Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in mental wellness but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Jennifer Chain, President & Owner of Thrive for the People, PLLC., located in Seattle, WA, USA.

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

Thrive for the People is a mental health practice located in the Ballard neighborhood of Seattle, WA. We are a passionate group of mental health therapists who believe in the power of therapy to transform lives. We offer individual and couples counseling. We love working with helpers, givers, and fixers who are ready to do the deep and transformational work to break out of their patterns of over-functioning, perfectionism, people-pleasing, burnout, anxiety, and depression. We also specialize in couples therapy, trauma and PTSD, and eating disorder treatment. We are a culturally sensitive and LGBTQ+ affirming practice.

Tell us about yourself

I was born in China and grew up in both my country of origin and Sacramento, CA. My immigrant and bi-cultural backgrounds are important parts of my intersecting identities. I identify as a highly sensitive person. Growing up across cultures with an interracial family and struggling through my own mental health concerns sparked my curiosity about psychology. The word psychology comes from the word psyche and the suffix ology, which means "the study of the soul/life." I have always felt drawn to understand people's souls and their meanings and purposes in life. Specifically, I wanted to understand how people overcame challenges, healed their pain, and ultimately transformed through adversity.

I started my private practice in 2017 after feeling burnout and overwhelmed working in a group practice. At that practice, I used to close the door after a client left and cry for a few minutes out of exhaustion before my next session. I realized that the societal expectation for helpers to give endlessly and emotional labor to be cheap or free is not sustainable or healthy. I saw high burnout and turnover rates in my colleagues.

I also saw how our society stigmatizes and devalues mental health, which then leads o exacerbated mental health issues. This inspired me to ask, "How can I improve the field of mental health?" I set out to create a practice where therapists can sustainably provide excellent service, care for ourselves, and enjoy what we do for a long time. I wanted to elevate mental health to its rightful place in our society.

The mission of this practice is to change the narrative about mental health in our society. Our therapists strive to set a good example for our clients of how to value ourselves, prioritize our needs, set consistent boundaries, and serve from a place of overflow. We want to help our clients understand and change their patterns of over-functioning, perfectionism, people-pleasing, and burnout. We want to change caring for ourselves from the last thing we do to the most essential thing that we do. Mental health is as important and valuable to invest in as education, physical health care, or the stock market because it will provide long-term and exponential returns for the individual, family, community, and society.

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

My biggest accomplishment as a business owner is to hire an amazing team of therapists and administrative staff who value each other as people and professionals. We share the same mission, vision, and values. We are deeply invested in each other's growth. We value quality over quantity of work and excellent work/life balance. We enjoy each other's company and spend time outside of work having fun and building community.

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

The hardest lesson that I am still learning is to separate my identity from the ups and downs of the business. I am very invested in the growth and success of this practice, and I feel responsible for the livelihood of my staff. However, I am also learning that the business will have ups and downs, peaceful times, and chaos. I have learned that challenges will ebb and flow, and I am at my best when I can detach my goodness, worthiness, or competence from the outcomes.

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

  1. Identify the purpose and the soul of your business. I have found that having a strong purpose and mission for my practice has grounded and centered me during the toughest times. Knowing that my practice has a greater purpose and it is a vehicle for making the world a better place keeps me motivated and determined.
  2. Continue to learn about business best practices. I have learned that businesses are 99% the same. The 1% is the different product or service that a business sells. 99% of a business is very predictable. It is made up of best practices that anyone can learn to master and implement. I learned that I did not have to reinvent the wheel but simply follow the road map laid out by successful business owners who came before me.
  3. Find your cheerleaders. Business ownership has brought out a lot of intense emotions in me. I have leaned heavily on my community of supporters and cheerleaders to get me through times of doubt, fear, and scarcity.

Is there anything else you'd like to share?

I see business ownership as an incredible opportunity to learn more about myself, to stretch and grow in ways that I could not have imagined. It has made me a better person and a better leader. I have found a community of other smart, talented, and audacious women of color business owners who inspire me every day.

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: https://www.thriveforthepeople.com/
Facebook: https://bit.ly/3uWupVa
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/thrive-for-the-people-pllc/

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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