Speaker 1: 0:30

My name is Anitra Anitra Payne. My business name is Trinity Wellness Group. I was going to say Therapy and Chill. That's my brand. Yes, my business is Trinity Wellness Group. I am a mental health provider. I have my own private practice and I'm licensed in Maryland, dc and Virginia.

Speaker 2: 0:48

Wonderful. I'm so excited to get to talk to you. I'd like to talk to you about the type of services that you provide, what clients are coming to you for, the type of issues that they can come in for.

Speaker 1: 1:00

So I attract a lot of women around 20 to, I would say, 35. They're coming to talk about anxiety, depression, relationship issues, life transitions, motherhood, things like that.

Speaker 2: 1:15

I love that, and let's get into a little bit more detail, because I think what you're doing is awesome and very unique. You have some of the services that I saw was wine and talk, I believe.

Speaker 1: 1:27

Oh, wine snacks and facts, yes, Are they?

Speaker 2: 1:30

like some webinars, talk to me about those little different things that you offer, because I think that's very unique and very fun.

Speaker 1: 1:36

It is. So I came up with that at the top of this year. Actually, I thought it would be a cute, fun way to build community, like on a Zoom call where I can have 10 to 20 women show up on Zoom with their glass of wine and we just talk about all the things like facts and I'll give certain facts about some of the information that they want. Just talk about all the things like facts and I'll give certain facts about some of the information that they want to talk about. So a lighthearted way to spotlight mental health issues, concerns and things like that.

Speaker 2: 2:04

Yeah, and then you've got therapy and chill corner. You've also got how to cultivate healthy relationships, and these are also other webinars that people can join in as well. Correct, absolutely. I love that. I think that is so unique, and you also have your own merch, I see, and you're wearing it Therapy and Chill. Talk to me a little bit about that, yes.

Speaker 1: 2:23

I created Therapy and Chill, I think in 2020, 2022, I think I'm not sure, but it's just that I wanted people to focus on therapy, but in a very chill, not serious way, all the time. So I created journals and planners so my clients could journal their journey and they can have a planner that focuses on mental health features like mindfulness, self-care, things like that. So, yeah, I have a lot of different brands that basically, I'm just trying to help people have tools when they're not in the therapy, when they're not doing therapy one-on-one.

Speaker 2: 3:05

Absolutely. And then, how did you get started? What is your background? How did you get into your industry?

Speaker 1: 3:12

Oh, my goodness. So since I was a kid, when I was growing up, 12, 13 years old, I said that I wanted to be a psychiatrist and I went to school Michigan State University and I got my degree in psychology. And then I went to Wayne State University and I got my master's degree in social work. And I just came here and I moved to Maryland in 2012,. And I just came here and I moved to Maryland in 2012, got my license in Maryland and I started my private practice in 2017. Yeah, and I've just been trying to help people live their best life through offering them, you know, through offering mental health support for them.

Speaker 2: 3:48

Yeah, I love that and talk to me about your business and your team.

Speaker 1: 4:03

Do you have anybody else with you or are you just doing it solo? So at the top of at the end of last year, my clinicians they all left and they started their own business. So right now I have not hired any new clinicians. It's just myself and my husband that work for the company. But yeah, it's, I'm kind of transitioning. So right now I'm not really sure if I really want a group anymore. Okay, at this time.

Speaker 2: 4:19

Yes, but yeah, things can change, you know.

Speaker 1: 4:21

Things could change, you know, but I guess I'm focusing more on the branding, on speaking engagements, things like this podcast, yeah. So I'm not so sure if I have the time to mentor clinicians, but that is always my. That's going to be my focus, probably next year.

Speaker 2: 4:36

Yeah, I love that and I love that. You're like you know what, maybe I'm going to take a step back and just see how things go. That's so important to be self-aware of those things, Because sometimes you just jump into stuff and don't really think them through right. Absolutely so. That's wonderful. And then I'd like to ask you, as far as marketing goes for yourself, what are you doing to get your name out there? Just maybe you could provide other insights or tips for other entrepreneurs who are listening.

Speaker 1: 5:09

Yeah, so I use all the socials Instagram, tiktok, facebook, linkedin. I just recently hired a marketing strategist and a content creator so they're promoting, you know, my business. I'm, my books are on Amazon and Lulu, so I just use any you know platform that I can to get my name out there. But now, since, within the last two, three weeks, the marketing strategist she's the one that's kind of like doing her thing, she has a degree in it and she's best at that, yeah, because it can be very hard. It can be very hard to get your name out. You have to constantly create content, to be present, and sometimes that's distracting from what I really want to do. I just want to focus on seeing clients and helping clients. So one advice well, some advice I would give to anybody who is trying to market themselves maybe hire an expert to help you with that.

