Selling The Couch 

•I founded a blog to serve aspiring and current mental health private practitioners as we use our clinical skillset to grow our impact and income beyond the therapy room (podcasting, online courses, video, etc).

Course Instructor

• I host a podcast called Selling The Couch where I interview successful therapists in private practice about how they've built their businesses, their failures, and how they use their skills to move their impact + income beyond the therapy room.  
• I also chat with top entrepreneurs, business/marketing, productivity, and social media experts to help therapists learn the business and marketing skills we didn't learn in school.
• The podcast has grown from 9 downloads to 1.2 million and is heard in over 130 countries. It's rated one of the top career podcasts on Apple Podcasts.  I recorded the first 13 episodes on a tv dinner stand from Walmart =). 
• To learn more about my podcast: https://selling-the-couch.captivate.fm/

Podcast Host

Maven

• Invited to be an instructor for a new cohort-based course platform called Maven founded by the co-founder of Udemy and the co-founder of altMBA. Maven has raised $20 million in a Series A round led by Andreessen Horowitz.
• Part of Maven's 3rd cohort made up of 145 instructors from 27 countries in 100+ cities (out of 2,000+ applicants)
• To learn more about my course:  Online Course School - A live experience for therapists who want to serve on a bigger stage, move beyond 1:1 income, and live their dream schedule. **Link Coming Soon**

WES HEALTH SYSTEM

I completed over 700 comprehensive biopsychosocial evaluations on individuals aged 5-70 to diagnose learning and behavioral concerns.

Assessment and Evaluation Psychologist

💪Girl dad 🛋️Psychologist 🌅I pulled back from a prestigious (but overworked) clinical path to design a 6-figure career around my family 🤝🏾I help therapists build and make money from their online courses and podcasts

I didn’t plan to become a business owner.
A snowstorm made the decision for me.

In 2015, a blizzard shut down the Northeast.
I canceled 21 therapy sessions in one week—and lost all that income.

That moment planted a quiet but persistent question:

What kind of business actually supports the life I want to live?

—

That question changed everything.

Later that year, I launched the Selling the Couch podcast.
It grew slowly—but steadily—into:

• A Top 0.5% podcast globally
• 1.82M+ downloads
• Listeners in 100+ countries

A few years in, life added a new chapter.
Our daughter was born 8 weeks early.
NICU + 13 months of grueling physical therapy and early intervention followed.

That season reshaped everything I thought I knew about success.
It wasn’t just what I was building.
It was how I was building it—and who I was becoming in the process.

—

Today, I run:

✅ A podcasting community (244+ therapist podcasters)
✅ A mastermind for course creators (helping 50+ therapists launch online courses)
✅ A values-led business designed around family, rest, and meaning

I’m still asking that same question.
But now—I’m helping others ask it too.

If you’re a therapist, a quiet founder, or a values-driven leader—
figuring out how to build something sustainable without burning out—
I’d love to connect.

🟡 I share stories and strategies here each week
🟡 Follow for gentle encouragement and practical insight
🟡 My DMs are always open

And if you’d like to go even deeper into these ideas—
I created The Quiet Builder, a premium newsletter for people just like us.
It’s $97/year, sent twice a month, and explores how to build strong in uncertain times.

👉 sellingthecouch.com/quietbuilder

Because quiet doesn’t mean small.
It means rooted.

She came into the world 8 weeks early.

Too soon. Too small. Too quiet.

The NICU became our new home.

I remember watching her tiny chest rise and fall—wires taped to her ribs, a syringe carefully placed against her cheek as the nurse whispered encouragement.

Back home, I did what I could.

Support my wife.  Answered emails. Published podcast episodes. Held coaching calls.

Then I’d sit in the dark and stare out the window, wondering how to hold it all—the joy, the fear, the responsibility.

That season rewired me.

I used to think building meant more—more noise, more hustle, more presence online.

But in that silence, I learned that some of the strongest things are built quietly. Steadily. Out of sight.

𝗧𝗵𝗮𝘁’𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝗲𝗲𝗱 𝗼𝗳 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗤𝘂𝗶𝗲𝘁 𝗕𝘂𝗶𝗹𝗱𝗲𝗿.

A newsletter for those of us leading and creating things not for applause—but for legacy.

Not to go viral—but to go deep.

It’s $97/year. The first issues launches next Sat, May 3.

If we’ve connected here—or even if this is your first time seeing my work—I’d be honored to have you with us. ❤️

Let’s keep building—quietly.

▶️ https://lnkd.in/ekm_yFtG

Know a Quiet Builder? 
♻️ Repost to share with others. 
✅ Follow Melvin Varghese PhD for more.

Melvin Varghese PhD

No alternative text description for this image

I used to think building something meaningful meant getting louder.

More visibility.
More content.
More everything.

But the older I get—the more I lead, create, and parent—the more I’m drawn to 𝗮 𝗾𝘂𝗶𝗲𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗱 𝗼𝗳 𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗴𝘁𝗵.

