We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Caleb Folkerts. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Caleb below.

Caleb, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Setting up an independent practice is a daunting endeavor. Can you talk to us about what it was like for you – what were some of the main steps, challenges, etc.

Cornerstone Behavioral Health was born in March of 2020: Right before everything became globally traumatic. Thinking back now, it was probably one of the few businesses one could start then that had the advantage of timing. The driving force behind my decision to start was a burning desire to provide accessible and effective mental health services to those who may otherwise be cut off from help.

The specific idea to start a virtual mental health practice stemmed from recognizing the increasing need for convenient and accessible mental health services. The decision to go virtual allowed us to reach individuals throughout the state of Ohio, breaking down geographical barriers to mental healthcare. This puts power in the hands of the client, which we’re passionate about at CBH.

One of the initial steps was ensuring that our practice complied with all relevant licensing regulations and telehealth laws in Ohio. This involved obtaining the necessary clearance for both the practice and individual therapists to provide services across the state. Alongside that focus was the equally important need for solid technology implementation. Setting up a virtual practice required investing in secure, user-friendly telemedicine platforms. Ensuring the confidentiality and security of client information was paramount, so we adopted technologies that met the highest standards of privacy and encryption.

Beyond these crucial factors is, of course, the necessity of getting the best providers together and combining individual talent into a robust, highly efficient team. Certainly hiring licensed therapists who were excited about and comfortable with virtual therapy and telehealth practices was a key focus. We are always looking for the qualities of integrity, intelligence, and character no matter what position is currently being hired for. Those general qualities, combined with utilizing insights gleaned from my background in C-Suite Leadership Consultation, combined into a cohesive and supportive team providing high-quality services.

Alongside curating a competent, caring group of clinicians was the need for marketing. Promoting Cornerstone Behavioral Health involved creating an online presence through a professional website and utilizing digital marketing strategies. We also focused on establishing partnerships with healthcare providers and community organizations to connect with our wonderful clients.

Of course, no business persists without facing and overcoming challenges. The first challenge we overcame as a company was telehealth education. This involved informing clients of the effectiveness and strong benefits of virtual therapy. Once we operationalized that educational process, we refined technical issues to streamline the telehealth experience for the client and kept a steady pulse on federal and state regulations: Staying abreast of changing telehealth regulations and adapting accordingly so that no disruption of services occurred for our dedicated clients.

Throughout the process, we’ve had many takeaways. Number one: Flexibility is key: Being adaptable to changes in technology and regulations is crucial for success. Number two: Embrace marketing. Effectively marketing the practice is as important as delivering quality services. Number three: Prioritize client comfort. Building trust with clients in a virtual setting is essential for successful therapy outcomes.

Now, as far as advice to young professionals, I would say a few things. Invest in technology: We exist in an increasingly digital world. Seize every opportunity to provide world-class services to the clients you serve. Stay informed: Keep abreast of changes in your respective industry and always remember the power of pivoting. Finally, always, always network and collaborate. We never do it alone. Success is always reliant on many competent hands lightening the load. People are powerful. Never underestimate the importance of each individual you encounter.

Looking back, I would emphasize to all mental health-minded entrepreneurs the importance of thorough planning, adaptability, and a commitment to staying current in the ever-evolving landscape of virtual mental health. Starting a company dedicated to serving others is a rewarding journey, and learning from challenges is integral to growth and success. We are well beyond the starting line and show no signs of stopping!

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

Hope starts here! At Cornerstone Behavioral Health, we passionately provide teletherapy and telemedicine services to adults throughout the state of Ohio. We are committed to creating a better system of healing from the ground up. That means administrative support to the frontline service providers. The idea is that supporting the clinician is, by every metric, supporting the client in turn.

2020 was a year of global traumatic stress. The company was formed in March of 2020 as a foreseeing response to surmounting mental health needs challenging already-strained systems of care. Since then, we have dedicated ourselves to supporting our clientele as well as our fellow frontline service providers (e.g. nurses, physicians, mental health providers).

Our purpose is to optimize the delivery of mental healthcare through continuous, data-driven innovation. We accomplish this by constantly developing our professional understanding and application of best practices in the field. We promote optimal mental, emotional, and physical health for our providers and clients. We believe in effective communication, progressive quality improvement, and fostering a safe, supportive environment for all.

Our goal is to be a global voice for trauma recovery.

If you could go back in time, do you think you would have chosen a different profession or specialty?

There is no doubt that I absolutely would choose this same profession. I knew from the age of 9 that I was meant to be a psychotherapist. Although many of my duties are administrative, I challenge myself to still carry a modest caseload. I never want to lose touch with the beauty of impacting on the frontlines of service provision. It’s the lifeblood of my motivation professionally.

Training and knowledge matter of course, but beyond that what do you think matters most in terms of succeeding in your field?

In a word: Improvisation. I’m not talking about ‘winging it’ or ‘make it up as you go’, but, rather, leading with a plan but having the flexibility to adapt to 0-degree turn radius moments. This is equally true for therapy as it is within administrative roles. Beyond the classes I took directly related to psychology and clinical mental health, I would say the improvisational classes from my early days as an undergraduate have helped me greatly throughout my career. You never know what’s around the next corner, but, regardless of what you encounter, quick thinking on your feet will take you far.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.cornerstonebehavioralhealth.org/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cornerstonebehavioralhealth/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cornerstonebehavioralhealth/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/cornerstonebehavioralhealth/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/cornerstone_bh/