Andrea Cuc, LCSW, Needed a Part-Time Private Practice that Was Easy to Manage

Why Andrea joined Alma

As a full-time psychotherapist at the Mayo Clinic in Arizona, I needed a way to continue to provide psychotherapy to clients that needed ongoing services beyond the limited sessions that were included in their care at the clinic. I specifically wanted to help clients who were reluctant to establish care with another therapist or who struggled to find a community therapist who was accepting new patients and had experience with the complex medical issues they were managing.

Too often, after we reached our session limitation (due to the consultative nature of the practice), clients would tell me “I just never saw anybody again,” which was heartbreaking. I wanted to continue supporting them but wasn’t sure how — I didn’t have the bandwidth for a part-time private practice.

A previous colleague of mine joined Alma and told me about it, but I had doubts. Is it really as good as it seems? After two years as an Alma member, I understand the value it brings to both providers and clients. I now encourage others, who otherwise wouldn’t have started a private practice, to join. As a therapist, it’s important for me to continue to reach as many people as I can because mental health matters!

How Alma makes her private practice possible

I tell everyone who is interested in starting their own private practice about Alma. It makes running a business easy, while allowing the provider to remain in control of their business.

What drives Andrea’s commitment to care

When I took my first undergraduate psychology class, I loved it. I remember my immigrant parents saying, “Oh my gosh, social work? Are you going to make any money?” I said, “I don't know. I hope so.”

I ultimately decided to pursue a degree in social work due to my parents modeling a “servant heart.” They taught me that making money is important in terms of survival, but people matter more. They lived their life demonstrating this value.

My father immigrated from Romania to Holland, Michigan, during the Communist era. A stranger noticed him and offered to provide a place for him to stay until he got a job and could afford to pay minimal rent. The generosity of this person, whom our family has been friends with ever since, helped my father get on his feet so he could bring his wife and kids to America.

As soon as they were able, my parents did the same—inviting family members as well as people they barely knew to stay with them for weeks, months, and sometimes years, until they, too, got on their feet.

In high school, when my oldest son stated that he wanted to be a physician, I wanted to know his why. I stated, “If your motivation is purely financial, then please go do something else, because you may burn out.” His reply was, “All I know is to help people, and I want to continue to do that.” And I replied, “Well, if that’s the reason, then we need you. We need more people like that.” He is currently pursuing his dream in medical school.

Alma provides a way for me to live my values and carry on the “servant heart” of my parents. I can do what I do best because I can leave the insurance, billing/financials, and HIPAA compliant EHR, and telehealth platform to Alma.