Today we’d like to introduce you to Heather Wesolowski.
Hi Heather, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I opened Homegrown Counseling in February of 2022 after a colleague encouraged me to open my own counseling practice. So I just went for it and did it scared. Opening my own practice was always a goal after completing licensure, I was just waiting for it to be the ‘perfect” time. I created my psychology today profile, without a office or anything at all. The phones started ringing and it just took off from there. We now have 9 therapists at Homegrown Counseling, serving the community and meeting needs. I wanted people needing support to feel like they walked into a neighbors house and sat down at the kitchen table with a cup of coffee. I feel that its important to feel safe with your therapist and to have a good therapeutic rapport – the feel of the office and our approachability helps build that. I often meet my clients at the door or walk out on the front porch to greet them as they are coming in. Change happens when you feel safe!
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
It has been pretty smooth along the way, there are hurdles to jump and things to figure out, but everything is figure- out- able!
It has been a struggle to find an office location that meets our needs and learning about insurance billing has been hard but when you lean into the hard you find out that it is not as bad as you think it is.
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about Homegrown Counseling?
I chose the name Homegrown Counseling because I wanted to provide down to earth, professional care. Therapy should be like talking to a friend that holds you accountable and calls you out. ( While being licensed, ethical and utilizing counseling theories to help create change).
We are known for being down to earth, friendly and helping our clients create change in their lives so they can live life to the fullest. We come alongside for as long as we are needed and then send our clients off into their life adventure with new skills and knowledge about themselves. However, We are always here should they need a session here or there.
We love surprises, fun facts and unexpected stories. Is there something you can share that might surprise us?
Something surprising might be that my first degree was in Criminal Justice and I was a Juvenile Probation officer for the state of Oklahoma before working for Target as an Executive Team Leader of Assets protection and caught shoplifters and team members who were stealing before moving into education. Once I became a teacher and that role became easier, I started looking for what’s next. My school administrator encouraged me to lean into the things that upset me – to be an agent of change. So I went back and got my Masters in School Counseling. After working for 4 years as a Elementary School Counselor, I was bored again and went back to get the additional graduate hours to be a licensed professional counselor. You can see I get bored easily! However, running Homegrown Counseling, helping my clients make change and progress on their treatment goals is not boring. This has been the most fulling career yet!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.homegrowncounseling.com/
