We recently connected with Clara Terrazas and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Clara thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Alright, so we’d love to hear about how you got your first client or customer. What’s the story?

My very first client was actually a pro-bono case. I had listed my business information in a directory for attorneys looking for clinical evaluators for their clients. I had an attorney reach out to me, they were also seeing someone pro-bono, and asked if I would be willing to take on the case. At this point I was very new to my business and was looking to network and build relationships. I am also someone that is always looking for a way to give back to the community when I can. So I gladly took the case. Surprisingly, shortly after taking on that case I received another call from someone that needed an evaluation; I was able to charge them my full fee this time. I believe that giving back is very important, and it always comes back to you.

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

My name is Clara Terrazas. I am a clinical social worker and psychotherapist. I currently provide therapy and clinical evaluations in person in Gilbert, Arizona, or via telehealth anywhere in Arizona. I provide trauma-informed therapy, which means that I usually approach my clients with the question, “What has happened to you?” instead of “What is wrong with you?” Trauma can be considered an event that pushes a person’s regulatory system outside of their window of tolerance. It can be something that a person experiences directly, witnesses, or experiences repeated or extreme exposure to a certain event. These experiences can have life-long consequences on our nervous system and how we approach life.

For me specifically, my focus is currently on helping adults overcome trauma that many times is a result of their childhood. You can consider this a form of generational trauma because we continue to pass on these invisible wounds to our children. I help parents work through their wounds by working with their nervous system and their memories. I like to use EMDR, which is a very effective and very well-studied modality for the treatment of trauma.

Some of the problems that I help people solve are teaching them how to regulate their nervous system and helping them build a better relationship with themselves. When we are able to regulate ourselves and understand ourselves better, we can have healthier relationships with others. All of the people that I currently work with have a relationship that they are trying to improve or keep, whether it’s a nurse trying to learn how to regulate her emotions so that she doesn’t take out her rage on her co-workers, putting her job at risk, a parent that is trying to not yell at his child whenever his child pushes his emotional capacity, or a veteran trying to work through PTSD and adjust to everyday life. We all carry some form of trauma with us, and I am very lucky to be in a position where I can help people heal so that they can show up to their lives more fully and authentically. I want people to know that we all have the capacity to heal and to change, and the first step is to develop awareness and to be honest with yourself. I would say that’s probably 80% of the work, and I am here to help you on your way.

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

So far the most effective strategy that I have found to build my clientele has been networking and reaching out to my community. As a clinical social worker, I wanted doctors, lawyers, psychiatrists in my community to know that I am here and to know where to find me. I have been able to reach to doctors in the same plaza where my office is located, in Gilbert. I have reached out to immigration attorneys in Arizona who are part of the Latine community. I have reached out to the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce in Mesa as well because I am hispanic and that is where I reside. I like to follow up with all of the people in my network as well, because that is how long-term relationships are built. I think starting with my own community is the best thing that I have learned as a business owner.

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

I have client’s reach out to me from a few different sources. As I stated before, I have been building relationships with other professionals such as doctors, attorneys, and other therapists in the field. Attorneys usually refer their clients that need a clinical evaluation for their immigration case. I am also part of a couple of employee assistance programs (EAP), which is a program where companies directly refer their employees. I am also paneled with a couple of insurance plans. You can see which insurance plans I accept in my website.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.terrazascounseling.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/terrazas_counseling/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61556732394497