Today we’d like to introduce you to Jennifer Ryan.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Jennifer. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
When I began my career as a Psychotherapist, I was working in the corporate world as a career coach a Dallas-Ft. Worth Fortune 500 company, but also did contract work as a therapist in various agencies around the metroplex. However, even doing that work that I loved, I always knew I’d be in private practice working for myself. I took on personal clients until I accumulated enough income to fully step out of the corporate world. That was 16 years ago and I never turned back!
I’d built up quite a nice referral base in my community, but after being in practice for just three short years, I got married and quickly became a mom. This is when I opened my group practice and hired my first staff member to help me with my overflow, and so I could be home more with my kids. It was important to me to walk-the-walk of being connected to family, especially since this is the practice that I was teaching my clients.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
It has not been a smooth road, but I’ve always had conviction so I have never thought of quitting. The biggest struggle for my business along the way, besides balancing family and career, has been discovering which marketing strategies work for my business. It was a lot of trial-and-error. My business never carried debt or took on loans to grow, and I pride myself on that. But it also created a scenario where I had to work and save before growing. So, perhaps it has been slower than others who have more financial backing.
More than just the marketing and growing aspect of my business, life happened! I had three kids in the last 13 years, I went back to school to get my Ph.D., and I wrote a book. It was important that I honored what was most important to me as a Mom and wife, but also grow my business. The balance of those two has been a huge challenge.
So, as you know, we’re impressed with I Choose Change – tell our readers more, for example, what you’re most proud of and what sets you apart from others.
There are many counselors to choose from in our immediate area, but there are a few things that set us apart from others.
First, we provide a wrap-around service to all families, which means that we strive to have at least one expert on staff who specializes in a niche market that helps families thrive. I don’t hire random counselors with random skills; instead, I am mindful of market demands and family needs in our community. Individuals come to our practice for specific mental health issues, but as therapists, we realize the impact of having one family member in distress on the entire family system. We are known for our family work, our wrap-around service, and our red couch, which is also our logo. (Love the couch. Love yourself.)
Second, we have some of the best trained therapists in the community. For example, I am known for and specialize in helping distressed couples move their marriage from lifeless, low intimacy, no emotional connection to a thriving, loving, healthy marriage. More importantly, I am trained by two of the top modalities in the world (Gottman and Emotionally Focused Therapy). Other therapists are hired with only the best credentials and educational focus. I realized long ago that in order to secure business and be trusted as providers, we have to provide exceptional service. We do that.
So, what’s next? Any big plans?
We are growing! This year, I’ll be adding a new clinical director, expanding my office space, and adding a project manager. Additionally, January will bring new challenges for the community as I launch my Eight Mental Health Musts program. I wrote a book this year to accompany that program, and I already have a follow-up book entitled “Belonging” which details the research I completed on family attachment and bonding in my doctoral program.
Pricing:
- Couples Intensives = $1600 for 6 hours
- Detailed Relationship Assessment – $159
- Session Fees – $75-$155
Contact Info:
- Address: 1514 N. Greenville Ave.
Suite 310
Allen, Texas 75002 - Website: http://www.ichoosechange.com
- Phone: 2145471318
- Email: jennifer@ichoosechange.com
- Instagram: @jenniferslingerlandryan
- Facebook: @jenniferslingerlandryanlpc
- Twitter: @ichoosechange
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