Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in health and wellness but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Lorena Ramos, Founder of She is Strong and Mindful, located in Chicago, IL, USA.

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

I'm a licensed clinical social worker in Illinois, founder and therapist at She is Strong and Mindful, a Chicago-based psychotherapy practice that provides individual therapy and emotional coaching to women. I strive to support and encourage women with mental and emotional wellness who often find themselves overwhelmed by the challenges and transitions they encounter.

My practice has been providing bilingual services for four years now, and it has been one of my biggest satisfaction in life to be able to offer a diverse, trauma-informed, and safe healing space that is designed to meet the needs and celebrate the uniqueness of all women.

Tell us about yourself

All women, while already resilient and self-aware, sometimes need the right support to help them unveil their inner strengths, skills, and successful selves. The name SHE IS STRONG AND MINDFUL was inspired by all and each of these women. Before creating She is Strong and Mindful, I worked in the non-profit world for approximately 6 years and it was during these years that I became more aware of the limited mental health services available to people, specifically women of color. My desire to create a place where women, in general, could feel supported and safe became my mission, and in 2018 after a year of brainstorming and saving some money I was able to make it a reality.

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

Being a business owner comes with a lot of responsibilities but also satisfaction. I have been featured on sites like the Huff Post, Bustle, and Pop Sugar. I also did some collaborations with other professionals regarding conversations about Healthy relationships, Self-care, Domestic Violence, and raising awareness about mental health. It's wonderful to use She is Strong and Mindful's Instagram account as a tool to inspire and connect with others while also decreasing the stigma surrounding mental health services.

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

Being a business owner has allowed me to step out of my comfort zone and be open to learning non-clinical skills, such as budgeting and administrative stuff. Making time for yourself could be challenging when also growing a business and having the client's that count on you. A hard thing for me is to plan vacation time; whenever I want to plan a trip, I need to be very intentional about the time, as well as make sure that someone will be available to my clients in case they need to do a check-in or talk to someone during my time off. Certainly, being your own boss also means learning how to take care of yourself, I have been learning that just like my clients I need to prioritize myself, my needs, and my health.

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

  1. Be gentle with yourself during this process, remember that you are doing something new and that it is normal to feel scared about it. Validating your emotions and doing your best to recognize small triumphs is really helpful during this journey. Small triumphs are part of the bigger picture, it's important to celebrate them/acknowledge them.
  2. Take time to research for resources and take advantage of them. There are many resources out there like free mentoring sessions, workshops, and networking events for small business owners. The more you learn about them, the more confident and ready you will feel to take the next step. Don't be afraid to ask questions! You will be surprised at how many people really want to help you and are willing to invest their time in you
  3. Social media can be of big help when promoting your business. Don't be afraid to use it! I decided to only use one so I don't get overwhelmed. Instagram has been great for me, I have been able to connect with other psychotherapists and also promote my practice by putting my website in my profile description.

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: https://www.sheisstrongandmindful.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SheisStrongandMindful/
Instagram: https://bit.ly/3P16ueT
LinkedIn: https://bit.ly/3uorlRA

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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