WP 79 | Finding Personal Growth through Community with Alaina Smith

Written By James Marland

In the ever-evolving landscape of therapy and counseling, finding personal growth and success as a faith-based practice owner can be a challenging yet fulfilling journey. In a recent episode of the Wise Practice Podcast, therapist Alaina Smith shared her experience of growth, community, and faith in her practice, Mariposa Counseling and Mariposa Recovery. Let's delve into her inspiring story and how being part of a supportive community has shaped her path towards success.

Embracing Community as a Catalyst for Growth

Alaina's journey began with a leap of faith when she decided to start her own practice, Mariposa Counseling. Stepping out of her comfort zone, she found herself seeking connections and opportunities to grow. Joining the Wise Practice community provided her with a platform to meet like-minded individuals, share experiences, and learn from others in the field.

Navigating Challenges with Support and Wisdom

As Alaina transitioned from a group private practice to owning her own business, she encountered challenges and uncertainties. However, being part of a supportive community offered her the guidance and encouragement she needed to overcome obstacles. Through peer collaboration, Alaina found solutions, gained valuable insights, and honed her vision for her practice.

Investing in Personal and Professional Development

One of the key aspects of Alaina's growth journey was investing in her personal and professional development. By seeking individual consulting and being part of the Wise Practice community, she gained access to valuable resources, expert advice, and practical tools to streamline her practice operations and elevate her services.

Embracing Faith in Business and Community

Alaina's faith played a significant role in shaping her approach to business and community engagement. By aligning her values with her practice, she found a sense of purpose and fulfillment in serving her clients and growing her business. The inclusive and supportive environment of the Wise Practice community resonated with her belief in the power of collaboration and shared wisdom.

Looking Towards the Future with Confidence

As Alaina continues to expand her practice, hire new team members, and explore opportunities for growth, she does so with a sense of optimism and faith. Being part of a community that fosters personal and professional development has equipped her with the tools and mindset to navigate challenges, seize opportunities, and thrive in her practice.

In conclusion, Alaina's journey exemplifies the transformative power of community, faith, and personal growth in the field of therapy and counseling. By embracing collaboration, seeking support, and investing in continuous learning, therapists like Alaina can navigate the complexities of practice ownership and find fulfillment in their professional journey. As we celebrate Alaina's achievements and resilience, we are reminded of the invaluable role that community plays in shaping our paths towards success in the therapeutic landscape.

How Can Guto Help Save Time with Payroll Processing?

Gusto is an excellent payroll processing option for therapist group practice owners due to its intuitive interface and comprehensive support. It simplifies the complex task of managing payroll, taxes, and employee benefits, which is particularly beneficial for practices with multi-state employees. Gusto’s paperless onboarding streamlines the hiring process, and its user-friendly software makes it easy for administrative staff to run payroll efficiently. Additionally, Gusto’s responsive phone support ensures that questions or issues are promptly addressed, allowing therapists to focus more on their clients and less on administrative tasks. If you sign up using this link, you will get a $100 sign-on bonus! 

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  • WP 79 | Finding Personal Growth through Community with Alaina Smith

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    [00:00:00] James Marland: Attention all employers and managers of contractors. Are you tired of spending hours onboarding new employees? Look no further than Gusto. One of my favorite things Gusto does is it smooths out the onboarding process with standardized employee documents. Online signatures without leaving Gusto and access to your employee.

    [00:00:27] James Marland: Onboarding files all in one place. And guess what. If you use our link in the show notes, you get a free gift. Just for signing up. Don't let payroll stress and onboarding stress weigh you down.

    [00:00:41] James Marland: Visit gusto.com today. ​

    [00:00:44] Whitney Owens:

    [00:00:47] Whitney Owens: Hi, I'm Whitney Owens. I'm a group practice owner and faith based practice consultant. And I'm here to tell you that you can have it all. Want to grow your practice? Want to grow your faith? Want to enjoy your life outside of work?

    [00:01:00] Whitney Owens: You've come to the right place. Each week on the Wise Practice Podcast, I will give you the action steps to have a successful faith based practice while also having a good time. Now let's get started.

    [00:01:33] Whitney Owens: Hey, and welcome to the wise practice podcast. I'm excited to have Alana Smith here with me on the show. And we were already laughing because I'm trying to read her bio and I'm going to totally butcher what I say, but I'm going to do my best here. All right. So I'm so excited to have you on the show.

