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🔮 Episode Highlights
This week, I’m honored to speak with Jeff Levy, one of the founding forces behind Live Oak, a pioneering LGBTQ-affirming group practice in Chicago. Jeff brings two decades of insight into what it means to grow a values-driven practice from the ground up. In this conversation, we explore what’s changed in group practice—and what hasn’t—as well as the messy truths about being a practice owner who didn’t know what they didn’t know. From early missteps to enduring legacy, Jeff reflects on the nuance of doing good work, making hard decisions, and navigating the emotional toll of leadership.
💬 What You’ll Learn In this episode, we dig into:
- The origins of Live Oak and what made it a groundbreaking space for LGBTQIA+ care and training
- What Jeff wishes he’d done differently—and why regrets are inevitable for practice owners
- How rapid growth and financial scarcity impact practice culture and leadership
- Why transparency around money often fails to soothe staff concerns (and what might work better)
- How the changing therapy landscape—AI, manualized treatments, and early-career therapists—is shaping group practice today
- The irreplaceable value of embodied, relational work in an increasingly tech-driven field
🌟 Quotable Moments
“I think some people don’t totally understand… practice owners really, it was harder to eke out a profit. It was good if you didn’t have to use your own money to keep things going.”
“You can only know so many things about how to do this work. You have to know from your heart and from your soul.”
“If we are relying solely on manualized therapies… there isn’t as much opportunity to soak in some of the other stuff.”
“To know you’ve caused pain—especially when you’re a therapist—is painful.”
🔍 Digging Deeper
Jeff shares how shifting from “sensitive” therapy to truly affirming LGBTQ+ practice required creating new systems of training and care. He also reflects on the emotional cost of leadership—especially when your identity and values are so tightly woven into your work.
🦄 The Magic Touch
Jeff’s magic lies in his willingness to be vulnerable about mistakes, regrets, and the growth that follows. His long view of group practice offers current and future owners the chance to learn from history instead of repeating it.
🔮 Future Visions
Jeff predicts a return to slower, more sustainable practice growth—particularly as virtual care becomes more regulated and societal stigma resurfaces. He emphasizes the growing need for deeper training and stronger community among younger therapists entering group practice earlier in their careers.
📱 Connect with Jeff
Jeff Levy, LCSW (he/him) is a psychotherapist, consultant, and former CEO of Live Oak. He currently runs a solo practice focused on therapy and consultation. You can find his blog and more information about his work at www.jeffreylevylcsw.com.📧 Email: jrlevy.msw@gmail.com
🖥 Website: jeffreylevylcsw.com
📝 Check out Jeff’s blog archive for more wisdom from his years in practice.
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