As a psychotherapist, I’ve encountered an overwhelming reality: there is far more suffering in the world than one therapist, or even a traditional practice, can alleviate. In my early years of practice, I realized that while I was making a significant impact on the lives of my clients, the sheer demand for mental wellness support was staggering. There were only so many hours in a day, and the need was growing far beyond what one clinician could manage. This led me to re-evaluate how to make the most meaningful and scalable contribution to mental health care.
This is why I decided to switch up my comfortable practice life and make space to pursue a rigorous Doctorate in Clinical Social Work (DSW) at the University of Alabama. I recognized that to make a difference truly, I needed to do more than offer one-on-one therapy.
The Barriers to Mental Health Care
While it’s clear that mental health services are vital, there are too many barriers to accessing care. According to the American Psychological Association, 56% of adults with mental health conditions do not receive treatment, often due to obstacles such as transportation, finances, or language barriers.
The best is yet to come. Dr. Kay De Simone, DSW LCSW
A Kaiser Family Foundation study showed that 47% of U.S. adults live in areas with insufficient mental health professionals. For many individuals—particularly those in underserved communities—mental health care is simply out of reach.
These obstacles hit close to home for me. Growing up in a family with a staggering degree of mental illness, I saw firsthand how the lack of culturally competent and accessible care affected the trajectory of my loved ones’ lives. With the right support, their suffering could have been mitigated, even prevented. This deep-seated realization has driven me to work toward a system-level solution that provides the urgent care our communities need.
Leveraging Technology to Democratize Mental Wellness
Mental health care needs a revolution, and technology is the key. By founding Pura Vida Wellness Centers, I aim to democratize mental wellness through a digital platform that addresses the barriers to care head-on. By offering evidence-based tools, teletherapy, a mental wellness hub and a mental wellness app, we can meet individuals where they are—whether they’re in a busy career, raising children, or living in a rural area without easy access to care. With the right technology, we can provide affordable, accessible, and culturally appropriate care at scale.
My journey back to academia and my work building this platform are rooted in a desire to provide mental health care that is efficient, effective, and accessible. Mental health struggles require urgent attention, and our systems must evolve to meet that need. Through this innovative platform, I hope to bridge the gap between mental health services and those who need them the most.
In my next installment, I’ll share more about me, my journey, training and how working to develop my clinical skill and taking the steps towards buildng this platform over the last decade positions me to transform mental wellness care, making our communities stronger, healthier, and more resilient.
The best is yet to come.....
