Help Shonda Start Her Private Practice
Donation protected
Hello Everyone! For those who don’t know me yet, my name is Shonda Brooks. My dream of opening my own private practice is set to become a reality! Eeek, I’m so excited! In 2018 I finished my second masters degree; having secured three prior degrees (thanks for the strong foundation in education Grandma Rose). Over the past three years I have been on a journey of not only self-reflection and growth, but of enlightenment through education, training, and clinical supervision. And for reasons even I am not fully aware of yet, I just started my second semester towards a doctorate degree (I told myself I was done with school a year ago. I guess my heart didn’t get the memo). And like a perfectly timed moment in an infomercial...wait, there’s more! In these past three years I have also obtained certification as a Nationally Certified Counselor and received my license as an Associate Counselor in the state of New Jersey.
Having completed close to 4,000 hours of clinical supervision and post-masters education; I am hopeful that I am finally in a position as of May 2021 to request full licensure from the state as a “Licensed Professional Counselor” (LPC). As an LPC I will be able to transition from being a therapist at an amazing counseling center to owner of my own private practice. River In Eden Counseling & Consulting Center, to be possibly known as “The RECC Center” to youth and “The River” to family and friends like yourself, will be a place of hope and healing, freedom, motivation and support, peace, and relevant change.
As you can imagine, the pandemic has both changed and challenged the way we all do life. We have all had ups and downs and for some, we completely altered our way of living, working, relating, and interacting with the world around us. There has been an astronomical increase in the need for mental health services while both access to quality care and in-person visits have declined drastically. This is especially true in communities consisting of Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC), children/adolescents, and seniors. Telemental healthcare via virtual counseling sessions have been a welcomed resource for so many in these communities; breaking barriers that once limited access. No longer do clients need transportation to and from sessions, have to alter their work schedules to account for sessions or travel time, or have to secure childcare for their visit. Telemental healthcare services bring counseling directly to the client; in their own homes, via a phone, tablet, or computer.
I plan to capitalize on this beneficial way of getting clients the help they both desire and deserve. I intend to open my private practice virtually for the first year and move into a brick and mortar facility by my second year in business. This is where I ask you, my friends, family, and supporters to come alongside me and help me to raise the start up costs of my first year of private practice. My heart is already grateful for whatever amount; great or modest, that you chose to sacrifice and give. The finances raised for my first year of private practice will help to lay the foundation for subsequent years with several one-time costs being accounted for should I reach my goal of raising $6,126.98 ($6,376 includes the fees GoFundMe will deduct from what you give).
Thank you ALL in advance! I am already bubbling over with gratefulness! #ShondaCounsels
Last thing, if you know me; I’m an open book. So I believe in the beauty and art of transparency and vulnerability. So, here’s how the money raised will be used:
ITEMS COVERED FOR ONE YEAR:
EHR (Client Records Database & Telemental Health Platform for Virtual Sessions)- $828
Banking Fees- $120
Website (Build, Domain & Domain Registration)- $134.98
Secure Website Encryption- $48
Clinicians of Color Directory- $204
Psychology Today Directory- $360
Copy Paper, Ink, Pens, Folders, Tape, Staples, Highlighters- $500
Fax Line- $120
Wifi-$1680
American Counseling Association, NJ Counseling Association, & Malpractice Insurance Fees- $221
National Board of Certified Counselors Annual Fee- $85
Licensure Renewal for NJ-$185
Phone Line- $972
Virtual Office Mailing Address & Mail Service- $100
Annual Report for LLC in NJ- $75
ONE-TIME FEES
Business Cards- $50
Business Logo Design- $60
Photography for Website, Social & Print Media- $300
Computer- $250
Printer, Copier, Scanner, & Fax Combo- $400
Microsoft Suites Subscription- $150
(GoFundMe will take an estimated $250 in fees to meet my goal of $6,126.98 so I added that to create a goal of $6,376)
VITAL EXPENSES NOT ACCOUNTED FOR IN FUNDRAISING GOALS
Corporate Attorney- $6,000 retainer
Accountant/Financial Advisor- (Cost Being Researched & Quoted)
1 Year of Rent/Mortgage for a Physical Location- $30,000/year (Estimated at $2500/month)
Furniture for Physical Location- $10,000 minimum
Water Bill for Physical Location- $1200/year (estimated)
Electric/Gas for Physical Location- $7500/year (estimated)
Property Insurance- $3500/year (high-end estimate)
Having completed close to 4,000 hours of clinical supervision and post-masters education; I am hopeful that I am finally in a position as of May 2021 to request full licensure from the state as a “Licensed Professional Counselor” (LPC). As an LPC I will be able to transition from being a therapist at an amazing counseling center to owner of my own private practice. River In Eden Counseling & Consulting Center, to be possibly known as “The RECC Center” to youth and “The River” to family and friends like yourself, will be a place of hope and healing, freedom, motivation and support, peace, and relevant change.
