Stephanie Bourgeois and Tessa Vining

So nice to meet you! First off, what’s your name? Tell our readers a bit about yourself—where you’re from originally and where you live now.

Stephanie Bourgeois, LCSW, and Tessa Vining, LCSW. We both have been therapists for more than 25 years, and we co-created the Mind Body Therapy Collective together.

Tell us a little more about what your company does and how it started. How does it help your customers?

We founded the Mind Body Therapy Collective in 2023 after recognizing a need for something we felt was sometimes missing in the mental wellness realm: community, collaboration and integration.

As therapists in private practice ourselves, we experienced how isolating it could be to work independently, a challenge that became even more apparent during and after COVID. We wanted to create a place where therapists and holistic practitioners could remain independent while also having the support, collaboration, and sense of belonging that comes from being part of a community.

We opened our doors in Montclair, New Jersey, in February 2024. Today, more than 30 therapists and holistic practitioners are part of the Collective, offering a wide range of approaches, from traditional psychotherapy to EMDR, IFS, somatic therapies, couples work, art and dance therapy, mindfulness, hypnotherapy, and other holistic and mind-body practices.

For our clients, that means they don't have to fit themselves into a one-size-fits-all model of mental health care. We can connect people with different practitioners and approaches based on what they need and where they are in their lives. Our goal is to look at the whole person and bring together evidence-based clinical care with complementary mind-body practices in a thoughtful, integrated way.

Community is also central to what we do. In addition to individual, couples, family, and group therapy, we host events and experiences such as meditation, breathwork, sound bowl healing, Reiki circles, retreats, and other wellness offerings that are open to our clients, members, and the broader community.

What makes the Collective particularly unique is that we've built the business around the independence of the practitioners themselves. Our members work for themselves: they set their own schedules and fees, maintain their own practices, and we don't take a percentage of their income. Instead, for a membership fee, we provide the infrastructure and community that allow them to focus on what they do best.

What is one piece of feedback from a happy customer or client that you won't forget?

“Joining the Collective has proven to be a brilliant investment in myself, both personally and professionally. From the weekly group supervisions, to the array of offerings available to clients and genuine community vibes among the members, I feel grateful to be part of it all.”

Where do you see your company in the future?

We see the Mind Body Therapy Collective continuing to grow thoughtfully while staying true to the collaborative spirit that has defined us from the beginning. Our goal is to expand our community of talented practitioners, broaden the care and experiences we offer, and deepen our connection with the people we serve.

We’re open to where that growth may lead, including expanding our programming and potentially bringing the Collective’s model to other communities. Most importantly, we want to grow without losing what makes us unique: a supportive, collaborative environment where independent practitioners can thrive and clients have access to diverse approaches to mental health and wellness.

What has been one of your biggest struggles building your business, and how did you deal with it?

One of our biggest challenges has been building a business model that is uncommon in the psychotherapy world. Without an established roadmap, we’ve had to figure out how to structure the Collective in a way that supports our members, serves our clients, and stays true to our vision. We’ve navigated that by staying flexible, listening to our community, and continually adapting as we grow. That collaborative approach has been key to building a model that works for everyone.

Any shoutouts you want to make?

We would like to give a shoutout to all our wonderful and talented Collective members and the behind-the-scenes staff who keep the wheels moving! Elena Nason House, Jennifer Watkins and Mimi Reininga.

Where can our readers learn more about you and your company?

https://mindbodytherapycollective.com