Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in mental wellness but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Erin Pritchard, Owner of Sea Glass Counseling and Consultation, located in Dublin, OH, USA.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
Sea Glass is a boutique, EMDR therapy practice providing specialized individual and couples therapy for adults seeking shame-free living and abundant life. Our highly-trained therapists are trauma-informed and expertly equipped to help individuals and couples navigate the complexities of trauma, sexuality, relationships, and faith. We offer EMDR Intensives and Christian sex therapy, specializing in the treatment of anxiety and stress, grief and loss, life transitions, low self-esteem, difficulty setting boundaries, sexual trauma, relational trauma, spiritual trauma, purity culture recovery, betrayal trauma, childhood emotional neglect, sex and relationship concerns, female genitopelvic pain disorders, vaginismus, difficulty with orgasm, emotional intimacy, and mind/body integration.
Tell us about yourself
I shifted from a career in the outdoor industry/nonprofit sphere and became a trauma therapist because I felt called to empower other people to heal from trauma and rebuild their lives. I'd long known I wanted to have a private practice called "Sea Glass." The name is an ode to my love for the outdoors, my hobby of finding sea glass on vacations, and the healing power of nature. I think the imagery of how sea glass forms is a beautiful metaphor for what it's like to experience and heal from trauma. I started Sea Glass Counseling ad Consultation in 2020 while still working full-time as a counselor at a hospital trauma therapy clinic. At the time, starting a solo private practice was part of my "5-year plan" that the pandemic bumped up much sooner than expected. The initial purpose was to use the power of virtual healthcare to make EMDR therapy accessible to adults all over Ohio so that quality trauma treatment was not limited to a location-specific, in-person therapeutic setting.
As time has gone on, Sea Glass has grown from a part-time, one-woman operation to a full-time, trauma-focused group practice that specializes in Christian sex therapy as well as trauma therapy. I love that Sea Glass therapists are highly trained and skilled at their craft. I love that we're able to use EMDR therapy to help clients heal from the incredible pain and impact of trauma. I love that we're helping to change the narrative around sex for Christians and help people build healthier relationships, increase intimacy, and improve sexual well-being.
I'm driven by two symbiotic goals: to continue bringing the highest quality of personalized, trauma-focused care to our clients and to continue to shape Sea Glass into a sustainable business that supports therapists in doing excellent clinical work.
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
Transitioning from solo practice to group practice, evolving the services my practice offers to expand beyond the traditional therapy model, and exceeding my financial goals have been my proudest moments as an entrepreneur.
What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?
I don't love taking risks, and there is a fair amount of risk involved in business ownership.
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
- "Done is better than perfect." It's so easy to get caught up in perfectionism and stall on getting started (let alone finishing!) under the guise of doing things perfectly.
- Seek legal and ethical advice early on and often. This sounds so basic, but I know lots of business owners, especially in my field, who haven't taken simple steps like consulting with an attorney to review their paperwork. It may be more work upfront and costly to cross your t's and dot your i's, but it benefits your business, yourself, and your clients to have business practices that are legally and ethically sound.
- Treat your clients how you want to be treated. Providing excellent customer care goes a long way.
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://www.seaglassohio.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/seaglassohio
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/seaglassohio/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/seaglassohio
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/seaglassohio/
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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