How Online Therapy Cuts Cancellations and Expands Access | with Mark Nolte, founder of Start Talking
Mon Feb 02 2026
In this episode of Brainwaves by Opus, Shawn Rickenbacker sits down with Mark Nolte, co-founder and CEO of Start Talking, a virtual therapy platform helping people access counseling through secure remote sessions.
Mark shares how his own experience seeking help for depression revealed a major barrier: the fear of being seen, judged, or stigmatized. That insight sparked Start Talking’s mission to make therapy private, convenient, and easier to stick with.
The conversation covers how COVID accelerated teletherapy adoption years ahead of predictions, why online sessions often reduce cancellations, and how AI can remove documentation and administrative burdens so therapists can spend more time with patients.
We explore:
Why privacy and stigma still stop people from getting help
How teletherapy expanded access for rural and underserved communities
Why online therapy can reduce cancellations (and make care easier to follow through on)
The realities of scaling a nationwide therapist network
Where AI fits into mental health, from clinical notes to journaling insights
Why the future belongs to clinicians who adopt AI tools responsibly
Learn more: www.starttalking.io
More
In this episode of Brainwaves by Opus, Shawn Rickenbacker sits down with Mark Nolte, co-founder and CEO of Start Talking, a virtual therapy platform helping people access counseling through secure remote sessions. Mark shares how his own experience seeking help for depression revealed a major barrier: the fear of being seen, judged, or stigmatized. That insight sparked Start Talking’s mission to make therapy private, convenient, and easier to stick with. The conversation covers how COVID accelerated teletherapy adoption years ahead of predictions, why online sessions often reduce cancellations, and how AI can remove documentation and administrative burdens so therapists can spend more time with patients. We explore: Why privacy and stigma still stop people from getting help How teletherapy expanded access for rural and underserved communities Why online therapy can reduce cancellations (and make care easier to follow through on) The realities of scaling a nationwide therapist network Where AI fits into mental health, from clinical notes to journaling insights Why the future belongs to clinicians who adopt AI tools responsibly Learn more: www.starttalking.io