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

Hi Elizabeth, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
My name is Elizabeth Sanchez, and I am a licensed marriage and family therapist running a private practice called Calidad Holistic Wellness and Therapy in Whittier, California and a mental health podcast called Cafecito y Calidad launching March 1, 2023 . I am a first generation, Mexican American, female based in Southern California. As the daughter of an immigrated family, I have always had a passion for helping others. Especially, the BIPOC community and under served communities. In the early stages of childhood, I watched my parent pursue the “American Dream” through hard work, entrepreneurship, and perseverance. My parents always modeled perseverance and resilience and encouraged me to dream big in whatever I did, and so I did. I decided to attend college and be one of the first in my family to get a graduate degree. I attended the University of La Verne and graduated with my Bachelor’s in Psychology and my Master’s in Marriage and Family Therapy. I opened my private practice in 2019 and have different services that offer to our community: I offer Telehealth and in person mental health services to anyone living in California, I specialize in EMDR therapy which is an evidence based therapy modality that helps people of all walks of life overcome different challenges. I have also expanded my services in helping my colleagues through EMDR Consultations, Private Practice Consultations, I have also collaborated with a creative team to bring you “Cafecito y Calidad” – a highly caffeinated, quality Podcast featuring discussions with various experts and holistic specialists in the Mental Health field.All of this has not just been years in the making, but years in dreaming and envisioning that can be traced back to the little girl that still lives in me. My hope is that I can continue to pursue education, advocate for systems of change, and add a little more “Calidad” into the lives of all who need it most. My dream became a clear vision, I married my husband and quickly adopted his philosophy on life: To do everything with “Calidad” which means quality in Spanish.

What should our readers know about your business?
My name is Elizabeth Sanchez, and I am a licensed marriage and family therapist running a private practice called Calidad Holistic Wellness and Therapy in Whittier, California. Mental health is a crucial aspect of overall well-being, yet access to mental health services remains a significant challenge for many individuals, particularly for Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) communities. As a BIPOC-founded, women-owned private therapy practice, my ultimate aim is to address this gap by creating a podcast about mental health and providing information about holistic healing practices that can aid in my community’s healing and overall well-being.

My goal is to create a mental health podcast that invites various experts to share and spread the word of holistic healing practices while we ground ourselves with a cup of coffee. The podcast is called “Cafecito y Calidad,” which in Spanish means “coffee and quality.” I was inspired the many quality conversations I’ve had with friends and clients alike while sipping on some delicious coffee. I am committed to highlighting local coffee shops in my podcast.
Starting a mental health podcast is a great way for a therapist like myself who is running a private practice and intends to reach a winder audience. My mission is to provide valuable resources and information yto those in need, but I am only one person. As a first generation Latina and eldest daughter of incredibly working immigrants, I have found that there many clients with similar backgrounds who seek mental health help.
It is my goal to reach as many people as a I can, even if cannot personally add them to my client roster

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I would take them to a couple of my favorite local coffee shops such as La Monarca Bakery in Whittier and Mi Cafecitio Coffee in Pomona. I would also take them out for drinks and dinner at Kalaveras and for a nice evening to the Art District in LA to tour art galleries and breweries

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I would like to dedicate this shout out to my supportive and loving husband Jorge Sanchez, my beautiful son Dominic Sanchez, my parents, my hardworking production and website team who consists of : Diego Perello, Savannah Sanchez, Kairi Angeline, and Tina Guerra and to all my colleagues who have supported me through the ups and downs of entrepreneurship

Website: www.calidadholisticwellness.com

Instagram: @calidadholisticwellness & @cafecitoycalidadpodcast

Other: Tik Tok- Calidadholisticwellness

Image Credits
Savannah Wilde Photography and Marketing Jeanette Sanchez Photography Kairi Angeline from Play Theory Co. A production company

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