    [00:01:52] Whitney Owens: And she is the owner of Mariposa counseling and Mariposa recovery and I even though I wanna roll my R there. , I obtained. She obtained her BA in sociology from Cornerstone University in 2009. She has her MA in community counseling from Western Michigan in 2012. She's learned quickly about the heart of struggles.

    [00:02:17] Whitney Owens: With impacting addiction with clients, she's worked with just about every area of the field as far as far as settings, such as residential home based intensive outpatient and outpatient. She has specialized experience in training, working with individuals with substance use drugs, gambling, porn and sex addictions, as well as their family members.

    [00:02:39] Whitney Owens: Now you say the name of your practice. You're going to say it better

    [00:02:42] Alaina Smith: than me. Mariposa counseling. Okay.

    [00:02:46] Whitney Owens: Um, so I'm so glad to have you here on the show. Um, you also, I guess I didn't read in the bio there that you were married with three beautiful kiddos, right? Wonderful. Yeah. So you're keeping it real. Um, so let's talk first about kind of how we met.

    [00:03:03] Whitney Owens: You want to share? Perfect.

    [00:03:06] Alaina Smith: Yeah. So I had just gone out on my own as a private practice, um, June of 2022, and maybe I even found a little before June, 2022, but I was looking for things to do and options of how to connect and find other people. And in one of the million Facebook groups I had joined the wise practice summit.

    [00:03:25] Alaina Smith: Was advertised and immediately that drew me in and I was like, yep, that sounds like a group of people I want to get to know. And so I bought a ticket and went to Savannah and got to meet everybody and meet you.

    [00:03:36] Whitney Owens: Oh, I love it. So let me just, you know, this hosting these events is a lot of work and every ticket matters, like every time I, someone buys a ticket to the summit, I'm like, well, what else is coming?

    [00:03:48] Whitney Owens: You know? Um, but it's stressful. So anyway, you were one of the first people that purchased a ticket, you know,

    [00:03:55] Alaina Smith: Yeah, I found that out much later, but it was kind of funny because I didn't even realize that.

    [00:04:00] Whitney Owens: Yeah. And well, some of the other people, it's like, I knew who they were, but you were the first one that I was like, I don't know this person, someone heard about this event that I don't know.

    [00:04:09] Whitney Owens: And I was thrilled. I think we emailed a little bit. Yeah. I think so. So that was like a real big encouragement to me. Um, so I just, I really admire people who see something like that and they're like, I'm going to go, I don't know anybody, I'm going to make this happen. And you did. And you're just, that's your personality now that I know you, you tackle a lot of things, love adventure and definitely, definitely.

    [00:04:32] Whitney Owens: So why don't you kind of talk a little bit about kind of what that experience was like for you and then kind of transitioning into kind of what we're doing now.

    [00:04:40] Alaina Smith: Yeah, so I think that experience was definitely a stretching and growing experience. I had come from a group private practice. I was very, very comfortable.

    [00:04:49] Alaina Smith: Um, and God kept kind of pressing on my heart to start Mariposa counseling. And it was one of those things where I don't think I ever really had intentions of growing much, or I didn't know what I was going to do with it. But, um, From the start, there was this clear vision and branding that was more than me.

    [00:05:02] Alaina Smith: And so then going to the summit was this chance to meet with other people who were doing similar things, to hear their stories. Um, and I think it was also this chance to realize there doesn't have to be some special way to do your best in this world. I think I had always kind of felt like, oh, well, I'm too young in the field or I'm too young in general, or.

    [00:05:21] Alaina Smith: I don't have experience in that. I didn't go to business school. Um, and so meeting other people who were just doing the thing and they were figuring it out and they saw in me an ability to do that. That was really powerful. And I remember going to Savannah. It was the first time my husband and I had had a trip away since our youngest was born.

    [00:05:37] Alaina Smith: Um, and so it got to be a really great time of connection for us and fun. And we kind of looked at going into it, like if nothing else, we basically get a vacation without children like that. a win already. Um, but immediately everyone was super welcoming, even though it was obvious most people knew each other, um, from wise practice community and doing the calls.

    [00:05:55] Alaina Smith: And I didn't have that experience right away. There wasn't a difference. And the community was just so welcoming and open, and we formed some really great friendships. And that just drew me in to want more of those people.

