The Online Counselling Podcast
Clay Cockrell from onlinecounselling.com explores the world of online psychotherapy and those that practice tele-medicine. By interviewing those who have taken their practice to a global virtual audience, we have created a rich resource for therapists, counselors, social workers, psychologists and psychiatrists. Thinking of taking your practice online? Learn from those that have gone before you as we explore the benefits and challenges of online counseling.
info_outline
059 - Ray Barrett
05/07/2020
059 - Ray Barrett
So good to be back after quite a hiatus. As our field is rapidly changing due to the Covid 19 Pandemic and therapists all over the world are being forced to work from home, I thought it would be a great idea to put out a few new episodes. And I couldn’t think of a better guest that Raymond Barrett. He is the founder of Telehealth Certification Institute and has been training therapist on TeleMental health for years. He is incredibly knowledgeable about how the regulations are changing in the last few days and I’m thrilled he could join us and keep us up to date. And he has put together a huge Online Therapy Summit – a weekend of classes that will provide continuing education training. The link to his site and to the summit is below: https://telementalhealthtraining.com/ https://telementalhealthtraining.com/course-offerings/product/summit-2020-full-access
/episode/index/show/onlinecounselling/id/14320859
info_outline
Finding Therapy - 005 - Jeff Guenther
03/11/2020
Finding Therapy - 005 - Jeff Guenther
An interview with Jeff Guenther, founder of Therapy Den. Jeff Guenther is a licensed professional counselor and the founder of Therapy Den – a unique directory of psychotherapists that aims to be inclusive of all needs and works to promote diversity. Who better to talk about directories, than the founder of one?! Jeff has a wealth of knowledge and his site is full of information – including a great list of questions to explore on your initial consult call. Site: www.therapyden.com Consult questions: https://www.therapyden.com/blog/a-beginners-guide-to-therapy-part-2- what-to-ask-in-the-consult Please subscribe and enjoy!
/episode/index/show/onlinecounselling/id/13505285
info_outline
NEW PODCAST - Finding Therapy - Promo
03/11/2020
NEW PODCAST - Finding Therapy - Promo
This is a teaser for my new Podcast, Finding Therapy! Fans of The Online Counselling Podcast will find the same great content with Finding Therapy. Thank you to the tens of thousands who have enjoyed The Online Counselling Podcast, I am glad to be back! Please subscribe and enjoy!
/episode/index/show/onlinecounselling/id/13505282
info_outline
058 - The TeleHealth Counseling Clinic at Texas A & M
02/14/2018
058 - The TeleHealth Counseling Clinic at Texas A & M
Today we get to talk with Dr. Carly McCord about how she helped develop the TeleHealth Counseling Clinic at Texas A & M. Seeing that there was a need in rural Texas for mental health care, but realizing that clients had huge obstacles in receiving it (digital divide, transportation, etc) and having many qualified doctoral students at the University – she worked to combine the need with her students and added in technology – developing a clinic that has provided online therapy to over 800 clients (that’s 8000 sessions!). We talk about tele-supervision and training tomorrow’s online therapists. www.telehealthcounseling.org
/episode/index/show/onlinecounselling/id/6258919
info_outline
057 - iTherapy
01/17/2018
057 - iTherapy
Forrest Pulley – Co-Founder Nicholas Fuller – Chief Technical Officer I am so fortunate to get to talk to Forrest Pulley (co-founder) and Nicholas Fuller (Chief Technical Officer) of iTherapy. iTherapy is an incredibly robust service that serves the field of online therapy. They offier HIPAA compliant video, EHR services, payment gateway, scheduling, notes and other services that are typical in the field. But they set themselves apart with their customer services and some of their higher offerings like business coaching, marketing guidance, virtual assistance and tips on how to jump start your practice as an online therapist. They’ve done a great job of listening to online therapists about their needs and then creating programs and services to meet those needs. They have a passion for serving the field and I’m so happy to get to interview them. www.itherapy.com
/episode/index/show/onlinecounselling/id/6158404
info_outline
056 - Martin Perry
01/03/2018
056 - Martin Perry
Today’s interview is with Martin Perry who is the founder of Nous Talk. Nous Talk is a new HIPAA compliant Audio / Video platform built specifically for online therapists. I’ve tried it out for the last month and am incredibly impressed. They are super HIPAA compliant – just not offering a BAA, but also addressing levels of HIPAA that other platforms do not – and they comply with malpractice insurers! They offer Group sessions, accepting online payments, arranging online scheduling – it’s a very robust platform and incredibly easy to use.