Not the kind that shouts.
The kind that endures. ⛰️

When our daughter was born 𝟴 𝘄𝗲𝗲𝗸𝘀 𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗹𝘆, we spent the first weeks of her life in the NICU.

Wires. Beeping monitors.
And the kind of silence that 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗿𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗲𝘀 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝘀𝗼𝘂𝗹.

Those long days forced me to rethink everything—
𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝗜 𝗯𝘂𝗶𝗹𝘁.
𝗪𝗵𝘆 𝗜 𝗯𝘂𝗶𝗹𝘁.
𝗪𝗵𝗼 𝗜 𝘄𝗮𝘀 𝗯𝘂𝗶𝗹𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗶𝘁 𝗳𝗼𝗿.

It’s when I stopped chasing someone else’s idea of success...

And started designing a business around the life I actually wanted to live. 🙏🏽

For me, that looked like:

✅ Creating a podcast in a room full of moving boxes

✅ Turning down “big” opportunities in favor of small, meaningful ones

✅ Walking away from the grind so I could drive our daughter to school without feeling rushed to get back

So what is a 𝘘𝘶𝘪𝘦𝘵 𝘉𝘶𝘪𝘭𝘥𝘦𝘳?

It’s someone who builds without the noise.
Someone who chooses depth over virality.
𝗟𝗲𝗴𝗮𝗰𝘆 𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝘀𝗰𝗮𝗹𝗲.
𝗠𝗮𝗿𝗴𝗶𝗻 𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗵𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗹𝗲.

It’s someone who believes that what matters most…shouldn’t always be the loudest thing in the room.

⸻

𝗤𝘂𝗶𝗲𝘁 𝗕𝘂𝗶𝗹𝗱𝗲𝗿 is a newsletter for creators and founders building with intention.

💌 Launching May 3.

If you’re quietly building something meaningful—𝗜 𝗺𝗮𝗱𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘂𝘀.

The investment is $𝟵𝟳/𝘆𝗲𝗮𝗿.
Simple. Sustainable.
Built to help us grow slow—and well.

Let’s go slow.
Let’s go deep.
Let’s build something that lasts. 🛠️

https://lnkd.in/ekm_yFtG

𝗣𝗲𝗼𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗱𝗼𝗻’𝘁 𝗳𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗼𝘄 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗮𝗻𝘆𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗲.

They follow voices they trust.

I’ve been thinking about that a lot lately—especially as we navigate a world filled with polished reels, AI-generated LinkedIn posts, and perfectly timed sound bites.

Podcasting, for me, has always been different.

𝗜𝘁 𝗴𝗶𝘃𝗲𝘀 𝘀𝗽𝗮𝗰𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗵𝘂𝗺𝗮𝗻 𝗽𝗮𝗿𝘁𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵.

The ums and ahs. The voice cracks when something hits close to home. The long pauses when I’m trying to find the right words.

There’s a kind of trust that can only be built in that space.

A quiet kind of leadership that doesn’t rely on virality or visibility—just consistency and care.

✨ We don’t have to be polished to be powerful. We just have to be present.

If you’ve been thinking about starting a podcast—or wondering how to build trust in an increasingly noisy space—this might be the nudge you need.

Tomorrow’s my birthday 🎉—and I’ve been reflecting.

Ten years ago, I took a leap that scared me:

🎙️ I launched the Selling the Couch podcast and lept into entrepreneurship.

I was an introverted psychologist with zero marketing experience, no roadmap—just a quiet pull to share what I was learning.

I doubted myself constantly.
Would anyone listen?
Would I sound foolish?

But here’s what I’ve learned:

𝗖𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗮𝗴𝗲 𝗶𝘀𝗻’𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗮𝗯𝘀𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗳𝗲𝗮𝗿.
𝗜𝘁’𝘀 𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗼𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗼 𝗺𝗼𝘃𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗿𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗱—𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗻 𝘄𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝗳𝗲𝗮𝗿 𝘄𝗵𝗶𝘀𝗽𝗲𝗿𝘀, “𝗪𝗵𝗼 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘁𝗼 𝗱𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀?”

This past year especially, I’ve been learning to slow down.

To let go of chasing “more” and instead choose alignment.

I stepped back from private practice b/c the logistics didn't fit the life I wanted.
I focused more on family.
I redefined what success means.

Not more clients.
Not bigger numbers.

But:
✨ Peace.
✨ Presence.
✨ Purpose.

It hasn’t been easy. There were moments of doubt.

And I still fight against fear disguised as ambition.

But looking back, I’m proud of the dad, husband, and founder I’m becoming.

Someone learning to say no to good things so I can say yes to the right ones.

💛 What’s one shift or lesson this past year has taught you?

Let’s keep encouraging each other as we grow. 🙏

In 2012, I became a licensed psychologist, dreaming of a career in therapy, testing, and supervision. 

But life threw two curve balls.

