iTherapy Online Counseling Platform
[smart_track_player url=”http://traffic.libsyn.com/abundantpractice/0044-itherapy.mp3″ title=”Episode #44 Talking iTherapy Online Counseling Platform” artist=”Allison Puryear w/ iTherapy Founders” ]
In this week’s episode, ‘Talking iTherapy‘, we discuss:
- Ins and outs of online security and HIPAA compliance
- Beginner mistakes and how to stay one step ahead.
- How to start separating out your personal internet presence and your business presence.
- Business building vs practice building and how to separate the clinical from the business.
Lists
Nick Fuller and Forrest Pulley of iTherapy
Nick Fuller is happy to bring his technical expertise to the iTherapy team. With over 10 years of programming experience, he’s developed a broad skill set. Initially Nick’s technical experience was centered around video game development, but since 2012 Nick has shifted his focus to website and business development. Nick was instrumental in writing one of his first projects, Mommy Market, and growing it to over 10,000 users within its first year. Later websites and database driven web applications include a charity fundraising application for a professional athlete, internal employee benefit communications sites for multiple fortune 100 companies, and a content delivery system for a SaaS company that serviced major international insurance companies. In addition to his work with iTherapy, Nick also owns and operates the business Shire Digital Solutions which specializes in custom website development and search engine optimization
Forrest Pulley has 40 years’ experience as small business owner, a business professor at a private college, and an AT&T executive. During a 25-year career with AT&T, he held a variety of positions in operations, sales, research and development and administration. Following his career at AT&T, Forrest worked in the small business environment as a Chief Financial Officer and Chief Executive Officer in the insurance and mental health fields. Forrest then became a faculty member and, subsequently Division Chair of the Business Administration Program at Lees-McRae College. His responsibilities included the overall leadership of the Department as well as teaching courses in marketing, leadership, small business development and entrepreneurship. Subsequently, along with two partners, he formed an online counseling business, iTherapy, which he continues to operate today
Allison Puryear, LCSW, CEDS of Abundance Practice-Building
Allison Puryear is an LCSW with a nearly diagnosable obsession with business development. She has started practices in three different cities and wants you to know that building a private practice is shockingly doable when you have a plan and support. You can download a free private practice checklist to make sure you have your ducks in a row, get weekly private practice tips, and join the Abundance Practice-Building Group to gain the confidence and tools you need to succeed.
This episode was a great episode! I really enjoyed hearing about itherapy and what they all provide us therapists! In fact, it appears they continue to work on nearly every facet of the business and provide therapists with tools to use. This may help lessen the learning curve of business. I drive a car but I do not understand all the inner workings of that car. Therapists may be able to operate a business with those tools without the knowledge of how they actually function… if that make sense… Just something I thought of, LOL!
I feel a mistake many make entering private practice is the lack of mindset or mental toughness needed to stay in the fight and weather through the challenges we all face in our journey to create a private practice. I feel that the external business factors and systems will be figured out but that internal work and mindset is truly important!
ONe last thing as I am probably already adding too much, sorry if I am. Business planning can be just like treatment planning. Would you ever do treatment without some sort of plan or direction? So, why would you start a business without some sort of plan or direction? Maybe I will add that to my podcast some day, lol!
Thanks again for the episode and have a great day!!