We recently connected with Rachel Harris and have shared our conversation below.

Rachel , appreciate you joining us today. Can you open up about a risk you’ve taken – what it was like taking that risk, why you took the risk and how it turned out?

I was on the threshold of a million different life-altering moments and I knew that going into private practice was a risk I needed to face in order to build the life I needed.

I’m typically a risk-averse person, but I started my business from scratch while 8 months pregnant. No investors, no loans. I then used my maternity leave from the university position I held at the time to legitimize my business, build a website, start credentialing, etc. I wanted to build a space that prioritized the wellbeing of the team just as much as that of the clients. I envisioned an inclusive space where clients of all identities, bodies, and abilities could access quality mental health care and our team could take any time they needed to care for themselves, their families, travel, and truly live their life as they chose.

As soon as my maternity leave ended I was seeing clients and building my team, then the pandemic hit. Because I built this inclusive, humanized space I was able to pivot with the rapidly changing dynamics in early 2020, work exclusively via telehealth with no gap in care for my clients, and keep my child home for her first year.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

I’m a licensed & board-certified mental health counselor specializing in treating anxiety, trauma, and relational attachment concerns for adult clients, especially individuals in need of inclusive care providers who are supportive of sexual, gender, and relational minority identities.

I came into this field aimed at giving back to the military community and that is where my training was centered. I’ve trained under leaders in the field of trauma treatment, worked on Army installations, conducted PTSD research with active duty service members & veterans for a major medical university, and now I bring my skills to the community at large to circumvent many of those institutional barriers to care.

Today I see clients all throughout Georgia via telehealth and lead a small, but amazing team of wellness professionals at Savannah Counseling & Wellness, LLC. I’m most proud of bringing this level of care to the community. People need care and we are able to offer unique access through offering telehealth & hybrid services that can be covered by insurance or self-pay, including a sliding scale option to help uninsured or underinsured clients access the care they need. ​​​This practice honors the diversity of all human beings through an affirming, client-centered approach.​ Savannah Counseling & Wellness was founded to create a safe, welcoming space for you to genuinely connect with wellness professionals who will help you work toward your individual goals.

Have any books or other resources had a big impact on you?

The number one resource I’d recommend to other entrepreneurs would be to join a peer consultation group. Through the development of my business, I’ve been a member of multiple types of consultation groups and for me, having the opportunity to learn from the experiences of others and talk through my own experiences has been hugely impactful. Reach out to others in your field and see if they’re willing to share an hour a month with you in a group setting. Business ownership can be lonely and having that reliable space to not only connect with a sounding board, but also spend time with others who truly ‘get it’ can be a life raft when you’re drudging through the growing pains that come with being a leader & entrepreneur.

I’ve read multiple books on management orientations and my favorite would be Wolfpack by Amy Wombach. Amy discussed ways to re-think the ‘leader’ identity and how to pave a new path outside of the traditional business structure that is inherently rooted in patriarchal norms. The focus of this book is supporting female leaders to shape more inclusive where we can thrive. Podcasts on group practice ownership have also provided useful information.

My management philosophy and entrepreneurial style are pieces of my identify that I’ve very intentionally fostered and continue to cultivate . As an attachment-focused and trauma-informed therapist, I’d be leaving a major formative component out if I didn’t mention my clinical training. It is likely the most impactful component of how I manage my business and how I conceptualize interpersonal communication & relationships.

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

My hard-learned lesson was that I can’t do it all myself.

When I started my practice, I did everything myself both to keep a tight bottom line and to stay in my comfort zone of control. This lead to seeing clients all day, answering emails during dinners, and doing billing instead of having wind-down time in the evening – very much not aligned with the values that my practice was founded on and eventually my own body let me know this had to stop.

A previously managed medical condition reappeared and I was having difficulty making time for medical appointments because my plate was overflowing. I had to connect with my consultation group, do some research, and restructure my entire practice. I couldn’t be therapist, manager, biller, administrative lead, marketing director, and tech support/web developer all at once. My research and consultation lead me to reducing my client caseload, outsourcing billing, hiring a part time administrative assistant, and contracting freelancers for occasional projects. This took a lot of vulnerability and trust in others and while it didn’t all go as smoothly as ideal, I had my time back to exist as a person, engage with my family, and better care for myself, my family, and my team.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.LiveWellSav.com
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/savannah_counseling
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/savannah.counseling.wellness
• Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/rachel-harris-scw