Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Stephanie Walker. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Stephanie, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. We’d love to hear the backstory of how you established your own practice.

I met my business partner, Lauren while working at a local in-patient alcohol and drug rehab. We often discussed the need for mental health providers within our small community but were always afraid to take that leap. In late 2019, I was laid off from that job and Lauren and I decided that it was time to finally take that leap. So, in January of 2020, Cedar Creek Wellness Group was established. We opened our doors to accepting our first clients in February of 2020. We began with renting out a single office space and sharing that small office. The main step you have to take, following establishing your name and mission, is establishing as a business with the state. We had to decide if we were going to be a PLLC or an LLC, then partnership or S Corp, etc. There was lots of conflicting information out there and many who did not know how to advise us due to our differing licenses. Despite discussions with attorneys and other business owners, we often felt confused. We made the mistake of trusting people and going with the first person we interviewed way too often. We would definitely do that differently now. Including interviewing multiple CPAs, billers, bookkeepers, etc. We would also make sure to ask for and check references for professional services. Some advice for any professional who is starting their own business, it really is possible to do some of the startup stuff on your own so be cautious about spending money in the wrong areas. Seek advice from other small business owners in similar businesses. Learn when to let go of the things that are better done by a professional. The best piece of advice that we have received lately is, “just because you can, doesn’t mean you should.”

Stephanie, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

My name is Stephanie Walker and I am co-owner of Cedar Creek Wellness Group. I have a blended family with 6 children, and 8 grandchildren. I decided to become a counselor after spending 11 years as an elementary classroom teacher. My business partner, Lauren Hughes is a single mom to an amazing teenage boy and two dogs. Lauren became a psychiatric nurse practitioner after spending 8 years as a pediatric ER nurse. She has always enjoyed being there for people in their greatest time of need and was drawn to the mental health field through various personal experiences. Lauren and I established Cedar Creek Wellness Group to provide mental health services to the cedar Creek Lake and surrounding areas. We wanted to offer counseling and medication management for anxiety, depression, and other mental health issues with the goal of promoting mental wellness throughout our community. We are the only clinic of our kind in Henderson County, meaning we offer a collaborative approach to counseling and medication management for our clients. There are no other clinics who have counseling and psychiatric care in the same office, that is not state funded. Our therapists and psychiatric providers work together to ensure our clients receive the best care possible. Lauren and I believe this is truly what sets us apart. We have a working relationship with multiple primary care providers in our community, as well as various facilities across the state. We work closely with the local HELP center to provide care to vulnerable populations. We also use our extensive knowledge of substance use treatment to work with a local grant, the HOPE project to provide free treatment for those struggling with substance use disorders regardless of ability to pay. Our mission is to incorporate whole-body wellness and empower our patients to live the life they deserve.

How’d you meet your business partner?

Lauren and I met while working at a local alcohol and drug rehab. I was working as a counselor, and she was a psychiatric nurse practitioner. This required us to often collaborate about our mutual patients. Lauren and I soon realized that we lived in the same area and had the same desire to one day have a private practice. Over the course of several years, we would talk and dream about the possibility, but timing never seemed right.

Any advice for managing a team?

I think it is extremely important to trust the people you hire. You must be able to trust that they are going to be able to do the job they were hired to do. Lauren and I have been blessed to have known the majority of our employees previously which has helped us to create the culture that we desired. Our employees would tell you that we listen to them. We value self-care, we protect the culture and team environment we have created. We foster an environment of positivity. We promote a culture of team building and encouragement of others. We check-in on our employees often. We do not believe in micromanaging and expect that they will let us know if there is something they need in order to do their job more efficiently. We have weekly clinical meetings to focus on collaborations and self-care if needed and we also have a yearly respite retreat.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.cedarcreekwellnesgroup.com
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cedarcreekwellnessgroup
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/cedar-creek-wellness-group/

Image Credits
professional headshots by DNT Photography