MAUREEN CODISPODI: BUILDING AN ACCESSIBLE VIRTUAL PRIVATE PRACTICE WITH REDUCED FEES | EP 136
Are you interested in offering affordable and accessible therapy in your private practice? We all know that one of the main barriers to care is cost, and it is an issue that many Canadians face.
However, there are ways to incorporate low cost fees in your private practice! In this podcast episode, I talk with Maureen, who owns Help Clinic Canada. She noticed a strong need across her community, and brought her passion from her decades of working in mental health along with her to serve this need as best she could.
Now with a powerful vision, Maureen and her team are trying to make a difference in therapy accessibility. Join us and listen to this episode to find out more, get advice, and learn about how you can get involved!
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MEET MAUREEN
Maureen Codispodi, founder and director of Help Clinic Canada, is a force of change in the landscape of mental health support in Canada. As a seasoned mental health and education professional, she is committed to breaking down barriers to mental health services and, with the support of her team, is making an impact in the lives of Canadians.
Learn more about Maureen on her website, business website, Psychology Today, and LinkedIn profiles.
In This Episode
- How Maureen got into therapy
- Starting a private practice
- Growing a private practice
- What’s working and what’s not working
How Maureen got into therapy
After Maureen completed her undergraduate degrees, she worked with brain injuries and other brain-related issues for about five years as a front line worker. However, in these roles she experienced a lot of burnout.
She then transitioned into case management, but it was. At this point, she trained again and decided to become a teacher, and got her Masters in teaching and worked as an international school teacher.
After teaching for almost 20 years, Maureen transitioned into special education where she was leading teams and managing cases again.
‘Whenever I’ve had breaks in work … I’ve always gone back to mental health work as opposed to education because back then there weren’t a lot of teaching jobs … Only very recently I retrained to become a therapist, but I felt like I had walked the path for a long time and I was ready to take on more clinical-based work.’ – Maureen Codispodi
Starting a private practice
‘I started my private practice right away [once I returned officially to therapy] because I always knew that I wanted to go into private practice because I had already sort of worked for public and private systems in mental health, and so I feel like I did already get my experience and do that hard ground work that many therapists do before they go into private practice.’ – Maureen Codispodi
Apart from Maureen’s inner knowing and passion to open a private practice, she also knew that she had a lot of life experience that she could bring into her practice and in working with her clients. So, she felt confident and inspired to go into this space.
Even while she was working on her private practice, her early ideas for Help Clinic Canada were already on her mind.
‘As soon as I got my credentials I opened my private practice just because it was simpler and easier and I could start to take clients and keep my skills sharp while doing the background work to build Help Clinic Canada.’ – Maureen Codispodi
Growing a private practice
‘Help Clinic Canada is a cross Canada mental health platform, and so we do offer full-fee and low-fee counselling. Our aim is that we will provide resources and information for free for Canadians, all of the time.’ – Maureen Codispodi
Primarily, Maureen wanted to break down barriers to therapy and counselling for Canadians. So in her private practice, they decided to offer therapy at the low price of $25!
Maureen and her team are excited to support people in their communities across Canada, and to give people access to therapy virtually, no matter where they are. ‘We’re operating as a social enterprise as opposed to a for-profit company. And so eventually, the long term goal and dream is to separate into a non-profit and a for-profit company.’ – Maureen Codispodi
What’s working and what’s not working
Help Clinic Canada is growing and gaining recognition as fellow practices, therapists, counsellors, and clients begin to network with them; however, progress is slow, and Maureen needs to find the right people to outsource tasks and secure funding for marketing, though she has started to find great people for the team.
‘Again, I believe in supporting entrepreneurs. I believe in supporting female entrepreneurs as a priority, and so most of the people that have helped build this company are female entrepreneurs in Canada … It’s been a very careful selection of who is supporting me with what and when.’ – Maureen Codispodi
While there have been bumps in the road, Maureen says that they have been lucky so far and they are excited about the road ahead!
Connect With Me
Resources Mentioned and Useful Links:
Ep 135: Raising and Lowering Rates | EP 135
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 Maureen on her website, business website, Psychology Today, and LinkedIn profiles
Rate, review, and subscribe to this podcast on Apple 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/.
