The Hidden Reason Business Coaching Doesn’t Work for Therapists

In this episode, I’m breaking down one of the most frustrating realities therapists face when trying to build online programs: traditional business advice simply doesn’t work for us.

You’ve probably felt it — you join a business webinar or invest in a coaching program, and halfway through you realise: this doesn’t fit. The strategies feel pushy, unsafe, or completely out of alignment with your clinical values. And if you’ve ever thought, “Maybe I’m just not cut out for business,” you’re not alone.

The truth is, you’re not broken. The advice you’ve been given wasn’t designed for therapists. It ignores our ethics, our scope of practice, our insurance requirements, our time constraints, and the unique way we’re trained to think and work.

In this episode, I’ll walk you through the five big reasons generic business advice fails therapists — from topic selection and program design, to pricing, marketing, and capacity. You’ll understand why the advice feels so misaligned, what’s really going on when you get stuck, and why the solution isn’t to become “more business-y,” but to use frameworks that actually translate your clinical expertise into sustainable, ethical online programs.

HERE ARE THE 3 KEY TAKEAWAYS FROM THIS EPISODE:

1. The advice isn’t built for therapists – You’re not stuck because you don’t know enough. You’re stuck because you’re trying to apply strategies designed for generic entrepreneurs, not registered health professionals.
2. Clinical training creates unique challenges – Our “encyclopedia brains,” focus on thoroughness, and ethical obligations are strengths in therapy… but they can sabotage program design without therapist-specific frameworks.
3. You already have what it takes – Your clinical skills can be translated into program frameworks, ethical pricing, and authentic marketing. But you need tools designed for therapists, not for Etsy shop owners or generic coaches.

RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:

If this conversation resonates, join me for the From Couch to Course Bootcamp, running September 23–26.

For just $37, I’ll guide you through how to map, price, and structure your first ethical online program using frameworks designed specifically for therapists.

In four focused days, you’ll move from feeling like business advice doesn’t fit, to having a clear roadmap for building a program that honours your scope, your ethics, and your capacity.

👉 Secure your spot at: therapistsrising.com/bootcamp

MORE FROM DR. HAYLEY KELLY

• The Therapist Rising Incubator – For therapists ready to create their first sustainable online program with ongoing support: therapistsrising.com/incubator
  
  
• Follow me on Instagram @dr.hayleykelly
  for daily insights on therapist innovation and sustainable practice

SUBSCRIBE & REVIEW

If this episode helped you realise why traditional business advice doesn’t fit therapists, please take a moment to subscribe and leave a review on Apple Podcasts! Your support helps us reach more therapists who are ready to build programs that actually work for them and their clients.

Thanks for tuning in to Therapists Rising — see you next week!