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Artwork for Selling the Couch

Selling the Couch

Melvin Varghese, PhD
Mental Health
Writing
Podcasting
Book Publishing
Marketing
Podcasting Gear Setup
Continuing Education Courses
Entrepreneurship
Mental Health Startups
Private Practice
Grief
Content Creation
Therapists
Online Courses
Anxiety
Data Privacy
Covid-19
Therapy
Market Timing
Diversification

With 1.81 million+ downloads, Selling the Couch is an Apple Top Career podcast for current and future mental health private practitioners who think differently. Psychologist Melvin Varghese interviews successful therapists in private practice about how they built their businesses as well as top entrepreneurs, business/marketing, and social media experts.* You'll learn how therapists get referrals,... more

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes302Founded11 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
CareersMental HealthHealth & FitnessBusiness

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Artwork for Selling the Couch

Latest Episodes

I’ve been focused on building a life around my family and self-care rather than fitting those things around a career. I’ve learned that there is much wisdom in slowing down and not keeping up a crazy pace. One thing that has helped me accomplish thes... more

Today’s episode takes a closer look at a major passion of mine: online courses. Let’s talk about the important questions to ask–and answer–before launching an online course. Join me!

You’ll Learn:

• How online courses can help fill in the gap for ... more

The perfect recipe for burnout is to work in a caring profession, be a slave to perfectionism, and neglect your needs. As clinicians, we realize that we work in a flawed healthcare system in the US, but how do we exist in this environment to do good ... more

Here we are at the last episode of 2025, our 10th year of the podcast. For the last episode of the year, I usually try to focus on reflections about lessons learned, tough decisions, and pivots that are happening. My intent today is to be transparent... more

Key Facts

Accepts Guests
Accepts Sponsors
Contact Information
Podcast Host
Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

Recent Guests

Kenya Crawford
Therapist and consultant specializing in anti-racist practices
kenyacrawford.com
Episode: 404: Building an Anti-Racist Practice in Times Like These
Dr. Jennifer Blanchette
Therapist who closed her private practice, sharing her experiences and insights.
drjennblanchette.com
Episode: 402: Closing Your Private Practice: What Therapists Need to Know
Adrienne Wilkerson
CEO of Beacon Media and Marketing
Beacon Media and Marketing
Episode: 399: How to Create a Personal Brand With Authenticity, Heart, and Grace with Adrienne Wilkerson
Dr. Nathalie Edmond
Licensed psychologist and author of the book, Mindful Race Talk
Dr. natedmond.com
Episode: 397: Mindful Race Talk: How Clinicians Can Use Language For Conversations That Matter
Dustin Riechmann
An engineer turned marketing expert who helps entrepreneurs pitch to get on podcasts.
Simple Success Coaching
Episode: ENCORE: How to (Correctly) Pitch Podcasts with Dustin Riechmann
Dr. Heather England
Certified sex therapist and licensed clinical psychotherapist
lovefilledlife.com
Episode: ENCORE: How To Avoid Information Overload In Your Online Course
Dr. Jonathan Rudiger
Licensed psychologist and one of Melvin's former clinical supervisors
Episode: 395: Building a Private Practice Around The “Nice Guy Syndrome” Niche
Melody Wilding
LMSW, author, and coach specializing in managing up.
melodywilding.com
Episode: 394: How To Set Boundaries With Clients By Managing Up
Jeremy Zug
Expert in insurance billing for mental health practitioners
Practice Solutions
Episode: 392: Insurance Denials and Rejections: Why Do They Happen, and How Do You Fix Them?

Host

Melvin Varghese
Host and psychologist focused on helping mental health professionals navigate private practice and business growth through insightful conversations with industry experts. Melvin shares both personal experiences and actionable strategies for success beyond therapy.

Reviews

4.9 out of 5 stars from 381 ratings
  • Listen and learn!

