395: Building a Private Practice Around The “Nice Guy Syndrome” Niche

Selling the Couch

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7d ago 32:03

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Today’s session focuses on therapy work with men who struggle with “nice guy syndrome.” If you aren’t familiar with the term or wonder how that niche works in a private practice, join us to learn more!

Our Featured Guest

Jonathan Rudiger, PsyD

Jonathan Rudiger is a licensed psychologist who lives and works in the Nashville, TN, area. He was one of my clinical supervisors when I was at Vanderbilt, and he’s become a dear friend and mentor who helped shape me into who I am today. Besides his time at Vanderbilt, he has spent a number of years working at the VA and in various capacities in private practice. One of his areas of focus is with clients with “nice guy syndrome,” and he’s sharing about his work in this conversation. We will take a look at this unusual niche through a clinical lens and a business perspective. We wrap up with common mistakes therapists make when working with men who present as “nice guys” but are actually in a lot of pain.

LinkedIn (Website coming soon!)

You’ll Learn:

Jonathan’s path to finding a niche and designing a private practice around it
Characteristics of the “nice guy syndrome” and typical patterns in relationships
Issues inherent in “nice guy syndrome” include low self-esteem, shame, fear of rejection, and a fundamental dishonesty with themselves.
Niching down defines the best space for your work and the place with the least chance of burnout.
Going from a clinical explanation to real-world language in marketing (Storytelling is key!)
Framing psychotherapy with storytelling empowers people to tell their stories.
Common mistakes therapists make when working with “nice guy syndrome” clients:
They assume that the nice demeanor means things are okay.
Neglecting the role of shame

Resources:

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