really want you to hear…

You are worth the life of your dreams.

You are worth following through on the promises you make to yourself. You are worth creating boundaries that honour your values – especially as someone whose work is helping others.

So give this one a listen. And then maybe grab a journal and ask yourself the best question ever: If you could wake up tomorrow and be anywhere, doing anything – what would your life look like?

Because if it’s in your heart, it’s meant for you. Trust me.

But more than anything, trust yourself.

(Because you really can make it happen.)

Here’s to the power of your dreams,

~Wendy

P.S. Got a dream you can’t imagine coming true?? Or maybe, a dream you CAN imagine, but just don’t know where to start in order to get there? I’d love to hear about it. Send me an email at wendy@WendyPittsReeves.com, and I’ll answer you personally!

______________

TODAY’S GUEST: RAILEY MOLINARIO

Railey Molinario, founder of RI (Relationship Intelligence™), is an international speaker empowering therapists, leaders, and changemakers to build thriving relationships, both personally and professionally. Abandoned at birth and raised in a traumatic home, Railey left at 16 and rebuilt her life through emotional mastery and strategic connection.

Today, she teaches RI (Relationship Intelligence™), a proven method to create aligned, intentional relationships that fuel healing, leadership, and legacy.

Through her coaching, corporate work, and global movement, Railey is helping therapists and entrepreneurs elevate their impact by mastering the one skill that changes everything: human connection.

_______________

THIS WEEK’S JOURNAL PROMPT:

If you could wake up tomorrow and be anywhere, doing anything – what would your life look like?

_______________

Support the show

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

www.WendyPittsReeves.com
Wendy@WendyPittsReeves.com

Question or comment? 🙋‍♀️ Send me a text message!

Hey there, everyone!

Last week, I had a wonderful conversation with Gordon Brewer, host of The Practice of Therapy podcast, about how to keep your private practice going when your life is completely falling apart. It touched me so deeply that I wanted to come back this week and dive in with some of my own thoughts.

Because here's the thing... life happens to all of us sooner or later, right? Whether you're clocking in for someone else or running your own show, challenges are a fact of life.

But when you're the CEO of your practice, you don't always have the luxury of just calling in sick. You've got clients counting on you, maybe staff who depend on their paychecks, and your own financial wellbeing hanging in the balance. 😵‍💫

So how do you keep your practice going even if it feels like everything is crumbling around you?

Well, there are lots of ways, turns out. And today, I thought I’d share a bit of guidance from my own 25+ years of hard-earned experience - keeping practices running through some pretty intense life storms.

In this episode, you'll hear:

• The key to keeping your sanity when life starts falling apart.
• The best way to prepare yourself for the unexpected.
• The key signs that your business might be heading for trouble.
• EXACTLY what to do when disruption hits.

This episode was a personal one for me, because - well - #life.

I've navigated infertility treatment while launching my first practice, managed international adoptions while moving houses, and later - handled divorce, illness, aging parents, and out-of-state moves - all while keeping the business doors open and serving my clients well.

It didn't get easier over the years, but I definitely got better at it.

So today, I want to share some ideas for how you too can navigate choppy waters when the storms come - because they will.

Give it a listen.

~Wendy

P.S. Do you have a favorite way of coping at your practice when life gets messy? Send me an email at wendy@WendyPittsReeves.com and share your experience. I’d love to hear!

P.P.S. If you’re enjoying the podcast (as many of you tell me you are!), could you help me spread the word? Are there two friends or colleagues you know who could really use a boost of encouragement each week? Please share this episode with them. They’ll thank you!

_______________

MENTIONED:

Episode #160 - How Do You Serve Clients When You're Barely Surviving, Yourself? A Conversation with Gordon Brewer

Episode #146 - I Had No Idea How Important a Professional Will Was - And Then I Met Robyn Miller.

_______________

FREE RESOURCES:

COACHING: Need some help with your practice?

Got a problem in your practice that you can’t solve? Have an idea you want to try but don't know where to start? A Quick Start Consult gives you access to high quality coaching without the expense of a full blown coaching commitment. I'm serious about your success - so we don't just talk about your business. We work on it - together. Click here for details.

