In this special episode, I’m sitting down with Gily Roselle, a clinician whose private practice journey beautifully illustrates what’s possible when clarity, patience, and values-aligned decisions come together over time.

Gily shares how she moved from a fully insurance-based solo practice to an 80% self-pay caseload—while also building a small, intentional group practice serving postpartum women and anxious moms. We talk honestly about niching, evolving your work as your life changes, letting go of panic-driven marketing, and what it actually looks like when your practice starts to feel calm instead of chaotic.

Whether you’re early in your practice, considering a pivot, or wondering if private pay is realistic for you, this conversation offers grounded reassurance and real-world insight—no hype, no shortcuts.

Here’s what you’ll learn in this episode:

1️⃣ How Gily found (and trusted) a niche that truly fit her—without locking herself into something forever

2️⃣ What changed when her website and messaging finally reflected the clients she wanted to serve

3️⃣ Why clarity, patience, and relationship-based marketing led to a calmer, more sustainable practice

Resources & Links Mentioned:

1. Join the Confident Copy waitlist: https://walkerstrategyco.com/waitlist
2. Learn more about Confident Copy: https://walkerstrategyco.com/cc
3. The Walker Strategy Co website: https://walkerstrategyco.com

Connect + Subscribe

Enjoying the podcast? Subscribe so you never miss an episode—and feel free to share it with a fellow therapist who’s building their private practice.

Explore more marketing support for therapists: The Walker Strategy Co website: walkerstrategyco.com

About Marketing Therapy

Marketing Therapy is the podcast where therapists learn how to market their private practices without burnout, self-doubt, or sleazy tactics. Hosted by Anna Walker—marketing coach, strategist, and founder of Walker Strategy Co—each episode brings you clear, grounded advice to help you attract the right-fit, full-fee clients and grow a practice you feel proud of.

Hey y'all.

2

Welcome back to Marketing Therapy.

3

This episode is so special.

4

You're gonna meet Gily Rosell in this

interview, who is a clinician that I have

5

come to know, have had the pleasure to

support, and really the absolute honor to

6

walk alongside in her journey from going.

7

Completely insurance-based to

now 80% self-pay with clients she

8

absolutely loves to work with.

9

Not only that, but Gily has built a

successful small group practice with

10

a really specific niche, and we dive

really deep into that part of her

11

journey as well in this conversation.

12

If you're someone, man, I think every

therapist can get something out of this

13

, but if you're someone who's sitting in

the early stages of your practice, you're

14

gonna find this one incredibly inspiring.

15

Gily has some great messages for you,

and if you're someone who's looking

16

to move in the private pay direction,

whether or not you depa entirely or not,

17

this conversation is going to light a

fire under you in the very best way.

18

Alright, let's dive in.

19

Anna Walker: Gily, welcome

to Marketing Therapy.

20

I'm so excited to get to

sit down with you today.

21

Start by telling us a

little bit about you.

22

Who are you, what do you

do, and where are you based?

23

Gily R: Okay.

24

First thank you so much for having me.

25

I feel so honored, Anna.

26

Thank you.

27

So my name is Gily Rosell.

28

I'm a licensed marriage and family

therapist based in Connecticut.

29

And I primarily focus my specialty

and perinatal mental health.

30

So I mostly work with postpartum

women anxious moms of young children.

31

And I also have a group practice.

32

So I have two other therapists in my

practice who have their own specialties.

33

But we blend really nicely together.

34

Anna Walker: I love that.

35

And do you see folks in

person in Connecticut?

36

Gily R: So I see them.

37

I used to see them in person and I

found that there was a lot of trend

38

for virtual, especially for moms of

young children and postpartum moms.

39

They don't really wanna leave the house.

40

So I'm completely virtual online now,

and I wish I did it sooner, to be honest.

41

Anna Walker: That's awesome.

42

And is your team virtual as well?

43

So you're an entirely

virtual group Practice.

44

Gily R: Yes, we are

45

Anna Walker: Incredible.

46

Okay.

47

Tell me about how you

came into this niche.

