We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Charree’ Graham a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Charree’ , thanks for joining us today. We’d love to hear about how you went about setting up your own practice and if you have any advice for professionals who might be considering starting their own?

In the years leading up to creating Living in Truth, I left my full-time job of 8 years to complete my internship for graduate school and experienced a life transition in multiple areas of my life. I was working within the child welfare system as an investigator and chose to pursue my Master’s in Social Work with a goal to eventually work as a therapist as well as other clinical roles. Although I had prepared for life without consistent income and benefits, I was humbled within the first month of leaving my job when the AC unit in my house went out. From then, it seemed like one thing after the other from experiencing financial strain, a global pandemic, getting COVID to experiencing shifts in my personal relationships. I eventually made the decision to seek therapy and it was the best decision I could have ever made for myself. Through therapy I was able to draw connections between my current life circumstances and areas of my past I didn’t realize were unresolved. As I learned more about myself, I began to feel more confident in who I was, where I was going and how I wanted to share myself and the new insight I gained with others. It felt empowering and encouraging to see this new version of myself. Having that experience is what led me to choosing the name Living in Truth, which is also a tribute to the acryonymic phrase ‘LIT’. Although I was building a business practice, I knew I wanted to create something that extended beyond therapeutic services and was less about me. It was about creating a safe place for others to feel empowered to lean into their authenticity through self-reflection, self-expression and identifying the core values that make them who they are. Today, I am still learning how to navigate the intricacies of running a business, but I am beyond grateful for the experience and everything it has taught me as well as those who have entrusted me to help guide them along their journey. For anyone who is looking to create their own business or practice, I would encourage them to go about it with integrity and remember your why as it will inevitably flow into every aspect of your brand.

Charree’ , love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

For eight years, I worked as a Child Protective Investigator for the Sheriff’s Office in my local town. While it afforded me great experience working in a service-related field, I knew I wanted to serve others in a different capacity. During my time as an investigator, I worked full time while attending graduate school to pursue a Master’s degree in Social Work. I am now a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) within the state of Florida. Currently, I am working as a travel social worker providing relief in correctional settings as clinical staff, while also running Living in Truth (LIT). Through LIT, I provide individual and group therapeutic services to adults dealing with concerns related to anxiety, depression, relationship conflicts, life transitions and various other life issues. I have recently begun branching out into mentoring new clinicians, support groups and community related events. I believe working in multiple settings and extending my skillset beyond therapeutic services sets me apart from what most might expect to see from a therapist.

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

Having a willingness to take risks and try new things. Fear is a powerful emotion that can keep you stagnant in your career and life experiences. It can prevent you from going into spaces that would allow you to grow your skills, business or simply explore what a more fulfilled life could be like for you. When you allow yourself to take risks despite your fears, you learn more about yourself and gain additional tools you may need to drive out the vision for the future of your business or other life goals.

What’s been the most effective strategy for growing your clientele?

Being transparent with my clients about the limitations of the services I provide. When I talk about conducting a business with integrity, for me it starts in being transparent with my clients. When you are viewed as the expert in your field or service, your clients expect you to be competent. For example, as a Social Worker I am bound to a code of ethical standards in how I provide services to a client. Both integrity and competence are values I am responsible for upholding. This means at the onset of developing a relationship with a client, I am also responsible for ensuring they understand there may be situations where I may not be the best equipped to assist them. When this occurs, it may result in referral to another provider or consultation with a colleague depending on the circumstances. Additionally, transparency gives me an opportunity to show I am human with clients and build a rapport with them that helps shift what may initially feel like an imbalance of power thus allowing them to feel welcome to be themselves.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://linktr.ee/litcounseling
• Instagram: https://instagram.com/livingintruthcounseling?igshid=MTk0NTkyODZkYg==
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LivinginTruthCounselingLLC?mibextid=ZbWKwL
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/charree-g-0b9a0598?utm_source=share&utm_campaign=share_via&utm_content=profile&utm_medium=android_app
• Others: Merchandise: https://thelitconcepts.com/