QUICK START CONSULT:

Support the show

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

www.WendyPittsReeves.com
Wendy@WendyPittsReeves.com

Question or comment? 🙋‍♀️ Send me a text message!

Today I’m sitting down with the ever-steady and ever helpful Gordon Brewer to talk about something we don't discuss nearly enough – how to keep your practice thriving when life gets really, really hard. 😓

Gordon is the owner of Kingsport Counseling Associates, a group practice, and host of The Practice of Therapy podcast. (Gordon is way ahead of me. He’s approaching his 400th episode!)

He also has an extremely powerful story to share … For 13 years, Gordon successfully ran and grew his practice all while at the same time serving as primary caregiver for his beloved wife through her battle with breast cancer, brain surgery, and eventual passing in 2023. 💔

And yet somehow, even through all of that, he managed to build a sustainable practice that could support his family, serve his clients, and give him the flexibility to be present for what mattered most.

How did he do that? And what can we learn from his experience?

In this episode, you'll discover:

• The specific systems that allowed him to step away from his practice when needed, while still supporting his team and clients.
• The ONE thing Gordon prioritized when starting his business (and how it paid off when the unimaginable happened).
• The ‘non-negotiables’ that helped get him through the toughest times (even if they sometimes made him feel guilty).
• A core coping strategy that Gordon used, and why it was both a blessing and a curse.

The truth is, folks, we never know what's coming our way. And sometimes, life may have a way of demanding everything from us right when we think we can't give any more.

But as Gordon shows us, when you build the right foundation and tend to some healthy business basics right from the start, you can weather almost anything (all while still serving your clients and supporting your family).

Give this one a listen.

~Wendy

P.S. If this topic resonates with you, you may also want to be sure you listen to Episode 146, where I spoke with Robyn Miller about how important it is to have a professional will.

P.P.S. And hey, if you enjoyed this episode, can you give us a thumbs up? Maybe even a 5 star review and a few words over on Apple Podcasts or even Spotify?

_______________

TODAY’S GUEST: GORDON BREWER

L. Gordon Brewer, Jr., MEd, LMFT, therapist | podcaster | trainer | speaker | writer, is a licensed marital and family therapist and an AAMFT Approved Supervisor. Gordon is also the voice behind The Practice of Therapy Podcast, providing information and resources for clinicians starting, growing, or scaling private practices. Gordon has worked in the human services and mental health fields for over 30 years. He has previously worked in agency settings and is currently in private practice as a therapist. He is the owner of a group therapy practice, Kingsport Counseling Associates PLLC, located in Kingsport, TN. He has also served as an adjunc

Support the show

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

www.WendyPittsReeves.com
Wendy@WendyPittsReeves.com

Question or comment? 🙋‍♀️ Send me a text message!

Today, I’m excited to have the incredible Rosanne Carter joining us here on the podcast to talk about something that is near and dear to her heart: nervous system co-regulation and why understanding this concept could completely transform your practice (and your life).

Rosanne is a psychotherapist and consultant who specializes in helping parents, children, and early childhood support professionals understand their OWN nervous systems so they can be more present and more regulated in their work and relationships.

But here's why I love Rosanne's story so much … She came to private practice from a place of complete burnout, not at all sure that she could make this work. But in just 3 years, she's built a thriving 6-figure practice, not only with some super savvy business smarts, but also by learning to honor her own nervous system instead of overriding it constantly.

In this episode, you'll learn:

• What your "window of tolerance" is and how staying in it can completely change how you show up as a therapist (and as a human).
• How to spot the sneaky signs that you're overriding your nervous system, and what to do as soon as this shows up for you.
• Why reaching for your phone during work tasks is actually a nervous system cue (AND what it’s trying - desperately - to tell you).
• A simple but powerful technique Rosanne uses when she starts to feel overwhelmed in the middle of a session (and why she shares this with her clients, too).

We've been taught that pushing through, working harder, and ignoring our body's signals is somehow noble or professional. But as Rosanne says so beautifully: "Self regulation is not a luxury, it's leadership."

And you know what? She’s right.

So give this one a listen, guys. Because taking better care of yourself - and your nervous system! - is also part of having an Ideal PracticeTM.

