Today we’d like to introduce you to Nicole Lee
Hi Nicole, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
When I was a teenager in high school I was the person people went to for help. Due to this I witnessed a lot of people struggling and decided I wanted to help more and touch a few more people. At 15 years old I started a non-profit Suicide and Depression Prevention/Awareness organization named You Are Loved and worked with this to touch as many lives as I could. As I grew I worked to expand my knowledge. I obtained a bachelor’s Degree in Psychology from Bloomsburg University, a Master’s in Psych Services from Kean University, a Professional Diploma in Marriage and Family Therapy from Kean University, a certification in Sex Therapy from Evergreen Certifications, and I am actively pursuing a PhD in Couples Therapy from National University. Through my studies, I found a passion for working with couples and worked to specialize in this area while also working with individuals on their mental health involving my systemic lens. In 2021 I became licensed in Marriage and Family therapy as well as obtained a license in Professional Counseling. In 2022 I decided it was time to grow again and invested in myself to start my private practice. Since opening, I have had one name change to represent myself and my brand more authentically. I am now the proud owner and therapist of Heart and Honey Counseling.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
No road worth traveling is smooth. No growth is painless. There were definitely struggles along the way (some expected and some not so-expected). Some expected struggles would be the confusion of being a business owner when I come from a therapist background. I found myself in a new world of billing, insurance, and protocols I was suddenly now in control of. Financially starting a business was not comfortable. When working to start a business there is significant upfront investment which is a scary leap to take. I am also a New Jersey native practicing in Pennsylvania and was not aware of the area. When I originally started my practice I had a different name, but discovered the original name was close to another practice within the state and had to work to re-brand to ensure my brand was more authentic to me. Coming from another state it was also important to me to put more work int he community to develop trust as an outsider in a small town.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
I own a small private practice specializing in individual and couples therapy. I am a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) and a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC). In addition to my LMFT I am also certified in Sex Therapy which I use commonly at my practice. I work very hard to educate myself as much as possible on the services I offer so that I can accurately represent myself. There are not many LMFTs in the area and fewer individuals who are certified in sex therapy. It is my goal to provide the best-informed treatment to my clients as possible.
We all have a different way of looking at and defining success. How do you define success?
I think success looks different for everyone, but for me it’s the ability to have a full life. It is so easy to be swept up in the rat race of needing to make more and more money and, although money is nice, I just want to ability to love my work as well as the full life I have outside of work. Success is love what you do for money, but having a world outside of making that money that fuels you just as much.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.heartandhoneyllc.com
- Instagram: @heartandhoneyllc
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/search/top?q=heart%20and%20honey%20counseling
