We recently connected with Arrie Simpson and have shared our conversation below.
Alright, Arrie thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. We’d love to hear the backstory behind a risk you’ve taken – whether big or small, walk us through what it was like and how it ultimately turned out.
Taking risks has been a constant theme in my life, and it’s been tied closely to defining moments. From sports to career changes, I’ve always been willing to take bold steps. For example, in college, I initially decided not to play tennis, but something in me said to just try out. I missed the regular process of sending videos and applying, but I walked on and made the team. It was one of the best decisions I made. Then, later in life, taking the risk of stopping my previous career and shifting into counseling was a huge leap. I thought I was headed in one direction, and now I’m doing something completely different.
When I moved to Illinois, I took the risk of being upfront in all my job interviews by telling them I wanted to start my own practice. That’s something I shared from the beginning, and it was a non-negotiable for me. People either liked it or didn’t, but it didn’t stop me from speaking my truth. Even with my certifications, like being a certified sex addiction therapist, I’ve encountered resistance. That’s another risk I’ve taken, just being open about who I am and what I’m passionate about, even if it makes some people uncomfortable.
Faith plays a big role in the risks I’ve taken, especially in how I present myself and my business. I’m a firm believer in Jesus Christ, and that’s the foundation of who I am. My website includes scriptures, and I’ve had mentors tell me to take them down, saying it might alienate clients. But I’ve stood firm on showing up fully as who I am, even if I’m not running a “Christian therapy practice.” I want people to know what I believe, and that risk has paid off. It hasn’t pushed clients away—it’s actually brought in people from all walks of life and beliefs.
More importantly, my authenticity in my faith has encouraged my clients to be authentic in their own identities. I’m not here to push my faith onto others, but to help people see how their own beliefs—whatever they may be—shape them as individuals. This risk of being unapologetically myself has helped me foster a safe space for my clients to do the same. They see that I’m not hiding, and that gives them permission to show up boldly in their own lives without judgment.
Ultimately, I believe God positioned me to show His love to the world by fully accepting others for who they are, no matter their background or beliefs. Taking the risk to be myself, openly and without compromise, has allowed me to connect with my clients in deeper ways and help them embrace their own uniqueness. That’s what the world needs more of—people stepping out in love, showing respect for differences, and being kind regardless of those differences. For me, that’s the biggest risk I’ve taken: being fully me and helping others do the same.
Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.
The Heart of Counseling Wellness was formed in 2020 when I set out to start my own business, not fully knowing what it would look like at the time. In those early stages, I was contracting with other businesses and learning as much as I could. Before that, I often found myself in situations that weren’t the healthiest, and I knew I needed a better way forward. I eventually connected with a group practice run by Dr. Carla Carter, who owns the Cognitive Clinic in Palos, Illinois. She was my old boss and an incredible inspiration. She poured into me, sharing her knowledge and helping me develop my business skills. I’ll always be grateful for her support.
By 2023, I broke off into my own practice, bringing on board a couple of therapists who had interned at the Cognitive Clinic, where I was a contractor after they graduated. The driving force behind my business was a simple desire to help, especially within the minority community. As a Black woman, I know firsthand the importance of finding the right therapist, and I wanted to make sure people had access to the help they needed. Even when I knew I wasn’t the right therapist for someone, I made it a priority to connect them with someone who could truly guide them in their healing process—whether that meant researching for them or reaching out to colleagues. One of the common complaints I’d heard was how long it takes people to find a therapist who really knows what they’re doing, so I made it my mission to ensure that everyone who reached out to me left with a plan, even if I couldn’t personally take them on as a client.
A lot of the growth in my business has come from me just showing up as myself. I noticed that some practices can become too focused on money, and I never wanted that to be the case for me. I always ask my team, “Who is your ideal client?” because I believe in ethically aligning with clients we are truly passionate about helping. For those who aren’t a fit, we continue to network and find them the right resources, ensuring that people end up where they can truly thrive. At The Heart of Counseling Wellness, we dig deeper. I love working through generational trauma and understanding a client’s journey from the very beginning. It’s about exploring how they got to where they are and empowering them to decide what comes next. I believe in giving people back the power of choice and helping them feel seen, heard, and chosen.
My approach is humanistic, and I aim to empower my clients to make their own decisions because, at the end of the day, they are the experts in their own lives. I see my role as someone who walks alongside them on their journey, offering objectivity and support, but never leading the way for them.
Since 2023, my practice has grown into its own building space, and I’ve expanded into a group practice, hiring other clinicians. I’m fortunate to have an incredible team of women supporting me along the way. Last year, I also launched a journal called *Life Be Lifing*. It was born out of the idea that life happens, often unexpectedly, and we have to keep going. The journal includes coping tools, a boundary guide, and strategies for managing negative thinking, anxiety, and depression. I created it based on the feedback I received from my clients, making it a versatile tool for people who like prompts, coloring pages, or just need a space to express themselves in whatever way feels right for them.
