How a Therapist Turned Telehealth Into Greater Access

Living Your Legacy

Brandy Davis, founder of Back Pocket Counseling Services, shares how telehealth has revolutionized mental health access by breaking down geo

Key takeaways

• Telehealth has become a permanent fixture in mental healthcare, increasing accessibility and reducing stigma around seeking help.
• The success of therapy hinges on finding the right match between client and clinician, regardless of location.

Main topics

• Telehealth in mental health
• Breaking stigma around therapy

Notable quotes

People are always growing and changing and re-stabilizing around a new norm. And I think telehealth became the new norm.

Conclusion

Telehealth has transformed mental health care by making therapy more accessible, personalized, and

Transcript preview

Speaker 3 (0:00) People are always growing and changing and re-stabilizing around a new norm. And I think telehealth became the new norm. And I think everyone's always looking for convenience. So now it's here to stay. I'm actually really glad that it was because I do think more people are in therapy than ever because of that shift. Speaker 1 (0:16) Brandy Davis is a bold, compassionate therapist, entrepreneur, speaker, and the founder of Back Pocket Counseling Services. Through her work, she helps people build healthier relationships, strengthen self-worth, and step into greater confidence and authenticity. Speaker 3 (0:29) Along with the shame narrative that comes with going to therapy, I am really working in my practice to redefine what therapy means and to make it a really positive step forward for someone in their mental health and in their life. and really break this stigma that something must be wrong Speaker 2 (0:45) with you. Therapy Speaker 3 (0:45) at the end of the day is about a good match. That's when therapy really works. So we want to be able to offer clinicians that come from all different backgrounds, have all different specialties to match you with somebody that's really good fit for you. Speaker 4 (0:58) It spans the globe like a super high school internet. Elvis, ready. Today, Speaker 2 (1:05) Apple is going to reinvent the phone. It's not over until I win. Speaker 4 (1:11) The Living Your Legacy podcast. For those who live to leave a legacy. That's extraordinary. Get up, Jordan. Chicago. Speaker 4 (1:32) Hey, Speaker 2 (1:32) welcome back everyone to another episode of living your legacy podcast. I'm your host again, Jay Slangen. And we're here at the sunny Miami beach studios on a beautiful day. And we have a nice. woman here for woman in power and her nice sunshiny outfit i love it uh but yeah uh introduce yourself um where are you from and what's your business yeah Speaker 3 (1:51) thanks so much for having me i'm brandi davis i'm from santa barbara california okay i am the founder and clinical director of back pocket counseling services okay Speaker 2 (2:00) back pocket council services okay back Speaker 3 (2:04) pocket counseling services all right so Speaker 2 (2:06) uh what what it's all about Speaker 3 (2:07) Yeah, we are a group therapy practice offering telehealth therapy to clients all over California. Speaker 2 (2:14) Okay, okay. Speaker 3 (2:15) Specializing in help where you need it, when you need it. All Speaker 2 (2:18) right. So telehealth, right? I've never done it, right? But I'm just guessing, is it like Zoom stuff or? Can you give me a kind of explanation of telehealth? Speaker 3 (2:29) Yeah, you got it right. You can join from anywhere that's comfortable for you. So what's so nice is that you don't have to get in the car. You don't have to drive anywhere. You don't have to go to an office. You can do it in your boxer shorts, sitting on the couch, if that's what you like to do. Yeah. Speaker 2 (2:41) And you said a group telehealth, right? So is that like a group podcast or what's that like? Speaker 3 (2:48) No, group practice, meaning that we have several clinicians on our team, meaning that, you know, Therapy at the end of the day is about a good match. That's when therapy really works. So we want to be able to offer clinicians that come from all different backgrounds, have all different specialties to match you with somebody that's really good fit for you. Speaker 2 (3:05) Okay. So are all your therapists from kind of around the country or they're based in Santa Barbara? Speaker 3 (3:11) They are all over California. Okay. So we are licensed to practice only in California. Speaker 2 (3:16) Gotcha. Gotcha. And back pocket is because you can fit your phone in your back pocket. Is that? Well, Speaker 3 (3:21) I just feel like eventually I want you to just have me with you in your back pocket, have my voice, have the skills that you learned from the therapy room right there in your back pocket. Speaker 2 (3:29) Yeah. Yeah. So we've had a lot of therapists here and some of them deal with. the kind of like PTSD, complex PTSD. What are the specialties? What are your specialties? And also, what are your group's specialties? Speaker 3 (3:42) Absolutely. So the running joke is that we specialize in do what you take my insurance, which we do, and which offers just more access, which is really great. Again, we try to keep a very diverse team. So we see anyone struggling with anxiety, depression, ADHD, co-occurring disorders, substance abuse, addiction, couples counseling. family counseling. A lot of college students with just life stressors or transitions. Gotcha. Speaker 2 (4:09) So someone that's like, you know, seeking easy telehealth and then you'll match them up after, I guess you do an initial consultation and then match them up with the best therapist or do they do a questionnaire and then from there you already match them up? Speaker 3 (4:24) Yes and yes. So they'll fill out their intake paperwork. They'll usually do a phone consultation with someone on the team and based on their presenting issues and maybe personality styles or something specific they're looking for and someone they think would be a good match. We then decide who we'll put them with from there. Speaker 2 (4:43) Gotcha. And are you still seeing patients or you're kind of in the boss mode overseeing everything? Speaker 3 (4:48) I'm doing both. I feel like it's Speaker 2 (4:50) always yes and yes. Yes Speaker 3 (4:51) and yes. I think no matter