We recently connected with Jennifer Benoit and have shared our conversation below.

Jennifer, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. We’d love to hear about how you went about setting up your own practice and if you have any advice for professionals who might be considering starting their own?

I actually fought the idea of starting a practice for a long time. After years of experiencing burnout as a therapist, I was looking for a way out of the clinical world. It wasn’t until I had a baby and faced a myriad of personal challenges that I realized how much help new moms need. It was an isolating experience riddled with feelings of shame because I did not hear other moms talk about their struggles or have a professional to talk to about my concerns.

Because so many people flocked to therapy during the pandemic, there was obvious demand. Furthermore, teletherapy made it easier to open a practice since the task of finding office space was not a barrier. However, before I could start a therapy practice, I knew that I had to focus on my mental well-being. From my prior experience as a life coach, I knew that I wouldn’t be able to create a sustainable business if I did not take a dose of my own medicine. Once I was able to tend to my own needs, I could make space for future clients.

I did the things we typically do when we get excited about a business idea. I set up my business structure, opened a business bank account, selected an Electronic Health Records system, got a business phone number, created a website and business cards, and ensured my home set-up would be HIPPA- compliant. I then created simple inbound and outbound marketing strategies. These strategies included joining therapy directory sites and creating a list of professionals in my industry to connect with. This was the easy part.

The key challenges were organization and financial management. When you work from home, it can be hard to separate church and state. When a client cancels, it’s easy to use that unexpected “free” time to do some housework. Creating a block schedule as well as weekly goals has helped me to stay accountable and prioritize tasks. Furthermore, I didn’t realize how clueless I was about business accounting. Personal finances and business finances are two very different beasts. I had to learn the hard way that a bank balance only tells a fraction of the story. In addition to accounting for expenses (which grow as your business grows) and taxes, it is also important to set aside money that goes back into growing your business. Reading books on finance (I highly recommend “Profit First”) and hiring an accountant familiar with your industry can save you lots of stress!

It’s important to have the right infrastructure in place before starting your business but in reality, you can’t avoid fumbles along the way. Very early on, I decided that I would grow my business slowly because I wanted to have enough room to mess up and course correct. By growing at a pace that felt manageable, I was able to recognize errors and holes in my business practices and make corrections that weren’t too costly or could cause my business to go under. As I continue to figure out what does and doesn’t work through trial and error, I am in the process of creating an Operations Manual which outlines procedures and best practices for future employees to follow.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

It always felt like I eased into this industry naturally. I am the oldest and only daughter of Haitian immigrants. I grew up in a household that was loving yet fraught with parental conflict. I took on the role of “the listener”, “the good girl”, and “the fixer.” I often wonder how different I’d be had I grown up in a different environment. I only know that I gravitated toward a field that catered to my qualities as an empathetic, self-help-obsessed, curious problem-solver.

When I picked a major for my undergraduate degree, I decided to pursue Biology in hopes of getting one step closer to becoming a Pediatrician. Within one semester, I realized that I was chasing my parents’ dream. I had no desire to work in the medical field and I chose to practice choreography moves from N’Sync’s video instead of studying for my upcoming final exams. When I attended a Psychology class the following semester, I felt like I was finally home. I loved learning about clinical diagnoses, therapeutic modalities, and interventions. I could actually see myself as a therapist.

I have played in the social work arena since 2005. No matter how often I stray from my role as a therapist, it keeps calling me back. Although I’ve always enjoyed the therapeutic process, I haven’t enjoyed the hours, challenging work conditions, and compensation. By starting my own practice, I have been able to set up a business that works for me. It’s important to set hours that allow me to spend time with my loved ones while also taking good care of myself.

I provide maternal mental health services to new moms and moms at various stages. There are too many mothers who suffer in silence through postpartum mood disorders, birth trauma, and the mental toll of infertility. There is also shame and confusion when the expectations of motherhood don’t meet reality. Mothers are often surprised by the changes that take place with them hormonally, in their relationships, work lives, friendships, and even their relationships with their bodies. I provide language to help normalize their experiences and coping strategies to manage the challenges they face. Oftentimes, the therapy setting is the only safe place clients have to express their feelings without fear of being judged.

What sets me apart from other therapists is my focus on maternal mental health as well as my own personal story. Even as a therapist trained to provide care to mothers experiencing Postpartum Depression, it wasn’t until I had my first baby during the pandemic that I got a glimpse into the struggles that many new moms face. Being able to look a mother in the eye and say “I get it” quickly forges a path to healing through vulnerability. By the time they graduate from therapy, my clients report a significant reduction in feelings of sadness, anxiety, and anger. They are able to clearly express their needs, prioritize their self-care (even if in small doses), set boundaries, gain clarity about how their past connects with their present, and manage unpleasant feelings in healthy ways.

I am proud of the fact that I have been able to turn my pain into purpose. If you are struggling mentally, please know that you don’t have to “push through” difficult times alone. When you are mentally healthy, you are able to be a better mother, partner, friend, employee, etc. I firmly believe that if we were to all take time to focus on our mental health, we would have happier families, stronger communities, and a more peaceful world.

What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?

A lesson that I had to unlearn is that you are relegated to a set income when you choose a specific career. Early on, I believed that I would not earn much money in spite of how hard I worked simply because the social work profession doesn’t pay well. However, I’ve come to realize that we are only limited by our choices. Sure, I could earn under $60k with many social work jobs. But, there are also opportunities to be wealthy if you think outside of the box. After all, Brene Brown is a social worker making millions! It all comes down to using your skills to maximize your reach. Teachers are notoriously underpaid but there are teachers who have decided to make “side money” by creating educational resources that they sell on Etsy and market on Pinterest. The world is literally our oyster and our responsibility is to create the lives we want without limitations.

If you could go back in time, do you think you would have chosen a different profession or specialty?

If I could go back, I would choose the same profession. Therapy is truly my jam. However, I would have started a private practice a lot sooner! I would have also fully explored the different opportunities that exist for social workers outside of conventional settings.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.mindwellstrategies.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jenniferbenoit1/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennifer-benoit-lcsw-clc-4504b23/

Image Credits
Main image- Zencare