We were lucky to catch up with Krysta Dancy recently and have shared our conversation below.
Krysta, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Was there a moment in your career that meaningfully altered your trajectory? If so, we’d love to hear the backstory.
I remember the moment I was staring out my office window, on the phone with another new mom who was completely overwhelmed. She needed counseling, and fast. I pulled up my calendar, already knowing what I would see- every opening full and then some, and a waitlist I had no hope of getting to.
I gave her the bad news and heard her voice plead “Where can I go?”
My mind ran through all the other therapists I knew could help with this very specialized case. The list was too short. When I hung up I could hear the din of the office outside my door. I spent most of my time working as an Assistant Director here. From what I could overhear I knew they needed help with the printer again, and I knew I was next up to ask.
Normally I would just get lost in the next demand, feeling overwhelmed at all the need around me. But that day it was different. That day it became crystalized: I could see clearly every single hour I was spending building someone else’s vision, serving someone else’s calling.
My eyes fell to the phone on my desk and the sinking feeling came back. I knew it was time- time to take the leap.
I couldn’t keep pouring my work into growing the nonprofit for someone else while my deepest passion- new families- was left crying on the phone. My private practice had long overgrown the bounds I placed on it. This was backwards! It was time to take the leap and open my own center.
No more dividing myself up into little bits- this was the moment I knew I needed to be “all in” on this dream.
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
I’m a licensed therapist who is passionate about making therapy accessible and highly effective for new families. I know that by supporting those in pregnancy and postpartum well- we access exponential influence over the future of our world! Who can measure the potential of a new baby? It is infinite!
We already know that our early experiences matter. When we intervene at this transition point, we create a ripple of health and goodness that changes the inheritance of future generations.
My vision is to create a digital village for families: online counseling, classes, groups, community and support. Gone are the limitations of geography and talent- we can connect families to exactly who they need, right away. Dancy Perinatal does all that: removing the barriers of therapy for families and giving them the exact help they need, right where they need it.
Can you tell us the story behind how you met your business partner?
My COO is someone that I met years ago working in the same nonprofit. I’d had the opportunity to see her drive, talent and overlapping passion for families. I had tried to partner with her on several earlier projects but they just never came to fruition.
Sometimes you just *know* the person is exactly who you need, and that’s how it was for me and Rebecca. When I would talk about my passion in this field she always “got it” in a way that others didn’t. I remember one day she said “well Krysta I just think you want a bigger reach”… so simple and yet it really got me thinking. Did I want a bigger reach? She might not even remember saying it but in that moment she got my wheels turning in a major way.
When I invited her in on this company I said “Look, there’s no pressure to say yes. But if you don’t want to do it, I won’t be doing this without you.” I knew she was exactly what Dancy Perinatal (and I) needed: smart, organized, ambitious, and an excellent buffer between me and everything else. She keeps me grounded, steady and taking each step as it comes.
I regularly think about how lucky I am that I met Rebecca and that she said “yes” to this vision. When you know, you know.
Other than training/knowledge, what do you think is most helpful for succeeding in your field?
Working in mental health requires an indomitable optimism. Both as a CEO and as a therapist I am inundated with bad news all day every day. Think about it, either my clients are revealing their hardest traumas to me or I am getting emails with problems from vendors, colleagues or staff. It’s rare that anyone reach out to say “hey, things are going great and I thought you should know!” (I think many business owners can relate).
My old mentor used to call it “Hope-a-holic” but I prefer to think of it a bouyant. Whatever you call it, it’s pretty clear you need to have just enough “crazy” in you to believe you can make this work against the constant heavy feedback. I’m thankful I’ve got that!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.dancyperinatal.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dancyperinatalcounseling/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DancyPerinatalCounseling/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/76575409/admin/
Image Credits
Image Credit: Kelli Seeley Photography