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Artwork for Selling the Couch

Selling the Couch

Melvin Varghese, PhD
Mental Health
Online Courses
Private Practice
Podcasting
Therapists
Therapy
Burnout
Content Creation
Entrepreneurship
Linkedin
Marketing Strategies
Online Course Creation
Marketing
Writing
Self-Care
Social Media
Decluttering
Book Publishing
Government Contracts
Social Media Marketing

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
CareersHealth & FitnessBusinessMental Health

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Artwork for Selling the Couch

Latest Episodes

Are you a course creator who wants to get better and better at your craft? Today's encore reflects on three non-negotiable meetings that I’ve implemented with my online courses.

This simple technique has played a massive role in making over $300K m... more

Today’s encore is at the heart of the Quiet Builder philosophy. The question is, “How do we design a business that supports our lives, not swallows it?”

This becomes increasingly important as the world grows more uncertain and our responsibilities ... more

Today’s encore is on what therapists often get wrong about selling their first online course, considering all the assumptions we make and the misconceptions we hold about online courses.

I’m bringing full transparency to today’s topic as I share wh... more

Today’s encore is from a live coaching call talking about the many nuances of online courses. I hope this episode will be helpful to you and bring new ideas if an online course is on your radar.

Our Featured Guest-Kristen Boice, LMFT

Kristen Boice ... more

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Recent Guests

Kristen Boice
Therapist in private practice with a successful group practice
Close the Chapter podcast; christiandeboice.com; pathwaystohealingcounseling.com
Episode: ENCORE: A Live vs. Pre-Recorded Online Course
Rosanne Marmor
Licensed clinical social worker who created the Feelings Wheel
rosannemarmorlcsw.com
Episode: ENCORE: The Process of Creating and Marketing Your Product Using the Feelings Wheel
Robin Miller
Licensed Psychologist and founder of TheraClosure
TheraClosure
Episode: 422: What Happens to Your Clients If Something Happens to You?
Sarah Gershon
Web designer specializing in mental health providers
Strong Roots Web Design
Episode: 420: How A Therapist's Website Shapes A Client's First Impression
Shayna Vance Roman
Marketing professional focused on human-centered marketing for therapists
shaynavanceetc.com, escapepodmarketing.com
Episode: 418: Human-Centric Marketing: Choosing Connection Over Algorithms
Daniel Fava
From Private Practice Elevation, focuses on website design/SEO for therapists
Private Practice Elevation
Episode: 416: Is Blogging Still Worth It In The AI Age?
Samara Stone
LCSW, branding expert and founder of Be Fully Grown
Be Fully Grown
Episode: ENCORE: How to Show Up Imperfect In Your Marketing
Michael Rothermel
Videographer and filmmaker; founder of cursivefilms.com
Cursive Films
Episode: ENCORE: Pro Tips To Improve The Quality Of Live Videos
Dr. Justin Dotson
Licensed therapist and founder of Navigating Courage Counseling
Episode: 413: What They Don’t Tell Therapists About Owning a Small Business

Reviews

4.9 out of 5 stars from 386 ratings
  • Such a thoughtful innovative approach

    Melvin has an incredible way of sharing his thoughtfulness and proactive ways of thinking in a way that feels so kind and also so hopeful. He is such a gift to our field - as we all need grounded voices as we think of how to evolve and change.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Shawn Hondorp
    United States2 months ago
  • Thoughtful Growth for Therapists Who Think Bigger

    Selling the Couch is such a valuable resource for therapists looking to grow beyond the traditional model. Melvin brings a thoughtful blend of business strategy, mindset, and real-world experience that makes building a sustainable, impactful practice feel achievable. I especially appreciate how openly he shares his own journey, making the path feel both relatable and inspiring.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Steph Kwong
    United States4 months ago
  • Push pull propel with episode 411

    I get value from each episode but this one was the right one at the right time. I’m embarking on expanding my brand and leaving traditional private practice.

    Apple Podcasts
    4
    Angelphace
    United States6 months ago
  • 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 Statesa year 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 States2 years ago

Listeners Say

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

Some listeners find certain episodes less actionable, but overall feedback is highly positive.
Episodes are seen as high-value resources for therapists building sustainable businesses.
Thoughtful, practical insights for growing a private practice.
Listeners praise authenticity and actionable guidance from diverse guests.

Chart Rankings

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

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

422: What Happens to Your Clients If Something Happens to You?
Q: How does a professional will differ for solo vs. group practices?
For solos, there's a higher risk of clients being abandoned due to lack of internal structure; for groups, internal policies can direct who handles records and referrals, but ownership of records and clear roles still need to be defined to avoid confusion during a crisis.
422: What Happens to Your Clients If Something Happens to You?
Q: What exactly is a professional will and what does it cover?
A professional will is a written document detailing how the clinician's professional responsibilities should be managed if they die or become incapacitated, including client notification, referrals, and custody of medical records. It isn't a contract and doesn't address assets, but it guides who will take over and how client care will continue.
ENCORE: The Process of Creating and Marketing Your Product Using the Feelings Wheel
Q: What were the biggest challenges in bringing the Feelings Wheel to life?
Mainly the cost and the printing logistics, plus ensuring the design could be produced with the rivet mechanism so it would turn correctly; patience and iteration were essential.
ENCORE: The Process of Creating and Marketing Your Product Using the Feelings Wheel
Q: How did you decide to present the information in the Feelings Wheel the way you did?
The approach was driven by multisensory learning—tactile, visual, and verbal—that supports different learning styles and helps clients engage in the moment, not just in therapy sessions.
420: How A Therapist's Website Shapes A Client's First Impression
Q: What is a practical first step to improve a homepage in light of AI and SEO changes?
Conduct a homepage content audit by reading the text without design elements to ensure the messaging is clear, supportive, and directs visitors to the next step with minimal cognitive load.

Audience Metrics

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

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Frequently Asked Questions About Selling the Couch

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

A practical, clinician-led show focused on building and growing private practices, with frequent discussions on marketing, online presence, and sustainable business strategies for therapists. Guests span website design, branding, SEO for therapists, content creation, and community-building, often with a strong emphasis on authenticity, ethics, and work-life balance. Noteworthy is the recurring blend of clinical practice with entrepreneurial tactics, long-term ecosystem thinking (YouTube, podcasts, courses), and a preference for human-centered approaches over flashy tactics. Listeners are likely practitioners seeking actionable guidance to stabilize revenue, attract ideal clients, and scale their impact without sacrificing personal values or... more

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How many listeners does Selling the Couch get?

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Which podcasts are similar to Selling the Couch?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Selling the Couch:

1. Therapist Uncensored Podcast
2. Counselor Toolbox Podcast with DocSnipes
3. Trauma Rewired
4. Dear Therapists with Lori Gottlieb and Guy Winch
5. Where Should We Begin? with Esther Perel

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?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

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What guests have appeared on Selling the Couch?

Recent guests on Selling the Couch include:

1. Kristen Boice
2. Rosanne Marmor
3. Robin Miller
4. Sarah Gershon
5. Shayna Vance Roman
6. Daniel Fava
7. Samara Stone
8. Michael Rothermel

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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