Why Therapists Don’t Need to Be Influencers to Make More Money

Many therapists eventually reach a quiet but important realization: the one-to-one therapy model, while meaningful, has real limits.

You may love clinical work. You may be good at it. And still, you might feel a pull toward creating income outside of session hours—without seeing more clients, posting constantly on social media, or turning yourself into a personal brand.

If that’s you, here’s the truth I want to say clearly:

Therapists don’t need to be influencers to make more money. And wanting additional income does not mean you’re less committed to the profession.

For many clinicians, especially seasoned ones, the next natural step isn’t coaching or leaving the field. It’s teaching.

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The Real Tension Therapists Feel About Income

I talk with therapists all the time who feel caught in the middle.

They want sustainability and flexibility.
But they feel uncomfortable with influencer culture, hustle messaging, and visibility-based income models that don’t reflect how therapists actually work.

So they end up stuck between:

• Wanting more financial breathing room

• Not wanting to become someone they’re not

What often gets missed in this conversation is that therapists already have a deeply aligned, ethical option available to them.

That option is teaching.

What “Teaching” Actually Means for Therapists

When I talk about teaching, I’m not talking about building a brand or posting every day on social media.

Teaching, at its core, is translating your clinical knowledge into something that helps other professionals:

• Think more clearly

• Work more confidently

• Feel less alone in their role

Teaching is about offering frameworks, language, and clinical perspective.

It is not therapy by another name.
It is not coaching clients.
And it is definitely not influencing.

Most therapists already teach every single day - clients, supervisees, colleagues, and consultation groups. Formalizing that teaching into an income stream isn’t a departure from the profession. It’s an extension of it.

Why Therapists Are Especially Well-Suited to Teach

Therapists are uniquely prepared to teach because we are trained to:

• Hold nuance

• Work ethically and within scope

• Explain complex material without oversimplifying

Here’s something important to normalize:

You don’t need to invent expertise to teach.

If colleagues already ask you questions…
If you find yourself explaining the same concepts repeatedly…
If there’s a topic you could talk about for an hour without notes…

That’s not accidental. That’s teachable material.

This is exactly why I created my free CE Course Builder for mental health clinicians - to help therapists organize what they already know into something teachable and ethical, without pressure to sell, perform, or overextend.

Ways Therapists Can Teach Without Becoming Influencers

1. Continuing Education (CE)

Continuing education is one of the cleanest, most aligned income paths for therapists.

With CE, you are:

• Teaching peers, not clients

• Operating within a clearly educational role

• Offering information, not treatment

CE can be delivered live or on-demand, written or audio-based. You don’t need to know everything - you need a defined topic, clear learning objectives, and ethical boundaries.

That’s exactly what the free CE Course Builder helps therapists clarify.

2. Consultation, Supervision, and Specialty Training

Many therapists already teach informally through:

• Case consultation

• Topic-specific supervision

• Skill-based trainings

When structured intentionally, with clarity around role, audience, and scope, this becomes a sustainable teaching model rather than an add-on that drains you.

3. Digital Educational Products

Digital education doesn’t need to be complicated or flashy.

It can be:

• Recorded trainings

• Audio-based courses

• Frameworks and tools you already use

If you find yourself repeating explanations again and again, you’re not being redundant - you’re sitting on curriculum.

One of the biggest mindset shifts for therapists is moving from “Am I qualified to teach this?” to “How do I organize this responsibly?”

4. Teaching Without Building an Audience

Teaching does not require building your own audience.

Many therapists teach through:

• Guest lectures

• Podcast-based education

• Partnerships with organizations

This allows you to contribute and earn income without carrying the burden of constant visibility or social media performance.

Common Myths That Keep Therapists Stuck

There are a few beliefs that stop therapists before they start:

• “I need a huge following.”

• “I need more credentials.”

• “Charging for education is unethical.”

In reality, sustainability is not exploitation.

Clear, responsibly delivered education deserves to be compensated. And often, the therapists who hesitate the most are the ones best suited to teach.

That hesitation isn’t a flaw - it’s discernment.

Ethics, Scope, and Self-Trust

Teaching must always be clearly educational, not therapeutic. Disclaimers matter. Boundaries matter.

But you don’t need to teach everything.
You don’t need to be loud.
You only need to teach what you know and what you can stand behind.

If you’re curious what teaching could look like for you, the free CE Course Builder is a gentle place to start. There’s no pressure and no obligation - just clarity.

A Note on Sustainability (and a CE Opportunity)

In this episode, I also share a limited-time promotion connected to Berries, an AI-powered clinical documentation tool.

New customers who purchase the Berries annual subscription plan through my referral link receive free access to my CE Podcourse Bundle, which includes 30+ NBCC-approved continuing education contact hours, with new Podcourses added throughout the year.

A Podcourse is a podcast and an audio course in one. You listen on your schedule, then complete a short self-study quiz and download your certificate.

The CE Podcourse Bundle is offered through Mustard Consulting LLC. Clinicians should always confirm that NBCC CE contact hours are accepted by their state licensing board.

Full details about the promotion are available here.

Final Thoughts

Therapists don’t need to become influencers to make more money.

For many clinicians, teaching is simply the next natural evolution of the work they’re already doing, one that supports sustainability, integrity, and professional longevity.

Teaching is contribution.
Sustainability is ethical.
And visibility is optional.

Other Resources:

Need CE contact hours? Explore my NBCC-Approved Podcourses & CE Courses

Get my Coping with Political Stress Workbook that's Canva Editable For Clinicians, Coaches & Educators

Therapist Conversation Framework: Politics in Session A printable PDF with 97 questions to navigate political talk in therapy - without taking sides.

Solution-Focused Therapy Guide 72 questions + prompts to help adult clients clarify goals and move forward using SFT.

Check out all my Counselor Resources. 

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The Therapy Show with Lisa Mustard is for informational and entertainment purposes only and should not be considered a substitute for professional advice. Always consult with your own healthcare provider regarding any personal health or medical conditions.