6. Talking to clients about mental health with Chrissy Kozol

Bettermental

How can you talk about mental health with your clients? What’s the difference between indirect and direct disclosure? In today’s episode, Leanna and Mike meet with Chrissy Kozol to discuss how to navigate client relationships and your mental health.

As a freelancer or small business owner, there’s a delicate balance between managing client expectations, oversharing your struggles, and submitting your best work. Chrissy shares her strategies for communicating with clients while holding space for herself.

If there’s anything to take away from this episode, it’s Chrissy’s two client-vetting questions: “How do you handle disappointment? And how would you communicate that with me?”
Bettermental is a mental health resource for small business owners. Your hosts are Certified Corporate Wellness Specialist®, Mike Veny, and future of work and wellbeing writer, Leanna Lee. In each episode, they share their mental health ups and downs and practical solutions for healthy business growth.

Show notes and resources at: https://bettermental.fm/episodes/006

Chapters

1. 6. Talking to clients about mental health with Chrissy Kozol (00:00:00)

2. The balance of sharing vs. oversharing (00:07:02)

3. One question to find out if clients are the right fit for you (00:08:45)

4. Disclosing your mental health with clients upfront (00:10:33)

5. Finding clients who share your values (00:12:05)

6. Indirect disclosure + how to set client boundaries (00:17:33)

7. When disclosing isn’t beneficial to your team or clients (00:23:10)

8. Should you become friends with a client? (00:25:39)

9. Systems to put into your business to support mental health (00:30:42)

10. Advice for new freelancers and business owners (00:38:27)