Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in health and wellness but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Christina Thomas, Founder, and President of MY Self Wellness, located in Bonita Springs, FL, USA.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
MY Self Wellness is a health and wellness center specializing in psychedelic Ketamine Therapy. The clinic is comprised of a multidisciplinary group of psychiatrists, registered nurses, infusion specialists, and board-certified therapists. The center offers an array of services, including Ketamine Therapy, IV Vitamin Infusions, Peptide Therapy, Medical Cannabis Recommendations, Integrative Nutrition Services, and Counseling. It exists to assist clients suffering from depression, anxiety, drug addiction, PTSD, and more by combining the healing benefits of Ketamine with new lifestyle practices for a full mental reset.
Tell us about yourself
I know firsthand what it feels like to battle depression, anxiety, and PTSD after being involved in a life-threatening jet ski accident in 2007. I have been prescribed a medley of pain killers and mood stabilizers to help suppress the trauma caused by accident, but the drugs left me feeling joyless and lost. I knew there had to be a better way and embarked on a self-healing journey. Using meditation and positive lifestyle changes, I was able to wean off prescription medications, but it wasn't until my fiancé, Charles Patti, introduced me to the healing powers of Ketamine that I discovered a faster way to heal. It was through Charles' passion for psychedelic medicine and my personal recovery that MY Self Wellness was created. We saw firsthand the positive impact Ketamine was making in our lives and knew our mission was to bring this healing modality to the world.
My mission of sharing the restorative benefits of Ketamine with anyone suffering from mental, emotional, and physical distress motivates and inspires me daily. Clients come into our clinic every day feeling lifeless and joyless — but then, after just a few treatments, they begin to come to life and glow again. There's no greater feeling than the feeling of helping someone enjoy their life again.
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
Opening our clinic doors one week before the COVID 19 lockdown of 2020, and keeping those doors open during the pandemic, has been my greatest accomplishment as a business owner.
As an entrepreneur, you will get kicked down several times throughout the course of your career — but never give up. Your perseverance is a sign of your strength and is a catapult for growth. Don't stop. Don't give up. Just keep going. Believe in yourself. It can be done.
Additionally, I'm also proud to pave the way for female leaders in the psychedelic therapy industry.
What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?
The general population holds a lot of misconceptions about Ketamine, so educating individuals on the use of Ketamine for therapy has been challenging. We put a lot of effort into breaking down old stigmas and promoting the healing powers of this medicine.
Learning to let go has also been a challenge for me. We built this business from the ground up, and everything was created from scratch. As an owner, I wanted to hold on tightly to all aspects of the business, but what that ultimately meant was that I was stressed, overburdened, and not focusing on my strengths. Once we started staffing up and letting our teammates take on some of the responsibilities, our business truly started to flourish.
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
- Have a strategic marketing partner. I am not a marketer by trade, so for a long time, we piecemealed our marketing efforts together. It was kind of like throwing paint on a wall to see what stuck. Not ideal. It wasn't until we partnered with a strategic marketing agency that could holistically promote our services — SEO, pr, ads, social, events, and more — that we began to gain traction in the industry.
- Be ok with change. Your business is going to change and pivot a lot from what you originally envisioned. Try not to hold on too tightly so you can give your business baby the space it needs to evolve and grow.
- Don't forget to take care of yourself. In the process of growing your business, it's easy to focus on work and family first, but if you're run down and depleted, you're no good to anyone. Make time for personal care daily. It's so important to your mental and emotional health.
Is there anything else you'd like to share?
For more information on psychedelic Ketamine Therapy, please visit our YouTube page or follow us on social media.
We're also in the process of launching a new podcast on Cannabis Radio. Once the show airs, new episodes will be available on our website: https://myselfwellness.center.
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://myselfwellness.center/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/myselfwellnesscenter
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/my.self.wellness/
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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