Seeking A Therapist’s Help For Your Small Business

 

Source: smallbizdaily.com

 

A psychologist? A life coach? A therapist? The brand does not actually matter. What’s important is that even before the pandemic, startup business owners have been struggling with an excessive amount of stress due to their frequently overbearing obligations. Occasionally, that stress causes major mental health conditions.

A 2019 study found that over 60% of small business operators report being ‘depressed’ at least once weekly. Another study performed at the University of California revealed that mental health conditions experienced by several entrepreneurs and novice business owners are ‘furious’ and insubstantially addressed, with 50% of these entrepreneurs joining in the study stating that they had at least one type of mental health issue throughout their lifetime. Well, if you were a startup business owner, this wouldn’t be a surprise to you.

You are probably aware of the pressures that you confront daily. You have insufficient resources and multiple responsibilities. You should be skilled at various things. Every decision that you make impacts your company’s gains as well as possibly the occupations and the well-being of the customers, sellers, partners, and employees, as well as the members of your family who depend on you. And everything has become more difficult because of the substantial decline caused by the pandemic, which has lead to unpaid bills, lost incomes, and very challenging decisions regarding their jobs.

This is why more startup owners are seeking help from therapists and coaches to help them manage their daily stresses and provide advice on efficiently managing their businesses. Licensed and experienced therapists agree that anyone can benefit from consulting a therapist to increase perspective and understanding, develop communication and coping skills, and cultivate empathy and acceptance. These therapists claim that they have been lucky to guide people on their journey towards unknown yet optimistic destinations.

Source: freeenterprise.com

If a startup owner were currently having difficulty keeping customer and business connections, then a therapist would be desired and must have obtained advanced psychology courses. However, a life coach would help address mindset patterns that keep numerous people from progressing, like comparison, procrastinating, communication skills, and limiting beliefs. Nevertheless, experience is an essential tool. A licensed and experienced therapist says that she believes some of the most competent therapists and coaches carry distinct life experiences with them.

Role Of The Therapist In Small Businesses

In a small or startup business, the therapist will function as a sounding board, a neutral angle, a guide, an advocate, and a supporter. The most suitable therapist or counselor will depend on what the business operator wishes to work on and unravel. A certified mental health professional will possess an expansive skillset to provide therapy efficiently. For more specific areas or fields, clinical mastery and certifications must be taken into consideration.

To find the right one – be it a licensed therapist or life coach – you can start your study by simply using Google to look for professionals near you or by checking out local resources that are sponsored by Thumbtack or Psychology Today, for example. Another wonderful option is obtaining a referral from a person who has successfully employed a coach, therapist, or counselor. You will most probably be paying around $100 to $300 per session. You will also have to commit to having sessions for a month, two months, or three – but not weeks only, as you will not see results by then. You can opt for traditional in-person therapy. However, if the traditional therapy atmosphere does not suit you, you can also consider online therapy services.

This means being honest, meeting set objectives, being eager to listen to advice, and being consistently present and punctual. This is because seeking help is not only about managing stress, but it’s also about keeping your focus and successfully managing your small business and, ultimately, your life.

Colleen, a professional photographer, based in Las Vegas, has been talking and learning from her coach for over six months and is satisfied with the outcomes. Her coach has efficiently provided her useful advice and take an impartial look at her startup business, which has tremendously helped her grow professionally and personally. The essential thing about employing a coach, according to Colleen, is to seek one that you trust, honor, and especially one who seems like a friend to you. This is important because you wish to feel comfortable telling your therapist anything and expressing your thoughts and ideas.

Source: entrepreneur.com

Operating a business – whether or not it’s pandemic or not – is a difficult thing to do, so it is crucial to have a person – a professional who is neutral and without any agenda – to talk to you about the worries and issues that you face, both in your personal and business life. In doing so, you can make a huge difference to your mental health, which could definitely benefit others.

Each person is his life’s business owner. Successful therapy, counseling, or coaching will not only guide and support a business owner while at work but will also result in more significant relationships in their personal life.

 

Guidelines On Marketing For Therapists

 

Source: 123rf.com

Since getting into the digital period, marketing has transformed rapidly, with companies no longer depending on conventional approaches. Yet, for many therapists, marketing may seem over and above their expertise and far beyond their comfort zone. Besides, they got into the specialty to lend a hand to people, not to market products. But the practice of therapy does not simply thrive by being competent. It should enlighten people’s thoughts and solve their problems.

Ideally, having a good reputation is important for any business, especially therapy. People desire things to make changes, and that has to be captivated by a brand.

What’s great about it is that marketing techniques can definitely be studied and adapted, and by navigating these techniques, your self-esteem in your marketing struggles will improve along with your customer base.

Creating A Marketing Strategy

Formulating a marketing plan is a crucial initial step; although all great things, it does take some time. A forthright way to start it without getting overwhelmed is by initially registering with a reputable therapist guide. It could be a wonderful means of acquiring a practice operational and be instantly detectable with just some minor setup.

Some popular directories provide a professional and clear showcase for therapists to register their expertise and qualifications and display their services. These platforms also offer important information that is trustworthy and engaging to help users better understand their therapy choices.

User engagement is very straightforward and spontaneous. The possible client enters the type of session required before being given a more specific list of counselors and therapists who match what they’re looking for. After this initial step has been accomplished, we will now get into your long-term plans, beginning with the ‘who,’ ‘where,’ ‘what,’ and ‘why’ required to mold your marketing strategy.

Source: massagemag.com

Importance Of Having A Marketing Strategy

Wellness facilities recommend that the therapy market decline because insurance firms cover fewer sessions, and pharmaceutical firms progressively endorse mediation over talk. Ultimately, it has been increasingly crucial to connect therapy services with individuals who need them the most.

