Detroit Mom’s Local Love series highlights local women and the businesses they have built. We love supporting small business! Today’s Local Love Spotlight belongs to Annamarie Green, owner of Annamarie Green Co.
To start, we asked Annamarie to share a few fun facts about herself with us!
- She grew up in Pennsylvania and she and her daughter have only been in Michigan since 2020.
- She’s always had a desire to make living life easier/better for people. Growing up, she served as the youth spokesperson for the Epilepsy Foundation of Central PA (she’s had Epilepsy since she was four years old).
- She loves getting her feet wet whenever she is close to a body of water. No matter the temperature, she’s known to roll up her pants and dip her toes in!
We asked Annamarie to share a little bit more about her business with us, too. Get to know her and her business, Annamarie Green Co, below!
How did you come up with the idea of your business, and how did you start?
“I was in therapy after the death of my partner and I wasn’t making any progress–I realized I never felt better after sessions and it left me feeling unfixable, lost, and like I would always feel this way. My friend encouraged me to go get an intuitive reading. It was life-changing and gave me all the results I had hoped to get from therapy. I was already a therapist at the time when I realized that energy work was a missing piece to making mental health treatment more effective and successful.
“After taking classes and becoming a certified professional intuitive my unique approach naturally unfolded with my therapy clients, and I began understanding the energetics behind different mental health conditions.
“(My business) was inspired by the therapeutic work I was doing with clients and what I was learning and doing within my own emotional/mental health healing journey. I started my business in early 2023 after working for different clinics and within the community for years. I started offering Intuitive Therapy Sessions and Mental Health Clarity Readings to a few people and realized how revolutionary they were (as) clients were experiencing being symptom-free, happier, and empowered in only three months.
“After seeing the results for my clients and for myself I knew this was something I needed to share–and something the industry needed. So my Intuitive Therapy Sessions were born and I began talking about Intuitive Mental Health. And now I not only offer these services but I am beginning to teach other therapists, coaches, and intuitives this work as well.”
Knowing what you know now, is there anything you would have done differently when you were first starting out?
“I would have focused more on my personal healing earlier and been more open to solutions that were ‘outside the box.’ I coped by overworking and I would (have) made space for me to slow down more–leaned on community. I was obsessed with trying to do everything by myself (which was my anxiety and trauma response). If I would (have) been willing to slow down, I think I would have started my journey a lot earlier.
“Other than that no, I wouldn’t have changed anything. Each trial and hardship I experienced taught me more about myself and really led me to uncovering this beautiful, deep, magical part of myself.”
What is the best business advice you’ve ever been given?
“Don’t be afraid to share. Share what you’re doing with your community no matter how different or unique your idea/goal is. Share the hard things you’re going through, share the wins, just share. Put it out there and let others show up for you. It help connect you with people who need your idea or with people that can help. (And), it also shows you how supported you are when you honor what your heart and soul desire. It’s what will help you get through the hard early stages of business.”
Have you faced adversity in business due to being a woman? How did you navigate that?
“Of course, I think most women–especially mothers–feel this all the time. Being a single mom and a business owner was hard/is hard. You’re taking a risk especially in the beginning. You have no idea how it will land but it’s not just you–you’re responsible for your child as well. My family especially was not supportive of this and just wanted to see me settled in a regular 9-5 job that was predictable. There was a lot of guilt and shame around that. Not to mention sometimes the business required putting in odd hours.
“I navigated through it by allowing myself to face some hard truths and sit in temporary discomfort. I worked at places that drained me and part-time jobs while my daughter was at school. In the summers I took a full-time position around my parents’ house so I didn’t have to pay for child care. I found safe places to land. And, (I) also faced my pride–it’s okay if this doesn’t work out. I started to let go of how I thought it needed to happen, asked for help, was honest about what I was struggling with, and explored financial resources to help supplement the income I needed to survive.
“I feel like when you’re a single mom and business owner you have to be willing to be vulnerable and really understand what’s motivating you–what’s the vision you have for yourself and your child/family? Serving people and being mission driven is great. But if you don’t have a vision that makes you feel lit up and cared for, it’ll be hard to push through. You can be left feeling guilty as a parent. Also make room for play–it helps with creativity and just letting go. My favorite are dance and singing parties with my daughter.”
How do you persevere in challenging times?
“I fall back on my vision for my family, myself, and the world. I also lean into taking care of myself, making sure I move, am well-fed, and (am) talking to my friends. When I am anxious or really down I tend to overbook myself and jump from one thing to the next, (so) I also force myself to slow down. The best way for me to navigate and make sure I am mentally healthy is slowing down.”
What impact do you want your business to have?
“I want my business, services, and teaching to revolutionize the mental health industry. To make it more effective and less stigmatized. To make it easier for people to know themselves and feel empowered to navigate life’s ups and downs. My goal is that it will allow individuals to stop experiencing their lives through trauma, mental illness, or fear. I want to make life and happiness easier.
“I also hope that through this work intuitive mental health becomes an official type of therapy in the sector and a specialization that therapists can train in and offer clients.”
What are the pros and cons of being a woman business owner in 2024?
“Pros: there is a lot more freedom in how you operate, it’s fulfilling, and you can make a greater impact by being yourself. There’s also limitless potential in what you can create in your life being a business owner and wonderful opportunities to connect with other people and be seen on a soul level, which is the most amazing feeling.”
What knowledge would you share with someone who wants to become an entrepreneur?
“Get really comfortable being messy. Part of this journey is exploring the depths of your soul and who you are. The parts of you that maybe you hid away all come up to surface. There’s a lot of play required in the creation of a business and it’ll help you with flexibility. Also, your community is one of your biggest assets for growth. (They are) also holding you during the difficult beginning parts or transition. They will help ground you in your dream and mission.”
What do you do for personal and professional development?
“My personal and professional development is usually one in the same for the most part. Personally, I do a lot of nervous system work in the form of exercise so running, weight lifting, and my personal favorite dance classes–things that feel fun and playful and get me into my body. I also am always learning. Part of what I do being ethical and (a) leader with integrity is knowing that there’s always more to learn. That’s the really fun part about living life and the work I do. I am always taking new classes that help improve my skillset or teach me a new way of doing things both in the psychological/social work field and (the) intuitive/energy work field.
“I also listen to podcasts during walks. My personal favorites are Nikki Novo’s Soul Led Living, What’s the Juice with Olivie Amitrano, The Psychology Podcast, and The Social Work Podcast among many others.
“I also have a group of soul sisters that all own businesses and we keep each other accountable. It’s just a safe space to process life and being a spiritual entrepreneur. I work with two different mentors: one for social work/clinical therapy, (and) one (for) the spiritual side of my business/personal life.
“I have found that to hold so much space for others it’s important that I take care of myself physically, emotionally, and energetically. In addition to all those things I also have a healer who completes energy healings on me two times a month. Especially because the things I am helping people navigate can be heavy and intense, investing in my personal and professional development has been an important lesson for me on this journey.”
What mantra or quote do you live by?
“What a life I am making.”
What’s your favorite place in Detroit or Michigan?
“My favorite place is Booth Park in Birmingham because my daughter and I love to run up and down the rolling hills and pretend they are waves. It’s also a great place to do a nature walk and have a picnic. Outside of Detroit I love South Haven, on the western side of the state.”
Where can our readers find you on social media?
You can follow Annamarie Green Co on Instagram and on their website!
