Category Archives: Health: Mental Health

Mental Health Press Releases, bring us the latest cutting edge research, and therapies to help Mental Health in our modern society.

Out of a Mother’s Grief into the Father’s Arms” is a moving memoir that explores the loss of a beloved daughter


News Image

“Choose Joy, Beloved: Out of a Mother’s Grief into the Father’s Arms”: a powerful and faith-based discussion of loss, grief, and life after loss. “Choose Joy, Beloved: Out of a Mother’s Grief into the Father’s Arms” is the creation of published author Kathleen Basehore, a loving wife and mother and a licensed psychologist with extensive experience in the field of mental health.

Basehore shares, “In my first book, I dealt with overcoming stressors that engulfed my daughter from the age of five through twenty-seven. Her behaviors were so extreme at times that they surpassed what I expected in the mental health arena. I turned to God for answers as things escalated out of control. To my great relief and surprise, I heard His replies. He was in the midst of every difficult day, every challenging moment. He taught my family many things. The most important was that He was with us in the fight. At the end of that book, Kelsi seemed to have a future. She had obtained a job and held it for a time.

“This book covers the last two years of her life here on earth. Things began to unravel. Mental illness arose with a vengeance I had never seen and took her down. She lost her job. She began to repeatedly hit herself in the head. We prayed. We saw psychiatrists, spiritual counselors, and autism specialists. Things looked hopeless, but I expected God to heal her in this realm, not the next. The day she ‘went ahead of us’ to heaven was the worst day of our lives. Recovery from our loss seemed impossible. Parents that have lost children would fully understand.

“This is a story of miraculous rebound as we listened to the voice of God. He brought us through the horror of devastating loss. The principles in His Word were the pathway to choosing life again.

“No matter what catastrophe you have experienced, it is possible to make a comeback. You are still here because God has a purpose for you on the earth. As you read my story, I pray this: May you find hope in relationship with Jesus Christ. May the Waymaker define your open road. May you never falter in pursuing your destiny. No matter what.”

Published by Christian Faith Publishing, Kathleen Basehore’s new book will pull at the heartstrings as readers discover the most intimate moments of a mother’s loss.

Basehore previously published a work that detailed Kelsi’s early life living with significant mental health and developmental complications. Readers will find a heartrending conclusion to a life lived in faith within the pages of this emotional work.

Consumers can purchase “Choose Joy, Beloved: Out of a Mother’s Grief into the Father’s Arms” at traditional brick & mortar bookstores, or online at Amazon.com, Apple iTunes store, or Barnes and Noble.

For additional information or inquiries about “Choose Joy, Beloved: Out of a Mother’s Grief into the Father’s Arms,” contact the Christian Faith Publishing media department at 866-554-0919.

Share article on social media or email:

WellStone Selects Owl to Improve Clinical Outcomes Supported by Evidence-Based Data


Owl, a digital behavioral health technology company, today announced that WellStone Inc., North Alabama’s largest and most comprehensive behavioral healthcare provider, has selected Owl as its behavioral health platform to measure and improve clinical outcomes and increase transparency with its payers in preparation for value-based care.

“Partnering with Owl was an obvious choice for us,” said Jeremy Blair, CEO of WellStone. “Not only will the data from Owl help us demonstrate to payers that we deliver effective client care, but the Owl platform will engage clients in their treatment and give clinicians easy-to-use tools, leading to improved clinical outcomes,” he continued. “As a behavioral health organization that is so deeply committed to bettering the lives of our clients within the community, Owl is the clear answer that will ultimately help the adults, adolescents and children who rely on our services in times of need.”

WellStone chose to partner with Owl to:

Become a more data-driven company: As an innovative and forward-thinking behavioral healthcare provider, WellStone understands the importance of being a data-driven company to track and improve patient care supported by outcomes data with measurement-based care.

Prepare for value-based care: WellStone will use the population health data insights generated by Owl to support value-based reimbursement models with their payers.

Provide management with actionable insights: Leveraging Owl’s recently launched Owl Analytics product, WellStone will have actionable insights to assess and improve clinical effectiveness and efficiency and overall quality of care.

“As the industry moves towards being more data-driven to enable value-based care, it’s essential for behavioral health organizations to have the insights generated from quality and outcomes data at their fingertips,” said Eric Meier, CEO and President of Owl. “Owl arms WellStone with the actionable insights needed to improve their clinical outcomes and enable value-based care.”