48

I wanna know all about your private

practice journey, but you do have

49

a very specific niche, especially

as a group practice owner.

50

So tell me how you came to this.

51

Gily R: So honestly it really started

with my own journey into motherhood.

52

I had my own unique experience when I had

my first son, and I realized there was

53

very little support for postpartum women.

54

I think the only people I had him

55

People or providers were OBGYNs that

were marketed to help postpartum women.

56

And I quickly realized

that something was wrong.

57

This was, was not okay for new moms

to struggle in silence, really.

58

So I did my own research.

59

I got trainings for

perinatal mental health.

60

I did a lot of research and I started

to slowly change my practice niche.

61

And that's when I came across you

and your work and I was like, Ooh, I

62

think the stars are kind of aligning.

63

So I shifted my niche in, I

wanna say 20 20, 20, right?

64

When I had my son.

65

Prior to that, my niche was

practically non-existing.

66

Like I was eclectic, basically,

like most therapists, right?

67

But then I slowly started to learn

more about t mental health, postpartum.

68

I started to, you know,

market myself in that way.

69

Then I added clinicians

on who had a similar.

70

Who could work nicely with me, who

had a good fit for me for my practice.

71

And that's kind of where I'm at today.

72

So my practice, I, I have to say,

is like a hundred percent moms

73

anxious moms and postpartum women,

which is exactly what I wanted.

74

Anna Walker: Amazing.

75

Gily R: So it's, yeah, it, it is amazing.

76

It feels really good to get to this point

because this is exactly what I envisioned.

77

And that's where I'm, that's where I'm at.

78

Anna Walker: So take me back

all the way to the beginning.

79

When did you start your practice?

80

Obviously pre 2020, pre having

children and what led you into

81

even the initial stages of

82

Gily R: Yeah, so I was in a

nonprofit for a very long time

83

and I felt like, okay, like I have

an itch to, to, to be on my own.

84

So I started my private practice in 2017.

85

I got my LLCI.

86

I was in person.

87

I was primarily working with a

specific population, which was

88

Spanish speaking adolescents who

had recently migrated to the us.

89

So that was kind of my niche.

90

Yeah, that it is quite the niche.

91

And then I started to see more

people because in that point I was.

92

Taking on all clients

that I could take, right?

93

Because that's kind of what you

do when you first start off.

94

You just want them all.

95

I did that for maybe about 2017.

96

So up until 2020 until I had my son.

97

And then things just

started to shift for me.

98

I just felt like I was outgrowing,

I guess, my niche initially.

99

And you know, back then I do have

to say this, and I think, Anna,

100

you've spoken a lot about this.

101

It's very different now,

starting a private practice.

102

It's not what it used to be.

103

Back then it was honestly

easy to get referrals.

104

Now it's completely a

whole different bogging.

105

So I, I do, you know, I am, I am grateful

and blessed that I was able to start

106

at a time where things were easier.

107

I think things would look differently

if I was just starting today.

108

Right.

109

And impossible.

110

Just different.

111

Yeah.

112

Anna Walker: still possible,

but the approach you, you

113

take has to be different.

114

I think a lot of clinicians

when they, when they think about

115

niching, feel like they are

locking themselves into something.

116

And that can be one of the

scary parts is I, what if I

117

don't wanna do this five years

118

You're a really cool example

of like Spanish speaking

119

adolescents who just recently.

120

Migrated to the United States

to anxious moms quite the shift.

121

Did you struggle with feeling like

you were making some huge pivot?

122

What was that, that evolution like?

123

Or did it feel, just feel natural

because of your own experience?

124

Gily R: So I think what helped

right, was also in the midst of

125

all this, we had COVID, right?

126

And I had a baby, so I did take some

time off and I was just reflecting back

127

on, I'm a mom now, I have my own child.

128

I don't know if I'm a good fit anymore

to work with kids or adolescents.

129

I feel like my pull was more so I need

to support moms who are struggling

130

because this is very hard work and we

have to, like, I felt like I just had

131

to advocate and speak up for all of us.

132

So it honestly felt natural.

133

It was like a natural pull for me.

