Passion Meets Purpose: Expert Insights on Serving Your Client Niche and Amplifying Your Impact
Want to amplify your impact in private practice? Join host Kelley Stevens as she sits down with Jenna Overbaugh, a therapist who has become a beacon of resilience, helping to shatter stigmas surrounding OCD and anxiety. Throughout the episode, we explore the power of multiple revenue streams, social media, and course-building platforms while embracing your purpose of making a lasting impact in the mental health world. With an unwavering passion for inspiring and empowering others, Jenna’s story will leave you eager to take on your next challenge with confidence.
What drives you? What’s your purpose? How are you shattering mental health stigmas?
These are just some of the questions this episode of The Private Practice Pro will have you reflect on. Jenna Overbaugh’s story is one of resilience and purpose. With a therapy career spanning over a decade, she has been a guiding light for individuals grappling with OCD and anxiety since 2008. Drawing from her experiences at renowned institutions like Johns Hopkins Hospital and Rogers Memorial Hospital, Jenna has treated some of the most challenging cases in the field, cementing her expertise and compassion.
Throughout the episode, we debunk many misconceptions surrounding OCD diagnosis and treatment, shedding light on their crucial role in shaping Jenna’s private therapy practice. She also recounts her own struggle with postpartum anxiety, intrusive thoughts, and OCD, unveiling how her experiences initially drove her to leverage Instagram as a platform to reach more clients. While discussing Jenna’s wide array of services and revenue streams, we also offer tips on navigating various website and course creation platforms.
Between Jenna’s personal experiences and valuable insights, this episode is sure to ignite a fire within you. By the end, you’ll be dreaming up new ways to amplify your impact and make a lasting difference in the lives of others.
Jenna Overbaugh is a licensed professional counselor based in Wisconsin and has been working with people who have OCD and anxiety since 2008. Previously, she worked at world renowned facilities including Johns Hopkins Hospital and Rogers Memorial Hospital, where she treated some of the most debilitating cases of OCD and anxiety in the world. She has contributed to several peer reviewed literature articles as well as spoken at national conferences on OCD, anxiety, hoarding, and related issues. She’s also a mom to a 5 year old and has lived experience with postpartum OCD, anxiety, and depression.
Website: www.jennaoverbaughlpc.com
Instagram: @jenna.overbaugh
How Passion and Purpose Fuel a Successful Private Practice
Starting a private therapy practice is more than just renting an office and hanging a license on the wall. For many therapists, it’s about reconnecting with their purpose, building a brand rooted in authenticity, and creating sustainable income through a model that honors both their expertise and their boundaries. Jenna Overbaugh’s story is a clear example of how passion and purpose can help grow your therapy practice into something bigger than you imagined.
Whether you're dreaming of starting a private practice, already managing a solo therapy practice, or building a group therapy practice, Jenna’s journey shows how therapists can build a private practice that feels aligned, flexible, and profitable.
From Burnout to Breakthrough: Reimagining the Role of a Therapist
Like many therapists, Jenna started her career in traditional therapy settings. She worked at well-known hospitals and treatment centers, helping individuals with severe OCD and anxiety. But after years in the trenches, she began to realize she wanted more. The constant one-on-one therapy, while fulfilling at times, had become emotionally draining.
Jenna’s story reflects what many private practice therapists go through. At some point, many of us feel the limits of trading time for money. We might feel the urge to expand into teaching, digital products, or new content platforms, but guilt and fear of letting go of direct client care often hold us back.
She reminds us that it’s okay to want more. You can be a great therapist and still outgrow the therapy office. Your success in private practice doesn’t have to look like 40 sessions a week.
Starting a Private Practice with Intention
When Jenna transitioned into private pay therapy, she made a conscious decision not to accept insurance. She wanted to serve clients in a way that allowed her to maintain control over her time, energy, and pricing. Cash-pay therapy practice models often feel intimidating at first, but Jenna’s success shows what’s possible when you focus on value and niche expertise.
