Has your therapy profile been gathering dust? In this episode of Good Enough Counsellors, Josephine Hughes shares why writing your directory profile once and forgetting about it means you may be missing out — especially if you want to attract more of the right clients.

From updating your photo to adding a short video, Josephine offers practical encouragement and simple tweaks to help your profile feel more relevant, more accurate, and more effective. You’ll also learn how to use feedback from real enquiries to refine your message — and why refreshing your profile regularly can boost your visibility on directories.

Takeaways:

• Why updated profiles are favoured in search results
• How an old photo (or Covid era profile) could affect client trust
• The value of introductory videos
• How client feedback can enhance your profile
• A realistic way to keep your profile up to date without the overwhelm

Resources mentioned:

Access the Therapist Profile Toolkit HERE

Episode 28: Recording a Video for Directory Profiles

Episode 22: Directory Profiles: Photo Tips to Get Noticed

Setting up in private practice? Download my free checklist HERE

Need ideas for how to get clients? Download my free handout 21 Ways for Counsellors to Attract New Clients HERE

You can also find me here:

The Good Enough Counsellors Facebook Group

Josephine Hughes on Facebook

Josephine Hughes on YouTube

My website: josephinehughes.com

The information contained in Good Enough Counsellors is provided for information purposes only. The contents of this podcast are not intended to amount to advice and you should not rely on any of the contents of this podcast. Professional advice should be obtained before taking or refraining from taking any action as a result of the contents of this podcast.

Josephine Hughes disclaims all liability and responsibility arising from any reliance placed on any of the contents of this podcast.

In this episode of Good Enough Counsellors, I’m joined by Sharon May, founder of Kingsclere Counselling Service.

Sharon shares her inspiring journey from working alone in a single upstairs room on her family farm to building a thriving group practice of 14 therapists. We talk about the moment she took the leap to expand (far earlier than she expected), and how she weathered the pandemic just as her practice had begun to grow.

But this episode is about more than business. Sharon opens up about imposter syndrome, trusting her gut, and how her values help her navigate big decisions. She also talks about doing a Masters in psychotherapy — and the research that followed into the mental health of farm wives, which led to her being awarded a prestigious Nuffield scholarship to study the topic around the world.

Takeaways:

• That having courage means experiencing fear, too
• What Sharon learned from running a team
• The importance of being value-led to grow a counselling service that’s rooted in community
• What Sharon's research reveals about the hidden emotional burden carried by women in agriculture
• Why imposter syndrome often means you’re doing better than you think

Whether you’re building a private practice, exploring a niche, or just wondering what your next step might be, this conversation is packed with honesty, insight and encouragement for all those people who secretly think they're not good enough.

Connect with Sharon via her website HERE. She'd love to hear from you if you're interested in rural mental health issues or have farming experience.

Setting up in private practice? Download my free checklist HERE

Need ideas for how to get clients? Download my free handout 21 Ways for Counsellors to Attract New Clients HERE

You can also find me here:

The Good Enough Counsellors Facebook Group

Josephine Hughes on Facebook

Josephine Hughes on YouTube

My website: josephinehughes.com

Keywords:

courage, mental health, counselling, private practice, therapy, overcoming fear, farmer mental health, group practice, professional development, imposter syndrome, vulnerability, agricultural mental health, therapist collaboration, personal growth, work-life balance

The information contained in Good Enough Counsellors is provided for information purposes only. The contents of this podcast are not intended to amount to advice and you should not rely on any of the contents of this podcast. Professional advice should be obtained before taking or refraining from taking any action as a result of the contents of this podcast.

Josephine Hughes disclaims all liability and responsibility arising from any reliance placed on any of the contents of this podcast.

In this Social Media Monthly episode of Good Enough Counsellors, Josephine explores how therapists can use AI (like ChatGPT) to make content creation easier, faster, and more authentic. She shares her personal experience of using artificial intelligence for idea generation, writing help, hooks, post repurposing, alt text, and even image creation. Josephine also shares cautions about how to use AI without losing your authentic voice. Finally, she gives practical examples of how to use AI tools for upcoming June social media dates, including Loneliness Awareness Week.

Whether you’re feeling overwhelmed by social media or just curious about how AI can lighten your workload, this episode is packed with encouragement and realistic practical tips to help busy therapists.