Learn more about Owl at http://www.owl.health.

About Owl

Owl gives behavioral health organizations better data, better insights, and better outcomes with its data-driven, evidence-based solutions. Leading organizations, including Main Line Health, Amita Health, Inova Health, Polara Health, and Aurora Mental Health Center, rely on Owl to expand access to care, improve clinical outcomes, and prepare for value-based care. Owl makes measurement-based care easy to engage patients, optimize treatment, improve care, reduce clinician burden, and capture data to optimize business performance. For more information on our transformational behavioral health solutions, visit owl.health.

About WellStone

WellStone, Inc. is a non-profit community organization that provides mental health and substance abuse services supporting the integrated health of the whole person. The organization offers programs for children, adolescents, adults, substance abuse, school-based outreach, community services and more. WellStone operates 12 facilities throughout Huntsville and Cullman and is certified through the Alabama Department of Mental Health. For more information, visit http://www.wellstone.com. Additional media inquiries can be directed to the Communications Office by emailing pr@wellstone.com or by calling (256) 705-6301.

Share article on social media or email:

Harvard-Trained Doctor Launches Clinic Featuring FDA-Approved ‘TMS Therapy’ For Anxiety & Depression


The ability to reduce their depression and anxiety in as little as four weeks — through the use of magnetic fields to stimulate the mood center of the brain — is very gratifying.

TMS Health and Wellness today announced the launch of its Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) Therapy clinic in Costa Mesa, California, as an effective option for those seeking treatment of anxiety, depression, and many other conditions. TMS Therapy is an FDA-approved non-invasive and drug-free method and is covered by most PPO insurances and Medicare. Dr. Eppele’s team has been successfully providing this life-changing therapy since 2010 and has achieved an 89% success rate when it comes to Major Depressive Disorder symptoms. The clinic offers a new way for those who are battling depression, anxiety, addiction, or chronic pain to deal with their condition.

“Quite often we encounter patients who have dealt with anxiety, depression, or both for a long period of time, and who feel that nothing will reduce their symptoms,” says Dr. Claudia Eppele M.D., founder and Chief Medical Officer at TMS Health and Wellness.

“The ability to reduce their depression and anxiety in as little as four weeks — through the use of magnetic fields to stimulate the mood center of the brain — is very gratifying.”

TMS Health and Wellness is a holistic-focused practice that offers the following services:

· TMS Therapy

· Anxiety Treatment

· Depression Treatment

· OCD Treatment

· Addiction Treatment

· Chronic Pain Management

· ADD / ADHD Treatment

· Corporate Mindfulness

· Concierge Medicine

· Homeopathic Treatments

· Neurofeedback Therapy

· Psychiatry

· Cognitive Therapy

· Psychotherapy

· Family / Group Therapy

· Coaching Psychiatrist

The TMS Health and Wellness team was assembled by Harvard-trained TMS specialist, Dr. Claudia Eppele, M.D. The practice has rapidly grown to become one of the country’s premier centers for TMS Therapy. With a success rate of over 89% regarding the reduction of symptoms, TMS Health and Wellness offers the highest possible quality of service for the treatment of Major Depressive Disorder.

At TMS Health and Wellness, the goal is to treat the “whole person”, recognizing that people are more than just the conditions that ail them. The clinic’s unique approach to wellness enhances standard care by augmenting TMS therapy with various inner resource tools and natural remedies such as meditation, mindful self-compassion, homeopathy and aromatherapy. This supports the end treatment goal of offering non-drug alternative treatments that actually work.

TMS Health and Wellness continues to advance treatment alternatives by offering both rTMS and Deep Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (dTMS), utilizing the latest H-coil technology. Through TMS treatment, the brain begins to heal itself.

TMS Therapy is performed by prescription only under the supervision of a doctor while patients remain awake and alert. TMS is a non-medicinal, non-invasive treatment for Depression. TMS Health and Wellness enhances TMS by incorporating research-based protocols, life coaching skills, and meditation. TMS Therapy is FDA-approved, non-invasive, and well tolerated. Patients receive four to six weeks of daily treatment. The non-drug therapy has no side effects and is covered by most insurance policies.

TMS Therapy is available now. For more information visit the TMS Health and Wellness website.

