We recently connected with Erin Mottinger and have shared our conversation below.

Erin, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today What was the most important lesson/experience you had in a job that has helped you in your professional career?

I think the most important lesson I learned was in regards to how important leadership at an organization really is. When I opened Guided Wellness, I wanted to make it a place I wanted to work. One that valued employee opinions, provided an environment where they can get education to excel in their area of practice, and where the work/life balance is fair for everyone. I have worked in some amazing companies and for some great bosses. I have also worked from some pretty awful bosses. I took all the lessons I learned from them and used that experience to shape the culture of my company. One of the best pieces of advice I received is that employees are the lifeline of your business, treat them well and they will treat you well, and always hire someone who could be your replacement someday. I learned the difference between being a leader and being a boss.

Erin, 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 can say that although this is a career path that I have naturally done and prepared for my whole life, I sort of stumbled into it. I graduated from Carthage as the mom of an 18 month old, took 3 semesters off and decided I should go back to school. Carthage had a partnership with Loyola at the time and I was working in the social service world, so although I hoped to go to law school, I determined that might be too difficult with a small child so I applied to their MSW program. Therapy is something I am naturally good at. It comes intuitively for me; it all just makes sense. I enjoy helping my clients connect the dots of their life to help them find their ‘why’ and then gain the confidence and skills to move forward.

I believe one of the reasons I am able to help patients is that I have had a lot of life experience that I draw from to help me connect with my patients. My dad was in the Navy growing up. We moved almost every year more than we didn’t. I was always switching schools, states, counties, cultures. I had to learn to grow and adapt. I got to see how people in other countries live and that things are not always what they seem. I was a teen mom (19) and got through college in 4 years. I learned what it was like to pay all the bills and only have $20 left for the next two weeks. I learned how hard it is to be a single parent. This has all helped me have real conversations with my patients, because that’s what therapy really is, it’s just a conversation. Normalizing and providing a safe space to say all the ugly things you don’t want to say out loud is immensely helpful.

The body holding trauma has always been something that made sense to me. Our body steps in to take the hit (literally and figuratively) so our brain can check out. It’s why it’s often so hard for patients to express themselves. Their mind and body are disconnected and it’s hard to heal until each has it’s say and they can learn it’s safe to work together again. This body based approach is one I have embraced in my practice recently. I am working on a Somatic Psychotherapy certification, and am a RYT 200. I also am a Reiki therapist and have a certification in Nutrition for Mental Health. It’s great to talk but people don’t want to spend years and years in therapy. Combining mind/body work helps to move the process along. I always say we have to
“unpack and reorganize the boxes…some boxes can remain shut, some need to be unpacked and processed.” But, man, does it feel great when you don’t have to carry all of that around with you!

Helping people makes me really happy, but I get a lot of personal joy in solving the mystery if you will, putting the pieces together, and making sense of a puzzle that doesn’t seem to fit. It feels wonderful to see the look in peoples eyes when they finally find the missing piece.

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

Gosh, I think you can’t be a business owner and not have stories of resilience. Owning a business is hard. When I first opened Guided Wellness I worked the first two years basically for free because I struggled with insurance credentialing and couldn’t get paid. It’s was a financial nightmare for my family. I was able to start GW using vacation pay payout ($10K) from my previous job when I left. I also had a part time job to float income. The money went fast. There were so many times I thought I was losing my mind, being selfish, and needed to throw in the towel. But my husband never let me give up. He believed in me during the times when I didn’t believe in myself. I think anyone who starts a small business needs someone like that.

Any advice for managing a team?

I know I spoke a little about this earlier, but employee morale should be a top priority. Employees are the backbone of your business. Many of us would not have viable businesses without them. With that said, being a leader is challenging. As much as it’s amazing to lead a team, it can also be really lonely and overwhelming. Your team is trusting in you and depending on you to maintain a thriving business. As leaders, we have to be concerned about our bottom line and theirs. That’s a big responsibility! You are tasked with making the tough choices. It’s hard to be the “bad guy” but it’s part of the job. Leadership is the glue that holds the team together.

First, I call us teammates, I don’t call them employees. Every part of a team is necessary to function properly. We all need each other. also check my ego a lot of the time. I may be in charge but I am no different than the next therapist. We both do the same job. I tend not to introduce myself in meetings as the owner, rather I say I am a psychotherapist. The owner title doesn’t make me any more skilled than the next person, I’m just the one that took the leap of faith to start a business.

When I can, I do nice things for them. A little goes a long way. A $20 Starbucks gift card, company swag, a personal thank you, anything to show you care and you notice them, value them, and encourage them. I emphasize the importance of taking time for your family and going on field trips with your kids. I always tell them that I missed out on school activities all the time because I had to work. Life is too short for that. No one should have to feel guilty for wanting to be a good parent.

I allow them space to grow. I am not afraid to help an employee go as far in their career as they can with in my company. I pay for continuing education, I encourage them to set goals, and make sure they are making choices that positively impact patients, yes, but bring them joy as well. If they outgrow Guided Wellness, I am always proud to have been a positive experience for them along the course of their career journey.

Finally, the truth is, none of the things I am doing are that difficult or unexpected. Treating employees the way you want to be treated isn’t hard. I have found that when I support my teammates, we have many more wins than losses.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://guidedwellnesscounselingsc.com
• Instagram: guidedwellness_c
• Facebook: Guided Wellness Counseling, SC

Image Credits

image credit: Samantha Swain Photography