Takeaways:

• How Josephine uses AI tools like ChatGPT in her own content process and how you can do so too
• Why AI is brilliant for ideas but bad for fact-checking
• How to prompt AI to suit your tone (and how NOT to make it sycophantic!)
• Cautions about common “AI giveaways” in social media posts
• How to repurpose posts across Facebook, Instagram, blogs, and podcasts
• Tips for using AI to generate alt text and create engaging visuals
• June 2025 social media awareness dates, including a deep dive into Loneliness Awareness Week posts across 4 therapy niches

Links referenced in this episode:

• OpenAI.com
• lonelinessawarenessweek.org
• JosephineHughes.com

Setting up in private practice? Download my free checklist HERE

Need ideas for how to get clients? Download my free handout 21 Ways for Counsellors to Attract New Clients HERE

You can also find me here:

The Good Enough Counsellors Facebook Group

Josephine Hughes on Facebook

Josephine Hughes on YouTube

My website: josephinehughes.com

Keywords:

AI social media strategies, using ChatGPT for content creation, social media content ideas, social media marketing tips, AI tools for content generation, social media engagement techniques, best AI tools for therapists, AI for blog post ideas, creating engaging social media posts, social media calendar for therapists, AI for therapy growth.

The information contained in Good Enough Counsellors is provided for information purposes only. The contents of this podcast are not intended to amount to advice and you should not rely on any of the contents of this podcast. Professional advice should be obtained before taking or refraining from taking any action as a result of the contents of this podcast.

Josephine Hughes disclaims all liability and responsibility arising from any reliance placed on any of the contents of this podcast.

In this powerful and eye opening episode, I’m joined by Cat Chappell and Jo Reader - together known as The Fat Counsellors - to talk about fat phobia in therapy and why it’s essential for therapists to explore their own internalised biases.

We discuss how anti-fat attitudes are embedded in society, how these messages seep into the therapy room, and what it takes to create fat-positive, compassionate spaces for all clients. From myth busting around BMI and health to examining the roots of body based discrimination, this conversation is both personal and deeply informative.

Whether you’re new to this work or already on the journey, this episode will challenge your thinking and offer practical ways to show up better for your clients - and yourself.

Takeaways

• How fat phobia shows up in therapy rooms
• The impact of internalised diet culture on therapists and clients
• Why BMI is not a reliable health measure
• The historical roots of anti-fat bias
• Understanding thin privilege and body shame
• Creating truly inclusive spaces for clients of all sizes
• What therapists can do today to start unpacking their own body image beliefs

Feeling completely overwhelmed by private practice? Whether you’re just getting started or stuck with marketing your existing therapy practice, this episode is your gentle nudge to take action - one tiny step at a time.

Josephine shares her own story of paralysis when starting out, and how the idea of a minimum viable product helped her move forward without needing everything to be perfect. You'll learn how to break down daunting tasks, how to get motivated with small wins, and why starting scrappy is better than not starting at all.

Takeaways:

• Why overwhelm happens and what to do about it
• The myth of needing a “perfect” website, logo, or strategy
• The concept of minimum viable product and how it applies to private practice
• How to break down big tasks like updating your directory profile
• The power of 15-minute timers and the Pomodoro method
• Real-life examples of starting small - from directory entries to social media posts
• Why progress, not perfection, is the key to growth

If private practice feels too big or too much, you’re not alone - and it doesn’t have to stay that way.

Want help writing your directory profile? I’ve written a range of blogs to guide you - head to josephinehughes.com/blog

Setting up in private practice? Download my free checklist HERE

Need ideas for how to get clients? Download my free handout 21 Ways for Counsellors to Attract New Clients HERE

You can also find me here:

The Good Enough Counsellors Facebook Group

Josephine Hughes on Facebook

Josephine Hughes on YouTube

My website: josephinehughes.com

private practice tips, starting private practice, marketing for therapists, motivation for therapists, setting up a therapy practice, private practice marketing strategies, mental health business tips, productivity for therapists, therapy practice management, getting clients in private practice

The information contained in Good Enough Counsellors is provided for information purposes only. The contents of this podcast are not intended to amount to advice and you should not rely on any of the contents of this podcast. Professional advice should be obtained before taking or refraining from taking any action as a result of the contents of this podcast.

Josephine Hughes disclaims all liability and responsibility arising from any reliance placed on any of the contents of this podcast.

In this episode of Good Enough Counsellors, Josephine Hughes is joined by Heather Dale - an experienced therapist, supervisor, and writer - to explore the often misunderstood world of counselling ethics. With over 40 years of practice and a BACP Fellowship under her belt, Heather brings warmth, clarity, and a touch of humour to topics that many find daunting.

Together, Josephine and Heather unravel what truly makes an ethical dilemma, why ethics might just be sexier than you think, and how to navigate common challenges - like supervision issues, gifting clients, confidentiality after death, and encountering clients in small communities.

