We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Alysha Jeney. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Alysha below.

Alysha , thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. 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 think I’ve always taken “risks” and not really thought twice about them because I let my intuition drive. I know that seems sort of reckless and maybe at times my decisions could have been considered as such, but underneath my impulsivity to dive in is a strong foundation of knowing I can handle it. Knowing that the experience inherently comes with failures and challenges, but that they will ultimately teach me something about myself.

I have taken “risks” my entire life. At 20-years-old I withdrew from college and moved to Melbourne, Australia simply because I loved house music and had recently made a connection with an Aussie. At 22-years-old I moved into (my now husband’s) tiny 1 bedroom apartment after 2 months of “dating.” At 27-years-old I started my own therapy practice right out of graduate school after numerous professor’s and colleague’s advised me not to.

The list sort of goes on, but the point I am trying to make is, “why not?” I think we all have the tendency at times to over analyze”risks” because we want the comfort of knowing how it will pan out. By default, we end up pondering these “risks” for often a lifetime because we simply can’t get any guarantees. In my perspective, risks aren’t about the outcome panning out perfectly. Risks shouldn’t be looked at as a pass or failed experience. Risks should be respected as life lessons and if you accept the messiness that it may evoke, you’ll also benefit from the amazing rewards that come from being explorative and curious of what these experiences will bring.

Alysha , before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

I wear many hats, but at my core I am an introspective, fun-loving and passionate person. I am blessed with a beautiful child and have a best friend as a partner. My other “baby” is my work and I fully believe I was put on this earth to reveal and work on my own struggles to simply help others with their’s.

I am the Founder of Modern Love Counseling, which I have had the privilege of growing with other like-minded therapists over the last 8 years. Our practice takes a very proactive and normative approach to counseling and we specialize in relationship/sex/intimacy therapy for individuals, couples and business partners. We believe everyone benefits from counseling, whether you’re in crisis or at the best place of your life. We genuinely love what we do.

My work with my clients is incredibly rewarding and I am grateful everyday for my connections that I have with them. I am also incredibly grateful for the group that has been created through my practice, as it has been very fulfilling to have found such trusting commodore for support and friendship.

I am in the process of writing a book, but have no real goals as to when it will be done; I am just enjoying the process. My husband and I also have a business called The Modern Love Box, which was originally created as an additional resource to support couples with enhancing their relationship. We sell adult products, as well as curated date nights, communication activities and more.

The things I “do” and have created are extensions of me and my passions. I am so humbled that I finally get to be myself everyday without the fear or insecurity of judgment, stress and/or guilt. I am the most proud of my internal work that has continued to lead me down such a beautiful path that helps me, as well as helps others.

We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?

One lesson that I had to unlearn about life was this imbedded belief that I had to do it on my own. I didn’t fully realize that my resiliency was off balance and for a long time I was unstoppable. This can be considered a “good” thing when starting a business, but my obsession with “doing everything” on my own came at a cost that was hurting my mental health, as well as was poisoning my marriage and friendships. I didn’t realize that because of how I grew up and internalized my role, I was incredibly untrusting of others “helping” me. It wasn’t until I had my child (1 month early, only weighing 4lbs, and after a hard year one, COVID hit the world), did I realize that I was so desperate for support but didn’t know how to ask for it. It was truly the first time in my life that I was hit with a challenge that I simply couldn’t figure out myself. I was defeated. I had to unlearn the belief I had that people were unreliable and that I had to do it all myself. I had to unlearn what my expectations of others and myself were, and had to become more grateful for what people were willing and able to do. I had to learn how to be vulnerable in ways I had never had to be and truly, it was the hardest lesson of my life, but has been the most rewarding.

Can you tell us about what’s worked well for you in terms of growing your clientele?

First and foremost, it is being true to yourself. What is your ideal client and why? In order for the universe to grant you with these ideal clients, you need to know who they are and you need to know your limitations. You need to set boundaries and say, “no,” to clients whom you intuitively feel aren’t a good fit for you. You need to own your truth and thus create a niche. Above all, you need to believe in your worth. These are truly the reasons I believe I was able to grow my clientele.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.modernlovecounseling.com
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/modernlovecounseling
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alysha-jeney-ma-lmft-0537a47a
• Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/modern-love-counseling-denver
• Other: www.modernlovebox.com

Image Credits
Felipe Jimenez