We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Moniek Garside. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Moniek below.
Moniek , thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Can you open up about a risk you’ve taken – what it was like taking that risk, why you took the risk and how it turned out?
The most significant risk I’ve taken was leaving my 9 to 5 job to focus on growing my private mental health therapy practice, FitLife Wellness, LLC full-time. That decision was huge and impacted my family and me. When I started my practice, I worked full-time in a local hospital and thought I just wanted to take on clients part-time. I was pretty secure with my job and wanted to test the waters to see if a private practice was for me. When I started FitLife Wellness, LLC, no one gave me the ins and outs or tools, and I had to learn it on my own. A year or so later, I found out I was pregnant with my son, and I knew that it was time to make a shift. I knew I couldn’t have the flexibility I wanted if I stayed at my current job. I was also burned out and felt I had outgrown everything about the job. I knew I wanted to use my gift of helping people differently. It was scary, and there was so much unknown. I didn’t know if I would get enough clients fast enough to replace my income or how my business would grow. I also changed my schedule from being available to clients in the evenings to only being available early in the day. I lost a lot of clients. I had to trust the process. With the support of my husband and encouragement from friends and family, I leaned into it. It was the best decision. My practice has grown so much, and I am making an impact in the community
Moniek , before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?
I am the owner of FitLife Wellness, LLC’s, a wife, and a mom. I am a licensed clinical social worker and I provide mental health therapy and counseling to individuals. I create workshops for other professionals and the community focusing on various mental health and wellness topics. My online store also has apparel and other merchandise centered around mental health and wellness. I have been a social worker for over 14 years and in private practice for the last five years. I felt like I was a social worker before I knew what social work was. I have always had a desire to help others navigate life. Many people don’t know I am also a certified personal trainer since 2015. I’ve had a love for health and wellness for a long time. With my clients, I focus on the whole person. I feel my background in healthcare, fitness, and wellness makes me unique to others in my field.
When I see a client make changes in their life or tell me they can feel their progress, it confirms this is the work I am supposed to do. I am proud that the practice is growing, and I can add more clinicians and mentor them along the way.
I am excited about the next addition to my business, a wellness plan subscription. This has been a labor of love. I am so happy to show everyone how they can use it to balance mental, physical, and emotional well-being.
Do you think you’d choose a different profession or specialty if you were starting now?
If I could go back, I would choose the same profession again. It was essential to find what areas within the profession worked best for me, which has kept me in the helping profession.
Any advice for growing your clientele? What’s been most effective for you?
The most effective strategy for growing my clientele was being visible, relatable, and providing excellent service. Clients need to know I am a safe space for them and knowledgeable in my field.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.fitlifewellnessllc.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fitlifewellnessllc/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/fitlifewellnessllccounseling/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/moniekrichardson
- Other: TikTok: @fitlifewellnessllc
Image Credits
JAS photography