134

And even, I've always worked with parents.

135

Even in my nonprofit, I've always

worked alongside parents, so I

136

felt comfortable working with that

137

Anna Walker: Yeah, it wasn't a completely

138

Gily R: it wasn't a, yeah, it wasn't

a completely shift, but it was

139

just required just like logistical,

like administration, like trainings

140

and things to get to that point.

141

Yeah.

142

Anna Walker: Cool.

143

And then one other sort of pivot point

I'm curious about that I know a lot of

144

clinicians sit with is the decision to

bring on a team to go from solo to group.

145

So where were you in your personal

caseload and your personal practice

146

when you decided to make that shift?

147

Gily R: So I was working primarily with

the Spanish speaking adolescents, and

148

so I had someone from my nonprofit,

from the nonprofit that I was in

149

have interest who also spoke Spanish.

150

And so they joined and I was

so ecstatic when they joined.

151

And she is like the og, she's been

with me since it started so she

152

helped me with those referrals.

153

Then solely I had another person

come join me and then I had

154

the third person come join me.

155

Now we're down to two, which is

honestly, I have to say, if I can

156

give any piece of advice about a

therapist trying to do a group practice.

157

Really make sure you are thoughtful with

the people that you add to your practice.

158

I can't stress that enough.

159

I think that's so important because at

the end of the day, all those people

160

represent your practice and what you

want, like your branding essentially.

161

So be very thoughtful with that.

162

So now I have two and I'm

very content with that number.

163

And we all have a nice blend together.

164

I will say one of the things I did

struggle with was when I shifted

165

my niche, I did worry were they

not gonna be okay with that?

166

Were they gonna say I don't

really wanna work with

167

moms.

168

Yes.

169

And I was very transparent

throughout the process.

170

I said, listen, this is where I'm headed.

171

If you want to come join me and

stay, I would love to have you.

172

If you don't, I totally respect that.

173

And they stayed.

174

So we have a nice blend.

175

I have one therapist who has EMDR,

so they do more of the trauma work.

176

So if I have a mom who's

had a traumatic birth.

177

Perfect.

178

I have another therapist who's

O-C-D-E-R-P trained, so I have an

179

anxious mom that is presenting with OCD.

180

There she is.

181

So we all blend very nicely

together with our specialties.

182

Anna Walker: Yeah, you

compliment one another.

183

That's wonderful.

184

Okay, cool.

185

You joined competent copy about

186

What led you to feel like it was

time to make some, some pivots or

187

some up levels in your marketing?

188

Because like, how were things going,

were things going well or what led

189

you to feel like you needed that

additional like kind of level of support?

190

Gily R: So prior to that, I had been

following you for quite some time.

191

I think I was following you back in 2022.

192

2023, and I was like,

okay, I'm going to do this.

193

Not right now, but there will be

a day where I'm gonna do this.

194

And so I think I was at a point.

195

I was in your Facebook group and

I was just reading your stuff

196

and a lot of it was so true.

197

It was, if you really want to get

that ideal client of yours and

198

really get those premium fees, like

there's some investment level here.

199

And I was the type that I was constantly

changing my website all the time because

200

Anna Walker: I remember that about you.

201

I do.

202

Gily R: was like, I'm not gonna,

I was like, I'm not gonna a

203

referral, lemme change my website.

204

And I was like, wait, no, this isn't.

205

This isn't working.

206

I need to step it up and

invest in my practice.

207

And so I, I, I said, whatever.

208

Let's, let's see where the, this takes me.

209

I literally talk about your program all

the time because when I tell you I've had

210

clients reach out to me and literally say

their email, your website spoke to me.

211

I feel like you know me

is such a game changer.

212

Not only for the practice, for my

practice, but like confidence too.

213

Wow.

214

Like I'm actually I worked hard, I

did the work and it's paying off.

215

So yeah, that, that's,

yeah, that's what led me to

216

Anna Walker: That's awesome.

217

What reflecting back on your time in

Confident copy, what support or tools,

218

like what stood out to you as far as the

valuable pieces of your experience there?

219

I.