/episode/index/show/onlinecounselling/id/6110361
info_outline
055 - Dr. Lisa Herman, PsyD, LP
12/20/2017
055 - Dr. Lisa Herman, PsyD, LP
Synergy ETherapy Building an online private practice can be hard enough – but what about building a 100% Online GROUP practice? Well Lisa Herman of Synergy ETherapy has done just that and she has grown this practice to Minnesota and New York and now has 5 therapists in the group. She truly is a Therapy Entrepreneur and we are so lucky to have her tell us how she did it. In the podcast interview today, we talk about hiring theraists, managing them, learning and training on the technology part of everything and MARKETING! She has some great tips on marketing! And even if you aren’t thinking of creating a group practice, you’re going to get lots of tips from today’s guest. www.synergyetherapy.com
/episode/index/show/onlinecounselling/id/6035801
info_outline
054 - Dr. Christopher Quarto, PhD
12/13/2017
054 - Dr. Christopher Quarto, PhD
Dr. Christopher Quarto is a licensed psychologist and professor in Murfreesboro, Tennessee and is the founder of the Distance Counseling Community Facebook Group. He is incredibly active on social media and always has very valuable information for therapists who have questions about online counseling. He’s very generous about his time and his comments are always spot on. He has also developed a framework for educators to use when training new and previously licensed therapist about online counseling. Today we get to talk about this framework, social media and some of the bias he has seen with therapists who are reluctant to add technology to their practices. I’m so happy Chris has had time to join us! www.chrisquarto.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/150248505543091/
/episode/index/show/onlinecounselling/id/6035566
info_outline
053 - Marc Lehman, LMFT
12/06/2017
053 - Marc Lehman, LMFT
Marc Lehman has come up with a brilliant approach to reaching college students and making therapy available to them. Dorm Room Counseling uses online counseling to help young adults through the very stressful process of adjusting to college. Transitioning from high school to a college is incredibly difficult and more so today – when teens are struggling with social norms, societal stress and academic pressures. Marc meets these college students where they are…online. Using text, email and audio/visual platforms, he allows them to access counseling in ways that are familiar to them. Sometimes college campus counseling centers are not the right fit – so he has developed this incredibly innovative approach of therapy and coaching to fill a need. So pleased that he has spent time with us today. www.dormroomcounseling.com
/episode/index/show/onlinecounselling/id/6011987
info_outline
052 - Megan Zesati, LCSW
11/08/2017
052 - Megan Zesati, LCSW
Today we get to know a therapist who was based in Austin, Texas – but wanted to travel the world with her family. Having a successful private practice, she worked to transition her face to face clients to begin working online with her. She then began to build up more online clients. She now lives in Costa Rica with her family and continues to work with her clients from Austin and is beginning to reach out to the population of “digital nomads” – people who work from their laptops anywhere in the world. Step by step she figured out what was needed to make this huge leap, and today we get to learn how she did it.
