Heard Business School

Therapists have long been told they won’t make it on their own in private practice. 

Season 2 of Heard Business School flips that script. In this trailer, host Michael Fulwiler introduces you to therapists who are breaking the mold, redefining what success means, and sharing honest stories from their journeys.

You’ll hear from guests who have faced tough challenges, like carrying invisible wounds or learning the business side of therapy, and found ways to build practices that truly reflect who they are. This season is about finding your path and knowing that you have a community to lean on.

If you’re wondering how to create a practice that fits your life and values, or if you’re ready for the next step in your business, you’ll want to hear these stories.

In this season, you’ll learn:
  • Why building a private practice doesn’t have to be a solo struggle
  • How embracing authenticity can change the way you care for clients and run your business
  • What it means to pave your own way in therapy and private practice
Connect with Michael and Heard:

Jump into the conversation:
(00:00) Introducing Season 2 of Heard Business School
(00:25) Finding Purpose Through Loss And Poetry
(00:46) Therapy And Entrepreneurship Rewriting Futures
(01:21) Authenticity As a Clinician Matters
(01:43) Business Lessons Missing in Therapy Training

This episode is to be used for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal, business, or tax advice. Each person should consult their own attorney, business advisor, or tax advisor with respect to matters referenced in this episode. 

What is Heard Business School?

Most therapists don't take a business class in graduate school, let alone go on to get their business degree.

Without any formal education on how to run a business (because that's what starting a private practice is), they're left to figure it out on their own. Until now.

This is Heard Business School. Hosted by Michael Fulwiler, we sit down with private practice owners and industry experts to learn about the business of therapy, together.

We'll see you in class.

Michael Fulwiler (00:00):
For years, therapists have been told the same thing, you won't make money, you won't survive private practice. But that story is changing. In season two of Heard Business school, we bring you voices from across the profession, therapists, pushing boundaries, redefining success, and sharing the lessons they learned along the way. I

Patrick Casale (00:17):
Remember going to this exit interview with my program manager, someone I considered to be a friend at the time, and she's just said, you're not going to make it on your own. Nobody does. You'll be back here in 30 days. And I can imagine it felt like grief for me to be leaving it, but it definitely hit me in a way where I was like, I'm going to use this as motivation every day of my life.

Dr. Joy Bradford (00:36):
I continued to see people say, oh, I love to find a black woman therapist. Does anybody have a recommendation? So it started as a Google doc where people could either nominate or recommend their therapist.

Michael Fulwiler (00:46):
We also hear from those who carry invisible wounds, like a veteran stepping into therapy and entrepreneurship to rewrite their own future.

Christopher Brown (00:54):
It was a bad, bad flashback, panic attack experience. I feel very fortunate that I was able to get into therapy within a couple months of getting out

Michael Fulwiler (01:05):
From business coaches, hosting retreats in small Irish villages to social workers, creating spaces where clients can feel safe and truly be themselves. Season two is about breaking molds and building a business that reflects who you really are.

Gerald Joseph (01:18):
In order for me as a clinician to be comfortable, I should be able to express myself and feel comfortable because how am I going to provide great care along with having clients, patients be their authentic selves, and to feel comfortable

Jacent Wamala (01:33):
working in private practice was the goal, but then there's also the layer of not learning about business.

Michael Fulwiler (01:39):
If you're building your private practice, wondering if you can make it or ready to step into the next chapter, the season is for you. You don't have to do it alone. We'll see you in class.