220

Gily R: Oh, honestly, like.

221

Confident copy, I have to say,

really pushed me to my limits, right?

222

So by nature, I'm an internalizer, right?

223

I sit back, I watch, I

don't put myself out there.

224

And so one of the things about your

program that I think really helped me

225

and I needed was to put myself out there.

226

Like you read copy in front of people

that you don't know and you know,

227

if, if that's not taking a risk.

228

Right then.

229

Then I don't know what is right.

230

So I think that that really pushed me

to not only challenge myself and trust

231

myself and put myself out there, but

also the feedback that you give, right?

232

The live feedback that you give

about copy and suggestions.

233

I think that is so helpful.

234

I also liked how you had the

Facebook group and you said, if you

235

want feedback, give feedback back.

236

I thought that was genius, right?

237

Because it kind of, again, accountability.

238

So I think that truly helped.

239

I have to say writing copy.

240

I thought coming into, I

was like, I've got this.

241

I know what to write.

242

No, it was hard.

243

It was hard work, but I, I needed that.

244

I, I think it helped me to, again,

gain a level of confidence that I

245

think was really blocking me from

really putting myself out there.

246

Because again, and I know you've

mentioned this too, if no one knows

247

who you are, what's the point?

248

If you're not putting yourself out there.

249

What is the point with where you're going?

250

And I think that's what's up to me.

251

Like you do have to do it.

252

You have to do the work,

and it will pay itself off.

253

Now, maybe not as fast as you

would like it to be, but it will.

254

Anna Walker: Yeah.

255

Yeah.

256

It's one of those interesting things

about Confident Copy where I, people

257

think it's a marketing program or

a copywriting program, and it is,

258

and it's also so much more than

that, like that experience you're

259

talking about, about like having to.

260

Dig deep and being pushed a little bit.

261

Like those things have to happen

in order to excavate the, the end

262

product that is actually getting

you those emails from people.

263

And I love knowing that you're,

you're left with confidence.

264

I didn't name this

program unintentionally.

265

That there is confidence that comes

from doing that hard work, getting

266

clear on why you're good at what you

do, knowing how to talk about that.

267

There's power in that that flows into all

of your marketing, not just your website.

268

Gily R: Absolutely.

269

Oh, absolutely.

270

I grew a lot from that program.

271

I did.

272

And it was great to hear from other

therapists too, and what they were

273

stuck with or struggling with to

feel like, okay, I'm not alone here.

274

We're all in this together.

275

So it was, it was by far

the best investment I could

276

have done for my practice.

277

Not of just my website.

278

Just like you said, just everything,

279

Anna Walker: That's

280

Gily R: how you carry yourself.

281

Yeah.

282

Anna Walker: you hadn't joined Confident

Copying, it was a hard question, maybe.

283

Where do you think you'd be?

284

Right now because you, it's not

that you weren't successful, right?

285

It's not that confident copy.

286

Like you, you weren't, and then you

were, it, it was more of sort of

287

this, this like shift in upleveling

288

Gily R: I think I still would've been in

a place of grappling how to, I probably

289

still would've been going back and forth

with my website, to be honest with you.

290

Yes.

291

Yes.

292

Working, you know.

293

Trying to do so many different marketing

strategies all at once instead of like

294

trying to focus and stick to one thing.

295

That's another thing I felt like I learned

too, like, I think when you first start

296

off or when you're in a place of feeling

like, oh no, where are the referrals?

297

You start to panic and

try to do all the things.

298

I've been there, it doesn't work.

299

You just get lost and

nothing ever gets done.

300

So I think this really

centered me and grounded me.

301

And without confident copy.

302

Oof.

303

I, I don't know.

304

I don't think I would've, I don't

think I would've gotten the confidence

305

I have now or the growth, and maybe I

would not have had the self-pay client

306

increase that, that I've had since then.

307

I wanna say, I think I was like

calculating this the other day.

308

I think I wanna say 75 to 80%

of my caseload is self-pay.

309

Anna Walker: That's awesome.

310

Gily R: Prior to that

it was all insurance.