Effective marketing can:

  • Offer mental health assistance to the local populace
  • Assist clients in finding a therapist that suits their needs
  • Meet the mental health needs of individuals who rely on the service for their livelihood
  • Enables the therapist to concentrate on individuals instead of finances

Once we acknowledge the significance of effective marketing for our clients, the community, and ourselves, we can formulate a plan that clearly states how the business will accomplish its objectives.

Successful marketing starts with comprehending the market and our worth as therapy providers, necessitating us to do the following:

Determine Your Niche. When you understand your ideal client and what their needs are, you can now consider the types of treatment to provide. Ask yourself these questions to know how to adjust your services to fill in the breach in the market:

  • Is there a specific therapy that is presently not available – art or relationship therapy, among others?
  • Are there groups of people who have received what they require – seniors, veterans, or seniors?
  • What abilities do you possess or need to learn and develop?
  • Are there mental health matters that need focus in your specialty?

Study The Market

It is relevant to understand who needs therapy, whether or not their needs are being catered, and where therapists’ interests and abilities lie (like helping couples, seniors, or adolescents).

Then consider asking these questions:

  • Who is your primary target? What are your idyllic client’s gender and age bracket? Where is their primary location – online, local, or both? How much are you asking for your clients to pay?
  • What is your possible market? Is the market of your choice already congested? Can you provide online therapy services? What current services are in the field that you are planning to include?

Source: translatorthoughts.com

Study The Target Customer Base

It’s helpful to envision the kind of search a client would do when seeking help from a therapist. In this step, you can try thinking about the search words or phrases you would utilize to consult a therapist. Try doing it online. What topics do you get from your search? You can use the Google Keyword Planner as it provides a more specific method. It’s also free, allowing you to see how frequently or how seldom people look for a certain service.

Connect With Your Target Client

Digital marketing is very effective, but manual referrals and networking from other professionals and clients are still beneficial. You can conveniently kick-start your business by reaching out to your present networks and finding means to increase its growth. It might be as basic as sending an email, making a call, talking with local businesses, or consulting other healthcare professionals.

Connecting with your target clients does not necessarily require you to annoy harass people – doing this causes them to dissociate – but instead, find ways to inform people that you have an efficient and dependable service to offer them.

 

Counseling Advice For Business People Who Can’t Get What They Want

In high school, the teenagers used to turn to each other for advice. It could be about anything like love, family, clothes, etc. However, there was never a time when any of my friends came to me for advice on how they should do this.

Source: pixabay.com

The common reason that I heard was that I was as slow as a turtle when it came to making decisions. For instance, if you were going to the mall during Black Friday, you’re supposed to prepare a list beforehand and grab everything you need as soon as you reach the store. But since I could not decide what to get once I was already there, all the good stuff would be gone before I thought of what I wanted to get. When I attended Sadie Hawkins dance one time, I ended up going alone because I kept putting off selecting my partner among the guys who asked me out.

 In my defense, I was not slow – I was merely biding my time to ensure that my decisions would not bite me in the ass in the future. That’s something that I learned from my parents, who found business success when they were already in their 40s. Before that, Mom and Dad held different jobs at different companies and only thought of becoming entrepreneurs when they had a solid plan on the kind of business they both wanted. It worked for them, so I did not see any harm in following in their footsteps.

 How It Helped Me As An Adult

Since I was always cautious of my actions and decisions, I significantly reduced my losses when I tried my hand at becoming an entrepreneur.

Source: pixabay.com

 You see, I had always dreamed of becoming a fashion designer. I started making clothes when I was a toddler. My little hands barely knew how to use the child-friendly scissors that my mother gave me, but I tried to make the lines as even as possible anyway. When my parents could trust me with needles and real scissors, I asked them to buy me some fabrics to make dresses for my Barbie dolls. I did not know it back then, but upon revisiting the old Barbie dresses that my mother kept for me, I saw that I was very much into haute couture.

When I got into middle school, though, I began to doubt myself. That’s primarily because I heard that fashion designers typically had some eccentricities, which I did not think I had. If I did, my classmates would not have branded me “plain Jane,” right? Still, I graduated from making dresses for my Barbie dolls and began to sew casual dresses and shirts for my mother and me while focusing on other things like sports, cheerleading, and more activities.

When I went to college, I saw how everyone had a mind of their own. They inspired me to continue aspiring to become a fashion designer. I worked hard and networked harder; that’s why I got to train under one of Paris’s most prominent fashion designers for three years after graduation.

Source: pixabay.com

During those two years, many people in my life asked why I agreed to be in training for that long. Most of my batchmates opened their own fashion houses right after getting their diplomas, after all. They did not feel the need to gain more experience in the business by working for other designers first. They thought I was a chicken, that I had zero confidence in my creativity.

Well, of course, who wouldn’t want to be their own boss? However, I wanted to have as many connections as possible before that happened. It was okay for me not to get what I wanted immediately for the sake of ensuring my success in the future. And true enough, when I finished my training and went back home to start my fashion designing career, I had Hollywood celebrities and other socialites as my first clients. It was all thanks to my former boss, who recommended me to them. Meanwhile, my former batchmates were still trying to keep their businesses afloat by producing basic dresses and streetwear in their small boutiques.

Sweet Takeaway

I believe that we all have the capability to make our dreams come true. It is innate; we are born with it. However, many individuals tend to experience more losses than others because they assume that taking as many risks as possible will make them succeed in the end.

Source: pixabay.com

Those people do not seem to realize that being a risk-taker does not have to be a frequent loser. There are a handful of evasive tactics to try out there, and they all start with learning how to wait until you can create opportunities for yourself.