    [00:06:07] Whitney Owens: Mm. Wonderful. All right. Well, let's talk about kind of your experience in the community and what, what it's been for you.

    [00:06:15] Alaina Smith: So I think it's been a source of support, but most specifically, it's been a source of personal growth. And it's been the idea that there's a lot of people who were like, well, no, you can do this and here's a way. And people can just collaborate and bounce ideas off one another. And I think it really also like seeing people step out big in faith, I think was a huge thing because I know there's so much about like faith and business ownership and there's so many areas that just feel sticky and gray.

    [00:06:41] Alaina Smith: And so watching these people like do it and do it well and honor their faith, but also make a good living was really inspiring. And just having people who are like, okay, just keep going. Go for it. And so I'd really gone into Savannah praying like, okay, whoever I'm supposed to be drawn to like, bring me close to them.

    [00:06:57] Alaina Smith: And then it was like immediately connecting with you and with James. And so doing things with him, um, and just kind of being at that part, like, okay, I'm just going to pray big. And I remember writing in my prayer journal that week, like, okay, whatever is brought to me, like, I'm just going to go for it. I'm going to leap and I'm going to trust.

    [00:07:12] Alaina Smith: And even if it's terrifying and doesn't make sense, but it turned out to be a lot less scary than I imagined because. Everyone's there cheering you on and supporting you and seeing that and believing it for you as well.

    [00:07:25] Whitney Owens: Hmm. Wow. I love it. I love hearing about your experience. Cause I'm sitting here thinking about, I'm even thinking about the next one.

    [00:07:32] Whitney Owens: Right. Right. Cause right now I'm carrying the load of doing this again. And it's hard. It's hard. And to be honest with you, since, you know, we're podcasting here, um, I've been like, should I do it again? Like, am I going to do another wise practice? Cause I've got to have to make that decision before this one happens because it's helpful.

    [00:07:50] Whitney Owens: Right.

    [00:07:51] Alaina Smith: Yeah.

    [00:07:51] Whitney Owens: Um, but then when I hear this story of what God did in you. It's worth all the heavy lifting, right?

    [00:08:01] Alaina Smith: Right. I mean, if you had told me, I mean, literally like right before the summit, if you had told me like, Hey, you're going to launch a whole second business. And also you're going to hire in your existing business and you're actually going to love everything you do.

    [00:08:12] Alaina Smith: And it won't even feel like work. I would have thought you were insane. And I think that was part of it too, is I was so comfortable in my bubble. And it's not that God couldn't have continued to bless that. And that couldn't have continued to stay the same. But I think it was also that push I needed to literally just pray big and to be like, okay, well, what can I do?

    [00:08:29] Alaina Smith: And I'm watching these other people take these huge steps of faith, but do it with wisdom and do it with community. And I think that makes all the difference in the world. Like doing this alone would be impossible.

    [00:08:41] Whitney Owens: So I love how you kind of said earlier, like seeing people act in faith, but also have a business that works.

    [00:08:49] Whitney Owens: Were there any specific, you don't have to necessarily give names here, but any specific stories that you think about, especially at the beginning, when you were just learning about the community, anyone that sticks out to you that you're like, Oh, they were doing it.

    [00:09:02] Alaina Smith: Yeah, well, I know like Eunice and I really got to know each other through the summit and we've stayed in touch since.

    [00:09:08] Alaina Smith: And so just watching some of her things and even seeing her willingness to be like vulnerable on social media and to be like, Oh my gosh, today was a hard day as a business owner. Or yeah, I'm so excited. This big thing is happening. And so I think even just to watch people from a distance, um, and meeting Nathan, who it turns out is like 20 minutes from me here in Grand Rapids and seeing what he's doing.

    [00:09:27] Alaina Smith: And also just knowing there's other people In similar geographic areas. I think like Michigan has had a lot of stuff happening with the laws and with contractor versus employee. And so watching someone else in the community and how they navigated that, and they do have a thriving business and being able to say to him, like, Hey, I need a new biller.

    [00:09:45] Alaina Smith: Who do you recommend? I know you're local. Who do you use? And so even just being able to go out to other people and be like, okay, who have you found and how can I do this? Well,

    [00:09:53] Whitney Owens: Mm. Yeah, that saves a lot of time and energy for sure. Yeah. Okay. So let's talk about what has it been like you kind of said this a little bit, but it went quick.

