Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Demetra Caston. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Hi Demetra, thanks for joining us today. What’s the backstory behind how you came up with the idea for your business?

Over time I had been noticing a trend where mental health clinicians were struggling to create and maintain thriving private practices and I thought that since I advise in this area already, why not create a more streamlined process to help others who are in the beginning stages of creating their business to ensure longevity in the field? My other thought process was to help others not use the trial and error method that so many other professionals, myself included, used early on. This business is not just for mental health professionals but they were in mind when I initially came up with the idea to start this business.

Demetra, 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?

I am a Licensed Professional Counselor Supervisor and I provide mental health counseling for people struggling with anxiety, depression, stress, grief, and relationship issues to name a few. I decided I wanted to be a counselor because I realized that there was a disparity in the African American community with access to quality mental health services. I wanted to be a voice for the voiceless, I wanted to walk alongside someone who was struggling and did not know what they needed but they knew it was something. Some of the things I am most proud of are my longevity and standard of practice. I pride myself on offering quality service and a willingness to adjust to meet my client’s needs. As a result of my work as a counselor, I saw a need for guidance and structure, and quality service from service providers and if I can share anything with potential customers, it’s they will always feel seen and heard, whether that’s in the course of counseling or if it’s starting a new business. So whether a person is looking for mental health services or they are looking to launch a new business, I want my customers to know that the service will be the same across both platforms.

What do you think helped you build your reputation within your market?

Consistency is key!!! Consistently being a person of your word is paramount. It does not matter what industry you are in, if you are working with people, it’s so important that you do what you say you are going to do and follow up when you say you will and if you make a mistake, admit it and correct it where you can and move on. People value honesty and consistency much more than an affordable product or service.

How did you put together the initial capital you needed to start your business?

When I had the idea to start my business, I understood that you would need some capital to get it started and I was also fully aware that a bank would not just give you capital because you asked. They need to see a return on their investment. So when I started my first business I used the bootstrapping method. I essentially worked at my full-time job and funneled some of those earnings into my business. I had to determine what costs I was willing to incur and if could I do so on a small budget. Once I determined exactly what I needed, I would put away money from my full-time job. Once the business became viable and earned more than my full-time job, I transitioned over to working my business full-time. Now that I’ve started the second business, the method is the same. I would funnel some resources from the first business to the second one until it was self-sustaining.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.castonconsultinggroup.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/castonconsultinggroup/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/castonconsultinggroup

Image Credits
Jun Liu unsplash