Today we’d like to introduce you to Santissa Clapp.
Hi Santissa, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I have always had an entrepreneurial spirit and found it hard to fit into the traditional box. In every place I worked, I paid attention to policies and procedures, noticing what did not work and identifying what was missing. I realized that by combining the best strategies from different organizations, while also learning from their failures and weaknesses, I could create something greater.
In traditional roles, my vision was often dismissed or suppressed because leadership wanted to maintain control. That created power struggles, and I knew that if I truly wanted to grow, help people, and flourish, I had to build something of my own. I needed the courage, capital, and strength to create a space where my vision aligned directly with the people I serve.
That vision became Mentally Free Psychiatry. I built a telehealth practice licensed in Georgia, Arizona, and Missouri, and brought on providers who share the same mission. I designed the practice to be collaborative rather than controlling. Each provider has flexibility, ownership, and the ability to contribute ideas. Together, we combine our creativity and strengths to serve patients better.
Beyond mental health treatment, I am expanding into housing and sober living. I believe housing stability is essential to mental health recovery. When patients lack safe housing, they often fall out of treatment and become unreachable. By addressing both mental health and housing, we remove barriers and keep people connected to care.
This journey began with frustration at limitations, but it led me to create a model of care that is flexible, aligned, and truly patient-centered. My mission is to continue scaling into more states, building a team that thrives creatively, and expanding services that meet people where they are.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
No, it has not been a smooth road. Having a vision is one thing, but bringing it to life requires capital and navigating a very complex healthcare system. In mental health, policies and regulations create constant roadblocks. Insurance is one of the biggest challenges. Medicare and Medicaid often pay providers very little, and they restrict what we can prescribe by requiring prior authorizations, even when there is clear proof that a medication works. This forces us to spend more time and resources just to get patients the care they need.
Insurance contracting and billing have also been struggles. When claims are delayed or denied, that can mean not getting paid for months, which creates financial stress. Finding honest and skilled billing support has been another challenge, because one mistake can disrupt cash flow completely. In addition, reimbursement rates are not fair across the board. Larger groups often receive higher payments, while smaller practices like mine fight to be paid equally for the same services.
Building visibility has also been difficult. Many marketing companies overpromise and underdeliver, and we lost time and money with groups that claimed to do SEO or patient outreach but did not follow through. Even platforms like Google make it hard for telehealth companies to be visible, since they are set up around brick-and-mortar offices rather than modern care models. This creates a barrier for patients who prefer telehealth but struggle to find us online.
Despite these obstacles, I have been blessed to build a team that shares my vision and to find ways to push through. Every challenge has forced me to be more resilient and more determined to create a system that truly works for patients and providers.
We’ve been impressed with Mentally free psychiatry , but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
Mentally Free Psychiatry is a multi-state telehealth psychiatric practice that provides comprehensive mental health care through medication management, talk therapy, and supportive services. We specialize in treating conditions such as depression, anxiety, PTSD, bipolar disorder, ADHD, and other psychiatric needs. Our mission is to make mental health care accessible and personalized by offering same-day or next-day appointments, flexible scheduling, and a collaborative approach with our patients.
What sets us apart is the way we empower both providers and patients. Our team of psychiatric nurse practitioners is given flexibility, creativity, and ownership in their work, which translates into compassionate and individualized care for patients. We are proud that our model does not operate like a rigid system, but instead as a supportive space where ideas and solutions are shared for the benefit of those we serve.
I am also the founder of Mentally Free Outreach, a nonprofit organization created to bridge the gap for patients who cannot afford care due to losing insurance, employment, or stability. The nonprofit allows us to provide sliding-scale services, maintain continuity of care, and extend resources beyond traditional treatment. Mentally Free Outreach is also expanding into housing and sober living programs, because I believe housing stability is essential for mental health recovery. By addressing both care and basic needs, we give patients the chance to remain connected and supported through their journey.
Our brand is rooted in hope, accessibility, and innovation. We are building a model that not only treats mental health conditions but also removes barriers like cost, housing, and lack of resources. We want people to know that Mentally Free Psychiatry and Mentally Free Outreach are here to provide care, stability, and opportunities for growth, no matter what challenges they face.
What makes you happy?
What makes me happy is seeing people’s lives change because of the work I do. When a patient who has been struggling finally feels seen, supported, and balanced, that brings me real joy. I created my practice and nonprofit so that people could have access to care, stability, and resources, even when life has taken away their insurance, their job, or their home. Knowing that I can be a bridge in those moments makes me happy because it means my vision is making a difference.
I’m also happy when I’m creating and building. I have always had an entrepreneurial spirit, and being able to bring my ideas to life, expand into new states, and open doors for other providers gives me fulfillment. Helping my team thrive while giving them space to grow and contribute makes me proud. At the end of the day, happiness for me is about alignment knowing that what I do with my time and energy is helping people heal, creating opportunities, and building something that will last.
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