Feeling the turbulence in our economy and the mental health industry?

In this episode, Patrick Casale shares hard-won lessons from running a group practice and launching multiple ventures—all while navigating burnout and uncertainty. Whether you’re a clinician, small business owner, or entrepreneur, his insights are timely and actionable.

Here are 3 key takeaways:

1. Diversify Your Income Streams: Don’t put all your eggs in one basket. In uncertain times, it’s crucial to build additional revenue channels beyond 1:1 therapy—think coaching, courses, podcasting, writing, or retreat hosting.
2. Fortify Your Foundation Before Expanding: Before leaping into new projects, make sure your primary source of income is secure. Build around what’s working rather than abandoning it out of excitement or impulse.
3. Mindset Matters: Self-doubt, perfectionism, and imposter syndrome hold many back from launching new initiatives. Patrick Casale encourages us to “doubt yourself, do it anyway”—a reminder that starting imperfectly beats waiting for the perfect moment.

If you’re looking to step beyond traditional therapy, recession-proof your business, and want to learn more about diversifying income through retreat hosting, podcasting, and writing books, check out the Beyond Private Practice: Recession Proofing Intensive on December 12, 2025. Learn more: allthingspractice.com/beyond-recession-intensive

Let’s support one another and keep moving forward during these challenging times!

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Burnout isn’t just exhaustion—it’s a full-body experience, especially for neurodivergent entrepreneurs. After pushing myself past my limits, I’ve been actively doing what it takes to truly honor my boundaries and capacity without completely giving up everything I've built as an entrepreneur.

Here are 3 key takeaways:

1. Respect your limits—even when it’s hard: Pushing through can lead to deeper burnout and longer recovery. Personal and professional boundaries are vital for long-term well-being.
2. Major changes may be necessary for recovery: Sometimes the only way forward is to radically adjust your calendar, commitments, and expectations, even if it means potentially disappointing others (or yourself).
3. Your career is not your whole identity: It’s tempting to define ourselves by our work, but it’s equally important to value rest, restoration, and the messy process of re-evaluating what comes next.

If you’re struggling, give yourself compassion and permission to pause. You don’t have to do it all.

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In this episode, Patrick Casale and Dr. Kade Sharp, an Autistic, queer, trans clinician and sexologist, talk about their journey balancing private practice, a PhD program, and advocacy for disabled, queer, and neurodivergent communities.

Here are 3 key takeaways:

1. Follow Your Special Interests: Choosing a dissertation topic that aligned with Kade's passions (like “Kink on the Spectrum”) helped them stay motivated through the ups and downs of getting a PhD. Leaning into what energizes you can be your best fuel.
2. Intentional Energy Management is Vital: Balancing private practice, academic work, and personal life required continuous adjustment for Kade. Building in buffer time for self-care and allowing others to help you recognize burnout cues is essential for sustainability.
3. Community Makes the Difference: Surrounding yourself with people invested in your journey boosts motivation, creativity, and resilience. Finding your supportive community matters.

It's important to work toward creating affirming space and more accessible, representative mental health care. If you’re considering a new degree, niche, or direction—let your interests and passions guide you.

More about Kade:

Dr. Kade Sharp (he/they) is an Autistic, queer, trans Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker, Registered Play Therapist-Supervisor, Certified Sex Therapist, and Child Mental Health Specialist practicing in Washington state. He specializes in supporting disabled, queer, non-cis Autistic and AuDHD clients of all ages, as well as neurodivergent supervisees. He has his PhD in Clinical Sexology through Modern Sex Therapy Institutes. Kade runs the Curious Cryptid Learning continuing education platform for therapists. He is also a co-host for the Aces Up Your Sleeve Podcast, where he and Sabrina Longley give insight into navigating Autistic and AuDHD life as two Autistic, asexuality-spectrum therapists. Kade loves helping people figure out they're Autistic, playing board and card games, roleplaying, reality TV, true crime, and his 2 adopted senior cats.

The Autistic Clinical Insights symposium is coming up, and Kade is on the Leadership team. It's a grassroots, Autistic-led symposium for mental health professionals with a focus on presenters with lived experience and clinical knowledge. It's held virtually Nov. 14-16th and offers over 13 NBCC CEs. Join here: autisticclinicalinsights.com

• Courses: cryptidlearns.com
• Podcast: neurokink.org/auys
• Facebook: facebook.com/cryptidlearns
• Instagram: instagram.com/cryptidlearns

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In this episode, Patrick Casale sits down with Blaise Harris, an EMDR-certified therapist, former firefighter, podcast host, speaker, and author, to talk about taking up space, fighting imposter syndrome, and staying authentic in the mental health profession—especially as a first responder and Black therapist—and beyond.

