Momentum is giving small businesses a better chance of achieving big success!

Written By Sizwe Shabalala

Living in a time where mental health continues to be a growing discussion in society, the urgency for therapy services seems to be at an all-time high. My Online Therapist recognises this and are doing their part in ensuring those in need of mental health support do not have to struggle to get it.

As part of Momentum’s initiative to empower women-owned businesses with an opportunity to turn their financial plans into a reality, My Online Therapist is one of the winners of this year’s campaign and they will have an opportunity to turn their small business into a big a success.

Run by two best friends, Renisha Naidoo and Basheera Surty, My Online Therapist is currently the only online company in South Africa that focuses solely on children.

*Founders of My Online Therapist, Renisha Naidoo and Basheera Surty*

“We are all about accessibility and creating a community where parents can feel we are approachable, and we are equipped to cater to their needs and the needs of their children. We strive to make sure that it is easy for them to get support and so we put an emphasis on on-time intervention and early support for kids,” explains Renisha.

My Online Therapist is an accessible, approachable, and caring service for anyone who finds themselves on the journey of seeking support for their child or a child in their care. Just like the name suggests, it is an online platform that supports and connects therapists with families who need therapy services, more specifically therapy focused on children.

“We were started by two black female therapists who were frustrated by the number of children not receiving therapy early enough and the limited options for work as therapists, registered councilors and social workers,” says Basheera.

Online therapy is a relatively new concept in South Africa and Basheera admits that there is still a lot of skepticism around the idea and its effectiveness. There is still a great deal of education required to understand its importance.

*Co-Founder of My Online Therapist, Basheera Surty*

“From a business point of view, we’ve gone through many phases of adaptation. Our business is two years old, and we’ve been in a pandemic for more than two years. Our business model had to adapt. We also asked ourselves the question of what therapy means in the South African context because, as a country, we have a lot of traumas. Once we were able to answer these questions and our business model had been adjusted, we then had to find the right support to come on board to help carry out this vision,” says Basheera.

Having a team made up of diverse therapists is something the company is really proud of. This multi-disciplinary approach translates into a one-stop-shop for families looking for a variety of therapy services. The company also had the opportunity to go into partnership with The Trevor Noah Foundation and The Charlize Theron Foundation to increase reach.

“In addition to the amazing work we have been fortunate enough to do with these foundations, we have also been invited to various media platforms to speak on the importance of therapy and the online approach. We are really proud of how we’ve been able to educate and spread awareness on this topic. In addition to reaching our financial goals, one other major milestone is of course being chosen to be part of the Momentum winners for this life-changing opportunity,” says Renisha.

*Co-Founder of My Online Therapist, Renisha Naidoo*

Basheera says the effects of COVID have had both a negative and positive impact on their company.

“On a human level, many of us are still trying to process the effects of the pandemic and how it affected our mental health. From a business perspective, our business actually took off during the pandemic because suddenly people couldn’t leave their homes and their only connections to the rest of the world, were online.”

Pre-pandemic, the South African rules and regulations for therapists put emphasis on in-person service but due to health and safety concerns brought on by the pandemic, the rules and regulations were adjusted. This has allowed My Online Therapist to garner more clients as they no longer had to conduct in-person consultations – the entire process is online. Via online therapy, they are making it easier for clients to continue their care even if they are not in the country.

“Being selected as one of the winners means we get access to financial support but more importantly, we get business support. My Online Therapist will be part of a community that amplifies women-led businesses making an impact and that, for us, is a game-changer. It really is such an amazing platform, and it came at such a crucial time for our business,” explains Renisha.

“Having the ability to train our staff and stay profitable so that we are able to grow and become a good investment for other businesses that might want to invest in the near future; it takes the business to a scaling level where there is limitless accessibility to our services.”

Basheera and Renisha took some time to reflect on what this means for them as individuals who have been on this journey together.

“This is a great opportunity to grow and learn. I am excited to experience new things and meet new people,” says Basheera. “Putting myself out there can be daunting, but I am ready to fully embrace all that comes with this life-changing opportunity.”

“This has been a great validation on a personal level,” says Renisha. “We work so hard on our ideas, and we fully believe in them but when a company like Momentum sees your vision, it means a lot. That kind of validation and recognition makes you more ambitious and energised to go all out for your dreams.”

Working together as best friends, Basheera says, has been a special experience, to be on this journey with Renisha. Having met at university many years ago and experiencing the world together, there is something very powerful in having a shared vision and realising it. In addition to drawing inspiration from each other, they also credit their families who have been on this journey with them from the beginning.

“A lot of my drive and inspiration comes from my mother. She was a nurse at a time when HIV was still in its early stages in communities in the Eastern Cape and she took it upon herself to learn as much as possible about the virus so she could be of better service to the communities. Watching her dedicate herself to such a cause really planted the seed in me. Now that I have my own kids, I want the same for them. There’s this generational urgency, we have to make sure we are creating a better world for those after us.”

*My Online Therapist and Lesedi Scientific Services, 2022 Winners of Momentum’s Small Business Big Success Initiative*

In addition to drawing inspiration from her mother and her own children, Renisha also credits her best friend and business partner, Basheera, as a constant inspiration and support system in her life. For Basheera, she too, is also inspired by the women in her life on the professional front and in private life.

“It’s so inspiring to see how quickly the therapists feel at home as soon as they join our team. There is a sense of community we have been intentional on creating for them,” says Basheera. “We are continuing the incredible work done by our mothers before us. They fought a different kind of struggle, but we know can we build on their progress. We should not lose the sense of duty to forever amplify women’s voices,” she adds.

As a country, we still have a long way to go in terms of destigmatising mental health. Unlearning and learning are required. That’s why it is so important to educate and normalise the conversation.

“I want the next generation to know that having feelings and talking about your feelings is okay. What we are focused on is making sure we provide parents and children with healthy ways to process and understand these feelings. We need to create space for all feelings to exist and to be processed in the healthiest way,” says Renisha.

*Head of Brand at Momentum, Charlotte Nsubuga-Mukasa with 2022 winners, My Online Therapist and Lesedi Scientific Services*

Now that it has finally sunk in that they are part of this year’s group of winners, Basheera says she is,“really looking forward to grabbing this opportunity with both hands and getting the most out of it. It will be interesting to look back a few years from now to see the progress and the impact that will come from this moment.”

Head of Brand at Momentum, Charlotte Nsubuga-Mukasa says she is most looking forward to seeing small business plans taking big steps to realise audacious and unmet dreams. “I am excited for new ideas of how we can take this property to entrench its authenticity and purpose in more lives, post the campaign,” says Charlotte. “Watching the winners rise as we partner with them in our #SheOwnsHerSuccess Women’s Month campaign in August is going to be very exciting.”