Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in health and wellness but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Mika Smith, Co-Owner of Dallas Therapeutic Services, located in Irving, TX, USA.

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

I co-own Dallas Therapeutic Services, along with my business partners, Dr. Apree Clicque and Zakia Inyang. DTS is a private psychotherapy and psychological testing practice based in Las Colinas. We provide in-person and virtual individual, couples, family, and group therapy to children, adolescents, and adults. Our team includes 16 licensed therapists with varying areas of specialty. We also provide ADHD, Autism, IQ, and personality testing on site. We are proud to be a women-owned small business and provide high-quality mental health care to various clients.

Tell us about yourself

I'm a licensed clinical social worker practicing primarily individual psychotherapy with a specialty in treating PTSD, OCD, and members of the LGBTQ+ community with a passion for those in transition. I've been working in mental health for almost ten years, starting out in an inpatient psychiatric hospital and working in various levels of care until taking the leap to full-time private practice in 2019. My business partner Apree was the one who first inspired me to join her and Zakia in business ownership. She can be very persuasive when she has a goal in mind. That confidence, along with Zakia's cool-headedness, struck the perfect balance for me. I absolutely love what I do. Witnessing the change in my clients is incredibly fulfilling and inspiring, and running a small business is challenging and empowering.

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

I am incredibly proud of our growth. We started in 2019 with four therapists, and we now have 16. More therapists translate to more clients receiving high-quality mental health care. I'm passionate about mental health, and I love that I can connect the positive growth of our business with a positive community impact. I'm especially proud of our (and our stellar therapists') ability to adapt to and continue providing much-needed therapy to our clients during the early days of the pandemic.

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

It's sometimes difficult to truly feel like you get a day off. So much work goes on behind the scenes, particularly as mental health professionals learn the ins and outs of business ownership, taxes, employment laws, regulations, etc. Fortunately, I have an amazingly supportive partner who understands my commitment and passion for DTS. She is flexible and forgiving of my hectic schedule, random phone calls, frequent late night and early morning emails, and hours of self-study I do at home. Maintaining a functional work-life balance can be challenging when building and growing a business, but it is so worth it!

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

  1. Don't quit your day job. I continued working a salaried corporate job while we were building DTS. Yes, I worked more hours, but it was temporary and afforded me the financial stability I needed to make the transition to ownership successful.
  2. Maintain professional connections. At DTS, we built a client base very quickly because of the strength of the professional connections we maintained throughout our years working in other aspects of mental health - from psychiatrists to hospitals to treatment centers. We received referrals because we each had already established ourselves in the field.
  3. Choose partners who challenge you. I doubt I'd be as successful in business without the dynamics of the DTS leadership team. Apree, Zakia, and I have different personalities and leadership styles and thus bring different strengths to the business. I hate marketing, but they shine in that aspect. They hate numbers, but I love learning new ways of analyzing our business finances. Plus, I find that success feels even better when shared.

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: https://www.dallastherapeutic.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Dallastherapeutic
Instagram: https://bit.ly/3yzuXkK
LinkedIn: https://bit.ly/3NR6E7K

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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