We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Syreeta Dawkins . We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Syreeta below.

Syreeta , appreciate you joining us today. What was it like going from idea to execution? Can you share some of the backstory and some of the major steps or milestones?

It’s funny because it was never my idea or desire to own a business or to start one. I actually was content with working for a business, in which was successful, easy and offered as much flexibility as I wanted. Teachable Moments was birthed as an opportunity to give a Resident Clinician an opportunity to forge her learning in an environment that she was passionate about. Teaching occurs all the time, which is congruent to learning. Learning and growth are core values of who I am. This young lady that was working with me at the company at the time was completing her supervision hours in order to become licensed and desired to be in a space that allowed her to function as a therapist. She was so adamant about her passion that, I told her, work with me here in this capacity for one year and I will open an outpatient practice, in order to give you space to experience your passion while you learning to master your profession.

Since this time, I have been very open to baptism by fire and learning as I go. I really have credited it to always trusting my intuition in my business practices. I had minor experience with credentialing and contracting, even though I had working experience with billing through other places of employment, it is always different when your doing it. This to became one of my passions in not being guarded or selfish with helping someone else start their stuff.

My educational focus was social work and services, not business management. I really learned how to use the tools that I learned in social work such as problem solving and seeking information to help with with learning how to be a business owner. As of recent, I have begun attending seminars to help me learn and grow as I go. An essential piece in business, incorporating my staff as partners in decision making and execution of policy or growth opportunities. The atmosphere of Teachable Moments is a working interdependent but independent, Work/life balance affirming. personal integration of both personalities of personal and professional, and learning. Our environment is familial and warm.

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 pride my story in simplicity. I am a young, entrepeneur who pushed past fear of failure and found opportunity. I am a social worker that decided that working for myself and creating an environment that fosters a work/life balance that I enjoy was my focus. I have coined or named myself a “TherapySNOB” and this is because I love all things that can take the form of therapy Meaning that therapy doesn’t and is no longer a traditional practice. It is integrative and interactive, no longer focused on maladaptive issues but progressive and preventative supports. Therapy is not for when things are wrong but being prepared to keep things right. I love our clientele which is very diverse. We work with all ages, races and demographic and socio-economic statuses in the Hampton Roads Community.

What do you think helped you build your reputation within your market?

Reputation for me does not just speak to the personality of the business; It is a reflection of the person, people or visionary behind the business.

My practice is a true manifestation of my personality. Meaning that the values that clients are able to know is that we have integrity and stand behind the teaching of them being able to do it on their own. We are always focused on a road map and a skill that is applicable to help them navigate the areas of struggle.

I value family and that feeling of independent but interdependent in a larger safe system is a culture within Teachable Moments. Inheritedly as humans we seek connection and to belong, so our environment fosters and addresses the natural need to be and feel supported, because this exists as a culture here in the organization it is easily translated to our clients who are trying to find this in their own familial and friends relationships.

Not to toot my own horn, put to check into my greatness one time, I have always been know as a no nonsense person and a person willing to push the envelope for a system to grow, so this is a place that professionals and clients come to work on what no one has challenged them to address.

Do you have any insights you can share related to maintaining high team morale?

ASK THEM!!! My best advice is to never assume and always ask. It is important that people feel that they matter, they are seen and considered. It is never that an owner has to make everyone happy or to appease the desires and wants of all professionals, this is actually impossible; however, taking an intentional moment to communicate that the ideal of the process of change matters is so important. I have learned that morale of staff starts and stops with how they are made to feel that they matter to the growth of the organization

Contact Info:

• Website: www.tmtgllc.com
• Instagram: mslcsw; therapysnob,
• Linkedin: Syreeta Dawkins