Today we’d like to introduce you to Jovica Grey.
Jovica, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
I worked in the field of addictions for about five years. Two years prior, I was employed at an outpatient treatment center where I loved for two years. Ive also had the idea to open up my own private practice to help individuals and couples, but I did not think that it would happen in the time frame that it did. While working at the company where I was employed for two years, we were all laid off due to some legalities and I sort of ended up in a panic, because I did not know what I was going to do from there. I started thinking that I needed to use this experience as the motivation that I needed to open up my own business and began looking into all the research that I needed. Nonetheless, I ended up working for another outpatient program, fast forward a year later, I was burnt out. The environment was very toxic and I felt that I was not able to take care of myself as well as did not like how my clients were being treated. I made the decision to leave my full-time job and pursue my own business helping others to heal from their own pain in a safe and nurturing environment. I wanted to be able to provide the quality of care that I knew my clients needed, versus working for a company that viewed clients as though they were solely a business and that is what birthed Grey’s Counseling Services. I wanted to work with marginalized minorities who lacked the resources they needed to have a better quality of life and I have made it my mission to advocate and educate those communities.
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?
I don’t believe smooth roads exist and if they do, please point me in that direction, hahahaha. On a serious note, it has been one of the most challenges experiences that I have ever endured in my life, but also one of the most rewarding. As a business owner, you have to wear multiple hats and for many of us who are starting a business for the first time, we may not necessarily have the funds to delegate responsibilities so that puts most of it on us. I have encountered many sleepless nights because I have so many roles from marketing, administrative, counseling, book-keeping and so much more. Ive struggled with managing my time effectively and this is something that I am continuing to work on because I am learning that I do not have to complete everything in a 24 hour period. Ive had times where I was uncertain if I would make enough for the month or periods where there were no incoming clients and it made me question if I made the right decision to pursue this. The road from the start will never be a smooth one, there may be periods where you encounter this, but it is about preparing for the ones that will take you on some sharp corners and muddy path, but it will all be worth if you continue pushing forward.
So, as you know, we’re impressed with Greys Counseling Services – tell our readers more, for example, what you’re most proud of and what sets you apart from others.
I am a Licensed Mental Health Counselor located in the Boynton Beach area. I specialize in counseling services for individuals and couples. My role as a therapist is to provide a space to help individuals and couples unpack their pain. We all carry around pain with us, although each person may vary from the other, my goal is to help support each person and provide them with that space to unpack it so that they can have a better quality of life. I work with an array of various issues from depression, anxiety, trauma to life stressors and women issues. I believe what I am the proudest of is that clients are always telling me that they were happy to find me because I look just like them and they wanted to find someone who could relate and understand their pain, I believe that is what sets me apart because the population that I work with, to them I am someone who can validate that pain and who understands what they are experiencing.
Is there anyone, in particular, you would like to recognize? Mentors, etc?
One of the things I am learning is that you cannot do everything on your own. A support system is vital to any successful business. My family who supported me when I expressed to them the need to focus on my practice, even if that meant stepping away from security, my mother was my biggest supporter as she let me know ” I got you” as well as my partner and friends who would encourage me, lift me up when I was down and would carry me along the way if I felt that I had no energy to continue. I love them for that!
Contact Info:
- Website: greyscounselingservices.com
- Phone: 772-206-0796
- Email: jovicagrey@greyscounselingservices.com
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/greyscounseling
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/jovicagrey
Image Credit:
olenphotography
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