Today we’d like to introduce you to Dr. Colleen Long, Psy.D.
Dr. Long, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
I started my practice in Manhattan Beach, California because I was drawn to the “mellow” vibe it possessed. After ten years practicing in Southern California, client after client told me that they struggled with being present and ok with their life. In fact, I think so many people were drawn to the beach cities of Los Angeles because they wanted that laid back, relaxed feeling, the surfer stereotype. So, Mellow Psychological was born. It sort of stood for what we all aim for in life- a mellow way to sit back and enjoy the ride.
After having three kiddos, and my husband getting a job with Oracle, it was time to relocate. Yet, I felt I could still bring that Southern California vibe to the east coast, and so I brought mellow with me.
The therapy services I provide are based out of a core belief that we all possess the tools within us to be happy, to be present, and to mellow out. The therapy just provides the method to access that for each individual that comes through our doors.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
Building a business with my own two hands did not come easily. I have many other failed ventures under my belt. But Winston Churchill once said, “Success is the ability to move from failure to failure without lack of enthusiasm,” and that certainly fit the bill.
For a while, being a therapist was simply my day job, but my true passion was as an entrepreneur. I created “peerceptions,” which was a yelp-type of website, aimed at getting community reviews of local businesses. I remember someone commenting that “this might as well be graffiti on the wall of a bathroom.” After that, I created “Aesthetic Genetics,” an egg donor and surrogate agency, based on my own experience as an egg donor. Later, I created “FreudTv,” which was geared towards helping other clinicians be able to promote their books and products via media such as magazines and television (sort of like a PR agency for professionals).
Mark Twain once said “all you need in this life is ignorance and confidence, and success is sure.” That definitely applied to me as a budding entrepreneur. I had all the confidence and ignorance in the world.
Eventually, I married my love for entrepreneurship with my formal training and created Mellow Psychological. We now provide couples therapy, individual therapy, psychological testing, and media consulting. Additionally, I recognized the need for many individuals to get therapy tools, who didn’t have the means that traditional therapy requires. So I created The School of Self Help, which includes many self-help courses for weight loss, substance abuse recovery, and relationship repair.
We’d love to hear more about your business.
Mellow psychological is not just a therapy practice, but a lifestyle. We provide couples therapy, adult therapy, psychological testing, and media consulting. We practice what we preach. Our clinicians routinely engage in yoga, meditation, and their own personal self-development to always make sure their internal barometer is calibrated.
We are so proud to serve the greater Boston and Back Bay and be able to help so many individuals that have thrived in their careers, but feel stuck in their personal lives.
What were you like growing up?
Growing up, I was always a performer. I loved being in front of the camera and did a lot of community theatre. That passion has translated to my work in television and other media outlets today. I feel so lucky to be able to combine my training as a psychologist with my love for artistic expression.
Ironically, personality wise- I am most definitely an introvert. I charge my batteries when I’m alone. Perhaps it’s talking to people 8-11 hours a day that gives me the desire to just be alone, but I feel it truly centers me. It refills me and allows me to be a better clinician, parent, and person.
Pricing:
- Couples therapy $250
- Individual therapy $200
- Psychological testing $200/hour
- Media consulting $275/hour
Contact Info:
- Address: 29 Commonwealth Ave Boston, MA 02116
- Website: www.DrColleenLong.com
- Phone: 800-593-2560
- Email: talkdoc@drcolleenlong.com
- Instagram: @drcolleenlong
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/drcolleen
- Twitter: talkdoc
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