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Off The Chair

Off The Chair

By: Dr. Colleen Long Dr. Jennifer Politis and Erika Bugaj LICSW
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 In a world where a nail artist can out-earn a licensed therapist, behavioral health professionals have no choice but to get scrappy, color outside the lines, and start writing our own rules. The old path—graduate school, licensure, paneled with insurance, packed calendar of 1:1s—is broken. It’s time for a new blueprint. That’s where Off the Chair comes in. We’re not just talking about surviving the grind, we’re exploring radically different ways to thrive. From building passive income streams to launching scalable service lines, we dive into business models that break the mold. We cover how modern technology; AI, digital products, automation, and online communities—can even help clinicians step out of the therapy chair and into a more expansive, creative, and financially free version of practice. Off the Chair is the no-BS podcast for therapists ready to break out of burnout, reclaim their income, and build values-driven businesses beyond the therapy room. Hosted by Dr. Colleen Long, Dr. Jennifer Politis, and Erika Bugaj, LICSW—three clinician-entrepreneurs who’ve built, broken, and rebuilt thriving mental health companies—this show brings you weekly conversations on what it really takes to succeed in today’s broken behavioral health system. Whether you're a growth-minded psychologist, a private practice owner, or a therapist wondering how to scale without selling your soul, Off the Chair is your roadmap to redefining what success looks like in mental healthcare. What You’ll Learn - Business & Practice Management: Navigate the operations side of private practice with insight into EMRs, scheduling workflows, profitability pivots, and systems that scale. - Hiring & Leadership: From managing your first intern to leading multi-state teams, get real-world advice on creating aligned, sustainable teams (and firing fast when it’s not a fit). - Financial Freedom for Clinicians: Understand compensation models, create recurring revenue streams, and stop trading time for money—all without compromising your ethics. - Mental Health Industry Reform: Challenge the status quo with honest dialogue on insurance gatekeeping, clinician burnout, and what it takes to build a more human-centered system. - Personal Resilience & Growth: Behind every spreadsheet is a dark night of the soul. We talk mindset, mission drift, and how to stay motivated when the math doesn’t math. - Overcoming Challenges: The podcast addresses common challenges faced by therapists, such as negative reviews, legal threats, and the fear of failure, offering strategies for navigating these obstacles. Overall, Off the Chair aims to empower clinicians to: Become more effective leaders and managers. Build strong, efficient, and profitable practices. Enhance their personal well-being and achieve a fulfilling career. Stay ahead of the curve in a constantly evolving industry. Why Listen? Off the Chair isn’t just about the logistics of running a practice—it’s about reclaiming your creativity, your autonomy, and your voice as a leader. No jargon, no perfectionism. Just vulnerable, strategic conversations that meet you in the messy middle. New episodes drop every Tuesday. Connect with us! Podcast Website: www.offthechair.com Colleen Long, Psy.D. Website: www.claritypsychologicaltesting.com LinkedIn: Dr. Colleen Long Jennifer Politis, PhD, LPC Website: www.wellnesscounselingBC.com Instagram: @wellnesscounselingnj TikTok: @wellnesscounseling LinkedIn: Jennifer Politis Erika Bugaj, MA, MSW, LICSW Website: www.dandelioncounselingcare.com Instagram: @dandelioncounselingcare LinkedIn: Erika BugajCopyright 2025 Dr. Colleen Long, Dr. Jennifer Politis, and Erika Bugaj, LICSW Economics Hygiene & Healthy Living Leadership Management & Leadership Psychology Psychology & Mental Health
Episodes
  • We are NOT Family: Leadership Resets for Therapists

    We are NOT Family: Leadership Resets for Therapists
    Oct 7 2025

    Too many practice owners fall into the trap of treating their staff like family.

    It feels caring, but it blurs boundaries and leads to therapist burnout and business chaos. We’ve been there, and we’re sharing how to reset your team relations.

    As three entrepreneurial therapists, we know the tension between compassion and leadership. In this episode, we explore what happens when empathy goes too far, why clarity matters more than kindness, and how to lead with confidence. These are conversations about team relations and hiring and firing that every entrepreneurial therapist needs to hear.

    What you’ll hear in this episode:

    • Why confusing team relations with family loyalty backfires
    • How over-identifying with staff fuels therapist burnout
    • Real talk about hiring and firing without guilt or people-pleasing
    • Ways therapist training complicates leadership and how we’ve learned to adapt
    • The leadership reset that protects both your practice and your people

    If you’re an entrepreneurial therapist ready to lead with clarity, hold boundaries, and create a sustainable business, you’re not alone; we’re figuring it out right alongside you.

    👉 Follow Off the Chair, leave us a review, and share this episode with a colleague who needs a reset.

    WATCH THE FULL VIDEO EPISODE HERE!


    Connect with us!

    Website: www.offthechair.com

    Instagram: @offthechairpodcast

    YouTube: @offthechairpodcast


    Colleen Long, Psy.D.

