"I've never wanted to be in a position where I'm making decisions based on I just need this session booked because otherwise I can't pay my bills."

That's how Nicole Neufeld, Registered Clinical Counsellor (RCC), describes the financial philosophy behind building The Commons Wellness — a virtual group practice based in Vancouver, BC.

In this episode, Nicole shares what most therapists are never taught: how to actually run a business — and why avoiding that identity comes at a cost.

Nicole’s path into private practice wasn’t linear. With a background in retail management, insurance, and catering, she entered the therapy world with something most new grads don’t have: a working understanding of how businesses operate. That foundation shaped everything from how she built her practice to how she leads her team today.

This conversation explores the structural loneliness of therapy work, the gap between clinical training and business reality, and what becomes possible when you stop treating your practice like an accident — and start treating it like a business.

In this episode, Nicole shares:

• Why her pre-therapy career gave her a level of business confidence most clinicians lack
• The loneliness built into the therapy room — and why group practice is more than a revenue model
• The mindset shift: becoming a business owner who is also a therapist
• Why the lack of business training in grad school sets therapists up to struggle
• How she approaches creativity and innovation instead of following “this is how it’s done”
• Niching as burnout prevention — and how aligned clients change everything
• Why she has never used Google Ads and focuses on SEO, relationships, and organic growth instead
• How she structures her practice around her life goals, not just income targets
• The role of long-term vision (5–10 years) in decision-making and sustainability
• Why collaborative leadership works — and what trust actually looks like in a group practice

If you’ve ever felt like you’re running a business without a map, questioning whether the rules you’re following actually fit your values, or quietly burning out trying to do it all alone — this conversation will land.

Resources + Links Mentioned:

🎙️ Apply for business coaching:

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScnLHz7NPQMjMruYHZij6SJbSBI8JibryK-dGxHcDFhM9VZ9A/viewform

🎙️ Book a discovery call:

https://www.ceciliamannella.com/business-coaching

🎙️ Listen to The Sustainable Practice Framework:

https://www.ceciliamannella.com/purpose-and-profit-podcast

ABOUT YOUR HOST:

Cecilia Mannella is a Registered Social Worker, Clinical Counsellor, and therapy practice coach with 25 years as a mental health practitioner and nearly two decades building her own practice from solo therapist to seven-figure group practice. She helps Canadian therapists build profitable, sustainable businesses without apologizing for their ambition or compromising their values.

Connect with Cecilia:

https://www.ceciliamannella.com/

ABOUT THE GUEST:

Nicole Neufeld, MC, RCC, is a counsellor and group practice owner at The Commons Wellness, a virtual therapy practice based in Vancouver, BC.

With a background in retail management, insurance, and training and development, Nicole brings a strong business foundation into the therapy world — shaping how she builds, hires, and leads. Her practice operates as a collaborative collective of counsellors and interns working within an AEDP-informed framework.

Connect with Nicole:

Website: https://www.thecommonswellness.ca/

LinkedIn: https://ca.linkedin.com/in/nicoledneufeld

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PURPOSE & PROFIT: THE SUSTAINABLE THERAPY PRACTICE PODCAST

Burnout Is Not a Business Model

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