Today we’d like to introduce you to Denice Crowe Clark.
Denice, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
As a marriage and family therapist, my first practice was within a primary care, family medicine clinic setting. This laid the foundation for me to approach health and wellbeing in my practice from a more holistic angle. The setting for this practice, however, was less than ideal–an old department store that had been divided into treatment rooms and offices with no natural light. I found myself heading out at lunch for fresh air and sunshine, and bolting home in the evenings for a run for my own health and sanity. I understood the value of not only therapy for mental health and wellbeing but also physical activity and exposure to nature. It was around this time, I discovered walk-and-talk therapy and decided this was something I wanted to incorporate in my therapeutic repertoire. Alas, the setting I was in at the time was not conducive to this desire.
Fast forward a few years when we relocated to midtown Atlanta, which was home for me. Choosing to live within walking distance of Piedmont Park provided the perfect opportunity and setting for a dedicated walk-and-talk therapy practice. In the meantime, I have also pursued my doctorate with a research focus on walk-and-talk therapy. The therapeutic benefits of talk therapy, physical activity, and nature exposure are many, including physical, mental, and cognitive wellbeing. I love what I do!
Has it been a smooth road?
Being an entrepreneur, although immensely rewarding, has not been without struggles. Although networking is key, there remains a stigma around mental health and networking partners often find it difficult to comfortably make referrals. In addition, mine is a niche market for nontraditional therapy clients who must be willing to try something different. I have found the support of others, whether they are able to directly refer potential clients to me or not, has been uplifting and allowed me to navigate the tough times.
The best advice I could give others beginning a new or similar business is to find your passion and purpose, follow it, and believe in yourself. Research and become an expert in your field, specifically in your particular division of your field. Remind yourself daily why you do what you do. Setbacks are not failures, but opportunities to learn.
So let’s switch gears a bit and go into Sole to Soul Therapy & Consulting story. Tell us more about it.
Sole to Soul Therapy & Consulting is a dedicated walk-and-talk therapy practice in midtown Atlanta. I take therapy off the couch, outside, for walking sessions in a more natural setting. Rather than sitting face-to-face in an enclosed office, sessions occur while walking side-by-side in scenic Piedmont Park (or other mutually agreed upon location).
Research supports the mood-boosting benefits of physical activity, nature exposure, and talk therapy, particularly when combined with each other. Physical activity and nature exposure in combination also provide cognitive benefits in the form of clearer thoughts and more creative thinking. Walk-and-talk therapy has also been cited as helpful for individuals feeling particularly “stuck” in their circumstances.
I am so very blessed to offer an alternative for those who may find sitting face-to-face in a traditional, in-office therapy setting intimidating or stifling. I am also excited to be researching walk-and-talk therapy in more depth to shed more light on the practice and to increase my expertise.
What do you feel are the biggest barriers today to female leadership, in your industry or generally?
It is very fortunate that women are well represented as practitioners and leaders in the field of mental health. The biggest barrier I see, however, is the lack of confidence and not believing in our own worth or the value of our services. The natural empathy and desire to help others often overshadows the importance of asking for and expecting to be compensated fairly for our expertise. We spent a lot of years and money to acquire the education and experience necessary to become quality practitioners, and we are constantly adding to our knowledge and experience. For that reason, we should not feel it necessary to apologize for fees that reflect our worth or discount our services.
Pricing:
- Initial hour-long consult $150 ($50 nonrefundable deposit; balance due at time of service)
- $100 per 50-minute walk-and-talk session
- Invest in yourself package discount (15% for 24-sessions prepaid, or 10% for 12-sessions prepaid)
Contact Info:
- Website: https://soletosoultherapyandconsulting.com
- Phone: 404.895.1525
- Email: Denice@walkandtalkatlanta.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/walkandtalkatlanta/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/soletosoultherapyconsulting/
Image Credit:
Megan Westbrook
Devon McKenna, Photosynthesis Studio
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