If AI feels overwhelming, ethically murky, or like one more thing you don’t have time to figure out, well, you’re not alone.
Most therapists we talk to land somewhere between “nervous” and “fully avoiding it.”
But AI isn’t going away. And the therapists who learn to use it well are going to have a real advantage when it comes to marketing their practices.
In this episode, Daniel sits down with Dr. Carolyn Solo, PhD, LCSW, for an honest, behind-the-scenes look at exactly how she uses AI in her business every single week.
From writing blog posts and social media captions to optimizing her website, building courses, and creating freebies for her email list, Carolyn walks through the real workflows that have saved her hours of time.
Carolyn is an EMDRIA-approved consultant, the founder of Integritas Wellness and Recovery in Vermont, and the host of the Future Template Parent podcast.
She’ll be the first to tell you she was skeptical of AI for a long time. But over the past year, she’s built a thoughtful, ethical workflow that helps her show up across more platforms, without losing the voice that makes her work feel like hers.
If you’ve been hesitant to dip your toes in, this episode is your permission slip.
This Episode Answers…
1. What is “AIO” and how do I optimize my website for it?
SEO isn’t going anywhere, but there’s a new player on the field: AI Optimization (AIO).
When someone Googles a question now, they often see an AI-generated summary at the top of the results. Showing up in that summary is becoming just as important as ranking in regular search.
Carolyn shares three low-lift changes that help AI see you as an authority:
- Add a short author bio at the bottom of every page (name, credentials, specialties)
- Use bullet points generously — AI scans them quickly
- Build FAQ sections into your service pages
The goal: move from expertise to authority to visibility. You already have the expertise. AIO helps the rest of the world find it.
2. How do I use AI for marketing without losing my voice?
This is the fear that holds most therapists back — that AI-written content will sound generic and nothing like them.
Carolyn agrees the risk is real. Her workflow keeps authenticity at the center.
Her favorite tool? The voice memo app on her phone. She free-associates about a topic for a few minutes, then drops the transcript into Claude or Gemini and asks it to shape the content from there.
Because the ideas and voice are hers, the output sounds like her.
She also feeds existing web copy and past podcast transcripts into AI tools so they learn her tone over time.
The rule she keeps coming back to: never copy and paste without editing.
3. I’ve barely used AI. Where should I start?
If you’ve only ever asked ChatGPT a quick question, Carolyn has a simple starting point.
Take all the content currently on your website and dump it into your AI tool of choice. Then ask for blog post ideas, email topics, and social media themes based on what’s already there.
From there, lean into transcripts. Podcast guest spots, interviews, recorded workshops. Those are gold. They give AI rich, in-your-voice material from day one.
And if you don’t have an email list yet, ask AI to help you build a freebie from your existing content. A simple PDF pulled from your best blog posts is one of the easiest ways to start growing your list.
Other Key Takeaways:
- Why blogging isn’t dead, and how 8 to 10 strong posts can carry your SEO
- How to use AI to repurpose one piece of content across blogs, social, and email
- Why a website alone isn’t enough anymore for a premium-fee practice
- How in-person therapy is becoming a real asset again in the age of AI
- Why niching down matters more now than ever before
- How Carolyn used Claude to optimize a 12-hour video course and tighten it up without losing value
- A simple way to use AI to plan webinars and trim your slide decks
- Why your “marketing ecosystem” matters, and how AI cuts the blank-page overwhelm that stops most therapists from posting consistently
Links mentioned in this episode:
- Future Template Parent Podcast
- Integritas Wellness and Recovery
- Instagram: @futuretemplateparent and @integritas_intensive_emdr
- Free Intensive Workbook (available on Carolyn’s website)
- Carolyn’s freebie: “5 Things You Can Do to Start Marketing Intensives“
Watch The Video:
This Episode Is Brought To You By The Following Sponsors:
Zanda practice management software is excited to partner with Private Practice Elevation Podcast to support practitioners with simple, secure tools that reduce admin and strengthen practice operations. Together, we’re helping practitioners spend less time on paperwork and more time with clients.
Learn more at zandahealth.com/privatepracticeelevation.
Alma is on a mission to simplify access to high-quality, affordable mental health care by giving providers the tools they need to build thriving in-network private practices. When providers join Alma, they gain access to insurance support, teletherapy software, client referrals, automated billing and scheduling tools, and a vibrant community of clinicians who come together for education, training, and events.
Learn more about building a thriving private practice with Alma at helloalma.com/elevation.
About Dr. Carolyn Solo
Dr. Carolyn Solo, PhD, LCSW, is an EMDRIA-approved consultant and the founder of Integritas Wellness and Recovery in Vermont, where she specializes in multi-day EMDR intensives for complex trauma and for parents of neurodivergent children.
As a mother of three—including a child with a PDA profile of AuDHD—she brings deep lived experience to her mission of helping clinicians build flexible, values-aligned practices. Through her coaching business, Future Template Parent, Carolyn empowers EMDR therapists to transition from traditional high-caseload models to high-value intensives that increase revenue while reducing burnout.
Carolyn shares her expertise weekly as the host of the Future Template Parent podcast, providing actionable strategies for therapists to “level up while slowing down”. Her work offers a clear roadmap for clinicians seeking more autonomy, financial freedom, and superior clinical outcomes for their clients.
About Daniel Fava
Daniel Fava is the owner and founder of Private Practice Elevation, a website and SEO agency focused on helping private practice owners create websites that increase their online visibility and attract more clients. Private Practice Elevation offers web design services, SEO (search engine optimization), and WordPress support to help private practice owners grow their businesses through online marketing.
Daniel lives in Atlanta, GA with his wife Liz, and two energetic boys. When he’s not working he enjoys hiking by the river, watching hockey, and enjoying a dram of bourbon.
