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As a part of the Morning Lazziness collection highlighting empowering ladies who’re making a exceptional affect with their concepts, I had the pleasure of interviewing Nikki Li.
Nikki Li, MA, LMFT, R-DMT (any/all), is a Chinese language-born entrepreneur and the founding father of Kitchen Desk Psychotherapy, LLC, a holistic on-line remedy follow serving adults and {couples} throughout Massachusetts. Mixing somatic therapeutic, relational remedy, and mindfulness, Nikki helps Queer, BIPOC, Neurodivergent, and culturally numerous communities in shifting from burnout and nervousness towards groundedness, readability, and deeper connection. Rooted in lived expertise, cultural humility, and a dedication to therapeutic justice, Nikki’s work creates accessible, inclusive areas for significant transformation and genuine relationships.
On this interview, she reveals the mindset shifts, daring strikes, and classes that helped her flip concepts into impactful on-line companies.
What impressed your leap into entrepreneurship, and what private experiences sparked the concept behind your present enterprise?
I by no means anticipated to run my very own enterprise. Regardless of how a lot encouragement and reward I obtained from previous supervisors and purchasers, I didn’t consider I might do it. Over the previous two years as I did quite a lot of self work to change into brutally trustworthy about my imaginative and prescient and desires, nonetheless formidable or loopy they might sound, it turned clear to me that it was not unimaginable, however I needed to create it myself. I needed to take the dangers, face the imposter syndrome, and say out loud: “I’m a one-of-a-kind therapist and what I convey to my purchasers is so distinctive and empowering that it might be a disservice to them if I didn’t go all in.”
What core downside does your enterprise clear up, significantly for girls or underserved communities—and the way does your strategy stand out in right now’s aggressive area?
In brief, I assist Queer, POC, and Neurodivergent adults and {couples} who really feel worn out, anxious, and overwhelmed reclaim a way of management, really feel grounded and current, and construct significant, linked relationships.
The longer reply is that Kitchen Desk Psychotherapy, LLC is a holistic on-line remedy follow serving adults and {couples} throughout Massachusetts. My work blends somatic therapeutic, relational remedy, and mindfulness to assist Queer, BIPOC, Neurodivergent, and culturally numerous communities of their psychological and emotional wellbeing.
By individualized on-line care, I assist purchasers transfer from burnout, nervousness, and disconnection towards groundedness, readability, and extra significant relationships. My follow is deliberately inclusive — knowledgeable by lived expertise, cultural humility, and deep dedication to restorative justice.
What had been among the hardest obstacles you confronted early in your journey as a girl entrepreneur, and the way did you navigate via them?
There have been quite a lot of internalized messages of “you’ll be able to’t do it”. Folks weren’t saying it to my face, however once I shared that I need to be an entrepreneur, some individuals, together with some mentors and supervisors, had been lower than enthusiastic.
As an expressive arts therapist, I turned to the artistic processing instruments I exploit with purchasers. I practiced Genuine Motion and embodied the transformation. I wrote down each purpose why I shouldn’t begin my remedy follow. “You aren’t skilled sufficient, not wealthy sufficient, not sufficiently old”, or “it might be too tough to undergo the authorized channels as an immigrant”, or “therapists shouldn’t be enterprise house owners”. Then underneath every assertion, I wrote down why I ought to do it, why it’s not solely good however mandatory for me to open a remedy follow the place I can provide the best high quality of care my purchasers deserve, whereas taking good care of myself so I can do it sustainability for years to come back.
I additionally did imaginative and prescient boards and artwork remedy prompts to make the imaginative and prescient and emotions of being an entrepreneur concrete, even earlier than I used to be one. I shared it with associates and located many who resonated and believed in me. It took quite a lot of self-trust and neighborhood assist to navigate the challenges, however I’m actually glad I did it.
When the going will get powerful, what retains you grounded and motivated to maintain pushing ahead?
Understanding that the world wants the assist that I present! I’m in it for the long term, so I’m at all times adjusting, at all times trying to arrange methods so issues can run extra easily. I’ve heard many tales of therapists and entrepreneurs burning out quick, so I’m making an attempt to develop slowly and deliberately, preserving in thoughts what actually issues, and training minimalism on a regular basis in my enterprise.
What every day habits or non-negotiable routines show you how to keep centered, creatively energized, and balanced as a founder?
