Meet Chase Williams

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

Hi Chase, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
It was a gradual process. I realized in my early 20s that I wanted to become a therapist, but at the time, I wasn’t thinking at all about the business side of things — my focus was purely on learning how to be an effective counselor and provide meaningful therapy.

It wasn’t until my master’s program and clinical training that I became more aware of the wide range of settings therapists can work in — private practice, community mental health centers, residential treatment programs, rehab facilities, and more. That exposure helped me think more intentionally about the kind of environment I would fit best in.

Ultimately I landed on private practice and started an internship that led into my first job providing therapy. Over time, I noticed the limitations of both my peers’ and my own settings — high caseloads, rigid structures, and systems that often left both clients and clinicians feeling burned out. Starting my own business became a way to create something different. It gives me the freedom to shape my practice in a way that truly supports clients, without unnecessary barriers, and it also gives me the flexibility to take care of myself and build a sustainable career. That balance helps me show up more fully and authentically for the people I work with.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
Something I’m extremely proud of is the journey that got me here. It was extremely challenging, and still is. Periods of my childhood, adolescence, and young adulthood were heavily impacted by my own mental health and the mental health of those close to me. This led to inconsistencies academically; I was in and out of undergrad with no idea what I would ever make of my life professionally. It was the recovery from those darker times in my life that my success is built on. I’ve learned to own my challenging past with honor. I was worried that working in the mental health field it would be a weakness to have struggled with so much of it myself. It turns out, my struggles in life have turned into some of my biggest strengths.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Breakfast at Mommas Boy. Lunch at Taqueria Del Sol. And dinner at The Last Resort. There are so many good places to eat in Athens, but this is where I’d start. Creature Comforts is ideal for a good hang and a drink.
I love being outside so we’d probably go float kayaks down the Broad River, or go hike around Sandy Creek Nature Preserve, or visit the Georgia Botanical Garden,

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Hate to give the same usual answer… but my shoutout has to go to my wife and my family. There have been so many different friends and colleagues that have been in my corner and supported my efforts, so i have to mention them. Ultimately, though, I can say confidently that I would not have been successful in this venture without the overwhelming love and support I’ve received from my wife, my parents, and my siblings. They have each had their own specific roles in this story, and I’m grateful for each and every one of them.

Other: https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/therapists/chase-williams-athens-ga/1301586