EP 294: Bridging the Gap: Dr. Kayla's Mission to Transform Mental Health Care

What makes Dr. Kayla Smith with Helen’s Project a good neighbor?

What happens when a college assignment turns into a mission to revolutionize mental health care? Dr. Kayla shares the inspiring journey behind Helen’s Project, a mental health clinic dedicated to breaking down barriers to quality, affordable care.

Founded after a chance encounter with a stranger in a park who highlighted gaps in support services, Helen’s Project started with case management and quickly grew into a full-service clinic. Dr. Kayla’s vision is clear: no one should have to choose between paying bills and getting mental health support. Accessibility and affordability are at the heart of their work.

Dr. Kayla also tackles common myths around mental health, reminding us that while friends are important, “your friend is your friend and they should stay your friend.” Helen’s Project welcomes clients from all walks of life, especially those ready for change and guidance through life’s transitions.

Beyond her work, Dr. Kayla’s unique interests—from cult documentaries to learning to drive a tractor—reflect the warm, approachable care Helen’s Project provides.

Ready to prioritize your mental health with a team that truly cares? Visit helensproject.org to learn more about their services, story, and supportive team ready to walk alongside you.

To learn more about Helen’s Project, go to: 🌐 helensproject.org

Helen’s Project
📞 830-400-7037
 

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
This is the Good Neighbor Podcast, the place
where local businesses andneighbors come together.
Here's your host, Sophia Yvette.

Speaker 2 (00:11):
Welcome to the Good Neighbor Podcast.
Are you in need of a virtualwellness clinic?
Well, one may be closer thanyou think.
Today I have the pleasure ofintroducing your good neighbor,
Dr Kayla, with Helen's Project.
Dr Kayla, how are you today?

Speaker 3 (00:29):
Doing well.
Thank you so much.

Speaker 2 (00:31):
Great.
Well, we're so excited to haveyou on today and our listeners
are so excited to learn allabout you and your business.
Can you get started by tellingus a little bit about your
company?

Speaker 3 (00:43):
Yeah, so we are Helen's Project.
We are an all-encompassingmental health clinic, so our
goal is to be a one-stop placewhere you can come for all types
of therapy, no matter the age,and if you need medication
management, we are able toaccommodate that as well.
So we just want to make mentalhealth accessible and affordable
to everybody.

Speaker 2 (01:04):
Wow.
So, dr Kayla, how did youoriginally get started with this
business?

Speaker 3 (01:10):
Funny story.
It was an assignment in college.
I had a really amazingprofessor who told us to go find
a problem in the community andfix it and I was like I don't
know, I'm going to fail thisclass.
Just go ahead and fail me.
I can't do it.
But I actually was sitting in apark and really upset, and this
gentleman came up to me and hewas just like why are you upset,

(01:31):
why are you mad?
And I was like I'm not mad.
I'm scared, I'm a fail school.
So I started telling him aboutthis assignment.
He was like Well, come with me,come with me.
I'm going to tell you now.
I don't advise people to followrandom strangers at a park Very
bad idea.
But I did it anyway and,luckily enough, he just kind of

(01:52):
introduced me to a differentworld of support services and,
like the gaps in services, whereit's you have people from the
military who leave and areexpecting so much support,
expecting so much.
You know just everything to beeasy to navigate and it wasn't
so much.
You know just everything to beeasy to navigate and it wasn't.
So we started off with casemanagement services where we
focused on, like I said, fillingthe gap, and the best way I
explain it is think about whenyou go to the emergency room and

(02:14):
when you're checking out of theemergency room they give you a
packet and they're like okay,here you go.
This is what's wrong with you.
Follow up with these differentresources or these different
people.
But if I don't have a phone,how am I going to call?
If I don't have a computer, howcan I look it up?
If I don't have a car, how canI get to the appointment?
So our role was to fill thosegaps and then, in time, as like,
we've grown and as we'vechanged, as we've adapted, we

(02:36):
found that mental health is notprioritized the way that it
should be, and so making itaffordable and accessible became
our primary mission, ourprimary goal, our primary
everything.
Because, if you think about it,when a budget needs to be made
or finances need to be changed,one of the first things you're
going to go through is oh well,let's get rid of therapy, I

(02:59):
can't afford that.
So if we can make it accessibleand affordable, then you don't
have to pick and choose betweena household bill and your mental
health.
So that's how we got here.

Speaker 2 (03:10):
Most definitely, I agree with you.
Now that you're here, what isthe most common myth or
misconception you typically comeacross in your industry today?

Speaker 3 (03:21):
In my industry.
I would say that it is not.
Mental health is not needed, orit's not important, or one of
like the most controversialthings that I always hear is
like well, I just talked to myfriend.
My friend is my therapist.

Speaker 1 (03:35):
No, your friend is not your therapist.

Speaker 3 (03:37):
Your friend is your friend and they should stay your
friend.
So that's one of the biggestmyths that I see, and we try to
combat that as often as we can.

Speaker 2 (03:45):
Now, Dr Kayla, we know marketing is the heart of
every business.
How do you currently marketyour business and who are your
potential clients?

Speaker 3 (03:56):
Yes, we are on Instagram, we have psychology.
Today we're on ZocDoc, so wetry to make sure that we are in
every place that you would eventhink about.
Hey, I want to find a therapist.
Where should I look first?
Or even on Google, because somepeople go to Google first.
There's not like a specific,like mold or anything like that,

(04:22):
because we really encouragepeople to come as they are.
But if you're ready forsomething different, if you're
tired of the same routine dayafter day after day, and you're
ready for some type of change,then give us a call and let us
be a part of that change.
Let us help you navigatethrough that.
That is, honestly, the best wayI can describe an ideal person
for us.

Speaker 2 (04:39):
And have you ever thought of having your own
podcast, Actually?

Speaker 3 (04:43):
yes, I have.
If you talk to our marketingdepartment, I just kind of spit
ideas at her all the time and Iwas like what if I did a podcast
?
And it was like a tea with yourtherapist or something like
that and we just kind of likegossiped and went through funny
stories or whatever.
Haven't done it, but it'sdefinitely an idea.

Speaker 2 (05:03):
Now, Dr Kayla, outside of work, what do you
like to do for fun?

Speaker 3 (05:08):
I love documentaries, especially a good one about a
cult you know, I don't know whyand building things and just
kind of do it, getting my handsdirty, Like I always tell you.
Before we hopped on I got atractor, I don't know why but I
got a tractor, so I've beenlearning how to drive a tractor
and use it.
That's my goal right now.

Speaker 2 (05:30):
Oh, that's funny.
Now please tell our listenersone thing they should remember
about Helen's project.

Speaker 3 (05:39):
If you remember anything, remember affordable
and accessible, that's it.

Speaker 2 (05:43):
Remember the two A's, not AA, but affordable and
accessible, because that's whatwe truly aim to be and where can
our listeners go out of all theamazing platforms you listed to
learn more about Helen'sProject?

Speaker 3 (05:57):
Honestly, our website is the best place
helensprojectorg.
You'll learn our story.
You'll learn about how we gotthe name Helens, You'll learn
about me and all the things Idon't talk about, our amazing
team and staff that's all hereto support you and you'll find a
really great network to be ableto help you through whatever
life is going through.

Speaker 2 (06:18):
Well, dr Kayla, it really has been a pleasure
having you on the show today,and we wish you and your
business the best.

Speaker 3 (06:27):
Thank you so much.
Have a good day.

Speaker 1 (06:30):
Thank you for listening to the good neighbor
podcast.
To nominate your favorite localbusinesses, go to GNPFriscocom.
That's GNPFriscocom, or call469-221-9345.