Meet Richelle Smallwood | Licensed Therapist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Richelle Smallwood and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Richelle, how do you think about risk?
The biggest risk that I’ve ever taken was leaving my full-time job as a psychotherapist working with the state to pursue my private practice full-time. It was truly a leap of faith but not only that it was a message to myself that my mental health and my Well-being were more important then a job title or a position. This leap of faith not only taught me to Bet on myself but to choose myself. I think that is a message that can be carried in all situations. Whether you are in a relationship, a job or any situation that is requiring you to sacrifice yourself, you should always choose you. That’s what my journey has been about. My journey has been about self-love self-esteem and self-confidence. That is a message that I not only want to spread to others but a message that I want to authentically live. Last year when I took the risk of leaving my full-time job it was a message to myself that I was enough. I was enough to have a dream and to make that dream come true

What should our readers know about your business?
I own a private practice called providential care: Center for mental wellness. The thing that I am most proud of as it relates to my business is the self-esteem program for young girls that I create it. My self-esteem program it’s called lost and found: journey to self discovery. My self-esteem program started out as a class assignment in 2011. I later turn this class assignment into a children’s book,A self-esteem workbook, and a nine session self-esteem program. On July 31 this year I launched my program and shared it with the community. Self-esteem is important to me because as an adolescent I struggle with self-confidence and self-esteem issues. It has taken me years to address the issues that I struggled with as a child. As a result of my own experience with self-esteem issues I want it to turn this into a purpose. My purpose is to help young girls who struggle with self-esteem issues to address those issues now so that they can grow into powerful, influential, and confident women.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I am a self-proclaimed introvert so my idea of a great girls weekend or weekend out with consist of small intimate settings where are my friends and I can really connect and catch up on the happenings in each others lives. Some of the places that I enjoy going or to the spa. I can spend an entire day and a day spa relaxing and tranquility lounge. Also many of my friends are foodies so we love trying new cuisine so we are always on board for a unique dining experience. I also love a little bit of adventure and I’m a little bit competitive so escape rooms and mazes are activities that I really enjoy. They are incredibly fun and great team building activities. I’m not a fan of large crowds but definitely a fan of big fun.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
There are several people who have aided in my success and who have been a part of my cheering section. However my mother Rita Smallwood has been the most influential. There are many aspects of being an entrepreneur that most people won’t discuss. We live in a time where glow ups and winning seasons are all that people would like to reveal. However, it was in those dark seasons or those the scary moments that my mother was a constant reminder why I started and she constantly reminded me to keep the faith. She would often say “baby girl if you don’t have faith, I have enough for the both of us.” Her prayers, encouraging words and physically being there with me in the trenches to build my business have aided in my success and ability to keep moving forward. My mother is a powerhouse of a woman. She has been able to withstand a lot of adversity in her life and she does it all with poise and Grace. Observing how she handles life’s obstacles and setbacks has inspired me to strive for her level of resilience. My drive, ambition and strength are a product of what she instilled in me. My mother has always been a huge advocate for being educated and striving for greater. I feel blessed and fortunate to have her as a role model and apart of my tribe.

Website: www.myprovidentialcare.com

Instagram: https://instagram.com/providential_care_pllc?utm_medium=copy_link

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/richelle-smallwood-b96ab11b4

Facebook: @pcarecmw

Image Credits
Photographer: Raysean Waddell