I bided my time, I worked hard, and I got what I wanted. That’s a lesson that I wish to impart to everyone who wants to find business success. This works for me. However, if the stress of the business world is affecting you already, there is no harm in seeking advice from mental health experts from online therapy for stress services. After all, healthy mental health is important for a successful business.

 

Virtual Mental Health Platforms

Virtual mental health and virtual platforms are among the most significant topics today. This is why I am going to talk about the best online therapy services and platforms. When I got my therapy services license in the field of mental health services, I aided entrepreneurs in getting their virtual platforms and businesses moving toward the right path.

Source: pexels.com

Best Online Therapy Services And How They Work

Do you want to learn more about services for virtual counseling with a virtual company, psychiatric nurse practitioners, and professional counselors?

Are you one of the licensed therapists, licensed professional counselors, mental health care professionals, medical doctors, or a doctor on demand out there who uses virtual therapy platforms and accepts insurance?

Online Therapy Services

I must admit they had never known people like me who were in the mental health support field existed until they heard about affordable online therapy sessions through their friends.

I could not count the times when someone scheduled an online therapy service with me, but you could see in their faces they were waiting for me to slip up and reveal that virtual counseling companies were a scam all along.

Source: pexels.com

The Advantage Of Business Coaching

However, business coaching and online mental health care were never a scam.

It had always been meant to help people who did not go to college to learn the business and avail of financial aid.

I, for one, aimed to make virtual counseling options and other types of therapy more effective than the therapy sessions of in-person therapy.

Allow me to share the story of one of my clients, Dr. Joy, who needed financial assistance in marketing an online therapy service in 2020.

How Online Therapy Services Work

Dr. Joy used to work for a private mental health facility in a different city.

Before she got married in 2019, she and her husband decided to wait for a few more years before having a baby and moving back to their parents’ town to raise their family.

But they got the surprise of a lifetime when Dr. Joy learned she was two months pregnant in January 2020.

Source: pexels.com

Though things did not go according to Dr. Joy’s plans, she intended to continue working at the mental health facility as a psychologist and licensed mental health professional until she or licensed clinical social workers needed to go on maternity leave.

This way, she would have enough time to look for an empty office in their home city where she could start her virtual counseling platform solo practice in the same room as her partner – just set up an affordable virtual counseling business without the need to prescribe medication per session.

How To Provide The Best Online Therapy Services

She hoped she could provide one of the best virtual counseling services. Traditional therapy was not doing well at that time. Virtual counseling cost was cheap.

Source: pexels.com

Come March 2020; the mental health facility had to be shut down temporarily due to the statewide lockdown.

All the workers, including the licensed marriage and family therapists, were supposed to return a month later, but Dr. Joy and her husband chose to move back home earlier than they planned to reduce Dr. Joy’s chances of contracting the coronavirus and affecting the baby in her womb.

Online Therapy Services – Obstacles

The thing was, it did not seem like a fantastic idea to open a new clinic for virtual counseling services because of the ongoing pandemic.

The plan was to be included in some mental health apps.

No matter how many disinfecting stations could be placed around the mental health facility, there was still a significant chance for a coronavirus-carrying patient to come in contact with Dr. Joy. Mental health professionals were devastated by the pandemic.

After several weeks of going back and forth, she recalled she had the license to provide virtual counseling, be an online therapist, and give remote therapy sessions in at least three nearby states.

Source: pexels.com

How To Market Your Platform

The only problem was neither Dr. Joy nor her husband knew how to market her online mental health services, so they asked Dr. Joy’s sister if she knew anyone who could help them with marketing the virtual counseling platform that would cover virtual counseling and cater to mental health issues, stress management, pride counseling, talk therapy, and couples counseling, among others.

Just like online cognitive behavioral therapy, for teen counseling, for example, there would be no need for in-person therapy so it would be more convenient for teen therapy or counseling.

home office, standing desk, living room, video sessions
Source: pixabay.com

She wanted it to be one of the best virtual counseling platforms available on the web — insurance plans for virtual counseling that target different mental health concerns.

Online Therapy Services

Client’s Solution

Dr. Joy’s sister had been a client of mine a couple of years ago.

When she called me one day and asked if there were trained mental health professionals who could help her sister, who wanted to practice virtual counseling and become one of the mental health counselors in the country but did not know how to do it, I said yes readily.

a woman during virtual therapy session
Source: pexels.com

We were all just freed from the lockdown at the time, and I personally knew some people who almost went crazy for staying at home for more than a month and not being able to go to work or see their loved ones in person.

There are probably several other virtual companies out there but I was focused on helping her do that too. She needed to overcome her obsessive-compulsive disorder.

getting therapy online services
Source: pexels.com

Giving Your Clients A Full View Of What You Can Offer

During my Skype meeting with Dr. Joy, the first thing I suggested was creating her own website for an online therapy program like online therapy.com.

It was the classic way of giving clients the full view of your offers, including costs, therapist availability, health insurance providers, and mental health issues managed.

It can have pages dedicated to your history, education, online services, and even testimonials from previous clients.

It may also be optimized so people can schedule meetings with you in one virtual counseling platform.

Source: pexels.com

The Importance Of Social Media Presence

I also found out Dr. Joy only had a Facebook account, and she had been online since the mid-2000s during her college days.

I helped her get in touch with a social media expert who taught her the importance of having a social media presence, regardless of anyone’s line of business.

The same pro created Instagram, YouTube, and LinkedIn accounts for Dr. Joy and gave her access to a small team that could create the infographics, edit the images and the videos, and curate other content for her.

Source: pexels.com

Networking And Live Streaming

It was something that would not require her to do in-person sessions any longer.

Of course, another purpose of having the best online therapy platforms was networking.