311

And, and I feel confident telling people,

yeah, I'm sorry, I'm out of network.

312

Before I felt bad.

313

Saying that, and now I'm like,

yeah, this is, and if this doesn't

314

pan out, that's totally fine.

315

But yeah.

316

Anna Walker: That's a cool thing.

317

So yeah, tell me more

about what you've seen.

318

And some of that is tangible, right?

319

80% of your caseload being self-pay

were, before it was all insurance is

320

huge, but also like the, especially

when it comes to your team, like the way

321

that you show up as a leader, consult

calls, what else have you noticed?

322

Change.

323

Gily R: So I think I've also realized

too, that you have to be anchored, right?

324

Because I felt like for a while

I was doing too much, right?

325

And so I think now I am

more centered, right?

326

I am more present.

327

To, for my team, I felt like before

it was very overwhelming trying

328

to chase referrals and trying to

have a caseload and have my team.

329

But I feel like we're all in

a place of, I guess, calmness.

330

I don't know what other

word to use, right?

331

Calmness.

332

But, you know, with my team,

I'm very transparent with them.

333

I am not the type of person

or I guess leader to say, you

334

have to take this referral.

335

No.

336

If you feel like it's not a

good fit, it's not a good fit.

337

I feel that we, again, I think

we're just a good fit, so we're able

338

to blend nicely together and work

really well together and really be

339

understanding and, and patient too.

340

Um,

341

Anna Walker: it sounds like.

342

Gily R: there is, there is.

343

It's, it's, it's a nice, it's a

nice flow and I think where I'm at

344

with my practice, I think I, I, this

is a good season where we're at.

345

I don't have a pull to keep growing.

346

Because then that would mean that

things would have to be reduced, and

347

I'm just not ready to do that yet.

348

But we're in a, in a good season,

I would say I feel like I'm in

349

a really good season with my

ca how my caseload has evolved.

350

Anna Walker: That's wonderful.

351

I think if any of us could have our

businesses defined by the word calmness,

352

we'd probably be happy with that.

353

That's a, that's a beautiful place

to be, to have that sense and

354

that feeling about your practice.

355

Absolutely.

356

I'm curious, as you have started to

interact with those clients, so like

357

you, you know, you mentioned you'll

get an email, like your website spoke

358

to me or, or that kind of thing.

359

Are those converting, well

obviously you've, you're, you've

360

grown that self-pay caseload.

361

What, what has talking to your

clients been like and, and that

362

kind of initial rapport building?

363

Do you feel like you, are they

coming in already with a good

364

understanding of what it is that

you do and ready to do the work?

365

Are they the right fit?

366

Do you feel like you have to do

kind of some legwork around that?

367

Do

368

Gily R: No, I do know

what you, what you mean.

369

I feel like the client that I've been

wanting is exactly what I'm getting.

370

I have yet to have that feeling.

371

Yes, I have yet, and I've been in this

place where you get a client and you're,

372

you instantly know this is not a good fit.

373

I have not felt that.

374

I feel like every single person on my

caseload, I enjoy working with them.

375

I get excited to see them.

376

I get excited to know what they're

gonna bring to the table because

377

it's exactly the ideal client I want.

378

They are exactly what I want.

379

And so when we start off the

intake call, it's very like,

380

this is what I'm struggling with.

381

Okay, so I can do that for you.

382

Let's schedule, and it, and it

just kind of like goes from there.

383

Which is again, I can't

stress this enough.

384

It's such a good place to be in because

385

Anna Walker: It's one of those

intangibles that is just so valuable.

386

Gily R: Yes, I've been in a place

and along with other therapists where

387

they feel like their caseload is very

overwhelming and stressful and working

388

overtime and I don't feel that whatsoever.

389

So I can't stress enough, the power

of being clear with your ideal client.

390

Anna Walker: Cool.

391

Gily R: yeah.

392

Anna Walker: I know a burning question

for me and everyone listening is around

393

what you're doing now in your marketing.

394

Now you mentioned before that like

panic hair on fire, do all the things,

395

experience, which is so common.

