Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Megan MacCutcheon, Founder of Megan MacCutcheon LLC & Empowering Mindful Moms, located in Vienna, VA, USA.

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

I’m a Certified Perinatal Mental Health therapist, a coach for moms, and a best-selling author. I run a private therapy practice in Northern Virginia. I love helping moms navigate pregnancy and postpartum, build confidence in motherhood, and resolve birth traumas.

Tell us about yourself

I’ve been a mental health therapist since 2009 and began specializing in maternal mental health after my own experience with postpartum anxiety following the birth of my second child in 2015. At the time, despite being a therapist, I had never even heard of postpartum anxiety. I knew about postpartum depression and postpartum psychosis, but my symptoms (brain fog, difficulty making simple decisions, the need to constantly be busy, etc.) didn’t align with either of those disorders, so I initially dismissed them and thought I must just be struggling to adjust to life with two kids.

When my symptoms worsened (I experienced intrusive thoughts regarding harm to my baby), I discovered I was experiencing postpartum anxiety. I was appalled that I, as a mental health therapist, had never even heard of this condition. I went on to research, take advanced training, and ultimately become certified in perinatal mental health. (Perinatal = during pregnancy and postpartum.) Perinatal mental health disorders are often misunderstood and underdiagnosed, yet they are very treatable. I love being able to normalize the struggles many new moms face and support them in getting help so they can focus on enjoying motherhood.

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

I’m still fine-tuning my practice and finding ways to support as many moms as possible while also being there for my own kids, who are now in elementary school. It’s a work in progress, but I’m thrilled that I’ve found ways to help that don’t just include 1:1 therapy services. Thanks to the pandemic and the increased use of online platforms in the therapy world, I’ve been inspired to create online courses and ways to deliver help to people, even if they can’t meet 1:1.

I frequently refer clients to various groups and programs for more peer support, but during the early days of the pandemic, these groups weren’t meeting. I decided to create my own online community and support group for postpartum moms. Today, I have an online course called Empowered Motherhood to help moms get tools and strategies to feel more grounded, empowered, and nurtured in motherhood. My pelvic floor-PT business partner and I also just launched The Birth Bundle, an online course that focuses on the importance of the mind-body connection and helps pregnant families prepare both physically and mentally for delivery.

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

Juggling work-life balance! I have so many ideas and things I want to implement in my practice, but sometimes I feel like I’m juggling a million balls, and it’s hard to put them all down at the end of the workday. My current goal is to be more present with my own kids, and sometimes that means taking off my business owner hat, shutting down my laptop, and refocusing my attention…which isn’t always easy for me.

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

Have clear and firm boundaries—around your policies but also around your time, so you don’t burn out. Know your strengths and find ways to delegate and receive support regarding the things you don’t love or could use help with. Sometimes it can be hard to step into the boss role. But it’s vital to running a business! Don’t be afraid to invest—in your business and yourself. We, and our businesses, are works in progress, constantly growing, changing, and evolving. Watch out for perfectionist tendencies and stay open to letting your business unfold in ways you may not have initially envisioned.

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: https://www.meganmaccutcheon.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/meganmaccutcheonpmhc
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/meganmaccutcheonpmhc/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/mmaccutcheonlpc
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/megan-maccutcheon-0133151/

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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