/episode/index/show/onlinecounselling/id/5898675
info_outline
051 - TheraPlatform
11/01/2017
051 - TheraPlatform
It’s been a few weeks since we’ve had a new episode, but I think this will be worth the wait! Today we speak with Beata Klarowska, who is the co-founder of TheraPlatform.com. She is a speech and language pathologist who saw a need for a tele-therapy platform that provided interactive forms and HIPAA compliant connection for therapists and clients. This platform has tons of great options and is very affordable. And they are designed for all sorts of disciplines, but it is perfect for psychotherapists who want a secure, affordable tele-therapy options. And most exciting: They Offer Group Therapy!!! Their Business Associates Agreement does not cost extra, and they are incredibly secure! I’m so excited for you to learn about TheraPlatform. www.theraplatform.com
/episode/index/show/onlinecounselling/id/5898595
info_outline
050 - Informed Consent for Online Therapy Katie Lemieux, LMFT and Kate Campbell, PdD, LMFT
08/24/2017
050 - Informed Consent for Online Therapy Katie Lemieux, LMFT and Kate Campbell, PdD, LMFT
To celebrate episode 50, we answer one of the top questions psychotherapists have when it comes to starting an online counseling practice: What needs to be in my informed consent? We all know that there are certain paperwork needs for private practice, but how do those needs change when we bring technology into the picture? Today we speak with Katie Lemieux, and Kate Campbell – co-founders of The Private Practice Startup. They spent a decade developing their paperwork and have had it reviewed by three different attorneys. And today they share what they have learned. And be sure to listen to the end for their huge giveaway! www.theprivatepracticestartup.com Free give-away: www.ht.gr8.com And Rob and Roy’s new podcast: www.therapytechrobroy.com
/episode/index/show/onlinecounselling/id/5671809
info_outline
049 - Philippa Weitz and Adrian Rhodes
07/19/2017
049 - Philippa Weitz and Adrian Rhodes
Philippa Weitz and Adrian Rhodes Face to Face Counseling vs. Online Counseling Today we have our first panel discussion! And what a distinguished panel it is: Philippa Weitz is a returning guest, she is the author of Psychotherapy 2.0 and Managing Director of PW Training, which is a training program for online therapists. Adrian Rhodes is a past president of European Association for Psychotherapy and has over 40 years experience in the helping field. Adrian is a recent graduate of Philippa’s training program and has written an article about looking to Online Therapy as a distinctly different approach to psychotherapy. We have a lively and friendly discussion about the differences of online counseling and face to face counseling and also explore how things are progressing in the UK for Online Therapy in general. Resources: PW Training: www.pwtraining.com Adrian Rhodes: http://adrianrhodes.net Blog article: http://pwtacademy.online/blog/
/episode/index/show/onlinecounselling/id/5554766
info_outline
048 - Claudia Plüss - CEO of Perceptiko and Developer of CatchEye
07/12/2017
048 - Claudia Plüss - CEO of Perceptiko and Developer of CatchEye
Today we travel to Switzerland to speak with Claudia Pluss, CEO of Perceptiko and developer of Catch Eye – a plug in technology that adjusts the appearance of our eyes online to improve eye contact. One of the few problems of doing online counseling is maintaining good eye contact with our clients. If we are looking at their image on the screen, we aren’t looking directly into the camera – which can make it appear that we aren’t making eye contact. It’s a nuanced thing – but as we all know as therapists, good eye contact is really important to the therapeutic relationship. This plug in solves the problem – and does so much more! It improves lighting and can even adjust our background. I think it’s a game changer and I’m so pleased to have the actual developer of this technology join us to talk about it. And it’s FREE! www.catch-eye.com www.perceptiko.com
/episode/index/show/onlinecounselling/id/5528533
info_outline
047 - Diann Wingert Coaching
07/05/2017
047 - Diann Wingert Coaching
Diann is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker who has taken the leap into Life Coaching. She has a fascinating story of how she used coaches to grow her Private Practice and found that the process really resonated with her. As a result, she has gotten extensive training in Life Coaching and is now embarking on a new phase of her career – focusing on Women in Mid-Life who also have ADHD. She has extensive experience with connecting with her clients online and I was captivated by her story. www.diannwingertcoaching.com
/episode/index/show/onlinecounselling/id/5508175
info_outline
046 - John Wilson - Co-Founder / Online Events
06/28/2017
046 - John Wilson - Co-Founder / Online Events
Once we leave grad school and start out as professional counselors, it is of the utmost importance to keep learning! My wife once said she wanted to be known as a “Life Long Learner” and that should be all of us. It’s important to know the latest developments in our field and to keep abreast of different approaches. But it’s difficult to do this. Wouldn’t it be nice to have a library of video chats that provides continuing education for helping professionals? Well John Wilson and his sister Sandra have done just that. At Online Events, they have over 500 hours of seminars and interviews with some of the leading professionals in our field – exploring amazing topics that will help us to continue to ‘sharpen our tools’ and keep us fresh and up to date on developments across our field. As an online therapist himself, John is using the power of video connection to bring education to a wide audience from students all the way up to the seasoned professional. This is a great resource for all of us! Online Events http://octia.org.uk/ Association for Counselling and Therapy Online http://acto-org.uk/ Annual Online Counselling Conference http://octia.org.uk/
/episode/index/show/onlinecounselling/id/5488268