    [00:10:02] Whitney Owens: I want to go slower. So people kind of understand. So after the summit. Um, what kind of steps did you take to get become a part of the community get consulting that kind of thing.

    [00:10:14] Alaina Smith: So I first joined the community and then, um, it was actually several months before I was able to make it work to go to the community meetings because I had a client who is existing in that spot.

    [00:10:25] Alaina Smith: And at first I was like, Oh, I don't want to upset them and move them like they're in that spot every week. Um, but then it turns out they were way more flexible than I realized. And so it was an easy switch. Um, but I started out just kind of on circle and on the platform and just kind of devouring a lot of the content.

    [00:10:41] Alaina Smith: And so seeing some of the past recorded teachings and watching people's posts go up. I mean, it was like very encouraging just to watch, I think, especially because so many people were sharing wins or when someone did have a question or was feeling vulnerable, but like, To watch that community of support come right in and then I know we had connected for coaching because I think you would put something out or said something and I'd asked a question about growing.

    [00:11:06] Alaina Smith: And so we just kind of connected and then it's worked really well since then.

    [00:11:11] Whitney Owens: Yeah. I can't remember exactly how that happened, but yeah, there's some random,

    [00:11:16] Alaina Smith: there was like a post in the circle community or something. And I think I private messaged you within it. And you were like, okay, we've got to get a call set up.

    [00:11:22] Alaina Smith: Like let's figure this out.

    [00:11:24] Whitney Owens: That's right. That's right. Yeah. And, um, yes, I, uh, do love working with people that are in the community. So usually if I see you doing that, I'm like, let's talk. Um, So, yeah, so we've been doing some consulting for, I'd have to go back and look. I feel like it's been four or five months maybe at this point.

    [00:11:41] Whitney Owens: I believe

    [00:11:41] Alaina Smith: so. Yeah. Somewhere around there. Okay.

    [00:11:44] Whitney Owens: And what kind of things have you accomplished business wise during that time?

    [00:11:49] Alaina Smith: Um, really clarifying kind of a vision and some core values for my business. Um, and then hiring an admin assistant and finding the value in that and learning how to do that. And now like, she is invaluable to me.

    [00:12:01] Alaina Smith: I don't know how I ever did a business without someone like that. Um, but then it's even just been watching it, like kind of get honed in. I feel like I had this vision, this dream, but it's like, you know, when you had the old TVs with the rabbit ears and it like, you could kind of tell what was going on, but it was really fuzzy still too.

    [00:12:17] Alaina Smith: And you had to focus really hard and it feels like just bringing everything into focus and bringing clarity to it. And so being able to see pieces through other people's eyes that I couldn't have seen and get that valuable feedback and really just sort of polish up what was already going on. And then now I've been able to.

    [00:12:34] Alaina Smith: Um, do a bunch of interviewing and hopefully hiring another therapist soon and looking at growing into a bigger office space. So it's just been like rapid, but also doable.

    [00:12:44] Whitney Owens: Yeah. Yeah. So you're hiring your first therapist, starting a group practice, yes. Making it happen. Um, all right. And so tell me more about kind of what is it like to be part of the membership community now that you're attending more regularly?

    [00:13:00] Alaina Smith: I think it's just one of those things where you don't know what you don't know. And so watching the questions other people bring up, like I have this constant running to do list of like, yeah, I do need to ask my liability insurance about that. Or I do need to contact so and so and finding a business attorney.

    [00:13:13] Alaina Smith: So I think what it is, is it's just like this massive pool of people who are doing it a whole bunch of different ways, but also respect the fact that everyone's going to have a slightly different path. Or like, it's so different depending on what state you're in and what, you Licensure you have. And so I think just watching other people get creative with how they solve problems and watching people share and come up with ideas and realizing like you don't have to have some special crazy skill in this to utilize the wisdom of others and to really share what you've learned and come together and kind of anyone can do it.

    [00:13:45] Alaina Smith: You just have to find your version of doing it.

    [00:13:48] Whitney Owens: Definitely. So, you know, Elena, a lot of people say to me, I don't have the money to pay for the membership community.

    [00:13:56] Alaina Smith: Right.

    [00:13:57] Whitney Owens: It's 89 a month right now. The price does go up over time, but right now I'm recording. That's what it is. So I would love to hear, cause you're in it.

    [00:14:06] Whitney Owens: Yeah. What do you think about that?

