Today we’d like to introduce you to Brian Bachman.
Hi Brian, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
I started going in 20 different directions from a young age as I’ve always been a dreamer. I grew up being passionate about creating music, music probably saved my life but that’s another story. Most of my young adult life was focused on being a songwriter and music producer. I started a small music licensing company in college but my own fear of failure and depression caused me to doubt myself, abandon that and ultimately look for more stable positions. Through my own struggles with depression and anxiety, I eventually challenged the stigma that asking for help is “weakness” and counseling is for “crazy” people. Counseling and my faith changed my life, transformed my relationships, and helped me find peace. I had never been able to experience satisfaction, contentment, and peace before as I was also striving. Striving to earn my value, to earn my “right” to exist and to be worthy of love.
Because of how transformational counseling was in my life, I changed careers and got my Master’s in Counseling. After working for a couple of different counseling organizations to gain experience, I started my own company in 2020 (great timing) so I could invest in counselors and expand.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey have been a fairly smooth road?
Oh gosh no. I actually had wanted to play it safe and wait a few more years at my previous job before starting my business. Life has a way of… stretching us. I was fired from my comfortable position after questioning some unhealthy dynamics where I was previously a contract employee. It was abrupt and unexpected; it threw a wrench in my plans.
I doubted myself and hate to admit I questioned… should I have just kept my mouth shut even though there were some major red flags? The first few months on my own were difficult and don’t think I could’ve made it without the support of my wife and my faith. I had to learn overnight about business laws, taxes, certificates, rent, and start marketing (which is still a work in progress), to gain clients all, not to mention find a place to rent in just 2weeks, all while working a part-time job to guarantee I could contribute to our bills.
Thankfully, and I can’t take all the credit, I’ve been able to be a full-time business owner very quickly and am starting to expand just after the first year.
As you know, we’re big fans of New Pathways Counseling. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
We’re a down-to-earth, relational, safe place to explore your story, heal from trauma, grow in relationships, and tackle almost anything you can imagine.
We try to take an integrative approach and drawing on many different tools since people are unique and need individualized care. Some of the tools that help us do this are through using EMDR and exploring personalities within an Enneagram framework which are both becoming increasingly more popular.
We offer traditional counseling as well as life coaching, seminars, free educational videos, social classes built around playing board games and other fun, engaging activities.
I’m proud of New Pathway’s culture to think outside the box for enriching lives and pushing back against the rampant disconnection, isolation, and disintegrating relationships that were problems before COVID-19.
Although we don’t take insurance, we work hard to educate clients on EAP’s and Out-Of-Network benefits to alleviate the cost for clients and offer sliding scales where there is an inability to pay.
What do you like and dislike about the city?
I like the diversity of cultures especially South Grand and Cherokee Street and that St. Louis is, for its size, a significant home for refugees. We also have some amazing food and continue to grow as a foodie city.
What I like least is the historic racism, the Delmar Divide, “white flight,” abandonment, division, and lack of unity.
Contact Info:
- Email: brian.bachman314@gmail.com
- Website: https://www.newpathways-counseling.com/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Brian-Bachman-LPC-EMDR-Therapist-108456577428034
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC2NktlOglWjAvojgqn4-Ywg
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/brian-bachman-emdr-therapist-webster-groves
Image Credits
Brian Bachman