Dr. Eppele can be made available for select in-person interviews with television news media in the Orange County, CA area and select Zoom interviews with media outlets nationwide.

About TMS Health and Wellness: Founded by Harvard-trained doctor, Claudia Eppele M.D., TMS Health and Wellness is one of the nation’s premier Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation therapy centers. Practitioners use magnetic systems to impact the brain’s mood center and provide results in as little as eight weeks.

Share article on social media or email:

New study looks into the downside of changing one’s identity for the sake of others’ happiness


Changing yourself is not the same as improving yourself - the motive behind it matters.

Changing who you are in order to make someone else happy could mean losing your identity and what makes you special.

Changing because you want to change, because you want to live a better life is a healthy goal. Changing yourself in order to make someone else happy is not.

Ralph Waldo Emerson believed that the greatest accomplishment is “to be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else.” True enough, given that people are constantly plagued by advertisements implying that they are simply not good enough – at least, not until they buy the latest facial cream, fat-free food, car model, or whatever the latest “perfect” celebrity is peddling. In a desperate effort to be accepted and to belong, many people will change the very core of who they are in order to please others. Evidently, this comes at a significant emotional cost.

Analyzing data collected from 12,259 people who took the Emotional Intelligence Test, PsychTests’ researchers compared people who readily change themselves – their appearance, beliefs, preferences, and behavior – in order to please others (“Chameleons”) and those who won’t (“Authentics”).

Here’s what the study revealed:

PEOPLE WHO CHANGE THEMSELVES IN ORDER TO PLEASE OTHERS ARE MORE LIKELY TO HAVE LOW SELF-ESTEEM

> 43% don’t consider themselves special, exceptional, or interesting in any way (compared to 6% of Authentics).

> 58% find it difficult to accept compliments (compared to 24% of Authentics).

> 62% frequently and harshly criticize themselves (compared to 10% of Authentics).

> 72% desperately want to be liked by everyone they meet (compared to 27% of Authentics).

CHAMELEONS DON’T TRUST THEMSELVES AND DON’T HAVE FAITH IN THEIR KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS

> 55% don’t feel confident about a decision unless others approve it (compared to 9% of Authentics).

> 51% are not satisfied with an achievement or a job well done unless someone else praises it (compared to 6% of Authentics).

> 54% indicated that they are never satisfied with what they have achieved (compared to 16% of Authentics).

> 69% experience frequent self-doubt (compared to 13% of Authentics).

CHAMELEONS ARE UNASSERTIVE, AND HAVE A HARD TIME SAYING “NO”

> 64% pretend to agree with someone’s opinion in order to prevent disagreements (compared to 15% of Authentics).

> 71% won’t ask for what they want, even when they feel they deserve it (compared to 27% of Authentics).

> 60% won’t express what they really feel (compared to 19% of Authentics).

> 64% are entirely conflict-avoidant (compared to 23% of Authentics).

> 69% consistently put others’ needs ahead of their own, even when doing so leaves them uncomfortable, angry, or resentful (compared to 32% of Authentics).

> 72% apologize even when they know they haven’t done anything wrong (compared to 25% of Authentics).

CHAMELEONS TEND TO LACK SELF-AWARENESS – THEY DON’T KNOW WHO THEY ARE OR WHAT THEY WANT

> 51% have adopted certain beliefs simply because it’s what their family or friends believe (compared to 17% of Authentics).

> 50% feel their life lacks purpose (compared to 7% of Authentics).

> 39% ignore their gut feelings and intuition (compared to 19% of Authentics).

> Only 47% are happy with their lives (compared to 85% of Authentics).

“When you change who you are in order to become the person you think others want you to be, you surrender your sense of self. Consequently, you are left feeling lost, empty, purposeless, and most importantly, unhappy,” explains Dr. Ilona Jerabek, president of PsychTests. “This is because everything that defined you – your beliefs, values, preferences, and even the way you dress and behave is cast aside. In its place is a persona, built according to someone else’s specifications, like a robot. At first, you may think you’re happy with this new and ‘better’ you. You’re fitting in, you’re more popular, people like you and talk to you more. But this won’t last long – and it’s exhausting. When you are not being true to yourself or to the kind of life you want to live, it is only a matter of time until you start feeling depressed, hopeless, and aimless.”

