We had the good fortune of connecting with Chelsea Vinas and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Chelsea, we’d love to hear about how you approach risk and risk-taking
I have a love/hate relationship with risk taking. I think a lot of us can relate to that gut-wrenching feeling of making yourself vulnerable and losing control of a situation due to putting yourself out there, whether in a career or relationship. When I was younger, I wanted to play it safe a lot of the time because to be vulnerable was one of the most risky decisions I could make. Well, what I found out was that by playing it safe I was missing out on a lot of opportunities. I now know that risk has been at the forefront of my favorite memories, relationships, and current business. If it weren’t for taking risks and being vulnerable, which can be synonymous, I would have stayed stuck in multiple aspects of my life.

What should our readers know about your business?
I run a virtual mental health private practice to help women in leadership overcome imposter syndrome and perfectionism to be able to take their own risks with ease. As a first-generation Cuban-American, college graduate, and business owner, I understand the vulnerabilities my clients’ feel and work with them at the level in which they are at. I narrow in on their strengths and use this as a way in which to combat imposter syndrome and move forward from feeling “stuck.” When starting my business, I had to get over my own self-limiting beliefs about not being “good enough” to run a business. I realized that in order to move past my own doubts, I had to reach out to friends in the field who had begun their own businesses (shout out Jesse Westfall for answering all my questions about private practice). Along the way, I have recognized that building a community of people you trust and can rely on helps with motivation, inspiration, and accountability. Also, if you’ve been considering starting anything, whether it’s a new habit, business, or relationship give yourself the option of beginning before talking yourself out of it. We are blatantly unaware of how amazing things can be when we put ourselves out there instead of wondering “what if.”

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Although I now live in Miami, FL, I grew up in LA County and will always love the west coast! If I wanted to show someone around LA I would definitely try my hardest to highlight all the amazing food and views we have to offer. I would make sure to take them hiking to see city views and then to pick up tacos from Tacos y Que. Although city views are beautiful during the day, Griffith Observatory is stunning at night and would take them to star gaze/appreciate city lights. Further, to honor my Cuban roots I would have to stop by Tropicana Cafe/Bakery in Downey to pick up a cortadito y pastelito. To top it off, I would take them down to Long Beach for a beach walk and end the afternoon at Panxa Cocina for a pitcher of jalepeño margaritas.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I undoubtedly believe in the saying, “if you want to go fast, go alone, if you want to go far, go together.” I have been so fortunate in having amazing support systems to be able to lean on when things get difficult (because life definitely gets messy). I am nothing without the love I receive from my parents & siblings, the hype I get from friends/colleagues, and of course the support of my partner. I owe a great deal of who I am, to the community who has helped shaped me. I am forever thankful to each and every person who has taken the time to teach me, mentor me, and has shown me the importance of risk taking in life/career.

Website: www.therapizewithchelsea.com

Instagram: @get_therapized

Linkedin: Chelsea Vinas

Image Credits
Photo Credit: Justin Cortez

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