Speaker 2: 5:58

That is great advice because oftentimes business owners entrepreneurs they're not really focused on the branding side. They want to get to their clients, their patients, their main focus right and sometimes it's hard to navigate that it's so hard, so that's great advice that if maybe something's not clicking for you, then hire Exactly Love that.

Speaker 2: 6:20

And then what are people coming to you for? I know I kind of asked this before, but I want to get into the, I guess, nitty gritty of it all. Like loss, depression. Do you do couples therapy? I do Tell me. Oh, you know, I love love.

Speaker 1: 6:35

Yes, so yes, like I forgot to mention that earlier. So yes, I do couples therapy, premarital counseling. To be truthful, honestly, the conversations are usually centered around family, children and intimate partner relationships, depression stemming from intimate partner relationships or family concerns and issues. But, yeah, the heart of what matters to people that usually come to me that my business attract, it's the depression, the anxiety, the relationship, the love. Yeah, so I do deal with grief. People lose family members, so that comes up, but it's not the number one reason that my demographic comes to see me.

Speaker 2: 7:20

Yeah, and I'd like to know what have been some moments that in your career that you can look back on and be super proud of yourself, Like were you able to help somebody overcome something or meet their goals. I would like to hear some of those stories, if you've got any.

Speaker 1: 7:36

So there is not just one, and this might sound cheesy, but the truth is, every time I can talk and relate and improve a client's day in life, that's a moment for me. It doesn't have to be because I helped them get through a divorce or the loss of a loved one. It could be I strategize with them on how to have a healthy conversation with their boss or to advocate for themselves, because they don't know how to speak up for themselves. So I don't know if there's just one moment honestly I genuinely love what I do.

Speaker 1: 8:11

I love helping my clients, and so every day that I show up and I can help pour into them, educate them, encourage them, uplift them, that's a win for me. That's why I do it. I've been doing this for a very long time and it really is the heart of what I do to help people, to help people become their best selves.

Speaker 2: 8:33

Yes, and, like you said, you've been doing this for a long time. Tell me a little bit about your background. I think you did some social work in the education system.

Speaker 1: 8:41

Yes, so I started out. I was a child protective service worker and I was doing that in Michigan. Then I moved here to Maryland and I also was a child protective service worker, and it wasn't until, I think, 2016 that I decided to open my own practice. I was scared, I was nervous, I really did not have a mentor, I didn't have many examples, but I was tired of the social service field in that way and, like I said, since I was a child, I always wanted to be in the psychology field and direct clients to therapist practice. So that's when I started my own practice and I've been doing it since, like I said, 2017. And at first I was renting space from a friend. She allowed me to rent out her office for like one or two days and then I was able to get my own office with her when she moved to a bigger space and I had my own office aside hers. And then 2020, covid hit and I had so many plans for that year, but we had to go back in the house.

Speaker 1: 9:55

And so I tried to hold on to the office for some months but I end up giving up the office and now I just do telehealth. But that's actually so great. I get to still show up and be seen and meet my client where they are. It doesn't matter if we're in person or, you know, on the it or they're questioning. What advice would you like to give them, or any insight? Yeah, I think the first step is to reach out to someone that may be able to tell them and help them identify the signs. Sometimes it can be missed. A lot of times we just push through, we're moving through life. We don't even feel, we get so detached from our feelings and we don't know that something is wrong.

Speaker 1: 10:55

We're just like, oh, I'll be okay, and so I think the best thing for that person to do is to seek out a mental health professional. You can go on Psychology Today. You can search just on Google your preference, whatever insurance you have, and I'm sure people will come up in your area that can provide mental health, so you can know exactly what you're dealing with.

Speaker 2: 11:17

I love that, thank you. And then is there anything maybe that I have not touched on that you want to share with the audience, whether it's about yourself, your business, your merch, anything at all.

Speaker 1: 11:29

More so. Just, you know, when I started mental health, there was a stigma. You know, now people are so proud to proclaim that they have a therapist and you know, if you're going to date me, you need to have your own therapist. And you know that wasn't how it was 10 years ago. So for people who still struggle with that stigma, the shame and the guilt of needing to help to have mental health care, I would just encourage them to step out and seek help.

