Podcast Summary: Private Practice Startup Podcast

Episode 92: 3 Tips to Get Your Clients to Do Homework

Hosts: Dr. Kate Campbell & Katie Lemieux
Guest: Coris Caligas (TheraChat)
Date: June 30, 2018

Main Theme & Purpose

This episode is dedicated to helping therapists improve client follow-through on therapeutic homework. Featuring Coris Caligas, co-founder of TheraChat, the conversation explores how technology can increase clients’ accountability between sessions. The hosts and Coris share practical insights and actionable strategies—centering around three core tips—to improve homework completion, enhance outcomes, and streamline the therapy process.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Why Clients Don’t Do Homework: The Challenge

• Therapists often assign homework to facilitate therapeutic progress, but compliance is a recurring problem.
• Current methods like paper handouts or emailed worksheets are inconvenient and often forgotten by clients ([07:43], [16:49]).
• Modern clients are tech-savvy and more likely to engage via their phones, making app-based solutions practical.

2. Genesis of TheraChat: Solving the Homework Problem

• Coris and his team initially worked on a different health-tech product. After interviewing over 500 U.S. therapists, they discovered recurring pain points solvable by technology.
• One major theme: a lack of tools for assigning, tracking, and revisiting homework between sessions ([06:10]).

Quote:
"We interviewed over 500 therapists...to our surprise, a lot of them [issues] can be solved by technology. And one of them was the notion of homework and specifically what happens between therapy sessions."
– Coris Caligas, [06:27]

3. How TheraChat Works & Key Features

• TheraChat enables therapists to assign, monitor, and discuss homework through a HIPAA-compliant platform ([10:34]).
• 40+ ready-to-use activities including emotion tracking, journaling, and session check-ins.
• Notable feature: "About Next Session" lets clients log topics they wish to discuss—helpful for therapy structure ([09:02]).
• Push notifications/reminders can be scheduled by the therapist; clients receive prompts at key times ([17:20]).

Quote:
"We created some smart activities like emotion tracking and journaling...But 'about next session'...[is] the most successful activity that clients really use because it's about the recent surprise. You're more likely to remember what happened yesterday rather than a week ago."
– Coris Caligas, [09:02]

4. HIPAA Compliance

• Security and confidentiality were foundational in building TheraChat.
• Data is anonymized. Only necessary information is accessible in emergencies, with rigorous logging of access ([11:05]).

Quote:
"We built the product ground up being HIPAA compliant. It was one of the first things we took care of."
– Coris Caligas, [10:41]

5. Therapist & Client Experience with TheraChat

• Therapists can assign, schedule, and track homework easily within the app.
• Both therapists and clients receive reminders; activity completion is visible on the therapist’s dashboard ([17:20]).
• Clients find homework easier to complete, which increases accountability and engagement ([13:13], [18:03]).
• Therapists report the app saves time, reduces drop-out rates, and allows more productive sessions ([13:13]).

Quote:
"Most of the people nowadays know about smartphones and they're using apps. So it is very helpful for a client to...complete activities on their mobile application at their own time."
– Coris Caligas, [13:13]

The Three Top Tips for Getting Clients to Do Homework

1. Get Buy-In from Clients ([19:07])

• Explain why homework matters and how it benefits the client.
• Introduce any tool (like TheraChat) by discussing its purpose and how it supports the client's goals.
• This should be done ideally in the first session to foster excitement, not resistance.

Quote:
"The most successful therapist when it comes to homework...is get the buy in. Explain to them why does this homework exist?...It's so, so important to get that." – Coris Caligas, [19:07]

2. Keep Homework Short and Feasible ([21:17])

• Assign simple, realistic first tasks that are easy for clients to complete.
• Start with low-friction activities to build momentum and confidence.

Quote:
"Assigning a first activity which is easy and short and something realistic makes absolute sense. That's probably why many therapists decide to assign about next session. It's so simple. It makes so much sense."
– Coris Caligas, [21:17]

3. Use Technology as an Enabler, Not the Solution ([21:17])

• Technology isn’t a cure-all but can drastically reduce barriers for many.
• Use tools like TheraChat to supplement your therapeutic approach—tailor to client preferences.
• Not every client may be a perfect fit, but the majority benefit from increased accessibility.

Quote:
"Technology is something that can help. It's an enabler. It's not the solution necessarily for everything...use technology as an enabler, but not the solution."
– Coris Caligas, [21:17]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On the Therapist–Client Relationship:
  "It is about the alliance that a therapist and a client have...it's so, so important to get that."
  – Coris Caligas, [20:48]

• On Accountability:
  "There's something that's very different about having a reminder that you know is sent from your therapist, getting that on your phone, than a reminder that you set yourself."
  – Dr. Kate Campbell, [18:03]

Important Timestamps

• [06:10] – Coris explains the origins of TheraChat.
• [09:02] – Most popular activities and how they help clients stay engaged.
• [10:34] – Discussion on HIPAA compliance and data security.
• [13:13] – How TheraChat enhances accountability and outcomes.
• [17:20] – How reminders and notifications work for both clients and therapists.
• [19:07] – Tip #1: Getting client buy-in for homework.
• [21:17] – Tips #2 and #3: Keep homework feasible; technology as an enabler.

Special Offers & Resources

• TheraChat Promo: One free month for listeners—use coupon code "monthoff" (all lowercase, one word) on the TheraChat site ([22:42]).

Tone & Takeaways

The hosts' warmth and energy create an inviting space, peppered with personal anecdotes and relatable frustrations about client homework. Coris brings a pragmatic, user-centered approach to technology in therapy. Collectively, the message is empowering: small, strategic changes—especially with a technological boost—can transform client accountability and therapy effectiveness.

Key Takeaway:
Emphasize the why behind homework, lower barriers to completion, and make the most of user-friendly tech. This trio of strategies helps clients progress and makes therapy more rewarding for both parties.

For Reference

• TheraChat Website
• Free A-Z Private Practice Cheat Sheet: Private Practice Startup - Resources

This summary captures all essential content and strategies from the episode, equipping therapists with both motivation and actionable steps for driving better client engagement between sessions.