“I am a strong proponent of self-improvement,” continues Dr. Jerabek. “Choosing to break a bad habit, to stop a pattern of unhealthy behaviors or thinking processes, to take control of your life, and to nurture yourself is commendable. Changing because you want to change, because you want to live a better life is a healthy goal. Changing yourself in order to make someone else happy is not. This is why I strongly advise people to regularly engage in some introspection and take stock of their lives. Are you happy with the way you have been living your life? Do your values, beliefs, and goals truly represent who you are and what you want? Are you being true to yourself? If the answer to any of these questions is ‘no’, then it’s time to cast aside the persona and start being the real you. Some people may not like it but that’s okay. The right people will gravitate to your authentic self and replace those who cannot accept you just the way you are.”

Want to assess your EQ? Check out our the Emotional Intelligence Test at https://testyourself.psychtests.com/testid/3979

Professional users, such as HR managers, coaches, and therapists, can request a free demo for this or other assessments from ARCH Profile’s extensive battery: http://hrtests.archprofile.com/testdrive_gen_1

To learn more about psychological testing, download this free eBook: http://hrtests.archprofile.com/personality-tests-in-hr

About PsychTests AIM Inc.

PsychTests AIM Inc. originally appeared on the internet scene in 1996. Since its inception, it has become a pre-eminent provider of psychological assessment products and services to human resource personnel, therapists and coaches, academics, researchers and a host of other professionals around the world. PsychTests AIM Inc. staff is comprised of a dedicated team of psychologists, test developers, researchers, statisticians, writers, and artificial intelligence experts (see ARCHProfile.com).

Share article on social media or email:

AllKindsofTherapy.com Announces Another Record Year


For the third year in a row, website traffic has risen over 20%

AllKindsofTherapy.com is the advertising-based directory that requires all treatment-to-transition programs, boarding schools, wilderness therapy programs, parent coaching and hybrid Gap Year programs to answer facts about ownership, licensing, accreditation, treatment model(s), creating a level of transparency for visitors that no other online directory requires.

Most of All Kind of Therapy’s advertisers are marketing to a family paying ‘out of pocket’ for their teen or adult child to receive treatment for anxiety, depression, trauma, or co-occurring substance abuse. Beginning at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic and now with the continued variants, searches for insurance-related mental health services in residential treatment or reading blogs related to successfully navigating insurance hurdles are up 50%. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) shared a study the mental health of children and teens is tied to a parent or caregiver’s mental health. “The website is designed to showcase treatment-to-transition options for teens and young adults yet the family system must be supported, too,” said Jenney Wilder, M.S.Ed. and owner of the AllKindsofTherapy.com website. “Over the last year, more parent coaches are advertising and subscription-based virtual communities designed to support parents are also a growing service.” The pandemic’s novel stressors highlight that the whole family system needs more support than ever, and the website’s continuing traffic growth reveals that the additional family virtual or in-person workshops, weekly Zoom calls, virtual parent groups, private Facebook groups, gender specific groups have provided needed, additional support through the last year on allkindsoftherapy.com.

###

About All Kinds of Therapy

Launched in 2015, All Kinds of Therapy is a web-based platform that focuses on interventions, assessment, and varying types of treatment-to-transition programming for ages 30 and under. All advertisers on the website must answer revealing facts about their treatment model, clinicians’ training, licensing and ownership, offering a level of transparency unlike any other online treatment, boarding school, or professional directory. The platform allows visitors to compare all levels of care side-by-side, and find an ‘Expert’ to facilitate the treatment-to-transition process and family system. The blog provides an educational space for parents and young adults sharing current trends, and to gain insight about the Family Choice Behavioral Healthcare and addiction /recovery fields.

Share article on social media or email:

7 Mindsets Announces Investment by Gauge Capital


News Image

“The Gauge Capital team has a proven record of success and together, we will empower millions of students and educators to live their best lives, said Scott Shickler, Co-Founder and CEO of 7 Mindsets.”

7 Mindsets, the leading provider of online social-emotional learning (SEL) curriculum and professional development to K-12 districts and schools, has partnered with middle-market private equity firm Gauge Capital to provide growth capital and to recapitalize the company for rapid expansion. This capital investment will further accelerate 7 Mindsets’ plans to develop additional SEL offerings and resources that empower students and educators across the country, creating lasting cultural transformation that positively impacts student behavior, achievement, and attendance.

