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

Hi Tonette, thanks for joining us today. We’d love to hear the backstory of how you established your own practice.

I knew from the beginning of graduate school that I would open my own practice and do things on my own terms. I never wanted to be beholden to traditional organizational systems. I often would feel stagnant and as if there was more I could be doing on a creative level. I also knew being a Christian in secular spaces I needed the freedom to share my faith and how it informs the work that I do. I didn’t want to just promote wellness and mental awareness without being able to share the actual tools for true healing and wholeness. On my journey to getting here I learned a lot from the institutions and practices I had joined. On the buisness side of establishing a practice I watched those who were branching out into entrepreneurial spaces and I took notes, a lot of them. I wanted to learn the lay of the land and what it really meant own, run, manage and participate in daily therapy at my own practice. One of my biggest challenges was just figuring out how that would look for me. Many people have created their own, but it was just that, their own and their way. I had to figure out how to make myself the practice, the brand that people would want to know more about. So in addition to watching I asked around, I gathered inspiration from other business leaders and CEO’s to see what fit for who I was as a person.

It was a step by step process leaving my 1st practice which was a very large one for four years, then a group practice for two years and eventually coming into my own in 2021. Joining the group practice rocked my world in a few ways as a therapist and a professional. I learned through many creative and curious group therapy sessions my own strengths and weaknesses as a therapist and how I wanted to simply show up as Human and less of a performative “let me just simply fix you” therapist. My time there helped me solidify my niche in anxiety and trauma and professionally that it was time to fly and do what I was yearning to do.
Being apart of a group practice also taught me about professionalism, marketing and how to authentically promote my business without compromising my messaging.
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If I could do things differently, I would have started during the early days of the pandemic versus later. I recognized after conquering virtual sessions for six months and feeling isolated, not apart of a practice with physical co-workers any longer, it was time to go.

A piece of encouragement I would share to anyone wanting to embark on opening a practice or simply establishing you own, go for it. Write the plans out, do the research, ask everyone. You can glean so much just by networking and asking others what did and didn’t work for them. It is attainable if it’s truly something you want.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

My journey did not begin in psychology or pursual of therapy at all. I initially started out in biology with hopes to going to medical school and becoming a obstetritician and gynecologist. My dreams were deterred pretty early in Chemistry class when I recognized I couldn’t stomach looking at the organs of a dead rat. I knew then I had to change majors and pivot. I took a few psychology courses and immediatley was intrigued about studying the mind and how so many things whether environmental, relationships, childhood etc impact human behavior. I knew I wanted to learn more and ultimately would go to graduate school to become fully mastered in this area. I truly feel I sat under the most brilliant professors at Duquesne University, and then I wanted to become the best, learned therapist.

I initally started working with children with behavioral diagnoses in the school, home and community settings and felt I could do more, so I sought out community agency work where I could provide therapy to people from all walks of life. These were my early days where I made so many mistakes but learned so many beneficial things of how to care for people whether in crisis, relationship issues, family stressors etc.

I became specialized in anxiety and trauma as a result of the work I’ve done over the past 15 years and my own battle before with anxiety. It became a passion to teach people how to understand themselves, their behaviors, their thought life and ultimately how to deal with their stuff. I provide individual, group, family and couples sessions tackling a plethora of issues and concerns from relationship issues, communication, trauma responses, depression, etc… and through that skills of how to cope, to unlearn messaging that people have picked up along the way and creating new ways of dealing through curiosity.

I also created a trauma e-course titled “Unmasking Trauma” that is a 3 part course on identifying trauma, trauma responses and unlearning them. That is now being turned into a physical workbook as well for people. In my free time I create social media content talking about everyday topics of attachment styles in relationships, parent/child issues in their relationships, better ways to communicate, identifying trauma responses and so much more. My name on social media is noturtypicaltherapist which I do believe is synonymous with my work. I am a licensed minister and my faith informs all of my work and what I do. So I combine biblical teachings and practical knowledge for daily living in all of my content and work. I think my delivery in how I do this is what sets me apart. I am unapologetic about my faith, and unapologetic that mental health is real and breaking the stigma of talking about it in all types of settings.
I help people name and identify things to help get to the root of their issues and what’s causing dysfunction in their lives. I aim to help people take on new perspectives (hence the name of my practice is Perspective Insights) to cause shifts in their behavior and how they show up. I think my faith, upbringing, being an African-American woman serving all cultures has given me a unique perspective that benefits the people I serve. I believe God has given me a grace to connect with peoples hearts and there is a true genuineness in me that wants to help people find freedom.
I am most proud of creating legacy for future generations in my family to continue. My Grandparents started a rich legacy of faith and helping others and causing impact and I want to continue that on. I am proud to be a role model to my niece and nephews and hope they’ll be inspired to reach for the highest heights of their potential. I am most proud of the 1 person that walks up to me in the grocery store and says a video I made or a post I made truly helped them in the time of need. That’s what I’m here for. That’s what I’m called to do.

If you could go back, would you choose the same profession, specialty, etc.?

I would say yes, but I would also pursue law. I have always wished I went to law school and pursed being a lawyer. I have such a passion for justice and also the inner workings of the legal system. I also know it’s not too late either, I still may go. Ultimatley I would still choose where I am at though, I know by the lives that are being affected, I am where I am supposed to be.

Any advice for growing your clientele? What’s been most effective for you?

Honestly, my body of work has been my marketing. I have never had to hustle for clients and I give God glory for that. My clients literally are my referral system. I believe that I engage in quality therapeutic work and that speaks for itself. I have had 90% of my clients say you came recommended by such and such. That’s the best marketing you can get. I am grateful to be in the presence of my clients in our sessions and I think that inspires them to go and share what their experience has been. I am extremely grateful that this is my story. I also think stepping into the content creator role and simply showing up as me, being raw and honest about the topics I’m sharing and giving my own stories has worked for me in ways I would have never imagined. I have seen such an influx in interest since going viral and engaging with others on everyday topics. I also am searchable online as well through psychology today, therapyforblackgirls and sites as such.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.perspectiveinsightscounseling.com
• Instagram: noturtypicaltherapist2102
• Facebook: Tonette Whitted and business page: Perspective Insights
• Linkedin: Tonette Whitted
• Youtube: Tonette-perspectiveinsights
• Other: Tik Tok: noturtypicaltherapist

Image Credits

Toni Lyn Photography- LaTonya Owens