We recently connected with Melissa Riesgo and have shared our conversation below.

Melissa, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Parents can play a significant role in affecting how our lives and careers turn out – and so we think it’s important to look back and have conversations about what our parents did that affected us positive (or negatively) so that we can learn from the billions of experiences in each generation. What’s something you feel your parents did right that impacted you positively.

“My sister Liz and I are daughters of Cuban immigrants. From a very early age, we witnessed our parents’ hard work and dedication to creating a bright future for us and our brother. We like to say that we learned our entrepreneurship skills from our father and our organizational skills from our mother. Our parents have been our greatest inspiration and support system.

We went into the mental health field because we wanted to provide others with life-changing support in the same way our parents supported us. It is very important to us to create a community of therapists who offer compassion, inspire hope and teach the skills needed to overcome challenges.

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.

During the first year of the Covid-19 pandemic, anxiety and depression increased by 25%, according to a scientific brief released by the World Health Organization. This was one of the reasons why my sister and I decided to open Full Circle Therapy, a mental health group practice. We quickly grew from 4 mental health counselors in May of 2020 to 20 clinicians, an occupational therapy department, an equine-assisted psychotherapy program, and 2 practice locations in 2023. Although we are proud to report that we have been able to help over 1,000 individuals in 3 years, we still felt that something was missing. There were numerous people we were turning away daily because we either did not accept their insurance plans or they could not afford to pay out of pocket. To make mental health more accessible, we started The Full Circle Therapy Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.

Our mission is to provide free therapy services to individuals in the community who are uninsured, cannot afford to pay self-pay rates, or have high copays or deductibles.

Can you tell us about what’s worked well for you in terms of growing your clientele?

Making meaningful connections within the community has proven to be the most effective strategy for the growth of our mental health group practice. By actively engaging with local organizations, schools, and healthcare providers, we have been able to build a strong network of referrals and collaborations, expanding our reach and impact. These community connections not only enhance our credibility but also allow us to better understand the specific needs and challenges of the individuals we serve, enabling us to tailor our services and provide holistic support.

Can you tell us the story behind how you met your business partner?

My business partner happens to be my younger sister, and our bond brings an unparalleled level of trust and understanding to our partnership. Growing up together has given us a deep knowledge of each other’s strengths and weaknesses, allowing us to seamlessly complement and support one another in our business endeavors. Together, our shared values, strong communication, and support create a dynamic that fuels our success as a great team.

Contact Info:

• Website: Www.fullcircletherapyllc.com
• Instagram: @fullcircletherapyllc
• Facebook: @fullcircletherapyllc

Image Credits
The Snappy Shrink Photography