Through LinkedIn, Dr. Joy managed to connect with another licensed therapist, licensed psychiatrists, and other psychologists and family therapists who promoted her practice online and offline.

All of these could very well help promote online therapy platforms like hers.

She also dabbled into live streaming as a virtual counseling provider for the first time, which worked like a group therapy session as the viewers were free to type a question (with unlimited messaging), and Dr. Joy would answer them during the show.

Online Therapy Services Outcome

All these efforts to become one of the successful licensed providers in the best online therapy company allowed Dr. Joy to have a successful website launch last July 2020.

So many people wanted to book an appointment with the new online therapist in town that the site crashed a few times during the day.

While it was a hassle for the clients, it was a sign Dr. Joy no longer needed to worry about being unable to continue practicing her profession, unlike when she was practicing traditional therapy.

This approach would really interest many mental health professionals.

Source: pexels.com

Why People Opt For This Kind Of Approach

Even better, since Dr. Joy was already her own boss providing the best therapy services online, she managed to work right after childbirth. She overcame her eating disorders and bipolar disorder. Dr. Joy made virtual counseling effective for her.

She was still getting a lot of rest and bonding with her new baby, but she could schedule a few hours of her day to provide mental health services like cognitive behavioral therapy CBT to some clients.

There are many reasons people opt for online therapy platforms.

Conclusion

That’s the magic of working and giving mental health care online. If you want to learn more, check out an online journal about health insurance portability.

You remove the time you spend traveling, especially if you live in cities with heavy traffic all the time.

You also avoid after-work invitations from your colleagues which gives you more time to spend with the family.

All of these had been possible because the doctor asked for help marketing her therapy services online.

Seek the help of your own therapist now.

Frequently Asked Questions:

  1. Why Do People Prefer Online Therapy?

  2. Is Online Therapy Just As Effective As In-Person?

  3. Is Online Therapy For Everyone?

  4. How Does Virtual Therapy Compare To In-Person?

  5. How Much Does Virtual Counseling Typically Cost?

  6. What Are Some Good Virtual Therapy Services?

  7. Is Virtual Counseling Confidential?

  8. What Are The Disadvantages Of Virtual Counseling?

  9. Can Online Therapists Diagnose You?

  10. Can Virtual Therapy Do Medication Management?

  11. Do Virtual Therapy Apps Work?

  12. How Much Do Online Therapists Make?

  13. How Do You Do Virtual Counseling?

  14. Is There Such A Thing As A Free Online Therapist?

  15. How Common Is Virtual Counseling?

 

Frequently Asked Questions About Political Psychology

Do you also believe in the saying that “two heads are better than one?” Well, when it comes to the decision-making process and task accomplishments, it serves its purpose well. Two minds working together to build a solution is better than a single struggling idea. Two different ideas can get a hold of what is an appropriate resolution for the situation. Thus, perhaps the saying is true after all since most of the time, a two-man-team decision works best.

So imagine if there are more than just two people in the room discussing a potential decision that would change the world, it would be great, right? Everyone can share their thoughts about the particular subject, and they can all learn from each others’ point of view. But what if the decision-making process is not that ideal as it does not turn out the way it is supposed to?

Are you familiar with the Bay of Pigs Invasion back in 1961? Do you know what the Challenger Space Shuttle disaster in 1986 was? How about the bombing of Hiroshima? Do you have an idea what these events have in common? It is a failure. These moves resulted in a bigger disaster due to what Irving Janis called group thinking.”

Irving Janis explained group thinking as a source of excessive optimism that often discounts warnings. He believes that the other person’s motives are ethical and that people outside the group have no right to contradict the said resolution, regardless of it being ineffective. If you haven’t heard of this, allow these frequently asked questions to guide you through.

Source: pixabay.com

What is groupthink by Irving Janis? 

A social psychologist named Irving Janis developed a term called groupthink in 1972. It refers to the suboptimal or faulty decisions made by a group due to social pressures. It is a phenomenon in which approaching issues or matters are dealt with by the consensus or deals with the poor examination of decision objectives.

 What is groupthink in psychology? 

In psychology, groupthink is an observable fact when a set of people reaches an agreement without working on critical reasoning or evaluation. Usually, alternatives and consequences are disregarded. Groupthink is based on the general desire not to upset most people’s stability despite being situationally inapplicable. Thus, illogical or dysfunctional decision-making is always the result.

 What is an example of groupthink? 

Groupthink is an irrational decision-making process that allows people to minimize conflict and reach a compromising decision without any critical evaluation. Though this may often sound a good way to deal with different people with different opinions, most of its outcomes are unfavorable. A well-known example of groupthink is the Challenger Space Shuttle disaster. It is where Engineers knew months before takeoff that there are some faulty parts in the space shuttle. But revealing it would invite negative press, so they pushed ahead with the launch anyway despite that information.

 What are the eight symptoms of groupthink? 

The eight symptoms of groupthink include self-censorship or the act of refraining from expressing something. There is the illusion of unanimity where the group relies on silence as a way of consent. Groupthink also includes mind guards, where a member of a group serves as an informational filter that only provides limited information to the group. There’s also a loss of morality. Another one is the rationale that ignores and discount warnings and negative feedback. Then there is pressure and stereotypes. It also includes invulnerability or the creation of excessive optimism that encourages people to take abnormal risks.

 Why is groupthink dangerous? 

Groupthink can be dangerous as it can lead to collective rationalization. It can also influence a lack of personal accountability, contains no clear rules, and often requires pressure to comply. Groupthink is a frequent factor in bad decision-making that promotes serious ethical breaches. It encourages group members to pay no attention to possible troubles with the group’s decisions and markdown others’ ideas and opinions. Groupthink can be toxic to teams and organizations as it promotes overall group isolation and decision-making stress.

