Today we’d like to introduce you to Vanessa Flores Newton.
Vanessa, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
I grew up in a small town in South Texas called McAllen. I am the youngest of three sisters and was raised by my single parent mother until about middle school. We were low to middle working class and pretty much grew up hand to mouth. I’ve always been an outgoing person with a strong personality. My mother taught us very young to be independent, educated and to work hard at everything we do. I like to say that the hustle is in me and I’ve had to learn how to find balance as an adult and entrepreneur.
When I graduated High School, I decided to go to college 9 hours away from home at Texas Christian University in Fort Worth, TX. I longed to be with people that did not look like me or act like me. My hometown is a small bubble of everyone being the same. I appreciate it so much more now as I have gotten older but at the time, all I wanted to do was “get out” so I did. I spent four years studying Social Work and went on to get my Master’s in Social Work at the University of Houston.
Houston was home for about five years. I loved my time at UH and I made long-lasting friendships I will cherish for a lifetime. I still go back and visit as often as I can. The culture, food, and environment is much different than Austin, where I currently live. After grad school, I stayed in Houston to work at my internship placement as an Adult Trauma & Pediatric Social Worker. It was my first job out of grad school and I was learning to navigate being an adult and figuring out what I wanted my life to look like.
Through that period of self discovery, I decided to make a move and leave Houston. I was living alone and working two jobs to make ends meet and I needed a change of pace and scenery. I landed a job as a Pediatric ICU Social Worker in Austin, TX which is a city I had always dreamed about living in since I was in High School. It took me a while to get here but I finally did. It was becoming clear to me at the time that I wanted to start my own private practice. I wasn’t exactly sure how I would get there but I knew that’s where I longed to be.
With that decision came another career transition into being a school Social Worker at a local charter public school. Little did I know that this job would be the thing that would launch me into becoming a business owner. I loved this job. I was working with students and families that reminded me so much of my Mexican culture back home. I had the opportunity to speak my native language of Spanish and serve in a way that I hadn’t been able to before. I spent three years there while working to obtain my clinical license that I needed in order to open up my own private practice. Having my own practice was always something I aspired to have but wasn’t sure if I would be able to obtain it because of financial barriers. It takes money to start a business and keep it running.
When I finally passed my exam, I knew it was time. It was my opportunity to go for it. I worked full-time at the school and secured an office space while slowly picking up a caseload and started to see clients in the evenings and weekends. The days were long but I made it work. I couldn’t afford to leave my job and try this entrepreneur life without some financial security. I guess the universe heard what I wanted and my business had a strong start. I had enough clients to leave my full-time job and it was the scariest decision I’ve ever had to make.
I pushed hard and was able to acquire my first, tiny office at $500 dollars a month and kept going. Clients were steady and was able to then move into a larger office that costed $750 a month. I was able to then upgrade again and secure an office in downtown Austin at $1k a month. At that point, business was booming and I was turning away clients left and right. I thought to myself, “Why the heck am I doing that? These people need support. I need to hire someone.” So, I did.
I brought on my first contract clinician and she filled up her caseload in about three months. I then decided to bring on a second contract clinician and her caseload filled up quickly. It was then that I decided to take my biggest risk thus far and secure a house in Central Austin with five offices at $3700 a month! Something told me to go for it and believe that the rest will come. It did. I got the house and began hiring more clinicians one by one. We are now a team of 12 and everyone is thriving. It’s been such a humbling experience to see the community that has been created as well as all the supplemental things I have been able to do with my business because of this small belief in myself that I could do it, even if it meant risking all I had.
I now host workshops, women’s retreats, panels for other entrepreneurs, support groups for small business owners, etc. I love the business side of things and I had no idea what being a business owner meant. That’s my favorite part about what I do now. I am incredibly passionate about teaching others how to do the same. As a woman of color, it can be incredibly defeating to feel like you are constantly working against a system that was not created for us. I’ve learned so much about asking for help, learning to rest and taking risks even if they make you shake.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It has not been a smooth road at all. My relationships with money has not always been the best. I grew up with very little and was not taught how to manage money, save money, invest my money, etc. Growing a business with a scarcity mentality of never enough has been a huge lesson to learn. I have learned so much about my worth, speaking goals and dreams into the universe, learning to come from a place of abundance and working hard for everything I have. There were months early on when I didn’t know if I would be able to pay my office rent but some way, somehow I figured it out and it happened.
Like I said earlier, being a woman of color certainly has posed challenges in the mental health field in my community. Austin is a very white city and there are not many of “us” out here which is why I decided to co-brand a group named Austin Therapists for Color because I needed a tribe, a community a support system of other therapists and entrepreneurs who looked like me and could empathize with my experience. It was the best thing I’ve ever done.
Since opening a business, I’ve gotten married. While I consider him to be my business partner, it’s difficult to balance personal and professional. I work a lot and often times that means I can neglect family, friends and fun opportunities to be Vanessa rather than Vanessa the business owner. With a lot of therapy and self-reflection, I am getting better at this.
Lastly, learning how to run a business and be a leader that comes from a place of integrity has been a huge learning curve. I am still learning and nowhere near perfect but that’s why I have a tribe, I read books, I attend workshops and conference. The learning never ends and I strive to build a team that feels proud working at Colors of Austin Counseling. I want to create a space that I once needed when I first started my business.
Colors of Austin Counseling – what should we know? What do you do best? What sets you apart from others?
Colors of Austin Counseling is a community of helping professionals working to enhance the mental well being of kids, adults, families, and couples in our community. We are a fun and dynamic group of clinicians who value working collaboratively and helping improve the health and wellness of our communities. We have two office locations, one located in Central Austin, and a second location in Cedar Park.
It is important that providers at Colors of Austin Counseling align with the mission and values of the practice. We believe in creating the best atmosphere for our clients and employees and in giving back to our community. The practice values diversity, creativity, and courage and we are passionate about working with members of our communities to thrive in both their own lives and in their relationships. We believe in access for all regardless of race, gender or financial ability.
The thing I am most proud of is that we have a team of helping professionals that are representative of the populations we serve. We are diverse in color, race, expertise and skill level. There is a place for everyone here and we are one of very few diverse practices in our area.
Every single one of our clinicians strives to be their best and give their best in every capacity and they are not afraid to ask questions and make mistakes. I am honored to work alongside them.
What moment in your career do you look back most fondly on?
Seeing the business that I’ve built from nothing. I didn’t know that it would get this big. I thought it would just be me forever and as I’ve learned more about who I am and where I come from, I’ve learned that everything is connected and I don’t want to stay small in my life. I want to be brave and use my voice for good.
I feel like my business and my team have a voice in this community that I have worked hard to build. We have a seat at the table and to see what this practice has become truly brings me to tears.
Pricing:
- Individual Counseling: $50 to $135 per hour
- Group Counseling: $50 a session
- Phone Intake (15 minutes): Free
Contact Info:
- Address: Austin Location:
4112 Marathon Blvd.
Austin, TX 78756
Cedar Park Location:
930 S. Bell Blvd., Suite 306
Cedar Park, TX 78613 - Website: www.colorsofaustincounseling.com
- Phone: 512-829-8738
- Email: connect@colorsofaustincounseling.com
- Instagram: @colorsofaustin
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/colorsofaustin/?ref=settings
Image Credit:
Chelsea Francis http://www.chelsealainefrancis.com/
Christin Hume https://www.christinhumephoto.com/
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