Passive Income or Pipe Dream? The Truth About Evergreen vs. Live Courses for Therapists

It starts off sounding perfect.

Create a course once. Let it sell itself. Finally step off the therapy treadmill and wake up to payment notifications instead of a full caseload.

But what no one tells you? Most therapists who try that route end up with a silent checkout page and a whole lot of self-doubt.

If you’ve ever wondered why your course isn’t selling - or whether this whole “passive income” thing is even real for someone like you - this episode is for you.

We’re digging into the truth behind evergreen courses, passive income promises, and why live launches are still the best starting point for most therapists.

You don’t need more funnel jargon. You need real talk about what works, what doesn’t, and how to build something that actually fits your energy, ethics, and capacity.

This isn’t about playing small.
It’s about building smart.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

1. Why passive income isn’t as passive as you’ve been led to believe
(Especially for therapists navigating real human needs, not just digital products.)

2. What “evergreen” really means—and where it often falls short
(Clarity over hype. Always.)

3. The hidden pitfalls of evergreening too soon
(Because scaling a leaky offer just makes the leaks louder.)

4. The emotional weight of delivery models—and how they impact your work
(This goes way beyond logistics. It’s about connection, meaning, and nervous system safety.)

5. How to choose a model that fits your current season—not someone else’s strategy
(You’re not behind. You’re building something that lasts.)

This episode is for you if:

• You’re tired of trading time for money and want a smarter way forward
• You’re curious about evergreen but don’t want to screw it up
• You’ve launched before… and it didn’t quite land
• You want to grow, but only in ways that feel sustainable and aligned
• You’re ready for honest business strategy that doesn’t require burning out to succeed

Links & Resources Mentioned:

• Want to create your first profitable online program as a therapist? Check out the Therapists Rising Incubator — the go-to program for building ethical, sustainable, high-impact courses.
•  Come hang out or ask follow-up questions on Instagram @dr.hayleykelly
  
  
  

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Let’s build businesses that work for us—not the other way around.