Discover Fresh Hope in Your Life! - Fresh Hope Counselling
Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in mental health care but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Beth Murray, owner of Fresh Hope Counselling Ltd., located in Edmonton, AB, Canada.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
Fresh Hope Counselling exists to bring help, hope, and healing into the lives of our clients. We have a highly trained staff of eight Therapists and one Registered Dietitian (to help our eating disorder clients make peace with food). We specialize in the outpatient treatment of eating disorders, Christian/faith-based counselling, mood disorders including anxiety and depression, trauma in all its forms, couples counselling and relationship building, recovery from addiction and abuse, emotional regulation, and family counselling.
Our experienced, skilled team is composed of life-long learners who are committed to applying new skills and research to the needs of each client. Our clients come from all walks of life, and we are committed to journeying with them through crises, grief, loss, life transitions, mental health challenges, and tragedies. We aim to provide a safe and welcoming space for each client to be heard, seen, and valued.
Tell us about yourself
I did not have a childhood dream of becoming a psychologist! I did not line my Barbies up on the couch and ask them how they were feeling. In fact, I believe my grade five aspiration was to become a country singer or a teacher. But in 1993, my world fell apart, and I became a single parent. I sought to find accessible counselling that was helpful and effective but only found long waiting lists and services that were lacking. During that time, I felt a strong desire to fill this need and become a Counsellor. Little did I know that I would end up becoming a Registered Psychologist and running a multi-site Mental Health Counselling Clinic.
Seeing clients discover freedom and healing is my jam! There is something deeply satisfying and humbling to be able to witness the healing journey of a client as they move from despair and blockage to hope and freedom.
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
That's a hard one! I just wanted to help people, and as I did that, I saw something else that I wanted to do. I wished someone would have given me an opportunity to come alongside them and not have to build a private practice all by myself. Private practice can be isolating. My husband Glenn and I saw an opportunity and decided that we also wanted to help other therapists. Most therapists are gifted in counselling and care, not building, marketing, billing, and running a successful business. We decided that we could build a business that would not just help our clients but help therapists to do the work that they are most cut out to do.
My previous work experience in Radio Copywriting, Marketing, and Communications lend itself to the task of business promotion and marketing while my husband and our administrative team take care of the rest. Building an effective team of the best counsellors/therapists is a dream come true! We have been very selective in choosing each of our therapists, only bringing on those we would consider going to ourselves. In other words, if I wouldn't trust that therapist with my own mental health care, I won't bring them on board at Fresh Hope.
What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?
I'd have to say that one of the hardest things about being a business owner (self-employed) is not having some of the perks and freedoms of an employee with benefits like paid vacation time and a pension. Similarly, there are perks and freedoms like adjusting my schedule to meet the changing needs of my family and investing my money in the retirement options I select. It takes hard work and sacrifice to guide a growing business through its growing pains, but the results are beautiful and worthwhile. Surfing those waves of growth can be daunting and draining. When do you hire? Can you afford to fill that position yet? How do you bend but not break when you are stretched in that in-between place of having needs but not enough resources?
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
- Know yourself and what you are capable of, then lean one step further into possibility and take a well-calculated risk. Believe in yourself and your ability to succeed. Determine to conduct your business with integrity. A good reputation is priceless.
- Know your market and reach out to promote your services. Be open to opportunities to volunteer your professional services. Speaking engagements, training, Zoom meetings, and staff meetings where you can show potential clients who you are and what you are good at are excellent ways to get known in the community and contribute. Donating your time and services will lead to income as you strategically build your business.
- Choose a specialization. Find your niche and build on it. I became an Eating Disorders Specialist after working inpatient for a number of years, followed by advanced training/courses and workshops. I did what was necessary to become an expert in an area of need. Combine your passion with your profession.
Is there anything else you'd like to share?
As a business owner, it's easy to blur the lines and bring work into your home life. In fact, it's almost impossible not to! Boundaries and balance are essential for longevity. Learn how to compartmentalize and do good self-care. Find things that help you enforce your own structure to delineate between business and personal life.
For example, if you have a home office, keep your work 'stuff' in that room and go there if you need to do something for work. Make a clear cut-off to when work is over — it's quitting time! Now it's time for personal and family life. If you aren't fuelled up and running well, you aren't going to have much to offer your clients.
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://freshhope.ca/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/freshhope.ca
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the_beth_psychologist/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/beth-murray-r-psych-45230b61/
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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