Virtual assistants for therapists and behavioral health practices
Trained behavioral health support, on demand.
Trained support staff for intake calls, benefits checks, prior authorizations and scheduling, working inside your systems. Based in the Philippines and Latin America and trained for US time zones, at $14 per hour full time or $16 per hour part time.
Why choose Second Desk?
Second Desk provides trained virtual assistants for therapists and behavioral health practices and programs. Assistants handle intake calls, benefits checks, prior authorizations and scheduling. They are based primarily in the Philippines and Latin America, trained for US time zones, and work inside your existing systems, including your EHR and payer portals. They follow our behavioral health playbooks and your workflows. You pay by the hour: $16 part time or $14 full time.
General virtual assistants are not trained on behavioral health payers, intake or privacy rules. Practices end up training them and still double-checking the work.
Built for behavioral health practices and programs that need reliable front-office and billing support.
How does hiring an assistant work?
- 1
Tell us the role
Tasks, systems and hours.
- 2
Meet candidates
We introduce trained candidates within a week.
- 3
Start working
Your assistant follows our behavioral health playbooks and your workflows.
What does an assistant handle?
- Behavioral health-trained assistants
- Benefits verification and prior authorization psychiatric medication
- Intake and scheduling
- HIPAA training and signed agreements
- Backup coverage
- Playbooks for common EHRs
What stays with your licensed staff
Your clinicians keep this work:
- Clinical judgment and clinical decisions
- Crisis triage and calls from clients in distress
- Clinical notes
- Diagnosis and clinical history
How much does a Second Desk assistant cost?
Clear prices for a trained medical virtual assistant, published up front.
Part time
$16 per hour
20 hours per week minimum, so from $320 per week.
Full time
$14 per hour
40 hours per week, or $560 per week.
Month to month after the first 30 days. Full pricing details or compare VA vs in-house cost with your own numbers.
Guides
Step-by-step workflows and phone scripts your front office can use today. See all guides
Frequently asked questions
What is a virtual assistant for therapists?
A remote team member who handles the administrative work around sessions: answering and returning calls, scheduling, intake paperwork, insurance benefit checks, prior authorizations and claim follow-up. Clinical judgment, crisis triage and clinical notes stay with licensed staff. Read the guide to virtual assistants for therapy practices.
What can a virtual assistant do for a therapy practice?
Intake calls, benefits checks, prior authorizations and scheduling, working inside your systems. Assistants follow our behavioral health playbooks and your workflows. Clinical decisions and calls from clients in distress stay with your licensed staff. For the steps, read our verification of benefits process and prior authorization for psychiatric medication.
Who is Second Desk for?
Behavioral health practices and programs that need reliable front-office and billing support, including therapy practices that want an assistant trained on behavioral health payers and intake.
How much does a medical virtual assistant cost with Second Desk?
Part time is $16 per hour with a 20 hour weekly minimum. Full time is $14 per hour for 40 hours per week. After the first 30 days, it is month to month. See Second Desk pricing.
Is there a minimum number of hours?
Part time has a 20 hour weekly minimum. Full time is 40 hours per week.
How much does an assistant cost per week?
At the published rates, the 20 hour part time minimum is $320 per week at $16 per hour, and 40 full time hours are $560 per week at $14 per hour.
Where are assistants based?
Primarily the Philippines and Latin America as offshore staff, trained for US time zones, with HIPAA training and signed agreements.
What systems do assistants work in?
Assistants work inside your existing systems, including your EHR and payer portals, and bring playbooks for common EHRs. They follow your workflows.
How are assistants trained for behavioral health?
Every assistant is trained for behavioral health front-office and billing work. They follow our behavioral health playbooks and your workflows.
Can assistants handle clinical or crisis calls?
No. Assistants handle administrative work only. Clinical decisions and calls from clients in distress stay with your licensed staff.
What work stays with your licensed staff?
Clinical judgment and clinical decisions, crisis triage and calls from clients in distress, clinical notes, and diagnosis and clinical history.
Do you sign a BAA?
Yes.
Can I replace an assistant?
Yes, at no cost.
Can assistants work in US time zones?
Yes. Assistants are trained for US time zones, and you set the hours when you describe the role.
How do we get started?
Tell us the role, tasks, systems and hours. We introduce trained candidates within a week. Your assistant then works inside your systems, following our behavioral health playbooks and your workflows. After the first 30 days, it is month to month.
How soon can we meet a candidate?
We introduce trained candidates within a week of hearing the role, tasks, systems and hours you need.
Is there a contract?
Month to month after the first 30 days.
Meet a candidate
Tell us a little about you and we will reply within one business day.