We were lucky to catch up with Candace Anthony recently and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Candace thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. We’d love to hear the backstory of how you established your own practice.

I am a licensed clinician who initially decided to start my business as a way to increase my income. Up until I went into practice full-time, all of my experience has been in the nonprofit space. This is a space that is notorious for underpaying its staff, coupled with the fact that mental health clinicians are one of the lowest-paid professions. There’s even the expectation that most clinicians may not see a return on their investment when it comes to the financial investment made by completing a minimum of two degrees and the mandatory continuing education that is required to maintain a license.

What pushed me into entrepreneurship full-time was the urge to do something different. I did not care for the processes and impact of the work done by my employer at the time, so I took a step out to try it on my own. At this point, I have been in my business full-time for over five years and feel I have finally hit my stride in what I am meant to do and the greater impact my work and skills are meant to have on the world at large. This came at the expense of me experiencing burnout myself, while also serving as a clinical supervisor to clinicians who are close to experiencing the same. This is what shifted the focus of my business from focusing on the client’s needs to those of the clinicians who serve them.

Candace, 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?

I am a proud St. Louisan whose passion lies in helping others achieve their next level. With almost 20 years immersed in the mental health field, including over a decade dedicated to program development and management, I’ve cultivated a unique role in my community. I’m deeply committed to raising awareness about mental health and guiding organizations toward more effective and impactful programs. I’m also a dog mom, I love to garden, crochet, craft or anything else that allows me to be creative! Oh, and I’m a big foodie.

Currently, I hold a Missouri license and the Board Certified-TeleMental Health (BC-TMH) certification, this is after obtaining a Bachelor’s in Psychology, a Master’s in Community Counseling, and a Doctorate in Higher Education Leadership.

After years of working directly with clients, I decided to pivot and focus on clinician supervision and development. The Ellis Agency aims to revolutionize clinician development and supervision in mental health. Our purpose is to empower new clinicians and supervisors with the training, guidance, and support needed to navigate the path to full licensure and achieve long-term professional success, ultimately improving client outcomes. We achieve this through our Supervision Development and Alignment services, sharing a framework that supports clinicians as they serve their communities through effective and impactful services. Our vision is to become the leading resource for clinical supervision, setting the standard for quality and accountability in the field. We strive to bridge the gap between academic learning and real-world practice, offering comprehensive support not typically found through traditional supervision or static resources.

I am most proud of the agency’s ability to serve and support the mental health field in a way that feels natural and authentic, which is a sentiment shared not just by me but also with the clients and organizations I have had the pleasure to work with. Although the business was founded in 2013, there have been many shifts along the way. 2019 is when I stepped into private practice full time, yet it wasn’t until 2023 when the “hustle” truly became a business. A majority of my business has come by way of word-of-mouth referrals, with organizations being repeat customers and the longest-standing contract being renewed for its seventh consecutive year. My B2B and B2C clients have also been understanding and supportive of any pivots I have made, including this most recent one from direct client care to clinician support.

Other than training/knowledge, what do you think is most helpful for succeeding in your field?

Purpose. You have to know why it is you are doing something. When talking with clients and even my friends, I ask “What are you hanging your hat on?” when it comes time to making a decision. The answer to that question should tie back to your purpose, or if you are struggling to identify your purpose then it should tie to your top three values. Otherwise you may find yourself feeling as though you can’t find your footing, and the world provides us with enough challenges already.

Are there any books, videos, essays or other resources that have significantly impacted your management and entrepreneurial thinking and philosophy?

I love a good book, and when it comes to entrepreneurship there are a couple of books that have stood out to me that I often reference. Atomic Habits (J. Clear), Start With Why (S. Sinek), Professional Troublemaker (L. Ajayi), The Alter Ego Effect (T. Herman), and even a reread of The Alchemist (P. Coelho) are the main ones that come to mind. For me these books provide insight that can be applied personally or professionally.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://theellisagency.co/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/candaceanthony
• Other: https://onthepathtopractice.buzzsprout.com

Image Credits

Two images in all black with white background: Mena Darre