In 2015, a massive blizzard slammed into the northeast.

With downed power lines and icy roads, I had to cancel 21 fee-for-service therapy clients.

The worst part?

We were saving up for the 20% down payment on our first home. 

In 2018, our daughter was born 2 months early.  

Our little NICU warrior ended up needing another 1.5 years of grueling physical therapy to get to the level of her peers.

So, I pivoted towards a more flexible career based on three goals:

•Diversify income sources beyond 1:1 work.
•Build a career around my loved ones, health, and hobbies.
•Use clinical skills beyond "what a psychologist is supposed to do."

I started the Selling The Couch podcast in 2015, steadily growing to 1.8+ million downloads with listeners in over 100 countries. 

Colleagues asked for podcasting advice that same year, leading me to create a course that has brought in 232+ students and $316k+ in revenue.

Despite initial mistakes (and still making plenty of them!), I now run an online course mastermind for therapists who want to launch and grow their online courses. 

In the Summer-Fall of 2024, I'm jumping back into a small private practice primarily working with founders of color, VC-backed founders, and founder dads.

Please DM me if you're interested in therapy. 

I share my journey as a course creator, podcaster, and entrepreneur dad here on LinkedIn.

We all have a message to share and people to serve. 

I'm honored to hear your story. ❤️

The other day, I opened our front door and picked up a rather heavy Amazon package.

I knew exactly what it was.

Inside were 10 copies of Unforgettable Presence: Get Seen, Gain Influence, and Catapult Your Career—a book written by my friend Lorraine K. Lee.

And as I opened the box, something stirred in me.

𝗣𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗶𝘀 𝘀𝗼𝗺𝗲𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗜’𝘃𝗲 𝗾𝘂𝗶𝗲𝘁𝗹𝘆 𝘄𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗹𝗲𝗱 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘆𝗲𝗮𝗿𝘀.

Even 10 years into building a successful business and podcast, I still catch myself wondering:

𝗗𝗼 𝗜 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝗽𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲?

I’m more introverted.
I don’t command a room.
I don’t always speak the loudest—or first.

And I definitely don’t fit the traditional mold of what “executive presence” looks like.

𝗕𝘂𝘁 𝗺𝗮𝘆𝗯𝗲 𝗽𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗶𝘀𝗻’𝘁 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝘃𝗼𝗹𝘂𝗺𝗲.
𝗠𝗮𝘆𝗯𝗲 𝗶𝘁’𝘀 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻. 𝗔𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻. 𝗜𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗴𝗿𝗶𝘁𝘆.

Maybe, as Lorraine writes, it’s something we can learn and lead with—on our own terms.

I’m so excited to read this book—not just for myself, but for all of us quiet leaders navigating visibility in a world that often rewards loudness.

📚 If you’re someone who’s ever felt a little overlooked...

If you’ve been told to “speak up more”…
Or if you’re building something meaningful but wondering how to be seen without performing—

This book might be for you too.

BUY HERE ▶️ https://lnkd.in/eEQt6gnn

P.S. Local friends, I have a copy with your name on it. 😊

P.P.S. Congrats, Lorraine—this is so needed, and I’m cheering you on. 🙌

Creating an online course can feel exciting—and a little overwhelming.

You get an idea and want to run with it (...definitely not speaking from experience 😅).

But here’s what I’ve learned after 10 years of doing this:

𝗩𝗮𝗹𝗶𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗶𝘀𝗻’𝘁 𝗼𝗽𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹.
It’s what turns an idea into something that lasts.

Before investing months into recording, writing, and building…

Ask yourself:

✅ 𝗖𝗮𝗻 𝗜 𝘀𝗲𝗲 𝗺𝘆𝘀𝗲𝗹𝗳 𝘁𝗲𝗮𝗰𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗻𝗲𝘅𝘁 𝟭𝟬 𝘆𝗲𝗮𝗿𝘀?

This is about more than launches—it’s about compounding. When you stay with a topic long enough, momentum (and revenue) builds.

✅ 𝗛𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝗽𝗲𝗼𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗮𝗹𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗱𝘆 𝗽𝗮𝗶𝗱 𝗺𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝗮 𝟭:𝟭 𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗮𝘁 (𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗮𝗽𝘆, 𝗰𝗼𝗮𝗰𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴, 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘀𝘂𝗹𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴)?

If yes, that’s a strong indicator they’ll pay to learn it in a course format too.

✅ 𝗔𝗿𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝗮𝗹𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗱𝘆 𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗿𝘀𝗲𝘀 𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝘁𝗼𝗽𝗶𝗰?

This one feels scary—but competition is good.

If others are selling similar courses, it usually means there’s market demand.
The key is offering your unique voice, lived experience, and transformation.

And if your current idea doesn’t pass these?

It doesn’t mean you’re a bad course creator.

It just means you validated before building—which is one of the smartest things you can do.