You already know what they are saying, the one fixed is change! Since beginning my enterprise I’ve modified my routines many occasions. Those that caught are: motion, neighborhood, and remembering what actually issues.
I transfer day by day and dance each week. It retains me linked to my physique and spirit, and brings pleasure into my life.
I present up for my neighborhood (household, associates, and far bigger communities), even when it’s inconvenient for my enterprise. These individuals and relationships are why I work exhausting.
My values are what anchor me in my enterprise. There are 1,000,000 instructions to go, however my values present a roadmap, a grounding steerage that reveals me what I ought to prioritize.
What’s been the simplest development lever for buying new purchasers or increasing your buyer base?
Networking. I naturally need to join individuals with the best assets. Over time, I’ve constructed relationships with each supplier I’ve labored with. They belief me and subsequently their purchasers belief me. Phrase of mouth is my greatest referral supply.
One other factor that helped was realizing that I’m not the best therapist for everybody. I’ve labored exhausting to develop my specialties, taking a relational and somatic strategy. I grew my experience in working with queer, poc, and neurodivergent adults and {couples} and give attention to serving one of the best match purchasers. For instance, in {couples} work, I solely work with those that are nonetheless very a lot dedicated to their relationship and simply need to make it higher. Possibly they love one another very a lot however can’t cease combating. Or they need to be higher companions however their trauma and communication patterns are getting in the way in which. This work is distinctively completely different from a pair navigating divorce, so I refer divorcing {couples} to therapists who concentrate on serving to them. By doing that I can keep centered on serving to the individuals I’m finest at serving to.
What branding or advertising choice had the most important affect in elevating your enterprise and constructing belief along with your viewers?
Constructing my web site and establishing an genuine on-line presence. I constructed each of my very own web sites, however I wouldn’t suggest that for everybody. I’m somebody who deeply enjoys artistic work and tinkering with expertise, however in case you are not, I might suggest outsourcing it so you’ll be able to have a web-based presence.
How do you personally outline success—not simply as a enterprise proprietor, however as a girl dwelling a purpose-driven life?
Success is doing significant work with minimal complexity and most freedom.
Are you able to share a mistake or misstep that taught you a lesson you continue to carry with you right now?
As an immigrant I used to be actually intimidated by the authorized facet of issues. Seems there are various professionals (legal professionals, coaches) who may help you navigate that. I’m excellent at remedy and plenty of different elements of my follow, however I didn’t need to be good at all the things. It’s okay to hunt assist.
What’s your finest recommendation for girls simply beginning out—particularly first-time entrepreneurs feeling overwhelmed or uncertain of their subsequent steps?
Discover assist and neighborhood. Speak to somebody who has achieved it, and chances are high they’d be prepared to share their journey with you, together with a number of ideas! Take all the manager functioning assist you will get. Use job administration instruments, work with a coach. Beginning a enterprise is just a collection of duties and you are able to do it by taking one step after one other.
How do you strategy danger and innovation, particularly when breaking new floor in a male-dominated or fast-changing business?
Develop danger tolerance, however don’t be overly cautious. Know your numbers and keep on with your price range!
What are the highest 5 mindset shifts or private practices that helped you overcome self-doubt and develop your confidence as a girl entrepreneur?
I’m not for everybody.
I don’t must take recommendation from individuals who haven’t been to the place I need to go.
I’m adequate.
I don’t should be good at each single factor to make this work.
I/my associate/my household/my consumer deserve care and compassion.
Should you might spark a world motion via your work, what would it not be—and why is that mission significant to you?
A world the place each individual—from each background, identification, and means of being—is deeply seen, understood, and supported to stay in alignment with their true self, free from masking, disgrace, or the overwhelm of making an attempt to ‘slot in.’
This issues deeply to me as a result of I’ve witnessed how hiding, masking, and concern of disconnection erode well being, pleasure, and relationships — and I consider that by serving to one individual reclaim their voice and wholeness, we start to heal wider ripples of disgrace, isolation, and separation.
What’s a quote, philosophy, or guiding perception that shapes the way you lead, create, and stay day by day?
There’s an enormous distinction between ‘all are welcome right here’ and ‘this area was created with you in thoughts’. – Dr. Crystal Jones
The place can our viewers join with you, discover your work, or observe your entrepreneurial journey on-line?
They will discover me at Kitchen Table Psychotherapy or on Instagram.
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