Today we’d like to introduce you to Tyanna Evans.
Hi Tyanna, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today.
I’m Tyanna Evans MSW, CCTP, LCSW, LISW-CP/S, a native South Carolinian and the Founder/CEO of Evans Counseling and Consulting.
“Some people are leaders and others are followers. I’m okay being a follower, my contributions are just as significant.” This was my response when my husband suggested I open my own business at the age of 27. Business ownership was never a dream of mine. I liked the work did and my clients felt they were being helped. Why change? Well, we all heard the saying, “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.” But after taking a closer look at where I was, I realized that the system was failing not only me but most importantly, the clients that I served. I wanted to be able to work with a diverse group of people, couples, and families.
I no longer wanted to be limited to who and how I provided treatment. I wanted more of a role in the day-to-day decision-making process and more autonomy. So after several weeks of frustration, self-doubt, and fear, I made the ultimate decision to open my own mental health private practice. Undergraduate and Graduate school did not prepare for business ownership. I literally had to teach myself and learn from others who were willing to provide some guidance. I opened Evans Counseling and Consulting in November 2017. As a solo practitioner, I worked part-time after my 9-5 job, 4 days a week.
This meant that I worked 11-hour days, but I did it with a smile because I knew I was building something very meaningful to me and for my current and future clientele. After a year of riding the learning curb, many calls for appointments, and declining appointments because my caseload was full, I knew it was time to resign from my employer, pursue my practice full-time, and expand so I could touch many more lives. This was even scarier because I was leaving what I knew to be consistent, familiar, and predictable. I was venturing out into group practice and hiring other counselors and therapists to help make this dream, which I never knew existed, a reality and help even more people get a healthier state of mind.
I was going to be a leader and support an awesome team that has the same vision as me. Exciting! My practice grew from 1 to 7 individuals within a year and I can honestly say, that my team is a group of phenomenal professionals. I love the office cohesion and teamwork, and each individual has something very unique to offer in our line of work. I certainly look forward to more growth and development in my team and the clients we serve. We aim to normalize seeking mental health treatment.
It should be just as normal as going to your doctor for a check-up. It doesn’t mean you are “crazy,” it means that maybe you are at a point in your life where you need a little more support or need an unbiased soundboard to process some of your thoughts and actions. Counseling is for EVERYONE!
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It has been a rather interesting road to starting Evans Counseling and Consulting, especially with having little to no business knowledge beforehand. Learning the mental health insurance policies, regulations, restrictions, and billing process was discouraging at times. It is not exactly an easy system to navigate.
There are several mental health practices that do not accept insurance because of the difficulty, denials, and reimbursements, but I realize the importance of keeping that an option for people, who otherwise, wouldn’t have access to mental health treatment. There was a lot of trial and error and swear words along the way. Many moments when I considered going back to familiar environments.
Many nights of phoning a friend or consulting with my business coaches. Those individuals, along with my team kept me motivated and inspired to keep going during challenging times.
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about Evans Counseling and Consulting?
Evans Counseling and Consulting provides mental health diagnostic assessments and counseling for individuals with depression, anxiety, trauma and abuse, adjustment and transition issues, workplace/compliance issues, and stress management. We also provide group counseling, couples counseling, mental health awareness and education, and immigration evaluations for those who are seeking to change their legal status.
Evans Counseling and Consulting assist agencies with cultivating a supportive and inclusive work environment for all of their employees through Diversity, Equality, and Inclusion training and educational workshops, consultation for employee development, and consultants for underrepresented groups.
We provide LMSW and LPC-A supervision to provisional counselors and therapists pursuing full licensure in South Carolina.
We are excited to announce that we recently obtained certification from the South Carolina Division of Small and Minority Business Contracting and Certification and have received runner-up in the 2022 Free Times Best of Columbia counseling category.
We all have different ways of looking at and defining success. How do you define success?
Success for me is measured by my heart. How full I fill at the end of a day’s work. It is hard to continue to do something that you are not invested in. There is no longevity in that. But when I can wake up day after day and look forward to coming to work and still leave with a smile on my face, I know my heart is full and I know this is where I am supposed to be. That is a success.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://evanscounselingllc.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/evans.counseling.consulting/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TyannaECC
