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June 18, 2025 62 mins

You were trained to think psychology equals therapy chair. To believe "business skills" are something other people have. To accept that your expertise stops at the consulting room door.

But what if everything you've been told about your limitations is wrong?

In this game-changing conversation, I sit down with Carly Fisher — registered psychologist, government executive, board director, and living proof that therapists possess the exact skills businesses pay consultants millions for.

Carly went from a 190-person therapy waitlist in rural Australia to making strategic decisions for million-dollar organisations. She didn't get an MBA to "fix" her psychology background — she got it to amplify the superpowers she already had.

If you've ever thought "I'm just a therapist — I don't have business skills" — this conversation will shatter every limiting belief you've been carrying.

In this episode, we discuss:

  • Why a 190-person waitlist became a strategic career pivot instead of overwhelming pressure
  • The MBA decision: building credibility to sit at tables where million-dollar decisions get made
  • The 4 superpowers every therapist has that businesses desperately need (but don't know how to ask for)
  • Why case formulation is strategic planning in disguise
  • The ethical line between therapy and executive coaching
  • Step-by-step pathway from therapy practice to organisational consulting
  • The biggest mistakes therapists make when transitioning to business work

The Four Therapist Superpowers:

  1. Analytical skills and objectivity — evidence-based decisions under pressure
  2. Adapting to change — constant pivoting and resilience
  3. Influencing and persuading — reading humans and adjusting in real-time
  4. Risk assessment and control — identifying problems before they explode

Bottom Line: You don't need to learn new skills. You need to learn how to translate the ones you already have.

🎧 Love this episode? Here's how to help it reach more therapists who need to hear this:

Rate & Review the Show
Scroll down on Apple Podcasts here and tap to leave a 5-star rating
Click "Write a Review" and tell me which of the 4 superpowers hit you hardest

Follow for Future Episodes
Hit that follow button so you don't miss next week's episode on the systems thinking revolution happening in therapy

Share the episode
Text it to a therapist friend who needs to stop saying "I'm just a therapist." Or share on socials with: "This episode completely changed how I see my training."

🔗 Links & Mentions

📱 Connect with Carly Fisher:
Instagram: @thebusinessstrategist
Website: thebusinessstrategist.org

📲 Follow me: @dr.hayleykelly
💬 DM me — tell me which superpower you're ready to claim. I read every message.
🎙 Listen to past episodes: therapistsrising.com/podcast

Keywords: therapist business skills, psychology to business transition, therapist career change, case formulation strategic planning, therapist superpowers, psychology business consulting, therapist executive roles, therapy skills transferable, psychologist board director, rural business strategy, therapist MBA, psychology organizational development, mental health business opportunities, therapist entrepreneur, therapy to consulting pathway



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