What if wanting to make more money as a therapist doesn't make you greedy, selfish, or less compassionate?
In this episode of Trauma, Tea & Tangents, Hannah Guy, LCSW, sits down with fellow therapist and group practice owner Jen Nobo, LCSW, to have an honest conversation about the complicated relationship therapists have with money, charging their worth, and building a financially sustainable private practice.
Together, they unpack the message so many therapists—especially social workers—hear throughout their education and careers: "We didn't get into this work to make money." But what happens when that mindset becomes a belief that therapists shouldn't want financial stability, abundance, or a better quality of life?
Hannah and Jen explore therapist money mindset, the pressure to keep therapy affordable, low wages in mental health, the financial investment required to become a therapist, and why therapists shouldn't have to sacrifice their own financial well-being to care deeply about their clients.
Whether you're a therapist considering private practice, a newer clinician figuring out what to charge, or an established practice owner struggling with pricing and limiting beliefs around money, this conversation will challenge the idea that making a good living and being a compassionate therapist are mutually exclusive.
You'll learn why charging what you're worth can actually support better client care, how therapist burnout is connected to unsustainable workloads, and why building a financially sustainable practice can give therapists more capacity to specialize, seek consultation, continue their education, and show up more fully for their clients.
In this episode, we discuss:
Why therapists are taught that they shouldn't get into the field for the money
How therapist money mindset can impact pricing and private practice decisions
Why wanting financial abundance doesn't make you a bad therapist
The financial investment involved in becoming a licensed therapist
Why therapists often undervalue their education, training, and clinical expertise
The pressure to offer low-cost or sliding-scale therapy
How charging sustainable rates can support therapist well-being
The connection between therapist burnout and excessive caseloads
Why seeing 30–40 clients a week isn't sustainable for everyone
How therapist capacity impacts the quality of mental health care
Why newer therapists don't necessarily need to discount their services
Challenging limiting beliefs around what clients can and cannot afford
Why specialization and advanced training require financial investment
How private practice can create more freedom and flexibility for therapists
The return on investment of therapy for clients
Why therapy is a long-term investment rather than a quick fix
Why therapists can care deeply about their clients and still want to make money
Creating a sustainable therapy practice without sacrificing your values
Whether you're a therapist in community mental health, considering private practice, building a group practice, or simply questioning your relationship with money, this episode is a reminder that financial sustainability and compassionate care can coexist.
Therapists deserve to be paid fairly for the education, emotional labor, expertise, and responsibility they bring to their work. Caring about people and wanting a financially stable life aren't mutually exclusive.
Chapters
00:57 – Welcome & Meet Jen Nobo
01:22 – Why Therapists Have Complicated Relationships With Money
01:46 – “We Didn't Get Into This to Make Money”
02:04 – Can Therapists Have an Abundance Mindset?
02:34 – Is Affordable Therapy the Therapist's Responsibility?
03:39 – Why Therapists Are Expected to Sacrifice Financially
04:37 – The Financial Investment of Becoming a Therapist
05:47 – How Long Does It Take to Become a Licensed Therapist?
06:20 – The Emotional Labor of Being a Therapist
07:43 – Low Pay & the Cost of Mental Health Work
08:27 – Unrealistic Caseloads & Therapist Burnout
09:08 – Why Therapists Normalize Being Underpaid
10:09 – The “Earn Your Keep” Mentality in Private Practice
10:48 – Should New Therapists Charge Less?
11:50 – Challenging Limiting Beliefs Around Therapist Rates
12:37 – Are We Underestimating What Clients Can Afford?
13:54 – Low Rates, High Caseloads & Unsustainable Practices
14:36 – How Caseload Size Impacts Quality of Therapy
15:38 – Why Therapists Need Financial Freedom to Specialize
16:35 – Generalists vs. Specialists in Mental Health
16:55 – Therapist Capacity, Self-Care & Quality of Care
18:21 – The Client Perspective: Is Therapy Worth the Investment?
19:12 – Therapy as a Long-Term Investment
20:26 – Why Making Money Doesn't Make You a Bad Therapist
21:10 – Final Thoughts & Resources
✨ Connect with Jennifer Nobo:
Instagram & TikTok: @jen.nobo
Website: reimaginementalhealthcollective.com
✨Looking for trauma therapy in Pennsylvania or Colorado?
Revive Therapy Services specializes in trauma therapy, EMDR therapy, eating disorder treatment, body image concerns, PTSD, complex trauma, and Ketamine Assisted Psychotherapy (KAP). We offer virtual and in person therapy throughout Pennsylvania and Colorado.
Learn more: https://www.revivetherapyservices.com/?utm_source=Bio&utm_medium=Pod
Instagram & TikTok: @revivetherapyservices
Worksheets: https://www.revivetherapyservices.com/store
