Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in health and wellness but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Leslie Celis, Owner of Dr. Leslie Celis, located in Burbank, CA, USA.

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

My individual psychotherapy practice is a space where I develop healing relationships with folx who struggle to maintain a trusting connection with themselves due to stress, trauma, depression, or anxieties.

With my support, developing a trusting connected relationship with oneself can promote a balanced mood, help keep insecurities to a minimum and help folx identify their needs to inform healthier decisions.

In the field of mental health, it is quite hard to find psychologists of color, so the folx that I typically service look to me for therapy because I am Queer or because I am Latinx or both.

Tell us about yourself

I am a first-generation, bilingual, queer, Latinx Los Angeles native. If I may be honest, I never envisioned myself in private practice. I always thought it was a business choice that I would make later on in my career. I always thought that I had to be tied to an agency or organization to do good community work, and I found out pretty quickly that my career trajectory was going to look different the deeper I ventured into the field.

I have had to make some tough choices, leave jobs, turn down jobs, and through this process, I have been able to find my voice, do the work that I want to do, and protect my own health at the same time. We live in a society that overworks folx and places a large value on what we can produce.

The process of acknowledging my own humanity, setting boundaries, and listening to my body, is the juncture at which I founded my business, have had enough freedom and energy to create meaningful content on social media, and co-create My Therapist Friends, a podcast centered around health and wellness for BIPOC folx. My motivation comes from living a life that is aligned with my values.

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

Honestly, people trust me with their stories. It's always such an honor, and I think it's a big accomplishment when someone decides to meet with me again. I take pride in my ability to retain therapeutic relationships. This is helpful to the business, of course, but it also affirms on a personal level that I am doing meaningful work.

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

Managing energy and different roles can be a challenge, especially if you are running the business solo. If you don't have admin support, you really are a person of many trades. You learn a lot, but you also have to know when to switch those hats when needed (i.e., knowing when to be a therapist, a money collector, a marketer, a website designer, etc.).

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

  1. Use resources: I can't tell you how many times I consulted the internet looking for free information about starting a business. I found plenty of things out there, and it was so so helpful. Don't try to reinvent the wheel or go into starting something without any sense of direction when there are people out there who are willing to provide some guidance.
  2. Lean on community support: I did a lot of work myself to get my business running, but I wouldn't be here if it wasn't for the people in my corner who cheered me on. We need each other to connect, create and sustain.
  3. Take it one day at a time: Setting long-term goals are important, but short-term goals are equally as important. Doing this can help you stay grounded and especially when you are having doubts.

Is there anything else you'd like to share?

My ability to stand where I am today, to have the privileges that I do, thanks to the choices and sacrifices that my ancestors and respective BIPOC kin have made. I am not "self-made," I am community made. You're not alone out there.

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: https://www.drlesliecelis.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/drlesliecelis/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drlesliecelis/
Podcast: https://mytherapistfriends.buzzsprout.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/leslie-celis-psy-d-88a492a6/

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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