Founded in 2016, 7 Mindsets includes a comprehensive web-based curriculum and professional development program. The mindsets-based curriculum includes more than 370 unique lessons for students in every grade in both English and Spanish. In addition to the student curriculum, 7 Mindsets’ research-backed methodology provides resources that help teachers reconnect to their students and each other.

“Our mission has always been to help students and educators dream bigger, pursue their passions, have meaningful relationships and to thrive in and out of school,” said Scott Shickler, Co-Founder and CEO of 7 Mindsets. “Gauge Capital shares our belief that mindsets matter and they determine the quality of your life. The Gauge Capital team has a proven record of success and together, we will empower millions of students and educators to live their best lives.”

Tom McKelvey, Co-Founder and Managing Partner at Gauge Capital, said, “Extensive research has shown direct and statistically significant impact from the 7 Mindsets approach to supporting the social-emotional wellbeing of students, teachers, and administrators. 7 Mindsets and its transformational social-emotional learning platform have a well-deserved reputation for excellence. We look forward to helping them further build an optimistic view of the future with mindsets-based social-emotional learning.”

About Gauge Capital

Gauge Capital is a leading middle-market private equity firm based in Southlake, Texas. Gauge invests in five key sectors: healthcare, technology, business services, government & industrial services, and food & consumer. The firm manages approximately $2.5 billion in capital and in 2020 and 2021, Inc. Magazine named Gauge one of the top private equity firms for founders. In 2021, Gauge was also named to the Top 50 PE Firms in the Middle Market by Grady Campbell. For more information, please contact Andrew Peix, Managing Director of Business Development at apeix@gaugecapital.com.

About 7 Mindsets

Since 2016, 7 Mindsets has been providing an award-winning, easy-to-implement, proven, and transformational SEL program to PreK-12 schools and districts. The research-based program helps PK-12 districts and schools create and sustain positive school cultures rooted in healthy relationships. For more information go to https://7mindsets.com and follow 7 Mindsets on Twitter @7Mindsets.

Share article on social media or email:

USI Insurance Services Donates 200 laptops to Health Connect America (HCA)


News Image

Health Connect America (HCA), a provider of mental and behavioral health services, through their subsidiary ERS (Electronic Recycling Services) received a donation of 200 laptops from USI Insurance Services (USI). ERS is designed to provide employment for adults who are diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and different disabilities through an ethical solution to electronics waste management.

Through this donation and others like it, HCA will hire two additional young adults into their program in 2022, empowering and equipping them for an independent future.

USI is one of the largest insurance brokerage and consulting firms in the world, specializing in property and casualty, employee benefits, personal risk, program, and retirement solutions for a wide range of clients. USI connects over 8,000 industry-leading professionals from approximately 200 offices in the U.S. to serve clients’ local, national, and international needs. USI employs more than 150 local insurance and risk management professionals throughout Tennessee, with office locations in Brentwood, Franklin, Memphis and Knoxville.

USI’s Tennessee employee benefits practice leader, Mike Barton, shared, “USI is thrilled to partner with Health Connect America to support their mission of helping young adults with autism and other conditions to lead independent and productive lives.”

“Giving back to the local communities we serve is an integral part of USI’s identity,” said USI’s middle Tennessee property & casualty practice leader, Todd Batson. “USI is proud to support HCA’s efforts to uplift young adults impacted by high levels of unemployment. I am confident the donation of these much-needed laptops will further support future employment opportunities, job placement and training, and life-skills mentoring.”

“USI indicated early on they wanted to help our clients. Their donation will play a meaningful role in employing, training, and mentoring young adults with autism. I applaud Mike and Todd Batson’s leadership in making this happen. This is a very big day for HCA and its clients!” shared Health Connect America’s regional vice president of adult services, Dave Krikac.

About Health Connect America

Health Connect America (HCA) provides mental and behavioral health services to children, families, and adults across 56 locations across five states impacting the lives of nearly 10,000 people daily. The organization is honored to be a part of the communities served walking with clients as they embark on a journey to self-improvement and more fulfilling lives. Health Connect America provides services where clients need them – within the community, the home, or in one of the organization’s many locations. Through a vast network of direct care professionals, HCA is readily available to meet the needs of both clients and their families. The services delivered include one-on-one or family counseling, case management, autism services, or medication.

http://www.healthconnectamerica.com

Share article on social media or email:

InHome Therapy Plans to Become the Employer of Choice by Providing its Therapists with an Online Community and Career Training


InHome Therapy is the first Home Therapy as a Service (HTaaS) solution in the market and is on a mission to solve the increasing therapy and staffing needs of a booming home health industry by becoming an employer of choice for therapists. The brand has successfully been able to provide pristine care by positioning itself as an attractive option for therapists, providing talent with a community, training and resources to gain confidence and excel their careers.

