Page 23 - INSIGHT MAGAZINE_January2025

PHOTOS BY BRIAN RODNICK

Therapy Centre, which she founded “I think women are often taught to be By letting go of the narratives of what
nearly four years ago with her business chameleons and learn how to ‘shape ‘success’ used to mean has helped, she
partner and fellow therapist Jason shift’ to please other people,” says says.
Carrasco, another Guelph University Carling. “One of the things I love about “I now ask myself, ‘How does my body
alumnus. The pair had worked together being a business leader is that I don’t feel right now? How are my personal
at another private therapy practice really have to shape shift. I have more relationships?’. I’m now asking those
following Carling’s time at ARCH but freedom not to do that, especially in types of questions, rather than ‘Did I
realized they shared a distinct synergy having a business partner that truly sees get this done? Where’s our financial
and decided to open their own office. the value of who I am in an authentic targets?’,” explains Carling. “I’m noticing
“It was actually his idea when he way.” less of my capacities going towards
asked, ‘Do you want to join me on this And although she is not as impacted results and much more around how
adventure?’,” jokes Carling. “I think it as often by challenges other women am I right now. I’m still focused on the
really spoke a lot to how much safety business leaders may still face compared business, but I’m just not attaching so
and security we had in our relationship to their male counterparts, Carling much of my own worth to it.”
as friends to take this leap together. admits those moments, sadly, do still As a result, she has created a better
That’s why we decided to call our exist. balance which she believes has helped
practice ‘Relationship Matters’ because “I have noticed that in certain her clients, and encourages the
we know the power of what a really solid conversations with people in certain Relationship Matters Therapy Centre
relationship can bring.” business spaces, I have to be very team to do the same.
It’s a relationship that is clearly mindful of how I present myself so if I “We need to kind of walk the talk. I do
working well as the centre, come across as being too direct or too find my clinical work gets better the
egotistical, I guess one way to put it, if
located in a historic former I take up too much ‘space’, I notice the better I feel, and as a result, the business
factory alongside the Grand River relationship doesn’t really get built with gets better,” says Carling. “It’s all about
trusting the process.”
in the city’s downtown, continues someone.” Relationship Matters Therapy Centre is
to build a solid clientele thanks To counterbalance these moments, located at 150 Water St. South, Suite 204.
to the unique approach of its she strives to remain authentic and
dedicated staff. ‘unmasked’ as possible noting that how
much shape shifting she was doing while
“We always take a relational perspective starting out in her career and the toll it
when working with clients,” says Carling, was taking on her personally before she
explaining how her team looks at the began to make changes.
relationships in their clients’ lives
also. “It’s not just you as an individual. “It’s not worth it for me to live a life
Sometimes we have to look at what’s of inauthenticity. I was burnt out and
going on in your life. We also take exhausted all the time,” says Carling,
into account how oppression and who shared some of her experiences
marginalization does impact the way we while speaking at a Women’s Leadership
see ourselves.” Collective and Women's Well-Being
Summit event the Cambridge Chamber
Authenticity is important, she says, held last March and April. “I have
especially when it comes to being in probably have never had a better work/
business as a woman. life balance than I do right now.”

www.cambridgechamber.com Winter 2025 23