Many therapists enter the field with a passion for helping others, only to find themselves overwhelmed, underpaid, or unsure of how to grow. Whether you're early in your career or ready to expand beyond one-to-one work, this episode offers a roadmap.

Kym talks with Manicka Thomas, LISW-S, Clinical Director, content creator, and founder of the Social Work Success Path. Manicka breaks down her proven three-phase framework for building a values-aligned career and shares actionable ways mental health professionals can use digital products, YouTube, and AI to diversify their income and increase their impact.

In This Episode, We Cover:

• Manicka’s Social Work Success Path and how it supports career growth.
• What the career, scaffolding, and CEO phases look like.
• Why fear and perfectionism keep therapists stuck.
• Using YouTube and digital products to grow beyond 1:1 work.
• How to monetize your expertise before building a big audience.
• Ways AI tools like ChatGPT and Berries support every phase.
• How “doing it scared” can help you launch and grow.

Connect with Manicka Thomas:
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/manickathomas
YouTube- https://www.youtube.com/manickathomas
90 Day Career Planner - https://www.manickathomas.com/planner

Join the Berries Community! A dedicated space for mental health clinicians to connect, share insights, and grow together. Look for Berries AI Official Community on Facebook.
www.heyberries.com/community

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Join the Berries Community - A dedicated space for mental health clinicians to connect, share insights, and grow together. Look for Berries AI Official Community on Facebook at http://heyberries.com/community

Brought to You By Berries:
Ready to stop dreading your notes? Berries is your AI assistant for mental health professionals. Save time, stay compliant, and get back to the work you love. Learn more at heyberries.com.

Burnout, late nights, and a ceiling on your income don't have to be the norm. In this episode, Nicole McCance, a former psychologist turned business coach, shares how she transformed her solo practice into a thriving group of 55 clinicians and built a business that ran without her, all in just three years while raising twins. Her story proves that scaling can create more freedom, not more stress.

She breaks down the mindset shifts and operational systems behind her success, and reveals the biggest mistakes group practice owners make, how to hire the right team from the start, and why AI tools are a game-changer for efficiency and retention. Whether you're just starting to grow or ready to sell, Nicole offers a clear roadmap forward.

In This Episode, We Cover:

• Why Nicole shifted from solo practice to group leadership.
• The five-step McCance Method for scaling a sustainable practice.
• Why systemizing comes before hiring in group practice growth.
• How to hire your “mini me” to preserve brand consistency.
• Common mistakes practice owners make with contracts and clinician pay.
• How to use AI tools to streamline notes, SOPs, and hiring.
• What makes a group practice sellable and when to walk away.

Connect with Nicole McCance:
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/nicole.mccancemethod/
Podcast - https://mccancemethod.com/podcast/
Facebook group - https://www.facebook.com/groups/947689352498639
Sign up for Nicole’s FREE Masterclass
How to Build a 7-Figure Group Practice- https://mccancemethod.com/webinar-free-masterclass-from-solo-to-superteam/

Join the Berries Community! A dedicated space for mental health clinicians to connect, share insights, and grow together. Look for Berries AI Official Community on Facebook.
www.heyberries.com/community

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Join the Berries Community - A dedicated space for mental health clinicians to connect, share insights, and grow together. Look for Berries AI Official Community on Facebook at http://heyberries.com/community

Brought to You By Berries:
Ready to stop dreading your notes? Berries is your AI assistant for mental health professionals. Save time, stay compliant, and get back to the work you love. Learn more at heyberries.com.

Tired of staring at a screen just to earn CE credits? There’s a better way. Mental health professionals are seeking education that’s not only accessible but actually supports their well-being and busy schedules.

In this episode, Kym sits down with Lisa Mustard, licensed marriage and family therapist, life coach, and creator of audio-based podcourses designed for therapists on the go. Lisa shares her pivot from traditional therapy to continuing education, how burnout and personal growth fueled her innovation, and why aligning your work with your values can change everything.

In This Episode, We Cover:

• How burnout led Lisa to reimagine continuing education for therapists.
• What podcourses are and why they’re ideal for busy mental health professionals.
• The mindset shift it took to start a podcast and create CE content.
• Lessons learned from losing a major podcast sponsorship.
• Time-saving tools like Descript and AI that streamline content creation.
• Why Lisa believes flexibility and aligned action are key to preventing burnout.
• How therapists can collaborate with Lisa to create their own podcourses.