While many traditional staffing companies operate as transactional brokers, InHome Therapy’s HTaaS model allows agencies to engage highly qualified and motivated home-health therapists to deliver services in the home. Not trying to compete and already standing out from the competition, InHome Therapy takes complete ownership and pride in the at-home model of therapy it offers and does not see the interaction as transactional, but rather an ongoing relationship between a patient and a therapist.

InHome Therapy CEO Matt Murphy, a former officer in the Navy, made his civilian career as a healthcare services attorney, then into senior care businesses, most recently at a prominent national senior care franchise as president and CEO.

“I’m bringing the most from my experience in senior care, and it’s the reason that I partnered with the private equity firm NewSpring Healthcare to find this opportunity in home health,” stated Murphy. “I really recognized that home health is the preferred setting for everyone associated with healthcare services. Everybody wants to do it, but the reality of it is, it’s complicated because people’s lives are at stake. What I learned is that the vagaries of people’s lives has defined care at home differently for just about every patient.”

The company leaders — Murphy and his team of Kristie Kamps, Clinical Director; Sarah Peterman, Director of Marketing; Meaghan Chitwood, Chief Operating Officer; Therese Williams, Chief Talent Strategy Officer; Rick Anglin, Corporate Development Officer and Dave Connor, Chief Financial Officer — identified that being in the home-health industry, they knew they would have to be the solution as the direct agency provider in solving the labor shortage by helping solve it for customers.

“The labor shortage is going to be a prevailing factor,” Murphy said. “It’s not just an issue today; it’s going to be the issue for the next five or 10 years. We knew we were going to have to figure out how to help the labor shortage for our customers, and we welcome the opportunity to be a difference maker.”

InHome Therapy recognizes the value of the work these professionals do day-to-day and sees the importance of building a community for them. While the office is not in-person, there is a strong, thriving online community for the InHome therapists to communicate with each other. This fosters camaraderie and brand unity. The brand roughly has 300 therapists currently across the four states of Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Illinois and Florida and is now looking to grow into the states of New Jersey, Indiana, South Carolina and California.

Murphy remarked that the best care starts by providing the company’s therapists with the tools, support and flexibility they need to deliver the best care possible. The physical, occupational and speech therapists who join InHome Therapy are forging the path to a healthier future under Murphy and his team’s guidance “to take the burden of finding the right people at the right time and place” out of the picture. The brand leverages its unmatched systems, processes and tools to unlock a new approach for delivering sustainable and measurable results to home therapy patient care, ensuring the world can move easier and live better.

The company was built by some of the top therapists in the country who are intimately familiar with the scope and importance of their work. Now, this therapist-centric brand is recognized for providing best-in-industry care support for not only hiring top therapists but supporting them to advance their careers.

“InHome Therapy is more than just therapy in the home,” Chitwood said. “What we’re trying to do is flip the model. Instead of us posting jobs, we’re trying to know and build relationships with as many therapists as possible. By doing this, when we have a need in a given location, we can simply reach out and say, ‘Here’s what’s available, is anybody interested?’”

Chitwood noted that InHome Therapy realizes the heroism in the work of the therapist and has identified any challenges they may face to set these professionals up to be as successful as possible. In particular, she stated that the brand begins by identifying where therapists are in their career path and seeing if the InHome community may be a right fit. For example, a therapist just out of college may value the experience and training to develop confidence in the field. Or, on the contrary, a veteran therapist may have reached a place in their career where they wish to give back and they desire a more flexible schedule.

The company is taking strides to ensure it builds relationships with the best practitioners, offering a number of lucrative incentives to join.

