We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Shani Gardner, Lcsw a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Shani, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. 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.

Starting my own practice was both terrifying and liberating. After a sudden layoff from a job that had drained me, I knew I had to build something on my own terms. Once I passed my licensing exam, I jumped right in, focusing first on setting up the legal and logistical essentials. I researched business structures and opted for a sole proprietorship, prioritizing simplicity. Then came professional liability insurance, consultations with a lawyer and tax advisor, and securing a business name, EIN, and bank account. With those foundations in place, I could finally reach out to former clients and start building from scratch.

In those early days, marketing myself felt vulnerable. I set up a website, signed up for many therapist directories, and gradually began defining my brand. I wish I’d known from the start how crucial it is to niche down. At first, I accepted any client who could pay, but I later realized that prioritizing fit meant better client retention. Knowing your ideal client—who they are, where they look, and what language resonates—makes a huge difference.

Starting a private practice can feel isolating, and my community became essential. I invested in a business group coaching program and found colleagues who validated my vision. If paid coaching isn’t an option, I recommend using free resources like Facebook groups or professional associations. Just having others to share the journey with kept me grounded.

One of my biggest challenges was attracting new clients in a fully cash-pay model. While some clients followed me from my old job, building up my client base was a slow process. I eventually learned that people willing to pay privately want to know they’re investing in specialized expertise. So I shifted my marketing to highlight my unique skills and values, which brought in clients more aligned with my approach.

Over time, I recognized that my intense drive to earn and succeed was tied to a scarcity mindset. I was often making business decisions from a place of fear rather than alignment, which fueled burnout. Learning to view income as one part of a healthy business—not a measure of self-worth—was a transformative shift.

Reflecting back, I wish I’d given myself time to rest before diving into entrepreneurship. Business ownership is full of highs and lows, and resilience comes from not taking setbacks personally. Now, I approach my work with a sense of balance and strategy, always thinking of ways to connect authentically with clients.

For anyone starting a practice, here’s my advice: on the practical side, stay organized. Time-block your schedule, set aside time for admin tasks, and don’t forget to take breaks. On the emotional side, offer yourself compassion. Celebrate the small wins, welcome failure as part of growth, and don’t let the ups and downs define your worth.

Starting my practice was one of the most challenging yet rewarding steps I’ve taken. I’ve built a career that aligns with my values, gives me control over my time, and allows me to work with clients who resonate with my approach. For anyone considering this journey, trust yourself, find your community, and hold onto your ‘why.’

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.

I always knew I wanted to be a therapist, though I didn’t always envision myself as a business owner. From a young age, I found myself drawn to offering advice, holding space, and showing empathy. Helping others felt natural to me, and pursuing social work was a clear choice—especially because of the field’s commitment to social justice. As a Black woman, I felt a strong calling to help Black and Brown communities navigate their emotional challenges, knowing the importance of creating spaces where they could be heard and understood. I’m passionate about countering the toxic impact of racism and oppression, and I see self-care, self-love, joy, and mental wellness as powerful acts of resistance in a system that often devalues us. For me, providing therapy services to Black women and women of color is both a profession and a form of activism.

Today, I run two businesses and am also a public speaker. With over a decade in mental health, I help Black women and WOC overcome anxiety, burnout, and racial trauma through clinical work that is trauma-informed and grounded in social justice. I believe in honoring the diverse identities and experiences of each client, and my therapeutic approach integrates mindfulness, somatic experiencing, and self-compassion to help clients reconnect with their bodies, manage chronic stress, and foster long-term emotional resilience.

Through my coaching work, I empower women of color therapists to overcome burnout and build private practices that are sustainable and aligned with their values. I also bring my knowledge of emotional resilience, self-care, and mental well-being to corporate wellness programs, helping organizations create more inclusive, supportive environments for their employees.

As a speaker, I’ve inspired audiences by sharing both my personal journey and practical strategies for overcoming burnout, building resilience, and advocating for mental wellness in high-stress environments. My mission is to empower Black women and women of color to thrive holistically—both personally and professionally—while challenging the systemic forces that contribute to burnout and exhaustion. By combining clinical expertise with social justice advocacy, I am dedicated to creating spaces where healing, empowerment, and growth can flourish.

We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?

One of the most profound lessons I had to unlearn was that my worth wasn’t determined by how hard I worked or how much I achieved. Growing up as a Black woman in predominantly white spaces, I absorbed the message that I had to work ten times harder just to be seen as half as worthy. I became a perfectionist and people-pleaser, saying yes to every opportunity and constantly going above and beyond. I thought this hustle mindset was my ticket to success. Instead, it became a fast track to burnout.

The turning point came when I was laid off from a toxic job that had demanded so much from me and, in the end, gave me very little in return. In this role, I kept saying yes to every request despite what my actual capacity was. I believed this was necessary to earn the recognition I wanted. When I was abruptly laid off, I was devastated. All that work, all those sacrifices—none of it had protected me. I felt so betrayed. My entire identity had been tied to my productivity, and without it, I was confused.

That layoff forced me to confront the beliefs I’d been carrying. I began to recognize how deeply ingrained capitalism, perfectionism, and a scarcity mindset were in my approach to work and self-worth. I realized I’d internalized the belief that I had to constantly prove myself by working harder, faster, and longer. Starting my own practice only highlighted these issues, as I found myself repeating the same patterns, pushing myself to exhaustion in my own business.

It took time, reflection, and a lot of inner work to shift my mindset. I began to see that my worth wasn’t tied to my output or how well I could meet other people’s expectations. Instead, I started focusing on what felt right for me—creating a business aligned with my values, working with clients I truly felt connected to, and honoring my own boundaries. I stopped saying yes out of fear and began prioritizing my well-being and long-term sustainability.

Unlearning this lesson was liberating, and it’s one I hope to pass on to others, especially women of color who face similar pressures. We don’t have to burn out to be worthy. We deserve to feel whole, regardless of our productivity, and to build careers that nourish us rather than deplete us.

If you could go back in time, do you think you would have chosen a different profession or specialty?

Absolutely, yes. I love being a therapist and supporting people in meaningful, transformative ways. Watching clients make real changes in their lives, finding new resilience, or healing from past trauma brings a sense of fulfillment that’s hard to describe. It’s a privilege to be part of that process, and I wouldn’t trade it for anything.

That said, there are challenges in the mental health field, especially around how undervalued mental health care is in our country. Many community mental health agencies provide essential support for clients, but for clinicians, these roles can mean high caseloads and low pay. It sometimes feels like social workers and therapists are expected to “do it for the love of the work,” but there’s a difference between having a passion for helping others and needing to make a sustainable living.

For many therapists, including myself, entrepreneurship has been a way to bridge that gap. Running a private practice allows me to make a living wage in this field, but it comes with its own challenges, especially for those who work with insurance companies that often underpay or delay reimbursements. So while I have no regrets about my choice of profession, I do believe systemic changes are needed for mental health professionals to thrive mentally, emotionally, and financially.

At the end of the day, I stay in this field because I truly believe in the work and the impact it has on people’s lives.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://shanigardner.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/soulfulgracewellness/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shani-gardner-lcsw/

Image Credits

Sequoyah Daniel – Credit for Headshot
All other photos taken by Shani Gardner