Connect with Lisa Mustard:
Website - https://lisamustard.com/
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/thetherapyshowwithlisamustard/
Podcourses- https://lisamustard.com/podcourses/
CE Courses - https://lisamustard.com/cecourses/

Join the Berries Community! A dedicated space for mental health clinicians to connect, share insights, and grow together. Look for Berries AI Official Community on Facebook.
www.heyberries.com/community

______________

Join the Berries Community - A dedicated space for mental health clinicians to connect, share insights, and grow together. Look for Berries AI Official Community on Facebook at http://heyberries.com/community

Brought to You By Berries:
Ready to stop dreading your notes? Berries is your AI assistant for mental health professionals. Save time, stay compliant, and get back to the work you love. Learn more at heyberries.com.

Is AI taking over, or can it help us do our work better? If you’ve ever felt uncertain about how artificial intelligence fits into therapy or social work, this episode is a must-listen.

Dr. Marina Badillo-Diaz joins Kym to share how she’s helping thousands of social workers and educators ethically and confidently integrate AI into their clinical and academic work. With her background in school administration, community mental health, and teaching at NYU and Columbia, Marina offers a clear-eyed look at how to use AI tools like ChatGPT without compromising ethics, accuracy, or the therapeutic relationship.

In This Episode, We Cover:

• What clinicians are really worried about when it comes to AI.
• Why ethical use is more than just avoiding PHI.
• Common misconceptions about what AI can and can't do in therapy.
• How AI scribes are already being used in agencies and schools.
• When AI becomes a thought partner, not just a tool.
• Steps to explore AI safely and effectively in clinical work.
• How Berries fits into an ethical workflow for mental health professionals.

Connect with Dr. Marina Badillo-Diaz:
Website - https://www.theaisocialworker.com
Instagram - https://www.linkedin.com/in/drmarinabadillo-diaz
LinkedIn- https://www.instagram.com/_theaisocialworker

Join the Berries Community! A dedicated space for mental health clinicians to connect, share insights, and grow together. Look for Berries AI Official Community on Facebook.
www.heyberries.com/community

______________

Join the Berries Community - A dedicated space for mental health clinicians to connect, share insights, and grow together. Look for Berries AI Official Community on Facebook at http://heyberries.com/community

Brought to You By Berries:
Ready to stop dreading your notes? Berries is your AI assistant for mental health professionals. Save time, stay compliant, and get back to the work you love. Learn more at heyberries.com.

Burnout doesn’t always look like exhaustion. Sometimes it shows up as dread, disconnection, or feeling stuck in a practice that no longer fits. If you're doing everything “right” on paper but still feel misaligned, this episode is for you.

Kelly Higdon, LMFT, co-author of Therapist Burnout and co-founder of ZynnyMe and Business School for Therapists, shares her journey from running one of the largest clinics in her county to building a business rooted in integrity, embodiment, and joy. She and Kym dive into how therapists can recognize systemic burnout, reclaim their energy, and create practices that truly support their well-being.

In This Episode, We Cover:

• The root causes of burnout most therapists never see coming.
• How to tell when your practice is out of alignment.
• Why self-attunement is essential to healing and sustainability.
• Ways to rebuild capacity before making big changes.
• The role of privilege and systemic oppression in therapist burnout.
• How Business School for Therapists helps clinicians reclaim agency.
• What success really looks like beyond caseloads and titles.

Connect with Kelly Higdon:
Website - https://www.zynnyme.com/
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/zynnyme
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/kellyandmiranda

Join the Berries Community! A dedicated space for mental health clinicians to connect, share insights, and grow together. Look for Berries AI Official Community on Facebook.
www.heyberries.com/community

______________

Join the Berries Community - A dedicated space for mental health clinicians to connect, share insights, and grow together. Look for Berries AI Official Community on Facebook at http://heyberries.com/community

Brought to You By Berries:
Ready to stop dreading your notes? Berries is your AI assistant for mental health professionals. Save time, stay compliant, and get back to the work you love. Learn more at heyberries.com.

Feeling isolated in your practice or overwhelmed by the pace of tech in mental health? We’ve got good news for you! Berries just launched a new online community designed to help mental health professionals connect, collaborate, and stay supported without adding more to your plate.

Geleen Antonio, our new Community Manager inside of Berries, joins Kym in this episode to share how the group came to life, what makes it different, and how therapists are already using it to get real-time support, share insights, and grow together. With a background in both mental health operations and AI tech, Geleen brings a unique lens to building community in the digital age.

