Therapy hasn’t historically been accessible to everyone.

And by “everyone,” we mean those from different backgrounds, communities, and cultures.

Dr. Ayanna Abrams, licensed clinical psychologist and founder and executive director of Ascension Behavioral Health, identified a need in her community and took action.

In her conversation with host Michael Fulwiler, Dr. Abrams shares her journey starting a private practice as a Black woman and the challenges she encountered along the way.

She covers the unexpected difficulties she faced becoming a business owner, her journey with personal accounting and challenges with financial literacy, and the value of building genuine connections and relationships within the mental health field to grow a clinical practice.

Hear how personal relationships and genuine networking can fuel your referral network, and be ready to explore new consulting opportunities outside the traditional therapy space.

[00:00] Introduction to Heard Business School with guest, Dr. Ayanna Abrams

[02:59] How Dr. Abrams's background has impacted her career

[08:16] Dr. Abrams's goal with a private practice in grad school

[12:28] How she navigated how much to charge her clients

[18:23] How Dr. Abrams fulfilled a need in the community

[21:35] What Dr. Abrams would’ve done differently if she could go back in time

[25:24] What Dr. Abrams did well when she first started her private practice

[29:31] The shortage of Black therapists

[31:44] What surprised Dr. Abrams when starting her practice

[38:08] The power of finding and forming a community

[44:11] Building a referral network and developing strong relationships

[45:16] How Dr. Abrams balances her business and clinical work lives

[53:30] Dr. Abrams’s biggest takeaway from the conversation

[55:17] Closing

This episode is to be used for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal, business, or tax advice. Each person should consult their own attorney, business advisor, or tax advisor with respect to matters referenced in this episode.