As you can imagine, the pandemic has both changed and challenged the way we all do life. We have all had ups and downs and for some, we completely altered our way of living, working, relating, and interacting with the world around us. There has been an astronomical increase in the need for mental health services while both access to quality care and in-person visits have declined drastically. This is especially true in communities consisting of Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC), children/adolescents, and seniors. Telemental healthcare via virtual counseling sessions have been a welcomed resource for so many in these communities; breaking barriers that once limited access. No longer do clients need transportation to and from sessions, have to alter their work schedules to account for sessions or travel time, or have to secure childcare for their visit. Telemental healthcare services bring counseling directly to the client; in their own homes, via a phone, tablet, or computer.
I plan to capitalize on this beneficial way of getting clients the help they both desire and deserve. I intend to open my private practice virtually for the first year and move into a brick and mortar facility by my second year in business. This is where I ask you, my friends, family, and supporters to come alongside me and help me to raise the start up costs of my first year of private practice. My heart is already grateful for whatever amount; great or modest, that you chose to sacrifice and give. The finances raised for my first year of private practice will help to lay the foundation for subsequent years with several one-time costs being accounted for should I reach my goal of raising $6,126.98 ($6,376 includes the fees GoFundMe will deduct from what you give).
Thank you ALL in advance! I am already bubbling over with gratefulness! #ShondaCounsels
Last thing, if you know me; I’m an open book. So I believe in the beauty and art of transparency and vulnerability. So, here’s how the money raised will be used:
ITEMS COVERED FOR ONE YEAR:
EHR (Client Records Database & Telemental Health Platform for Virtual Sessions)- $828
Banking Fees- $120
Website (Build, Domain & Domain Registration)- $134.98
Secure Website Encryption- $48
Clinicians of Color Directory- $204
Psychology Today Directory- $360
Copy Paper, Ink, Pens, Folders, Tape, Staples, Highlighters- $500
Fax Line- $120
Wifi-$1680
American Counseling Association, NJ Counseling Association, & Malpractice Insurance Fees- $221
National Board of Certified Counselors Annual Fee- $85
Licensure Renewal for NJ-$185
Phone Line- $972
Virtual Office Mailing Address & Mail Service- $100
Annual Report for LLC in NJ- $75
ONE-TIME FEES
Business Cards- $50
Business Logo Design- $60
Photography for Website, Social & Print Media- $300
Computer- $250
Printer, Copier, Scanner, & Fax Combo- $400
Microsoft Suites Subscription- $150
(GoFundMe will take an estimated $250 in fees to meet my goal of $6,126.98 so I added that to create a goal of $6,376)
VITAL EXPENSES NOT ACCOUNTED FOR IN FUNDRAISING GOALS
Corporate Attorney- $6,000 retainer
Accountant/Financial Advisor- (Cost Being Researched & Quoted)
1 Year of Rent/Mortgage for a Physical Location- $30,000/year (Estimated at $2500/month)
Furniture for Physical Location- $10,000 minimum
Water Bill for Physical Location- $1200/year (estimated)
Electric/Gas for Physical Location- $7500/year (estimated)
Property Insurance- $3500/year (high-end estimate)
#SmallBusinessRelief
Co-organizers (2)
Shon Porter Jones
Organizer
Edgewater Park, NJ
Aislinn Brooks
Co-organizer