The Fully Booked Therapist Podcast w/Heather Hammell. Business coaching for hands-on therapists who are done underearning.

Can astrology help you make better business decisions?

I'll admit, I didn't know much about astrology before booking my first natal chart reading. What started as curiosity turned into one of the most interesting coaching relationships I've had.

In this episode, I'm joined by my astrology coach, Alyssa, founder of The Karuna Lab. We talk about how she uses natal charts as a coaching tool for entrepreneurs, why she believes astrology is about recognizing patterns instead of predicting the future, and how our work together helped me navigate one of the biggest identity shifts in my business.

If you've ever wondered what business astrology actually looks like in practice, this conversation will give you an inside look.

In This Episode We Discuss

• What an astrology coach actually does
• The difference between horoscopes and natal chart readings
• Why I decided to hire an astrology coach
• How astrology helped me through a major business transition
• The idea of "composting relationships" during periods of growth
• What a Year Ahead Reading can reveal
• How Brand Planets and Ideal Client Planets relate to business
• Why Alyssa says she isn't a psychic
• How astrology can reveal money patterns and business blind spots
• What my own natal chart revealed about the way I coach therapists

Guest Information

Alyssa is the founder of The Karuna Lab, a psychological astrology and coaching practice built around Practical Mysticism for the Ambitious Soul. She helps high-achieving people stop making decisions from old survival patterns and start making them from genuine self-knowledge, using the natal chart as a diagnostic tool for that process.

Website: http://www.thekarunalab.com

Email: alyssa@thekarunalab.com

 

**This podcast is not medical advice and is not a substitute for consultation with an appropriate medical professional. We make no representations as to any physical, emotional, or mental health benefits that may be derived from listening to our podcast. Likewise, we do not make any representations or guarantees as to any possible income, business growth, additional clients, or any other earnings or growth benefits that may be derived from our podcast. Any testimonials, examples, or other results presented are the experiences of one client. We do not represent or guarantee you will achieve the same or similar results. You understand and agree you are solely responsible for any decisions you make from the information provided.**

 

The Fully Booked Therapist Podcast includes affiliate links in its show notes. This means we may earn a commission if you click on or make purchases via the links in our show notes.

In this episode of The Fully Booked Therapist Podcast, Heather Hamel explores Standard #6: Fully Booked Therapists Show Up and Get Coached. She explains why self-coaching and professional coaching work together, and why making business decisions often requires outside perspective rather than more information.

Using a client story about raising rates, Heather illustrates how coaching helps therapists move from hesitation to action. She discusses the emotional barriers that keep therapists stuck, the financial and professional cost of delaying important decisions, and why vulnerability is a strength inside a coaching environment.

Heather also shares what coaching looks like inside the Foundations program, including Hot Seat Coaching, weekly coaching calls, accountability, tracking business metrics, and engaging with a supportive community. She concludes by encouraging therapists to stop waiting until they feel ready and instead make the decisions that allow their practices to grow.

If you're ready to join a room where you can get coached, receive accountability, and build your practice alongside other therapists doing the same work, visit https://www.heatherhammel.com/foundation. If you join before August 16, I'll also send you the printed Foundations workbook.

**This podcast is not medical advice and is not a substitute for consultation with an appropriate medical professional. We make no representations as to any physical, emotional, or mental health benefits that may be derived from listening to our podcast. Likewise, we do not make any representations or guarantees as to any possible income, business growth, additional clients, or any other earnings or growth benefits that may be derived from our podcast. Any testimonials, examples, or other results presented are the experiences of one client. We do not represent or guarantee you will achieve the same or similar results. You understand and agree you are solely responsible for any decisions you make from the information provided.**

 

The Fully Booked Therapist Podcast includes affiliate links in its show notes. This means we may earn a commission if you click on or make purchases via the links in our show notes.

What happens when you stop searching for another certification and start thinking like a business owner?

In this episode, Heather sits down with Bright Wave Myofascial Release owner Kelly Taylor to discuss her journey from losing clients after transitioning to an MFR-only practice to building a consistently full schedule and growing her revenue through coaching, confidence, and better business decisions.

Kelly shares how mindset work, evaluating her sales process, and trusting proven systems helped her overcome self-doubt and create a business that supports both financial goals and personal freedom.

