Has Therapy Become Too Capitalistic? with Paul Fugelsang

https://is1-ssl.mzstatic.com/image/thumb/Podcasts211/v4/94/a5/64/94a564cc-7904-9866-7ca4-2940d9b1d9f6/mza_3884364553366084529.jpg/600x600bb.jpg

Heard Business School

Heard

44 episodes

1 week ago

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.

All content for Heard Business School is the property of Heard and is served directly from their servers with no modification, redirects, or rehosting. The podcast is not affiliated with or endorsed by Podjoint in any way.

Has Therapy Become Too Capitalistic? with Paul Fugelsang

Heard Business School

45 minutes

3 months ago

Has Therapy Become Too Capitalistic? with Paul Fugelsang

Running a therapy practice while staying true to your values isn’t always easy, especially in a system that often prioritizes profit over people.

Paul Fugelsang, founder and executive director of Open Path Psychotherapy Collective, joins Michael Fulwiler to talk about building a mission-driven organization that connects clients to affordable therapy without compromising clinical integrity. Paul shares his path from overwhelmed private practice therapist to nonprofit leader, and how Open Path now supports over 34,000 therapists across the country.

He reflects on the ethics of sliding scale work, the complexities of talking about money in the therapy room, and why resisting unchecked growth is one way to preserve the soul of this work.

Listen to this episode for real talk on money, values, and building a sustainable practice that serves the people who need it most.

In the conversation, they discuss:

Why affordability doesn’t have to mean burnout or underpayment
How Open Path created a scalable model that supports therapists and clients
What therapists should consider when setting their fees

Connect with the guest:
Paul on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/paul-fugelsang-a970123a
Open Path on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/openpathpsychotherapy/
Visit the Open Path website: https://openpathcollective.org/

Connect with Michael and Heard:
Michael’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelfulwiler/
Newsletter: https://www.joinheard.com/newsletter
Book a free consult: joinheard.com/consult

Jump into the conversation:
(00:00) Welcome to Heard Business School
(01:26) Meet Paul Fugelsang
(02:14) Discovering Contemplative Psychotherapy at Naropa
(03:06) Working in Juvenile Justice After Grad School
(04:33) Launching a Private Practice in Florida
(06:17) The Idea for Open Path Is Born
(08:41) How Open Path’s Model Works
(10:34) Matching Therapists And Clients Post-Pandemic
(11:45) Paul’s Critique of VC-Backed Mental Health Platforms
(14:33) Balancing Affordability And Therapist Well-Being
(21:15) How to Talk Money With Clients
(25:06) Sliding Scale as a Confidence Crutch
(27:58) Lessons From Launching a Nonprofit
(30:25) Why Open Path Doesn’t Have a Five-Year Plan
(32:45) Will AI Change How We Do Therapy?
(39:52) Why Paul Stays Skeptical of Tech in Therapy
(43:30) Paul’s Message to Therapists Today

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.