Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in health and wellness but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Emily Sharp, Owner of NY Art Therapy, located in Brooklyn, NY, USA.

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

I’m a Licensed, Board-certified Art Therapist and Telemental Health Provider in private practice, working with residents of NY State and English speakers living abroad. I specialize in working with adults struggling with anxiety of all kinds, life transitions/adjustments, relationship issues, low mood, and those looking to build confidence, set effective boundaries, manage to overwhelm, and take action to make noticeable improvements in their lives.

At NY Art Therapy, I offer traditional talk therapy and other therapeutic modalities, such as Art Therapy and yoga sessions. When people are considering Art Therapy, I like to ask them - could you benefit from a different way of expressing yourself? Or does talking about it sometimes not feel like enough?

Art Therapy is a way for clients to express themselves, work through subconscious blocks, and see things from a new perspective. Through creating art in a therapeutic relationship, clients can identify themes that may be affecting their thoughts, emotions, behaviors, affinities, and identity. Over the past 10+ years of my work as a therapist in private practice, I’ve seen so many clients change their lives in meaningful ways - beyond what they first thought possible. It’s a collaborative process, and it’s an honor for me to get to do this work.

Tell us about yourself

In addition to being a professional yoga instructor, I am also an art therapist. Creating innovative routines, finding methods to express myself, and adopting regular yoga and meditation practices have all greatly benefited me in my personal life. My art is greatly inspired by this.

Outside of work, I’m an extensive traveler with an endless curiosity for what’s out there in this big wide world - exploring new places, trying fresh foods, reading unlimited books, seeing as much art as I can, spending time in the ocean, and looking for small moments of creativity in every day. I’ve started to tell my story of being a virtual therapist who is away on Instagram (@awaytherapy), and this has been a fun process of sharing more.

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

Something I’m proud of is my clients’ successes. This may sound cheesy, but I am seriously rooting for you as your therapist! Nothing makes me happier than helping people break free from negative patterns, find more peace and acceptance and celebrate when they live lives they love. I genuinely believe I have the best job in the world. I’m recently proud of how I’ve adapted my business to be entirely virtual.

There were some ups and downs in the process, but through this change, I could do an inventory of how I wanted to restructure my life and business - a priority check-in, more or less. The decision to remain virtual seemed like an obvious choice, where my clients no longer needed to worry about commutes for office visits. We continue to be able to meet wherever they are most comfortable.

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

One tricky thing about being a solo business owner is learning to differentiate between asking for advice from others and when to keep quiet about your ideas and fully let your intuition guide you. Some projects and ideas can fizzle out when talked about before taking action. It is also, recognizing that the to-do list will never really be finished.

Allow yourself to find rhythms that work for you, even when they might not make sense to others. This requires solid boundaries and setting practical goals to align with your values and ambitions - two essentials for running a successful business. This is something I am constantly considering personally and something I work closely with clients on.

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

  1. If you aren’t sure it’s what you want to do forever, take the first step today. Sometimes we need to figure it out while living through it. It’s the living through it - the successes and failures - where we learn the most impacting lessons.
  2. Seek mentorship from people who have been there. Community is so essential for solo entrepreneurs. Ask a million questions about things that apply to your specific practice. This often looks like licensure, legal, logistical, financial, and supervision considerations for therapists.
  3. Practice setting boundaries to protect your time and energy. Saying no can be an act of self-care.

Is there anything else you'd like to share?

I have a therapy tip that I think applies to running your own business:

Emotions are not facts, and you don’t have to act on them. The more you perform consistently with your emotions, the stronger those emotions become. Remember this in times of stress, overwhelm, procrastination, or self-doubt, when it feels like the to-do list is never-ending and the roadblocks keep coming. You can act the way you want to feel and take small meaningful steps to change not only how you’re feeling but also the state of how your business is running.

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: https://www.nyarttherapy.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/awaytherapy/

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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