Resilience and Recovery Resources, Douglas Foresta
Resilience and Recovery Resources provides outpatient therapy services for children, adults, and seniors. What sets us apart is how we provide those services and the positive impact that approach has on both our clinicians and our clients.
Instead of receiving generic referrals, which is the industry norm, Resilience and Recovery provides our 17 therapists with an internal marketing process and team that enables each counselor to promote themselves and build a caseload quickly based on their specialties. We help our practitioners showcase such differentiators as therapeutic techniques, couples versus individual therapy, focus on the LGBTQ+ community, specialization in young adults, and other variables – enabling the potential client to find a precise match.
I was teaching at multiple colleges after having been a therapist for many years. When Covid hit, I took a pause to think about what I wanted to do next. I was ready for a new adventure. At around the same time, a contact reached out asking if I could help them work on their license. I did some research, found out that it was doable, and set up a PLLC. Mentoring other therapists remains a distinct part of my practice.
I also thought to myself, “If I were a client, what would I want?” I’d done therapy in many mental-health environments and had a clear sense of what worked and what didn’t. I wanted to build a practice that optimized the client experience as well as that of the therapist.
The relationship between the business and our therapists is unique. I put a lot into making sure that each of them has a growth experience while working here.
Also, Resilience and Recovery doesn’t have productivity requirements, such as a minimum number of clients a therapist must see in a day. A problem with healthcare is that providers are rushed and overwhelmed. As a result, patients feel like they are getting put through a mill. By eliminating the pressures of a traditional practice, we’ve enabled our clinicians to be more present with their clients and to show up as their best selves.
Another way we support our therapists is by enabling them to take their clients with them should they go out on their own, which is highly unusual. This approach also benefits the client: Instead of being shuffled to another therapist in our practice, they can keep seeing the person they’ve come to trust.
When I first started out, I was almost out of business immediately. Our billing service was so ineffective that we weren’t getting paid until 3-4 months after a session. We were struggling with cash flow, and I was floating payroll. We quickly switched billing services and got on track, but it was an inflection point. I had to ask myself if this venture was going to work.
The high point is happening right now. We’ve experienced tremendous growth in the past year. Payroll is $40K-$45K per month. A lot of our new employees have come from large mental-health agencies. They arrive looking really burned out. Over the course of a few months, they often become rejuvenated. It’s rewarding to see them flourish.
Years ago, I started a podcasting venture and got a tremendous amount of help from SCORE. That business did very well, so I knew SCORE mentoring was valuable. Also, at the time I didn’t have two nickels to rub together. SCORE gave me free access to businesspeople and other entrepreneurs who have a tremendous amount of knowledge. When I started Resilience and Recovery, I reached out to SCORE immediately.
Since I’ve been working with Jim, revenue has quadrupled and we’ve gone from one clinician to 17. I know this wouldn’t have happened without SCORE.
When I run something by him, I know that Jim won’t just nod his head and say it’s a great idea if it isn’t. He asks me tough questions I might not think to ask myself. Also, initially I didn’t see the big picture. Jim’s deep experience enabled him to guide me through everything from vision to structure to marketing to finances.
Jim also took me through a complete mindset shift that I needed if I was going to run a business. In the beginning, I was chief cook and bottle washer, trying to do everything myself including getting clients for the therapists. Jim helped me take a step back, become the CEO, and let others do their jobs.
If you’re climbing Mt. Everest, you can do it yourself, but I wouldn’t recommend it. Find someone who’s already been there and can show you the path and the pitfalls. I believe that everyone starting a business, big or small, needs a SCORE mentor from the very beginning. It’s free and effective and, in my case twice now, has had a tremendous impact on my success.
Be honest with yourself about whether you want to be a business owner. You can’t get stuck in your discipline. Ask yourself if you want to deal with things like payroll and taxes… if you want to build a team of outside resources like an accountant and an attorney… and if you want to be responsible for the well-being of employees and customers.
Accept from the beginning that you are going to make mistakes. I still see things in hindsight that I could have done better. But I’ve learned to be kind to myself. No one knows everything. That’s where SCORE mentoring comes in. I’ve also learned that I have to be flexible and willing to pivot to deliver what the market wants, not what I want to provide.
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