Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Angela Ficken. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Angela , thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. So let’s jump to your mission – what’s the backstory behind how you developed the mission that drives your brand?

Our mission is multi-part and holistic.

Providing education and information: The website aims to educate women about various aspects of wellness and mental health, offering articles, blog posts, or resources that cover topics like mindfulness, self-care practices, managing stress, and building resilience.

Promoting mental health awareness: The website strives to raise awareness about mental health issues that specifically affect women, such as postpartum depression, body image concerns, or gender-specific challenges, while also reducing stigma and encouraging open dialogue.

Empowering women: The mission involves empowering women to prioritize their well-being and mental health, fostering self-compassion, self-acceptance, and resilience. This includes tools, exercises, or workshops aimed at personal growth, self-esteem building, and enhancing overall life satisfaction.

Encouraging holistic well-being: The website emphasizes a holistic approach to well-being, considering physical, emotional, and spiritual aspects of health. It provide resources related to exercise, relaxation techniques, and mindfulness practices to support overall wellness.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I am a psychotherapist, mom, wife, daughter, and sister. I love going on adventures with my daughter, date nights with my husband, and will never say no to a good cheeseburger. I also get great joy in helping people, and I am so lucky that I could make a career out of it.

In my full-time private practice, I specialize in anxiety and stress disorders. I am trained in two gold-standard therapy modalities that help treat anxiety and stress- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT). I primarily teach people strategies to manage difficult emotions like stress and anxiety.

You can’t get rid of those emotions, (they can be helpful at times!), but you can learn to move through hard emotions with more ease, so what once used to stress you out no longer does in the same way.

Before moving into my full-time practice, I worked as a head social worker on an anxiety and depression unit at McLean Hospital, one of the best psychiatric hospitals in the country. I also worked at Harvard University as a primary therapist for undergraduate and graduate students.

In 2013, after leaping into private practice, I began getting feedback from clients that the skills I was teaching them were life-changing and they were noticing significant improvements, but finding a therapist like myself who taught strategies took months, sometimes years. Boston is not that big of a city, so if they had difficulty finding me, who else out there might be looking for help and is having difficulty finding a skills-based therapist? That question ignited my entrepreneurial career.

I wanted to make it easier for people to access the skills and strategies I teach in sessions, no matter where they are in the world. This is when I started writing monthly newsletters which helped me build an online following, I have also written articles for Today.com/parenting and Huffington Post. As I gained traction in the online community, I dove into writing an online intensive, seven-module course focused on skills and strategies to manage everyday stressors. This course is essentially my mini dissertation on stress management. Everything I teach in my sessions is in the course. All the worksheets, materials, and skills.

My goal as a mental wellness entrepreneur is to help as many people as possible and make learning new behaviors and skills fun. It’s hard work to change, but hard work doesn’t have to be a grind all the time.

I am the most proud of this course, the work me and my team put into creating it, and how accessible it is for the online community.

Do you have any insights you can share related to maintaining high team morale?

Sit at the feet of giants and learn everything you can from them. It emphasizes the value of learning from experienced individuals who can offer guidance, insights, and lessons based on their wealth of experience and knowledge.

By metaphorically “sitting at the feet” of these giants, we are humble learners, ready to absorb and gain valuable insights. This mindset enables us to benefit from the wisdom and expertise of those who have already paved the way or achieved remarkable success in their respective areas.

Through observation, listening, and engaging in meaningful conversations with these giants, we can expand our understanding, develop new skills, and accelerate our personal and professional growth. It reminds us of the importance of seeking mentorship, learning from role models, being a great leader, and valuing the knowledge that can be gained from those who have excelled in their fields.

Ultimately, the notion of sitting at the feet of giants encourages a mindset of continuous learning, humility, and appreciation for the wisdom that can be imparted by those who have accomplished great things.

Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?

When I started my private practice, I was overwhelmed by the many tasks I had to complete to get it off the ground. I vividly remember the long days and nights I spent tirelessly building my clientele, establishing my brand, and developing my thought leadership. It required an immense amount of resilience.

Perseverance became my driving force. Despite the inevitable challenges and setbacks, I remained steadfast in my commitment. I pushed through the exhaustion, staying focused on my goals and maintaining motivation. The ability to persevere was fundamental to building resilience during those early stages.

Adaptability was also crucial. As I navigated the various responsibilities and faced unexpected hurdles, I had to adjust my strategies flexibly. Being open to change and embracing new approaches allowed me to overcome obstacles and find practical solutions.

Taking care of myself became a non-negotiable priority. Amidst the demands of building a private practice, I recognized the importance of self-care. I consciously carved out time for activities that rejuvenated me, finding a healthy work-life balance and practicing mindfulness. Nurturing my physical and mental well-being played a pivotal role in sustaining my resilience.

Seeking support was a game-changer. I reached out to mentors, peers, and professionals in my field, forming connections with like-minded individuals who understood the unique challenges of starting a private practice. Their guidance, advice, and camaraderie supported me and fueled my resilience.

Challenges became growth opportunities. Rather than being discouraged by setbacks or failures, I embraced them as valuable learning experiences. I maintained a growth mindset, actively seeking lessons in each obstacle. Learning from those challenges empowered me to make necessary adjustments and continue moving forward.

I made it a point to celebrate my successes, no matter how small. Recognizing and acknowledging my achievements boosted my confidence and reinforced my resilience. Celebrating milestones and the positive impact I made in the lives of my clients fueled my drive to overcome future challenges.

Looking back, building resilience was an ongoing journey during the early stages of my private practice. Perseverance, adaptability, self-care, seeking support, learning from challenges, and celebrating successes were the pillars that fortified my resilience. They continue to shape my mindset as I navigate the ever-evolving landscape of my practice.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.worriedtowellbalanced.com
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/worriedtowellbalanced.com
• Other: www.tiktok.com/@bostontherapist

Image Credits
Elyse Pono