Today we’d like to introduce you to Carly Kirk
Hi Carly, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
Growing up with my mom working as a therapist and my dad working in ministry, I always knew that I wanted to do something that helped people one day. Since I can remember, I have loved sitting with individuals and hearing their stories– both the heartaches and the victories. While I was in college, I felt the pull towards social work. The goal was always to work in private practice one day, but I knew that gaining a wide variety of experience in the counseling field would be invaluable. After years of working with students, families, and teachers in school-based mental health, I was excited to join with my mom and find a space together to start seeing clients. We started dreaming up The Well Counseling together in the spring of 2021, and we are continually overwhelmed (in the best way) by where The Well is today.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Honestly, our growth has been so steady! This is such a reminder to us that the Lord is in all the details and truly has His hand in The Well. As far as challenges go, it definitely is an adjustment to learn how to balance work and family in a healthy way! Anyone who has a family business can understand how easy it could be for us to have blurred lines. We have worked hard to have healthy boundaries and established roles, so that we can be successful both in our business and within the family unit! I think this aspect of our journey is actually such an important piece in our heart for the families that come to The Well for therapy.
I also have learned how important it is to practice what I preach! Healthy boundaries, caring for self, and navigating the difficulties of life is a large part of my work as a therapist for teenagers and young adults. Over the years of sometimes caring for myself well and other times not well at all, it has become so imperative that I slow down and walk in peace so that I can be emotionally available and present for my clients.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
My mom, Connie Beckham, and I own The Well Counseling Center in Old Katy. We have a team of 9 therapists who are absolutely incredible, and recently brought on my husband, John, as our director of operations. Our mission at The Well is to offer hope and healing for whole families. We work with children ages 3 and up, individuals, couples, and entire families. Our team of therapists offer a wide range of specialities, from child play therapy to perinatal mental health to counseling for ministry leaders to EMDR therapy. All of our therapists are trauma-informed and deeply care for the health and wellness of our clients.
In addition to counseling services, a big part of our heart at The Well is providing workshops, events, and education to the community.
Being from Katy, we are passionate about giving back to our neighbors. Some workshops and events that we’ve hosted include our annual Vision Board Workshop, a Valentine’s Coffee Date all about love languages, Simplifying Back to School, and Nourishing the Mind about the gut-brain connection. We also love partnering with other community organizations like offering storytime at Chick-fil-A, speaking to local practitioners within the Katy Birth Network, presenting for Women of Katy, and being involved in the Katy Business Association and Katy Area Chamber.
We also understand how isolating private practice work can be, so we love gathering other local therapists together for casual coffee dates.
This year we launched our email newsletter, The Wellness, where we send out curated mental health resources and encouragement each month. Our newsletter is also a great place to keep up with where we are popping up in the West Houston area.
Our mission in everything that we do is that we would leave people feeling a little more empowered and a little less alone.
Are there any important lessons you’ve learned that you can share with us?
You know, I went through years and years of school to become a social worker and a therapist. My background and education is not in business or marketing, so that has been quite a journey! I dove head first into entrepreneurship when my first child was less than a year old (in the middle of a world-wide pandemic!). In order to be the mom, wife, business owner, and therapist that I desire to be, I have learned how important it is to stay true to our individual mission and vision. As an entrepreneur, it is so easy to look around and see what everyone else is doing, offering, and promoting. The most grounding practice for me has been to keep the mission for The Well on the forefront of my mind. As I reflect on our hope for The Well’s impact in our community, I can confidently take steps forward in our individualized journey. This would be my encouragement to any business owners out there– your journey is your own, and there can be such beauty and peace found in that!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://thewellcounselingkaty.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thewellcounselingkaty/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thewellcounselingkaty/
Image Credits
Alyssa Pruitt Photography
https://www.apruittphotography.com/
