Denise Shiffman
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Summary
On this episode of the podcast, I speak with Denise Shiffman who discovered the power of group therapy after experiencing chronic anxiety when she was an executive at multi-billion-dollar companies where her hectic lifestyle was starting to catch up with her.
It was the second time in her life that a therapist had told her to join group therapy. Her first thought, "those people aren't like me." But this time she looked into it. And what she discovered was that shared experience, belonging, and building strong interrelationships skills are what make group therapy so effective -- even more effective than individual therapy for many people.
She believes that a virtual way for people to connect, but also experience well-constructed and well-run group therapy is an idea whose time has come, especially now that healthcare is embracing more online tools to deliver care. Critical to GroupWell’s success will be combining the age-old need for connection with technological innovation.
Launching this product poses many challenges, but it’s a project that she believes meets a great need at a time when people are feeling more isolated than ever. I agree with her since I have had my fair share of challenges with grief and loss and therapy helped me navigate it. What Denise is doing is sorely needed and will only become even more relevant as COVID-19 continues on.
Now, let’s get better together
Actions to Try or Advice to Take
- Always be a student. Shiffman, the author of The Age of Engage, has over 25 years of experience in product development and marketing, but she’s still learning every day.
- Share stories: Shiffman realized the need for GroupWell after sharing her own story, hearing others’ stories of finding help and healing in group situations, and realizing there was a need for more people to have access to it. Sharing her story has also been key to attracting interest from investors as well as removing the stigma around seeking therapy.
- Trust in the process, and be ready to have to do more. Shiffman shares that as she’s spoken with investors, she’s had to do “one more thing” to get them to invest.