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

Alright, Jacqueline thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Parents can play a significant role in affecting how our lives and careers turn out – and so we think it’s important to look back and have conversations about what our parents did that affected us positive (or negatively) so that we can learn from the billions of experiences in each generation. What’s something you feel your parents did right that impacted you positively.

I really appreciate that my parents prioritized education. My mom is an immigrant and she always talked about having to learn English as a second language and working really hard for her education. My dad has been a business owner himself and I remember watching him work really long days and putting in whatever it took to make things come together. Both of my parents are really hard working and have instilled a strong educational mindset in me. A lot of things stand out when I think about my childhood but a few of the building blocks that stand out are the commitment to hard work and prioritization of education. Both of my parents were always behind my sisters and I to instill those mentalities. They believed you can accomplish anything with hard work and a belief in yourself.

Jacqueline, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

I always knew that I wanted to be in the field of helping people. From a young age I was empathic, sensitive and curious about peoples’ stories. In hindsight, I believe these were the traits of a good therapist in the making. Since college, I knew that I wanted to be an individual therapist; it was my dream. I wanted to create a group practice of like-minded clinicians who prioritized good mental healthcare and the wellbeing of their clients.

One of the jokes in the profession is that we are social workers, not miracle workers! All jokes aside, as clinicians we have this great gift of walking alongside our clients on their healing journey. It is one of the greatest privileges to be a part of this and bear witness to people’s evolution and healing.

There are two main things that set the business apart from other practices in the area. First is the physical space. I aimed to decorate it in a way that is welcoming, uplifting and creates a sense of engagement; meaning it is a place that I want the clients and clinicians to want to return to each week. Since the business is in the line of helping people revisit painful life experiences and cultivate change, I knew it was important to have a space that was not only inviting, but also exudes a sense of safety and support. Second, I place a strong emphasis on the clinician’s’ clinical skillset. At the office, I prioritize ongoing trainings, team building and robust supervision.

Can you talk to us about how your funded your business?

“Self-made baby!” I literally built this business from the ground up; 60 hour + workweeks, working two jobs, keeping my head down and working hard to make it happen. No one handed me anything, no one made it easy; I had to fight and work for everything I’ve created. I think that when a business is made in that way, it creates a lot of integrity and a strong foundation for the business. This is important because, like all businesses, hits and errors will come as will lots of magical moments, but without a strong foundation, hurtles and uncertainty can feel like a boat that’s being capsized.

Making different financial decisions took patience and the proper calculation of time. I had to ensure that I had proper funding to leave my full-time job, expand the office, bring on new clinicians, create new services, etc. All of this has been calculated and thought through in a way to ensure the long-term fiscal wellbeing of the business.

Do you have any insights you can share related to maintaining high team morale?

I have come to realize that a lot of our time is spent with those who we work with. In terms of creating a team, I have thought a lot about “how is this personality going to jive with the personalities that exist on the team currently,” “what are their strengths and attributes,” “what do they bring to the table that I don’t.” I also look for that magical spark in people and have similar morals, values and ethics that I do – it helps the integrity of the business and team. I consider how each team member is an extension of me and the business and how that overall influences the client experience.

I also prioritize self-reflecting and assessing my leadership style on an ongoing basis. What may have worked one year, may require tweaking the following year. I think it is important for me to always remain adaptable and flexible in my ideologies of managing the team.

In terms of maintaining high morale, my goal is to ensure that the team feels appreciated; this can come in the form of a text, a little note left in the office, team swagger (t-shirts, sweatshirts, customized YETI mugs), ongoing trainings and team building events such as holiday parties. My hope is that everyone feels that they are a part of something really special because that is how I view each of them. The Therapy Institute would never be what it is without the magic of the clinicians, admin staff and interns.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://thetherapyinstitutenj.com & https://www.jacquelinesobotilcsw.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thetherapyinstitutenj/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thetherapyinstitute/