Clinician to trainer to technologist and consultant: The wild and wonderful path elearning and mhealth

Abstract

Born as the youngest child of a blue collar, immigrant family with French as my first language, I approached undergraduate school with the secret terror of an imposter. Sure they’d discover my humble roots and ask me to leave; I quickly learned that my differences were valued. My newfound confidence was heightened by several years of Gestalt therapy, where I learned to trust my senses and develop what I later called a “spidey sense” that led to confidence about people, situations, and where things were going. My academic training led to a PhD in clinical psychology.Full-time private practice gave way to writing, traveling, speaking, training, and consulting. Now as the executive director of the TeleMental Health Institute, I enjoy tremendous creative freedom and intellectual stimulation through collaboration. I have come to appreciate both the joy and weight of playing a significant role in understanding and shaping the technological changes that are accelerating around us. My personal investment of financial resources into the development of an eLearning platform has taught me many lessons about running an online business, making ends meet, hiring, firing, and balancing multiple pressures. I can’t wait to get to work every Monday morning. Although I never know what the day will bring, who will contact me, or where those opportunities will lead, I do know that I am stronger than I imagined when I was young. I still struggle with occasional defeat, but also deeply appreciate every meaningful contact and every business victory. I fully enjoy being an adventurer, discoverer, and celebrator of how technology can be legally and ethically leveraged to help more people benefit from the lovingly nurtured skills of my insightful colleagues. We can do so much more through technology, and many of us have already begun.