In This Episode, We Cover:

• Why Berries launched a dedicated therapist community on Facebook.
• What a community manager actually does (and why it matters).
• How mental health professionals are using the group for feedback, ideas, and peer support.
• The weekly theme structure that keeps content clear, helpful, and consistent.
• How the community supports tech onboarding for therapists using Berries.
• Why intentionality and data privacy are built into every aspect of this group.
• Sneak peeks at future features, live events, and giveaway opportunities.

Connect with Geleen Antonio:
Book Your Free AI Process Map Discovery Call! - https://tntesolutions.framer.website/contact
Listen to her Travel Not To Escape Podcast - https://www.travelnottoescape.com/podcast
Join her free Facebook Community - https://www.facebook.com/groups/travelnottoescape/
LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/geleenantonio
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/travelnottoescape

Join the Berries Community! A dedicated space for mental health clinicians to connect, share insights, and grow together. Look for Berries AI Official Community on Facebook.
www.heyberries.com/community

______________

Join the Berries Community - A dedicated space for mental health clinicians to connect, share insights, and grow together. Look for Berries AI Official Community on Facebook at http://heyberries.com/community

Brought to You By Berries:
Ready to stop dreading your notes? Berries is your AI assistant for mental health professionals. Save time, stay compliant, and get back to the work you love. Learn more at heyberries.com.

Are you feeling stuck in the therapy grind and wondering if there’s a way out? Licensed psychologist turned business coach Amber Lyda joins Kym to share how she escaped burnout, reclaimed her time, and built a life she truly loves, far from a beige office.

In this episode, Amber reflects on her shift to a fully online, private-pay practice and how she transitioned into coaching and course creation. She opens up about setting boundaries, paying others to do the tasks she dreads, using AI tools like Berries with client consent, and why you don’t need social media to attract private-pay clients. If you're craving more time, income, or freedom, Amber’s story offers both inspiration and practical insight.

In This Episode, We Cover:

• How Amber hit a breaking point and rebuilt her career with intention.
• Why she chose an online-only, private-pay therapy model.
• The boundaries she created to protect her time, energy, and income.
• Why she believes good clinicians make great entrepreneurs.
• How she helps therapists turn ideas into flexible income streams.
• What AI tools like Berries can do, and why client consent matters.
• Her surprising take on visibility and marketing without social media.

Connect with Amber Lyda:
Website: https://www.amberlyda.com/
Email: dr.amberlyda@gmail.com
Online Therapists Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1gg7eDqT2t/

Join the Berries Community! A dedicated space for mental health clinicians to connect, share insights, and grow together. Look for Berries AI Official Community on Facebook.
www.heyberries.com/community

______________

Join the Berries Community - A dedicated space for mental health clinicians to connect, share insights, and grow together. Look for Berries AI Official Community on Facebook at http://heyberries.com/community

Brought to You By Berries:
Ready to stop dreading your notes? Berries is your AI assistant for mental health professionals. Save time, stay compliant, and get back to the work you love. Learn more at heyberries.com.

Burned out by big tech and driven to make a difference, Ken Mallon, LMFT left a decades-long career at companies like Yahoo and Meta to become a licensed marriage and family therapist. Today, he runs a thriving private practice in California that blends systems thinking, clinical care, and AI in therapy.

In this conversation, Ken shares how he uses AI to enhance (not replace) his clinical work. From documentation to diagnosis support to client engagement, he explains how tech can reduce burnout, simplify workflows, and actually deepen your therapeutic presence.

In This Episode, We Cover:

• Why Ken transitioned from machine learning to mental health care.
• How his private practice stays lean, paperless, and insurance-free.
• The AI tools he uses, and how they protect privacy and save time.
• What it means to truly “train” your AI assistant to reflect your voice.
• How AI helps with diagnosis, conceptualization, and session prep.
• The ROI of embracing tech instead of overworking.
• What’s coming next for AI in mental health.

Connect with Ken Mallon:
Website: https://mallonadvisory.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kpmallon/
Psychology Today: https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/therapists/ken-mallon-san-jose-ca/754170

Join the Berries Community! A dedicated space for mental health clinicians to connect, share insights, and grow together. Look for Berries AI Official Community on Facebook.
www.heyberries.com/community

______________

Join the Berries Community - A dedicated space for mental health clinicians to connect, share insights, and grow together. Look for Berries AI Official Community on Facebook at http://heyberries.com/community

Brought to You By Berries:
Ready to stop dreading your notes? Berries is your AI assistant for mental health professionals. Save time, stay compliant, and get back to the work you love. Learn more at heyberries.com.