💡 𝗪𝗮𝗻𝘁 𝗵𝗲𝗹𝗽 𝘃𝗮𝗹𝗶𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗼𝘄𝗻 𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗿𝘀𝗲 𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗮 𝗮𝘀 𝗮 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗮𝗽𝗶𝘀𝘁?

I put together a free 𝗖𝗼𝘂𝗿𝘀𝗲 𝗖𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗼𝗿 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗞𝗶𝘁 to walk you through the process.
You can find the link at the top of my profile. ☝️

𝗢𝗻𝗲 𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝗺. 𝟮𝟭 𝗰𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀. 𝗭𝗲𝗿𝗼 𝗯𝗮𝗰𝗸𝘂𝗽 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝗻.

That’s how my journey into sustainable business building began. 😅

In 2015, a giant blizzard swept across the Northeast and knocked out power in Philly, where we live.

I was working at a group practice at the time—and I had to cancel 21 therapy sessions in a single week after we got nailed with 30 inches of snow.

💸 That income? Gone.
We were saving for a 20% down payment on our first home.

We eventually got back on our feet...
But something in me quietly cracked open.

𝗜 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘇𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘄𝗮𝘆 𝗜 𝘄𝗮𝘀 𝗯𝘂𝗶𝗹𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗵𝗮𝗱 𝗻𝗼 𝗯𝘂𝗳𝗳𝗲𝗿. 𝗡𝗼 𝗺𝗮𝗿𝗴𝗶𝗻. 𝗡𝗼 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗶𝗹𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲.

It was the first time I asked a question that would shape everything after:

𝘞𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘪𝘧 𝘐 𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘣𝘶𝘪𝘭𝘥 𝘢 𝘣𝘶𝘴𝘪𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘩𝘰𝘯𝘰𝘳𝘦𝘥 𝘭𝘪𝘧𝘦—𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘫𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘬?

That question became a podcast.
That podcast became a course.
And that course became a business rooted in sustainability, family, and quiet growth.

Now, nearly 10 years later, that same seed is growing again.

✨ 𝙌𝙪𝙞𝙚𝙩 𝘽𝙪𝙞𝙡𝙙𝙚𝙧 𝙞𝙨 𝙖 𝙩𝙬𝙞𝙘𝙚-𝙢𝙤𝙣𝙩𝙝𝙡𝙮 𝙣𝙚𝙬𝙨𝙡𝙚𝙩𝙩𝙚𝙧 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙖𝙥𝙞𝙨𝙩𝙨, 𝙛𝙤𝙪𝙣𝙙𝙚𝙧𝙨, 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙡𝙚𝙖𝙙𝙚𝙧𝙨 𝙬𝙝𝙤 𝙬𝙖𝙣𝙩 𝙩𝙤 𝙗𝙪𝙞𝙡𝙙 𝙦𝙪𝙞𝙚𝙩𝙡𝙮, 𝙨𝙩𝙧𝙤𝙣𝙜𝙡𝙮, 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙝 𝙞𝙣𝙩𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣—𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙝𝙤𝙪𝙩 𝙗𝙪𝙧𝙣𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙤𝙪𝙩.

It launches May 3.

If we've connected here on LinkedIn, and you're a Quiet Builder, would love to have you join <3: https://lnkd.in/ekm_yFtG

P.S. As one of our early subscribers, I'm giving away a list of 50 of my favorite Quiet Builder Chat GPT prompts as well.

When I first became a business owner, I thought success meant doing everything myself.

I handled the podcast editing, wrote the blog posts, answered every email, and tried to master every tool under the sun.

I wore my “do-it-all” mindset like a badge of honor.

But underneath it?

There was a story I didn’t realize I was carrying:

Growing up, I saw my immigrant parents work tirelessly to build a better life for us. 

Their example taught me that a relentless work ethic was the path to success — but I also internalized something unspoken:

👉 𝗜𝗳 𝗜 𝘄𝗮𝘀𝗻’𝘁 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗱 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆 𝗺𝗶𝗻𝘂𝘁𝗲, 𝗜 𝗱𝗶𝗱𝗻’𝘁 𝗱𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝘂𝗰𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗰𝗮𝗺𝗲.

That belief pushed me to hustle...until I hit a wall with bouts of depression, anxiety, and insomnia. 

I realized I couldn’t build a sustainable business by running myself into the ground.

And more importantly, I didn’t want to pass that same “always-on” mentality to my daughter.
So, I started rewriting the story.

For me, that’s meant:

✅ Letting go of tasks that don’t need my touch.

✅ Focusing on deep, meaningful work instead of busywork.

✅ Building systems that let the business run — even when I’m offline.

𝗕𝗲𝗰𝗮𝘂𝘀𝗲 𝘀𝘂𝗰𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗶𝘀𝗻’𝘁 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗱𝗼𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴.

𝗜𝘁’𝘀 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗯𝘂𝗶𝗹𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮 𝗯𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘀𝘂𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗹𝗶𝗳𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘄𝗮𝗻𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗹𝗶𝘃𝗲 — 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗼𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝘄𝗮𝘆 𝗮𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱.

𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙣𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙩 𝙗𝙚𝙛𝙤𝙧𝙚 𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙙𝙖𝙪𝙜𝙝𝙩𝙚𝙧 𝙘𝙖𝙢𝙚 𝙝𝙤𝙢𝙚 𝙛𝙧𝙤𝙢 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙉𝙄𝘾𝙐, 𝙄 𝙨𝙖𝙩 𝙤𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙣𝙪𝙧𝙨𝙚𝙧𝙮 𝙛𝙡𝙤𝙤𝙧 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙘𝙧𝙞𝙚𝙙.

Not because I was afraid.
Not even because I was exhausted.
But because I knew... life would never look the same again.

We had survived weeks in the NICU. 

Syringe feeds. Monitors. Fear I didn’t have words for.

And now, I was holding this fragile miracle… and trying to figure out how to keep building a business that wouldn’t break me in the process. 😔

That’s when the idea of quiet building was born.

Not building for speed or scale.

But building for margin.
For presence.
For something that could hold the weight of life when life gets heavy.

That seed has grown into The Quiet Builder—a newsletter for therapists, founders, and leaders who are creating from places of depth, not noise.

It’s $97/year.
Twice a month.
And it launches this Saturday.

❤️ If you’ve ever wondered whether you can build something meaningful without shouting… this is for you.

👉 https://lnkd.in/ekm_yFtG

Know a Quiet Builder? 
♻️ Repost to share with others. 
✅ Follow Melvin Varghese PhD for more.

💡 𝗘𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝘄𝗼𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿 𝗵𝗼𝘄 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝘄𝗲𝗯𝘀𝗶𝘁𝗲 𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗮𝗴𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗔𝗜?

Let me share something I recently learned that’s been a game-changer: Schema Markup.

I’ll admit, when I first heard about schema markup, I thought it sounded super technical... something for the "big websites," not for solo therapists or small group practices.

But here's the thing — schema markup can help your blog posts rank faster and more often. Why? Because it tells AI and search engines like Google exactly what your page is about — instantly.

🌱 Imagine this: You write a great FAQ page about anxiety therapy. If you add FAQ schema markup, Google knows it’s an FAQ and can pull your answers into those rich snippets you see at the top of search results.

✨ What does this mean for you?
• Better visibility.
• Faster indexing.
• A big competitive edge (because let’s face it, not everyone is doing this yet).

In a world where AI is changing how people find answers, schema markup isn’t just helpful, it’s essential.

And the best part? You don’t need to be a coder. Tools exist to help you do it, and if you stay ahead now, your site will weather all the future Google algorithm updates.

➡️ Want to learn more about making your SEO work harder for you (without working harder yourself)?

I recently recorded a podcast with Mary Walker from Simplified SEO on SEO for Therapists and how AI is enhancing, not replacing, our ability to show up online.

https://lnkd.in/ejqwYNd8

𝗜 𝗱𝗶𝗱𝗻’𝘁 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝗮 𝗽𝗼𝗱𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘁 𝘁𝗼 “𝗯𝘂𝗶𝗹𝗱 𝗮 𝗯𝗿𝗮𝗻𝗱.”

In fact, when I launched Selling the Couch, I wasn’t even thinking about things like platforms or audience growth.

My heart was somewhere else entirely.
I just wanted to learn.
To talk to other therapists.

To figure out how they were expanding their work beyond the therapy room.
To understand how our clinical skills could support people in new ways—and also support our families more sustainably.
So I hit record.

No polished intro. No marketing funnel. Just honest curiosity and a deep desire to serve.

𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗜 𝗱𝗶𝗱𝗻’𝘁 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗰𝘁?

That those quiet conversations would one day help thousands of therapists reimagine what’s possible for their careers—and their lives.

✨ 𝗪𝗲 𝗱𝗼𝗻’𝘁 𝗻𝗲𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗮 𝗯𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝗻. 𝗦𝗼𝗺𝗲𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲𝘀, 𝘄𝗲 𝗷𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝗻𝗲𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗮 𝗾𝘂𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻.

In the first year of my podcast, I thought consistency meant never missing a week.

No breaks. No silence.

I kept grinding... until I almost burned out.

Somewhere along the way, I lost the why behind the show.

So I asked myself:

“What if I built the podcast around the life I want—
not the other way around?”

I started making changes.

🎙️ 2 months of episodes, 1 month of replays
☀️ Summers off to be present with our daughter
🍂 November + December for rest and reflection

It felt like a risk.

But recently, I learned the podcast is in the 𝘁𝗼𝗽 𝟬.𝟱% 𝗴𝗹𝗼𝗯𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆.

Not because I posted every week.

But because I created a rhythm that let trust (and joy) compound.

💡 If you’re podcasting—or thinking about it—remember:

𝗬𝗼𝘂 𝗱𝗼𝗻’𝘁 𝗻𝗲𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝗱𝗼 𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗲.

