Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in mental wellness but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Kimberly Parker, Owner of Revive to Thrive Wellness Center, PLLC, located in Farmers Branch, TX, USA.

What's your business, and who are your customers?

Here at Revive to Thrive Wellness Center, we believe in creating the best atmosphere for our clients and employees and giving back to our community. Our mission is to help members of our communities heal from the things in life that keep them in a place of surviving instead thriving, both in their own lives and in their relationships. Our vision is to help our clients break maladaptive generational patterns so that they can live and leave a legacy of true health and wellness. We are a fun, dynamic, and collaborative team who values working collaboratively and helping improve the health and wellness of our communities. We pride ourselves on being social justice hearted and minded and work hard to offer culturally responsive care. We can't wait to join your journey of reviving and thriving.

Tell us about yourself

I was originally born in San Diego, California; however, I spent most of my life living in Murrieta and Temecula (about an hour away from San Diego). From a very young age, I knew I wanted to be a helping professional, but I was unsure what my dream job would be. Initially, I thought I wanted to be a Doctor or Dentist, but after taking Anatomy and Physiology, I quickly revisited my options. After that, I decided to major in Psychology and minor in Sociology. During my undergraduate career, I took a course that introduced the idea of group therapy (with Dr. Steven Frieze of CSU, Dominguez Hills), and it was an amazing experience. During that semester, I said to myself, "this is what I want to do!" So there I was, in the last semester of my undergraduate career, making the decision to apply for graduate programs. At the time, I thought Clinical Psychology was the only route I could take to offer therapy, so I enrolled in a Masters of Arts in Psychology program and earned my degree in about 18 months.

Thereafter, I decided to apply for doctoral-level clinical psychology programs and didn't get into any of the programs. I was completely devastated! I found myself working at a job that I loved but unable to use the degree that I earned and feeling a bit discouraged about the next steps. I knew something needed to change, but I wasn't sure what my next step should be. That feeling of being stuck led me to meet with Dr. Fred Rabinowitz, the Head of the Psychology department where I worked at the time (The University of Redlands). In the meeting, we discussed the differences between Clinical Psychology and Counseling. I determined that Counseling was the better fit for me. Making that decision led me to apply to the Master of Science in Counseling programs, which brought me to Texas and the University of North Texas. On a more personal level, I've had many life experiences that have impacted who I am today. During my childhood, my family and I would go to harsh neighborhoods in San Diego to feed the homeless. These experiences were some of the first moments in my life that let me know that I had the heart to serve others. In addition to feeding the homeless, I also lost a dear friend to suicide during my last semester of high school. That experience made me feel a pain that I had never felt and also served as another push for why I needed to serve others. More generally, I have always found myself offering space for others to share their deepest secrets and empathy so that they don't feel alone. Additionally, I have been inspired by members of my family of origin and close friends. I absolutely love what I do and cannot imagine doing anything else.

Regarding what first got me started working on my business, getting accepted into the doctoral program at the University of North Texas had a lot to do with my decision. I knew that I wanted to be able to fully engage in the program, but I also knew that I needed the flexibility to be the best student that I could be. Once I got accepted, I turned my idea of being a business owner into reality and decided to face my fear of business ownership.

What motivates me to do what I do? People! My clients who get relief in life give me strength. My clients who share with me that they want to live after years of wanting to die give me strength. Additionally, my internal motivation to live in my purpose of helping others in various capacities pushes me forward, and of course, my family (including the littles in my life) motivate me to live as my highest self.

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

My biggest accomplishment as a business owner is learning more about business. I went to school to be a counselor, but being a leader and business owner requires completely different skills. Learning more about business has been a huge learning curve, but it has been so rewarding!

What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?

One of the hardest things about being a business owner is making sure that I meet the differing needs and learning styles of my team members, as everyone is so different. I strive to be a leader instead of a boss, and honing in on leadership skills can be challenging... but it is very rewarding.

What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?

  1. Get a business coach. You are worth the investment.
  2. Surround yourself with individuals who are where you are and where you want to be (for guidance and support).
  3. Hire slow, fire fast (regarding employees and support staff).

Is there anything else you'd like to share?

Our practice is growing, and we have a counselor for most client needs. We are ready, willing, and able to serve.

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: https://revive2thrivewc.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/R2TWC
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/revive2thrivewellnesscenter/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kimberly-parker-ma/

If you like what you've read here and have your own story as a solo or small business entrepreneur that you'd like to share, then please answer these interview questions. We'd love to feature your journey on these pages.

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