We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Jennifer Bishop. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Jennifer below.

Alright, Jennifer thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. We’d love to hear the backstory of how you established your own practice.

In 2002, I had my Master’s degree in Mental Health Counseling from Nova Southeastern University in Ft. Lauderdale. I embarked on a journey into the professional world, eager to make a difference. However, I was also embarking on a personal journey of self-discovery—I had just come to terms with my own sexuality, realizing I was gay.

Accepting a position in Jacksonville, I expected challenges, but I never anticipated the depth of prejudice and discrimination I would encounter within the very field I had chosen. As I navigated my new role, I found myself facing hatred, bullying, and harassment simply for being who I was. It was a stark awakening, realizing that professionals in the mental health field, those entrusted with the well-being of others, could be so intolerant.

These experiences shook me to the core, not just for my own sake, but for the clients seeking help. How could they receive genuine support and understanding in an environment tainted by bigotry?

After enduring years of rejection and mistreatment, I made the decision to return to South Florida, determined to carve out a space where authenticity and acceptance reigned supreme met. I envisioned a practice where individuals (both therapists and clients) could show up as their true selves without fear of judgment or discrimination.

With this mission in mind, I embarked on the journey of establishing my own practice. For five years, I laid the groundwork for what would become a beacon of inclusivity and support. In 2020, I took the leap and expanded into a group practice, bringing on board like-minded clinicians who shared my vision.

Today, our practice has multiple offices across Boca, Delray, and Coral Springs. Each space is meticulously designed to foster a sense of safety and belonging for everyone who walks through our doors. Whether it’s our multicultural, multilingual and diverse team, we strive to reflect the richness of the society we serve.

As we prepare to move our Coral Springs office to a larger space, I can’t help but feel a sense of pride in how far we’ve come. Our journey has been one of resilience, determination, and unwavering commitment to our values. And as we continue to grow, I am reminded that true progress lies not just in the services we provide but in the culture of acceptance and understanding we cultivate every day.

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.

My journey to becoming a leading figure in the mental health field began in my hometown of Coral Springs. I pursued my undergraduate degree at University of Central Florida (UCF) before furthering my education with a graduate degree from Nova Southeastern University (NSU). With a passion for helping others, my career trajectory led me through various roles within community mental health agencies, where I primarily focused on the foster care population.

I acquired my licensure as a Licensed Mental Health counselor in 2007, followed by attaining the status of Qualified Supervisor in 2010. My professional focus centered on working with children, wherein I apply expressive therapies,notably play and art, to foster healing and development progress. I integrate these modalities with Cognitive Behavioral Therapies (CBT) to provide comprehensive and effective therapeutic interventions.

In 2015, I took a bold step by opening my private practice in Boca Raton, marking the genesis of Genesis Counseling. As a solo practitioner for 5 years, I spent time cultivating a reputation for excellence and compassion, laying the groundwork for the practice’s expansion.

In 2020,acknowledging the escalating need to high-caliber mental health services and being drive by my earlier aspirations to establish a practice characterized by inclusivity and acceptance, I expanded Genesis Counseling into a group practice. This expansion marked the inception of our journey to create an environment where individuals feel embraced in their entirety. Subsequently in 2021, we opened our second location in Coral Springs, followed by the establishment of our third location in Delray in 2023. At present, our focus lies on the expansion of our Coral Springs office. With these developments, I opted to transition from direct client care, directing my efforts towards the strategic management and nurturing of the practice’s burgeoning trajectory.

Genesis Counseling’s growth has been nothing short of remarkable. From our humble beginnings in Boca Raton, we now have 6 offices at our Boca location, 6 offices at our Delray location and we are opening our new Coral Springs location with 13 offices. We have over 30 clinicians, and MFT Student Interns from the Nova MFT program. Our continued growth solidifies our presence as a vital resource in the community and for that we are so proud.

What sets Genesis Counseling apart is our diverse team of clinicians, each bringing their unique specialties and expertise to the table. Whether it’s working with children, teens, adults, or couples, the clinicians at Genesis Counseling are adept at tailoring their approaches to meet the individual needs of each client. Moreover, our team’s extensive training in modalities such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), Play Therapy,SandTray Therapy and more, ensures that clients receive evidence-based, effective interventions.

At Genesis Counseling, inclusivity is not just a buzzword—it’s a guiding principle. We prides ourself on being a multicultural, multilingual, diverse and inclusive team of therapists who create a safe and welcoming environment for clients from all walks of life. Genesis Counseling is a place where authenticity and excellence converge, where clients can show up as they are without fear of judgment or discrimination.

In addition to providing high-quality services, wGenesis Counseling is committed to giving back to the community. Through initiatives like hosting workshops, participating in community events, and offering reduced-fee services through student interns, we continually seek to make mental health care accessible to all.

As Genesis Counseling continues to grow and evolve, one thing remains constant: our unwavering dedication to supporting individuals and families on their journey toward mental wellness. Jennifer Bishop’s vision and leadership have transformed Genesis Counseling into a trusted ally in the fight for mental health awareness and advocacy in Florida. Whether you’re seeking support for yourself or a loved one, Genesis Counseling is here to help, providing a safe haven where healing and hope abound.

What’s been the most effective strategy for growing your clientele?

Arguably, the most impactful strategy I employed was to cultivate my value proposition rather than solely relying on soliciting referrals. A notable example of this approach was my proactive engagement with our client base. I diligently secured releases from their primary care physicians, educators, psychiatrists, and other pertinent professionals. Subsequently, I devised a simple form and established a monthly routine of dispatching treatment updates via email to these collaterals, without any explicit solicitation for referrals. This consistent contribution to the clients’ support network was sustained over several months, during which I also facilitated additional communication via telephone as deemed necessary for certain clients.

Gradually, this concerted effort fostered a reciprocal relationship, wherein educators, counselors, psychiatrists, and pediatricians began to regard me as a valuable resource. Through face-to-face interactions and collaborative meetings, I earned placement on their primary referral rosters. Rather than indiscriminately accepting all new client inquiries, I judiciously referred some to clinicians whom I deemed better suited to address their needs. Remarkably, this practice of reciprocal referral not only reinforced existing relationships but also led to a steady influx of referrals from those clinicians.

In essence, I discovered that by prioritizing value addition and fostering collaborative partnerships within the professional community, I inadvertently positioned myself as a trusted resource. This paradigm shift underscored the notion that in giving without expectation, one often reaps rewards far beyond anticipation.

How did you put together the initial capital you needed to start?

When procuring the commercial property for my Boca office location, I secured funding through an SBA loan. Despite the laborious process involved, it proved to be a prudent decision aligning with my objectives. Following the establishment of the initial workspace, certain metrics come into play for clinicians to discern the opportune moment for hiring additional staff. For instance, when a clinician’s productivity reaches 80%, it signifies an optimal time to recruit the next clinician. Moreover, evaluating office space utilization is pivotal. For instance, if out of 5 offices, only 50% are in use, it suggests a lack of readiness for expansion to another location, unlike a scenario where utilization rates reach 80 or 90%.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.genesiscounselingflorida.com
• Instagram: genesis_counseling_florida
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/genesiscounselingflorida