𝗬𝗼𝘂 𝗻𝗲𝗲𝗱 𝗮 𝗿𝗵𝘆𝘁𝗵𝗺 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗹𝗲𝘁𝘀 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗸𝗲𝗲𝗽 𝗴𝗼𝗶𝗻𝗴.

P.S. This is just one of the habits that’s helped me keep podcasting for the long haul.

I recently recorded an episode with 6 others I’ve built into my weekly rhythm:

🎧 You can listen to it here:  https://lnkd.in/eGgygwDw

𝗧𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗔𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗖𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝗻 𝗢𝗻𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝗖𝗼𝘂𝗿𝘀𝗲? 𝗛𝗲𝗿𝗲’𝘀 𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝘁𝗼 𝗞𝗻𝗼𝘄 𝗜𝗳 𝗬𝗼𝘂’𝗿𝗲 𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱𝘆

I talk to a lot of therapists who want to create an online course, but they’re on the fence.

They wonder: “Is now the right time? Do I have what it takes?”

After being on my own course creation journey for the past 10 years—and having the privilege of helping 50+ therapists launch their courses—I’ve noticed a pattern.

Here are 𝟱 𝘀𝗶𝗴𝗻𝘀 that tell me a therapist is truly ready to create an online course:

1️⃣ 𝗬𝗼𝘂’𝗿𝗲 𝗹𝗼𝗼𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘀𝗰𝗮𝗹𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝗶𝗺𝗽𝗮𝗰𝘁 (𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗶𝗻𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗲).

You love therapy, but you’re feeling the limits of 1:1 work. You’re craving a way to help more people—without adding more clinical hours.

2️⃣ 𝗬𝗼𝘂’𝘃𝗲 𝗺𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗱 𝗮 𝘀𝗽𝗲𝗰𝗶𝗳𝗶𝗰 𝘀𝗸𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝘀𝗲𝘁.

Colleagues or clients already come to you for help in a niche area. You’ve built deep expertise, and people trust your knowledge.

3️⃣ 𝗬𝗼𝘂 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝗮 𝗽𝗮𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗲𝗮𝗰𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴.

You find joy in breaking down complex topics, mentoring newer therapists, or leading trainings. Even if you don’t consider yourself a “teacher,” you love sharing what you know.

4️⃣ 𝗬𝗼𝘂’𝗿𝗲 𝗢𝗽𝗲𝗻 𝘁𝗼 𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗡𝗲𝘄 𝗦𝗸𝗶𝗹𝗹𝘀

Creating an online course isn’t just about teaching—it’s also about learning. You’ll need to pick up a few skills, like:

🎥 Basic video recording & editing
📢 Marketing your course (without feeling salesy)
🖥️ Choosing a course platform

The good news? You don’t need to know everything before you start.

I had 𝘇𝗲𝗿𝗼 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 in online business when I launched my first course. But I took small, steady steps—and you can too.

5️⃣ 𝗬𝗼𝘂’𝗿𝗲 𝗪𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗼 𝗩𝗮𝗹𝗶𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗜𝗱𝗲𝗮 𝗕𝗲𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗕𝘂𝗶𝗹𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴

The #𝟭 𝗺𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗸𝗲 I see therapists make? Spending months building a course before testing demand.

You don’t need a polished course to get started—you just need proof that people want what you’re offering.

That’s why we created the 𝗖𝗼𝘂𝗿𝘀𝗲 𝗖𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗼𝗿 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗞𝗶𝘁—a free 7-day email course that walks you through how to validate your idea before you build.

✅ Get real feedback before you spend months creating
✅ Avoid launching a course no one buys
✅ Save time, energy, and money

🎯 𝗚𝗿𝗮𝗯 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗳𝗿𝗲𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗿𝘀𝗲 𝗸𝗶𝘁 𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲 → https://lnkd.in/g_rJ5V2V

💬 Does this resonate with you? 

Let me know where you’re at in your journey! 🙂

One of the quiet joys of building a podcasting community is witnessing the moment someone presses publish for the first time.

It’s not just about launching a podcast.

It’s about stepping into visibility.

It’s about choosing to share your voice, even when it feels vulnerable.

And it’s about offering your lived experience, your hard-earned wisdom, your perspective—so someone else can feel a little less alone.

🎙️ I wanted to take a moment to shout out one of our Healthcasters students who recently launched a beautiful new podcast:

𝗔𝗗𝗛𝗗 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗖𝘂𝗹𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗮

This show is a space where ADHD and Latine identity intersect—a place to learn, feel seen, and build resilience. 

Whether you live with ADHD, support someone who does, or work in mental health, this podcast shares real-life strategies and culturally grounded insights that matter.

Each episode brings together experts and everyday stories. And at its heart? A mission to reduce stigma and create belonging.

To the amazing creator behind this show: 𝗗𝗿. Janice E. Castro, Ph.D.

Your voice matters. Your stories matter.

