Members of the local business community got together to help celebrate TherapyWorks’ five-year anniversary in Scotts Valley on June 27.
Maaliea Wilbur, a licensed marriage and family therapist, started the business 15 years ago in Los Gatos, and has since opened offices in Scotts Valley and Santa Cruz/Capitola.
“I live here,” Wilbur said in an interview. “It’s a privilege to do the work that we do.”
The clinic, which serves children, teens and adults, focuses on “evidence-based care” around the wide range of issues facing the clients who walk through the door.
“We deal with such a broad spectrum of care,” she said. “This community matters to me.”
It is a “private pay” operation, meaning they don’t take insurance, but can print out a bill to submit to insurance companies if they’re willing to pay for out-of-network care.
Danny Reber, the executive director of the Chamber of Commerce, congratulated Wilbur on the business milestone.
“There’s an energy and a cohesiveness,” he said. “I can feel the passion.”
Wilbur said her goal is to help people through the bumps and grinds of life.
“Whatever it is, we’ve got you covered,” she said. “We have so many resources we’re connected to.”
Councilmember Donna Lind asked about the effects of cellphone use. Wilbur said she was just discussing this at a meeting with a group of clinicians at the Crow’s Nest Restaurant.
“It’s not easy for adults to be judged online,” said Lind, implying that it would be even more difficult for children to deal with these sorts of pressures.
Hannah Fisher, the owner of Hannah Fisher Counseling, said it’s nice to work in the industry alongside Wilbur, and added that the TherapyWorks owner isn’t overly competitive for clients.
Fisher was one of the attendees at the Crow’s Nest gathering with about 20 professionals.
“We’re always networking,” she said.
Wilbur said picking her staff roster is about more than just looking for people who went to the best schools.
“The people behind who we’re hiring matters more than what the resume says,” she said. “Your resume could look amazing, but you’re a total dud.”
Lauren Furtado, a community relations manager at TherapyWorks, said she learns a lot from working with Wilbur.
“She really can do it all,” Furtado said. “It’s so fun to be able to work for her.”
