Early Adoption Of Teletherapy Helps Wellness Center Amid Pandemic

TYSONS, VA — When Derek Russell opened Mindstate Wellness Center in January 2020, he wouldn't have imagined the business challenges were to come with the COVID-19 pandemic.

Russell, a licensed professional counselor and neurotherapist, opened Mindstate as a mental health and cognitive peak performance center at 1980 Gallows Road in Tysons. In just over a year, Mindstate has grown from a one-man business with neurotherapy and counseling services, to a center also staffed with another therapist and health coaches.

The pandemic has been a mixed bag for Mindstate. On the mental health side, Russell says stress and anxiety have increased, leading Mindstate to see an increased demand for services.

Mindstate was ahead of the pack when it came to offering teletherapy online. He recalled being skeptical learning in grad school that teletherapy was the way of the future, but he ended up getting a subscription when he opened his own practice.

The center started out with only Russell offering psychotherapy and neurotherapy, then he hired another therapist who exclusively offered teletherapy in early March. As COVID-19 restrictions soon became the reality, that teletherapy option turned out to be a smart move.

"That was a pretty smooth transition because I think the new clients I was getting expected it to be online," Russell told Patch.

The transition wasn't as easy for neurotherapy, a scan analyzing brain activity using electroencephalograph (EEG) equipment to address conditions like depression and anxiety. Russell says this service involves close contact, and people were reluctant to do that when the pandemic hit. He was able to ease the minds of existing clients by outlining safety protocols such as cleaning and mask wearing.

Health coaching, a service helping clients set and meet health goals, has continued in person at Mindstate. Russell noted that clients and health coaches meet in person and can practice physical distancing. Some aspects of health coaches' programs can be done on clients' own time, such as nutritional actions.

Russell, a Warrenton native, became interested in neurotherapy and worked in counseling during a position in grad school. After attending Virginia Commonwealth University as an undergraduate and Regent University as a graduate, he knew he wanted to return to Northern Virginia and open a private practice. He ended up working at a neurofeedback center in Alexandria before opening Mindstate.

Russell called opening his own practice a "double-edged sword" because there were both exhilarating and terrifying aspects. He described having a vision and goals as exhilarating while starting from scratch in new territory can be terrifying.

"I think those two things are what drove me and what drives me to continue," he said. "The exhilarating and terrifying feeling of starting things from scratch."

One valuable resource along the way has been the Northern Virginia Black Chamber of Commerce, an organization offering professional development, marketing and educational webinars to help businesses grow. Russell learned about the chamber from a chiropractor business in the same building as Mindstate. He has gotten to know other small business owners in the area who are going through the same things but have more experience in dealing with them.

"It's definitely been a great benefit," said Russell. "I think the biggest reason I joined was the networking."

Since Mindstate has largely operated and thrived during the pandemic, Russell is optimistic about the state of business once things get back to normal. He believes they have learned discipline and built character by working during the pandemic.

"If we're able to work in these conditions, it's only going to make us stronger," said Russell.

For more information, visit www.mindstatewellnesscenter.com.