3 key takeaways:

1. Relatability Matters More Than Jargon: Both Blaise Harris and Patrick Casale share that being authentic, relatable, and accessible with clients is more effective—and much more healing—than overloading sessions with clinical jargon.
2. Imposter Syndrome is Universal—Do It Anyway: Even highly accomplished professionals struggle with self-doubt and the pressure to "play small." Doubt yourself and do it anyway.
3. Building Community Fuels Growth: Relationships and professional networks are everything. Having colleagues that encourage you, support you, and nudge you past your inner critic truly enables personal and professional growth.

More about Blaise:

Blaise Harris is an EMDR certified licensed mental health counselor and former firefighter with over 14 years of service as a first responder and is the founder and owner of G Squared Consulting and Counseling Services. Harris has a passion for helping others and hopes to end the stigma surrounding mental health amongst first responders and in the community. Blaise hosts a biweekly podcast called The Dope Black Therapist, where he shares practices, tools, coping mechanisms and addresses issues regarding mental health. Blaise is also an international speaker and the author of “Becoming the Dope Black Therapist.”

• Website: thedopeblacktherapist.com

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In this episode, Patrick Casale and Kendra Vargas, LCPC, PMH-C, and founder of Authentically You Psychotherapy, talk about her deeply personal journey with infertility and how it shaped her clinical focus, group offerings, and entrepreneurial growth. Kendra's story is a testament to how lived experience can fuel meaningful change in private practice—and impact entire communities.

Here are 3 key takeaways:

1. Leverage Your Lived Experience: Kendra emphasized how sharing her own infertility journey made her groups and sessions more relatable, accessible, and supportive for clients. Sometimes, our most powerful “credential” is empathy and shared experience.
2. Niche Down for Impact: By honing in on infertility and perinatal mental health, Kendra found an underserved community to offer support through therapy, resources, and retreats.
3. Expand Beyond 1:1 Sessions: From ongoing support groups and consultation to retreats and her fertility journal on Amazon, Kendra shows how creative offerings create ripple effects—helping more people without sacrificing boundaries or burning out.

Whether you’re a mental health clinician considering niching down or looking for new ways to serve your community, this episode is full of wisdom and practical inspiration.

More about Kendra:

Kendra A. Vargas (she/her), LCPC, PMH-C, is a culturally responsive and inclusive psychotherapist, clinical supervisor, and consultant. With over a decade of experience in the mental health field, she has worked across diverse settings, including community mental health and private practice.

As the founder of Authentically You Psychotherapy, Kendra runs a group practice offering both individual therapy and support groups. She also provides consultation services and conducts trainings on topics such as developing and integrating groups into private practice settings, as well as various topics on perinatal mental health. Kendra is certified in perinatal mental health and holds a certification through Postpartum Support International.

Kendra currently runs a Fertility Skills and Support Group, which has been active for over six years, supporting individuals utilizing Assisted Reproductive Technologies such as IUI, IVF, and surrogacy for family planning, which is an area she has a deep, personal connection and compassion for. Additionally, she facilitates a Pregnancy After Infertility Group to help those navigating pregnancy after a challenging fertility journey.

Kendra has shared her insights on several podcasts, created a prompted fertility journal on Amazon and Etsy, and hosts an in-person fertility retreat, all inspired by her personal experience and deep passion for supporting others on the infertility journey.

• Instagram: instagram.com/ayoupsychotherapy
• Purchase Fertility Journal: a.co/d/0HJjDiW

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In this episode, Patrick Casale and Ariel Shumaker-Hammond, a couple's therapist and professional photographer, talk about the messiness, curiosity, and joy that often come with pursuing the many paths to creating fulfilling careers, especially as an ADHDer.

Ariel’s journey as a therapist, specialist in couples intensives, and professional photographer is a reminder of how rewarding it can be to honor non-linear career paths and the power of authentic connection.

