Mind Your Business: Merging Meaningful Work with Financial Wisdom is the course every counselor wishes they had in grad school. Blending real-world wisdom with practical tools, this book demystifies the business side of therapy-without sacrificing heart. Whether you're a student, associate, or seasoned clinician, this down-to-earth guide helps you earn a living while staying true to your calling. Covering topics like financial literacy, legal and ethical essentials, marketing, innovation, supervision, and retirement planning, it offers real-life examples, expert insights, and mentorship you can actually use. The book moves beyond private practice basics to explore diverse income streams, administrative must-knows, and modern challenges like cybersecurity and hustle culture. Written in a candid, mentor-style voice by Drs. Jude and Julius Austin-both practicing clinicians and counselor educators-this is a business book that gets it. You won't find empty jargon or cookie-cutter advice here. You'll find clarity, encouragement, and a roadmap to build a counseling career that's both sustainable and deeply meaningful. From developing your own business-savvy to "securing the bag", this guide is full of the financial and business wisdom that every counselor wishes they had received in graduate school. It moves beyond private-practice basics to explore diverse income streams, administrative must-knows, and modern challenges like cybersecurity and hustle culture. Offering tangible examples, expert tips, and mentorship you can actually use, this down-to-earth guide helps you earn a living while staying true to your calling.
Austin, Jude T., II: -
Dr. Jude Austin has a Ph.D. in Counselor Education and Supervision, he is an LPC-S, LMFT-S, NCC, and a CCMHC. He is an award-winning Associate Professor in the Master of Arts in Counseling Program at the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor, serves as the Interim Associate Dean for Social Sciences, and was awarded the Claude McBride Professorship for the 2024-2025 academic year. He is also in private practice in Belton, Texas. His research focuses on counselor education pedagogy, specifically finding ways to help counseling students develop therapeutic presence in session. He is an avid KeyNote speaker at counseling conference around the country including being the 2021 American Counseling Association Conference Keynote Speaker. He is also the co-author of the ACA books "Counselor Self-Care", "Surviving and Thriving in your Counseling Program", "Doing Counseling: Developing Your Clinical Skills and Style", and the Springer Publishing book "The Counselor Educator's Guide: Practical In-Class Strategies and Activities."
Austin, Julius A.: -
Dr. Julius Austin has a Ph.D. in Counselor Education and Supervision and is an LPC-S and NCC. He is an award-winning Assistant Professor in the Counseling Department at The University of Louisiana at Lafayette and is in private practice in Lafayette, Louisiana. He is an avid keynote speaker at counseling conference around the country including being the 2021 American Counseling Association Conference Keynote Speaker. He is also in private practice in Lafayette, Louisiana working with individuals and couples. His research focuses on counselor development and training. He is also the co-author of the ACA books "Counselor Self-Care", "Surviving and Thriving in your Counseling Program", "Doing Counseling: Developing Your Clinical Skills and Style", and the Springer Publishing book "The Counselor Educator's Guide: Practical In-Class Strategies and Activities".