In this episode, you'll learn:

• Why transitioning to an MFR-only practice initially hurt Kelly's confidence
• How coaching helped her develop the mindset of a business owner
• The role evaluation plays in improving sales conversations
• How selling packages became easier through consistent systems
• Why confidence comes from trusting your process
• How Kelly increased both revenue and consistency in her practice
• Planning vacations and time off without sacrificing income
• Creating a practice that supports long-term financial freedom
• Why community and accountability accelerated her growth
• The importance of making business decisions without seeking constant validation

If you're ready to stop chasing more certifications and start building a practice that consistently serves your clients while supporting your life, this episode is for you.

Connect with Kelly Taylor

Website: https://www.brightwavemfr.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brightwavemfr
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/brightwavemfr

 

Ready to build your practice like a business owner?

Foundations is Heather's 12-month coaching program designed to help therapists develop the systems, pricing, policies, and business mindset needed to create a profitable, sustainable practice.

Enrollment closes August 16. Join now and receive a printed Foundations workbook to support your journey.

Learn more at https://heatherhammell.com/foundation.

 

**This podcast is not medical advice and is not a substitute for consultation with an appropriate medical professional. We make no representations as to any physical, emotional, or mental health benefits that may be derived from listening to our podcast. Likewise, we do not make any representations or guarantees as to any possible income, business growth, additional clients, or any other earnings or growth benefits that may be derived from our podcast. Any testimonials, examples, or other results presented are the experiences of one client. We do not represent or guarantee you will achieve the same or similar results. You understand and agree you are solely responsible for any decisions you make from the information provided.**

 

The Fully Booked Therapist Podcast includes affiliate links in its show notes. This means we may earn a commission if you click on or make purchases via the links in our show notes.

Most therapists want better results in their practice, but very few are consistently evaluating what is actually creating those results.

In this episode of The Fully Booked Therapist Podcast, I break down Standard #5 of a fully booked therapist: self coaching and evaluating on purpose.

I explain why most therapists only pay attention when something goes wrong and how that approach causes them to miss valuable opportunities for improvement. I also share the three-question evaluation framework I teach inside Foundations and explain how therapists can use it after client sessions, rebook conversations, sales interactions, and coaching calls.

You'll learn how self coaching helps therapists take ownership of their results, identify what is working, and make intentional adjustments that improve performance over time.

If you've ever wondered why some therapists consistently improve while others stay stuck repeating the same mistakes, this episode will show you how evaluation becomes the bridge between experience and growth.

 

**This podcast is not medical advice and is not a substitute for consultation with an appropriate medical professional. We make no representations as to any physical, emotional, or mental health benefits that may be derived from listening to our podcast. Likewise, we do not make any representations or guarantees as to any possible income, business growth, additional clients, or any other earnings or growth benefits that may be derived from our podcast. Any testimonials, examples, or other results presented are the experiences of one client. We do not represent or guarantee you will achieve the same or similar results. You understand and agree you are solely responsible for any decisions you make from the information provided.**

The Fully Booked Therapist Podcast includes affiliate links in its show notes. This means we may earn a commission if you click on or make purchases via the links in our show notes.

Many occupational therapists dream of starting a private practice but struggle with knowing when it's the right time to leave traditional employment.

In this episode, I sit down with occupational therapist and myofascial release practitioner Shauna, who shares how she grew her MFR practice from approximately $15,000 in annual revenue to more than $121,000 while creating a schedule that supports both her family and her business.

We discuss what led her to leave traditional pediatric occupational therapy, how she gradually transitioned into private practice, why she now believes a fully booked MFR practice offers greater security than a traditional job, and the mindset shifts that helped her confidently build a thriving business.

If you're an occupational therapist wondering whether it's possible to build a fully booked MFR practice, this conversation offers practical insights from someone who's done exactly that.

ABOUT SHAUNA

Shauna is an occupational therapist with more than 16 years of experience. After experiencing burnout in traditional pediatric practice, she discovered John F. Barnes' Myofascial Release (MFR), which inspired her to open Rooted OT in 2024. Today, she serves clients across the lifespan through her fully booked MFR practice and is passionate about helping people through a holistic approach to care.

Guest Contact

Website: https://therootedot.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the.rooted.ot

Facebook: https://facebook.com/profile.php?id=61556970875054

 

**This podcast is not medical advice and is not a substitute for consultation with an appropriate medical professional. We make no representations as to any physical, emotional, or mental health benefits that may be derived from listening to our podcast. Likewise, we do not make any representations or guarantees as to any possible income, business growth, additional clients, or any other earnings or growth benefits that may be derived from our podcast. Any testimonials, examples, or other results presented are the experiences of one client. We do not represent or guarantee you will achieve the same or similar results. You understand and agree you are solely responsible for any decisions you make from the information provided.**

 

The Fully Booked Therapist Podcast includes affiliate links in its show notes. This means we may earn a commission if you click on or make purchases via the links in our show notes.

