We were lucky to catch up with Beatriz De La Espriella recently and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Beatriz, thanks for joining us today. We’d love to hear the backstory of how you established your own practice.

When my son was born (September 2021), I took the biggest risk of my life. I left my job as a school social worker and decided to open up my private practice, Bea Mindful Counseling. I wanted the flexibility that having my own private practice could offer and I wanted the opportunity to be home with my son and experience everything motherhood has to offer.

Leaving my job was the scariest decision I ever made and it didn’t help that impostor syndrome knocked at my door every single day. Will I be good enough, where will I get clients, will they see my potential, can I do this? All of these questions and more just kept coming back at me. I had no idea how to establish a private practice, these are not things that they teach you in grad school. I had to do my research, read books, sign up for classes, create my own website, listen to all of the podcasts available, decide between an LLC or a Corporation, and so much more. My insecurities, my desire to have everything be “perfect” and the constant fear that it wouldn’t work, held me back from hanging that welcome sign. I spent a whole year perfecting something that can’t be perfect.

Finally, on August 2022, I took action and made my profile and website public. I was ready to see clients, but no clients came. Two months went by and only a handful of clients showed up. Once again, impostor syndrome kicked in. I struggled to understand what I did wrong, what I was missing. That’s when I realized I wasn’t missing anything, it was trial and error that helped me understand the changes I needed to make in my practice in order to grow. It has been my partner, my family, and my support system that helped me stay the course of this journey. I wasn’t failing, I was learning. I learned to have courage during the most difficult times, I learned to be vulnerable and find a support system and I learned to stay true to myself and the mission of my practice.

Today, after nine months, I can proudly say that my practice thrives with the assistance of two talented Master level interns and an administrative assistant. Moreover, I have embarked on a new venture, Bea Mindful Coaching, which provides training on trauma-informed services and focuses on addressing the mental health of library staff. This fulfilling journey has granted me the flexibility I yearned for, enabling me to cherish the precious moments of motherhood alongside professional growth.

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.

I provide one-on-one therapy to Children, Teens, Young Adults, and Women experiencing Anxiety or Trauma. I help them make sense of their thoughts and feelings, learn coping strategies, and increase their self-confidence, so they can achieve emotional well-being and uncover their true potential. I believe we all have the skills needed to calm the chaos in our life, we just need someone to help us get there. In addition to one-on-one sessions, I am offering a group program for parents and guardians raising children with anxiety. It will be a six-week program where parents can learn the signs and symptoms of anxiety, effective ways to communicate with their anxious child, strategies to support a child with anxiety, and more.
In 2024, I will be offering retreats for women who have left an emotionally and physically abusive relationship. The retreats will focus on self-discovery, loving our imperfect selves, creative expression, and mindfulness. Ultimately, the retreats will offer a safe space for women to recharge, connect, and learn with others who had a similar experience.
Lastly, I have established a coaching business, Bea Mindful Coaching, where we provide trauma-informed training and mental health awareness programs to libraries. As part of this venture, I created the “Let’s Talk Mental Health: Beyond Self-care” a 6-week program focused on improving the mental health and well-being of library staff.

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

When I first opened my private practice, I was under the impression that I was going to be filled with clients within a month. Mainly because of the high level of need for mental health therapists in our area. But that didn’t happen. Two months went by and I had clients but my practice was not full. I was devastated and felt like a failure. It took some soul searching and time to myself to find ways to overcome these feelings and learn from that experience. First, I gave myself grace and accepted that my journey wasn’t the same as others, not even close. I had just started my journey and those that had a full practice probably had years under their belt. I then asked myself, what would a successful practice look like? I reflected on what truly mattered to me and the vision I had for my practice. Once I answered that question, I focused on writing out what I could do differently to grow my practice. I ensured that every approach on my list resonated with my personality, aligned with the vision and mission of my practice, and aligned with my personal definition of success. I reached out to local medical professionals, fellow therapists in the area, and former colleagues. Overall, I focused on building relationships and establishing connections with people that trusted me and knew what I had to offer. These relationships and my ability to accept that each of us embarks on a unique entrepreneurial journey, have played a pivotal role in the growth of my practice.

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

Building professional relationships with other therapists is the most helpful thing someone can do in this field. Connecting, networking, and collaborating with other therapists allow you access to an extensive network, filled with knowledge, experience, and support. Because of this, I created the Southwest Florida Therapist Network, a Facebook Group that focuses on engaging with other therapists, providing support, sharing insights, and exchanging ideas that can help individuals enhance their clinical skills and develop their entrepreneurial mindset. Collaborating with other therapists opens doors to potential referrals, partnerships, and joint ventures, allowing you to expand your client base and your practice. By fostering these connections, you create a supportive community that understands the challenges and triumphs of private practice. Ultimately, connecting, networking, and collaborating with other therapists enables you to thrive both professionally and personally, contributing to your overall success in the field.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.beamindfulcounseling.com
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/beamindfulcounseling
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/beamindfulcounseling.com
• Other: www.beamindfulcoaching.com www.instagram.com/beamindfulcoaching www.facebook.com/beamindfulcoaching

Image Credits
Jen Godshall