Turning Personal Trauma into a Career in Private Practice with Dr. Bryan Harnesberger

Listen to this episode from Heard Business School on Spotify. Starting a private practice is hard enough. Doing it while honoring your values, managing student debt, and keeping therapy human? That’s something else.Dr. Bryan Harnsberger, a clinical psychologist and co-founder of Wellesley Counseling & Wellness, joins Michael Fulwiler to share how he’s built a thriving practice rooted in authenticity, attunement, and play. From a life-changing car accident at 16 to earning his doctorate and growing a team of 30, Bryan opens up about the messy, real side of business ownership.You’ll hear how he balances his irreverent personality with the seriousness of clinical work, what it takes to create a workplace that people love, and why taking risks even before you're ready is the only way forward.In the conversation, they discuss:Building a people-first practice without burning outNavigating student debt while starting your own businessThe value of bringing fun and humanity back into therapy workConnect with the guest:Bryan on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bryanharnsberger/ Visit the Wellesley Counseling & Wellness website: https://www.wellesleycw.com/  Connect with Michael and Heard:Michael’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelfulwiler/ Newsletter: https://www.joinheard.com/newsletter Book a free consult: joinheard.com/consult Jump into the conversation:(00:00) Welcome to Heard Business School(00:14) Meet Dr. Bryan Harnsberger(03:32) Surviving a car crash(05:10) Losing a friend inspired his therapy career(07:14) Why he chose a PsyD over PhD(08:56) Getting diagnosed with ADHD after brain injury(13:06) How Trump’s block sparked unexpected online influence(15:17) Humor as a serious tool in therapy(16:04) Lessons from a toxic group practice experience(19:59) Cold email to NBA led to big break(21:45) Building a business with his wife, Emily(26:07) Starting a practice right before COVID hit(27:14) Understanding finances changed how he took risks(32:10) What it took to launch med management(35:01) Ethical testing vs. insurance reimbursement challenges(38:05) Leading with compassion, not just policy or processThis episode is to be used for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal, business, or tax advice. Each person should consult their own attorney, business advisor, or tax advisor with respect to matters referenced in this episode.