    [00:14:09] Alaina Smith: I think it's highly valuable because I think If a lot of people take it into consideration, like if you were in a larger group practice or an agency, you're getting some of that case consultation, you're getting some of that education and training, but it's built into your pay.

    [00:14:22] Alaina Smith: So you're kind of making less. And so in my eyes, like the amount of education, training, peer consultation, I can do just all of those resources and tools are valued at far more. Then that 89 a month. And so for me, it made sense. And being able to just rearrange my schedule, like I just was able to flip where I do lunch.

    [00:14:40] Alaina Smith: It's already an hour. I wasn't going to be having a client anyway. And so that made it worthwhile to like, Hey, if I can do something like that, to me, it was a very minimal financial commitment, given the sheer amount of what I've gotten back out of it.

    [00:14:52] Whitney Owens: Yeah. All right. Now I'm going to ask you another money question, which we did not prep in advance.

    [00:14:56] Whitney Owens: So hopefully this doesn't backfire on me. Um, all right. So consulting, you do individual consulting. I really only work with like five people. So it's big financial investment to do individual consulting. And so how do you feel? I know you're not done with your package, but thinking about that financial commitment.

    [00:15:15] Whitney Owens: What would you say to someone who's like, Oh, I can't afford it. Or I'm not sure about your experience.

    [00:15:20] Alaina Smith: Yeah, I think that's really where like praying big and stepping out in faith comes from. And so I think at first it was kind of terrifying to watch this money going out and there isn't immediate income coming right back in, but then I think it's also just having that model of like investing in myself, investing in the company.

    [00:15:37] Alaina Smith: And recognizing that that money can grow exponentially. But if I don't have somebody like you, I'm likely to make a bunch of mistakes that could cost me far more than hiring someone like you ever would have. And so I think that's really that idea for me where it came useful and beneficial to pay for.

    [00:15:54] Alaina Smith: And then just continuing to grow and stretch in my own faith of like, okay, I was very clearly led to this. And. I am just believing that God's going to provide and that this is going to grow and there's going to be a reason for having done this. And I think that's a huge piece of it as well is just growing and stretching in that way and really taking that leap and being like, okay, I have no idea where we're landing and no idea where we're ending up, but this is the thing I'm called to do.

    [00:16:17] Alaina Smith: So let's do it.

    [00:16:19] Whitney Owens: I love that. I have people I think about over the years that I've done consulting with that are like my rock stars. I'm sure you're going to be one of them. Um, but there's this girl that comes to mind who, uh, I don't, I mean, I should probably wouldn't mind if I said her name, but anyway, she, she comes to mind.

    [00:16:35] Whitney Owens: And it was a couple of years ago and she wanted to start a group practice and we did a six month consulting package. And. And. She had I think 2 or 3 people hired by the end. I mean, she was killing it. And then within 1 year, I talked to her at the end of the 1st year, like a year after she had just started the consulting.

    [00:16:55] Whitney Owens: And I said, you know, financially, how's it been? She said, I am making 4 times what I made a year ago. She was like, I have made back everything I gave you and more, it was like, all right. And of course her now that was years ago, I mean, that was like three or four years ago. Now she's got two locations and I don't know how many therapists, but lots of therapists like she's doing awesome.

    [00:17:18] Whitney Owens: So, you know, I just kind of think about her and you're similar in the sense of a lot of commitment, really getting the work done. Um, and just thinking here, like, gosh, what's it going to be like, maybe a year from now, we should schedule a podcast interview. Like, what's it going to be like for you when you've got several people and you are about to hire your first, right?

    [00:17:37] Alaina Smith: Yes, I have made the offer. And so hopefully I'll hear back today. She said she was going to get back today. Um, and that's really exciting, but it's just even really neat to see. Like, I think I, I ended up pausing the job listing. Cause I had like 15 people who were all pretty highly qualified. And so I was weeding through them.

    [00:17:52] Alaina Smith: And so it's one of those things where like. It's just exciting to have choices and to realize like people do want to do what I'm doing and they see value and benefit. And I also think that's where hiring the admin came in because my website looks significantly better than it did before I hired her and before you and I talked through like what to change and what to do on that.

    [00:18:10] Alaina Smith: And so I think as well, that was another big step of like getting to a place where that could happen because with having the admin, she can do the phone calls and she can look through the resumes and. Schedule those initial interviews. And so I'm not losing valuable income one on one with clients while I'm doing all that as well.

