Off The Chair Podcast Por Dr. Colleen Long Dr. Jennifer Politis and Erika Bugaj LICSW arte de portada

Off The Chair

Off The Chair

De: Dr. Colleen Long Dr. Jennifer Politis and Erika Bugaj LICSW
Escúchala gratis

Obtén 3 meses por US$0.99 al mes + $20 crédito Audible
In a world where a nail artist can out-earn a licensed therapist, behavioral health professionals have no choice but to get scrappy, color outside the lines, and start writing our own rules. The old path—graduate school, licensure, paneled with insurance, packed calendar of 1:1s—is broken. It’s time for a new blueprint. That’s where Off the Chair comes in. We’re not just talking about surviving the grind, we’re exploring radically different ways to thrive. From building passive income streams to launching scalable service lines, we dive into business models that break the mold. We cover how modern technology; AI, digital products, automation, and online communities—can even help clinicians step out of the therapy chair and into a more expansive, creative, and financially free version of practice. Off the Chair is the no-BS podcast for therapists and clinicians from all disciplines, trapped in a broken healthcare system, ready to break out of burnout, reclaim their income, and build values-driven businesses beyond mis-managed care and trading hours for dollars. Hosted by Dr. Colleen Long, Dr. Jennifer Politis, and Erika Bugaj, LICSW—three clinician-entrepreneurs who’ve built, broken, and rebuilt thriving mental health companies—this show brings you weekly conversations on what it really takes to succeed in today’s broken behavioral health system. Whether you're a growth-minded psychologist, a private practice owner, or a therapist wondering how to scale without selling your soul, Off the Chair is your roadmap to redefining what success looks like in mental healthcare. What You’ll Learn - Business & Practice Management: Navigate the operations side of private practice with insight into EMRs, scheduling workflows, profitability pivots, and systems that scale. - Hiring & Leadership: From managing your first intern to leading multi-state teams, get real-world advice on creating aligned, sustainable teams (and firing fast when it’s not a fit). - Financial Freedom for Clinicians: Understand compensation models, create recurring revenue streams, and stop trading time for money—all without compromising your ethics. - Mental Health Industry Reform: Challenge the status quo with honest dialogue on insurance gatekeeping, clinician burnout, and what it takes to build a more human-centered system. - Personal Resilience & Growth: Behind every spreadsheet is a dark night of the soul. We talk mindset, mission drift, and how to stay motivated when the math doesn’t math. - Overcoming Challenges: The podcast addresses common challenges faced by therapists, such as negative reviews, legal threats, and the fear of failure, offering strategies for navigating these obstacles. Overall, Off the Chair aims to empower clinicians to: Become more effective leaders and managers. Build strong, efficient, and profitable practices. Enhance their personal well-being and achieve a fulfilling career. Stay ahead of the curve in a constantly evolving industry. Why Listen? Off the Chair isn’t just about the logistics of running a practice—it’s about reclaiming your creativity, your autonomy, and your voice as a leader. No jargon, no perfectionism. Just vulnerable, strategic conversations that meet you in the messy middle. New episodes drop every Tuesday. Connect with us! Podcast Website: www.offthechair.com Dr. Colleen Long, Psy.D. Website: www.drcolleenlong.com LinkedIn: Dr. Colleen Long Dr. Jennifer Politis, PhD, LPC Website: www.wellnesscounselingBC.com Instagram: @wellnesscounselingnj TikTok: @wellnesscounseling LinkedIn: Jennifer Politis Erika Bugaj, MA, MSW, LICSW Website: www.dandelioncounselingcare.com Instagram: @dandelioncounselingcare LinkedIn: Erika BugajCopyright 2025 Dr. Colleen Long, Dr. Jennifer Politis, and Erika Bugaj, LICSW Economía Gestión y Liderazgo Higiene y Vida Saludable Liderazgo Psicología Psicología y Salud Mental
Episodios
  • Autopsy of a Practice: How Scarcity Mentality and Fear-Based Decisions Took Down a Seven-Figure Clinic [Part 1]

    Autopsy of a Practice: How Scarcity Mentality and Fear-Based Decisions Took Down a Seven-Figure Clinic [Part 1]
    Nov 18 2025

    WATCH THE FULL VIDEO EPISODE HERE!

    This one is personal. In part one of our deepest dive yet, we begin the autopsy of a seven-figure practice that rose fast, broke even faster, and exposed what happens when the realities of a broken mental health system collide with raw human limits. This is not a business teardown. It is a confession, a reckoning, and a mirror for every therapist pushing through clinician burnout while trying to hold an entire organization together with grit and fear.

    We unpack how early conditioning shaped a lifelong scarcity mentality, how that scarcity mentality fueled a grind that looked like ambition from the outside, and how scarcity mentality quietly infected every decision behind the scenes. The result was a domino effect of fear-based decisions, the kind of fear-based decisions that feel logical in the moment but corrosive in hindsight, the type of fear-based decisions that eventually collapse even the most profitable seven-figure systems.

    We name what clinicians are rarely allowed to say out loud. We name what happens when clinician burnout becomes an invisible job requirement. We name what happens when the broken mental health infrastructure pushes good providers into survival mode. And we name the emotional cost of carrying all of this while trying to convince yourself you are fine inside something that looks like a thriving seven-figure business from the outside.

    This is part origin story, part accountability, and part solidarity with every therapist who ever wondered if they were the problem when in reality they were operating inside a system that is fundamentally the problem. If you feel the weight of clinician burnout, if you have made fear-based decisions out of desperation, or if you are navigating the fallout of a broken mental health landscape, this episode will land exactly where it needs to.

