We recently connected with Nicole Bryant and have shared our conversation below.

Nicole, appreciate you joining us today. It’s always helpful to hear about times when someone’s had to take a risk – how did they think through the decision, why did they take the risk, and what ended up happening. We’d love to hear about a risk you’ve taken.

I was born and raised in California. I built my career there and focused on being a traveling therapist. I did work in Mexico, South Africa, and decided to take a risk and do a summer Christian Camp program through Chickfila to fill time and spend time in the South. I fell in LOVE with the town of Murfreesboro. Although the role was merely for the summer, I dreamt about it. I returned to California and began my work in the corrections system to build my crisis services experience. I then got licensed and got into Corporate Tech Mental Health building out programs. I begged my husband to move to Murfreesboro and risk our stability. We both were able to land remote gigs and continue our work. After becoming pregnant, I realized that my values were shifting and the risk was shifting into private practice in a town where I am 100% unknown. Now we are here….

Nicole, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

Growing up, I’ve always had a passion and affinity for spaces as well as narratives. What they are used for, who occupies them, and most importantly, how they make people feel. That passion has brought respectable clarity…I always thought I’d be an anesthesiologist. I had a tenacity for my passion and became a Medical Assistant in high school. Working in the hospitals before college was the transition window for me and the reason as to why I pursued a future in social work and behavioral health.

I love seeking understanding and capturing human stories in spaces intended to greet them warmly, with open arms. Throughout my professional experiences, I’ve paid attention to what makes people take a deeper breath and what makes people feel inclined to share. I desire clarity of the delicate spaces they hold so dear, but allow me to enter in. This passion has taken me everywhere- literally. I’ve been fortunate enough to do Human Trafficking and Domestic Violence work in Mexico and HIV/AID prevention and Youth Work in South Africa. In the states, I’ve been fortunate enough to work in the court system for Domestic Violence Victims, run a Domestic Violence Shelter, serve in the Children Services department for my home county and specialize in the human trafficking division, serve at the Public Defender’s office as their sole social worker, and eventually work in the jails as a therapist and assist with those who are deemed incompetent to stand trail. I’ve also done home health, outpatient therapy, and spent years as a clinical manager for numerous tech mental health companies.

The diverse backgrounds have shown me time and time again that when people need you, it is a need. I wanted to take ownership over people’s most vulnerable time and truly make it safe. After tons of pushing from the teams I used to manage, As You Are Therapy opened its doors and I have yet to look back. We have now expanded into a boutique group practice off the square in Murfreesboro. I have made it my duty to create a “home” away from home for people to come As They Are and leave happy.

What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?

I will never forget the amount of conversations I had with my parents when I changed my major from Biochemistry to Social Work. It was the whole “how can you help people when you’d need helping” shindig. The belief that I would be needing financial assistance to survive. I just knew that wasn’t true. School, now that was a breeze! If there’s a nerd out there…. it is me all the way. I went straight through from Kindergarten at 4 years old and graduated at 25 with my doctoral degree. My struggles were moreso my world view. The more advancement that life brought, the more I had questions about systems, judgment, norms, and safety. Transitions and tension are required in order to thrive. Opening the doors of As You Are was a fear. I never wanted to do private practice. Anyone would tell you that. Once I started, I felt joy, but I felt the risk ten fold. I had just had my first child and I was working in corporate. Juggling both and trying to build my caseload felt like eternity. Next thing I knew, I blinked and I was struggling to balance both and being a mom. My husband encouraged me to quit corporate but that was my “safety”. It took me 6 months before I could “bet on myself”. I finally quit and just focused on the business. In 3 months, I had two staff members. A year from that very day, we bought the new office for As You Are. Struggles come and go throughout the process, but I choose to see the obstacles as learning lessons to highlight misalignment.

I may be able to write a book on this exact question haha I have learned that a clarity that hurts you is better than a hopeful confusion that holds you. I have learned that rest is a radical act of self-love in a world that glorifies exhaustion. I have learned that forward is a pace.

I have realized that there is so much power in the company that you keep. Each and every day, we are writing a story with the choice that we make. With the “turbulence” along the way, I realized that I need to be willing to work for it more than I wish for it. I need to turn doubt into determination and use it. If it doesn’t exist, I need to be willing to build it.

I realized that where I set my focus will magnify and that saying no sometimes protects my yes.

How did you put together the initial capital you needed to start?

As You Are Therapy is a boutique group mental health practice. We are literally build on the foundation that all people can come to us as they are and that they will be seen, prioritized, and loved along the way. Our office has been intentionally curated to be “everything therapy isn’t traditionally”. We are in a “house” that was converted into an office so it is very welcoming and friendly. Our offices are “moody” and curated with deep greens, blacks, and cognac furniture. We are not the “sit on the couch and dump” agency. Seeing a therapist at our practice is like seeing your favorite family member. A lot of our clients have left other agencies due to traumatic experiences and with us they feel “at home”. We treat ages 6+ and specialize in trauma, relationships, youth/teens, and perinatal mental health. I am most proud that brand wise, we’ve been able to remain “different’. I remember picking out our brand colors and being told that the colors I chose aren’t traditional. That is me in a brand. We want to be different and recognized for doing it anyway. I want readers to know that regardless of your situation, you will be seen here and love seeing us in person and/or virtually. If therapy isn’t your jam, we also do a therapeutic book club where you can meet others who may have common dilemmas and get therapy support from our staff.

Funding the business was a joint effort. I remained full time in corporate and used my income to fund the start up of my private practice. I stayed doing both for 6 months and tried to keep my expenses really low. I found an office for $450 and worked nights and early mornings and lunch breaks to see clients. I realized my day job was a limitation so I got a therapist to work when I couldn’t. I used that capital for a year to help with a deposit on our physical office and used my income to furnish and maintain things. Now we are a team of four!

Contact Info:

• Website: www,asyouaretherapy.org
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/_asyouaretherapy/