Episode 364

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Published on:

8th Dec 2025

State of the Union November 2025

In this compelling episode of Starting a Counseling Practice Success Stories, hosts Kelly Higdon and Miranda Palmer sit down for an honest, no-interview conversation about the seismic shifts in the mental health world right now. Drawing on their experiences supporting thousands of clinicians and leading Business School for Therapists, they dive deep into the growing influence of venture capital-backed therapy platforms, the realities of 1099 contracts vs. employment, and how insurance companies are reshaping the landscape—with a powerful impact on therapist autonomy and pay.

Listen as Kelly Higdon and Miranda Palmer peel back the curtain on how big marketing and profit-driven systems are affecting therapists’ mindset, fees, and even their health. The duo discuss the importance of embodied practice, highlight the risks of burnout and autoimmune issues on the rise in the field, and share why it’s crucial to reconnect with your body, intuition, and core values when making practice decisions.

You’ll hear practical guidance on navigating contracts, fee-setting for sustainability, and why group and community-oriented offerings may be the future for accessibility and authentic healing. If you’re feeling the pinch of working harder for less, or questioning the “way things are” in private practice, this episode will leave you with validation, tangible next steps, and a reminder: you have more agency than you think.

Learn more about Business School for Therapists: https://bit.ly/BusinessSchoolYouTube

Website: https://www.zynnyme.com/

Blog: https://www.zynnyme.com/blog

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kellyandmiranda

Instagram: http://instagram.com/zynnyme/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/2456942/

Pinterest: https://pinterest.com/zynnyme/

TikTok: @zynnyme

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About the Podcast

Starting a Counseling Practice Success Stories
Encouragement and advice for any stage of private practice.
Join Kelly Higdon and Miranda Palmer of zynnyme Private Practice Experts as they speak with successful practice owners about how they created lives and businesses they love. Whether you're new to private practice or already successful and looking to expand, you'll find plenty of stories to get motivated and start designing the practice of your dreams!

• Learn about our LIFETIME program for current and aspiring practice owners: https://bit.ly/LearnAboutBusinessSchool

• Check out how YOU can be featured on the podcast (or even have us on yours!): https://www.zynnyme.com/podcast

About your host

Profile picture for zynnyme Kelly & Miranda

zynnyme Kelly & Miranda

zynnyme (Kelly + Miranda)
zynnyme, founded by Kelly Higdon and Miranda Palmer, was born from two licensed therapists coming together to empower private practice owners to serve at their highest and best, improve clinical outcomes through business planning, and to break the statistic that mental health clinicians are the worst paid Masters’ degree. Kelly and Miranda provide coaching and training through their Private Practice Community, the Business School Bootcamp for Therapists, and educational webinars, and have helped thousands of clinicians from around the world.