info_outline
045 - Catherine Ewing, LCSW - Sacred Heart Alchemy
06/20/2017
045 - Catherine Ewing, LCSW - Sacred Heart Alchemy
Catherine is a LCSW and certified coach, working online using Energy Psychology / Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT)and other modalities to help her clients heal from past wounds – particularly doing trauma work. She has been a life long advocate for women and minorities. Her journey to the online world is fascinating – she even created Tele-Summits to highlight the expertise of 21 different health professionals – and this was back in 2008. She is an inspiration for all of us to embrace the technology of our time and think outside of the box, while listening to our inner wisdom. www.sacredheartalchemy.com
/episode/index/show/onlinecounselling/id/5464312
info_outline
044 - Shelly Smith, LMFT - Jennifer Labanowski, LMFT - United Counseling Wellness
06/14/2017
044 - Shelly Smith, LMFT - Jennifer Labanowski, LMFT - United Counseling Wellness
Two heads are better than one, goes the old saying. And when starting a business, especially a private practice, maybe it’s better not to go it alone – especially when you and your partner complement each other’s skill sets. This is the story of Jennifer Labanowski and Shelly Smith – two Marriage and Family Therapists who have come together to launch a team private practice – serving clients online in four different states! As they and their family prepare to move, they are adjusting their already successful practice to go online – increasing their reach and impact and they are inspiring professionals. They have surrounded themselves with a team of web designers, social media experts and marketing folks who are helping them make their dream of a successful practice come true. Why go it alone when you can have a partner share the burden and inspire you to keep going in when the struggle can seem too much? www.unitedcounselingwellness.com
/episode/index/show/onlinecounselling/id/5447135
info_outline
043 - Derek Pando - Zoom.US
06/07/2017
043 - Derek Pando - Zoom.US
Today we continue our series of exploration into HIPAA compliant platforms that are available to psychotherapists when connecting with our clients. One of the biggest questions we get about online therapy is: If I can’t use skype or FaceTime, what services should I use? So we are trying to answer that question by interviewing the leading platforms that are encrypted and HIPAA compliant. Zoom is a leading provider of audio / visual connection and they are particularly popular outside the US, but have a strong following here as well. In only a few short years, they have over 600,000 businesses that use their program and they are growing every day. Their application, which must be downloaded onto your computer, is designed to make the connection seamless and clear. Their basic program is free, but if you want the BAA you must upgrade to a higher level which allows up to 10 sign-in accounts and a fee of $200 a month. Derek is incredibly informed on all of the offerings of this growing company and I am very grateful that he was able to spend some time with us! Zoom.US Derek’s email: Derek.pando@zoom.us
/episode/index/show/onlinecounselling/id/5426407
info_outline
042 - Viktoria Ivanova, M.Ed, BSc - Global Therapy Online
05/31/2017
042 - Viktoria Ivanova, M.Ed, BSc - Global Therapy Online
I love when we get to interview successful online therapists so we can learn from them. Today, we talk with Viktoria Ivanova, who began her online therapy practice 1 year ago after deciding to move from Canada to The Philippines. Having a love of the ex-pat lifestyle, she needed a way to make her therapy practice mobile, and she has done just that. She talks about her journey in finding the right platform for her and how she is learning social media and networking to grow her practice. Lots of great information for all of us! www.globaltherapy.online Resources: www.fliffr.com www.buffer.com www.ring.md www.internationaltherapistdirectory.com
/episode/index/show/onlinecounselling/id/5404407
info_outline
041 - Megan Peterson - 2nd Chance Counseling Service
05/24/2017
041 - Megan Peterson - 2nd Chance Counseling Service
Every day I find talented and entrepreneurial therapists who are using technology to reach their clients in powerful and unique ways. Recently I was introduced to Megan Peterson who is the founder of 2 nd Chance Counseling Service. They are an Addictions Counseling Service that uses tele-medicine to help clients in their recovery process. They work both with initial contact clients and with clients who are stepping down from inpatient facilities – offering membership in a program that will take them through the steps of recovery with support and counseling from certified therapists from around the country. 2 nd Chance is all about simplicity and flexibility – truly meeting the client where they are! Today we get to talk with Megan about her services and how she created an online membership program with over 42 therapists! www.2ndchancecounselingservice.com
/episode/index/show/onlinecounselling/id/5384709
info_outline
040 - Andrew Livingston - Co-Founder - Doxy Me
05/17/2017
040 - Andrew Livingston - Co-Founder - Doxy Me
When therapists find out they shouldn’t be using Skype or Face Time for their therapy sessions, their first question is: Then what can I use? Well, today marks the beginning of a series of podcasts where we go and talk to the leading platforms and explore all their bells and whistles – benefits and challenges. And I’m thrilled to have Andrew Livingston, co- founder of Doxy Me. Doxy Me is a conferencing platform that is designed specifically for tele-health. It is encrypted and compliant with HIPAA (providing a free Business Associates Agreement) and it’s simple to use with no download required. It’s incredibly versatile for all of your online counseling needs – and it’s FREE! Special deal: To get the EXTRA 2 months free (thats a total of 3 Months free) of the Professional Level of Doxy Me, just send an email to: with the word Extend in the subject line.
