Today we’d like to introduce you to Araceli.
Hi Araceli, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
It took many years, and many life chapters, for me to arrive where I am today as a therapist and practice owner. My mother shaped my professional journey in more ways than one. Despite having only a fourth‑grade education, she successfully ran three clothing stores after my father passed away. I remember watching her travel between the stores, manage the books, and go on business trips to meet suppliers. As a child, I didn’t realize that the “business advice” she shared with me was the same wisdom I would later hear in my college accounting classes. As an adult, I am still in awe of how a woman raised in a small village with limited access to education built a business that sustained her three children. Her resilience, resourcefulness, and courage inspired me to pursue my own entrepreneurial path and eventually open my practice.
My interest in mental health began early. I still remember taking my first psychology class at 13, sitting in a middle school classroom in Bolivia, completely fascinated by human behavior. At the time, becoming a therapist didn’t feel like a real possibility. Psychotherapy carried a heavy stigma in my community, and mental health wasn’t something people talked about openly.
As an adult, my path became clearer. I watched my mother navigate the painful reality of living with a partner who had a diagnosed mental illness. Her second husband’s refusal to seek treatment for Bipolar I deeply affected her life and her own mental health. Witnessing her struggle was the moment I knew I wanted to be part of the movement to destigmatize mental health care. I wanted to support not only those experiencing mental illness, but also the loved ones who carry the weight of those symptoms alongside them. This journey has been deeply meaningful, and I’m excited knowing that this is only the beginning.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Like many entrepreneurs, my path has been shaped by challenges that ultimately strengthened my vision and contributed to my success. I’ve always believed that the struggles we face along the way become the foundation of what we build, and my journey into private practice has been no exception.
Balancing graduate school while raising a family was one of my earliest and most defining challenges. That balancing act didn’t end when I earned my master’s degree — if anything, it intensified as I began shaping the career I envisioned. I knew I wanted to create a practice that felt comfortable, supportive, and genuinely client‑centered, and to do that, I needed a wide range of experiences.
I worked in private practice, state agencies, in‑home settings, and various community environments. Each role exposed me to different systems, tools, processes, and therapeutic styles. I witnessed what helped clients thrive, what supported therapists, and what created unnecessary barriers. These experiences became the blueprint for the practice I would eventually build — one where both clients and therapists feel valued, supported, and empowered.
Creating a mental health practice comes with its own unique hurdles, and one of the more time‑intensive steps is the credentialing process with insurance panels. Each insurer has its own procedures and timelines, and while these processes are designed to ensure quality and compliance, they can take several months to complete. Throughout that period, I focused on staying patient and persistent, keeping in mind the larger goal of making therapy accessible and supporting individuals through life’s challenges.
Hiring was another critical step. I wanted therapists who were not only highly qualified but also compassionate, grounded, and genuinely invested in their clients’ well‑being. Every therapist represents the heart of the practice, so finding the right people mattered deeply.
Opening the doors to my practice was both exciting and terrifying. There’s a vulnerability in wondering whether people will come, whether they’ll feel comfortable in the space, whether they’ll connect with the website, or even with me. But with the unwavering support of my family — and the foundation I built through years of experience in hospitals, finance, and other healthcare settings — the practice began to grow, slowly and steadily.
Today, I feel incredibly grateful. The practice is what it is because of the wonderful clients who trust us and the incredible therapists who guide them. I truly feel blessed to be part of something so meaningful.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
At MindSpa Therapy and Counseling, we aim to provide therapy in a judgment-free space for people to address their mental health needs. We want to provide care for those who are struggling with negative emotions and behaviors that prevent them from living life to their fullest potential. In order to help individuals live a productive and free life we must build psychological strength. In doing so we will create a stronger community.
Can you talk to us a bit about happiness and what makes you happy?
What makes me happiest is seeing my clients flourish and eventually graduate from therapy. The transformation from the moment they first walk into my office to the day they complete their goals is often remarkable. Being able to walk alongside them through that journey — witnessing their growth, resilience, and renewed confidence — brings me a deep sense of fulfillment. It’s a privilege to be part of such meaningful change, and it’s one of the greatest joys of the work I do.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://mindspatherapy.net/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mindspatherapycounseling?igsh=c2t6NXh5MmIxZWFy
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/1NWntuf7wS/?mibextid=wwXIfr