396

I think most clinicians can resonate

with that and now you feel, you

397

said, more centered and more

focused and that is one thing we

398

really focus on in Confident Copy.

399

As you leave.

400

Don't go do all the things, find

the handful of things you're gonna

401

do well and then commit to them.

402

And so what are those things for you?

403

What is your kind of marketing

rhythm looking like these

404

Gily R: Yes, yes.

405

So I have a few O-B-G-Y-N

contacts here in my area that

406

are constantly referring to me.

407

So I nurture those relationships.

408

I do a, I join a, mommy and baby

group at my kids' pediatric center

409

like every three months or so.

410

And I, I get a few, not many,

but a few referrals there, right?

411

Just to put myself out there.

412

And what I try to do is I try to send

my information to OB GYN offices or

413

pediatric centers that are new to me.

414

I created a whole Excel sheet of who I

sent to, who do I still have to send to?

415

And I don't.

416

Hyper focus too much on that because

that's, I feel like it's a, it's a

417

lot to have to do, I'll be honest.

418

But I mostly center on making sure

that my website is working accordingly.

419

I recently just got new headshot, so I was

working on that, updating my site on that.

420

I got a new, uh, Walker template

that I'm excited to dabble with.

421

And just connecting with the people

that send me referrals and making

422

sure that they constantly know,

you know where I'm at and if I'm

423

receiving referrals if I'm not.

424

So I think that has worked

really nicely for me.

425

Anna Walker: absolutely.

426

Networking.

427

Is, it just reigns supreme right now.

428

It's, it's what I have seen

across the board as well.

429

You can, you can post on

social media if you want.

430

You can run Google ads if you, you can do

lots of things, but at the end of the day,

431

relationship building surprise, surprise

is what can really move the needle for

432

lots of folks when you're reaching out.

433

I, I can imagine this question is

popping up for folks when you're reaching

434

out to those physicians, which can be

one, it's one of those stereotypical

435

marketing things where oh, I'm a therapist

and I go to the, doctor's office.

436

You, yours is obviously more

niche specific as an ob, but what

437

are you sending or how are you

initiating that contact, especially

438

if they're new to you and you don't

necessarily have an in already.

439

Gily R: Yeah, so what I do is I try to

find if there's like an office manager,

440

whether I can get that information through

the website, like who is that contact

441

person that is receiving the calls?

442

That is orchestrating referrals, right?

443

It's not the ob gyn.

444

So I try to see who that is.

445

I try to reach out and introduce

myself and say, Hey, listen, you know,

446

I came across, uh, your practice.

447

You know, I am.

448

This is who I am, this is what I do.

449

I would love, you know, to be

of support for your clients

450

and also know more about you.

451

So if I have a potential mom that wants

to switch OBGYNs, you know, I can give

452

her some of your information, right?

453

It's like a, like a two way street.

454

Here.

455

Let's help each other out.

456

What else?

457

That's mostly it.

458

There have been other OB GYN offices

that I have sent like a, like a

459

pamphlet or something to, and you know,

sometimes that's a hit or miss, right?

460

Sometimes it goes somewhere,

sometimes it doesn't.

461

But one time I got a call from an OB

GYN office that was like an hour away

462

from where I live and she called me.

463

She's I got your information.

464

Your stuff sounds great.

465

I would love to add you

to our referral list.

466

You just never know what you're gonna get.

467

But I've learned that if you don't

do it, you're, you're ged, nothing.

468

Anna Walker: Yeah.

469

Yep.

470

I love your attitude about that,

especially when you're reaching

471

out to complimentary professionals,

especially if they're physicians.

472

It's a volume game.

473

You're not gonna hear from

every person you reach out to.

474

That's true of any type

of networking, right?

475

But you have a handful of really

meaningful, good connections where

476

people know you and refer to you.

477

That's all you need.

478

But it is a matter of being

willing to just put it out

479

there and hold it very loosely.

480

It may or may not turn out, but

like you said, if you don't try,

481

then we know what's gonna happen.

482

so just being willing to, being

willing to put yourself out there,

483

like you were saying earlier.

484

Gily R: Yes.

485

Yeah, absolutely.

486

Yeah.

487

I think, like you said, don't get hung

up if you don't get anything in return.

488

I also think too, like you've

mentioned this before, like

489

marketing is a very slow process.

490

Like sometimes you just don't realize

that, it takes time and that's okay.

491

It's part of the process.

492

I felt like for at the beginning

stages of my practice, I was always

493

in panic mode because I felt like I

wanted things to work really quickly.

494

come on.

495

And then you get to a point,

I, I'm not exaggerating.

496

It got to the point, maybe the summer,

interestingly enough, summer tends to

497

be a slow month for therapists, but I

found that like in the recent leading

498

up to summer, I was bombarded with

referrals and so it hit all at once.

499

So I was overwhelmed, but.

500

Different, overwhelmed.

501

And so it's just interesting

and I felt okay, this is what

502

Anna has been talking about.

503

Just sit back and wait for things to

unfold because they, they will, you just,

504

you just have to lean to time sometimes

that, that's hard, especially as a,

505

entrepreneur that's, that's a hard thing

to sit around and wait for sometimes.

506

Anna Walker: Yeah, yeah, absolutely.

507

And like you said, the game has changed.

508

When you started your practice in 2017?

509

I wasn't yet on the scene.

510

I started supporting clinicians

511

Marketing was different.

512

Marketing was arguably easier then

starting a practice and getting

513

clients was, was a bit simpler.

514

These days.

515

Still possible, more complex and,

and time is a bigger factor here.

516

I think the clinicians that are most

successful right now are the ones

517

who have the long view who are in it

for the long haul, who are, who are

518

thinking with that long game in mind.

519

'Cause it, it, it

doesn't happen overnight.

520

You might see those like random case

studies of people that fill their private

521

pay caseload in two months or whatever.

522

That's not realistic.

523

And having realistic expectations, that's

what sets you up to not be miserable

524

right in, in that growth period.

525

Gily R: Absolutely.

526

Like this holiday season, things are

slowing down and in a year or two.

527

Two years ago, I would've

been freaking out panicking.

528

I'm embracing it like I'm gonna

embrace a slowness because I

529

know this is like a cycle, right?

530

And then we'll get back to a place

where we'll get referrals again.

531

So just, I'm just going with the flow

of it because this is exactly what it

532

looks like and there's nothing that

I'm not doing enough of or doing wrong.

533

It's just this is the nature

of the work that I do.

534

Anna Walker: Yeah, that's a powerful

thought to, to be, to be grounded in.

535

I'm curious, Gily, and maybe the answer

is just enjoying what you've built, but

536

what's next for you and for your practice?

537

Do you have goals for what's coming or is

it just enjoying this calmness and, and

538

the, the sustainability you've created?

539

Gily R: I, I do have goals.

540

I have a lot of goals.

541

And so one of my next steps

that I truly want to do is I do

542

wanna create a podcast for moms.

543

That's kind of my next, yeah,

that's kind of my next thing.

544

I do love to educate.

545

By nature.

546

It's funny, before becoming a

therapist or anything, when I was

547

younger, I wanted to be a teacher.

548

So like I have this like, educator part

of me, so I really wanna create a podcast.

549

So that's, something that I wanna work on.

550

But for right now it's just enjoying

kind of where I'm at with my practice.

551

I'm really leaning into it because

it, it feels good and I'm just gonna,

552

I'm, I'm going with it for right now.

553

Anna Walker: Oh, good for you.

554

That's again, a beautiful thing.

555

If people, if people's

goal could be to just.

556

Sit where they are and en enjoy that.

557

That's, that's huge.

558

I love that.

559

For you for, for clinicians that are

sitting here right now, maybe they're

560

in a place where they're early on in

their practice and kind of in that

561

panic hair on fire situation, maybe

they're sitting with the idea of, of

562

needing to evolve or pivot their niche.

563

Kind of like you, a couple of

those interesting inflection

564

points in your practice.

565

What would you say to, to those therapists

who might be listening right now?

