Announcer From Clickflame. This is Smoke and Receipts. The hype goes up in smoke. We bring the receipts.
Justin Alright, Marcus. Another sit-down today. No soundboard.
Marcus The quiet ones are growing on me.
Justin Today's hype is one a lot of people believe. Online psychiatry is just a ten minute video call, and you leave with a prescription.
Marcus Click a button, get a pill, see you in three months. I've heard that one plenty.
Justin Our guest runs a telepsychiatry practice in California. Harpal. Tell everybody who you are.
Harpal Singh Hi everybody. my name is Harpal Singh. I am a board-certified psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner and the founder of Mindful Sewa Psychiatry. We're a California-based telepsychiatry practice, and we provide psychiatric evaluations, medication management, and psychotherapy for clients dealing with conditions such as anxiety, depression, ADHD, and other mental health concerns. What we're really focused on is making mental health more accessible and more personal. One thing I've always believed in, that, clients shouldn't feel like they're just another appointment on someone's schedule. When somebody comes to you for mental health treatment, they're trusting you with something very personal to them, and I think that deserves time, attention, and respect. That's really the foundation of Mindful Sewa. We want patients to feel comfortable having those conversations, you know, understanding their treatment options and being involved in their own care. And because we're fully virtual, we're able to serve patients all throughout California.
Marcus Not just another appointment on somebody's schedule. Remember that line, because it comes back.
Justin Harpal, how did it start? What made you take the leap?
Harpal Singh Honestly, it just started with an idea that I kept coming back to throughout my experience in healthcare. I saw how much a difference the patient-provider relationship can make, especially in mental health. You can have all the clinical knowledge and have all the right treatment options, but if a patient doesn't feel comfortable opening up to you, there's already a barrier to care. And I wanted to build a practice where I could be intentional about that experience from the first appointment to ongoing treatments. The name Mindful Sewa actually has a personal meaning to me. You know, sewa in Punjabi, a word that represents selfless service, and it's something that I grew up understanding as an important value. I wanted to bring that same philosophy to healthcare while maintaining a high standard of evidence-based psychiatric treatment. As far as taking the leap, I think there comes to a point where you have to decide whether you're going to keep thinking about an idea or actually do something about it. I knew that it wouldn't be easy, but I also knew that I wanted to build something that reflects my values. I had to be willing to take on that responsibility, and that's what pushed me to start Mindful Sewa Psychiatry.
Justin Sewa. Selfless service. That's a big name to put on the door.
Marcus And then you have to run the place. Harpal, what was the hardest stretch?
Harpal Singh I would say one of the biggest challenges has been learning how to balance being a clinician with being a business owner. These are very two different responsibilities. As a provider, you're focused on your patients, their treatments, and making good clinical decisions. But when you're building a practice, you're also responsible for the operations. You're responsible for the technology, the business decisions, and making sure that everything runs the way it should. And especially when you're starting something from the ground up, there's a lot that you have to figure out along the way. What helped me was staying consistent and, remembering why I started. I learned that you don't need to have everything figured out on day one. You need to be willing to learn, to make adjustments, and to keep improving. I also think it's important to be comfortable in making decisions. Not every decision is going to be perfect, but you have to take the responsibility, learn from the experience, and move forward. And, for me, that's been one of the biggest lessons in, entrepreneurship.
Marcus You don't need it all figured out on day one. I needed to hear that one myself.
Justin So what do you do differently from everyone else in your field?
Harpal Singh I wouldn't necessarily say that we're the only practice doing things a certain way because there's a lot of excellent mental health providers out there. What I can speak to is a standard that I've set for my own practice. I really like to emphasize individualized care. I don't believe that just because two patients have the same diagnosis, they should automatically receive the same treatment. You have to look at the whole person, their background, what is their medical history, their lifestyle, their goals in life, and what they're actually experiencing. I also believe in taking the time to educate my clients as well. If I'm recommending a medication or discussing a diagnosis, I want that client to feel fully understood why we're considering that approach. I want them to feel comfortable asking questions. Also, another thing that's important to me is a cultural understanding. I come from a Punjabi background and I understand some communities, mental health isn't always something people feel comfortable talking about. And at Mindful Sewa, we do offer care in English, Punjabi, Hindi, and Spanish, which helps us connect with patients from different backgrounds. And ultimately, I want patients to feel that they're working with their provider rather than simply being told what to do.
