After recognizing a need for more accessible and concentrated counseling services in the Las Cruces area, Yelena Salkowitz, Ph.D., LP, LMHC, decided to start her own practice. Salkowitz, who holds both a master’s and a doctoral degree in counseling psychology with a specialization in trauma-focused therapy, serves the LGBTQIA community, as well as individuals with autism and ADHD.
“I like working with people and listening to their stories,” she said. “I enjoy providing an unbiased perspective and guiding them toward growth, self-realization, and self-awareness.”
Salkowitz, a licensed psychologist, previously worked in a group practice before launching her own firm to focus on underserved communities. In Las Cruces, many people wait six months to a year for general mental health services.
Salkowitz learned about The Loan Fund through a referral from U.S. Bank after being denied by several other banks.
“The Loan Fund was the first organization that was really interested in understanding me—what I needed and how they could help—rather than just focusing on the numbers,” she said. “Other banks would run the numbers through their system and say, ‘You’re not a good candidate for us.’ The Loan Fund said, ‘OK, here’s what you need to do, here’s what we can do, and let’s make this happen.’”
Salkowitz, who has 10 years of clinical experience working in domestic violence shelters, the Veterans Affairs Department, integrated behavioral health facilities, university counseling centers, community mental health organizations, and private practice, said her loan officer found a solution to help her qualify for the loan by refinancing her car.
“No one else was interested in being solution-oriented,” she said, adding that if she had been unable to secure a loan for startup costs, she would have needed to take on another job, such as teaching.
“I was very skeptical. I didn’t think it was going to happen because of how many times I had been denied for a loan,” Salkowitz said. “But they worked with me, and also asked me when I could feasibly make my first payments. They made sure to set a repayment plan that actually worked with me and my finances versus that it had to be a set schedule.”
She offers this advice to new entrepreneurs: “You’re not alone. There are options. If it’s something you really want and are passionate about, you can make it happen. You just have to find the right people. Don’t give up.”