We were lucky to catch up with Dr. Victoria Grinman recently and have shared our conversation below.
Dr. Victoria, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Setting up an independent practice is a daunting endeavor. Can you talk to us about what it was like for you – what were some of the main steps, challenges, etc.
For almost a decade, I gave my all to a place that felt like home. I started as a graduate school intern at a school, then stepped into a full-time role when the opportunity presented itself. I felt lucky. It was safe. It was secure. It made sense. And for years, I thrived. I learned. I grew. I poured everything into my work. The people around me weren’t just colleagues—they were family.
But something started to shift.
It wasn’t that anything was wrong. It was that I had outgrown the space I was in.
I could feel it. My wings were stretching, pressing against walls that no longer fit me. I had ideas, visions, new ways I wanted to lead, serve, and create. But over and over again, I was met with the same message: Stay in your lane.
I started noticing the subtle discomfort in the room when I spoke up. The moments when my expansion felt too big, too much, too fast for the space I was in. And I realized—no one was holding me back. I was just too big for the box I was in. And I wasn’t about to shrink myself to make it work.
So I jumped.
No roadmap. No guarantees. No “perfect timing.” Just a decision: I will figure it out as I go.
I started my private practice with nothing but a vision and the willingness to move before I felt ready. I rented space by the hour at three different locations until I found my rhythm. I built my first website from scratch because hiring a developer wasn’t in my budget. No one handed me a business plan—I created my own, knowing I had to cover my living expenses and then some. Trial and error became my greatest teacher.
The hardest part? Not knowing where to begin.
I had no mentor. No blueprint. No one telling me, “Here’s exactly how to do it.” But I had faith. Faith that staying small wasn’t an option. Faith that what I was building was already mine—I just had to claim it.
And then, just as I was gaining traction, life threw me a curveball. I moved to an entirely new state, leaving behind everything I had built—my network, my referrals, my foundation. I had to start from scratch in a place where no one knew my name.
It was a shock to the system.
But something wild happened—my practice grew faster than before. Because by then, I had learned something that changed everything:
Most people wait for certainty before they take action. But that’s not certainty—that’s control. That’s fear disguised as logic.
Real certainty—the kind that builds legacies—is faith.
Faith that it will work out because I said so.
Faith that I don’t need to know the how or when—I just need to take the next step.
I’ve applied this principle over and over in my career. At one point, I was already an experienced, sought-after speaker and trainer, traveling the country, leading high-impact seminars, empowering rooms full of professionals. I knew my work was powerful. I had seen firsthand how my ability to connect—to bring my full, authentic self into the room—created real transformation.
And then, after one particularly successful training, someone said to me, “You’re amazing, but I don’t know if we can continue working with you because of your self-disclosure style of speaking.”
For a moment, I felt the sting. That gut-punch of rejection. That little voice whispering, Maybe I should tone it down. Maybe I should change. Maybe they’re right.
But then, I stopped myself.
Because here’s what I know for sure: What is not for me will fall away to make space for what is.
I didn’t shrink. I didn’t dim my voice. I didn’t betray the very essence of who I am. Instead, I leaned deeper into my truth. And do you know what happened? The right doors opened. Bigger ones. Ones that weren’t just “good enough”—ones that were fully aligned.
This is what I teach my mentees now: Faith-driven certainty is the key to everything.
If I could go back, there’s only one thing I would have done differently—I would have sought out a mentor sooner. There was someone I deeply wanted to work with, but at the time, I told myself I couldn’t afford their fee. Looking back, I realize that was the costliest decision I ever made. Because every time I have bet on myself, every time I have invested in aligned support, I have been rewarded tenfold.
But other than that? I wouldn’t change a thing. Every misstep, every unknown, every moment of figuring it out—those were the very reasons I can now mentor others with such conviction.
So, if you’re standing at the edge, wondering if you should make the leap into private practice, wondering if now is the right time, listen closely:
You will never feel fully ready.
You will never have all the answers.
You will never be handed a perfect roadmap.
But at some point, staying where you are will become more painful than the risk it takes to expand. And when that moment comes—you jump.
Because whatever you think your ceiling is, it’s higher.
Whatever your goal is, the possibility is greater.
Whatever you think your impact could be, it’s more than you can imagine right now.
And the biggest misconception that holds people back? The stories we tell ourselves about money, capability, and worth.
Too many therapists and entrepreneurs believe they can’t charge what they are worth. That no one will come to them. That they need another credential, another training, another piece of proof before they can take up space. But these are just fear-based stories. And the professionals who thrive are the ones who rewrite them.
The real difference between those who stay stuck and those who succeed? An open mind. A willingness to get uncomfortable. A decision to trust themselves—before the world does.
This self-leadership, this trust, creates expansion.
And if you need to borrow that belief for a little while, until you find it within yourself—borrow mine.
Because I see the possibility in you. Now go claim it.
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’ve always been fascinated by the human mind—how we think, how we heal, and how we evolve. I still remember sitting in my first psychology class as a teenager, completely mesmerized by the depth and complexity of human emotions and behavior. At the same time, I had a deep love for creative expression, attending LaGuardia High School for vocal music, surrounded by some of the most talented artists. But while I loved the arts, I knew my path wasn’t performing—it was understanding people, helping them navigate life’s complexities, and guiding them to deeper self-awareness and transformation.
