What therapists should know about choosing a teletherapy company

Teletherapy is mental health counseling and support that occurs over the internet, often via video conferencing. Some therapists operate their own independent telehealth practices, but many decide to work with a teletherapy company to deliver care. Faced with a historic shortage of mental health providers in the US, more people than ever before are turning to teletherapy as a way to access mental health services.  For therapists, telehealth companies can facilitate anything from taking on a few extra clients on the side to supporting therapists fully in transitioning to private practice. Teletherapy companies like Rula can do both. 

What are the benefits of working with a teletherapy company?

Teletherapy offers therapists a chance to provide the same high caliber of mental healthcare from home. By partnering with a teletherapy company, therapists can enjoy benefits such as a flexible schedule, less administrative work, and the ability to reach a wider pool of clients.  

Benefit 1: Set your own schedule

One benefit of contracting with a teletherapy company is the flexibility to build your schedule around your lifestyle. For working parents and caregivers, this means the freedom to prioritize family while also dedicating time to clients. For therapists with a part-time practice, this creates a chance to earn supplemental income while maintaining their existing caseload.  Rula has no minimum caseload, so therapists are free to see the number of clients that works for them and set their own hours. 

Benefit 2: Limited paperwork

One con of the job of a traditional therapist can be the amount of paperwork. Luckily, most teletherapy companies take on some of that burden so that therapists can focus on what matters most: taking care of clients. The best teletherapy companies for therapists who are looking for administrative support are ones that will handle credentialing, verification of benefits, and insurance billing.  With Rula, therapists are responsible for seeing clients and taking notes — Rula handles everything else.

Benefit 3: Reliable referrals

Therapists in private practice typically have to do a lot of legwork to market their services and build a caseload. Some teletherapy companies take on the responsibility of matching therapists with clients that fit their areas of expertise and live in states where they’re licensed.  Rula matches therapists with clients who are a fit for their practice, and reliably fills up therapist schedules with their desired number of clients. 

Benefit 4: Consistent income and cost savings

Most teletherapy companies let therapists make their own schedules which provides them with a chance to earn consistent income that’s aligned with their financial goals.  Contracting with a teletherapy company can also lead to additional cost savings. Some teletherapy companies allow therapists to work full-time, but many therapists see this as a side gig. As an 1099-issued independent contractor, therapists can benefit from tax write-offs like the internet or phone bill if used for teletherapy services.  Therapists who work with Rula are paid every two weeks without ever having to submit an invoice or deal with insurance. 

How to choose a teletherapy company that’s right for you 

With various teletherapy companies to choose from, it’s helpful to have an understanding of what you’re looking for in a company.

Know what’s important to you

Here’s a checklist of considerations to keep in mind when choosing a teletherapy company.

• What’s the compensation per session?
• How often will I be paid? 
• How soon can I see clients?
• Is there a required caseload?
• How will I receive client referrals?
• Do they reimburse licensure expenses?
• What video platform will I use to provide care? 
• Do they provide an EHR for documentation?
• Do they provide technical equipment for the session? If not, will they reimburse for the cost of equipment?
• If a client no-shows or cancels at the last minute, will I still get paid?
• Do they offer case consultations or a provider community
• What happens if I get audited?
• Is there a fee to use the company?

Do your research

Before signing a contract, it’s a good idea to check out what other therapists have to say about working with a company. Each company has a reputation and it’s important that it aligns with your own care philosophy, clinical requirements, and professional needs.  For example, some companies are more supportive than others when it comes to  professional growth. At Rula, therapists are assigned a dedicated Provider Success Associate to offer best practices for growing your practice, such as schedule optimization, caseload management, and profile best practices. You might also want to research how a company handles client caseload, tech support, and administration expectations.

Choosing Rula as your teletherapy partner

Contracting with a teletherapy company can be a great way to grow your therapy practice and generate supplemental income, or completely replace income from a full-time role. Here’s what you need to know about working with Rula. Rula is a behavioral health organization that supports therapists as they build their therapy practice from home. With Rula:

• There’s no minimum caseload and you can change your availability any time
• You receive referrals that are the right fit for your areas of interest and expertise  
• You care for your clients, and Rula takes care of non-licensed work like credentialing, EHR, billing, support, and insurance
• You have access to case consultation, office hours, and a therapist community
• There are no fees for therapists to work with Rula

Ready to learn more about getting involved in teletherapy? Click here to learn more about working with Rula.