Episode 347

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Published on:

9th Jul 2025

The State of Therapy: Surviving Debt, Burnout, and Systemic Issues in Private Practice

In this episode, hosts Kelly and Miranda sit down for an honest, big-picture discussion about the challenges therapists face in private practice today. Sparked by a lively Reddit thread, they explore why even experienced clinicians sometimes struggle to achieve great client outcomes—and why the issues often run much deeper than individual skill.

Kelly and Miranda unpack the systemic problems plaguing the mental health field, from underwhelming graduate training and overwhelming student debt to exploitative supervision and a broken insurance system. They discuss how these factors impact not just therapists but also client care and the profession as a whole.

If you’ve ever wondered why private practice often feels so hard—or how to create a more sustainable, effective practice—this episode is a must-listen. Dive in for an open, insightful conversation that challenges old assumptions and offers hope for meaningful change.

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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.