Rothe is the runner-up in the Health category of our Mompreneur of the Year contest. Published: May 1, 2020
Name: Jeri Cenziper, but I practice under my maiden name, Jeri Rothe, LCSW
Town: Chester
Location: 409 Main St., Chester
New Jersey Family: Tell us about your business and what makes it unique? Jeri Cenziper: Therapy Network is a vibrant array of highly qualified mental health clinicians running their own practices side-by-side. The collaboration on cases is what makes our practice unique. We have access to a wealth of in-house referral resources and colleagues to provide mutual assistance and share information. Therapy Network incorporates Cognitive Behavioral Therapy techniques, Motivational Enhancement Therapy, Gestalt Therapy, Dialectical Behavioral Therapy, Psychodynamic Therapy, EMDR, Medication Evaluations and Management and other evidenced-based practices that are grounded in scientific research to produce positive outcomes. Therapy results in improvement when there is communication and collaboration among practitioners working with different family members. This accelerates and deepens the therapy process and gives each therapist a broader perspective on family dynamics. This is accentuated when therapists come from different orientations and utilize professionals such as Psychiatric Nurse Practitioners.
NJF: When did you launch your business, and what was your biggest inspiration to launch it?
JC: I began JBR Therapeutic Services, my individual private practice in 2003. However, Therapy Network launched in 2017. Because good mental health necessitates being a part of community and contributing to that community, it was always my vision to open a collaborative mental health practice that could meet all psychological needs. After many years in the field, and together, with Christine Petrat, LCSW, Marie Hartzel, LPC, LCADC, ACS and Laura Carite, LPC, RYT, APC the vision became a reality. We are four private practice therapists who have extensive training with a myriad of clinical populations and settings who decided that working together was better than working separately. We envisioned a uniquely collaborative and cooperative environment incorporating many therapists with varied approaches to treat mental illness and facilitate mental health wellness. This led us to rent a beautiful space that had many offices that we are now sharing. We now have 12 mental health clinicians, (Ph.D.’s, LCSW, LPC’s) and one Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner. We can now treat specialty areas including Children and Adolescents, Family, Substance Abuse, Mood disorders, Grief, Marriage Counseling, Groups, Medication and Psychiatric needs. This is truly a dream come true in my career.
JERI CENZIPER
NJF: How have you pivoted your business, to adapt to this stressful and uncertain time? JC: During this pandemic, we are fortunate enough to be able to provide our services through telehealth video sessions. Because several of us are in-network providers with health insurance companies, the sessions are being covered by insurance. Obviously, we are honoring all guidelines and codes set forth by the CDC and Governor Murphy during this time and for when we will be allowed to start seeing clients again in person.
NJF: If possible, how are you and your business giving back through this period? JC: Because Therapy Network is independently owned and operated individual practices, each clinician is giving back to the community in their own ways. Personally, I have decided to forgo taking copays, co-insurances and have lowered my fee in many cases due to individual’s personal circumstances. I have also started a support group in my town which is free.
NJF: What will be the first thing you do as a business when this is behind us? JC: There is talk that there will be a new diagnosis due to this pandemic; PCTSD- Post Covid-19 Traumatic Stress Disorder. Our clinicians expect treatment will incorporate much of this. Personally, I have taken this quarantine period to sign up and take online continuing education classes to better educate myself and learn new techniques on trauma. Marie, Laura, Christine and I have been communicating regularly as well to make sure that our office will be meeting all the codes and guidelines once we are allowed to see clients in person. Our first priority is to keep our clients and clinicians safe and healthy.
NJF: What’s the best piece of business advice you’ve ever gotten that you want to share with others? JC: I am first and foremost a clinician. My priority and passion have always been to help people. The business side has never been my motivation. The best piece of business advice I have received is probably from my husband, Steve. He has taught me to not mix the clinical and business piece because they are obviously very different. He has taught me how to look at each piece separately, while always staying true to my morals and ethics.