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Meet Brianna Gaynor of Peace of Mind Psychological Services in Johns Creek

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Today we’d like to introduce you to Brianna Gaynor.

So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
I graduated from Argosy University Atlanta with my doctorate in psychology, also known as a Psy.D, in October 2009 and became licensed in 2011. Once I graduated, I worked for about four years at two different private practices where I gained a lot of experience working with clients of all ages and presenting concerns. Throughout this time, I would say out loud “I don’t want to have my own business, I just want to go to work and go home.” While at my last job, in October of 2013, something changed. I remember walking into my office and had this thought: “I think I want to do this for myself.” It was definitely a God moment because this was not my plan. I shared this with a friend who encouraged me that I was capable of taking this leap, I prayed and moved forward.

I went to a consultation group that focused on helping clinicians start a private practice and I began to build a network of colleagues in the same situation as myself. I also started looking for space in Johns Creek, as it had a lot of opportunity and was near my home.  In April 2014 I gave a 60 day notice to my supervisor and officially began my practice in June 2014. I began in a space with two offices, a waiting room, and front office and was there alone for five months. I knew I needed help when I was seeing a client, while the phone was ringing and there were four people sitting in the waiting room. Soon after that, I hired my first employee-my office manager. Four and a half years later we have expanded to an office more than double the size of the original one we started in and have three administrative staff and six clinicians (including myself). It has truly been a wonderful journey!

Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
Owning a business has been a challenge in many ways. In graduate school, I learned how to do my job well, but not how to run a business, therefore, being a business owner has come with a lot of on the job training. My saving grace has been the training I received before I went out on my own and my consultation group that I met while starting my business. These three ladies have not only provided advice but invaluable support because we all understand the unique struggles we face in a way few do.

The other challenge has been balancing work and personal life. As a clinician, I often encourage people to practice self-care, but it can be a very different thing to actually implement it myself. The added pressure of knowing that you are ultimately responsible for how your business goes has at times made it difficult to let go and turn my brain off from Peace of Mind. However, with time, trust in God, myself, and my staff I have begun to completely take time away from work on a weekly basis while simultaneously running a business.

Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about Peace of Mind Psychological Services – what should we know?
Peace of Mind Psychological Services is a mental health private practice. We provide psychological evaluations to identify the nature of someone’s struggles as it relates to how they learn, process information, feel, and engage in their daily life. Our common referral questions are for ADHD, learning disorders, anxiety, mood disorders, and bariatric evaluations. We also provide individual, family and couples therapy for children, adolescents, and adults for an array of areas such as trauma, anger, depression, and behavioral concerns.

Our goal is to be a place where families can receive the help they need so that they can learn to “find peace in every circumstance.” Our referral sources continue to refer to us because we provide our clients with thorough psychological evaluations and therapy which promotes real change. I am most proud when people tell me they feel peace when they enter our office and thank us for how kind and helpful we are to them. My goal is for people to always feel cared for and to hear that consistently is extremely satisfying!

Any shoutouts? Who else deserves credit in this story – who has played a meaningful role?
My consultation group-Dr. Brooke Jones, Dr. Laronta Rush, and Kristen Fraser. They have been an invaluable set of friends and our commonalities in owning businesses have been vital every step of the way. My mother was also a wonderful cheerleader, who always believed in me and was extremely excited for me throughout this process. Also my friend Natolie Gray-Warren. She was the first friend I told about my idea, she was the first to see my space, and she came and worked for me as my first clinician. Through her feedback, Natolie helped me to develop policies for future clinicians and believed in me when I didn’t; she has helped me more than she knows. Last, but not least, I have the best staff. They are all very committed to the vision of Peace of Mind and our clients and I couldn’t do it without them. There has definitely been a village in guiding me throughout this process.

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