DESTIN JONES: CREATING CANADIAN THERAPIST COMMUNITIES | EP 132
Do you have a community of clients, peers, or professionals that you work alongside? How can communities open up new opportunities? Have you considered starting a community that isn’t focused solely on sales?
Community is a bit of a buzzword in marketing and private practice these days, but it’s still truly valuable and a worthwhile investment to make. Connecting with your fellow counsellors and the mental health practitioners in your network is one of the keys to taking the next step in your practice – and it also helps to lessen the isolation of working in therapy.
In this podcast episode, I chat with Destin, the Director of Community at Jane App, about everything to do with community and what every Canadian therapist needs to know to start, find, and support one!
Jane is an all-in-one health and wellness practice management platform designed to be helpful to you, no matter how or where you practice. Available online and on any device, Jane offers branded online booking, beautiful scheduling, insurance management, customizable charting, online intake forms, patient reminders, integrated payment processing, online appointments (telehealth) and more! Use the code FEARLESS at signup to receive your first month completely free!
MEET DESTIN
Destin is the Director of Community at Jane.app, an online platform for health and wellness practitioners that makes it simple to book, chart, schedule, bill, and get paid. Destin has been working in tech and community for over 15 years and is a passionate advocate for community-led growth and how community can help businesses big and small connect with their customers in a real, human way to build authentic relationships while also achieving their goals. She is based on Vancouver Island with her husband, daughter and their grumpy but lovable beagle-corgi cross Walt.
Learn more about Destin on her LinkedIn Profile.
In This Episode
- How Destin joined Jane App
- The benefits of multidisciplinary communities
- How therapists in Canada can build community online
- Which communities you can create
- Destin’s advice to listeners
How Destin joined Jane App
‘Community is all about relationship building. It looks a little bit different at every company I’ve worked at, but the crux of it is building relationships with your customers, your patients, your clients … And building those in an authentic way.’ – Destin Jones
For Destin’s philosophy, being part of the Jane App team inherently means to value community, and bring in community principles into the work that the Jane App team does with their customers.
However, Destin’s journey to working with Jane came on a path with many turns. She started teaching English abroad in Japan for two years, and this experience solidified her knowing that she didn’t want to be a teacher in Canada.
Destin started working in marketing and communications and various agencies, which all showed Destin that she really liked to work with people, and in positions where client relationships are at the forefront of the business.
‘I sat down and thought, “What am I really passionate about?” … [Which] was giving back. I really loved volunteering, so I decided I would work in the world of non-profit … That was where I decided to start my official job in communications.’ – Destin Jones
After a few years, social media began taking off for business as a marketing tool, around 2008 and 2009, and this is where Destin’s epiphany and understanding of the value of community in business became apparent, to unite and grow a bigger customer base.
This is how Destin came to find Jane App, and was hired as their official community manager a few years down the road.
The benefits of multidisciplinary communities
‘What I really like about Jane is that our community is multidisciplinary. We have the ability to connect people together in their core discipline, but what I have seen [to] be really magical about the community is seeing people in different disciplines share their tips and tricks and how they use Jane, and how they do [other] things.’ – Destin Jones
Something unique about Jane App is that it offers a community space for you to tap into where all the business owners can share and learn from each other about how to personalize the app for their practices.
You can work with the Jane App team, and learn from other people who are using it too, because the platform in itself is inherently creative and customizable.
‘There’s some shared learning that I think is really special and I love bringing people together to have those conversations!’ – Destin Jones
How therapists in Canada can build community online
It can be tricky to navigate building an online community if you’re a therapist since there are different rules and regulations across colleges and provinces.
However, what Destin recommends that you do is to start small. The landscape for building community is big since you can include so many different platforms, so just pick one and start small to build up that momentum.
‘Go to where your community is … What I’ve seen in the mental health space in particular is there’s a lot of practitioners and patients and clients on Instagram. That’s a great platform to consider! … You can connect with a wider audience, and there’s lots of people already in that space having those conversations.’ – Destin Jones
If you are stuck between choosing Instagram and TikTok, consider first your intention for using a social media platform, and which of these would suit your intention best. And secondly, consider where your audience and fellow community members are, on Instagram or TikTok?
‘As I said, meet your audience where they are but also meet yourself where you’re most comfortable. Don’t suddenly decide … “Okay, I’m going to have to start making TikTok videos”, because that’s maybe not where your comfort is yet.’ – Destin Jones
Additionally, Destin recommends starting a professional profile instead of merging your personal social media with a new professional branch to it. Separate your personal and professional accounts so that you can keep track of things, and so that you allow your practice to become a known entity in your growing community.
And remember to add a disclaimer that your professional social media community isn’t a substitute for formal, in-session therapy.
Which communities you can create
Apart from the more obvious communities that you can create with your audience and client base, Destin wants you to consider building up a community that’s based on your fellow practitioners, peers, and professional network.
‘I think that that’s really important, and I think if you’re new to community, connecting to your [own peer] community I would say is actually more important – especially if you are a solo practitioner – than trying to build your own community to start.’ – Destin Jones
Being a solo practitioner can be lonely and challenging, so connecting with your local professional network and community can be a gamechanger for the success of your Canadian private practice, and your mental health.
Even more so, building communities for community-sake is important! Sure, you need to bring in an income, and you can start a spin-off community where people can find out more about your offerings and services, but keep some groups centered around simply coming together and helping each other out.
‘I like what you said about making sure that the reason why you’re building community is not just to sell something, and it reminds me of … Talking about why you chose Jane, of how you felt that it had some soul, and it wasn’t just about the tech and the selling. I think with community … It’s also important to make sure that there’s a good vibe there!’ – Julia Smith
Destin’s advice to listeners
If you’re not ready yet or you don’t have the time, don’t force it, but do consider it in the long-run since communities are keys to greater success, networks, income, and friendships along the way too. You don’t have to do everything alone!
Connect With Me
Resources Mentioned and Useful Links:
Ep 131: Paige Abbott: Taking Private Practice at Your Own Pace| EP 131
Learn more about the tools and deals that I love and use for my Canadian private practice
Sign up for my free e-course on How to Start an Online Canadian Private Practice
Jane App (use code FEARLESS for one month free)
Learn more about Destin on her LinkedIn Profile
Rate, review, and subscribe to this podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon, and TuneIn
About Julia
Julia Smith, MEd, RCT, CCC is a registered Counselling Therapist who owns a group private practice in Halifax, Nova Scotia. She is also the owner of Fearless Practice Consulting and hosts the Fearless Practice podcast. Through the Fearless Practice podcast, she provides invaluable insights and practical advice on starting and growing a successful Canadian private practice. Julia’s wealth of knowledge also extends beyond the podcast, as she provides personalized one-on-one consulting to therapists who are feeling burnt out and overwhelmed with their solo or group private practices. With Julia’s expertise, therapists can confidently navigate the complexities of owning a private practice and find work life – balance.
Julia also has written articles for the Canadian Counselling and Psychotherapy association. You can learn more at www.ccpa-accp.ca/blog/.
