While some businesses struggled to stay
afloat amid the pandemic, Jaclyn Borgia harnessed the power of the ever-popular
virtual world to launch a new business focused on providing women online
therapy and coaching. Dubbed The Sassy Shrink, the Bucks County-based business – with Borgia at the helm and six
other counselors assisting – began in August.
“There’s such a need, truly,” Borgia
said of the demand for mental health and coaching services. “I didn’t realize
that I had a skill of being able to push all this good magic through the phone
or Zoom.”
Prior to the pandemic, Borgia, who
specializes in coaching, as well as counseling for anxiety, self-esteem, and
overall wellness, met clients in-person. The level of care is the same whether
virtual or in-person, but for Borgia, her business is to “meet people where
they are.”
“Why not jump into their living rooms
with them?” the jovial Borgia asked.
Without the barrier of meeting
face-to-face, Borgia can coach clients from all 50 states and counsel clients
throughout Pennsylvania. She and the other therapists who work for The Sassy
Shrink are all credentialed and each has an area of expertise, such as relationships
or body coaching. The goal is to complement each of their unique talents, not
compete.
The Holy Family University graduate and
lifelong Bucks resident knew at age 16 she wanted to become a therapist. She
recalls sitting in Spanish class and hearing an announcement that another
student had committed suicide. As she tried to process the news, a classmate
made an “ugly comment.”
“It plummeted me into the caregiving
role,” she said, adding that the incident “sat on my heart.”
Finding her footing as a therapist came
easy. However, getting started as a business owner took some support from her
SCORE Bucks County mentor Loni Lassoff. Borgia began meeting weekly with
Lassoff in March.
“She was overwhelmed by the thought of
starting her own business and was not even sure if she could handle running her
own company,” Lassoff said.
After sessions focused on devising a
business plan, budgeting, staffing, accounting and ultimately framing Borgia’s
vision and goals around what was most important to her, the two worked together
to get The Sassy Shrink up and running.
“Jaclyn is an incredibly bright, caring
and capable young woman,” Lassoff said.
Borgia, who continues meeting with
Lassoff, joked that she told her SCORE mentor “she can never leave,” adding, “I
hope she sticks with me a little bit longer.”
SCORE certified mentors provide no-cost
guidance on all aspects of business operation throughout the life of the
business – which is good news to Borgia.
“SCORE is the coolest thing since sliced
bread,” Borgia said. “You don’t even anticipate the support and help they’re
going to provide.”
In addition to assigning her “homework,”
Lassoff “held my hand when I needed her to, and pushed me when I needed her
to,” Borgia said.
“I’m in the field of giving back,”
Borgia said. “I hope that some day I’m going to be able to sit in Loni’s chair
and give back.”
About SCORE
Since 1964, SCORE has helped more
than 11 million aspiring entrepreneurs. Each year, SCORE
provides small business mentoring and workshops to more than 375,000
new and growing small businesses.?With 50 members across the
county, SCORE Bucks?County?provides over 1,500 free
mentoring services annually to local small business owners
through one-on-one counseling and small business seminars. To stay up to
date on news and happenings, join SCORE Bucks County’s email list. Text
SCOREBUCKS to 22828.
