Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in mental wellness but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Benjamin Huempfner, Owner of Rocky Front Counseling Services, LLC., located in Great Falls, MT, USA.

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

We are a mental health counseling practice with eight counselors, a nurse practitioner, and an excellent office manager. We serve our community of all ages, and each counselor covers a variety of populations. We take care to treat everyone with the respect and dignity that they deserve and work hard to meet them where they are at in their personal growth.

Tell us about yourself

I was always interested in psychology and mental health, and though I never planned on becoming a counselor or therapist, my schooling interests in college sort of led me to the counseling path. I had some great early supervisors, and after gaining my licensure hours and working a few years for large agencies and hospitals, I decided to move on. I wanted to provide care in a way that I thought was ethical, without the pressure to meet a certain number of hours or to use certain assessments or models. I wanted to have the flexibility to see clients I felt I could help the best and adapt to their needs. I came from a family with a business background and was fortunate to have plentiful support and advice to make the leap. Sacrificing a consistent and known income for something potentially volatile and unknown was scary, but I figured the worst that could happen was that it wouldn't work out, and I would be able to find another job. It helps that I am passionate about mental health counseling, and I believe that I am good at it. I often tell others that I am privileged in what I do because I get to practice and think about healthy thought patterns, healthy relationships, and healthy communication skills all day. I am motivated to learn and continue what I do because I believe in it for myself and know it is helpful for others.

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

The biggest accomplishment is the team that surrounds me. I am proud of the culture we have of respect, work ethic, and support. I never hear any complaints about other team members, and I think we have an amazing of people that demonstrate compassion, care, and expertise at a high level while also recognizing the importance of life outside of work. I often get feedback from our team that they most enjoy our laid-back work environment and the support that everyone gives each other.

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

The administrative tasks (payroll, bills, etc.) often pull me away from what got me into this field in the first place. I have to be mindful of where I spend my time and be sure that I am continuing to engage with learning in the mental health field. Beyond that, I find that I also have to be mindful of when to set work aside and be with family or friends or just myself.

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

  1. Recognize the value in others and build a good team around you. The people around you are what make things work.
  2. Make time to enjoy life while you spend time on your business. Build a model where you enjoy your day-to-day.
  3. Don't be afraid to move on from your original model or even team members that are not working out. Sometimes we need to make changes to continue healthy, positive growth.

Is there anything else you'd like to share?

I cannot stress enough how important it is to recognize what culture you want in the workplace and emulate that to others. If you want respect in the workplace, treat others with respect and be sure to respond to others that are not demonstrating that. If you want work ethic, you need to demonstrate that as well. If you want professionalism, you need to be professional. Your culture in your workplace starts with you.

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: http://rockyfrontcounseling.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100054889144283

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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