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We were lucky to catch up with Rachael Reed recently and have shared our conversation below.
Rachael, thanksfor joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Was there an experience or lesson you learned at a previous job that’s benefited your career afterwards?
There’s been several important lessons at job’s I’ve had previously. It’s hard to pick out just one moment! I believe they’ve all helped me grow to the point of starting Empower and Elevate. I helped do administrative structure at a previous private practice, worked as an essential worker in the pandemic at a Residential Treatment Center, and supported a low cost community center. As I’ve worked in such different environments and learned about how to support a variety of people, it inspired me to provide quality care that is authentic and transparent. The overall lesson seems to be a theme of determination and having to adapt. Owning your own business naturally comes with determination and deciding to go out on my own totally forced me to adapt and think about my purpose. That’s why I have such deep respect for any of our clients, we’re challenging them to adapt or build up their own confidence to try something new.
Rachael, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?
At Empower and Elevate, our goal is to provide an individualized and holistic approach to each client we see. We have a combination of therapists and dietitian on staff to support a range of specialities in order to support our community. We’ve all worked in a variety of settings providing care from a hospital or jail to outpatient community clinics. We based Empower and Elevate on authenticity, collaboration, curiosity, inclusion, and transparency. It combines our values as individuals into the work we do through E&E. Whatever goals you have for therapy we work on adapting our treatment plan and approach to meet your individual needs. Our big focus is providing quality care that is supportive. We have two locations, one in The Woodlands and one in Cypress. Our specialties consist of working with substance use, eating disorders, play therapy, trauma, grief, non-diet approach for food, working through body image, and managing health concerns.
How do you keep your team’s morale high?
One lesson I had to unlearn was expectations with work ethic. I was previously a professional athlete and naturally had the lesson of always needing to work, push myself, or “grind harder”. As a leader or someone managing a team, it’s honoring the fact that everyone’s mentality is different and still productive. I had to shift gears in knowing I’m supporting a human doing their job rather than being an athlete who is constantly pushing limits. It’s been a good change of pace and a challenge with unlearning a mentality I’ve had for years.
We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important as unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?
My advice for managing a team falls within the same idea of balancing productivity and being a human. I support my team by being flexible or adapting when they’re struggling to show up. Holding space for someone doing their job as well as the nature of being a human. I’m always paying attention to how someone functions to provide appropriate support and feedback. I try to live in alignment with my values which always helps people understand my authenticity.