~Wendy

P.S. “Okay Wendy - THAT was interesting….!“ If that’s what you find yourself saying as you listen, would you please share a little love with a 5 star review and a few words over on Apple Podcasts or Spotify?

_______________

TODAY’S GUEST: ROSANNE CARTER

Rosanne Carter is the founder of Kavana Consulting and an Infant & Early Childhood Mental Health Therapist with 20+ years of experience. As a hard-of-hearing clinician raised by Deaf parents, Rosanne brings deep insight into communication, culture, and nervous system dynamics.

Grounded in neuroscience, attachment, and polyvagal theory, her work supports families and professionals in building nervous system awareness and co-regulation skills. Rosanne specializes in translating research into practical tools that strengthen connection and resilience in parent-child and professional-child relationships. Her work is rooted in the belief that nervous system understanding transforms relationships and fosters meaningful, lasting change.

Her Website: www.kavana-consulting.com

Instagram: www.instagram.com/msrosannecarter

Facebook Group: www.facebook.com/groups/275235528901335/

Support the show

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

www.WendyPittsReeves.com
Wendy@WendyPittsReeves.com

Question or comment? 🙋‍♀️ Send me a text message!

She was on the edge of burnout…

…getting sick more often, and having to cancel appointments with clients she loved - all because she’d lost any semblance of control over her calendar.

Funny isn’t it? How easy it is for us to get ourselves in trouble - just because we want to be there when our clients need us, or - heck - because we’re trying to make a living.

But it happens - a lot. And it breaks my heart.

I used to be the same way - until I finally made the decision to try something new, and maybe - just maybe - change the way I set up my work week, just by changing the way I handled a client’s requests for an appointment.

Such a small thing. Such a big impact.

It took me a good three years before I was finally willing to try it, to set up a scheduling app in my practice so that clients could schedule without calling me.

I fought that idea because I thought I would be giving up control - and I couldn’t have been more wrong.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

1. How losing control of your weekly calendar can impact everything: your health, your ability to be there for your clients, and your income.
2. The simple change you could make that would totally serve your clients but still give you complete control over how your day goes and how you structure your time.
3. The step by step process I went through to implement this change in my own practice, and the completely unexpected win-win it turned out to be for everyone.

AND I’ll share with you how my client got her life back - and so can you.

Seriously - I know the way most of us handle this. We pull out our little planner at the end of a session, look at our client, and say, “So! When would you like to come back?”

And the back and forth begins.

There’s a better way, y’all. And your clients will love it as much as you do.

Give this a listen.

~Wendy

P.S. Have you shared your review yet over on Apple Podcasts? If you do, not only will that make me very happy, but there’s a really good chance that I’ll read it as part of a future episode. Would love to hear from you, my friends! xoxo

_______________

MENTIONED:

• Acuity Scheduling
• Calendly
• GenBook
• Google Calendar
• OnceHub
• Simple Practice
• Therapy Notes

_______________

COACHING: Need some help?

If your crazy all-over-the-map schedule is only PART of the problem you’re facing, maybe you and I should take a closer look and see if we can get your private practice to a better place. Consider scheduling yourself a Quick Start Consult. I'm serious about your success - so we don't just talk about your business. We work on it together. (And I have a simple follow up option if you need a little more!)

Click below for details.

QUICK START CONSULT: https://www.wendypittsreeves.com/consult

Support the show

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

www.WendyPittsReeves.com
Wendy@WendyPittsReeves.com

Question or comment? 🙋‍♀️ Send me a text message!

Do you ever feel like your practice is held together by nothing more than rubber bands and band-aids? Feel like you're constantly putting out fires instead of actually growing the business you dreamed of?

If this sounds familiar, you'll love what I have for you today, because I'm talking to the ever-so-organized Ariana Refsdal about creating systems that actually work for creative, intuitive healers like us.

Ariana is a business systems expert who helps mission-driven entrepreneurs streamline their back office operations through a more holistic approach.

And, she knows that organizing our office isn’t what we get excited about - so she wants to make this easier for all of us. The better things are behind the scenes, the better we’ll be with our clients - right?

Right! (She gets us, friends.)

