Today, we’d like to introduce you to Kara Kohnen.
Hi Kara, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today.
I started Grow Through Life Counseling 12 years ago as my private practice. The need for great outpatient counseling extended far beyond what I could offer alone. Also, it’s very helpful to have a trusted team when working with families, as siblings need their providers, and a team can also offer couples or family care.
Through personal growth, mentorship, and education on business growth, I built a larger team in 8 locations throughout San Diego County and Murrieta, CA, who are passionate about taking great care of our patients and providing high-quality care. We offer our new team members mentors and have seen our team members grow from pre-licensed to fully licensed clinical supervisors and, ultimately, running a location as team leaders.
We have had support team members also go on to graduate school. We help our patients grow and, ultimately, our teams and colleagues. We are a supportive and positive community and are very proud of the support and culture we provide.
We all face challenges, but would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
The challenge as an entrepreneur is often not knowing which decisions need to be made and the speed at which they are made, given so many elements in play – both known and unknown challenges are ongoing. Covid was an exercise in continually pivoting and ultimately focusing on growth.
It was tragic knowing the dire mental health consequences of the shutdowns and how that continues to impact youth depending on their stage of development at the time. Also, we have had times when we could not accommodate great team members, and it was time for them to move on to their next opportunity.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe you can tell us more about your work next?
At Grow Through Life Counseling, we have a hugely talented leadership team that continues to impress with their depth of knowledge and always shares and helps their colleagues.
There are so many specialties throughout the practice and various experts to consult with on our team.
Can you share something surprising about yourself?
During Covid, I discovered a love of improv comedy and began to study with various schools in San Diego. The ability to play and laugh is so healing, and I have always used humor as a therapist.
I now have an improv group called “Shared Delusions Improv,” and we will be performing this summer at the Del Mar Fair. It has been a joy to be part of a group that doesn’t take itself seriously.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.growthroughlifecounseling.com
- Instagram: @growthroughlifecounseling
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/growthroughlifecounsel
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/grow-through-life-counseling
Image Credits
Mission Valley
