Meet Tiwana Bell | Psychotherapist & Entrepreneur

We had the good fortune of connecting with Tiwana Bell and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Tiwana, what role has risk played in your life or career?
I think about cliff jumping or sky diving and there is this moment where you recognize with that leap from safety you no longer have control of the outcome. You’ve prepared the best you could by making sure you had the equipment needed or you jumped from the safest possible location. Yet, you know that when all is said and done, the entire result is no longer in your control. There is actually something freeing about it. That’s what risk taking is like for me. I was in a safe space in my career while working for other agencies and organizations but I was not growing as a person. The leap from employee to business owner was one I prepared for as best I could and attempted to find the best time to start, but it has been a leap through thin air. As a result I am now an employer and have been in business for more than a decade. Everyday continues to be a risk and I love it. I enjoy the overall freedom of being a business owner.

The drawbacks are that the only safety is the one I’m able to provide. As an African American business owner, that has not always been easy. However, I’ve had amazing people come along and assist when I least expected. I searched for and found mentors in various areas, as well. My employees are some of the best people and so supportive of the organization and the work we do in the community. Taking the risk to own my own mental health agency was the best decision I could’ve made for myself.

This has allowed me to assist others in taking this same risk in their life when needed. I speak with individuals often who believe they are ready to take the leap into self-employment or business ownership. Others may be leaping from unhealthy relationships that they’ve become codependent on. Not all of them are truly prepared, I must confess. Risk taking is not for everyone. The rewards for those who are willing to push past their anxiety, to feel their fears and do what needs to be done anyway, are often life changing. When someone takes the best steps to move from the standard template of what they believed their life should look like to the openness of understanding that they can create their own life, it can be magical to observe. It is one of the best things about helping others through life’s journey.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
The Enrichment Place is a mental health agency that provides individual and couples therapy/counseling. In addition, we offer seasonal groups and workshops on a variety of behavioral health topics. Our services are both in person and telehealth (online). This year we are starting to move into providing both free and at-cost resources online as well. After ten years, it feels like we are starting to create a brand of our own. We are forming more connections between our agency and the community as a whole and looking for more opportunities to do so. Our goal is for individuals to be able to log on our website and find multiple ways to get their mental health needs met.

There are so many things that inspire me about the work we do. I’m most inspired about our ability to adapt. So much has changed since we’ve opened. We have navigated more towards telehealth due to COVID, and we’ve made the necessary adjustments for that. Just continuing to function at such a high level through this pandemic and all the changes it has brought as a result, is a major win. This could’ve been such a major landmine for us because staff left and everyone was in a state of panic. However, it didn’t turn out to be an issue for us. Those of us still there, came together and powered through. Now we are looking at opportunities to broaden our reach through social media, community involvement, and program expansion.

Believe me building and branding this agency has had its share of difficulties. I am a full-time psychotherapist and a full-time business owner. As a result, the days are mega-long and navigating my schedule can be a nightmare. Thank goodness for Elisha, our medical office assistant. She helps keep me on schedule and cleans up the messes I make along the way. There have been financial challenges due to difficulty obtaining financial resources early on. I was able to overcome this with the assistance of family and friends who would come to my aid when needed. There were days where I cried and was discouraged but I’m just not a person who gives up. My tenacity is undefeated. I would say one night, “I give up” and the next day I would say, “what do I need to do to solve this problem”. As a result, I’ve become a better employer, better with business finance, and a better owner overall. I will learn what I need to learn and do whatever is needed to continue to live this business.

Along the way, I’ve discovered that I need to be patient with success. I have learned more about business, accounting, and marketing in order to expand and improve my business. They don’t teach this when you go to school for be a clinician. I’ve found out that I’m stronger and more resilient than I ever thought I could be.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Monday: 7th Street hangout- There are numerous restaurants and shops to explore. Not far off 7th is also the Food Truck Park on Weisenberger Street where we can eat.

Tuesday:
Arts District to visit the Kimball Museum, Carter and/or Modern Art Museum

Wednesday:
Checkout rooftop bars such as Lot 12 for lunch and shopping in University Village.

Thursday:
Time for water spots such as paddle boating on the Trinity River or jet skiing at Lake Worth

Friday:
Sundance Square downtown here we come. Time for a play at Jubilee Theatre followed by dinner at one of the many great spots nearby such as Mi Cocina or Texas De Brazil

Saturday:
You can’t come to Fort Worth without seeing the Stockyards and Cattle Drive. Get to the Stockyards early for shopping and barbecue and finish up with the Cattle Drive down Exchange Street. While there we have to visit the Spice and Tea Exchange because I love me some tea.

Sunday:
Brunch at Kitchen and Cocktails in Arlington. Then, let’s decide between an event at Dickie’s arena, antique shopping at the Antique Mall, or facials at Sereia Skin Lounge.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I could shoutout to several people but I have to shoutout to my mother, Katherine Bell. My mother has never owned a business, though she has had moments of self-employment. She has never taken this kind of risk and it would be foreign to her in many ways but I could not have had a better supporter. She has been a cheerleader for my business efforts from day one. She opened her home when I first went into business early on for my children and I, she has listened to and helped me work through various problems. I can’t tell you the amount of advice that has come from her. Let’s not leave out financial assistance provided during lean times. I no longer lean on her in those ways but I will never forget the support she provided as I started my business. I would not be here were it not for her. Thanks Mom!

Website: https://www.theenrichmentplace.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tbell_therapy

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theenrichmentplace