The following is a case study for Taryn Steyn, a Clinical Psychologist based in Alberton, Gauteng and Secunda, Mpumalanga, South Africa.
About Taryn Steyn
My dad was a teacher and had lots of psychology books which I used to read all the time. So I knew I wanted to study psychology after school. I completed my year internship plus an extra year at Sterkfontein Psychiatric Hospital. I worked forensic as well as clinical cases.
After that I applied to get into the military, was accepted and worked in the military for five years. It was a wonderful opportunity to learn a lot in an every changing environment. Working in the military involves a lot of travel, living out of a bag, being on standby and damage control, so it is tough circumstances.
I began building up a private practice after hours with the view to resigning from the military. The military base was in Heidelberg and so this was a natural place to begin acquiring clients. Another colleague of mine was giving up her private practice in Secunda and offered me the chance to take that over, which I did.
What is the current setup of your practice?
I currently work at my rented offices for my private practice in Alberton on Monday, Tuesday and Saturday and then in Secunda Wednesday to Friday.
What attracted you to the IsoForge product?
I heard about IsoForge on Facebook and actually started using the practice management software first. From there it was a natural progression to IsoForge.
What are your current experiences with IsoForge?
It is good to connect with people who know the answers. When I have questions, there are no delays getting answers. I’m never left hanging.
What do you like most about IsoForge?
I love the invoicing and follow up side of IsoForge! Previously I always had the feeling that some things were slipping through the cracks because I was concentrating on my practice and the actual therapy of course. It is a relief to know that someone else is following up on the administration work (which I don’t like doing) and closing the loop on the admin. That for me is amazing.
Where do you feel IsoForge Falls Short for you at the moment?
Not falling short, but I need to get more information on the tax and marketing side of things.
Why don’t you rather hire a secretary or PA to assist with your admin?
Virtual assistance is the only way to go when you have practices in multiple areas.
Did you look at any other business practice management solutions? Why didn’t you go with them
Yes I did. Most of what I found, the payment plan was based on a percentage. This means the more money you make, the more you have to pay. I like IsoForge because it’s a fixed rate for fixed services.
Also IsoForge offers transparency; at any moment during the month, I can see exactly what’s going on. The other solutions didn’t offer that to the same degree.
What are your professional passions and future plans for your practice?
I like individual therapy for adults. I specialise in trauma. In the military, you were just one therapist, and with the vast presentation of difficulties you had to just get stuck in and figure out how to help, read up a lot and be flexible in your treatment. I love assisting with mostly personality issues, anxiety and mood disorders.
I live in Alberton and so I will be closing the Heidelberg practice down and eventually the Secunda practice too.
This is my baby and I really want to see it grow. Perhaps to grow into my own busy and fully operational medical center. My vision for the center would be to have a few psychologists in the center as well as other auxiliary practitioners. Often therapy for a person needs to include supportive therapies and / or extend to the family and I’d like my medical center to offer all that.
Contact Details for Taryn Steyn
Office Number :: 010 500 3231
Practice Address 1 :: Life Brackenview Hospital, Consultation rooms, 22 de Waal Street, Alberton, 1449
Practice Address 2 :: 4 Charl Cilliers Street, Secunda, 2302
Email :: [email protected]
Website :: www.tarynsteyn.com