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In this conversation, I reconnect with my longtime colleague and friend, Dr. Lisa Lively, to explore how she turned her personal burnout into a creative side hustle as a psychologist and self-published coloring book creator. Lisa shares her story of embracing creativity for her own well-being, navigating the nuts and bolts of self-publishing on Amazon, and balancing the tension between staying financially viable and keeping her artistic spark alive. This episode is packed with practical advice and real talk for any clinician who’s daydreamed about launching a side hustle but wasn’t sure how to start.
Here are a few topics that come up:
- How Lisa turned burnout into a catalyst for a creative business
- The step-by-step process of researching, designing, and publishing a book
- Pros and cons of using AI, licensing, or drawing your own art
- The importance of research and using tools like BookBeam
- How Amazon KDP print-on-demand works
- What to know about marketing, ads, and building an audience
- Lessons learned about balancing creativity and profitability
Cool Things Mentioned
- The Testing Psychologist mastermind groups and business consulting
- Reverb AI-powered report-writing software
- Lisa Lively’s Coloring Books on Amazon
- BookBeam — software for keyword and category research in self-publishing
- Canva — user-friendly design software Lisa uses to edit and assemble pages
- Publishers Vault — licensing platform Lisa uses for artwork
- Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP) — for print-on-demand self-publishing
Featured Resources
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The Testing Psychologist podcast is approved for CEU’s!
I’ve partnered with At Health to offer CE credits for podcast episodes! Visit this link to access current and past episodes available for CE credit. You can use code “TTP10” for a discount on ALL the course credits you purchase from At Health!
About Dr. Lisa Lively
Dr. Lively graduated with a Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology from Auburn University. She has worked at University Counseling Centers, Veterans Affairs, and in private practice. She currently lives in Murfreesboro, TN with her family and is surviving the current political nightmare one coloring book at a time.
Get in Touch & Resources:
- E-mail: dr.lisalively
- Website: www.lisalively.org
- Instagram: Coloring for Wellness
About Dr. Jeremy Sharp
I’m a licensed psychologist and Clinical Director at the Colorado Center for Assessment & Counseling, a private practice that I founded in 2009 and have grown to over 20 clinicians. I earned my undergraduate degree in Experimental Psychology from the University of South Carolina before getting my Master’s and PhD in Counseling Psychology from Colorado State University. These days, I specialize in psychological and neuropsychological evaluation with kids and adolescents.
As the host of the Testing Psychologist Podcast, I provide private practice consulting for psychologists and other mental health professionals who want to start or grow psychological testing services in their practices. I live in Fort Collins, Colorado with my wife (also a therapist) and two young kids.
Ready to grow your testing services? Click below to schedule a complimentary 30-minute pre-consulting call!