Off the Chair cover art

Off the Chair

Off the Chair

By: Dr. Colleen Long Dr. Jennifer Politis and Erika Bugaj LICSW
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About this listen

 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
  • Scaling Without Selling Your Soul: Building a Business That Loves You Back

    Scaling Without Selling Your Soul: Building a Business That Loves You Back
    Aug 19 2025

    Therapist burnout doesn’t start with big breakdowns - it starts with tiny betrayals of your time, your energy, and your vision.

    In this episode, we get real about the emotional toll when you scale therapy practices, the identity shifts that come with leadership, and how to build a business that actually loves you back.

    We don’t just talk about how to scale therapy practices - we unpack what it means to scale with integrity, values, and your own well-being intact. If you're craving more ease in your practice management while staying deeply connected to your mission, this conversation is for you.

    In this episode, we explore:

    • How therapist burnout creeps in - even when your business looks successful on paper
    • What we wish someone told us before stepping into leadership and practice management
    • How to scale therapy offerings without abandoning your clinical identity or burning out
    • Why alternative careers for therapists don’t always mean leaving therapy - and what that path can look like
    • The moment we each realized our business no longer felt like ours - and what we did to take it back

    Whether you’re managing a growing caseload, hiring your first employee, or questioning if this path still fits - this episode will help you gut-check your growth strategy and reconnect with the parts of you that got lost along the way.

    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
    Show More Show Less
    1 hr and 7 mins
  • Group Practice - Business Growth or Burnout Multiplied?

    Group Practice - Business Growth or Burnout Multiplied?
    Aug 19 2025

    Ever wonder if you're the only one silently struggling while running a practice? You're not. This episode dives deep into the raw reality of therapist burnout - and what comes after.

    In this episode, we pull back the curtain on our personal journeys through therapist burnout, the emotional toll of leadership, and the hard-earned lessons we’ve learned from building and breaking our therapy businesses. We’ve led teams, scaled services, and weathered some serious storms inside our own group therapy practice models. And we know firsthand how often clinician mental health is sacrificed in the process.

    Whether you're dreaming of launching a side hustle for therapists, reimagining your practice, or dying to explore fresh mental health business ideas, this is your space.

    In this episode, we talk about:
    • How we recognized therapist burnout and why we finally decided to stop pushing through
    • What’s missing in most conversations around clinician mental health, and how to center your own
    • Why traditional paths aren’t sustainable - and how we started building mental health business models that actually support us
    • How a side hustle for therapists can offer freedom and purpose when the 1:1 model starts to wear thin
    • The real-life mistakes, wins, and mental health business ideas we’re exploring now

    If you’re holding space for everyone but yourself, questioning whether you can keep going, or wondering if it's possible to run ethical, profitable therapy businesses without breaking down - this conversation is for you.

    We’re sharing our stories not because we’ve figured it all out, but because we know someone else needs to hear them.

    Subscribe and listen now. New episodes every Tuesday.

    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
    Show More Show Less
    54 mins
  • Burned Out, Broke, and Brilliant: How We Got Off the Chair

    Burned Out, Broke, and Brilliant: How We Got Off the Chair
    Aug 19 2025

    If you’ve ever felt trapped by your own success, stuck in the grind of growing your therapy businesses, or secretly questioning your career while leading others - this episode is for you.

    We’re talking about the real cost of therapist burnout, what no one tells you about running therapy businesses, and how we finally stepped away from the chair (emotionally, clinically, and sometimes financially).

    In this first episode of Off the Chair, we share our personal stories of crashing, questioning, and rebuilding from the ground up. Each of us has navigated the highs and lows of running a group therapy practice, often while carrying the invisible weight of perfection, responsibility, and fear.

    We created this podcast because we know firsthand how often clinician mental health gets overlooked in the rush to grow, lead, and serve. And we’re not here to sell you a formula - we’re here to walk with you through the messy middle of leadership.

    In this episode, we talk about:
    • The behind-the-scenes reality of therapist burnout - what triggered ours, and how we knew it was time to make a change
    • What it looks like to leave behind the “right way” of running therapy businesses and do it your own way instead
    • How running a group therapy practice can lead to both empowerment and exhaustion - and how to find your center again
    • The emotional and strategic impact of neglecting clinician mental health as a leader
    • Why we believe successful therapy businesses don’t have to sacrifice your well-being or your values

    If you’re building a group therapy practice, leading a team, or silently battling therapist burnout, we see you. Listen now and hear what happens when clinicians stop pretending, start healing, and finally get off the chair.

    New episodes drop every Tuesday.

    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
    Show More Show Less
    56 mins
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