Meet Thomas Kenyan, the small business owner of a counselling business, Peace be your Journey, located in Werribee, Victoria
Meet Thomas Kenyon, who is an experienced counsellor in Australia and has opened his own counselling business named “Peace be your Journey”. Thomas provides counselling support to individuals and couples who are dealing with anxiety, depression, and stress.
“The most valuable thing for me was having access to business experts without having to pay anything. My business coach, Gina, from Many Rivers, guided me on planning, forecasting, and the tools I could use for these tasks. She also helped me with my business plan and setting up key performance indicators (KPIs).”
Read more about Thomas’s business journey so far:
Thomas’s Business
I’m an experienced counsellor in Australia, and I’ve been doing this for many years. I help adults with various problems, but I particularly enjoy working with individuals and couples who are dealing with anxiety, depression, and stress.
My goal is to create a safe and respectful space for my clients. I want to help them understand their issues and figure out how to make positive changes. I use different methods like Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, Solution Focused Therapy, and Mindfulness Therapy to adapt to each client’s unique needs.
Each counselling session is designed to build on the previous one and address the specific needs of the person I’m helping. I believe that everyone can find peace and make meaningful changes to live without fear of the future.
I started my counselling practice in November 2021. I work with people who have relationship problems, stress, anxiety, and anger management issues. I have clients of all ages, including families, couples, and older individuals, with most falling in the 30-50 age range.
What were you doing before you made contact with Many Rivers? What was your previous work experience?
I’ve had three different careers in my life. I’ve worked in telecommunications, for local government, and at a water treatment company. I’ve gained a lot of experience and knowledge from these diverse jobs, and I’ve faced my own challenges. I realized that many people go through similar issues, so I offer a safe and confidential space to help them.
Especially after the challenges brought by COVID-19, many people find it hard to manage their relationships and work-life balance. I assist people in finding a better balance and building the skills to lead a more fulfilling life. I also help them discover their inner strength and resilience. I believe that all my clients have the answers within them; they just need someone to help them sort through the confusion and find the valuable insights.
I’ve faced my own struggles, and I’m comfortable with who I am. I’m not afraid to ask tough questions and have honest conversations. I build trust and a strong relationship with my clients before delving into the difficult issues and supporting them in making positive changes.
Working with Many Rivers
I found Many Rivers on my own because I needed assistance with my bookkeeping and understanding how to measure the effectiveness of my work. I needed help with using the right accounting software.
Besides this, my business coach, Gina, from Many Rivers, guided me on planning, forecasting, and the tools I could use for these tasks. She also helped me with my business plan and setting up key performance indicators (KPIs). I had started a business plan before through NEIS, but she helped me refine it. She also assisted me with internet-related tasks. I have some knowledge in that area, but she provided valuable support.
“The most valuable thing for me was having access to business experts without having to pay anything. I didn’t take out any loan from Many Rivers.”
Do you have any current employees? If so, how many employees? Are they full-time or part-time?
I am managing my business mostly on my own and I have taken on board a local accountant recently. She runs her own business, and I am on her books. I have also engaged a company called “Life Support” and they are like a collection agency; they get the prospective clients and then they reroute them to me. They are like a contractor for me. 80% of my clients are through them.
Biggest Challenge
The toughest thing so far has been finding the right place for my business, and, well, making sure I can pay all the bills every month when I first started. It’s a common challenge for new businesses. Building connections and promoting my services has been slow because of the need for confidentiality.
Biggest Success
My biggest achievement so far has been getting my own counselling space. I used to work in a shared office, which made my clients uncomfortable. Now, I have a cosy, home-like space with a desk. My previous shared office cost me $850 a month for just three half-days a week, but this new place is available 24/7 for $890 a month. I’ve been in this new space since April this year.
Biggest Change
The biggest change for my family since I started my business hasn’t been financial yet because I’m still investing more money than I’m making. Right now, the business is just covering its costs, but it gives us hope for the future. It’s a relief not to worry about what we’ll be doing for the next 10 years. The best part is that it’s flexible—I’m not tied to one location. We can even move to Queensland if we’ve had enough of Melbourne’s weather. Plus, I can offer online counselling sessions, which adds to our flexibility.
Future Goals
I hope to assist new counsellors in launching their careers. My aim is to create new counselling businesses to help them establish themselves. Although there will be expenses involved, they won’t have to worry because they’ll receive excellent guidance and a secure start for their practice. My dream is to see my logo in rural Victoria and all over Melbourne. I’m planning to approach a couple of universities and soon-to-graduate counsellors with a proposal to work with me for a year.
Thank you, Thomas, for sharing your business journey with us. We wish you the best of luck with your future endeavours and business success.
If you would like to stay updated with Thomas and his small business, follow Peace be your Journey on social media:
Website: https://www.peacebeyourjourney.com.au/
Facebook: https://www.peacebeyourjourney.com.au/
Are You Ready To Start Your Own Business?
We love to encourage people to take the first step towards kick-starting their small business ideas. Do you have a business idea?
CLICK HERE to see if Many Rivers is right for you
B0013410