    [00:18:27] Whitney Owens: Definitely. Yeah. And, and one of the other values to be in a part of the community, and we'll kind of walk through some of these together, but one of them is just deals and discounts, like people that you would have normally maybe worked with. Um, so that might be virtual assistant companies or see, um, customer relationship management, or.

    [00:18:45] Whitney Owens: You know, the summit, you get a discount, but you also get a discount in consulting. I bring the cost down for people that are in the community. Not only because, I mean, the main reason is y'all are loyal. You know, you're, you're paying your monthly fee. You're part of the community and I know you. And so it's a lot easier for me as a consultant.

    [00:19:03] Whitney Owens: If it's someone I already know, you know, you work a lot better. Think about like when you get to know clients, it takes time to get to know them. Um, so we do offer that as well, which is a bonus. And I, I'm sitting here thinking about all the Voxer messages. It's a walkie talkie app that I get to do with people I consult with.

    [00:19:18] Whitney Owens: And so it's like, I get to be right there with you while you're growing your practice, who's coming along and we're chatting about it and it's so much fun. Yeah. Yeah. So let's talk about some of the, um, other aspects of the community. You said a weekly meeting. Do you kind of know what those are like?

    [00:19:35] Alaina Smith: Yes.

    [00:19:35] Alaina Smith: So I've been in the ones that are kind of the large group. And so having the teachings, um, and having somebody come in and do like the trainings and then having just that space, like, I think one of the first ones I was actually able to attend was the one where it was just like that question and answer, and it was just so neat being able to be in a group.

    [00:19:51] Alaina Smith: And I didn't have anything specific to bring, but just hearing what other people were bringing and what they're doing and the questions they're asking. It was beneficial even just to listen to that.

    [00:20:02] Whitney Owens: Yeah. Yeah. And you're a small group leader. So can you talk a little bit about what the

    [00:20:05] Alaina Smith: small groups are about?

    [00:20:07] Alaina Smith: So the small groups are a great way to connect with people who are at your same stage. And so, um, I was able to attend, I think one or two of them prior to them sort of being reformulated and becoming a leader myself. And so it was just really great to have this chance to in a smaller setting, because sometimes I feel like on the Wednesday calls, it's not massive, but it's enough that you don't know them as much one on one.

    [00:20:28] Alaina Smith: And so in the small group setting, like it was really great. Um, the last one I did, there were just three of us, but we were able to pick each other's brains and really learn each other and learn each other's businesses and compare notes on like, what do you do with this? Or what do you do with that? And so I feel like it was just so wonderful to have other people who are in that same phase.

    [00:20:45] Alaina Smith: They're managing employees, but they're still very smaller. They're looking to grow. And so we're doing a lot of the same things. And so it's that great, like, I can't possibly find every single thing there is to know on the internet. You can't possibly provide me with every single thing there is to know.

    [00:20:58] Alaina Smith: And so having all of these touch points with these different people who are using different services or have experience and are like, no, no, no, avoid that company. Right. Like it's just so wonderful to have that feedback.

    [00:21:09] Whitney Owens: Yeah. And then with the experts, um, those people that are, those companies are actually coming in and you're meeting them.

    [00:21:16] Alaina Smith: Yeah. Which I feel like creates so much more faith. That's one of the things I loved about the summit was getting to actually talk to these people to see them as like real people, but also to know, like they saw us as real people. We weren't just a price tag. We weren't just money to earn. You know, they really were like, okay, but what is your business need?

    [00:21:32] Alaina Smith: What do you need? Are we a fit? Are we not a fit? And so I think that's another benefit of just having that. Personal connection that you really don't get in a lot of other communities because people don't create time for that. And there's not an ability to just sit down with the owner of a company and pick their brain or to understand that.

    [00:21:47] Alaina Smith: And the community and the summit kind of gives you that chance to do that.

    [00:21:50] Whitney Owens: Yeah, definitely. So we meet on Wednesdays at one o'clock every week as a bigger group. And then we have, you were kind of talking through that. We do a wise teaching at the first Wednesday of the month where I teach something. And then we have wise advice where we bring in experts the 2nd week of the month.

    [00:22:05] Whitney Owens: And then the Q and a the 3rd and then we do a work session the last week. Um, and then you were talking about the small groups we meet on the 1st and 3rd Mondays of the month at 1 o'clock Eastern. So it's the same time just on Mondays. Um, and you're in your phase of practice and then we have the special deals and discounts courses you can take.