Also, group-thinking ultimately leads to poor decisions because it ignores significant information that can be damaging even in minor situations. It disregards dire consequences in certain settings as it tends to overlook the negatives.

Source: pixabay.com

 Why is groupthink bad? 

Groupthink is considered a bad trait as it leads to bad decisions. It encourages group members to disregard small and major possible problems with the group’s unhealthy decisions. Groupthink makes the whole group discount the opinions and ideas of outsiders as everyone only focuses on their compromising resolution. It influences choices and outcomes most of the time without any clear rules for decision-making.

It becomes unnecessary in time-bounded decision-making because it relies on instantaneous progress and demands a fast decision. It becomes bad and unreliable due to lack of opposition and blindness to potential problems.

 What are the characteristics of groupthink? 

Groupthink characteristics include the illusion of invulnerability, unquestioned belief, shared illusion of unanimity, self-censorship, stereotypical views, and direct pressure.

What are the symptoms of groupthink? 

One of the common signs of groupthink is rationalization. It prevents members from re-evaluating beliefs and causes everyone to ignore warning signs. Many projects increase commitment when decision-makers undervalue the risk and overestimate the group’s possibility of success. Groupthink is toxic to organizations and their teams as it can inhibit innovation and make workers feel pressured to obey the rules.

 Can groupthink be positive? 

Though many people see groupthink as a bad habit and a reason for failure, there are some good sides. Groupthink can promote a united front. It can work on an immediate implementation once the decision-making process is complete. Leaders often encourage groupthink intending to put confidence in everyone to trust in their ability to lead effectively.

 What is the best example of groupthink? 

Examples of groupthink include excessive optimism, discounting warnings, and failure to express doubts, worries, or differing opinions. There is also the pressure of always agreeing to everything and not opposing other members of the group. It also involves a belief that the other person’s intentions are ethical and a belief that people on the outer group are troublemakers or the ones that cause conflict.

 What is groupthink, and how can it affect an organization? 

Groupthink affects an organization due to the decision-making process that preserves the status quo instead of dissenting opinions. It connotes a dangerous activity as it can be toxic to teams. It can hold back productivity and innovation and can make everyone in the group feel pressured to comply. In most instances, the cost of groupthink isn’t that serious but can create long-term damaging effects to the organization.

 How do you deal with groupthink? 

To deal with groupthink, everyone in the group should consider everybody’s role. Each person is critically important for the team. Thus, there should be an organized space. It is vital to make time for an independent evaluation to avoid disregarding possible solutions. Group members should encourage personal and professional development on each member. It is essential not to decide without evaluation so that everyone can celebrate good perspectives.

 Is groupthink always bad? 

Groupthink can be helpful at some times. However, since people ignore important information that ultimately leads to poor decisions, groupthink becomes bad even for minor situations. Yes, it might set out to be a big deal, but it can still create more dire consequences in certain settings.

Source: pixabay.com

 How do you escape groupthink? 

To help avoid groupthink:

  1. Make sure your decision-making process includes a contribution from all group members involved in the assessment.
  2. Listen to each suggestion so the team can open an alternative perspective for discussion.
  3. If possible, discuss the group’s ideas and opinions and an outside member to get neutral suggestions.

 What causes groupthink?

Groupthink is often unavoidable because people have this sense of desire to critique a position, present alternatives, or express an unpopular opinion. There are several main causes of groupthink, and these involve bad and good leadership, decision-making stress, overall group isolation, and group cohesiveness. Usually, this high level of cohesiveness creates self-censorship only to harmonize the decision within the group.

 

Frequently Asked Questions About A Mental Health Counselor

I was only 23 years old when I started my own digital marketing agency. At the time, the only real-world experience that I had came from my internship and a year of working at the Google company. However, since I had a no-fear policy back then, I did not hesitate to get a loan from my parents and create a startup business right from my apartment. 

frequently-asked-questions-about-a-mental-health-counselor
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Since I was independent-minded (borderline stubborn), I told everyone that it would be a one-woman show. Apart from being the CEO, I would also play a digital marketer, customer representative, designer, accountant, and everything in between. My parents were like, “Uh-oh, baby girl. You might be chewing more than you could swallow. Perhaps get an assistant at the least.” However, I insisted that I could do it independently, so they did not push the matter and merely supported my goals.

Getting Hit By Reality Hard

The first challenge came when I was creating my website. (Yes, I took on the role of a web developer, too.) I had never made one before, but I assumed it would be easy, primarily if I used WordPress. The basic content was not too tricky to add, yes, but then there was also the logo, the professional images, the testimonial sliders, and other things that required coding. I had to give up on that in the end and hire a web developer so that my website won’t look like the work of a three-year-old kid.

The first project that I got was pretty big for one person. In my old job, it would take a team of three people to get it done in a week. However, since I wanted to prove myself in the business, I agreed to take it on without getting more digital marketers on board. The more I focused on it, the more I realized it was doable. And when it turned out well, I decided to accept more projects at once. 

That’s when everything started going downhill. I found out soon enough that I was not good at multitasking. I was juggling three projects and failing miserably at them. Sometimes, I would even mix up the information, causing me to recheck everything multiple times. Then, whenever I would present my work to the clients, I would always feel rushed. 

The next four months went on like this. I was making money and getting my name in the marketing world, but I was too exhausted to feel happy. Once I began to feel burnt out, I decided to see a mental health counselor.

