06/05/2025
Hello👋🏼, Andrea here! It’s been 10 years, yawl! Y’all know I’m about to reflect…
When I set out to hang the ol’ shingle in 2015, it was just me, a dream, and faith. Oh, and I suppose I can’t leave out gumption - I asked Bob (Bobby’s dad) if he’d pay my bills for four months so I could quit my full-time job and start a business. Yeah, I did that 😃. That ask may have been the scariest part of the entire journey. To my amazement, he said yes…but for six months.😭 Fastest letter of resignation ever written, and I was off to the races.🏎️💨
Once everything was in place, I was so excited to host a launch party at my house with friends and family. My entire family came in town for it, and I felt so special. My main goal that night was to celebrate by thanking God, to dedicate the business to God, and to pray a blessing over it. I gave a speech I’d written, promising to honor God with every part of it, to be honest and fair in my business dealings, to walk with integrity, and to commit the entire endeavor to Him. Then I revealed the name: Bayou Wellness. I didn’t want to name it something like “Andrea Burks Counseling” because I had a broader vision to one day grow into an interdisciplinary team of wellness professionals, not just therapists. I wanted a name that could hold space for counseling, psychiatry, massage, yoga, acupuncture - anything wellness-related. (That vision is still alive. One of our therapists is also an LMT and will begin offering massage soon!) Hence, “Wellness.” I also wanted a nature word for a calming, healing element that would serve as a tribute to Bob. I chose “Bayou,” because he lives on Bayou Texar and is raising our son there half the time. That bayou is meaningful to him and our family. Sharing the story of the name with him that night meant the world to me. Then, I presented Bob with a plaque (just something small to hang in my future office) to thank him for his help in getting me started. It wouldn’t have happened without him. My brother gave a toast, and my dad said a prayer of blessing. It was a night I’ll never forget.
My first client came from a Facebook post. We met in a gazebo at Shoreline Park on the water in Gulf Breeze because I didn’t have an office yet. I made my first $25 that day and remember logging it proudly in QuickBooks. I don’t believe she was a returning client, but hey, I gave it my best shot! 🛖😂
For $300/month, I moved into a tiny office in Gulf Breeze with furniture way too crowded for the space and only half a window (see photos in comments). I could only cross my legs to the right because the ridiculously large and unnecessary coffee table was like an inch in front of my chair. It was just me that first year, but over time, I started bringing on other therapists and learning how to navigate insurance credentialing, leadership, and the messy art of managing people. I’ve made a lot of mistakes, both as a boss and as a therapist, but I’ve always committed to learning and growing from every one of them.
In March 2023, when our landlord sold the building, we had 30 days to move. We relocated quickly but outgrew that space. In October 2024, we moved into our current, beautiful, peaceful, and welcoming “forever home.” Every building was walked through, prayed over, blessed, and committed to the Lord. Some of our clients have been with us through all three locations. That kind of loyalty is humbling.
From the beginning, I’ve always said: this is God’s business. He continues to keep our doors open to serve our community, and we absolutely love what we get to do every day. One client shared that she sometimes sees into the spiritual realm, and when she was walking into our building for the first time, never having met us before, she saw a massive angel perched on the roof, protecting it. That blew me away and felt like incredible affirmation that Bayou Wellness truly belongs to Him. So far, we’ve been able to provide over 25,000 hours of direct care to over 2,000 individuals and families. I’m so grateful - for every client who’s walked through our doors, for the honor of walking alongside, and for every therapist who has brought their gifts to Bayou Wellness. Ten years in, and the best is yet to come. 🥳🙏❤️