Most therapists spend their days reacting.

Reacting to cancellations. Reacting to client messages. Reacting to slow months, difficult conversations, and unexpected problems.

In this episode of The Fully Booked Therapist Podcast, I break down Standard #4 of a fully booked therapist: learning how to respond instead of react.

I explain why reacting creates chaos in your business, how emotions influence decision-making, and why the ability to pause and respond intentionally is one of the most valuable skills you can develop as a business owner.

You'll also learn how I use The Model, a coaching tool that helps therapists separate circumstances from thoughts, feelings, actions, and results so they can make decisions from clarity instead of emotion.

If you've ever found yourself frustrated by cancellations, upset by client behavior, or emotionally exhausted by the ups and downs of running a practice, this episode will help you build a more stable, predictable, and sustainable business.

 

**This podcast is not medical advice and is not a substitute for consultation with an appropriate medical professional. We make no representations as to any physical, emotional, or mental health benefits that may be derived from listening to our podcast. Likewise, we do not make any representations or guarantees as to any possible income, business growth, additional clients, or any other earnings or growth benefits that may be derived from our podcast. Any testimonials, examples, or other results presented are the experiences of one client. We do not represent or guarantee you will achieve the same or similar results. You understand and agree you are solely responsible for any decisions you make from the information provided.**

 

The Fully Booked Therapist Podcast includes affiliate links in its show notes. This means we may earn a commission if you click on or make purchases via the links in our show notes.

Many therapists are curious about working with infants but feel intimidated by the responsibility, the training, or simply not knowing where to start.

In this episode of The Fully Booked Therapist Podcast, I sit down with craniosacral therapist Lori Hendrickson, who has spent more than two decades specializing in infant care and teaching healthcare professionals how to confidently work with babies and families.

We discuss why conditions like plagiocephaly, torticollis, reflux, and feeding challenges have become increasingly common, what role movement plays in infant development, and how simple bodywork approaches can help babies become more comfortable in their bodies.

Lori also shares her philosophy of treating the mother and infant as a dyad, why infant bodywork doesn't need to be intimidating, and how therapists can confidently expand their practices to include babies and families.

If you've ever considered adding infants to your practice but felt uncertain about taking that step, this conversation offers practical insights and encouragement from someone who has dedicated her career to helping both babies and the professionals who care for them.

ABOUT LORI

Lori has practiced Craniosacral Therapy (CST) since 2001, supporting infants and families while training healthcare professionals across the U.S., Canada, and internationally.

She specializes in helping infants with feeding difficulties, oral ties, reflux, torticollis, plagiocephaly, digestive issues, and body tension. Her parent-centered approach includes teaching gentle fascia release techniques families can use at home.

Lori collaborates with IBCLCs, midwives, therapists, chiropractors, and oral release providers worldwide. Her work is focused on individualized, collaborative care that supports better feeding, sleeping, breathing, and long-term outcomes for infants.

 

**This podcast is not medical advice and is not a substitute for consultation with an appropriate medical professional. We make no representations as to any physical, emotional, or mental health benefits that may be derived from listening to our podcast. Likewise, we do not make any representations or guarantees as to any possible income, business growth, additional clients, or any other earnings or growth benefits that may be derived from our podcast. Any testimonials, examples, or other results presented are the experiences of one client. We do not represent or guarantee you will achieve the same or similar results. You understand and agree you are solely responsible for any decisions you make from the information provided.**

 

The Fully Booked Therapist Podcast includes affiliate links in its show notes. This means we may earn a commission if you click on or make purchases via the links in our show notes.

Most therapists think doing the heavy lifting means working longer hours, seeing more clients, or constantly adding new certifications. In this episode of The Fully Booked Therapist Podcast, I explain why that definition misses the mark.

The fully booked therapist does the heavy lifting, but not in the way most people think. The real work happens in the business behaviors surrounding treatment: understanding the client's real problem, creating a clear treatment plan, improving the client experience, making confident recommendations, and refining systems through repetition.

I share examples from my own hands-on therapy practice and explain why most therapists focus on improving their clinical skills while avoiding the business behaviors that actually create a consistently full schedule.