She told herself that once she booked 10 private pay clients, she would give herself permission to leave her job. She hit that goal in a weekend. That moment proved the power of combining therapy expertise with online marketing for therapists. Her audience on Instagram became her warmest leads. They knew her, trusted her, and were ready to work with her. That’s the result of consistent content, connection, and authenticity.
Building an Online Brand Around Mental Health
Jenna leaned into platforms like Instagram, podcasts, and digital courses to educate her community. But she didn’t start with a polished strategy. In fact, she began posting with one rule in mind. If it’s fun, keep going.
That mindset allowed her to show up without pressure and build a strong brand presence. Over time, her account began gaining traction. She created content that resonated with people struggling with OCD and anxiety, especially those who couldn’t access therapy. She filled a gap in the mental health space and used marketing ideas for therapists that felt both strategic and human.
Eventually, she layered in tools for therapists and clients alike. This included live workshops, digital courses, masterclasses, and Instagram subscriptions. She also started consulting for other therapists who wanted to build their own online presence or transition to a private therapy practice.
Roadmap to Growing Your Private Practice Online
If you’re wondering how to start a private therapy practice or grow your therapy business beyond the therapy room, here are some lessons from Jenna’s experience.
Define your niche. Jenna focused on OCD and anxiety and developed specialized content. Knowing your niche makes it easier to connect with your audience and grow your private practice in the direction that suits you.
Use private practice tools that work for you. From HIPAA-compliant software like SimplePractice to platforms like Kajabi and Showit, Jenna built a system that supported both her clinical work and her business goals.
Invest in marketing for therapists. Whether it’s content creation, email marketing, or podcasting, use marketing strategies that align with your strengths. Create value first, and trust that conversions will follow.
Offer sliding scale therapy fees only if it serves both you and the client. Jenna’s cash-pay model works because it’s sustainable and fair. She doesn’t sacrifice quality, and clients get the value they’re paying for.
Create multiple income streams. Don’t rely solely on one-on-one sessions. Jenna’s success came from combining therapy services with online workshops, digital products, and brand partnerships.
Start small. Grow intentionally. Your private practice doesn't have to be perfect on day one. You can launch with just your therapy services and slowly add content, products, or group offerings over time.
Navigating the Shift from Clinician to Entrepreneur
Transitioning from clinical work to business ownership can feel like jumping into the unknown. There’s no one-size-fits-all roadmap for private practice. But what Jenna proves is that therapists can absolutely build their own path.
She didn’t have a business degree or a large startup budget. What she had was a passion for helping people and the courage to show up. That’s what building a private practice is all about. Whether you're launching your first therapy website, building out your SOAP notes system, or growing an email list, every step forward is an investment in your future.
Your solo therapy practice can evolve into a content platform, an online store, or even a full-blown brand. The key is to trust that your therapist-approved marketing strategies and your lived experience have value.
The Bigger Picture: Success in Therapy and Beyond
Jenna's story isn’t just about scaling income. It’s about reclaiming time, energy, and creativity. Many therapists go into this field because we care deeply about people. But that doesn’t mean we have to sacrifice our lives to be of service.
If you’re dreaming of starting a private practice, growing your therapy practice, or stepping into the world of therapist-entrepreneurship, you’re not alone. There’s space for you to succeed. Whether you specialize in teen therapy, family counseling, or out-of-network therapy, your work has value.
And if you’re feeling stuck or unsure of where to start, take Jenna’s advice. Focus on the one next step that brings you joy. That could be a free workshop, a podcast episode, or a simple post on social media. Every piece of content is a brick in the house you’re building.
Final Thoughts
Private practice is no longer just about one-on-one sessions in a quiet office. Today’s therapy landscape allows for creativity, flexibility, and impact. Therapists can build brands, launch workshops, and support clients in ways that extend beyond traditional models. With the right mindset and tools, you can grow your therapy practice into something meaningful, sustainable, and truly your own.
Ready to build a thriving therapy practice? Start with passion. Add purpose. And don’t be afraid to dream big.