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Episode 223: Real is the New Professional: Branding for Therapists [featuring Kimberly and Justin Slagle]
Episode 2236th December 2025 • All Things Private Practice Podcast • Patrick Casale
00:00:00 00:35:09

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In this episode, Patrick Casale talks with Kimberly and Justin Slagle, branding experts and founders of Practicery, a no-BS branding studio for therapists, about why therapists (and all service providers) should ditch the outdated marketing cliches and embrace authentic, vulnerable branding.

3 Key takeaways:

  1. Authenticity Over Credentials: Credentials do matter—but what attracts clients is your realness, relatability, and willingness to show up as a human, not just a list of titles.
  2. Show, Don’t Tell: Paint the experience. Clients want to know what it’s like to work with you—use your content, visuals, and messaging to show that from the very first impression. Make your website and marketing feel like YOU.
  3. It’s OK to Pivot—and Imperfect is Better Than Invisible: Your brand should evolve with you. Don’t let perfectionism stop you from launching—put it out there, refine it as you go, and don’t be afraid to shift direction as you grow.

More about Kimberly and Justin:

Kimberly and Justin Slagle are the creative duo behind Practicery, a no-BS branding studio built by a therapist and a designer who actually get this field. They partner with helpers, healers, and therapist-run businesses to craft brands, websites, and messaging that sound and feel like the real you—human, grounded, and impossible to ignore.

If your brand or website feels a little “off” and you’re not sure what’s missing, they offer personalized web and brand audits—it’s honest, strategic feedback from people who actually get therapists and what you’re trying to build.

And they’re also about to launch something new that they are really excited about: Practicery Pop-Ins! These are creative, midday drop-in sessions for therapist business owners to brainstorm, get inspired, and connect with other people doing the same damn thing. No pressure, no fluff, just smart support and real talk.

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Thanks to Our Sponsors: The Receptionist for iPad, Alma, Beyond Private Practice: Recession Proofing Intensive, & Resilient Mind Counseling!

✨ The Receptionist for iPad

Thanks to The Receptionist for iPad for sponsoring this episode.

The Receptionist offers an iPad list check-in option where clients can scan a QR code to check in, which negates the need for you to buy an iPad and stand. Go to thereceptionist.com/privatepractice and sign up for a free 14-day trial. When you do, you'll get your first month free. And don't forget to ask about our iPad list check-in option.

Alma

Thanks to Alma for sponsoring this episode.

Building and managing the practice you want can be challenging. That’s why Alma offers tools and resources to help you build not just any practice, but your private practice. They’ll help you navigate insurance, access referrals who are the right fit for you, and efficiently manage administrative tasks — so you can spend less time on the details and more time delivering great care. You support your clients. Alma supports you. Visit helloalma.com/ATPP to learn more.

 Beyond Private Practice: Recession Proofing Intensive

It's Patrick from All Things Private Practice. I know a lot of you are feeling uncertain right now about your caseloads, the economy, or what the next year's going to look like for your practice. I get it. Things are weird out there right now. That is exactly why I created the "Beyond Private Practice: Recession Proofing Intensive," a 5-hour, live, neurodivergent-affirming, online event happening on Friday, December 12th, from 11:00 AM to 4:00 PM EST. We will talk about real, tangible ways to diversify your income through podcasting, retreats, writing that book of yours, and speaking engagements; they're all symbiotic and feed into each other. I'm gonna show you exactly how to leverage and maximize so you can build stability and freedom no matter what's happening around you. The cost for the intensive is only $299, valued at over $2,500, because I want this to be accessible. Just to let you in on some behind-the-scenes, my wife works for the federal government and hasn't been paid for weeks due to the shutdown. So yeah, things are tight, but I also know how powerful this work is, and I want to make sure to give back to the therapist community that has supported me through everything I've created the last four years. You'll walk away with strategies, templates, confidence, clarity, and 4 NBCC CEs. Go to allthingspractice.com/beyond-recession-intensive to grab your spot. Doubt yourself and do it anyway.