“We look at how we can build these relationships with individuals because our goal line and our capability of being able to grow really comes down to the facet of therapists having a very positive attitude about the brand and seeing it as a stepping stone up for who they are,” said Chitwood. “One thing we will be doing is offering continuing education credits for free to the therapist community — something they usually have to pay for. The therapists need to feel like they have what they need to live their passion. ”

When forming InHome Therapy, Murphy says he considered that many therapists want the “stepping stone” aspect of their career — “they want an environment to grow, learn and really focus on several different types of patients and become great at what they do.” Murphy therefore wanted to find a way to not only attract, but retain these highly trained professionals to make an impact and develop the repertoire of the InHome Therapy brand. This was done by making the training simple and eliminating the tedious, unnecessary processes such as the clipboard of paperwork before each session. InHome Therapy allows therapists to conduct therapy sessions without the hassle of paperwork and data entry.

Chitwood says InHome Therapy’s model is a “home-run” for therapists by eliminating the stress of the profession and simply allowing them to do their jobs.

“We keep therapists because they are passionate, and that is because we realigned a profession where therapists were so caught up in daily stressors. We eliminated their burdens and brought back their ultimate purpose and passion: healing others,” Chitwood said.

As InHome Therapy grows into new states, it is actively seeking new therapist partners who align with its mission to redefine how care is delivered to clients.

“We’re proud to have partnered with some of the most talented and passionate professionals in this industry, and we can’t wait to build on that momentum as we continue to grow,” Murphy said. “As the first HTaaS solution in the market, there’s a lot of ground to cover on this new frontier of healthcare — and we’re excited to do it with some of the most talented professionals who genuinely care about our grassroots mission and wish to grow in their field.”

About InHome Therapy

InHome Therapy leverages its unmatched systems, processes, and tools to unlock a new approach for delivering sustainable and measurable results to home therapy patient care, ensuring the world can move easier and live better. Today InHome Therapy employs over 300 therapists and has completed over 2 million patient visits in key locations across the country, utilizing powerful and easy-to-use tools and training that allow therapists to continuously deliver optimal care. For more information, visit http://www.inhometherapy.com

Ideal Option Opens Doors to Educate Community about Addiction Treatment


Ideal Option, a national leader in outpatient medication-assisted treatment for opioids, methamphetamine, alcohol and polysubstance, will host an open house at their clinic in Eugene on Friday, January 21st.

After almost two years of quietly seeing over 200 patients during the pandemic, Ideal Option invites community members to drop by to learn more about addiction medicine, meet their staff and discuss ways to tackle the worsening opioid crisis in Lane County.

Since the beginning of the pandemic, substance use and overdose deaths have skyrocketed exponentially across the nation, and Oregon is no exception. According to the CDC National Center for Health Statistics, there were 549 drug overdose deaths due to opioids reported in OR during the 12-month period ending in March 2021, a 59% increase from the 345 deaths reported during the same period the year before.

The most dangerous opioid is fentanyl, a plentiful, inexpensive synthetic drug 50 times more potent than heroin. Many illicit substances such as heroin, pain pills, and even marijuana are now commonly laced with fentanyl, often without the knowledge of the user.

“A little bit of fentanyl – we’re talking about just grams of salt-sized (fentanyl) – is actually enough to be fatal,” stated Alex Speldrich, a patrol sergeant with the Lane County Sheriff’s Office, in a recent article. According to the Eugene Police Department, 441 overdose calls were logged in 2020 and in 2021, 407 calls had already been logged by October.

Ideal Option’s own lab testing data, collected from patients across its five clinics in Oregon, show in May 2021, 55% of patients tested positive for fentanyl at enrollment, a 157% increase compared to January 2021.

On Friday, January 21, from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m., all members of the community are invited to drop by the Ideal Option clinic in Eugene located at 1201 Oak Street.

During the open house, attendees can enjoy refreshments, learn more about Ideal Option and their specialized protocols for treating fentanyl use, pick up materials, and meet their staff.

For questions about this event, email Senior Marketing Manager Olivia Easly at oliviaeasly@idealoption.net.

About Ideal Option

Headquartered in Kennewick, Washington, Ideal Option was founded in 2012 and has since helped nearly 50,000 patients through a network of over 70 office-based medication-assisted treatment (MAT) clinics across 10 states. With a mission to serve under-served communities, Ideal Option accepts all forms of insurance including Medicaid and Medicare. Financial assistance and payment plans are also available.

Ideal Option’s team of medical providers carry certifications in Addiction and Emergency Medicine, Internal, OB/GYN, and Family Medicine, among other specialties. The company also employs social workers, caseworkers, counselors, and mental health practitioners. This holistic approach helps drive positive outcomes, including family stability, stable housing, improved overall health, and reduced rates of recidivism.