While the business started in 2020, I like to say it truly became established in April 2023 when the group practice came to life. Before that, people mostly knew me by my name—Arrie Simpson—but now, people are beginning to recognize The Heart of Counseling Wellness for what it is, and that’s exciting. I’m not perfect, and I’m still learning and growing, but the support from those around me has been tremendous. I’m thrilled to continue on this journey, building something meaningful and helping more people along the way.
Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?
Counseling wasn’t my first career path. I actually started with a degree in exercise science and went straight into getting my MBA in healthcare administration. After that, I spent almost eight years working in optical management, and I absolutely loved it. I enjoyed working with the doctors, the patients, and my team. I thought I was going to continue on this track and eventually go back to school for exercise physiology.
But then, something shifted. I started feeling like I was hitting a wall. At work, people would always come to me to ask questions or share their personal stories—whether I was at the office or just out and about, people would open up to me. I began to wonder why, and around that time, I started praying to see what God had in store for me. I felt God leading me toward counseling, and at first, I thought that meant biblical counseling. But after speaking with several mentors, I realized it was more than that. I was being led back to the heart of counseling in a broader sense.
That’s when I started interviewing schools, trying to find the right fit. I ended up at the University of Alabama, and it was truly heaven-sent. Everything about the program aligned perfectly with where I felt I needed to be. So, I took the leap—I quit my job in optical and started working for a judge. That job was a blessing in itself. Managing the judge’s office was much easier compared to overseeing 18 people, and it gave me the flexibility to attend school an hour away. It was the perfect setup: a less stressful job that allowed me to focus on my studies.
Everything just kept falling into place, and I knew I was on the right path. Shortly before I graduated, my husband got relocated to Illinois, and that’s where the next part of my journey began. Meeting new people, interviewing for jobs, and building connections led me to lasting friendships, many of which continue today with therapists I initially met during my job search. That entire process marked a significant pivot for me—shifting from what I thought I’d do with exercise physiology to embracing counseling as my career path.
Now, I’m pursuing my Ph.D. in counselor education and supervision, which is another big step. Looking back, I realize that all these major pivots in my life have been aligned with God’s plan. I’m still working in healthcare, just in a different aspect of it. And the management skills I gained from my time in optical have been invaluable as I now own and run a group practice.
In school, they teach you how to counsel, but they don’t teach you how to run a business. I’m grateful for my background in management, as it’s equipped me to navigate the business side of running a practice while continuing to serve my clients. It’s all come full circle in the most incredible way.
Do you have any insights you can share related to maintaining high team morale?
When it comes to managing a team and keeping morale high, I think it all comes down to knowing who you are, what you want, and staying true to that. I’ve received a lot of advice and opinions over the years on how to run a business, especially coming from the corporate world, but I didn’t want my practice to feel like that. As counselors, our space is supposed to feel safe and welcoming for our clients, and I believe that starts with making it feel that way for us too.
One of the things I emphasize is being direct and honest about where I am. That doesn’t work for everyone, and I’m okay with that. When I interview new clinicians, for example, I’m upfront. I ask if they want their own practice, not because I’m afraid of them leaving, but because I want to help them get there if that’s their goal. Of course, I want them to work here and stay, but I also want them to be happy and thrive. I don’t feel threatened by someone else’s success. I actually believe in pouring into others the way others have poured into me. If they go out and start their own practice, they’re an extension of me, and that’s something I’m proud of.
I think creating an environment where everyone feels welcome and can approach me with ideas, even if the answer might be no for now, is key to maintaining high morale. Just because something isn’t possible at this moment doesn’t mean it won’t be in the future. At the same time, I’m not afraid to set boundaries and make decisions that align with how I want my practice to run. There were things in the practice I was part of before that I didn’t always agree with. Not in a negative way, but in the sense that if I had the choice, I would do it differently. When I started my own practice, those experiences came back to guide me in making sure I stood firm on what I wanted.
So, to sum it up: managing a team and keeping morale high starts with knowing who you are and being honest about it. Life, business, and circumstances are going to change, and you want people on your team who can adapt to that. If they’re not the right fit, it’s okay to let them go and wish them well. At the same time, I believe in holding my boundaries and respecting others’ choices.
If you asked my clinicians, they’d probably say that they feel heard and that the environment here feels like home. I don’t try to restrict them, but I do have non-negotiables. And I’m always open about the fact that I’m not perfect, and I’m still growing alongside them.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://theheartofcounselingandwellness.com/
- Instagram: @thocawpllc and @theintensivetherapist
- Facebook: @heartofcounselingandwellness
Image Credits
1) Zencare
2) Wehmeier Photography LTD