 Resilient Mind Counseling

My name is Patrick Casale, and I’m the founder of Resilient Mind Counseling, a neurodivergent-affirming group practice based in Asheville serving clients throughout North Carolina via telehealth and in-person sessions.

Our practice is passionate about supporting Autistic adults, ADHDers, and other neurodivergent individuals, along with the LGBTQIA+ community and folks experiencing anxiety, burnout, and life transitions. Many of our clinicians identify as neurodivergent themselves, and we pride ourselves on offering therapy that is affirming, authentic, and grounded in lived experience.

Mentioned in this episode:

Resilient Mind Counseling

It's Patrick. Some of you may know that I own a group therapy practice in North Carolina, Resilient Mind Counseling. We specialize in supporting the Neurodivergent, LGBTQIA+, and Black, Brown, and Asian communities online and across North Carolina. We also have limited in-person openings at our offices in Asheville and Cary. We really love working with clients who are coming to terms with both Autism and ADHD discoveries later in life or questioning, as well as the intersections of race, gender, identity, and orientation. All of our therapists have lived experience and identify as AuDHD, Autistic, or ADHD. Our team of affirming therapists offers a safe, anti-racist, anti-oppressive, inclusive, and accessible space where you can show up exactly as you are—no masking, no judgment, and no need to make eye contact, just real connection and healing. We accept most commercial insurances like Blue Cross Blue Shield, United, Aetna, and Med Cost, as well as self-pay options. We currently have openings for new clients. Visit our website at resilientmindcounseling.com. You can also text or call our HIPAA-compliant phone line at (828) 515-1246, or email us at scheduling@resilientmindcounseling.com.

The Receptionist for iPad

I want to thank The Receptionist for iPad for sponsoring this episode. From new patients faced with an empty lobby and no idea where to find their therapist to clinicians with a session running over time and the doorbell ringing, some of the most anxiety-ridden moments of a therapy appointment happen before a session even starts. The Receptionist for iPad, helps you tackle some of that pre-appointment apprehension and anxiety. The Receptionist for iPad is an easy-to-use digital client check-in system that helps your visitors check in securely to their appointments and notify their practitioners of their arrival via SMS, email, or your preferred channel. No more confusion, and less lobby checking or having clients sign in on paper logbooks. It can even help you upgrade and update your demographic information for your clients as well and even validate parking. Start a 14-day free trial of the Receptionist for iPad by going to thereceptionist.com/privatepractice. Make sure to start your trial with that link and you'll also get your first month free if you decide to sign up.

Alma

I want to thank Alma for sponsoring this episode. Building and managing the practice you want can be challenging. That’s why Alma offers tools and resources to help you build not just any practice, but your private practice. They’ll help you navigate insurance, access referrals who are the right fit for you, and efficiently manage administrative tasks — so you can spend less time on the details, and more time delivering great care. You support your clients. Alma supports you. Visit helloalma.com/ATPP to learn more.

Beyond Private Practice: Recession Proofing Intensive

It's Patrick from All Things Private Practice. I know a lot of you are feeling uncertain right now about your caseloads, the economy, or what the next year's going to look like for your practice. I get it. Things are weird out there right now. That is exactly why I created the "Beyond Private Practice: Recession Proofing Intensive," a 5-hour, live, neurodivergent-affirming, online event happening on Friday, December 12th, from 11:00 AM to 4:00 PM EST. We will talk about real, tangible ways to diversify your income through podcasting, retreats, writing that book of yours, and speaking engagements; they're all symbiotic and feed into each other. I'm gonna show you exactly how to leverage and maximize so you can build stability and freedom no matter what's happening around you. The cost for the intensive is only $299, valued at over $2,500, because I want this to be accessible. Just to let you in on some behind-the-scenes, my wife works for the federal government and hasn't been paid for weeks due to the shutdown. So yeah, things are tight, but I also know how powerful this work is, and I want to make sure to give back to the therapist community that has supported me through everything I've created the last four years. You'll walk away with strategies, templates, confidence, clarity, and 4 NBCC CEs. Go to allthingspractice.com/beyond-recession-intensive to grab your spot. Doubt yourself and do it anyway.

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