1. What is the role of a mental health counselor? 

 A mental health counselor is expected to do the following:

  • Help individuals, couples, and families deal with current issues.
  • Encourage people to open up about their worries and thoughts.
  • Assist clients in finding their life’s purpose and getting through their problems
frequently-asked-questions-about-a-mental-health-counselor
Source: pexels.com

2. What does it mean to be a mental health counselor? 

 Being a mental health counselor means that you help patients develop positive mental well-being and improve their lives.

3. How long do you have to go to school to be a mental health counselor? 

 If you want to become a mental health counselor, you will most likely need to spend more than 8 or 9 years at school. That does not include the number of years required for all the internship and training that you must accomplish in between studying.

4. What is the difference between a mental health counselor and a therapist? 

 A clear difference between a mental health counselor and a therapist is approaching a client’s problem. 

For instance, a wife has been complaining about her husband’s anger management problems. If you go to a counselor, they will help the man find ways to curb their anger immediately. But if you see a therapist, they will take a moment to assess why the husband cannot control his emotions.

5. Should I see a counselor or therapist? 

In mental health awareness, it depends on what kind of mental help you need. In case you have new issues at work or home that cannot be resolved on your own, you may see a counselor. They can listen to your woes and sentiments and help you get through those issues.

If you have been diagnosed with a mental disorder, though, you need a therapist in your life. They have been trained to talk to troubled patients in a way that they can improve their thought processes and behaviors. If you’re not comfortable with traditional in-person therapy, online therapy services can be a good option. 

6. Is mental health counseling a good career? 

 Yes, mental health counseling is a good career. Aside from being one of the world’s rising professional jobs, it also allows you to help improve others’ lives and relationships.

7. Is Counselling a stressful job? 

 Yes, counseling can be a stressful job. The reason is that some patients may not be ready to open up about their problems from the first day. Worse, others may continue to lie about their progress when you talk to them, thus making your job more challenging.

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8. What skills do mental health counselors need? 

 The primary skill you need to possess as a mental health counselor is having extensive knowledge about psychology or psychiatry and various techniques used for counseling and therapy. Your emotional intelligence should also be high since many patients cannot always communicate their issues verbally. Of course, you should be able to think critically and make people comfortable around you quickly. 

9. How much does an LPC make an hour? 

 An LPC can make approximately $48 per hour.

10. Where do LPCs make the most money? 

 Licensed counselors make the most money in Texas. Their average wage goes over $60,000 per year.

11. How do I get into counseling?

A Bachelor’s degree in counseling is your introduction to the field. After that, you can obtain a master’s degree in whichever area you want to work in. For instance, if you wish to be a school counselor, you can go for a master’s degree in education. If it’s professional counseling, it can be a master’s degree in psychology.

It is also essential to do an internship in your chosen field and earn various counseling credentials in and out of state. Considering you want to further your career, you may obtain a doctoral degree.

Final Thoughts

Whenever I look back at that hectic part of my life, I cannot help but shake my head and feel embarrassed about my silliness. Did I think I was Supergirl who could do everything back then? Heck, even Supergirl enlisted the help of her friends most of the time to achieve her goals.

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The mental health counselor I saw shed light on the fact that I wore myself out by trying to do everything independently. I won’t forget something she told me: “Even if you can do it all, you shouldn’t. Let other people share your load.” After a few sessions, I felt comfortable loosening my tight grip on the agency and hired competent individuals. I also earned enough money to rent an office space and buy a few desktops for my employees, so everything went uphill from there.

Mental Health Awareness

Have you ever wondered how your overall mental wellness affects your success?

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It has been said time and again that when we are physically unhealthy, we could become immobile, but we can still take advantage of our sharp mind, and we are still able to communicate and ask for help when we need to. Conversely, if we are mentally unhealthy, the outcomes can be devastating. Cognitive and emotional darkness can spread into several aspects of your life, not only the professional part of it.

Philip Burgieres was an ordinary guy when he met and had a candid talk with a football player turned successful entrepreneur. He was apparently inspired and enlightened. Eventually, they established a robust friendship – friends who shared their disappointments, mistakes, fears, and catastrophic encounters throughout all areas of their lives, not just in leisure or business. They were each other’s supporters. Burgieres continued to accomplish tremendous success in business, and he became one of the most in-demand advisors who led other advisors to learn how to become more outspoken and resilient, particularly in the area of entrepreneurship.

Mental Health Awareness

Studies made by Dr. Michael Freeman, a mental health psychiatrist specializing in behavioral health, mental health problems, and issues in entrepreneurship and business, revealed that almost 50% of the 240 participants stated that they had one or more mental health illnesses. Additionally, they were highly likely to declare a lifetime of ADHD, depression, substance abuse, and bipolar disorder.

The outcomes above confirm that taking a curative strategy to improve our mental health is vital. Combining characteristics that drive company executives to the top can also pull them down into the mud. When you have climbed high up, you have a long way down to fall. You just can’t afford to act conservatively anymore, especially with your mental illness and health conditions.

What’s In The Entrepreneurial Mind?

Mental Health Awareness - How mental health awareness affects business success?
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The truth is you, and only you are the principal assets. You have the authority to engage techniques that enhance your mental health conditions and to keep them in place to help you confront the daily challenges that business and entrepreneurship throw at you.

Safeguard And Boost Your Overall Physical Well-Being

Research has proven several times that exercise can boost mental fitness more than any antidepressant can. Provide your body with the best opportunity access to support you mentally and physically for the various encounters that you choose to face and promote understanding with. It is not right to work overly long hours in the office or be proud that you can function with only four hours of sleep.

Remember that you are a top player in the business arena. Feed your body sensibly, just as any athlete would to win in his sport. Train to become the best entrepreneur, just as athletes would train with great personal trainers, nutritionists, and coaches. Listen to your body. Please keep track of its energy and pay attention to any pain or discomfort that it’s feeling. If you’re getting hints that there is an imbalance that requires restoration, be responsible and heed the call of your body. Don’t ignore them.