If you've been busy working in your practice but aren't seeing the growth you want, this episode will help you identify where the real work needs to happen and how small improvements can create significant results over time.

**This podcast is not medical advice and is not a substitute for consultation with an appropriate medical professional. We make no representations as to any physical, emotional, or mental health benefits that may be derived from listening to our podcast. Likewise, we do not make any representations or guarantees as to any possible income, business growth, additional clients, or any other earnings or growth benefits that may be derived from our podcast. Any testimonials, examples, or other results presented are the experiences of one client. We do not represent or guarantee you will achieve the same or similar results. You understand and agree you are solely responsible for any decisions you make from the information provided.**

 

The Fully Booked Therapist Podcast includes affiliate links in its show notes. This means we may earn a commission if you click on or make purchases via the links in our show notes.

What happens when a respected manual therapist begins questioning the very narratives that shaped his career?

In this episode of The Fully Booked Therapist Podcast, Heather sits down with Walt Fritz to discuss his evolution from traditional myofascial release training into a more patient-centered approach to manual therapy.

After decades as a physical therapist and educator, Walt began noticing that therapists across completely different modalities were often using similar hands-on techniques while explaining outcomes in entirely different ways. That realization pushed him to rethink ideas around fascia, therapeutic outcomes, clinician authority, and patient care.

Together, Heather and Walt explore:

• why therapeutic relationship matters in bodywork
• how shared decision making changes patient outcomes
• the limits of fascia-only explanations
• why soft skills influence clinical success
• how therapists can grow beyond rigid modality identities
• the role of nervous system regulation in manual therapy

This conversation is especially relevant for:

• myofascial release therapists
• massage therapists
• manual therapists
• bodyworkers
• physical therapists
• clinicians exploring evidence-based care

If you’ve ever questioned the stories behind the techniques you use, this episode offers a thoughtful discussion about curiosity, collaboration, and building a better model of care.

Guest Contact

Connect with Walt Fritz, PT 

Website: https://www.waltfritz.com/ 

Book: Manual Therapy for Voice and Swallowing - A Person-Centered Approach

The full-text papers are available to read on this page (use password FoundationsSeminars to access). The papers are marked with #. https://www.waltfritz.com/papers-cited-newsletter

 

**This podcast is not medical advice and is not a substitute for consultation with an appropriate medical professional. We make no representations as to any physical, emotional, or mental health benefits that may be derived from listening to our podcast. Likewise, we do not make any representations or guarantees as to any possible income, business growth, additional clients, or any other earnings or growth benefits that may be derived from our podcast. Any testimonials, examples, or other results presented are the experiences of one client. We do not represent or guarantee you will achieve the same or similar results. You understand and agree you are solely responsible for any decisions you make from the information provided.**

 

The Fully Booked Therapist Podcast includes affiliate links in its show notes. This means we may earn a commission if you click on or make purchases via the links in our show notes.

When I decided to leave my hands-on therapy practice and become a coach, I was nowhere near ready. I didn't have all the credentials, all the answers, or a proven roadmap. What I did have was a willingness to start, and that decision changed everything.

In this episode of The Fully Booked Therapist Podcast, I'm diving into Standard #2 of a fully booked therapist: being willing to fail. I share my own experience of building a coaching business before I felt ready and explain why waiting for confidence, certainty, or perfect conditions often keeps therapists stuck.

We'll talk about what waiting to be ready really looks like, how confidence is created through action, and why failure is one of the most valuable teachers in business. I also explore the connection between failure, honesty, and vulnerability, and why all three are essential for building a thriving practice.

If you've been waiting for the right time to raise your rates, make an offer, market your services, or take the next step in your business, this episode will help you see why willingness matters more than readiness.

 

**This podcast is not medical advice and is not a substitute for consultation with an appropriate medical professional. We make no representations as to any physical, emotional, or mental health benefits that may be derived from listening to our podcast. Likewise, we do not make any representations or guarantees as to any possible income, business growth, additional clients, or any other earnings or growth benefits that may be derived from our podcast. Any testimonials, examples, or other results presented are the experiences of one client. We do not represent or guarantee you will achieve the same or similar results. You understand and agree you are solely responsible for any decisions you make from the information provided.**

The Fully Booked Therapist Podcast includes affiliate links in its show notes. This means we may earn a commission if you click on or make purchases via the links in our show notes.