Self-employment
Click your way to mental healthThe key to any successful business need is identifying a need, and figuring out how you can best fulfill that need. |
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 [ 2002-10-02 ] |
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Shiri Joshua's innovative new Web site helps individuals find the right psychotherapist for them.
For psychotherapist Shiri Joshua, it was a growing need within the medical health community that she felt needed to be addressed.
"In my research, I have found that people have no idea where to find a therapist for themselves," says Joshua, owner of Nesher Consulting Services.
"The Yellow Pages gives the name and number, but they really don't know who they're calling. They often feel un-comfortable talking to a family doctor, because it's so personal."
Meanwhile, psychotherapists, particularly new ones, have been lacking a forum to spread the word about their services.
After doing some research, 27-year-old Joshua developed www.mentalhealthresources.ca, an innovative new Web site that helps connect individuals with psychotherapists.
"I decided to combine these two needs," she says. "The site will have a profile of the therapist, maybe a photo, and their name and number, so people can get a feel of what they're all about."
When you log onto the site, you click on Find a Therapist, and you can then narrow down your search to three categories: area of specialty, location and language spoken by the therapist.
While it's still in its beginning phase, the site, which is free to the public, will eventually offer links to therapists nation-wide.
Joshua says it works as a referral service on many levels.
"These days many things are done through the Internet, so this accommodates that need," Joshua says. "It's confidential, personally based, and is good for whatever they need."
Joshua is working on expanding the site to include links to local mental health agencies, and information about mental health disorders and treatments.
As a psychotherapist who is working on her master's degree in counselling psychology, the project was a natural fit for Joshua. She has a year left in her studies, after which she would like to specialize in child and family therapy.
She currently works as a consultant to families with young children. She also offers talks and workshops about various mental health issues.
By creating the Web site, she hopes to build a greater connection between therapists and the people who are seeking their services.
Says Joshua: "I feel like I'm doing service for people in my field as well as the public."
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