Today we’d like to introduce you to Samantha Rodman Whiten.
Samantha, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
After going to the University of Maryland for my Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology, I got my license and worked at a group practice for some years before going out on my own as a psychologist in private practice.
As marketing for my practice, I started my website, Dr. Psych Mom. People liked my straightforward approach to giving advice and talking about relationships and parenting issues.
In January, I started my podcast, The Dr. Psych Mom Show, which has become more popular than I expected! I started getting too many referrals to see personally, so I started hiring.
This became my all-virtual group practice, Best Life Behavioral Health. I now have a team of seven clinicians, and we see clients all across the state of Maryland, as well as some other states. Telehealth allows therapy to fit into people’s lives and be easy and accessible in a way that it never was.
People find it hard to get started in therapy often because therapists are so busy that they never return calls. At Best Life, we are committed to returning your call or email within hours or even minutes because we want to honor how hard it can be to reach out for help in the first place!
All our clients are scheduled ASAP and the video format makes sessions super easy and convenient.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
It has not always been a smooth road. I also have three kids and my own clients. It is busy and stressful to start a group practice in the middle of an otherwise full and hectic life.
Thankfully, my husband Jon helps out on the back end with scheduling, billing, and other admissions. The administration isn’t my strong suit, which deterred me from starting a group practice in the past, but thankfully it is going very well thanks to our team effort!
One particular challenge has been finding enough couples counselors… so if you’re a Maryland licensed therapist who loves working with couples, reach out to me!
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Best Life Behavioral Health is a seven-clinician group practice.
We see adults, children, couples, and families all via telehealth. We treat a range of issues, including depression, anxiety, ADHD, Highly Sensitive People, Adult Children of Dysfunctional Families, high achievers, couples issues, grief/loss, life transitions, parenting, divorce, and much more.
We are committed to excellent customer service. So many people tell me they finally take a step to call a therapist and never even get a call or email back because therapists are so booked nowadays. We are committed to getting you scheduled ASAP with one of our warm, friendly, skilled clinicians.
I have been in practice for over a decade myself and have hand-selected clinicians who are personable and highly trained. I pride myself on getting clients in immediately, often within the week or the next day, and matching them with a therapist who is well trained in their unique issues.
What I am personally proud of as a clinician is that clients often tell me they get more done with me in one session than in months of prior therapy. I am direct and to the point. The people I hire have to click with me, and I don’t like everyone! I have a high bar for intelligence, competence, sense of humor, and friendliness!
If I like a clinician, it is likely that clients will click with them as well.
In terms of your work and the industry, what are some of the changes you are expecting to see over the next five to ten years?
Telehealth is the major trend in my industry. I am guessing that within ten years, therapists will even be doing virtual reality sessions with their clients. This would be amazing; often clients say, “I wish you could be a fly on the wall during X activity (like a fight with their spouse)” and maybe therapists of the future will be able to do this!
All of the inconveniences of in-person sessions (driving, parking, taking the time out of work and away from kids) will be a thing of the past. Also, I have noticed that there is a lot less stigma about therapy and mental health issues in general than there was just 5-10 years ago.
I have many clients who refer me and my clinicians to their friends! This is amazing and would never have happened years ago when therapy was more of a secret. I am so happy that people are recognizing that mental health issues should be as openly discussed as medical issues.
This is a wonderful trend and I’m glad my own children’s generation seems to be discussing mental health issues openly and without shame.
Pricing:
- $225/intake video session
- $200/ongoing video session
Contact Info:
- Website: www.bestlifebehavioralhealth.com, and drpsychmom.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/dr.psychmom
- Facebook: www.instagram.com/drpsychmom
- Twitter: @drpsychmom
- Podcast: https://anchor.fm/drpsychmomshow
- TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@therealdrpsychmom