My journey into psychotherapy and mentorship was shaped by both my natural curiosity and my belief that in order to create true change, we must first be willing to see ourselves. I pursued social work because of its strengths-based perspective, valuing the belief that we are all capable of growth. I was given big opportunities early in my career—roles that, on paper, I was qualified for but, in reality, required me to grow into them fast. It was humbling, stretching, and sometimes uncomfortable, but it taught me one of my greatest lessons: leadership isn’t about being ready; it’s about being willing to step into something bigger before you feel fully prepared.
Today, I am the founder of Growing Kind Minds, LLC, a private therapy and consulting practice that helps individuals, couples, families, and professionals break through their limitations and create meaningful lives. My work is deeply integrative—I combine psychotherapy with expressive arts, mindfulness, neuroscience, and somatic work to create tailored approaches for each person I work with. But beyond my private practice, I mentor therapists who want to build sustainable, profitable, and fulfilling practices rooted in who they are, not just what they do. I also travel the country as a speaker and trainer, delivering workshops that inspire people to self-lead with courage, clarity, and authenticity.
What sets me apart is my ability to see the exact thing that’s in someone’s way—even when they can’t see it themselves. My clients and mentees don’t just feel heard—they feel seen. I don’t believe in surface-level work. I don’t believe in one-size-fits-all solutions. And I don’t believe in playing small. The greatest compliment I receive isn’t an award or accolade—it’s the messages from former clients telling me they’re living fully, making bold choices, and navigating life with confidence. That’s the work that matters.
At the core of my mission is the belief that real transformation starts when we stop making decisions from fear and start choosing from truth. My work is about empowerment, self-leadership, and radical honesty. I help people step into their power, master their emotions, and create the lives, relationships, and businesses they truly desire. Because at the end of the day, we are each the vessel for every blessing meant for us.
What’s been the most effective strategy for growing your clientele?
The most effective strategy for growing a clientele isn’t about getting clients—it’s about creating connections. The moment you shift your focus from acquiring to connecting, everything changes.
We live in a time where people are being sold to at every turn—funnels, ads, automation, scarcity-driven tactics. Everywhere we look, someone is trying to get us into their world through perfectly curated strategies. But the real secret? You don’t have to chase. You don’t have to convince. You don’t have to grasp.
Because money follows connection. Clients follow connection. Growth follows connection.
The mistake so many business owners make is obsessing over how to get more clients when the real question should be: How can I make more meaningful connections? How can I show up so powerfully, so authentically, so energetically aligned with what I do that the right people feel pulled toward me?
The money is already there. The opportunities are already aligned. They don’t come because you hunt them down—they come because you become the kind of person who naturally attracts them. When your bottom line shifts from “getting a client” to “making a connection”, business growth stops being a grind and starts being a flow.
So how do you do that? You stop focusing on transactions and start focusing on transformation. You bring real presence into every conversation, whether online or in person. You speak directly to the hearts of the people you’re meant to serve. You create content, programs, and experiences that make people feel something real. You build trust through energy, intention, and truth—not manipulation, urgency, or pressure.
Most importantly, you stop worrying about money. You shift your frequency from lack to overflow. Because when you trust that the clients, the abundance, the impact are already yours—you show up differently. And in that space, the right people don’t just find you—they recognize you as the one they’ve been looking for.
The world is saturated with people who are trying to get. Be the one who gives. Be the one who makes people feel seen, heard, and understood before they ever invest a dollar in you. That’s how you create a magnetic business that grows not just in numbers, but in depth, impact, and longevity.
Other than training/knowledge, what do you think is most helpful for succeeding in your field?
Success in this field isn’t just about training, knowledge, or another certification to add to your name. The real key? Being real.
In a world that teaches us to fake it till we make it, I say: No. Be it. Be the person who is willing to know themselves so deeply that when the time comes to pivot, shift, or evolve, you don’t resist it—you trust it.
The most powerful professionals in this space are the ones who understand that growth isn’t about pretending to be something you’re not—it’s about allowing yourself to become more of who you actually are. There is nothing magnetic about a version of you that is just trying to “get it right.” Clients, opportunities, and success come to the ones who are clear, congruent, and unapologetic about who they are and what they stand for.
People aren’t looking for perfection. They’re not looking for someone who has all the answers. They’re looking for realness. Depth. Energy. A presence that makes them feel safe, seen, and empowered. And you can’t cultivate that by following a formula or copying someone else’s version of success. You cultivate it by doing the work to know yourself, to listen to your intuition, and to trust your own evolution.
Success isn’t a fixed point—it’s an ever-unfolding journey. You will change. Your work will change. Your mission will deepen. The ones who thrive are the ones who allow that evolution to happen instead of clinging to an outdated version of themselves. They know when to expand, when to pivot, when to let go, and when to step into something bigger.
So, forget the scripts. Forget the masks. Forget the version of you that’s trying to fit into someone else’s mold. The more YOU you are, the more undeniable you become.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.victoriagrinman.com
- Instagram: @drvictoriagrinman
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/victoriagrinman
Image Credits
Photography by Irina Peschan