I’m so proud of your courage and the space you’re creating for others to thrive. 

👉 If you’d like to listen or support, you can check it out here:

https://lnkd.in/e9vCw_qR

P.S. To anyone quietly sitting on a podcast idea:

This is your reminder that you don’t have to be “ready.”

You just have to be willing to start.

𝗜 𝗮𝗹𝗺𝗼𝘀𝘁 𝗱𝗶𝗱𝗻’𝘁 𝗹𝗮𝘂𝗻𝗰𝗵 𝗺𝘆 𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗿𝘀𝗲.

Not because I didn’t believe in the content.
Not because I didn’t think it could help.

But because I had this quiet fear:

“𝘞𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘪𝘧 𝘱𝘦𝘰𝘱𝘭𝘦 𝘣𝘶𝘺 𝘪𝘵 𝘰𝘯𝘤𝘦... 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘯𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘯𝘦𝘦𝘥 𝘮𝘦 𝘢𝘨𝘢𝘪𝘯?”

It’s a common worry—especially among therapists.

We’re trained to build deep, long-term relationships.

So the idea of someone buying a course once and disappearing can feel… disheartening.

But here’s what I’ve learned after nearly 10 years of creating and teaching:

🪜 𝗦𝘂𝗰𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗳𝘂𝗹 𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗿𝘀𝗲 𝗰𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘀 𝗱𝗼𝗻’𝘁 𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗽 𝗮𝘁 𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝗼𝗳𝗳𝗲𝗿.

They build a value ladder—a series of offers that meet people at different stages of growth. Courses. Coaching. Supervision. Speaking.

🎯 𝗧𝗵𝗲𝘆 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝘆 𝗿𝗼𝗼𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗶𝗻 𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝗻𝗶𝗰𝗵𝗲.

Instead of chasing shiny topics, they create depth—so people come back again and again because they trust your voice.

🌱 𝗧𝗵𝗲𝘆 𝗲𝘃𝗼𝗹𝘃𝗲.

A course isn’t the end—it’s the beginning.
The launchpad for a book, a community, a movement.

So if you’ve been holding back because you’re afraid your course will be “one and done,”

I get it.

But the best course ideas don’t end with a sale.

𝗧𝗵𝗲𝘆 𝗼𝗽𝗲𝗻 𝗮 𝗱𝗼𝗼𝗿—𝘁𝗼 𝗮 𝘄𝗵𝗼𝗹𝗲 𝗲𝗰𝗼𝘀𝘆𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗺 𝗼𝗳 𝗶𝗺𝗽𝗮𝗰𝘁.

P.S. If you’re a therapist thinking about creating your first online course, I put together a free Course Creator Starter Kit to help you validate your course idea before building it.

It’s at the top of my profile if you’d like to check it out.

I didn’t set out to build an audience. 
And I had no desire to be an "influencer."

In 2015, I just wanted to learn from other therapists and share what I was discovering.

My podcast studio? 

A $60 mic clamped to a TV tray in a room full of U-Haul boxes. 😅

But something happened.

People started listening. They connected with the stories, the voice cracks, the long pauses.

Over time, I realized that 𝗽𝗼𝗱𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘄𝗮𝘀𝗻’𝘁 𝗷𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗻𝘁—𝗶𝘁 𝘄𝗮𝘀 𝗰𝗿𝗲𝗱𝗶𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗶𝗻 𝘀𝗹𝗼𝘄 𝗺𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻. 

The kind that comes from showing up, not shouting.

If you’ve been thinking about starting a podcast—or wondering how to connect more deeply with your audience—I recorded this episode just for you. <3

Would love for you to listen. 🙂

sellingthecouch.com

Why Podcasting Is Still One Of The Best Mediums To Build Trust As A Therapist

I used to keep all my podcast ideas in my head.
Spoiler: Not a great system.

By the time I hit record, the idea was either gone...
or didn’t feel as meaningful anymore.

So I created something simple:

📥 A private Slack channel titled “Podcast Episode Ideas.”

Now whenever something sparks curiosity—
a LinkedIn comment, a book line, a listener reply—I drop it in.

No pressure to act.
Just a digital shelf for future conversations.

When I sit down to record, it’s all there—
ready to go, and rooted in real life.

🎙️ This little system has helped me podcast consistently for 10 years—without burning out.

𝗖𝗮𝗻 𝗮 𝗯𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗯𝗲 𝗯𝗼𝘁𝗵 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗳𝗶𝘁𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗽𝗲𝗮𝗰𝗲𝗳𝘂𝗹?

That’s a question I’ve been quietly sitting with.

When our daughter was born eight weeks early, it flipped everything I thought I knew about business and life.

She spent the first 2.5 weeks in the NICU and then came home at 36 weeks, barely 4 lbs.

There were wires, alarms, and doctors explaining things I didn’t fully understand.

And I was juggling therapy sessions, coaching calls, and podcast interviews between hospital visits and being there for my wife.