Find A Mental Health Expert To Help In Business And Leadership

How fortunate it would be for us to have someone like Dr. Michael Freeman as our personal adviser, someone we can call any time. But, yes, we can actually find one. We only need to search for someone whose strategies are both optimistic and constructive. Look for that particular practitioner who can guide you and help you recover your previous state and exceed it. Take advantage of the beneficial information to support national mental health needs.

All aspects of your life are connected and overlap in one way or the other. You can also do a basic evaluation of your emotional and mental strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats as they relate to your field of business or your role as an executive.

Whether or not you’re leading an empire or an amateur entrepreneur struggling to thrive in the business world, make time and effort to be familiar with who you are. You will realize that all your characteristics function both as weaknesses and strengths.

Source: pexels.com

Seek Someone That You Can Help And Support.

The national success associated with our mental health also comes when we give. A study headed by Professor Tristen Inagaki found lowered stress reactions in people in different communities who were helping others and those who were accepting help. Shifting your focus towards others – setting aside your own agenda – to reach out and help someone can reap tremendous benefits emotionally and mentally. It doesn’t have to entail helping a person from your project or your current area of business resources. It could be anyone, really, because this is not about you at all. This is completely about supporting someone and providing him with what is vital to overall health with the help of mental health awareness services.

These mental health services and health professionals supports your mental health conditions as part of their suicide prevention and national mental health awareness.

According to national organizations experts, health services help raise awareness and establish a relationship that involves a structure that provides you both the opportunity to encourage, give and accept support, either inside or outside of your business. Failing to do this deprives you of gratifying nourishment that can improve mental health resources and ultimately help you attain a higher and more triumphant kind of business success and celebrate recovery.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is mental health awareness?

What is the importance of mental health awareness?

How do you bring awareness to mental health?

What is the advocacy for awareness of mental health?

How can you promote awareness of mental illness and health in your community?

Why do you think mental health is important for a student?

What is the importance of a good mental health essay?

How do you implement mental health awareness month in school?

How can you help in preventing mental illness in youth?

Why is it important for the youth to have awareness about mental health?

Doing A Family-Related Webinar? Learn About Landing Pages For That

A friend called me one day, sounding distressed. When I asked what her problem was, she said, “I want to promote my book about a growing family through a webinar, but I don’t know how to get people to sign up for it.”

I replied, “Oh, it should not be too problematic when you have an awesome landing page.”

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Source: flickr.com

What Is It? 

A webinar landing page is a unique webpage that can supposedly persuade people to register for your webinar. In this world where consumers become bombarded with marketing offers from all directions, there is a probability that clicking on your landing page will not transform into sales if it is not interesting enough or does not strike a chord with the potential registrants. On the other hand, you cannot do without one because your chances of garnering participants on the upcoming webinar will then be slim to nil.

Your landing page should be able to answer the following questions:

  • What can the target audience achieve in case they agree to attend your online seminar?
  • How will it be worth their time, money, and effort?
  • What does your webinar offer that others don’t?
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Source: pexels.com

Who Needs It?

  • Content and Digital Marketing Experts
  • Business Analysts
  • Financial Advisers
  • Social Media Developers
  • Software Programmers
  • Online Educators
  • Leadership Gurus
  • National Calamity Prevention Speakers
  • SEO Specialists
  • Personality Development Coaches
  • Spiritual Healers
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Source: commons.wikimedia.org

What Advantages Can People Get Out Of It?

You can stress out the significance of your webinar in the audience’s personal life or career, for starters. It does not entail that you will need to give away everything you know in one page; doing so will diminish your prospective partakers’ curiosity about the program. Just give them a few ideas that can pique their interest and make them look forward to the online event.

Being concise regarding the details is excellent as well. This is how you can maintain the consumers’ focus. Since it will be a family-related webinar, for instance, you may list down the topics that moms and dads tend to wonder about all the time. E.g., parenting, budget, school, etc.

Of course, you are allowed to showcase your previous clients’ testimonials, too. Many people are wise enough not to commit to anything without seeing several positive product reviews first. If you do this, more individuals may be willing to participate in your webinar.

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Source: commons.wikimedia.org

How Can You Make The Webinar Landing Page Extra Visible?

The primary thing you must do is find out the proper keywords that you should use for the page’s textual part. Say, since your target audience is the folks who have or are about to start a family, you may try words like family, kids, parents, mom, and dad. The idea is that you can use their variations throughout the landing page, but you should never overuse the keywords to prevent the search engine from lowering your ranking.

If you utilize a keyword research tool, you will find out which ones have been searched more than others. Those are your main keywords that should appear on the title, metadata, meta title, URL, and everywhere else. This way, your page has higher chances of showing on top of the search results.

Assuming you already have a decent online presence and following, it does not hurt to use your platform to promote your webinar. The key is to add a link (custom or not) in your posts, which will direct your subscribers to the landing page. Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Pinterest, LinkedIn, and even YouTube allow link sharing, so there should not be an issue.

How Can A Landing Page Look Interesting?

As mentioned above, a webinar’s landing page is supposed to be attractive and informational simultaneously to ensure that it can convert visitors into a paying audience. It means that your text cannot be too long, dry, and dull. Otherwise, they may search for another webinar and say awful things about yours.

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Source: flickr.com

One way to avoid that is by using short yet punchy sentences. Remember that it is a landing page, not a blog or article. You need to go straight to the point and incorporate words to make the guests feel like they must sign up now instead of later. This should be apparent starting at the headline.

If your potential audience decides to scroll down, the page’s body must be as impressive as the headline. That’s where you can present the topics in bulleted form or through images. The easier you get the message across, the better.

