Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in mental wellness but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Lena McCain, founder of Interfaith Bridge Counseling, PLLC, located in Denver, CO, USA.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
Interfaith Bridge Counseling is a low-cost, online mental health organization in Colorado. It is our mission to provide you with a brave and safer community of therapist(s) and educators serving teens, twenty-somethings, and groups of all kinds through individual counseling, teen group therapy, workshops, speaking events, and clinical supervision.
Tell us about yourself
My name is Lena McCain, and I am the Founder of Interfaith Bridge Counseling, where I continue my leadership role as the Clinical Director. I hold a Master of Arts degree in Clinical Mental Health: Mindfulness-Based Transpersonal Counseling Psychology from Naropa University.
My drive and passions lie in person-centered, liberation-based mental health, which I have spent the last 12 years studying with an emphasis on one’s exploration of personal growth, community healing, and multicultural values. My hope is that my expertise in these areas, as well as the therapeutic field, act as a reminder to our community, teens, and young adults that you are not alone in your experience of life.
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
My biggest accomplishment? That’s easy, being able to provide affordable, equitable mental health services while also building a sustainable, six-figure business for myself! It has been so empowering to be able to say that, yes, mental health is accessible for those who need it without having to sacrifice my own livelihood as a queer, disabled female entrepreneur. Sure, it wasn’t a straight shot, and there were definitely some bumps along the way, but with a little bit of creativity and planning, my dream became a reality.
What's one of the hardest things that comes with being a business owner?
Honestly? Learning the how, when, and where of delegation. There are so many smaller parts of running a business that I could do, but either I don’t have time, they aren’t my expertise, or, quite frankly, I don’t want to do them, and those are things that can be handed to someone else in the business, who’s skillset really thrives in those opportunities. And just because I don’t want to or don’t have time doesn’t mean those things are important, but it’s about where I spend my time and energy, as well as how I can keep my company relevant.
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
- It’s important to remember that there are a million different ways to start and lead a thriving business, but the only way that matters is the way you choose.
- Starting is hard, but we have to start in order to go anywhere. Your start doesn’t have to be, and to be honest, probably won’t be, perfect.
- Growth doesn’t happen overnight, and your business is unlikely to necessarily suddenly blow up overnight, either. Instead, it’s going to take a little bit of work (okay, sometimes a LOT of work) each day.
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://www.interfaithbridge.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/InterfaithBridge
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/InterfaithBridge/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/IFBC_Official
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lenahildermccain/
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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