Justin Four languages. English, Punjabi, Hindi, and Spanish. That's a receipt on its own.
Marcus Same diagnosis does not mean the same treatment. That's the whole hype, answered right there.
Marcus Harpal, tell us about a patient or a moment you're really proud of.
Harpal Singh For me, the most rewarding part of this work is actually seeing someone make progress in an area of their lives where they've been struggling for a long time. In mental health, the progress doesn't always happen overnight, and it doesn't look the same for everyone. And sometimes it's someone finally understanding why they've been feeling a certain way. Sometimes it's being able to manage their anxiety better, improve their concentration, or start getting back into a routine. And I think those things are easy to be overlooked. But for the person experiencing them, they can make a real difference. One thing I always try to remember is that we're not just treating symptoms. We're actually working with people that have families, that have careers, responsibilities, and goals. So when treatment helps someone move towards a better quality of life, that's something that I'm really proud to be a part of. And of course, patient confidentiality is extremely important, so I wouldn't discuss any identifying details. But those experiences are what makes this profession meaningful to me.
Justin And no names, no details. That's how it should be.
Marcus What do you wish every patient knew before they pick a provider?
Harpal Singh I would say don't be afraid to ask questions and don't feel like you have to settle for care that doesn't feel right for you. Mental health care is a very personal experience and finding a provider you feel comfortable with is very important. I also wish more people understood that psychiatric treatment isn't always about medications. Medications can be very helpful when appropriate, but treatment can also involve psychotherapy, you know, lifestyle changes, education, and developing better ways to manage symptoms. Even when medication is a part of the plan, it's not necessarily about finding an immediate fix. Sometimes it takes time to find the right approach. And I always encourage clients to be honest about how they're feeling, what they're concerned about, and what they want to accomplish. And I strongly believe that the more that they're open about that communication, the better we can work together. And most importantly, seeking mental health care isn't a weakness. It's a responsible decision to take your health seriously.
Justin Treatment isn't always about medication. And asking for help isn't weakness. Write that one down.
Marcus And for somebody thinking about starting a practice like yours?
Harpal Singh Oh, this one's interesting. So first, I would tell them to make sure that they're starting for the right reasons. you know, especially in healthcare, dealing with the people's lives and their wellbeing. So your foundation has to be providing good care, not just building a profitable business. second would be understand that being good at your profession and running a business is two completely different skill sets. You have to be willing to learn things that might be completely outside of your comfort zone, whether that's marketing, finances, technology, or managing day-to-day operations. And I would say that don't get caught up in trying to make, everything perfect that you actually never start. And, but of course, you need to have the proper licensing, have the compliance, have the clinical system in place. those things are, you know, non-negotiable. But beyond that, you're going to learn a lot through the experience and the journey. I think consistency is extremely important. You know, show up, do what you say you're going to do, and, take your reputation seriously. And at the end of the day, people remember how you treat them. That's especially true in healthcare.
Justin People remember how you treat them. That works in every business we cover on this show.
Justin Last one, Harpal. What's next for you?
Harpal Singh Right now, my focus is on continuing to grow Mindful Sewa Psychiatry and, building a strong, lasting relationships with the communities that we serve. I want to continue connecting with clients and other healthcare professionals throughout California, especially therapists and primary care providers, because I think collaboration is a really important part of a good mental health care. I'm also passionate about bringing more awareness to the mental health in, the communities where there's a lot, still a lot of stigma around, psychiatric treatment. I think there's a real opportunity to change how people view mental health care and, make it something more comfortable, talking about. As the practice grows, I want to make sure we never lose sight of what made us start in the first place, which is providing thoughtful, personalized care.
Justin You can find Harpal at mindful sewa dot com. Now listen close, because the spelling matters.
Marcus Sewa, with a W. S. E. W. A.
Justin Mindful, M, I, N, D, F, U, L. Then sewa, S, E, W, A. Dot com. Patients anywhere in California.
Justin Alright, Marcus. Online psychiatry is just a pill appointment. Smoke, or receipts?
Marcus Smoke.
Justin Smoke. Harpal looks at the whole person, explains every option, and works with his patients instead of handing them a script. Online just means you don't sit in traffic to get there. Harpal, thank you for coming on.
Marcus Talk is cheap, man.
Justin We are action.
Announcer That was Smoke and Receipts, from Clickflame. Find us at clickflame dot com. Like, subscribe, follow, and grow together. Leave a comment who you are, and how we helped you grow.