566

Gily R: I think what I would say to

them is really take time to think

567

about who that client is for you that

you think and get excited for, right?

568

Like the way I thought about my

ideal client was I literally came

569

up with a person, like a character.

570

Of what their, challenges were, who

they were, what they did, right?

571

Like I really created this image in mind.

572

So what I would say to, to clinicians

is, take the time, even if you feel like

573

it could be a waste of time to sit and

think about it, but it will pay off.

574

Just think about who this person

is, who is the client that you

575

truly, truly enjoy seeing and

working with, and it doesn't feel.

576

Work, honestly, when you're meeting

with them, like with my clients, I

577

don't feel like I'm working right.

578

It just, it, it just feels, and I keep

saying I'm, but it just, it feels good.

579

It just feels like a good fit.

580

Like we have a good synergy going on.

581

And that's because I worked really hard

to think about who I wanted to work with.

582

And it's okay to say that, I think

a lot of times therapists feel like.

583

I'm here to help.

584

Yeah, you are here to help.

585

But you also need to understand that

with that comes limits and boundaries.

586

You can't help everyone.

587

And that's the narrative that,

I think a lot of therapists are

588

pulling away from right now.

589

But like you can't help anyone.

590

That's not the expectation.

591

Think about who you really want to be

in that room with and think about who

592

you don't wanna be in the room with.

593

'cause I think that's also important.

594

Anna Walker: Absolutely.

595

And yeah, and getting really,

really comfortable with that.

596

If you don't know who you're talking

to, how is your marketing gonna work?

597

It's, it's when you get clear on

that, that you finally can make

598

decisions in that direction that

are gonna call that person in.

599

Gily R: Absolutely.

600

It's huge.

601

It's

602

Anna Walker: Yeah.

603

Cool.

604

All right.

605

One last question for you.

606

What would you say, I, I'm, I

feel like there are two points for

607

you that I've, that I've heard.

608

So 2017, Gily, right?

609

Starting your practice and then 2020,

Gily, where you make kind of this,

610

this new evolution in and the next, the

next level of your practice is born.

611

So what would you say to 2017, Gily,

612

Gily R: Oh, 2017.

613

Gily, I would say you

are starting off great.

614

I'm proud of you.

615

You have so much more to

learn and to grow from.

616

Hang in there, right?

617

Continue to trust your gut and 2020.

618

Gily, I would say

619

you are going to be so

620

I know it feels hard right now,

but trust me, it will get better.

621

It will.

622

You will, you are going to achieve

what you've been working so hard for.

623

Anna Walker: Hmm.

624

Gily R: Um, I know it's oh

625

Anna Walker: Yeah.

626

And I bet that 2020 mom version of

Gily would appreciate hearing that too.

627

'cause you were in a

season yourself there.

628

And, and here you are on the other

side now being able to support.

629

Other women in, in

630

Gily R: yes.

631

Anna Walker: transition as well.

632

That's powerful.

633

Gily R: Yeah.

634

No, it's huge.

635

It's huge.

636

And, and again, it

wasn't easy work, right?

637

I don't wanna sit here

and say it was easy.

638

No, it was hard.

639

It was challenging.

640

You know, there were a lot of hours

that, the evening hours after putting the

641

kids down to bed that I put in the work.

642

But I knew that this is what I wanted.

643

And I was very clear with that.

644

This is what I want.

645

And I know that if I want that

I have to put in the work.

646

Like I, success is not just, it

doesn't happen like you have to.

647

Gotta create it.

648

Anna Walker: Yeah.

649

Awesome.

650

All right, Gily, thank you so much

for sharing this story with us.

651

I am leaving inspired and I

know everyone listening is too.

652

So thanks for this time and for for

your expertise and wishing you all the

653

best in this new year in your practice.

654

Gily R: Thank you so much, Anna.

655

And again, I'm so honored to

be a part of this podcast.

656

Also, I would never, 2020, Gily would

never even imagine that she would

657

be joining Anna Walker's podcast.

658

So thank you so much.

659

Anna Walker: It is an

absolute pleasure to know you.

660

It's my pleasure.

661

Thank you.