    Website: www.claritypsychologicaltesting.com

    LinkedIn: Dr. Colleen Long

    Jennifer Politis, PhD, LPC

    Website: www.wellnesscounselingBC.com

    Instagram: @wellnesscounselingnj

    TikTok: @wellnesscounseling

    LinkedIn: Jennifer Politis

    Erika Bugaj, MA, MSW, LICSW

    Website: www.dandelioncounselingcare.com

    Instagram: @dandelioncounselingcare

    LinkedIn: Erika Bugaj
    Show More Show Less
    44 mins
  • I Don't Have Time: The Shawshank Conundrum

    I Don't Have Time: The Shawshank Conundrum
    Sep 30 2025

    If you’ve ever whispered I don’t have time while drowning in back-to-back sessions, paperwork, and payroll, you’re not alone. The truth is, most clinicians stay stuck in therapist burnout and therapist fatigue, convincing themselves they’ll “figure it out later.” But later never comes.

    In this conversation, we unpack the Shawshank Conundrum - the hamster wheel every therapist knows too well - and reveal how to chip away at the walls keeping you trapped in a model that doesn’t serve your life.

    This isn’t another pep talk about hustling harder. It’s about naming the reality: trading every hour for dollars will never create the freedom, joy, or sustainability you crave. Whether you’ve Googled jobs for burned out counselors at midnight or secretly wondered about alternative careers for therapists, this episode offers both solidarity and strategy.

    What you’ll learn in this episode:

    • Why the phrase “I don’t have time” is the biggest lie fueling therapist burnout
    • The hidden cost of staying on the hamster wheel of therapist fatigue (and why most clinicians never escape it)
    • How carving out non-negotiable CEO time each week is the first step toward alternative careers for therapists
    • The power of accountability, masterminds, and community when exploring jobs for burned out counselors

    This episode will challenge your assumptions about what it means to be a “successful” clinician. You’ll walk away with permission to stop hustling, tools to reclaim your time, and inspiration to explore jobs for burned out counselors and alternative careers for therapists that align with your values.

    Ready to stop living in therapist burnout and start carving your way to freedom? Press play now.

    WATCH THE FULL VIDEO EPISODE HERE!


    Connect with us!

    Website: www.offthechair.com

    Instagram: @offthechairpodcast

    YouTube: @offthechairpodcast


    Colleen Long, Psy.D.

    Website: www.claritypsychologicaltesting.com

    LinkedIn: Dr. Colleen Long

    Jennifer Politis, PhD, LPC

    Website: www.wellnesscounselingBC.com

    Instagram: @wellnesscounselingnj

    TikTok: @wellnesscounseling

    LinkedIn: Jennifer Politis

    Erika Bugaj, MA, MSW, LICSW

    Website: www.dandelioncounselingcare.com

    Instagram: @dandelioncounselingcare

    LinkedIn: Erika Bugaj
    Show More Show Less
    42 mins
  • Retreats, Rest & Revenue: The Dual Life of a Clinician-Entrepreneur

    Retreats, Rest & Revenue: The Dual Life of a Clinician-Entrepreneur
    Sep 23 2025

    Feeling fried, curious about therapist retreats, or secretly dreaming of side hustles for therapists that will actually restore you? We get it - and we made this episode for clinicians who want rest and revenue without the shame spiral.

    We sit with Amy Johnston, founder of The Exhale Collective, to unpack how a practicing clinician builds therapist retreats into a life-saving creative business. We get candid about therapist burnout, the logistics of running international retreats, and how to launch side hustles for therapists alongside your clinical work.

    This episode balances the hard numbers (deposits, payment plans, marketing) with the softer, lifesaving stuff - how a well-designed wellness trips for women rekindles joy, reduces overwhelm, and gives clinicians permission to exhale.

    Here’s what you’ll hear:

    • How Amy turned weekend cabin experiments into full-scale therapist retreats - and the exact planning step that stopped her from losing money on a trip (yes, there was an “oh-shit” moment)…
    • The real anatomy of therapist burnout for mid-career clinicians - why time off alone isn’t enough and what ritualized presence looks like in practice…
    • Practical ways to fund side hustles for therapists without quitting your day job
    • How to design therapist retreats experiences that heal versus just “vacation”

    Ready to hear the messy, honest roadmap - the wins, the disasters, and the exact next steps Amy used to get from idea to an alternate stream of income? Press play and listen to the full episode now.

    WATCH THE FULL VIDEO EPISODE HERE!

    Connect with us!

    Podcast Website: www.offthechair.com

    Colleen Long, Psy.D.

    Website: www.claritypsychologicaltesting.com

    LinkedIn: Dr. Colleen Long

    Jennifer Politis, PhD, LPC

    Website: www.wellnesscounselingBC.com

    Instagram: @wellnesscounselingnj

    TikTok: @wellnesscounseling

    LinkedIn: Jennifer Politis

    Erika Bugaj, MA, MSW, LICSW

    Website: www.dandelioncounselingcare.com

    Instagram: @dandelioncounselingcare

    LinkedIn: Erika Bugaj

    Amy Johnston

    Website: www.the-exhale-collective.com

    Instagram: @the-exhale-collective

    Show More Show Less
    58 mins
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