Hire Slow, Lead Well: Building a Clinical Team You Can Trust with Heather Bach

If hiring has ever felt like a gamble, this episode will change how you think about it entirely. Heather Bach, founder of Bach Counselling Group, shares the rigorous, client-first hiring system she has refined over 25 years of running a group practice in North and West Vancouver. **What You’ll Hear:** - Why hiring slow is one of the most protective things you can do for your clients, your team, and yourself - The multi-stage screening process Heather uses before a single interview takes place, including reference questionnaires, case studies, and admin phone screens - How a scored interview system with automated ratings helps take bias and gut-feeling risk out of the equation - What two real hiring situations taught Heather about blind spots, trust, and the importance of pausing before sending the offer - Why an eight-week onboarding process before client contact is not overcautious — it is good clinical governance **Resources Mentioned on this Episode** \- Bach Counselling Group: www.bachcounseling.com \- Run It Like a CEO Audit (Lisa's free lead magnet): grouppracticenetwork.ca/ceo-audit \- Group Practice Connection membership: grouppracticenetwork.ca/the-group-practice-connection **Featured Guest:** Heather Bach, MA, CCC is the founder and Clinical Director of Bach Counselling Group in North Vancouver — a clinic she built from the ground up over 25 years into a solid team of registered counsellors, a graduate internship program, and a specialty practice for executive leaders. Her clinical work spans trauma, relationships, anxiety, and high-performance psychology, and she's designed two community-based trauma programs serving women and children affected by family violence. A recognized expert in her field, Heather has been interviewed across print, radio, and television, and regularly presents at professional forums. Today she's here to talk candidly about what it really takes to build and sustain a mental health practice — the clinical, the operational, and everything in between. **Connect with Heather:** Website: www.bachcounselling.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bachcounselling **Meet the Host: Lisa Catallo** Lisa is a Canadian psychotherapist, group practice owner, and business coach with over eight years of experience leading a thriving, values-driven practice. She works with therapists who are ready to step into their role as confident, ethical, and intentional leaders—without burning out or getting buried in the day-to-day. Lisa’s coaching focuses on building sustainable group practices through efficient systems, effective leadership, and a deep respect for time and energy. Her approach is calm and encouraging, offering grounded guidance that helps therapists move from overwhelm to clarity—so they can lead with confidence and purpose. Whether she’s supporting someone just starting to grow a team or helping a seasoned leader reclaim their role as CEO, Lisa brings a blend of insight, structure, and heart to everything she does. When she’s not coaching or connecting with therapists, you’ll find her hanging out with her children and grandchildren, reading, walking by the water, or dreaming up new ways to make business feel a little lighter. **Connect with the Host:** Website: www.grouppracticenetwork.ca Instagram: instagram.com/grouppracticenetwork Facebook: facebook.com/grouppracticenetwork LinkedIn:www.linkedin.com/in/lisa-catallo **Loved this episode? Let’s take it a step further.** Grab the free **Time + Energy Audit for Group Practice Owners** to get super clear on where your time is going—and what it’s actually worth. 👉 Download it here And if you're ready for consistent support, connection, and access to done-for-you tools? Come join us inside **Group Practice Connection**—the membership designed to help Canadian group practice owners lead with clarity and confidence. ✨ You don’t have to do this alone. Check it out here **Empowered to Lead** is proud to be on the *High Vibe Podcast Network Check* out (Host Name) Gift in the Vault https://highvibepodcastnetwork.com/gifts **Share the Love** ✨ If this episode lit something up in you… tag us on Instagram @HighVibeLeaders and @grouppracticenetwork and let us know your biggest takeaway! 🦋 Don’t forget to rate & review — it helps us reach more conscious rebels like you. **Listen & Subscribe** 🎧 Apple Podcasts 🎧 Spotify 🎧 Amazon Music 🎧 High Vibe Podcast Network