Meet Nicole Small: CEO & Therapist

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

Hi Nicole, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
I started Inspired Journeys counseling and consultation because I noticed a need in my community for culturally competent and representative mental health services. As a counseling student, I was the only Black woman in my cohort of roughly 75 students. It showed me that as a culture we’re still not getting the care we need from people who understand a shared experience, and I wanted to change that. I want to be able to help people who look like me not only feel comfortable seeking help but also helping to create an environment where the stigma surrounding mental illness is reduced. My overall process behind me starting my business is to be of service doing something I love that can truly help people.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
Well as an upstart it’s been a challenge navigating the mental health private practice field. It’s not something that they necessarily teach during your master’s program so you have to do the research on your own usually. I’m proud of our ability to pivot upon learning more information, we’ve been building our client base while producing wellness groups and building a social media following. Every day hasn’t been easy but we’re making things happen slowly but surely and people are beginning to engage which is exciting! My business partner and I have found that we have a natural synergy so we’ve been able to bounce ideas off of each other, share the responsibilities of the front-of-house duties as well as counseling duties really easily. That has helped keep the burnout and stress down to a minimum for sure. Challenges are going to come, it’s part of the practice, it’s part of entrepreneurship, but we’ve been able to overcome because we trust each other’s judgment, we have great communication and truly want to see the business succeed. Lessons learned, I would have to say mistakes happen and failure is a sign that you’re trying. If you weren’t trying something new or learning, you wouldn’t have the opportunity to fail, so that’s how I’m choosing to look at things. We’re still learning what SEO is, and how to make it work for us, we’ve been increasing our social media presence and realize that working a full-time job, then working this practice full-time afterward is challenging but worth it. We don’t always get our social media campaigns right the first time, but we’re still getting followers regularly and people are engaging, we just have to keep working at it! I’m looking forward to building our platform on social media like TikTok. Right now there is a growing mental health advocacy following and we’re looking forward to gaining more exposure there as well. I want the world to know that talking about your mental health isn’t scary. We are Millenial therapists, the days of Freud are gone the processes have changed. We’re changing the industry just by being more accessible, keeping the energy fresh, and really focusing on supporting our clients in a way that feels comforting and natural, but also culturally relevant and serving 2021 realness. There’s not a place for therapy to look like it used to where everyone was male and white. We’re celebrating cultures and diversity, we’re an inclusive therapeutic space and we want the people we work with to take a journey toward their own wellness in whatever way that means for them. Inspired Journeys is a Black-Owned and Women-led practice specializing in the development of healthy individuals and communities

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Well, I love food, so brunch is definitely happening. I really enjoy Einstein’s on Juniper, they have a blackberry smash that I love. Any cocktail with bourbon I love! I also bring everyone from out of town to Busy Bee’s Cafe, because there is no better place to get soul food than from Busy Bee’s. I prepare everyone for the wait, but it’s worth it! For a little outdoor shopping, Atlantic Station isn’t too far away, or Ponce City Market. If you like games The Painted Duck and Joystick Gamebar are two game bars that offer different vibes but great drinks and amazing experiences. Atlanta has festivals and outdoor events year-round, but Atlanta Jazz Festival and One Music Fest are probably the best. A chill dinner I’d probably head to Midtown for Hudson Grille or Marlow’s Tavern there’s also a Taco Mac nearby as well. The best burger I’ve had in a while definitely came from Grindhouse Killer Burgers on Memorial, they’re all about the vintage movies and even have an outdoor dining space. If you’re looking for a night out, there’s always Edgewood. I think that’s my favorite area right now, there are so many different options on the strip. Between Church, Harold’s, and Circa there’s something for everyone. Of all the Atlanta true attractions, I think seeing a whale or shark swim over you is pretty dope, so I would recommend the aquarium for sure, and for my art lovers, the High is amazing. Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I’d like to dedicate this moment to my parents, who have always supported my efforts, who champion my business every chance they get and encourage me to pursue my dreams without regard for the obstacles I may face because I’m more than capable of overcoming them. And to my best friends, for checking out my endless posts, reviewing my presentations, visiting the websites, I couldn’t do this without your unending support!

Website: www.inspiredjourneysllc.com

Instagram: @inspiredjourneysllc

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/inspired-journeys

Twitter: @nsprdjourneys

Facebook: @inspiredjourneysllc

Other: TikTok: @inspiredjourneys

Image Credits
Chris Coates, Photographer