Building a diverse and successful associate practice in 2025 with Dr Esther Cole

Welcome to the Business of Psychology podcast. Today I'm joined by Dr Esther Cole, the clinical director and founder of Lifespan Psychology, which is a proudly diverse and thriving associate practice. She's here today to talk to us about what it takes to build a thriving associate practice, particularly in the more challenging context we find ourselves in in 2025. This is a must listen if you are somebody that is thinking about building your team and expanding your impact through associate work. Esther is also an impressive psychologist in her own right. In 2020 she won the BPS Early Career Award for a book that she initiated and co-edited on pediatric acquired brain injury. Esther has a great passion for helping people who may not always feel confident to come forward for therapy and may not always be well served by the therapy on offer, and that's part of the reason that she set up her podcast ‘Breaking Through Therapy’, which I think is amazing.

Full show notes and a transcript of this episode are available at The Business of Psychology

References:

10x Is Easier than 2x: How World-Class Entrepreneurs Achieve More by Doing Less by Dan Sullivan and Dr. Benjamin Hardy 

We Should All Be Millionaires: A Woman’s Guide to Earning More, Building Wealth, and Gaining Economic Power by Rachel Rodgers 

Links for Esther:

Breaking Through Therapy Podcast: www.lifespanpsychology.co.uk/podcast

BOSS: www.lifespanpsychology.co.uk/coaching

Website: www.lifespanpsychology.co.uk

LinkedIn: Dr Esther Cole

Instagram: @lifespan_psychology

Facebook: Lifespan Psychology - The Diverse Practice

Links for Rosie:

Substack: substack.com/@drrosie

Rosie on Instagram:

@rosiegilderthorp

@thepregnancypsychologist

The highlights

• Esther tells us about her podcast, Breaking Through Therapy 01:20
• Esther tells us about herself and her career, and how she came to set up an associate practice 02:39
• Esther talks about the most common mistakes she’s come across in associate practice 16:12 
• I ask Esther how we can encourage dedication from our associates 20:29
• We discuss recruitment and how to find the right people for your practice 26:42
• We talk about the skills you have to develop as a manager 34:10
• I remind people to listen to the Breaking Through Therapy podcast 44:29

Evolve and Th