So in this episode, you'll learn:

• The 3 systems every practice owner needs to have in place (and why you need them sooner than you think!).
• The one system that will help you get out of your own way, so your business can finally grow.
• How to onboard your clients in a way that sets boundaries AND makes them feel supported from day one. (I love that.)
• Why systems don’t have to be complicated to be powerful, plus which system you should implement first.

This conversation really hit home for me.

Because here's what I know about you… You're amazing at the clinical work, the healing work, the magic you were called to bring to your clients.

But if behind-the-scenes chaos is keeping you up at night or distracting you during sessions, then something's got to give.

So give this one a listen. Because when your business runs smoother, you just feel better.

You do better work, you show up more for your clients…

…and you make more money too. 😎

What’s not to love about that?!

~Wendy

P.S. Can you help a friend out? I will be reaching out to other podcasts soon as a potential guest myself, so I can share some of what we do here on Ideal Practice for others. What podcasts do YOU listen to that you think I should reach out to?

Please reach out to let me know!

_______________

TODAY’S GUEST:

Ariana Refsdal is an Aligned Business Strategist who helps mission-driven entrepreneurs simplify their systems, optimize their operations, and build a business that supports the life they actually want to live.

With a background in virtual support, project management, and strategic planning, she bridges the gap between vision and execution—especially for purpose-led founders who feel stuck in the back end of their business.

Ariana believes your business can be both impactful and easeful, and she’s here to help you reclaim your time, attract aligned clients, and move forward with clarity and confidence.

Her Website: www.inspiredvirtualcollaborations.com

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/inspiredvirtualcollaborations

Her Gift for You: www.inspiredvirtualcollaborations.com/systems-mini-guide

Support the show

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

www.WendyPittsReeves.com
Wendy@WendyPittsReeves.com

Question or comment? 🙋‍♀️ Send me a text message!

Today, we’re going to get out of the office, out of our heads, and back into our bodies, my friends. Woot! 🥳

In this episode, I've brought back one of my favorite guests - the brave and oh-so-creative Gary Katz - for a deep dive into the magic of experiential work.

Gary is a licensed therapist and founder of the Center for Intimacy Recovery, a group practice with services now in seven states around the U.S.

He's also the most wonderfully creative human who takes therapy way beyond the traditional office setting.

We're talking surf therapy in New York, boxing classes with clients, even summer camp for 80 year olds …

But there's more.

Gary has brought that same creative spirit he uses in his clinical work to the connections he has with colleagues, too.

With his "Therapy Tribe", he’s created a whole community for mental health professionals that is equally creative - and fun! - with pickleball, salsa dancing, summer camps and Mexico retreats!

(He thinks we therapists need more play in our lives. I think he’s right.)

In this episode, you'll learn:

• Why physical exhaustion can be a helpful "backdoor" into helping clients connect with their bodies (particularly those with a history of abuse or trauma).
• How one experience while surfing with a client completely transformed his perspective as a therapist (... and what crashing waves can teach us about our feelings and emotions 🤔).
• Important factors that you need to consider BEFORE you take a client on an experiential session (because this is NOT something you do casually).
• The super simple (but incredibly powerful) way you could start exploring experiential work right away.

So, if you've ever had a little voice in your head whisper, "What if I tried something different with my clients?" - this episode is for you.

Because maybe, just maybe, YOUR willingness to step out of your comfort zone is the exact medicine your clients need to step out of theirs.

Give it a listen.

~Wendy
xoxo

P.S. So was I right? Did you love this? If so, could you give us a quick review or thumb’s up over on Apple Podcasts or Spotify? Thank you SO much!

_______________

TODAY’S GUEST:

Gary Katz is a psychotherapist and founder of The Center for Intimacy Recovery, centered in New York, which focuses primarily on intimacy and relationships. The practice has grown into a large group practice of 20 therapists, 12 weekly groups (all private pay), now with therapists in 7 or 8 states across the country.

Without a sense of intimacy with oneself, people can’t fully experience intimacy with someone else. Our hearts are fragile so we develop strategies to keep them safe and avoid getting hurt. The Center for Intimacy Recovery helps clients find ways to have the intimacy and connection in life that we are all seeking.

Website: www.intimacyrecovery.com
Email: garykatz@intimacyrecovery.com

Support the show

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

www.WendyPittsReeves.com
Wendy@WendyPittsReeves.com