In all the communities it serves, Ideal Option collaborates with existing stakeholders and providers to improve the continuum of care. This approach includes partnerships with emergency rooms and county jail systems, where individuals with substance use disorder often appear, as well as collaborating with numerous support agencies and municipal programs addressing social needs such as housing, mental health, and nutrition support.

Share article on social media or email:

Nation’s Only Boarding School for Teen Obesity, Gem Academy, shares lessons on its third Anniversary


News Image

We need to turn it from a “weight loss” to a “condition management” mindset.

In the shadow of National Childhood Obesity Awareness Month, the nation’s only long-term treatment program for adolescent obesity, located in Phoenix Arizona, celebrates its third anniversary of helping change lives. The landmark program was founded to meet the need for a comprehensive and effective treatment in the face of steadily increasing obesity rates for teens nationwide.

Gem Academy is a small boarding school with a high school curriculum that also encompasses immersive curricula in nutrition, culinary, activity, counseling, volunteerism and experiential learning. Gem Academy’s students are girls, grades 9-12 who are at least 50 pounds overweight and who may have co-occurring issues related to or stemming from their struggles with weight. “With 80% of overweight young women becoming adults who will continue to struggle with obesity, Gem represents a final point of intervention for most”, says Founder and Executive Director of Gem, Jim Hershey.

Hershey is an expert in the field and former clinical director of the only prior program to offer comparable treatment for both adolescent boys and girls, Academy of the Sierras, which was featured on Dateline NBC, Dr. Phil, and on the Style Network television program “Too Fat for 15.”

The focus in weight management has typically been diet and exercise; Hershey argues that is too narrow a scope and has not proven effective. “The dialog needs to change to educate people about the metabolic challenges they face when reducing weight and how large of factors sleep and stress regulation are. We need to turn it from a “weight loss” to a “condition management” mindset. As a single program we are not going to reach the over 6 million adolescences in the U.S. struggling with obesity, but if we can help change the dialog, we will have made an impact outside of the lives of our students.”

“We designed Gem Academy with expectations knowing we had solid science on our side in every aspect of obesity management, but this unique combination had never been done before. Exhaustive work in understanding what created the behaviors the students need to modify from a every angle from culture, evolutionary triggers to trauma. The outcomes have exceeded our expectations. But we also have had the privilege of working with amazing young women who didn’t know the strength they had inside of themselves.”

Over three years, Gem’s students have averaged between 1-1.5% lost per week. For an average Gem student that is between 2.6 and 4 pounds per week. The average loss over a students’ stay has been 38%. Where losing excess weight to move toward a healthy weight reduces impending health risks, it is not the sole goal of Gem Academy. “The goal we have for our student is long-term maintenance of a healthy weight. Everything we teach and practice is geared toward understanding how to manage the condition for the rest of their life because obesity is a disease that can be managed, but not cured.”

The therapeutic program at Gem Academy incorporates every major concept and technique demonstrated by research to be effective in treating excess weight in adolescents. These techniques, woven throughout individual and group sessions, as well as their daily schedule, help students develop the skills and behavior they need to master long-term weight control. Gem’s therapeutic program also taps into the latest research in the fields of skill acquisition, habit formation, motivation, perseverance, grit, delayed gratification, and mindfulness practices.

Students continue at Gem Academy until their condition has reached a point of remission at a heathy weight range determined by biometric testing. In most cases that has been approximately a year and students have come from across the country.

“There is not a more effective intervention than an immersive environment,” said Hershey. “Immersion in an educational and healthy culture allows Gem Academy students to gain the tools and, more importantly the knowledge of how their condition works to give them they greatest chance to control the same variables in their home environment.”

With the increased risk with obesity as a comorbidity with COVID-19 and the reduced effectiveness of vaccines on people who struggle with obesity, “we have entered a new realm of urgency in regard to learning to control the disease of obesity, especially for our young people.”

To learn more about Gem Academy visit http://www.gemacademyaz.com or call (602) 402-5739.

Gem Academy is a solution-based treatment program for adolescent girls who struggle with obesity. The format is that of a boarding school with a curriculum inclusive of high school general studies, nutrition and culinary, fitness, therapy, community service and experiential learning.

Share article on social media or email: