While it’s absolutely possible to hire Mental Health Virtual Teammates(MHVTs) on your own, doing so from scratch can be a time-consuming and risky process. Finding qualified candidates, verifying PRC licensure, evaluating skills, training them in your workflow, and managing performance—especially across time zones—can quickly become a second job.

At Tradewinds, we take all of that off your plate. With boots on the ground and deep connections within the Filipino Mental Health work community, we’re uniquely positioned to recruit, vet, and train top-tier MHVTs who are ready to support your practice from day one. We know where to look, what to screen for, and how to match the right assistant to the right therapist.

And if the fit isn’t perfect? You don’t start over—we handle the rematch. You get the benefit of elite talent without the burden of building the pipeline yourself.

A Mental Health Virtual Teammates (MHVTs) can transform the way your practice runs—freeing you from hours of low-revenue, high-frustration tasks so you can focus on what matters most: clinical work and growth.

Here’s how it adds up:
Instead of spending 2–3 hours a day on progress notes, documentation, scheduling, billing, or prepping for sessions, your MHVTs can handle those tasks under your direction. They can draft SOAP notes based on your voice recordings or bullet points, organize intake paperwork, confirm client appointments, follow up on unpaid invoices, and keep your caseload neatly managed.

Remember: They are uniquely qualified to handle these things since they are licensed therapists themselves!

By shifting that workload, you might find yourself reclaiming 10–15 hours a week. That’s time you can now use to see more clients, develop new services, or simply avoid burnout. And because your assistant costs far less than a U.S.-based hire—but brings real training and licensure—you increase both your efficiency and your profitability from day one.

Yes—and not just conversationally. Your assistant will be fluent, professional, and easy to communicate with. English is one of the official languages of the Philippines and the primary language used in Philippine universities. Every assistant we provide is a college-educated, licensed Mental Health Professionals who was trained entirely in English.

Almost all Filipinos speak English, but most of the assistants we provide have an even stronger command of English than the average Filipino. They’re comfortable writing clinical notes, communicating with American clients, and using the same professional language you do. You won’t be simplifying how you speak—you’ll be working with someone who already speaks your language, both literally and professionally.

Yes—HIPAA compliance is something we take extremely seriously. While your Mental Health Virtual Teammates (MHVTs) isn’t legally bound by HIPAA as a non-U.S. contractor, our systems are designed to meet HIPAA standards at every step.

We use specialized, HIPAA-compliant platforms for email, messaging, file sharing, document storage, and video conferencing to ensure that all client information is handled securely. From intake forms to session notes, everything stays protected within a closed, encrypted ecosystem.

In addition, every MHVT we assign signs a strict confidentiality agreement that mirrors HIPAA expectations and receives training in privacy best practices. You can delegate confidently, knowing that your assistant is operating within a framework built to protect your clients’ sensitive information and uphold your legal and ethical responsibilities.

So many! In fact, your MHVT teammate can assist in so many ways that we had to give that list its own dedicated page on this website. From admin support to clinical documentation prep—and everything in between—your assistant is trained to take a wide range of non-licensed tasks off your plate so you can focus on what truly matters.

To see the full scope of what your assistant can handle, head over to our Tasks You Can Hand Off page.

Yes. While your assistant is a licensed Mental Health Professionals in the Philippines, they are not licensed to practice in the U.S.—so certain tasks must remain strictly in your hands to stay within legal and ethical guidelines.

Specifically, your assistant cannot:

• Provide therapy or counseling directly to your clients
• Conduct clinical assessments or diagnose mental health conditions
• Create or modify treatment plans
• Make clinical recommendations or decisions
• Sign off on documentation requiring a U.S. license
• Communicate with clients in a therapeutic capacity (such as crisis support or session follow-ups)

That said, they can dramatically lighten your load behind the scenes—by drafting your progress notes (based on your input), prepping intake forms, organizing documentation, managing billing, scheduling, follow-ups, and other admin tasks. You stay focused on the clinical work; they take care of everything that doesn’t require your license.

Many Mental Health Virtual Teammates (MHVTs) do have clinical experience—but it’s important to understand that sometimes therapy roles in the Philippines can look a bit different than in the U.S. While American therapists often focus on one-on-one therapy, Filipino mental health professionals workers may work in settings like schools, government agencies, NGOs, or community programs, with a broader focus on case management, outreach, and social services.

That said, there’s a lot of overlap. They’re trained in the same core principles—assessment, documentation, planning, and client support—and they understand the language and structure of clinical work. Most are especially strong on the administrative side of therapy: drafting notes, organizing documentation, managing client records, and supporting compliance.

If deep clinical experience is a top priority for you, just let us know. We can factor that into our matching process to find someone with the background that best fits your needs.

You can have complete peace of mind that your new teammate actually has the certification that we say they do. Every Mental Health Virtual Teammates (MHVTs) we provide has been independently verified by our team to ensure they hold a current license issued by the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) in the Philippines.

The PRC is the government agency responsible for regulating and licensing professionals across a wide range of fields in the Philippines, including Mental Health Professionals. It functions much like a U.S. state licensing board and ensures that all license holders meet rigorous educational and ethical standards.

Before you’re ever matched with an assistant, we personally confirm their PRC license and educational background—and we provide you with proof of both at the time of hire. You can feel confident knowing your assistant is the real deal: professionally trained, officially licensed, and fully vetted.

While not identical, the licensing process in the Philippines is rigorous and highly respected. Filipino Mental Health Professionals must earn a bachelor’s degree in Psychology and pass the national board exam administered by the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC)—the country’s official licensing body for all regulated professions. Think of it as the Philippine equivalent of a U.S. state licensing board.

Passing the PRC exam is no easy feat. The pass rate typically runs around 60%, highlighting the difficulty and the high standards required to become a licensed Mental Health Professionals in the Philippines..

That said, a PRC license doesn’t authorize someone to practice clinical Psychology work in the U.S.—but it does mean your assistant has a strong educational foundation, professional training, and a real license to prove it. You’re getting someone who knows the field, speaks your language, and brings serious credentials to the table.

Your assistant will be your assistant—familiar with your practice, your style, and your preferences. While most of the Mental Health Virtual Teammates (MHVTs) that we provide are paired with two American therapists (typically working 20 hours per week for each), your assistant will work dedicated, pre-scheduled hours exclusively for you.

That means you’ll always know exactly when your assistant is available, and you can plan your delegation around that consistent schedule. Just as importantly, you’ll be working with the same assistant every time—no rotation, no hand-offs, no surprises. You build a relationship, a workflow, and a rhythm that gets stronger over time.

And if you ever decide you’d prefer a different assistant, we’ll help you make that transition smoothly. But unless you ask us to make a change, your assistant stays with you for the long haul.

We handle the matching process for you—but with your input, needs and criteria placed front and center.

Before pairing you with a Mental Health Virtual Teammates (MHVTs), we’ll ask detailed questions about your preferences, priorities, work style, and the specific types of tasks you want to delegate. Our team uses that info to match you with the assistant we believe will be the best fit for your practice.

That said, nothing is set in stone. If at any point you feel like the match isn’t quite right—whether it’s communication style, turnaround time, or just chemistry—you can request a different assistant, and we’ll be happy to rematch you. Our goal is to make sure you feel supported, not stuck.

Most of the time, your assistant will work Filipino hours—which means your to-do list gets tackled while you’re asleep. Because the Philippines is 12–15 hours ahead of the U.S., your assistant’s workday often happens during your nighttime. So when you wake up it will feel like “productivity elves” showed up overnight and “magically” made your practice more streamlined.

This setup isn’t just convenient—it’s efficient. Your practice moves forward even when you’re off the clock. During the initial training phase, we’ll coordinate some real-time overlap to get things synced between the two of you. But once you’re both in rhythm, this near-24-hour workflow becomes one of the most magical perks of the whole arrangement.

We don’t utilize rigid time-tracking software—and that’s intentional. Our model is built on trust, professionalism, and results—not micromanagement. You and your Mental Health Virtual Teammates (MHVTs) are both trained professionals, and we believe the working relationship should reflect that.

Rather than measuring productivity by the minute, we focus on quality outcomes. As a therapist yourself, you probably have a strong sense of how long most of the tasks you assign generally take—so when you delegate those same tasks, you’ll naturally be able to gauge whether the output feels aligned with the hours assigned. From years of personally having multiple Filipino assistants I can say with a lot of confidence that your island-based teammate will work efficiently, stay on top of tasks, and often exceed expectations.

But if you ever feel like something’s off or you want to fine-tune the workflow, we’re here to support you.

This is a common and fair and compassionate question—and the short answer is: no, you’re not exploiting anyone. In fact, you’re offering a life-changing opportunity.

While the rate may seem low by U.S. standards, it’s actually a strong, competitive wage in the Philippines—especially for remote work. The average monthly salary for licensed Mental Health Professionals in the Philippines is significantly lower than what you’ll be paying.. And unlike many local work positions in the Philippines,, this role doesn’t come with punishing commutes, overcrowded offices, or rigid hours.

What’s more, good jobs for licensed professionals are hard to come by in the Philippines, regardless of wage.. Many Mental Health Professionals are often forced to work overseas, separated from their families, just to make ends meet. A remote role like this—where they can work from home, use their degree, earn a comparatively strong wage, and stay close to their loved ones—isn’t just a good job. It’s a dream job. These positions are deeply valued, and most of our assistants are sincerely grateful to be doing meaningful work with American clinicians.

Protecting your clients’ privacy is non-negotiable for us —and we’ve built our entire process around that principle. Every Mental Health Virtual Teammates (MHVTs) we provide is trained in professional ethics, including strict confidentiality standards. Privacy and discretion are core components of their licensure in the Philippines, and they fully understand the weight of handling sensitive clinical information.

In addition to that, each assistant signs a confidentiality agreement modeled on HIPAA standards, even though they’re not directly subject to HIPAA as non-U.S. contractors. They’re trained in secure documentation practices, responsible data handling, and digital safety protocols.

Most importantly, all communication and file-sharing between you and your assistant takes place over HIPAA-compliant platforms. This ensures that client information remains secure every step of the way—from intake forms to case notes. You can delegate with confidence, knowing your assistant is equipped to support your work without compromising your clients’ trust.

We encourage a healthy work-life balance for all of our Mental Health Virtual Teammates (MHVTs), and that includes taking time off when needed—whether for holidays, illness, or personal reasons. That said, we also understand that consistency matters in your practice.

Here’s how we handle it:
Your assistant is expected to provide advance notice for any planned time off. In those cases, we’ll work with you to decide what makes the most sense—whether it’s rescheduling delegated tasks, providing limited temporary coverage, or simply planning ahead to minimize disruption.

If your assistant is out unexpectedly and you have critical needs, we’ll step in to help coordinate temporary support if available. And if extended time off becomes necessary, we’ll help you decide on next steps, including temporary or permanent replacements if needed.

We typically match you with a Mental Health Virtual Teammate (MHVT) within 3 – 5 days of completing your intake call. Rest assured that we don’t just plug you into a pool—we search intentionally for someone whose background, skillset, and work style aligns with what you’re looking for.

During that time, we verify credentials, assess communication and technical skills, and make sure they’re fully briefed on your workflow needs. We ensure a much better match, and a much smoother onboarding process.

Absolutely. Your assistant is adaptable and ready to learn your preferred platforms. Whether you’re using SimplePractice, TherapyNotes, Jane, TheraNest, or something else entirely, we’ll make sure your assistant is oriented to your software.

Many MHVTs already have experience with common EHRs, schedulers, and billing platforms—but if yours is new to them, we’ll provide them time to learn it under your guidance. You’re in control of your workflow, and we’ll help your assistant align with it.

We don’t disappear once the match is made. You’ll have ongoing access to our client success team for any questions, concerns, or fine-tuning that may come up. Whether you need help troubleshooting a workflow, are considering switching assistants, or want to expand your delegation list—we’re here.

We also check in and do evaluation periodically to make sure everything’s going smoothly on both sides. Your satisfaction is our priority, and we’re committed to supporting the long-term success of your working relationship.

We understand that needs evolve. If you ever want to pause or cancel your service, we make it simple and transparent. Just give us two weeks notice, and we’ll handle the logistics.

No long-term contracts. No penalty fees. We’ll wrap things up professionally, and if you ever decide to return, we’ll welcome you back and work on a new match based on your updated needs.

Instead of replacing your teammate, AI actually makes them even more valuable.

It’s true—AI is reshaping the way we work, and that includes the mental health field. But while many therapists are excited about what AI can do, many simply don’t have the extra hours in the day to research, test, and implement every new tool that comes along.

Our MHVTs receive ongoing training to harness all of the powerful tools that can help streamline a wide variety of tasks. Things like note-taking, scheduling, inbox management, content creation, and more—all while you stay focused on what matters most: your clients. In a fast-moving digital world, they help you stay current without having to keep up with every tech breakthrough yourself.