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

Hi Heather, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
Honestly, I didn’t have a conscious thought process but it was more unconscious. I always said I would work for someone for the rest of my life so I could have job security. I went into the Mental Health field because I wanted to help my community but one of the professors in my Master’s program said I could never have my own private practice because I did not have a doctorate…but God had other plans.

I started Shrink Me Not in 2016 strictly as a consulting firm because of my love of speaking with organizations on their mental health practices. The organizations found the information I shared helpful and always asked if they could see me directly and refer people to me for individual therapy. In 2018, after two years of declining clients I opened the clinical side of Shrink Me Not. A few months after opening I added my first clinician and we’ve continued to add additional clinicians. I wanted job security so I continued to work my full time job while working part time in my practice. In 2021, I realized that I could do more work to heal my community if I devoted all of my time to my business so in 2022 I quit my full time school counseling job and went full time in my business. So, not only did I disprove what that professor told me in my Master’s program about having my own practice, I went against my fears and bet on myself and helping the community in the process!

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?
My business is called Shrink Me Not. We are a group private counseling practice that specializes in helping people of color work through the twists and turns of life. I am really proud that not only are we a leading group private practice in the DC, Maryland, Virginia area, but our entire staff (clinicians and admin) are people of color! I understand the difficulty it takes to open up and really work hard to provide a safe and culturally responsive environment for our potential clients and clients to do so. We have served over 250 clients, have trained over 10 pre-licensed clinicians in our 6 year history.

Building Shrink Me Not wasn’t easy. Aside from building a business while working a full time job, I am particular with the clinicians and the admin staff that I hire. Ensuring that the people that work at Shrink Me Not has the same drive to help the community is not an easy feat and has come with a few trial and errors. However, the first clinician that was hired six years ago, still works with Shrink Me Not and the other staff have been with Shrink Me Not more than two years. In addition, as the CEO all complaints and kudos come to me. I have gotten nothing but kudos for all of the Shrink Me Not staff, including the admins. I truly believe taking my time with expanding helped me to make the best hiring decisions.

I want the world to know that everyone at Shrink Me Not is committed to walking with each client on their journey. Recently We have placed an emphasis on helping businesses and corporations with employee relations. We have unique insights on how work environments impact employees because we hear all about it in the therapy room. We want to help to improve work environments without busting the bottom line.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
The DMV area is unique in that it offers so many cultural things to do. I’m HUGE on self-care so let me hip you to my self-care outings…and you can do them solo!

Monday: We are going to start in Maryland. The National Harbor has everything you need! You can swing by the MGM to catch a show, watch the game, take in the art or gamble. Not interested in those things, the National Harbor has sip and painting (Muse), photography/developing (Sip & Develop), an over the river Ferris Wheel and all of the restaurants you could ever want!

Tuesday: The National Museum of African American Culture is a MUST. You start at the bottom and go to the top. I will warn you that you will have all kinds of heavy feelings while in there. It took me 3 separate trips to see the entire museum because African American Culture is THAT impactful. After your trip, plan to head to Guapos in Arlington for Taco Tuesday and Margaritas. After the heaviness of the NMAAC, you’re gonna need it.

Wednesday: Enjoy U Street, Howard University, H Street & Anacostia Art Center. Let’s marinate in the DC culture! Getting Ben’s Chili Bowl is mandatory but I LOVE Ben’s Next Door for happy hour/dinner. U street, specifically down 14th has a lot of great places to dip into and stores to grab mementos. Immerse yourself in some Go-Go while you’re at it!

Thursday: Visit the White House and a few of the Embassies if you can! If you come during May, they have a weekend called Around The World Embassy Tour where they open all of the Embassies and you can learn more about the particular culture. They also have food specific tastings too!!! Not here during May, no worries, do a walking tour of the monuments or do a night double decker bus tour. The monuments at night are beautiful! They are lit up to perfection.

Friday: You can either walk over the Woodrow Wilson Bridge (it can get a bit crowded on Saturday mornings but Friday’s it’s a breeze) or you can catch an easy or difficult hike at Great Falls Park in Northern Virginia.

Saturday: Hit the exercise class on the National Harbor, head back home to get dressed for a day of fun! Hop on a water taxi at the Wharf and head to Brunch in Georgetown (I like Sequoia) then hop back on a water taxi back at the Wharf. When you get off the water taxi you can hang out at the Wharf for a bit. Then head to the W for drinks and/or dinner at The W on the The Vue Rooftop. The view is breathtaking at sunset!

Sunday: Hit 8am service at Zion Church then head to Yoga on the National Mall and then brunch…because brunch is life! Want to get out of the DMV, take a 45 min trip up the Beltway to Baltimore for brunch (the drive up is full of beauty). The Bmore vibe is different than the DMV! Don’t want to brunch again, no worries, hit up a (or a few) Virginia Wineries (Delaplane Cellars is minority owned and Blue Mountain has live music).

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I have two shout outs:

The first are the clinicians that work with me. The things that clinicians have to put aside so they can work with the client free from distractions, are beyond what anyone would think. I try to be really in tune to what my clinicians need to be successful in life and in business with Shrink Me Not. They have rocked with Shrink Me Not, and me for as long as they have and I’m thankful for their honest conversations and AMAZING counseling skills!

The next shout out is for my clients! My clients are smart, successful, strong women, men and kids of color who are striving to live a life that is authentic to them. I can’t call names due to HIPAA regulations, but it takes a lot to be totally vulnerable to a stranger in hopes that the stranger can help you learn to live the life you want to live and I’m honored to walk along side them on this leg of their life journey. My clients are the real MVP’s!!!

Website: www.ShrinkMeNot.com. www.HeatherCain.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shrinke_not/ https://www.instagram.com/therealheathercain/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/heather-m-cain

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ShrinkMeNot

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