They also explore the risks of being a therapist, how to make ethical decisions with confidence, and the tricky line between compassion and boundaries. This episode is a must-listen for trainees and experienced counsellors alike.

Takeaways

• What really makes something an ethical dilemma
• The six core principles of the BACP framework
• Why you can’t claim to follow the BACP code if you're not a member
• Ethics in action: gifts, notes, and stand-up comedy
• Confidentiality after death and how to handle court requests
• Internal vs. external supervision and the ethics of disagreement
• What to do if you spot unethical practice in a colleague

Resources Mentioned:

• BACP’s Good Practice in Action Guides
• Heather Dale’s article Can Ethics Be Sexy?
• The BACP Ethical Framework

You can find Heather HERE

Setting up in private practice? Download my free checklist HERE

Need ideas for how to get clients? Download my free handout 21 Ways for Counsellors to Attract New Clients HERE

You can also find me here:

The Good Enough Counsellors Facebook Group

Josephine Hughes on Facebook

Josephine Hughes on YouTube

My website: josephinehughes.com

Keywords:

ethical dilemmas in counselling, BACP ethical framework, Heather Dale BACP, counselling ethics, therapy ethics, therapy supervision ethics, real life ethical dilemmas

The information contained in Good Enough Counsellors is provided for information purposes only. The contents of this podcast are not intended to amount to advice and you should not rely on any of the contents of this podcast. Professional advice should be obtained before taking or refraining from taking any action as a result of the contents of this podcast.

Josephine Hughes disclaims all liability and responsibility arising from any reliance placed on any of the contents of this podcast.

In this month’s Good Enough Counsellors podcast, I’m taking my own advice - yes, really! With a busy week supporting therapists in the Therapy Growth Group, I didn’t have time to prep a brand new episode, so I’ve reused some golden content from a previous episode on social media planning.

This episode is perfect for you if you're a therapist who struggles with planning content or posting consistently. Whether you're a meticulous scheduler or more of a "post as the mood takes you" type, there's something here for you.

Plus, I’ll share:

• Ideas for social media posts for May 2025
• How to use Mental Health Awareness Week (13–19 May, theme: community) in your content
• Ways to tailor posts to your niche - whether that’s trauma, anxiety, bereavement, neurodivergence, addiction, or maternal mental health
• A few lighter post ideas to mix things up (yes, Talk Like Yoda Day makes an appearance...)

Takeaways:

• Why it’s okay to reuse your posts (and your podcast content!)
• Different approaches to social media planning—and how to find one that works for you
• How to use awareness days like Mental Health Awareness Week and Maternal Mental Health Awareness Week to connect with your audience
• How to create post themes that make your content easier to write and more consistent
• A little reminder that social media can be fun too

Links referenced in this episode:

• mentalhealth.org.uk
• josephinehughes.com

Setting up in private practice? Download my free checklist HERE

Need ideas for how to get clients? Download my free handout 21 Ways for Counsellors to Attract New Clients HERE

You can also find me here:

The Good Enough Counsellors Facebook Group

Josephine Hughes on Facebook

Josephine Hughes on YouTube

My website: josephinehughes.com

Keywords: social media marketing for therapists, mental health awareness week, social media planning tips, content ideas for therapists, promoting therapy on social media

The information contained in Good Enough Counsellors is provided for information purposes only. The contents of this podcast are not intended to amount to advice and you should not rely on any of the contents of this podcast. Professional advice should be obtained before taking or refraining from taking any action as a result of the contents of this podcast.

Josephine Hughes disclaims all liability and responsibility arising from any reliance placed on any of the contents of this podcast.

In this episode of The Good Enough Counsellors Podcast, I’m joined by the incredible Suzanne Wagg, an integrative therapist with a fascinating journey into private practice. From 12 years in the military to working in education and the NHS, Suzanne’s story is one of resilience, growth, and learning to trust her instincts.

After receiving life-changing therapy following a brain tumour diagnosis, Suzanne knew she wanted to help others. She later became a staff counsellor at the very hospital that saved her life before transitioning into private practice, where she now works flexibly from her beautiful garden office in Lichfield.

We chat about:

• The life events that shaped her as a therapist
• The challenges (and surprising advantages) of moving 26 times before settling down
• How she found confidence in marketing herself (with some help from her cat, Greybear!)
• The power of flexibility and trusting your gut in private practice
• Why being real, human, and a little bit sweary makes all the difference in therapy

Suzanne also shares her philosophy on hope, self-trust, and not getting caught up in comparison traps. If you’ve ever struggled with self-doubt in your practice, this is an episode you won’t want to miss!