Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Janean Tinsley. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Hi Janean, thanks for joining us today. We’d love to hear the backstory of how you established your own practice.
It’s never easy leaving the security of an employed position to embark on your own journey. But the blessings that come from trusting in God far outweigh those fears. I was a new mental health therapist when I felt the nudging to stop working for someone and start living into my identity. My Christian faith has been my guiding light since accepting Jesus Christ as a young woman. I found with many clients that they wanted their faith incorporated into their treatment but my hands were tied due to the rules of my former employer. So, with no money set aside and even less experience in running a private practice, I decided to try to go solo. As I began to share with friends and family what I was doing, doors began to open. Someone donated office space free of charge. Someone else fully furnished the office on their dime. A fund was set up to pay me while I was getting on my feet. And word of this Christian-centered mental health practice spread quickly. Within just a few months of opening, there was a waitlist to get in and, most importantly, lives were being transformed through the hope and healing of Jesus Christ. I’ve been in business now for almost 14 years. When I mentor young professionals, I always tell them to not let fear stop them. If God has gifted them, He will provide while they are obedient to Him with their gifts. It does take patience and grit, as well as tons of sacrifice. Nothing is easy that is well done.
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
I have always been a listener and observer of the world around me. And I’m gifted in the ability to read people from a place of compassion and truth. So it was a natural step for me to enter into psychology as I embraced these gifts within myself. I didn’t take the direct route, however. When I went off to college after high school, I majored in journalism and theater. I worked in the newspaper industry for a few years, always feeling like a fish out of water. But God didn’t let me flounder too long before He pulled me back into academia to study psychology and counseling. I completed my master’s degree and have since become certified as a Certified Clinical Trauma Professional (level 2) and received certification from the Trauma Research Foundation in Traumatic Stress Studies. In addition, I have a seminary degree.
I have been in the mental health field for almost two decades. I began in addiction counseling but have honed my skills as a trauma specialist. However, the thing that sets me apart is the fact that I am Christian-focused. I have patients who are both Christian and agnostic, but all who come to me are coming for the simple reason that I provide Christian counseling. I use cognitive behavioral therapy, EMDR, and Internal Family Systems as treatment modalities, but always pointing people to the only One who can truly heal — Jesus Christ.
I never really thought I would expand, but over the past few years, many people began to seek help with the trauma of church harm or church abuse. As word of mouth spread, churches began reaching out for assistance in healing from division or scandal for their entire congregation. Because of this need, I have officially expanded my business, creating a subsidiary to First Step Counseling called The Ephesians 612 Group. We work with troubled churches to restore hope, truth, and peace. I work with churches and Christian groups as they seek healing from the pain of division within the body of Christ, leadership scandals, and splits from denominational control. Both First Step Counseling and The Ephesians 612 Group are focused on healing and hope for a hurting world.
I am always humbled by the trust that clients and churches put in me in their most vulnerable moments. As our world seems to be more and more divisive and broken, it’s my goal to offer a safe place of love and respect while never wavering on truth.
How’d you build such a strong reputation within your market?
Building a reputation is not easy. It requires patience and hard work. In other words, perseverance is everything. For me, I had to start with discovering what my identity really is. It could be worldly, focusing on what I felt others wanted from me, or it could be spiritual, focusing on what God wanted from me. I chose the latter and have never wavered. Since then, my reputation has grown into who I am today. It means something profound to have a solid reputation.
My reputation is built on consistency, both at work and in my personal life. I live out what I share with clients. I don’t pretend to be anything other than who God has created me to be. My clients trust that they will receive compassion and love while always getting truth that they can depend upon. I don’t sugar coat things or tell them what they want to hear. I offer tools that encourage growth, assurance, and hope.
Your reputation in the business world is so important. Why not build it on a foundation that never shifts?
Any stories or insights that might help us understand how you’ve built such a strong reputation?
I have always made myself available to the people I work with and those who want to be clients. I did a lot of social media posts and blogs and still do. I am also a widely used public speaker. I started out working with small groups but am now invited to speak at national conferences around the country. It’s exciting to have opportunities to meet with people all over sharing the grace of God.
Word of mouth is definitely my number one marketing tool and has been from day one. People almost exclusively say, “a friend told me about you.” That is the best form of marketing because it’s honest and dependable. So for those starting out, build your marketing around word of mouth and allow your consistency to be the driving factor for what people say. If they see you in the grocery store, let your presence be the same as in the office. Smile genuinely, listen actively, look people in the eyes, and never gossip!! People want to trust you and trust your word.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://Www.firststepcounselingky.com
- Instagram: janeanlee_
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Firststepministry
- Linkedin: Janean Tinsley
- Twitter: Janeanlee_
- Other: https://www.theephesians612group.com
Image Credits
No credit needed as these were candid shots by friends and family. No professional pictures are included