    What you will hear
    • The early imprint that wired a lifelong scarcity mentality and how it shows up in leadership
    • How clinician burnout becomes an identity instead of a warning sign
    • The quiet ways a broken mental health system shapes everything from hiring to ethics
    • Why fear-based decisions masquerade as responsibility and feel impossible to avoid
    • The moment a seven-figure practice revealed its fault lines in real time

    If you are in the thick of it, you are not alone. And you are definitely not the only one trying to survive inside something that was never built to support you.

    Connect with us!

    Website: www.offthechair.com

    Instagram: @offthechairpodcast

    YouTube: @offthechairpodcast

    Colleen Long, Psy.D.

    Website: www.claritypsychologicaltesting.com

    LinkedIn: Dr. Colleen Long

    Jennifer Politis, PhD, LPC

    Website: www.wellnesscounselingBC.com

    Instagram: @wellnesscounselingnj

    TikTok: @wellnesscounseling

    LinkedIn:

    Más Menos
    46 m
  • Trailblazer Series - From Burnout to Balance: The Clinician’s Path to Freedom, Impact, & Legacy with Gordon Brewer

    Trailblazer Series - From Burnout to Balance: The Clinician’s Path to Freedom, Impact, & Legacy with Gordon Brewer
    Nov 11 2025

    WATCH THE FULL VIDEO EPISODE HERE!

    What happens when you finally pause long enough to ask, “Is this really the life I built my practice for?”

    In this conversation with Gordon Brewer, LMFT, founder of The Practice of Therapy Podcast, Kingsport Counseling Associates, and PsychCraft Network, we explore what it means to move from burnout to balance through purpose, faith, and intentional growth.

    After 30 years in the field, Gordon has learned that lasting success starts when you know your why and build an aligned business that supports your life instead of consuming it. He shares how his own path to freedom came not from hustle, but from alignment, clarity, and community.

    If you have ever wondered what it takes to create a career that is both profitable and peaceful, this is your invitation to reconnect with your purpose and rebuild your aligned business from the inside out.

    In this episode, we discuss:

    • How to know your why when the work starts feeling heavy or directionless

    • What it really means to move from burnout to balance while staying true to your values

    • Why building an aligned business is the foundation for long-term sustainability

    • The mindset shifts that lead to intentional growth and authentic leadership

    • How to design your personal path to freedom without sacrificing impact or integrity

    Every clinician deserves to build an aligned business that reflects who they are becoming, not who they were when they started. This episode is your reminder that when you know your why, you can move from burnout to balance, step into intentional growth, and walk your own path to freedom with clarity and confidence.

    Resources from this Episode:

    Clarity Psychological Testing

    Clinician Collaborative

    Book: Four Thousand Weeks: Time Management for Mortals - Oliver Burkeman

    Connect with us!

    Website: www.offthechair.com

    Instagram: @offthechairpodcast

    YouTube: @offthechairpodcast

    Colleen Long, Psy.D.

    Website: www.claritypsychologicaltesting.com

    LinkedIn: Dr. Colleen Long

    Jennifer Politis, PhD, LPC

    Website: www.wellnesscounselingBC.com

    Instagram: @wellnesscounselingnj

    TikTok: @wellnesscounseling

    LinkedIn: Jennifer Politis

    Erika Bugaj, MA,...
    Más Menos
    43 m
  • Trailblazer Series: How Shalene Kite Rebuilt Her DBT Practice and Redefined Clinician Burnout

    Trailblazer Series: How Shalene Kite Rebuilt Her DBT Practice and Redefined Clinician Burnout
    Nov 3 2025

    WATCH THE FULL VIDEO EPISODE HERE!

    In this episode of Off the Chair, host Dr. Colleen Long sits down with Shalene Kite, LPC, DBT LBC, RYT, founder of DBT of South Jersey and Rebel Mente, to talk about how she transformed her DBT practice into a thriving business that challenges clinician burnout and empowers therapists to build freedom through aligned entrepreneurship.

    From building a team of more than twenty clinicians to launching a national training brand, Shalene shares how she turned her skills as a therapist business coach into a movement for mental health professionals who want to lead without losing themselves. She explains how her background in dialectical behavior therapy and yoga shaped her approach to leadership, balance, and passive income for therapists who crave a more sustainable future.

    This episode dives deep into what it means to grow a purpose-driven DBT practice, create systems that prevent clinician burnout, and redefine success beyond the therapy chair. Shalene’s story reminds every listener that passive income for therapists is not just a dream but a strategy that works when led with clarity and heart.

    Key Topics Covered
    • How Shalene rebuilt her DBT practice after experiencing clinician burnout and found a more grounded way to lead
    • What it takes to build passive income for therapists while staying true to your mission and your clients
    • How a therapist business coach helps clinicians systemize, delegate, and grow without overwhelm
    • The mindset shifts that protect therapists from clinician burnout and promote balance in business and life
    • How to diversify income through training, consulting, and creative offers that extend your impact
    • The connection between a thriving DBT practice, emotional resilience, and long-term sustainability
    • Why working with a therapist business coach can transform how you think about leadership and legacy

    If you have ever wondered how to move from clinician to CEO, recover from clinician burnout, and create passive income for therapists that reflects your values and purpose, this episode is your roadmap.

    Connect with us!

    Website: www.offthechair.com

    Instagram: @offthechairpodcast

    YouTube: @offthechairpodcast

    Colleen Long, Psy.D.

    Website: www.claritypsychologicaltesting.com

    LinkedIn: Dr. Colleen Long

    Jennifer Politis, PhD, LPC

    Website: www.wellnesscounselingBC.com

    Instagram: @wellnesscounselingnj

    TikTok: @wellnesscounseling

    LinkedIn: Jennifer Politis

    Erika Bugaj, MA, MSW, LICSW

    Website: www.dandelioncounselingcare.com

    Instagram:

    Más Menos
    53 m
Todavía no hay opiniones