Nevertheless, no matter how desperate you are to attract your target market, you should never beg. Try to convey how cool and cheerful you are through words to prevent scaring people off.

Final Thoughts 

It takes a village to have a successful webinar. Considering you have an established audience, you may not have a tough time asking them to sign up for your family-related webinar. But if you are new in the business, your landing page must be as attractive as possible.

Good luck!

 

 

Setting Up Your Own Business From Home During The Pandemic

 

Source: pxfuel.com

 

COVID-19 has shaken up the world economy on an enormous level, and we are all struggling to fight the consequences of this global crisis. As it progresses, businesses are expected to be slow and will not in their normal state for quite some time. Even consumers have gotten new habits and behaviors since the pandemic hit. They are hesitant to go out and shop, which is mainly why brick-and-mortar stores, offices, and businesses are tremendously affected.

For the past months, traffic has decreased, but online traffic certainly hasn’t, and this has given us the perfect opportunity to start our own online business. Despite the present circumstances, moving forward with an online store or brand will be a win-win for you (like me!).

Below are some things you need to know about setting up your own business right in the comfort of your own home.

Open your online consultancy firm.

If you have creative skills in photography, music, or baking, opening a home-based consultancy business online won’t be as hard as you think. You can reach out to your clients online through various digital platforms, like Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and others. Other niches you can provide services for include diet consultancy, workout practices, and personal advice.

Why would this be a great business idea? As all of us are aware, most, if not all, people have been stuck at home for about two months or more, and they have been accustomed to doing their daily routines from home. They work out at home, dance and learn instruments from home, or find a chat mate who can be friends or advisers while they’ve been quarantined. So undeniably, they would be more interested in seeking online services rather than go out and risk getting infected with the coronavirus.

Source: commons.wikimedia.org

You can set up your new business by investing in a small workspace to start with. Then depending on what kind of consultation you’ll be doing, you need to purchase a good quality instrument, gadget, or utensil. If you’re into photography classes, use the classic one you have in your drawer. You don’t have to buy if you still have one that you already own. If you want to help others learn how to bake, then just get a new pair of hat and apron that will make you look good online.

Find a job in an online freelance workspace.

Many websites offer jobs for freelancers with different skills, and you can choose from hundreds of job postings available on the platforms. Writing, email support, and customer service are some of the most popular jobs that perhaps you are qualified to apply. Search for sites like Upwork, Fiverr, and 99Designs, among others. If you’re more tech-savvy, then luckily there are thousands of careers in web design, programming, and digital marketing waiting for you.

Start an online delivery business.

Online grocery and retail shopping are currently at the height of its popularity. With people still afraid and hesitant to eat out and shop at malls and supermarkets, the online shopping platform is the most preferred way of acquiring basic needs, the most famous being online food delivery service. If you want to start strong but think that the food business has a lot of competition, then go for the next best thing – pharmaceuticals and personal care needs. Deliver your customers’ medicines, alcohols, masks, etcetera, right at their doorstep. Once you’ve established a name for online delivery, you can add everything else that people need and want – food, groceries, and even clothes and shoes!

Source: lesconseils.net

Start an online marketplace.

This involves connecting employers with employees and getting a percentage out of the transactions they will be making from their contracts. This might be a little tedious to initiate, but as you get the hang of it, you’ll just be waiting for contracts to be placed and money to get in.

Keep the faith and hope for the future.

None of us anticipated a disaster such as this, but then amidst the challenges in many aspects, we have all tried to survive and thrive – and we are doing that. We may be confronted by several drawbacks and pitfalls right now, but we must keep the faith and hope for a better future, where we are ready to live the new normal in a productive and meaningful way.

 

 

 

How Advertising Conferences Can Be Useful

 

buy, local, shopping bag, showing, buying, products, locally, business, buy local bag, buying locally, company, identity, label, local business, market, marketing, product, purchase, purchasing locally, regional buying, trademark, text, western script, communication, sign, illuminated, no people, information, capital letter, information sign, indoors, wall - building feature, close-up, neon, multi colored, glass - material, low angle view, architecture, built structure, placard, purple, message, ceiling, store sign, 1080P, CC0, public domain, royalty free

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The 2019 Local Brand Conference was a showcase of trends, technology, and fresh ideas from talented global marketers and suppliers across the United States. Companies big and small filled the venue, as through the years they have seen how these conferences have tremendously helped their industry and their people improve and succeed. Online publishers, advertisers, traffic sources, worldwide brands, and media owners were also present to grace the event and to fill in their articles, blogs, and other media platforms. All the speakers had interesting things to say and topics to discuss, all of which were beneficial to those who attended the conference. One of the discussions that came up was how advertising conferences like this one can benefit you.

 

Industry conventions have a lot of benefits. They can differ depending on one’s personal goals for taking part in a specific event. But the primary benefits that they bring with attending the best marketing conventions are mostly the same. First, by attending such events, you get the opportunity to be updated with the current trends in the industry. You get to listen to marketers and advertisers who discuss new strategies, technologies, and fresh insights. You can take these ideas to your company and implement them or simply base some of your own approaches on them.

 

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Source: zh.wikipedia.org

In addition, events like these are also great opportunities to get to know fellow colleagues in the industry. This way, you broaden your list of business acquaintances, build new friendships, and share experiences and information about different things. Finally, being present in various advertising conventions throughout the year establishes your brand – just by attending. How much more if you were given the chance to present your brand among thousands of participants? These conventions are promotion channels that are easily grabbed. You can choose which conventions you want to attend at the start of the year. Select the ones that help you the most, and then you can pick the minor events if you have extra funds. It’s really worth investing your time and money.