There is a version of this story that would be easier to tell. One that focuses only on growth, success, and where we are now. But that wouldn’t fully capture what this journey has required, or the values that have always guided it.

Becoming a therapist and becoming a group practice owner are not the same thing. I learned that quickly.

From the beginning, this practice was built with intention, heart, and a deep commitment to doing things well. We were always values-driven. Always motivated to learn. Always committed to growth. That didn’t mean everything was perfect or universally praised. It meant we were engaged, responsive, and willing to listen.

As we grew, there were moments when clinicians offered feedback that was hard to hear. Moments when clients named ways their experience could be better. And like any human being who cares deeply about their work, my first instinct at times was to feel protective or defensive. Not because the feedback was wrong, but because it mattered.

What mattered more, though, was what we did next.

Again and again, we chose to pause, reflect, and implement changes when they were needed. Even when it stung. Even when it challenged our assumptions. Even when it required us to revisit systems we had worked hard to build. That process wasn’t about appeasement. It was about accountability and growth.

As the practice expanded, leadership brought new layers of complexity. Navigating the shift from clinician to supervisor to employer meant learning how power dynamics change relationships, even when trust and goodwill are present. It meant refining boundaries, clarifying expectations, and strengthening systems, not because something was broken, but because growth demands structure.

There were moments when I learned in real time where leadership required more containment and less openness. Moments where confidentiality needed to be more clearly defined within a growing team. These lessons weren’t born from carelessness, but from expansion, from wanting to do right by people while building something larger than what existed before.

Alongside this, I was learning an entirely different world. Insurance systems. Compliance. Contracts. Risk management. Decision-making that impacts not just individuals, but an entire organization. With that came hard conversations, misunderstandings, and at times, painful experiences where intentions were questioned or misinterpreted.

What people often don’t see is how deeply leaders carry the responsibility of wanting to make things right, without becoming reactive, without losing dignity, and without abandoning the very thing they’re trying to protect.

Through all of this, one thing remained consistent: a commitment to learning, to ethical care, and to continuous improvement.

Three years in, we are operating at a level I am deeply proud of.

Our systems are strong. Our expectations are clear. Our culture is thoughtful, collaborative, and accountable. We continue to evolve not because we failed early on, but because we take feedback seriously and believe that listening is part of leadership.

I also want to pause to express deep gratitude.

To my director, who has been with me every step of the way, from intern to leader, whose steadiness, integrity, and partnership have been foundational to this practice. To the clinicians who have been here since the beginning, who stayed engaged through growth and helped shape what this practice has become. And to those who have joined more recently, bringing fresh perspective, energy, and commitment.

What I am most proud of is not just what we’ve built, but how we’ve built it: through open dialogue, shared responsibility, and a willingness to grow together toward a common goal.

Leadership has stretched me. It has refined me. It has required humility, resilience, and clarity. And it has also given me something rare, the opportunity to grow something meaningful alongside people who care deeply about this work and about each other.

We are still growing. Still learning. Still committed to doing this well.

And I am deeply grateful for the people who continue to walk this path with me.