We had the good fortune of connecting with Danielle Turner, LCSW and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Danielle, have there been any changes in how you think about work-life balance?
For me it is not work life balance, rather life work balance. I believe that life comes first and then work. We work for the life we want, not work and then have life. The average person spends more awake time at work than outside of work, that to me is a problem. Yes we all have to work and take care of our financial responsibilities, however if we are working in a career that serves us, it does not feel like work but rather a passion.

When I think of balance for me, it means working in a career that gives me a purpose and fulfills my passion. Balance for me means ensuring that I am taking the time out of my work day to do small things that allow me to reset and recharge. For instance, I make sure to take a lunch break away from my desk. I make sure that I am staying hydrated by drinking my water and getting up from my work area a few times a day to take a quick walk. I set boundaries with myself, my staff and my clients when it comes to my time and my availability. I take leave /vacation time and what I call mental health days. Those are days where I disconnect from work and spend the day doing things that I enjoy, or lounging on my sofa at home. I incorporate self-care into my work day.

There are times where balance has changed for me. When working on a new project or growing my business, it means spending more time at work. I have learned to prioritize myself and not take on more than I can handle at one time. I also take breaks in between starting new projects, this way I have time to rest and recharge before the demands of something new starts. Burnout is real therefore it’s important to take care of yourself especially as a business owner. Business owners can have that hustle mentally, however hustling does not always equate to productivity.

What should our readers know about your business?
Inner You Clinical Services LLC is a wellness mental health therapy group of well trained therapist on a mission to help others in the community of color, work through mental health challenges, so they can lives a life of flow and easy. We offer individual therapy, group therapy and workshops. We have workshops on how to avoid burnout, how to better take care of yourself and learning to let go of self-doubt, as well as other workshops on overall mental health and wellness.

As a multi-award winning therapist my goal was to have a space where individuals of color could be seen, heard, validated and understood while dealing with life stress, mental health and traumas. In 2021, I wanted to do more in regards to helping others learn the value of self-care, so I started The Purple Butterfly Podcast. It is a weekly mental health and self-care podcast streaming on all podcast platforms. I have weekly guest that discuss a variety of topics on mental health, wellness, relationships, money, parenting, healthy habits and of course self-care.

The Inner You brand is all about self-care. As a self-care advocate I work to help others learn the value of self-care and how it can positively impact their lives. I work with individuals 1:1 to help them develop a self-care plan that is both sustainable and achievable. I learned the value of self-care when going through my own mental health challenges. Without learning how to prioritize myself I would not be here today to even talk about self-care.

My business started after seeing a need in the community for more therapist of color to work with individuals of color. It was not easy to get to where I am today business-wise due to learning on my own. When I first opened my practice I did not have a coach or mentor to help me. I literally figured things out by trial and error. It was a very isolating feeling until I became uncomfortable, decided to do something to get comfortable and started asking questions, joining social media groups and eventually seeking a coach and mentor.

What sets me apart is my authenticity, what you see is what you get. I allow myself to be vulnerable with my clients and allow them to know that I am a human too, who also have life stress, struggles and have dealt with mental health challenges. I am okay with asking for help now and learning from others including my clients and staff.

During my business journey I learned a lot about myself. I learned that self-doubt was robbing me of success and I had to let that go. I learned how to research and find the right people to reach out to for help and to ask questions. I learned that I am excellent at my job and love what I do. There have been so many things throughout my business journey that I have been proud of like, my podcast The Purple Butterfly Podcast. Right now however, I am most excited about growing my practice from a solo mental health practice to a group mental health wellness practice. I have been able to hire other up and coming clinicians of color to work with our community. Being able to guide, supervise and help other clinicians learn the clinical skills needed to effectively treat mental health disorders is a great achievement for me. It one of the ways I feel I have given back to the community.

I would want the world to know that Inner You Clinical Services, LLC strives to provide the best possible mental health and self-care services, to help other achieve peace and happiness mind, body and spirit. Self-care is never selfish and it is okay to prioritize yourself, have peace of mind and clarity.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
If my best friend was coming to town we do a spa party at Verve’ Massage & Spa, which is a black owned spa. We would then go to lunch at The Russell a West Indian Restaurant. It would not be a week long trip without a drive to NYC for site seeing, being a tourist and eating. We would definitely hit up one of the casino in the state and depending on the season go to the beach in Rhode Island. I would also take my best friend on a tour of Hartford which would include a visit to the Mark Twain House, going to the Wadsworth Museum and going to see the rose garden in Elizabeth Park. And a visit would not be complete without a family and friends game night at home.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
There are so many people in my corner and who have helped me along this journey. First would be my son, Quincy who keeps me motivated and gives me great advice. My significant other Alonzo always has my back. My parents, David and Freda. My sister circle ( My’Isha, Leah, Tiffany, Candace, Sabrina, Tasha, Shantay) who are always supporting me. My mentors Tangie and Shawniel who have coached me to greatness. My business bestie Shontelle who always holds me accountable. My podcast manager Tanishka who makes sure my podcast and emails are on point.

Website: www.inneryoullc.com

Instagram: @inneryouclinicalservicesllc @danielletheselfcareadvocate

Linkedin: Danielle Turner and Inner You Clinical Services LLC

Facebook: @inneryouclinicalservicesllc

Other: https://anchor.fm/danielle-turner-lcsw

Image Credits
LMG Photography

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