    [00:22:22] Whitney Owens: Um, we haven't talked about this yet, but there's a lot of paperwork in there. That you can use for your practice. And so you can just pull that out and edit it for your needs. I think it's really helpful as you're starting a group practice specifically

    [00:22:33] Alaina Smith: to have

    [00:22:34] Whitney Owens: access to all that.

    [00:22:35] Alaina Smith: Well, and it was beneficial because it was like yesterday I made that offer to the person who I'm hoping will accept and be my first therapist.

    [00:22:40] Alaina Smith: And I was like, okay, I immediately need to go to circle and I need to look at all the policies. What don't I have? I need to get things printed out. Like, I should have some stuff up and running before they come on board, hopefully. And so it was just really nice even then to have that, like, okay, here's the things I need and I can have that reassurance that I really am ready.

    [00:22:58] Whitney Owens: Yeah. That's awesome. Yeah. Well, is there anything else about the community that we didn't touch on or that you wanted to share?

    [00:23:05] Alaina Smith: I don't think so. I think we've pretty well touched on all of it.

    [00:23:08] Whitney Owens: Yeah, that's great. And you know, I, I think what's so important is. What we do is about helping clients, but our business, but our profit, whatever, but it's really about our relationship with God, you know, and being transformed through our relationships with one another, being transformed through our business.

    [00:23:24] Whitney Owens: Cause God's using all these things. And so I just kind of wanted to bring it back to that at the end here, as we look at faith and we look at what is God doing in my life and how is he transforming me? .

    [00:23:36] Alaina Smith: Yeah. And I think it's wonderful too to find a community where we come from a lot of different denominational backgrounds, but that judgment of you're doing faith wrong, like I have not encountered that at all.

    [00:23:47] Alaina Smith: And so it has just been a lot of like, Hey, how do you show up as your best self in the midst of this? And I think even like at the summit, having one of the workshops on like how do you connect with churches in your area and what are ways to like. Actually meet their needs without being that annoying telemarketer feeling.

    [00:24:03] Alaina Smith: And so I think even just things like that, and just knowing that every workshop connected back to faith somehow, even in topics that like you would never naturally hear that happen anywhere else. And so I think that is just so huge as well to recognize that that's such an integral part of who we are as people.

    [00:24:20] Alaina Smith: And it is in our businesses too.

    [00:24:23] Whitney Owens: Yeah, that's so, that's so good. And I love it. I just love the community and I love being with you guys. Um, so anyway, this has been great. I've enjoyed it and it's good to just kind of come back to what it's about. You know, and while we're doing what we're doing, um, so anyway, I am excited about this next launch.

    [00:24:43] Whitney Owens: I'm excited also about the summit as you're, you know, talking about that and we'll be meeting together again in person in October in Charlotte. So you can get all the information for that at wise practice, consulting. com and, uh, you can hear about the membership community about. All the things I mean, we, we also have a, there is a free Facebook group.

    [00:25:03] Whitney Owens: It's not quite the membership. People get a little confused about that. So there's a free Facebook group just to connect with other faith based practice centers. The membership community is a lot more focused. I'm a lot more involved in it, but the free Facebook group is also available and you can get that at the website too.

    [00:25:16] Whitney Owens: So anything else I left out or we needed to say. We cover it. I

    [00:25:20] Alaina Smith: don't think so. I'm excited for the upcoming summit. I know I already have my ticket and I can't wait to be back in person with everybody and with all these faces on the screen that I've gotten to know,

    [00:25:30] Whitney Owens: I know it'll be even more special this time.

    [00:25:32] Whitney Owens: Cause you're, you already, you know, these people now and it's really sweet. Yeah. Well, thank you so much for taking the time to be on the show. It's been a real pleasure. Thanks so much for having me.

    [00:26:05] Whitney Owens: Special thanks to Marty Altman for the music in this podcast. The Wise Practice Podcast is part of the Sitecraft Podcast Network, a collaboration of independent podcasters focused on helping people live more meaningful and productive lives. To learn more about the other amazing podcasts in the network, head on over to sitecraftnetwork.

    [00:26:24] Whitney Owens: com. The Wise Practice Podcast represents the opinions of Whitney Owens and her guests. This podcast is for educational purposes only, and the content should not be taken as legal advice. If you have legal questions, please consult an attorney.

James Marland
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