Here are 3 key takeaways:

1. Authentic Relationships are the Heart of Both Therapy and Business: Ariel built her thriving practice and photography business through genuine relationships, grounded in curiosity and shared values—not just traditional marketing. Your network can be your best referral source when you show up authentically.
2. Neurodiversity Fuels Innovation, Not Instability: What may feel like a "meandering" or chaotic path can be a strength, especially for ADHDers and other neurodivergent entrepreneurs. Following passion, honoring limited energy, and not shaming yourself for pivoting are vital for sustainable business growth.
3. Business Models Can—and Should—Evolve: Whether it’s moving into couples intensives for deeper, more effective therapy or blending therapeutic skills with creative talents like photography, you have permission to change things up, ditch "norms," and find what makes you and your clients thrive.

If you’re building a private practice or exploring creative expansions, remember to lead with your authentic self, stay curious, and value the relationships that make your work meaningful.

More about Ariel:

Ariel is originally from North Carolina. After living for almost a decade out West, she missed the soft air, warm greens, and changing seasons, and convinced her husband to move back with her to the mountains. Her pronouns are she/her/hers.

Ariel loves working with a variety of folx, but specializes in couples work, including healing from affairs, or those contemplating separation. She also has extensive training and experience working with infertility challenges, reproductive trauma, perinatal mood and anxiety issues, and people going through major life transitions.

Ariel’s work is largely shaped through an anti-racist/anti-oppression lens, and this often factors into sessions. She is comfortable with and experienced in working with BIPOC (Black Indigenous, People of Color)/people of the global majority, LGBTQI folx, and folx of any gender expression. She continues to work on her own anti-racist and decolonizing journey. She also uses humor, when appropriate, and is never afraid to cry with a client.

Ariel is also a professional photographer, specializing in a documentary style for families, newborn/early childhood, retreats, and headshots/business. For photography & counseling, she offers equity-based spots.

• Instagram: @arielshumakerphoto
• Facebook: facebook.com/ashevillephoto
• Website: arielshumakerphotography.com

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In this episode, Patrick Casale talks with Danni Biondini, LMFT, adjunct professor, and founder of Gemini Family Therapy, about their experience of utilizing their expertise as a licensed therapist to become an adjunct professor, including practical advice and the realities of teaching at the graduate level.

3 Key Takeaways:

1. You don’t need a doctorate to get started. Many adjunct positions at the graduate level accept applicants with a master’s degree and clinical experience. Danni emphasizes: “You absolutely can teach with just a master's degree.”
2. Be specific about what you want to teach. Programs need instructors for a variety of subjects like human development, psychopathology, research methods, multicultural counseling, and more. Highlight relevant clinical expertise and be clear about your subject interests when you reach out.
3. Teaching is rewarding—but don’t expect to get rich. Adjunct roles can pay between $3,000–$6,000 per class, per semester. The real benefits? Creative fulfillment, connecting with students, and diversifying your work as a therapist.

More about Danni:

Danni Biondini is a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, born and raised in San Francisco and now living in Brooklyn. They served as core faculty and department chair of a graduate program for MFT students, and as adjunct professor at the University of San Francisco, the San Francisco Center for Psychoanalysis, and Brooklyn College.

Now, they primarily work as a family therapist in their private practice, Gemini Family Therapy, helping adult families in CA and NY repair from past hurts or estrangement.

They are also launching an online program that teaches theories and tools around how to repair from family estrangement. The program is called Prepare to Repair. Visit: prepareto.repair

• Instagram: @gemini_family_therapy
• Website: geminifamilytherapy.com

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In this episode, Patrick Casale talks with Mikki Gates, a global HR leader, TEDx organizer, and advocate for authentic leadership. Mikki shares powerful lessons about imperfection, community, and the impact of sharing our stories.

Here are 3 key takeaways:

1. Perfection Isn’t the Goal—Progress Is: Whether you’re hosting a TEDx or launching a business, you’ll make mistakes and pivot. Embrace feedback, refine your process, and remember: It doesn’t have to be perfect to be impactful.
2. Our “Messy” Human Side Inspires Others: When we own our mistakes—whether that’s losing your train of thought on stage or dealing with a tech glitch—we model authenticity and give others permission to show up as they are.
3. Perspective Unlocks Gratitude: Mikki’s upcoming TEDx talk explores dignity, privilege, and learning from global experiences. Sometimes, what we take for granted—like access to bathrooms—can be life-changing for others.

More about Mikki:

Mikki Gates is a global HR leader, TEDx organizer, and SHRM chapter president with a passion for reimagining the future of work. She blends bold ideas with real-world experience from more than 50 countries to inspire leaders to "human up" and create workplaces & experiences where people thrive. She is also a lover of escape rooms and roller coasters.

• LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/mikkigates

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