Meet Gina Arellano | Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist & ADHD Specialist

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

Hi Gina, what do you want people to remember about you?
What was your thought process behind starting your own business?

I wanted more freedom to help and support my clients in the way that best serves them instead of what best serves the agency. The best way I could do that was by leaving my agency and starting a private practice. Now I have a flourishing telehealth practice offering therapy for Adult ADHD in Los Angeles and across California.

What’s one thing about your industry that outsiders are probably unaware of?

The importance and impact that seeing a specialist versus a generalist has on a client’s therapeutic outcomes. If you have a clear understanding of the issue you’re facing and believe it falls within a specialized area, seeing a specialist may be a better fit in providing you with targeted expertise and treatment. However, if you’re unsure about the nature of your concerns, a generalist therapist might be a better fit as they can offer a broad range of support and guidance. For example, if you are seeking treatment for issues concerning ADHD, then seeing a specialist will be more beneficial to your treatment and therapeutic outcomes.

Risk taking: how do you think about risk, what role has taking risks played in your life/career?

I believe risk-taking is a vital component of success. If I hadn’t decided to take the risk of leaving my agency and starting my own practice, I would never have known the success and fulfillment that could come from being my own boss. That’s not to say that running your own business is all sunshine and daisies, because sometimes you take a risk and it doesn’t work out. But even in those cases, I still learn and grow from them and they make me a better therapist and business owner.

Other than deciding to work for yourself, what was the single most important decision you made that contributed to your success?

Honestly, it was my decision to join ZynnyMe’s Business School for Therapists. It’s a program that teaches you everything you need to know about running your own private practice. I went to Pepperdine University for undergraduate and graduate school, and their program was amazing. But, like most universities’ psychology programs, they didn’t focus their education on the business side of being a therapist. ZynnyMe really helped fill those gaps and is a major contributing factor to my success. I would highly recommend them to other therapists interested in starting their own solo or group practice.

What is the most important factor behind your success / the success of your brand?

My entire practice is focused and designed around treating adults with ADHD. I think two main factors separate me from others. The first is that my primary focus is on treating adults with ADHD. Many therapists have a laundry list of specialists that they offer. I have one. My whole practice is geared towards helping and supporting adult clients to manage their ADHD more effectively. The second is that I personally have ADHD. This has allowed me to have a deeper understanding and connection to my clients than I would if I were neurotypical.

What’s the most difficult decision you’ve ever had to make?

My decision to start my own practice. Because if this ended up not working out, then I knew I would never be a therapist again because I could no longer go back to working for an agency. I would have to start a whole new career even though I already spent 7 years in school and 8 years practicing to become a therapist.

Work life balance: how has your balance changed over time? How do you think about the balance?

Now that I own my own business, I have an incredible work-life balance. Which, if I’m being honest, was something I thought I’d never be able to do as someone with ADHD who struggles with executive dysfunction. As my business has grown, I have become more disciplined and realistic in my expectations of what I can accomplish in a day. For ADHDers, having balance in our lives is so vital for our daily functioning and success that it’s something I discuss and work on with every one of my clients.

Do you have a favorite quote or affirmation? What does it mean to you / what do you like about it?

“I don’t compete, I stand out.” Growing up with ADHD, you’re constantly being compared to and comparing yourself to other people’s abilities and achievements. This affirmation acts as an important reminder to not compare myself to others because the goal is not to compete with others but to stand out from others.

Why did you pursue an artistic or creative career?

I personally need creative freedom to thrive. I’m also driven to reduce suffering. Being a therapist allowed by to exercise both those needs in one place. Every client comes with unique differences and struggles that require a creative approach to address and find solutions.

What do you want your legacy to be? What do you want people to remember about you?

Honestly, I don’t care about legacy or wanting to be remembered by people. I’m content with helping people to improve their lives and reduce their suffering in the here and now. That’s what fulfills me.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
I began my career working at non-profits and residential centers with clients ranging from ages 12 to 80 years old. My last position was working as a clinical therapist in the community mental health field. My time was spent working with a variety of incredible clients that helped me realize my calling for working with adults with ADHD. However, I was limited in the help and support I could provide in my role. This inspired me to develop my now flourishing practice offering therapy for Adult ADHD in Los Angeles and across California.

It wasn’t easy to transition from community mental health to private practice. This was mostly due to not having any knowledge or background in how to run my own business. The actual therapy aspect of it I had down, but for things like administration, marketing, and billing systems, I was at a loss. I love Pepperdine University, I have three degrees from there, but their education fell a little short when it came to running and owning a private practice. From my understanding, most universities tend to miss the mark on this topic. That’s where ZynnyMe’s Business School for Therapists came to the rescue. They really helped me gain the necessary education and tools I needed to run a successful business.

Some of the big lessons I learned along the way have been to make sure I have a practice that fits my beliefs and values, as well as, the importance of taking risks. I know risk-taking was a scary concept for me in the beginning because I didn’t have the financial resources to correct the mistake if it didn’t work out. However, as corny as this may sound, I truly came to understand that not taking risks can be riskier than taking risks. It probably helps that I am also very big on the concept of experimenting. I like to try things out and see what happens. I find that this strategy has helped me a lot in both my personal and professional life.

I want people to know that even though ADHD is a disability, it doesn’t have to be disabling. I have ADHD and have spent decades learning and refining skills and strategies to help me burn bright without burning out. And that’s want I want to help others learn to do as well. Finding a therapist that not only understands how your ADHD brain works, but can also help you learn mastery over it is rare. Therapy for Adulting was formed to meet that need! I can help you develop new behaviors and implement strategies that will help you feel more secure and confident in your daily activities and relationships with others. I help professionals with ADHD who are struggling with managing day-to-day life learn to gain more stability and power over their lives and have a healthier view of themselves. My style of therapy is direct and goal-oriented/focused. I know therapy can feel hard and scary at times, so I tend to use a lot of humor. I find laughter to be really helpful, especially in the midst of working through hurt and pain.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Given that my job is done all indoors, I like to make sure I spend most of my time outdoors.

I would definitely take her on some hikes in the area like Griffith Park near the Observatory, Switzer Falls, and Trail Canyon Falls. Then I would take her to visit the beach near Marina del Rey and Venice Beach. As well as hang out around the Venice boardwalk.

I would make sure that we visited some of my favorite eateries such as Kreation Organics, Urth Caffe, Spice Season, Teru Sushi, and Gyu-Kaku Japanese BBQ. And for dessert, we’d drop by Salt & Straw and Bottega Louie.

I’m a huge comedy fan, so I’d for sure take her to see some shows at The Comedy Store and Laugh Factory.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I have a few people that I would like to thank. The first is my mom, Lorraine Grossman, Fiduciary Investment Advisor, for her continued motherly love and support throughout my life. The second is my wonderful partner, Kalen Strandberg, for his overwhelming encouragement, patience, and support in my journey of owning my own business and private practice. The third is Shay DuBois, LCSW and Trauma Therapist, for her wonderful support and encouragement in helping my business grow. And, lastly, is ZynnyMe, for their vital program in giving me the tools and confidence I needed to open my private practice. Thank you all for helping make my dream a reality.

Website: https://www.therapyforadulting.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/therapyforadulting/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gina-arellano-06331b2b4/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/AdultingTherapy

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61558735388720

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCffLuyqzcZGoeCzOW7sBClQ