Today we’d like to introduce you to Angela Richardson, LPC CPCS.
Angela, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
In 2011 (just before 9/11/11), I was in Corporate America, trying to assimilate (as I was taught) with the process. I always felt out of place, uncomfortable in that setting. The economy tanked, and I was let go (they said downsizing) from my position as an Inside Sales Representative, with a daughter in college. I knew I needed a stable income, a career. So when I was offered an opportunity to become a Special Education Teacher (SpEd), I jumped at it. My acceptance of that opportunity opened my eyes to my “true calling” to become a psychotherapist (Mental Health Therapist).
A SpEd teacher has a unique position. In that, one must be able to assist students with learning disabilities in meeting the educational standards outlined by the school boards. I found myself providing family counseling (helping families learn to communicate effectively), assisting students in managing the negative feelings that lead them to act out with verbal or physical aggression, teaching grade level standards to students that were performing below grade level. I was successful in all areas but found myself being drawn to the therapy aspect of the job. As I continued my career as a teacher, I enrolled in Argosy University’s Masters of Arts in Counseling.
With my Type-A Personality, I graduated Magnum Cum Lade. I began my journey to open ReConnect TA. I had to learn through trial and error the Georgia State requirements you must meet before you can open your own practice. In November 2014, I met those requirements and began laying the foundation that leads to our door opening official in November 2014.
I contribute a great deal of my success to my biggest supporter and cheerleader, my husband, Coach J (Jerry Richardson, PLC). He has been the wind beneath my wings and my strength when I felt defeated or too weak to go any further.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
The road has not been smooth; however, from experience, I have established both personal and professional relationships that have been instrumental in my growth as a therapist and a business owner. I have fallen in the several of the pitfalls, I was warned about during my educational journey.
I feel that the largest obstacle is in the process of going from a Licensed Associate Professional (LAPC) (the apprenticeship to a License Professional Counselor) to become a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC). Because one needs 1000s of client contact hours required to secure the LPC, and the opportunities are limited. The Second largest obstacle is the agency’s that hire LAPC, only provide community counseling and do not teach the apprentice the value of his or her license. Their business model is based upon production. It’s almost like being a part “Corporate America”.
Tell us about your company. What do you do, what do you specialize in, what are you known for, etc. What are you most proud of as a company? What sets you apart from others?
At ReConnect was our philosophy is “We are facilitating good mental health”. We offer an eclectic approach to therapy. We are not traditional, but as with all mental health providers, we theoretically based on our founding fathers’ discoveries. As my father used to say, “Baby the people change, the game stays the same”. Our human nature is the same unless you have a mental or mood disorder that interferes with your thought processes. Those people that experience the disconnect are our target market.
At Reconnect we offer, mental health services in several setting (individual, family, group, couples) that address a variety of issues such as depression, anxiety, stress, grief, adjustment, family, marriage, couples, ADD, anger management, substance abuse, and legal issues). We are proud to be one of the few mental health practices that assist with Mental Health Family Medical Leave (FMLA) or Short-Term Disability (STD). This is an area that needs legislation to regulate the insurance companies’ practices.
We are proud to say that we have a 97% approval rate, where our clients are approved for paid leave. As most of us know, what one of our country’s biggest triggers of stress is centered around money or lack of. We are proud to be able to put in the extra work to ensure our clients are paid on their journey to good mental health.
What sets ReConnect apart from other practices is our approach to mental health. We provide an array of services to ensure our client’s needs are being met. The main service we provide is the FMLA and STD claim processing. We also have a 97% return to work success after STD or FMLA leave. We have become the “go to” therapy company for several major businesses in Clayton, Cobb, Douglas, Fulton, and Gwinnett counties. However, we service all the Atlanta areas.
I am also a trained Equine Therapist, which means with the assistance of an Equine Specialist (horse handler), I provide mental health therapy in the barn setting, In this setting, we can see how our client’s form relationships, the behaviors they incorporate to get their needs met and a host of other information about them. This is just a short excerpt of the true beauty and benefits of Equine Therapy.
So, what’s next? Any big plans?
I have seen positive changes in the industry over the past ten years. The changes I intend to bring to the forefront relates to changing the process/guidelines for mental health short-term disability claims. Unfortunately, awareness of mental health does not change the guidelines associated with medical and mental health disabilities claims. The processes are the same, but the treatment plan and process are miles apart.
A major trend that I see developing is major corporations are adding onsite mental health therapists to the Human Resources departments. I have been a party to these pilot programs, and I see the need and the willingness of the employees to attend these sessions. The challenge lies in maintaining the employees’ confidentiality in this corporate setting we all know corporation operate on collected data-in, which lies the conflict with anonymity. I believe onsite therapists are the wave of the future.
We intend to expand our business model to include group therapy sessions such as Grief groups (loss of a parent, loss of a child), Women’s Empowerment Group, “When children become parents’ caregiver group; seminars such as Alzheimer’s Awareness, Anxiety (Stress) “The Silent Killer”.
Pricing:
- Psychotherapy Sessions $120.00/per 50 minute session
- Mental Health Assessment $500.00 1.5 hour session (receives a completed assessment)
- Anger Management Assessment $500.00 (court approved) (receives a completed assessment)
- Anger Management Classes $75.00 (minimum 6-classes (receives cert of completion)
- Substance Abuse Assessment $500.00 (court approved) (receives a completed assessment)
- Substance Abuse Classes $75.00 (minimum 6-classes (receives cert of completion)
- Pre-Martial Counseling Classes $700.00 8 sessions (meets state requirements-certificate provided) (some insurance accepted)
- Psychotherapy Sessions utilizing health insurance is available (contact office to verify insurance)
Contact Info:
- Address: ReConnect Therapeutic Associates, LLC
1264 Concord Road, SE Suite 106
Smyrna, Georgia 30080 - Website: https://reconnect-ta.net
- Phone: 678-540-4408
- Email: angela@reconnect-ta.net
- Facebook: @ReconnectTA
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