We recently connected with Brooke Ferreira and have shared our conversation below.

Brooke, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Risking taking is a huge part of most people’s story but too often society overlooks those risks and only focuses on where you are today. Can you talk to us about a risk you’ve taken – it could be a big risk or a small one – but walk us through the backstory.

I had always dreamed of opening up my own group practice. I knew I could figure out the logistics of running a practice because I enjoyed organization and problem solving. When it came to betting on myself, I was scared. Thoughts consumed me of the risk it would be. Would anyone really want to be a part of my team? Would clients see the value of my work and want to entrust me? What about the financial risk for my family? What if I just can’t do it?

Whenever I had been scared to do something in the past, like jumping off of a tall boat in Croatia or telling someone how I felt, I would count to 3 and then do it. So I did the same thing here.

1, 2, 3… I clicked “post” as I announced to social media that I was opening up my own group practice. A blessing in disguise was that I did this three days before I delivered my daughter. So while I was on my already planned maternity leave, I was able to do a lot of the networking, planning and organizing that goes into building a business without feeling the financial hit. I remember seeing my first few inquiries and thinking, “oh my gosh, it’s working!” There were and still are times that I think to myself, what am I doing? Can I really do all of this? In these moments, I look at my daughter and remind myself who I am doing it for.

My daughter will grow up seeing her momma do everything she dreamed. She will see the ways I have betted on myself, and dove in head first. She will see an entrepreneur and know that she can also build something that aligns with her passions. I would take the risk of opening my practice over and over again for her. And for me, because it has transformed me.

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

My name is Brooke Ferreira and I am a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist. I’m the founder and owner of Nurture and Be Therapy Services, which opened in October 2022 (three days before I became a mom!). We have two office locations (Peachtree City, Ga and Buford, Ga) as well as serving clients virtually in Georgia and Florida. We have a total of three clinicians and a client experience coordinator. As a practice, our goal is to serve women and their families well. We support women in all stages of life wanting to heal from and embrace the beautiful, messy, sometimes painful experiences that define us. When we are experiencing depression or anxiety oftentimes, low self-worth, trauma or shame are underneath the surface. This impacts how we show up in relationships with others and keeps us from being our most authentic and joyful selves.

We take a holistic approach and are curious about how the body, mind and soul are interacting. I like to describe our practice as casual, authentic and a little crunchy. We are shifting the way people see therapists. We see children through adults.

I specialize in working with those struggling with perinatal depression, anxiety and OCD that can sometimes show up during trying to conceive, loss, pregnancy and postpartum. Motherhood, in any capacity, is transformational. Sometimes it transforms us in ways we don’t expect. The unexpected can be scary, exhausting, traumatizing and confusing. I help clients navigate and process through these challenges.

Growing up, I was always curious and questioned the ways things worked. I often would ask why something was done the way it was or why something was said. I have often been told I have an old soul. I think my desire to learn more and the wonder I have has led me to the work that I do. I also think our childhoods impact us and at times as a child I needed more emotional support and connection. This desire led me to learn more about relationships and the roles we play. The relationships built with our clients are sacred. They allow us to enter into the most vulnerable piece of their world. I hold this trust with such honor and compassion. I have grown alongside my clients.

The thing that I am most proud of is the way my team shows up. As a practice, our highest value is authenticity. We practice this with one another and make space for our clients to do the same. We want to see every part of you.. messy, silly, sad, chaotic, sensitive, empowered, anxious… ALL OF IT, and we promise to do the same! At the core, we are all imperfect humans trying to figure out this thing called life.

What’s worked well for you in terms of a source for new clients?

Oftentimes I will see other therapists asking how to market to new clients. I have found that the most successful “strategy” is building relationships. Relationships with providers who I often refer to, relationships with other clinicians and with other business owners. I think the most genuine connections are the ones that pay off most with getting clients. Some ideas of reaching out to local providers would be to slide into their DMs or send them an email asking them to coffee or lunch. Get to know how you can serve THEM and their clients well. Get to know them as humans, learn where their passions lie. Then share how your practice can help them.

Are there any books, videos or other content that you feel have meaningfully impacted your thinking?

I am a HUGE podcast listener. I notice that when I am feeling stuck, I will turn on a podcast to find motivation. When I am lost on a certain business concept I will search for that in the Podcast app to soak in as much knowledge as I can. There are so many free resources out there to figure out any problem.

My top influences:

Podcasts: Jenna Kutcher- Goal Digger and Private Practice Start Up
Books: Profit First for Therapists and Therapy for Your Money

Contact Info:

• Website: www.nurtureandbe.com
• Instagram: @nurtureandbe
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nurtureandbetherapy
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brookeferreira
• Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/nurture-and-be-therapy-services-peachtree-city
• Pintrest: https://www.pinterest.com/nurtureandbe/

Image Credits
Kelly Shaw Photography