Today we’d like to introduce you to Donna Vo Sotomayor.
Hi Donna, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Our stories begin before we are born. In my case, I come from Vietnamese immigrants who met in Orlando. My parents had me in 1998 and separated when I was young. As a child of divorce, I grew up with mixed feelings about myself, my family, and the back and forth that comes with parents who are separated. Coming from an Asian family, therapy wasn’t a known “thing.”
It wasn’t until high school that I was introduced to the field of Psychology through an elective that was offered by my school. I was immediately fascinated by human behavior and knew I wanted to do something within the field. Originally, I wanted to be a Psychologist or Neuropsychologist but quickly realized that wasn’t the route for me because math and science do not do well with my brain. It wasn’t until one of my close friends showed me a Counselor Education program after I graduated high school that I knew which route to take.
I applied to one school (which was a big risk), the University of Florida, and got accepted into the Fall 2021 cohort for Marriage and Family Counseling. I was shocked that I even got accepted because I thought I did so poorly in my interview due to my anxiety. Fast forward a very fast 2.5 years, I graduated and moved back to Orlando around May of 2024.
I interviewed with what felt like every private practice in Orlando. Only one offer went through due to the timeline that I had for myself. I wanted to make sure that by the time I moved back, I would have a job lined up for me. I knew it in my heart that it wasn’t a good fit. I wasn’t happy with the pay, the office space, and the setup of the practice, but I wanted to be responsible and think about the rest later so I took the job. Throughout my short time there, I kept clashing with the practice owner. I was a 1099 but did not have autonomy on things like charging clients no-show or late cancel fees, which added up to me losing over $1,000. Before I left the job, I reached out to other practices for interviews. I found myself in the same spot – no one was going to offer me what I was worth.
I took an even bigger risk this time and started my own practice. No one was going to provide the job that I wanted for me, so I took it upon myself to. That is how Wallflower Counseling came to life.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Not at ALL. There have been many struggles along the way. It has been a little over a year since I have started Wallflower Counseling and I am not close to where I want to be. However, I am and have to remind myself that I have accomplished and pushed myself a lot. The small wins, the journey, and everything in between matters.
I was very fortunate to have an opportunity to rent an office space from another therapist. She has been very supportive and flexible with me, which has made a huge difference.
Going to school to be a therapist is one thing, but it is a very small reality of what therapists should expect after grad school. Being a therapist is being a business. Even if you don’t have your own business, it is still a business. The goal is “to work yourself out of a job” AND if no one knows that you exist – you won’t get any clients. The therapist market here in Orlando is over saturated, people can’t afford therapy, and there is too much going on in the world that impacts other factors to clients not being able to get connected to a therapist.
Being a therapist requires you to put yourself out there and network. That is one of the ways that I have challenged myself since starting Wallfower. I am an introvert, but Wallflower has given me something to stand behind (and be proud of). However, finding clients to fill and have a stable caseload has been my biggest hurdle despite my efforts.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
Wallflower Counseling offers individual and couples/relationship therapy for BIPOC Gen Z & Millennials experiencing relational concerns, anxiety, depression, low self-esteem, and life transitions. I find that a lot of the clients who come to me are open, insightful, and on a journey of becoming their true self.
One of the things that is really important to me that I have translated into my practice is accessibility. Therapy is seen as a luxury because of how expensive and time consuming the nature of the work is. I’ve made it my goal to help create accessibility by being part of directories that allow me to provide free or low cost therapy. I am an Open Path provider, where prospective clients can find a therapist who will accept $40-80 per session after they pay a one time fee of $65. I also accept the Lotus Therapy Fund, offered by Asian Mental Health Collective. It is a scholarship that grants clients 8 free sessions. In addition to those methods of creating accessibility, I offer sliding scale starting at $75 per session.
Another goal of mine is to create a safe space for all people to be their authentic selves. I do this by providing a non-judgmental and empowering space. My approach to therapy is casual, person-centered, and relational. As a therapist, I acknowledge that there is a power differential between therapist and clients. Through holding a more casual approach, I focus on being with the client as a human and helping them heal through their relationships with themselves and their loved ones.
Before we go, is there anything else you can share with us?
Mental health is just as important as physical health. You matter and deserve to get help. I encourage you to reach out for support!
Pricing:
- Standard rate for all sessions: $150
- Sliding scale starting at $75
- Open Path rates starting at $40
- Lotus Therapy Fund accepted
Contact Info:
- Website: https://wallflower-counseling.com
- Instagram: @donna.mft