It broke me open in ways I didn’t expect. 😢

Because up until then, I believed what so many of us are told:

👉 Business is supposed to be hard.
👉 Profit comes at the cost of peace.
👉 If you’re not hustling, you’re falling behind.

But watching her tiny hands fight to grow made me ask a different question:

𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗶𝗳 𝗜 𝗯𝘂𝗶𝗹𝘁 𝘀𝗼𝗺𝗲𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗹𝗲𝘁 𝗺𝗲 𝗯𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗵𝗲?

Not just something that looked good on paper or on social media—but something that felt good in my body.

Here are 3 quiet lessons I’ve learned in the years since:

1️⃣ 𝗣𝗲𝗮𝗰𝗲 𝗶𝘀 𝗮 𝗺𝗲𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗰 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗵 𝗼𝗽𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗶𝘇𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗳𝗼𝗿.

Revenue is important. 

But so is margin, presence, and knowing your calendar has space to exhale.

2️⃣ 𝗣𝗮𝗰𝗲 𝗺𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘀.

Fast growth isn’t always healthy growth. 

I’ve learned to build in seasons—intentionally, slowly, and in rhythm with our family life.

3️⃣ 𝗧𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲’𝘀 𝗽𝗼𝘄𝗲𝗿 𝗶𝗻 𝗱𝗲𝘀𝗶𝗴𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮 𝗯𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗳𝗶𝘁𝘀 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗹𝗶𝗳𝗲—𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗼𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝘄𝗮𝘆 𝗮𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱.

These days, I work ~27 hours a week. 

We podcast in seasons. 

We take time off when school’s out.

And the most surprising part?

The business didn’t shrink.
It actually got healthier.
More aligned.
More profitable.

This is something I’ve been reflecting on deeply—especially as I think about the next chapter of Selling The Couch.

𝗦𝗼𝗺𝗲𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗻𝗲𝘄 𝗶𝘀 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗼𝘀𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝘂𝘀 𝗯𝘂𝗶𝗹𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗱𝗶𝗳𝗳𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗹𝘆.

For those of us who believe a business can be kind, profitable, and deeply human.

💬 What would a peaceful business look like for you?

Nervous about putting yourself out there on a podcast?

Here are 3 practical tips to ease into visibility without the overwhelm:

𝗦𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝘀𝗼𝗹𝗼 𝘃𝗼𝗶𝗰𝗲 𝗻𝗼𝘁𝗲𝘀 — Don’t overthink "episodes." Record 2–3 minute voice memos to practice speaking your ideas aloud.

𝗖𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗮 𝗽𝗿𝗶𝘃𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗽𝗶𝗹𝗼𝘁 𝘀𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗼𝗻 — Record 3 sample episodes for a small test group (colleagues, friends). This takes the pressure off perfection.

𝗨𝘀𝗲 𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆𝘁𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗺𝗽𝘁𝘀 — Instead of trying to "teach," start by sharing stories. It helps build trust and lowers the fear of messing up.

🎧 I walk through more ways to ease into podcasting in my free training: From Therapist to Thought Leader: Why Podcasting Could Be Your Next Big Move.

Grab it here: https://lnkd.in/eXCZAmhb

𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗶𝗳 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗽𝗿𝗶𝘃𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗽𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗲 𝘄𝗮𝘀𝗻’𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗲𝗻𝗱 𝗼𝗳 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗷𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗻𝗲𝘆... 𝗯𝘂𝘁 𝗷𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗯𝗲𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴?

When I sat down to record this new episode of Selling the Couch, I couldn’t help but think about the quiet questions many of us ask ourselves as therapists:

✨ 𝗜𝘀 𝗶𝘁 𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗺𝘆 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗰𝗵?
✨ 𝗖𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝗜 𝘁𝗲𝗮𝗰𝗵 𝘄𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗜 𝗸𝗻𝗼𝘄?
✨ 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘄𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝗶𝘁 𝗹𝗼𝗼𝗸 𝗹𝗶𝗸𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝘄𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗲… 𝗼𝗿 𝘀𝗽𝗲𝗮𝗸… 𝗼𝗿 𝗹𝗮𝘂𝗻𝗰𝗵 𝗮𝗻 𝗼𝗻𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗿𝘀𝗲?

This episode kicks off a 2͟-͟p͟a͟r͟t͟ ͟s͟e͟r͟i͟e͟s͟ ͟o͟n͟ ͟p͟o͟d͟c͟a͟s͟t͟i͟n͟g͟ ͟f͟o͟r͟ ͟t͟h͟e͟r͟a͟p͟i͟s͟t͟s͟—but it’s really about something bigger:

It’s about building trust.
It’s about sharing your voice.
It’s about creating something that reaches far beyond the therapy room.

Because podcasting isn’t just a strategy—it’s a platform for impact.

Taplio

Melvin Varghese PhD's Linkedin Analytics

What is Melvin talking about?

Who is engaging with Melvin

's Best Posts (last 30 days)

Want to drive more opportunities from LinkedIn?