Special Guest Interview: Ida Milani, LMFT of Grow Through Changes

Therapist Ida Milani, LMFT, joined us on the Sit and Stay podcast to talk about a pivotal moment in her career: transitioning from group and community-based work into full-time private practice.

In this conversation, we covered the personal and professional experiences that shaped her journey and the practical realities of starting out on your own.

The Early Spark: A Calling from Childhood

Ida knew she wanted to be a therapist as early as age 12. Her interest began on the elementary school playground, where she volunteered as a “conflict manager” helping peers resolve disputes. From there, her desire to understand people and hold space for their experiences only grew stronger, especially during her own adolescence.

“I was always the therapist friend in most of my circles. Even at a young age, if people were fighting, I was listening and trying to problem solve.”

Identity and Adolescence: How Lived Experience Shapes Practice

Growing up as a child of Iranian immigrants in a predominantly non-diverse area, Ida felt pressure to assimilate and make sense of cultural differences. This shaped her empathy and deepened her understanding of identity struggles, particularly among teens trying to find where they belong.

Today, she specializes in working with adolescents and young adults, often supporting clients through major life transitions like starting college, entering the workforce, or ending a relationship.

“I take on a lot of teens that are not willing to be in therapy. They’ll tell you, ‘I dont’t want to be here. I’m not interested in doing this. There’s no way you’re going to help me.’ Those kids are my favorite kids. And we generally end up having an amazing relationship with each other.”

Shifting Focus: Why She Chose Private Practice

While many new clinicians follow traditional routes, Ida always had her eye on private practice. She wanted to be able to choose her own clients, set her own rates, and build a business rooted in both purpose and sustainability.

That decision was supported by her brother, founder of a therapist-focused financial company, who helped guide her through the logistics of launching her practice.

“Just because I’m a therapist doesn’t mean I can’t make good money and do good [work].”

Navigating Marketing, Stigma, and Strategy

One of the biggest challenges Ida faced in starting her practice? Marketing.

Like many clinicians, she wasn’t taught how to build a website, attract clients, or promote herself. That’s where trial, error, and a whole lot of Googling came in.

“We had one workshop on private practice... in the three years I was [in graduate school].”

With little formal guidance, Ida had to teach herself how to create a strong online presence. She built her own website, learned about SEO, and figured out how to communicate her values and specialties to potential clients.

For Ida, this meant being transparent about pricing, identity, and boundaries. Her website openly shares her rates and offers a clear call to action for scheduling a consultation. She embraces authenticity in her digital presence the same way she does in the therapy room.

Authenticity Over a Blank Slate

One of the most powerful themes in our conversation was Ida’s belief that the old “blank slate” model of therapy doesn’t serve everyone, especially younger generations or clients from different cultural backgrounds.

She embraces humor, directness, and a casual, relational style that resonates with clients and fosters long-term therapeutic bonds.

“My style is really direct, being warm and collaborative but also saying, ‘Hey, you told me you wanted to work on this thing, but you’re doing the opposite.’ Bringing attention to it in a kind way, but calling it out.”

Looking Ahead: AI, Tech, and the Future of Therapy

Ida also voiced excitement (and realism) about the role of technology in therapy, from AI note tools to better ways of managing admin tasks. Her view? New technology will serve therapists, not replace them.

“My point of pride in my work is not how well I write my progress note... Even if AI were to start [performing therapy], let’s say your client is crying, and you hand them a tissue. The meaning of that moment vs. how AI would recreate that moment... that thoughtfulness that just comes with being a human. I think we just shouldn’t be so afraid [of AI]. I think, if anything they’ll be our assistants.”

Final Thoughts

Ida brings a refreshing mix of candor, compassion, and entrepreneurial spirit to her work as a therapist. Her story is one of embracing your identity, valuing your labor, and trusting that authenticity in the therapy room creates lasting impact.

To learn more about Ida or get in touch, visit growthroughchanges.com.

Want to learn more?

Listen to our full conversation with Ida here: https://youtu.be/7cn2yEjuTvg

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