/episode/index/show/onlinecounselling/id/5364127
info_outline
039 - Dr. Mona Ghosheh PhD
03/15/2017
039 - Dr. Mona Ghosheh PhD
www.drmonag.com Dr. Mona Ghosheh has created a 100% online therapy practice based in Texas. In just over a year, she has transitioned from her job as counselor in a college counseling center to her own private practice that is completely online. Due to family needs, she has to travel between Austin and Houston and Dallas and is able to take her practice with her! Today she talks about how she built this business – the ups an downs, benefits and challenges. We talk about it all – from setting up your office and getting the lighting right to the choice of platforms and marketing your practice. She is incredibly helpful and there is a ton of great information here for all of us – newbies or seasoned therapists- we all can learn a lot from Dr. Ghosheh.
/episode/index/show/onlinecounselling/id/5170036
info_outline
038 - Kenneth Fields, MA, NCC, LMHC
03/01/2017
038 - Kenneth Fields, MA, NCC, LMHC
Many of you are familiar with many of the ‘online clinics’ that are available out there. Talk Space, BetterHelp, and Breakthrough are just a few of the leaders in the field. They can be an easy entry point for a therapist who is considering doing online counseling, as they do all of the marketing for you and they offer the technology (Text, IM, Email or video) that you would use to connect. They also sometimes act as an ‘intake coordinator’ and match clients with the best therapist for their needs. Ken Fields who operates from Hawaii and is the founder of Open Mind Counseling has been using these clinics to build his practice since almost the beginning of their creation – back in 2006. He has incredible experience from the inside on how they have developed and how they have grown and improved over the years. They can be a wonderful source for a client who wishes a certain level of anonymity. I’ve heard many of you express concerns about their business models – so here is a chance to hear from someone who has used them extensively.
/episode/index/show/onlinecounselling/id/5124144
info_outline
037 - Nicole Hind, MA
02/15/2017
037 - Nicole Hind, MA
Today is maybe our best episode ever. We get to talk with Nicole Hind, founder of Unveiled Stories – a 100% online counseling practice that focuses on women, singles and those with disabilities. She lives in Australia and is currently in Amsterdam on an extended vacation – but still working with her clients remotely. One of the benefits of having an online counseling practice is travel! And she is taking advantage of that. We get to talk about how she started her practice how she grew it. We explore her marketing approach, how her clients find her, what platforms she likes, her insurance – all the nitty gritty that is involved with having an online therapy practice. We also get to talk about Australia and the mental health mindset there – as well as the lack of regulations for online therapy. And that big announcement I’ve been talking about…well, don’t skip the intro! We have big news!
