Private Practice & Finances Episodes

170
Oct. 23, 2025

Managing the feelings that come along with running a private practice (with Harriet Iles)

Bron and guest Harriet Iles chat about managing common feelings that show up alongside running a private practice early in your career, including imposter syndrome, anxiety, and overthinking. Harriet shares her valuable insights, including her personal experiences with imposter syndrome while running her own private practice. We discuss common definitions, myths, and misunderstandings about imposter syndrome, and explore practical strategies like self-compassion, peer support, and value alignmen...
167
Oct. 2, 2025

MAILBAG: Saying no to clients who aren't a good fit & promoting yourself in a competitive market

Bron and Marie (Mental Health Social Worker) dive into the mailbag and answer listener questions about how to decline seeing clients who aren't a good fit, promoting yourself in a competitive market, and what to do when another mental health professional in your local area muscles in on your niche - are they are your friend or foe? 🤔 We covered a lot of ground in this episode and hope you enjoy the discussion! Guest: Marie Vakakis, Accredited Mental Health Social Worker (MHSW), and Family & C...
Guest: Marie Vakakis
166
Sept. 29, 2025

Private practice doesn't have to be the end goal (Solo)

It's a quick solo episode with Bron! I chat about why closing my solo private practice after four years was the right decision for me, how I feel after taking a break from clinical work for 6 months, the factors that influence job satisfaction in mental health, and opportunities for growth in non-private roles. LINKS Tim Ballard - Job-Related Predictors of Satisfaction Among Australian Workers THE END BITS Mental Work is the Australian podcast for early-career mental health workers about wo...
136
March 20, 2025

Are your money beliefs holding you back? (with Marie Vakakis)

Bron and Marie unpack the money beliefs that unconsciously shape how much we earn and what we charge as mental health professionals. We talk about the unspoken anxiety around money shared by many of us, and practical strategies for managing discomfort around adequately charging for services. Bron also wonders, just how much is therapy "worth" and is there an upper ceiling? Tune-in for a really important chat! Guest: Marie Vakakis, Accredited Mental Health Social Worker (MHSW), and Family & Co...
Guest: Marie Vakakis
122
Dec. 12, 2024

Should I start a group private practice or stay solo? (with Marie Vakakis)

Bron and Marie talk about the pressure some solo private practitioners feel to start a group practice. Bron and Marie talk about wise and not-so-wise reasons to become a group practice owner, the importance of having an entrepreneurial mindset, dealing with financial insecurity and the importance of business coaching. Marie shares her own journey from solo to group practice owner, and Bron shares her reasons for staying solo! Guest: Marie Vakakis, Accredited Mental Health Social Worker (MHSW)...
Guest: Marie Vakakis
98
March 28, 2024

"Why I chose contract work" (with Jordan Turner)

Bron chats with Jordan about why she chose to work as a contractor and how she knew it was time to open her own private practice. We also unpack what you need to know if you're considering contract work, including 👉🏼 What's a fair split arrangement? 👉 How do I know if I'm a contractor or an employee? 👉🏿 The importance of understanding the financial side of contracting. Guest: Jordan Turner, Educational & Developmental Registrar LINKS Jordan's previous episodes: Working with parents and kids,...
Guest: Jordan Turner
76
Oct. 5, 2023

Diversifying your work to achieve your financial goals (with Dr Hayley Kelly)

Bron and Hayley unpack the career pathways that psychologists can take to achieve their financial goals. They chat about 👉🏽 Pros and cons of the one-to-one standard way of working 👉🏻 Hayley's career journey into 'one to many' offerings and business coaching 👉 What Hayley views as the next stage in the Psychology profession 👉🏿 How early career psychs can be part of the change! Guest: Dr Hayley Kelly, CEO and Founder of Therapists Rising / Host of the Therapists Rising podcast THE END BITS Ment...
69
Aug. 17, 2023

Is it possible to be financially secure AND avoid burnout? (with Carly Dober)

Bron and Carly unpack a spicy listener question: Is it possible to be financially secure AND avoid burnout? They chat about 👉🏽 Valuing the skills that you have to offer as a psychologist 👉🏻 Finding workplaces that align with your financial goals and respect that you are a human with a finite workload capacity 👉 How to not get sucked in by workplaces promising you the world. Guest: Carly Dober (Psychologist and Director at the Australian Association for Psychologists Inc) THE END BITS Mental Wo...
23
July 14, 2022

