How To Launch Your Teletherapy Practice In A Legally And Ethically Compliant Way with guest Raymond Barrett [Episode 16]

Hello there, and welcome back to the Mountain Practice Journeys podcast! I’m your host, Cindy Norton. Here in Episode 16 I’m going to be speaking with Raymond Barrett of the Telehealth Certification Institute about how to launch your teletherapy practice in a legally and ethically compliant way.

Let’s get started.

Have you been wanting to start your private practice, but you can’t seem to take that first step? Maybe you’re afraid of failure or lack confidence, or maybe the idea of running your own practice is overwhelming. I’m Cindy Norton, owner of Mountain Practice Journeys and I help therapists and counselors to love the business side of private practice. I’ll share with you practical skills and advice along with a healthy dose of inspiration so that you can be on your way to the practice of your dreams. Put on your hiking boots, and let’s get going.

If you haven’t yet listened to Episode 15, I urge you to do that. In that episode I talked about the topic of naming your therapy practice. I shared different options and the important considerations for each.

And now, here’s my interview with Raymond…


[Interview with Raymond Barrett of Telehealth Certification Institute]


During each episode I’ll be giving you one small take away, action step, or mindset shift. I call these acorns. Listen to episode 0 to get the scoop on what the acorns are all about. 

The acorn from this episode is to not be afraid to spend money in your private practice, especially on courses and trainings that provide direct benefit. I totally understand that money is often tight when you are starting your practice, and you have to be very selective on what you spend your money on. 

But you will need to spend some money. That’s the reality of owning a business. Many courses and trainings, when they are applicable to you and your business, can save you time, money, and frustration. 

Imagine you are doing something new in your practice, such as beginning telehealth or starting a podcast. Sure, you can collect free information and try to piecemeal it together, but you may still be worried about not having all the information you need or, more importantly, the correct information. 

By investing in a course or training from someone you trust, you can have faith that you are getting exactly what you need. For example, say you spend 20 hours doing research on learning something new. 

You could also attend a training or purchase a course that comprehensively covers the topic you want to learn more about. The course is $1,500. That sounds like a lot, especially when you are just starting out. 

But if you are spending 20 hours of your precious time trying to figure it out and, in the end, you’re still not confident in the information you have collected, you’ve likely used around $3,000 of your time. 

I’m not saying to spend money you don’t have. But I am asking you to evaluate the cost of trying to learn something yourself versus paying for outside support that you can be confident in.

As I outlined in episode 0, I’ll be alternating between a fun fact and ‘what I’m digging’ segment with each new episode.

The fun fact for this episode is that I'm a Capricorn. People have varying thoughts on Astrology, but I’m super into it. I’ll share a little about the Capricorn. It is represented by the goat or, more specifically, the sea goat. Capricorn is considered an ambitious sign, representing stability, balance, and wisdom. They are extremely patient. 

Just picture those crazy goats on the side of the mountain, slowly and steadily climbing their way to the top. Capricorns tread difficult paths that lead to beautiful destinations. Their strength is cultivated by patiently, slowly, and deliberately pursuing their goals in spite of adversities and obstacles - and this is how they cultivate their wisdom. 

This is my approach to life and business. I’m not fast-paced. I don’t hustle and grind. I’m not interested in outrageous goals or overnight success. I’m cultivating a rich soil that is sustainable, welcoming, and filled with wisdom. That’s what I’m cultivating here at Mountain Practice Journeys - a comfy, cozy, and ease-filled space for those introverted and highly sensitive types like myself. 

And I can’t talk about Astrology without mentioning the amazing Liz Gunn, an intuitive astrologer here in Asheville, North Carolina. She is wonderful at what she does, and I have gained immense insight from our readings. 

I cannot recommend her highly enough, so check her out at Liz Gunn Astrology and her website is lizgunn.net (https://www.lizgunn.net/)

Thank you so much for joining me today on your private practice journey.

For episode 17 I’m going to talk about how to grow your social media following with authenticity and automation, so be sure to tune in.

There’s no way you can know how much it means to me that you choose to join me here as I share all things related to private practice. Please subscribe so you don’t miss a step. For more information about this episode, please visit the show notes page at mountainpracticejourneys.com/podcast I truly appreciate you Trailblazers. Your mountain is within reach. Journey on.