Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in mental wellness but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Alice Thornewill, Co-Founder and Director of Center for Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Mindfulness, located in Philadelphia, PA, USA.

What's your business, and who are your customers?

The Center for Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Mindfulness is an exciting and fast-growing psychotherapy private practice committed to providing the highest quality evidence-based teletherapy to adults. We help motivated, high-achieving individuals who are struggling with challenging emotions and stressors that are getting in the way of the life they want to live.

We have been featured in The New York Times, Huff Post, Parade, Real Simple, Verywell Mind, Psych Central, Mic, Prevention, and other publications.

The work we do at CBTMindful changes lives! We provide hands-on, problem-solving focused therapy that holds clients accountable for the goals they set. Our doctoral-level clinical psychologists have the highest level of training in the field and are committed to helping clients feel better and achieve their goals by providing the best mental health care. We are deeply passionate about helping our clients grow into the best versions of themselves, cope with life’s challenges, achieve their goals, and build a rich and meaningful life.

Tell us about yourself

I graduated from Drexel's clinical psychology and law JD/Ph.D. program in 2020. Dr. Suraji Wagage (a friend and fellow JD/Ph.D.) and I started the Center for Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Mindfulness in May 2021 because we believe that everyone can benefit from high-quality, evidence-based therapy. We believe that investing in psychological care is essential to overall wellbeing. Everyone experiences struggle and pain — life can be hard! — and we want to help people cope more effectively with those challenging emotions and circumstances.

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

We are very proud of the quality of therapy that we provide to our clients. We are deeply thoughtful about our client's needs and put in the work to ensure our clients develop the skills and perspectives needed to achieve their goals and build the lives they want for themselves.

Our practice is also unique in that we can serve clients in 31 states and the District of Columbia! We are also proud to provide all of our services via teletherapy. Our teletherapy model drastically increases access in terms of who can receive high-quality, evidence-based care. And what's more, teletherapy is incredibly convenient! Our clients easily squeeze in sessions without disrupting their day or losing valuable time on a commute to a therapy office.

What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?

One of the hardest things that comes with being a business owner has been the unexpected administrative burden, especially when starting out. Starting this business has resulted in a crash course in business entity formation, accounting, banking, taxes, and legal concerns. I even have my law degree, and I very much found these administrative hurdles challenging to navigate!

What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?

  1. If you prefer not to work alone, find a partner! For me, running the practice with Suraji (who also happens to be one of my best friends!) is one of the best parts of starting my own business. While some people may thrive on their own, I absolutely love having a partner. Suraji and I put our heads together every day. We determine the next steps in growing the business, problem-solve obstacles that arise, and support each other with clinical issues. We also each have our own strengths that we bring to the practice. We validate and support each other, and I find that our collaborative approach makes me feel even more motivated, enthusiastic, and passionate about running the practice and the services we provide.
  2. Find something you love! I am deeply passionate about providing high-quality therapy and helping my clients achieve their goals. I am also passionate about growing our practice so that more and more people across the country can access this type of therapy. For me, that passion makes all the administrative work seem worth it.
  3. Put in the work. The more work you put into the business, the more you will get out of it.

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: https://www.cbtmindful.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cbtandmindfulness/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cbt_and_mindfulness/

If you like what you've read here and have your own story as a solo or small business entrepreneur that you'd like to share, then please answer these interview questions. We'd love to feature your journey on these pages.

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