Enforcing your cancellation policy

Bron unpacks the dilemma of setting limits with clients, especially in relation to charging cancellation fees! She talks about 👉🏽 why we find it hard to set limits with clients 👉🏻 tips for setting limits, especially with cancellation fees 👉 how to have a helpful mindset to help you set limits. Mental Work is hosted by Dr Bronwyn Milkins, an early-career psychologist. THE END BITS Thanks so much for listening. Mental Work is the Australian podcast for early career therapists that unpacks the ev...
22
July 7, 2022

Managing professional isolation (with Rebecca Cuskelly)

Bron is joined by Clinical Psychologist Rebecca Cuskelly to unpack the unique feeling of isolation among mental health professionals. Rebecca and Bron chat about 👉🏽 What professional isolation feels like and the impact on our work 👉🏻 Ways to reduce professional isolation 👉 Ways that your employer should be helping you with reducing professional isolation 👉🏾 The benefits of working in a multidisciplinary team 👉🏿 How to communicate with professionals that early-career folk tend to feel scared of (...
21
June 30, 2022

How much can you earn in private practice? A case study... mine!

Ever thought about how much you could make in private practice? Then this is the episode for you. Bron is joined by finance nerd Michael to unpack the reality of earnings in private practice, using Bron's first year as the case study. Bron and Michael discuss 👉🏽 My earnings (actual $$ amounts!) and ways to increase earnings in private practice 👉🏻 My expenses and what cost the most 👉 Ways to reduce expenses 👉🏿 Tips to help you become more aware of your finances. Mental Work is hosted by Dr Bronw...
20
June 23, 2022

Salary expectations for contractors (with Catherine Hart)

Bron is joined by Clinical Psychologist Dr Catherine Hart to unpack salary expectations and contracting in private practice. Bron & Catherine talk about 👉🏽 Getting realistic with earnings in private practice 👉 The difference between an employee vs contractor 👉🏻 Things to think about if you're considering contracting. Mental Work is hosted by Dr Bronwyn Milkins, an early-career psychologist. LINKS Are you an employee or a contractor? Take the ATO questionnaire! Fair Work Australia - Info f...
18
June 9, 2022

Joining a group private practice (with Nicole Withers)

Bron is joined by Clinical Psychologist Nicole Withers to unpack all things group private practice. Bron & Nicole talk about 👉🏽 Different ways to work for a group private practice - employee, contractor, or room hire arrangement 👉🏻 Points of negotiation with practice owners 👉🏾 Ways group practices can reduce isolation and burnout 👉 How to work out if a group practice is a good fit for *you* 👉🏿 Your responsibilities vs practice owner's responsibilities. Mental Work is hosted by Dr Bronwyn Milkin...
9
Feb. 18, 2022

To niche or not to niche

Bron takes you through the dilemma of choosing an area of mental health to specialise in. She talks about 👉 Feeling pressured to niche from colleagues 👉🏼 Benefits of niching 👉🏾 Why you don't have to niche 👉🏻 What Bron feels now after Googling the crap out of niching. THE END BITS Thanks so much for listening. Mental Work is the podcast taking a closer look at the everyday challenges faced by early-career mental health professionals, so they don’t have to go it alone. Love the podcast? You ...
6
Jan. 21, 2022

Money-making stigma

Bron takes us through the topic that therapists love to avoid: Money 💵. She highlights the negative attitudes embedded in the mental health profession and shares the experiences that have taught her that wanting a liveable salary is not only okay, but necessary. Mental Work is the podcast unpacking the challenges faced by early career psychologists, so they don’t have to go it alone. Hosted by Dr Bronwyn Milkins. THE END BITS Love the podcast? Keep it alive by joining our Patreon for $2 a mont...
5
Jan. 6, 2022

Starting out in private practice

Bron takes us through the challenges and successes of her first year as a private practice psychologist. Listen in for a jam-packed episode full of generously shared tips, tricks, and all the things Bron wishes she had known before starting out. All shared in the spirit of giving you a helping hand if you're thinking of diving into private practice. THE END BITS Thanks so much for listening. Mental Work is the podcast taking a closer look at the everyday challenges faced by early-career mental...