Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in health and wellness but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Kelly Chappuis, Owner of Houston Feel Good Therapy, located in Houston, TX, USA.

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

Houston Feel Good Therapy is an office of licensed clinicians who help clients with their emotional and mental health struggles. We see kids, teens, young adults, and adults who are seeking support, tools, and guidance in their lives.

Tell us about yourself

I enjoy connecting with people and love what I do, so moving into my own practice felt like a natural progression that gave me the opportunity to truly provide my clients with the warm, personalized experience that I have always wanted to provide in therapy. Seeing people be vulnerable, brave, and show up for themselves for an hour is inspiring and motivates me to work hard with them
my work feels meaningful, and being a part of people's lives gives my life meaning.

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

It was important to me when I started my own practice to create a welcoming space where clients felt connected to their therapist in and out of session, felt heard, accepted, and respected by their therapist, and most of all, the therapist and client both regarded their therapeutic relationship as valuable and important. I push myself and the clinicians in practice to uphold these values, and I think that we are doing a pretty good job.:)

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

I think everyone struggles with their worthiness, and I am human in this too. When I wrestle with the "am I good enough" thoughts and or some imposter syndrome, I try to remind myself of all of the tools and coping skills that my clients are so brave to practice with me and engage in my own self-care and thought reframing. Being a business owner is rewarding, empowering, and exciting, but it has taken some adjusting that I practice managing everyday growing pains.
I am always learning.:)

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

  1. Believe in yourself- positive affirmations are key. When you think that you can do it, other people will, too, so make sure that you are mindful of the conversations that you are having with yourself about what you are doing to achieve your goals and also praising yourself along the way when you feel energized and passionate, it can be inspiring for others and can catch their attention, so put yourself in situations and around people that feed this side of you.
  2. Set realistic expectations/know your values- make specific goals and break them down into small manageable pieces that actually make sense for what you want to achieve. Identify what you want your business to feel like, what you want to feel like, and what success/satisfaction feels like, then make sure that those values are in line with the realistic expectations that you have set so that you are staying true to your vision but also being honest with what is possible.
  3. Start small/conservative and build- make as many connections in your field as you can. People feel comfortable with people that they can trust, so building relationships is a small way to start advertising for a business and showing people what you can do word of mouth and then building up to bigger financial investments has worked for us: adding one office and clinician at a time instead of buying a huge space, or reaching out to people that we know and who are around us before we pay for advertising or marketing help.

Is there anything else you'd like to share?

Being my own boss was the best decision I have ever made. No one will work harder for your business to succeed than you. Being able to build a practice that reflects my values and what I feel is best clinically helps me deliver the care that I have always yearned for in other practices and organizations. It fuels my passion for serving my brave clients and the talented clinicians that I work alongside.

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: https://www.houstonfeelgoodtherapy.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/houfeelgoodtherapy/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/houstonfeelgoodtherapy/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kellychappuishoufeelgoodtherapy/

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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