Catherine Fournier, a social worker in the public sector for over 12 years, took part last winter in the entrepreneurship workshops offered free of charge by the Centre d’aide aux entreprises Haute-Yamaska et région. For some time, she had been questioning her professional life; the public sector no longer corresponded to the values of support and accompaniment she wished to bring to her clientele. “How can I make a difference in people’s lives and share my values? Then … something clicked! She moved from idea to action and opened the Clinique d’Aide Multi in September 2021, where a variety of specialized mental health professionals come together.
Clinique d’aide Multi’s mission is to help people experiencing a variety of difficulties to achieve psychosocial and psychological well-being, by offering them the necessary support through competent, accredited therapists in private practice. In starting her clinic, Catherine wanted to share tools with people to help them live better in their community, family or other environment, with a focus on customer service that makes a difference. “I wanted to create an enveloping space, where you feel good and where we take the time to properly accompany each individual.”
“Everything came together quickly after the workshops: business plan, financial forecasts, search for premises that would bring together several professionals. The CAE helped me through the process, and I obtained the financing I needed to start the clinic with the Youth Strategy Fund. Invaluable help! Catherine Fournier is a flexipreneur: she keeps her current job 2 days a week and fills her schedule via the clinic, while she gets the word out about her business. “It’s a great way of not putting herself too much at risk financially! Since September, Catherine’s schedule has been filling up fast, and she is currently looking for specialized mental health professionals to join the clinic.
“Asking for help doesn’t mean you’re weak, just that you want to stay strong” Frank Nicolas
