We had the good fortune of connecting with Chante Woods, LCSW, MFT and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Chante, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
At the time of starting my business, I had been a social worker for about 9 years. I worked in several varying capacities and understood the role that I wanted to play in sparking change in the lives of others. I left what we call the public sector and began working in mental health private practices. Each time I found myself the only black clinical provider and I started feeling more like I was being used to reach my people. The missions, goals, and what was important for the white owned spaces I found myself in were not aligned with my own. From there I decided it was time to start my own mental health private practice.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
Phoenix Rising Counseling & Guidance is a Black owned, and BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, Persons of Color) operated Mental Health Private Practice in the City of Chicago. The practice that I have built prides itself on being a premier space for people of color and other marginalized groups to get culturally competent, trauma informed, holistic mental health care that takes into consideration the mind body and soul. We work with individuals as young as age 3 throughout the lifespan. We also provide family therapy, couples therapy, community based healing, supervision and training, and business consultation. Phoenix Rising was built from a place of sheer determination and passion for healing black and brown communities. I have a personal belief that in order to heal our communities we must first heal the mind, we must heal the spirit, we must instill faith and hope. We must teach people how to have healthy relationships, how to parent and how to handle conflict.

Starting Phoenix Rising was not easy. I don’t come from money, I have never had a business before, I’ am a black woman, a black woman from a rough neighborhood on the west side of Chicago where the sounds of gun shots occurred almost daily. I started Phoenix Rising with a business credit card, a 56 square feet office, a clinical license, some understanding of the world of insurance, 2 friends that had gone similar paths and questions answered by people on Facebook. Phoenix Rising has gone from just me and that 56 square feet office to a team of 18 mental health therapist, 3 clinical interns, 2 admin team members and a 2800 square feet office space in 3 years. There is nothing easy about entrepreneurship, especially entrepreneurship in which you are responsible for the livelihood of others. Every day is a prayer, everyday is hopefulness and every day is faith that i am making a difference in the lives of others. It is not easy but it is certainly rewarding to watch the vision that I had come to light, to watch my people be healed and feel good about themselves. It’s a true blessing.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I would say family deserves a special recognition in particular my husband and children who push me everyday.

Website: www.phoenixrisingcg.com

Instagram: Phoenixrisingcg

Image Credits
Headshots: Michelle Dokes Photography

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