/episode/index/show/onlinecounselling/id/5087189
info_outline
036 - Maelisa Hall
02/09/2017
036 - Maelisa Hall
One of the top questions I get from therapists who are interested in Online Therapy is: What does my Informed Consent form need to include? And along those lines – is it a separate form or can I just add specific language to my face to face informed consent? It’s a great question, because all along I’ve been an advocate for an ethical approach to tele-mental health and the informed consent form / process is an important consideration. So as always, when faced with a question – we go to the experts. Maelisa Hall is the founder of QA Prep – which is an incredibly valuable site that educates therapists about documentation requirements and the latest developments. She has tons of free information on her blog and she has a paperwork packet for sale that has templates and guidelines – that is totally worth the price. She has a passion for helping therapists do their paperwork and fully understands that we don’t really like doing it! She even has group support to help us catch up when we get behind. She is wonderful guest and I’m so thrilled to have her on the show to talk about how we can have great informed consents forms for our online therapy practices. www.qaprep.com
/episode/index/show/onlinecounselling/id/5069270
info_outline
035 - Jeffrey Frank LCSW
01/25/2017
035 - Jeffrey Frank LCSW
Jeffrey Frank, LCSW Today is the beginning of a new series for the podcast. I will be interviewing current members of the Online Counselling Directory – to highlight their journey to and experience with online therapy and how they are using technology in their practices and how they are growing their practices. My goal is to highlight our members so that we can continue to get to know one another, learn from one another, and continue to grow what is becoming a very supportive community. I’m very honored that our first guest is Jeffrey Frank in Sarasota Florida. Jeffrey is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker who recently moved to Florida from Washington DC, and via Online Therapy, he was able to take his DC practice with him to Florida. His approach on moving his practice was brilliant, as he gradually worked with his face to face clients to transition them to online counseling. Jeffrey also specializes in Intensive Short Term Dynamic Psychotherapy and offers classes and teaching to other therapists who want to learn this incredibly focused approach. He was a great first guest in this series and I look forward to supporting him in any way I can.
/episode/index/show/onlinecounselling/id/5022620
info_outline
034 - Mary McHugh
01/11/2017
034 - Mary McHugh
A few weeks ago, had the opportunity to interview Donijka Monk, who is the co-founder of Irelands leading online counseling practice – “The Irish Online Counselling and Psychotherapy Service”. She was a wonderful guest and suggested that I connect with her partner and co-founder Mary McHugh. Of course, I jumped at it and today we get to hear Mary’s beautiful journey of service that brought her to explore the world of online counseling – and then once she learned of the great need that was there, how she started her private practice and then the two of them grew it to a group online practice with 7 therapists in total. We talk about the current lack of regulation regarding online counseling in most of the world and the importance of boundaries in our work. She is an inspiring entrepreneur and role model therapist. I’m so thankful she was able to spend some time with us to tell her story.
/episode/index/show/onlinecounselling/id/4966870
info_outline
033 - Donijka Monk
12/21/2016
033 - Donijka Monk
The leading online counseling practice in Ireland is The Irish Online Counselling & Psychotherapy Service, founded by Donijka Monk and Mary McHugh almost 5 years ago. AND they are the newest members of the The Online Counselling Directory and we couldn’t be more pleased to have them join the family. Today I get to talk with Donijka about her journey to the world of therapy and how she and Mary were drawn into the world of private practice after seeing the massive need for convenient and boundaried online counseling. They now have an 100% online GROUP practice with a total of 7 therapists. They are a truly global practice that uses online therapy (Chat /Phone / and Skype) to bring their professional and high quality service to those in need all over the world. Today we talk about the evolution of counseling and the need to meet the clients where they are – using tele-mental health to reach expats, those in rural areas, and so many others. It was a thrill to get to know Donijka Monk. www.counsellingonline.ie
/episode/index/show/onlinecounselling/id/4925257
info_outline
032 - Stefan Charidge
12/12/2016
032 - Stefan Charidge
Stefan Charidge is a BACP accredited psychotherapist from the UK who saw many of his clients struggling with anxiety and decided to build an app that could teach them the skills necessary to reduce and manage their symptoms. I think it is fascinating how a counselor decides to learn something new (app development and promotion) and take his practice in a completely different direction. So while today’s interview is not entirely about ‘online counseling’ – we do get to talk about how technology is changing the field through the development of apps. His app: Break Fee Anxiety, is an amazing tool and well worth a look. And it’s FREE! Stefan’s practice:
/episode/index/show/onlinecounselling/id/4899504