    I’ve been listening to Selling The Couch for years. Melvin always has great topics and interesting guests, providing tremendous value to therapists everywhere. 10 out of 10, definitely recommend.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Uriah Guilford
    United States10 months ago
  • Very Helpful

    Melvin, thank you for all of the great wisdom and advice that you have shared with your amazing podcast. I have learned so much since following you! I love the varied types of guests and topics and have benefited so much in my private practice with all of the knowledge that I have gained from your many interviews.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Veggie Hot Dog
    United Statesa year ago
  • Approachable and Insightful

    Melvin does a masterful job of interviewing a variety of experts, and offering his own insights. I am not a mental health professional, but I still gain a lot of value from this show. I highly recommend it!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    EngagedMarriage.com
    United States2 years ago
  • Thoughtful, brave, kind

    I am not a therapist but this podcast is top notch! Mel is thoughtful, brave, and kind. He is a gifted speaker who shares in an authentic and personal way. He has a niche to be sure but his lessons transcend (especially if you are interest in creating content online). He is a gift to the podcast feed!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    JP10301
    United States3 years ago
  • Incredibly helpful when starting out, scaling and moving beyond the therapy room

    Melvin and the STC Podcast and Healthcasters course have been incredibly helpful. Back in 2016 when I was leaving an agency job and starting a private practice I got what I needed from Melvin’s brilliant podcast. Then when I considered podcasting years back his Healthcasters course was invaluable, and now that I’ve grown a group practice and do mostly therapist supervision and mentorship and I’m ready to begin my podcast and move into offering courses, I feel Melvin’s along side me after listeni... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    ErnGMoney
    Canada3 years ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Some criticisms focus on episodes perceived as having too much introductory discussion before getting into the substance.
The host's warm and authentic interviewing style is frequently mentioned, enhancing the listening experience.
Listeners praise the show for its rich content and relevance to the challenges faced by mental health practitioners.
Overall, it is highlighted as a valuable resource for those in private practice, especially for business and personal development.
Many appreciate the practical advice provided by guests and the actionable insights shared in each episode.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#137
United States/Business/Careers
Apple Podcasts
#250
India/Business/Careers

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

ENCORE: Burnout in High-Achieving Mental Health Professionals
Q: How do you navigate the pressures of perfectionism that can lead to burnout?
Shifting from viewing burnout as a failure to an expectation helps in recognizing early signs and taking necessary actions.
ENCORE: Burnout in High-Achieving Mental Health Professionals
Q: What do you think makes it so hard to care for oneself, especially as a mental health provider?
It often stems from the intrinsic desire to prioritize others' needs above one's own, compounded by training that encourages emotional suppression.
404: Building an Anti-Racist Practice in Times Like These
Q: How can we balance doing anti-racist work authentically while running a sustainable business?
It's important to get a little bit creative and talk to members of some corporations about their real challenges.
404: Building an Anti-Racist Practice in Times Like These
Q: What's one place that you would encourage them to start if they do want to start an anti-racist practice?
Be very clear about who you're cultivating this anti-racist practice for.
402: Closing Your Private Practice: What Therapists Need to Know
Q: What's the most common mistake that you see therapists make when it comes to shutting down their practice?
Not having enough support during the closure process.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About Selling the Couch

What is Selling the Couch about and what kind of topics does it cover?

The content encompasses a broad range of themes pertinent to mental health practitioners, with a notable focus on business development and innovative marketing strategies tailored for therapy practices. It offers insights on establishing a successful private practice, transitioning between therapy and coaching, and utilizing online courses and podcasts for business growth. Through interviews with mental health professionals and entrepreneurship experts, valuable discussions emerge around coping mechanisms for burnout, ethical considerations in sales, and the importance of racial literacy within therapy. This variety allows listeners to gain practical knowledge applicable to their own careers, making it especially useful for both new and sea... more

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How many episodes of Selling the Couch are there?

Selling the Couch launched 11 years ago and published 302 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact Selling the Couch?

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What guests have appeared on Selling the Couch?

Recent guests on Selling the Couch include:

1. Kenya Crawford
2. Dr. Jennifer Blanchette
3. Adrienne Wilkerson
4. Dr. Nathalie Edmond
5. Dustin Riechmann
6. Dr. Heather England
7. Dr. Jonathan Rudiger
8. Melody Wilding

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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