Speaker 1: 11:57

You know, just like you take care of your physical body, your physical health, you should take care of your mental health. You know it's just as important. The mind, yeah, your mind is just as important. So and I I mean a lot of illnesses you know come from the mental health piece not being, you know, nurtured and cared for. So I would just encourage people to definitely prioritize their mental health, their mental well-being. And if you are working on your mental health, your mental well-being, and you want to journal or you want to plan it, yes, look me up. I'm at trinitywellnessgrouporg and you can find some of my tools to help you with that. Journaling is a very good therapeutic tool to help you on your wellness journey.

Speaker 2: 12:41

I agree, I do that. I do that too, Like I have checklists on my days off. Sometimes I have to do schoolwork and stuff and without my list I'm lost, I won't get it done. So I just have it in check. So I love that you have that and you know the power that these little books hold the big power right.

Speaker 1: 12:56

We have so much going on in our brain we need some help sometimes, it's okay.

Speaker 2: 13:00

Right, I love that. And then, where do you see yourself in the next five years as a person and with your business?

Speaker 1: 13:08

As a person and with my business. You know, honestly, I love what I do, I love the therapy, I love being in my therapy chair. However, in the next five years, I would love to explore more speaking engagements, in-person conferences. I would like to, you know, expand to that part of impacting people on a larger scale. So I would still have Trinity Wellness Group. I'll have clinicians at some point to return to help with that, with the direct services, and I would like to just speak. I would like to speak. I would like to write books and start to go down that path.

Speaker 2: 13:49

I love it. And then in the future, we're just going to manifest it. But when you have other clinicians working with you, what type of clinician are you looking to have around you and in your space and like what would be the type of like culture that you would want to cultivate within your space?

Speaker 1: 14:05

Well, I've had, you know, some clinicians that work for me and they went off and they are doing their own thing and I'm so proud of them, of them. I would want my clinician to be loving, caring, open, someone who's competent to work with all demographics, because we love everybody, we love working with everybody and so, whatever that you know, that person comes to me. If they want to be my clinician, they would just have to be a genuine spirit, like someone that's really here to help you know Absolutely.

Speaker 2: 14:34

And what do you like to do on your free time when you're not helping other people, mentoring them or giving them advice? What's that?

Speaker 1: 14:42

Yeah, you're an entrepreneur, you're always working. That's right. Yep, no, I the simple things I love. I'm not a newlywed, but I recently married, in June of 2023. So I love spending time with my husband. I love vacationing, going out to eat, going to a concert. I'm going to a concert later tonight.

Speaker 2: 15:02

What are you seeing?

Speaker 1: 15:03

Oh, my gosh, it's, I forget his name. Ah Girl, it's okay, I'll forget it, I'll let it fly.

Speaker 2: 15:10

I think his name is Elamine Elamin.

Speaker 1: 15:12

My friend turned me on to this artist and so I'm new to him, but he's really good. He's at the Howard Theater tonight. I think his name is Elamin, okay, so he's. Yeah, it's a good, I'll check him out. Yeah, check him out, he's good. But yeah, I love music, I love dancing, I love being around family and friends, so that's what I love to do.

Speaker 2: 15:31

I love it. All right, and then anything else that you'd like to share. Before I ask you my last question, I want to make sure I get all the good stuff.

Speaker 1: 15:40

No, I think that's it.

Speaker 2: 15:42

That's it, okay. Well, people, if you're going through something you know anybody who's going through a hardship make sure you check out Anitra's business. And once again, therapy and Chill.

Speaker 1: 15:54

Yes.

Speaker 2: 15:55

All that good stuff, give all that plug-in, look the journals, the mugs, the sweaters. And then, okay, my last question Do you have a saying, a quote or a mantra that has stuck with you and it has inspired you, or maybe something?

Speaker 1: 16:14

that somebody told you that you would like to share and leave with our listeners. Man, a few, let's see. One would be. It always seems impossible until it's not. That's so true Because I work with a lot of individuals. They cannot see themselves out of the situation that they're currently in, and so I like to remind them keep going. It always seems impossible until it's not, you know, until it's done. So just keep going. So that's something that I hold dear to me, yeah.

Speaker 2: 16:45

No, I know Right, sometimes it's so hard to be to not see outside of your own little bubble and perspective that when you put in the work and you have somebody like you, like that support, to help you get out of there, and then you look back you're like what I used to think that exactly. Wow, thank you. So that's so important and thank you so much for coming on here and talking to us about your business yeah, good, thank you, you're welcome.