We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Jessica MacNair a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Jessica, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Setting up an independent practice is a daunting endeavor. Can you talk to us about what it was like for you – what were some of the main steps, challenges, etc.

I was inspired to start a wellness center because I would often refer my clients to chiropractors, acupuncturists, massage therapists and nutrition professionals all around the Northern Virginia/Washington DC metropolitan area. Thinking that it would be easier for clients to stay within one location to get their care, I embarked on a journey to do that and, in 2013, Falls Church Wellness Center opened its doors.

Falls Church Wellness Center is one of the area’s most comprehensive providers of client-centered healthcare. It is now the largest professional treatment center for combined mental and physical healthcare in the region. Clients can receive mental health counseling, as well as chiropractic services, massage therapy, physical therapy, naturopathy, acupuncture, Reiki, yoga therapy, functional medicine, and attend groups and classes dedicated to any of these disciplines.

Now that Falls Church Wellness Center has been established for over a decade, I’ve had many other people copy the idea to varying degrees of success.

My advice is to always approach business from an abundance mentality, rather than one of scarcity. There is enough clients for my practice, and all other practices surrounding mine.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

I’m a Licensed Professional Counselor, who has been in practice since 2004. I had a solo practice until 2013, when I decided to open up Falls Church Wellness Center, a comprehensive wellness center, which addresses both physical and mental health. I originally opened with a fairly smaller concept/practice, and then expanded in 2017 to what it is today, a practice with over 30 clinicians who work under the same umbrella, in different disciplines, to provide whole care to the patient. I am most proud of the way I had to pivot my business during COVID, from an exclusively in-person practice to a completely virtual one. I did lost several clinicians during this time, but I ended up almost doubling the amount of clinicians I had working with me, and today we are a hybrid practice where we offer both in person and virtual services.

If you could go back, would you choose the same profession, specialty, etc.?

I would unequivocally choose the same profession. I love being a therapist and helping people during some of the most challenging and pivotal times in their lives. I am able to specialize in different aspects of mental health at different times, and my job is never boring. Each day I am met with new challenges which always keep me on my toes.

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

My clinical team knows that I’m one of the most honest and forthright people they’ll meet. I don’t hide things from them, and I’m completely transparent, and have been since the beginning. I was given advice to the contrary – to only tell people exactly what they need to know and nothing more. However, I have found that full transparency allows others to explore their potential and ask for appropriate help when they need and continue to thrive. I believe that the ability of the team is dependent on its cohesiveness. I provide regular team building experiences and social gatherings, and my team truly enjoys spending time together outside of work.

Contact Info:

• Website: fallschurchwellness.com
• Instagram: strongtherapyjess
• Facebook: Jessica MacNair
• Linkedin: Jessica MacNair
• Other: TikTok: strongtherapy