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Selling the Couch

Selling the Couch

Melvin Varghese, PhD 300 Episodes Jun 18, 2026

Selling the Couch is a top career podcast for mental health private practitioners. Hosted by psychologist Melvin Varghese, it features interviews with successful therapists and business experts on building a private practice. Topics include referrals, growth strategies, overcoming fears, and generating income beyond therapy. The podcast has been featured in Psychology Today and Psych Central.

Episodes

ENCORE: A Live vs. Pre-Recorded Online Course Jun 18, 2026 35:59 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, LMFTKristen Boice is a therapist in private practice and a fellow podcaster. She has realized the need among her listeners for an online course. Her podcast, Close the Chap
ENCORE: The Process of Creating and Marketing Your Product Using the Feelings Wheel Jun 11, 2026 37:04 In today's encore, we're tapping into creative thinking. How are you at thinking outside the box? This episode is perfect for everyone who has thought about creating, marketing, and selling a product. What is the process like? How do you take care of all the little details? What about the marketing piece of your product? We’re diving deep into these questions and more on today’s show.My guest is R
ENCORE: The Power of Depth Over Scale Jun 4, 2026 13:13 Today's encore is on the 400th episode of Selling the Couch! It was truly surreal to think back to 2015 and the show’s humble beginnings; reaching this milestone is beyond anything I ever dreamed of 10 years ago. I wanted to use this milestone to reflect on a few meaningful thoughts about staying the course to reap the quiet rewards. What does it mean to choose depth over scale and to build intent
423: Why Google Is Done With Your Reels (And What Smart Therapists Are Creating Instead) May 28, 2026 19:30 Are therapists focusing on the wrong kind of content in the age of AI?In this episode, Mel explores one of the biggest shifts happening online right now: why Google and AI-powered search are quietly rewarding depth-first, human-centered, experience-based content, while most social media content disappears within 24–48 hours.If you’re a therapist building:a private practice,a podcast,a course,a coa
422: What Happens to Your Clients If Something Happens to You? May 21, 2026 35:33 What happens to your private practice if you suddenly become incapacitated… or pass away?It’s a difficult question, and one most therapists never want to think about.But in this deeply practical and important conversation, Mel sits down with Dr. Robin Miller to discuss one of the most overlooked responsibilities in private practice: creating a professional will.Dr. Miller shares the personal story
421: A Quick Clinical + Life Update May 14, 2026 38:13 In this deeply personal episode, Mel shares an honest update on a new chapter he’s building: one that sits at the intersection of psychology, nervous system regulation, golf, performance under pressure, and the future of clinical work in the age of AI.This is not a polished “success story.” It’s a real-time reflection on what AI is changing in mental health, why traditional private practice models
420: How A Therapist's Website Shapes A Client's First Impression May 7, 2026 35:51 Do therapist websites still matter in the age of AI? With platforms like ChatGPT, Claude, Google AI Search, social media, and online directories changing how people search for support, many therapists are wondering: Is it even worth investing in a website anymore? In this episode, Mel sits down with Sarah Gershon of Strong Roots Web Design to explore why therapist websites may actually matter more
419: Why Smart, Thoughtful Professionals Are Pulling Back From Social Media Apr 30, 2026 18:07 Are therapists quietly leaving social media… on purpose?In today’s episode, we explore a growing shift: not burnout, but intentional withdrawal from platforms that promise connection... but often create fragmentation.If you’ve ever felt conflicted about social media—needing it for visibility but feeling drained by it—this conversation will hit close to home.In this episode, you’ll learn:Why social
418: Human-Centric Marketing: Choosing Connection Over Algorithms Apr 24, 2026 42:37 What does it actually look like to market your work… without losing your humanity?In today’s episode of Selling the Couch, I’m joined by Shayna Vance Roman to explore a powerful and often overlooked idea: human-centric marketing—and how to apply it in a way that feels grounded, ethical, and aligned.If you’ve ever felt uncomfortable with marketing… overwhelmed by social media… or unsure how to grow
417: Is Ai Killing Our Ability To Protect Time? Apr 16, 2026 09:03 Is AI actually giving us more freedom… or just more to do?In this episode, I reflect on something I’ve been noticing lately, both in my own life and in conversations with other business owners:Even though AI makes it easier to write, create, and move faster… many of us aren’t using that time to slow down.In this episode, we explore:Why AI doesn’t actually create freedom (and what it creates instea
416: Is Blogging Still Worth It In The AI Age? Apr 9, 2026 44:28 If you’ve been told to “just start a blog” to grow your private practice and be seen online, but you’re now wondering if AI has made that advice outdated... this episode is for you.In this conversation, I sit down with Daniel Fava from Private Practice Elevation to explore what’s actually changed with blogging, SEO, and content creation, and what still works today.In this episode, we cover:Why blo
415: What Actually Drives Podcast Downloads Based on Real Data Apr 2, 2026 18:29 After 11 years, 400+ episodes, and nearly 2 million downloads, I thought I understood what drives podcast growth.Then I saw the data, and it challenged a lot of assumptions.In this episode, I break down what actually drives podcast downloads today, based on real-world insights and my own experience growing Selling the Couch into a top 0.5% podcast.Because here’s the truth:Audience size doesn’t gua

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