Today we’d like to introduce you to Kiara Hartwell Opara.
Hi Kiara, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
My journey into this work started long before I had any formal training, in high school. I was the friend people came to for advice, and I genuinely loved being in that role. That natural pull toward people, combined with a deep curiosity about human behavior and an honest desire to understand myself better, led me to pursue a career in counseling.
I spent years working toward licensure, and for a long time I assumed I’d build my career inside a community organization or agency. I remember sitting in a graduate school class when a professor walked us through the costs of starting a private practice and I quietly concluded it just wasn’t in the cards for me financially. That assumption stayed with me for a while.
What changed everything was a conversation, actually, two of them. Two colleagues had taken the leap into private practice, and when I sat down with them and heard how they made it work, the whole thing felt far more possible than I’d imagined. I launched KJ Hartwell, LLC, my therapy practice, and kept my full time job for about 3 years while building it. When I finally felt stable enough to make the full transition, I did and I’ve never looked back.
Not long after, I realized I wanted more. More flexibility, more creative freedom, more ability to reach people beyond the boundaries that licensure naturally creates. That desire became Thoughtfully Elevating, my coaching practice, which is a space where I can work with high achieving leaders, executives, entrepreneurs, therapists, and creatives anywhere in the world, design retreats, and show up in ways that a traditional therapy model simply doesn’t allow.
Fifteen years into this work and I’m exactly where I always hoped I’d be, just taking a path I never quite expected.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Honestly? It’s been a rewarding road, but smooth isn’t the word I’d use.
The biggest early lesson came in the form of a $20,000 tax bill. When you leave a salaried position and step into self-employment, no one is automatically withholding taxes for you and I learned that the hard way. It was a humbling, stressful season, but it was also one of the most clarifying moments of my entrepreneurial journey. I got serious about the financial side of running a business, planned accordingly, and it hasn’t been an issue since.
Beyond the finances, there’s just the reality of being a business owner: you wear every hat. Therapist, coach, biller, marketer, scheduler, copywriter, strategist — all of it falls on you, especially in the beginning. No one tells you that getting a clinical degree also means becoming an entrepreneur by default. They also don’t teach about going into private practice. That learning curve is real.
What helped me navigate it was being intentional rather than impulsive. I didn’t quit my full-time job the moment I opened my private practice. I kept it for about 3 years and built steadily until I knew I was ready. That patience gave me a foundation most people don’t have when they make the leap, and I think it shaped how I approach big decisions to this day.
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I run two distinct practices, and each one serves a specific purpose.
KJ Hartwell, LLC is my therapy practice, where I work with individuals navigating the emotional and psychological weight that often accompanies high achievement…anxiety, burnout, perfectionism, and the particular exhaustion that comes from being the person everyone else relies on. My approach is grounded in Internal Family Systems (IFS), a powerful modality that helps people understand the different “parts” of themselves and move toward genuine internal peace rather than just coping strategies. I currently serve clients in Maryland and Virginia.
Thoughtfully Elevating is my coaching practice and it’s where I get to dream a little bigger. Here, I work with leaders, executives, entrepreneurs, therapists, and creatives who are high-functioning on the outside but running on empty on the inside. People who overthink, over-function, and have built lives that look successful but don’t always feel that way. Coaching through Thoughtfully Elevating isn’t therapy; It’s forward-focused, strategic, and deeply personal. It’s also global, which matters to me. I can work with a CEO in London, an actor/actress in LA, or a creative entrepreneur in Africa, just as easily as someone down the street. I can hold intensives, intentional groups, retreats, and literally anything I dream of.
What sets me apart comes down to a few things and they’re all connected. First, I bring lived experience to this work. I’ve been the high-achiever running on autopilot. I know what it feels like to be capable, driven, and quietly exhausted all at once. That personal familiarity isn’t just a talking point, it shapes how I show up in the room. Clients don’t have to spend time convincing me that success and struggle can coexist. I already get it. Second, my style is a little different than what people might expect from a therapist or coach. I lead with warmth, but I’m also direct. I’m not going to dance around what I’m observing. And I bring humor into the work, because healing and growth don’t have to be heavy all the time. That combination of depth, directness, and lightness tends to resonate with high-achievers who are a little tired of being handled carefully. Third, my IFS (Internal Family Systems) training gives me a genuinely sophisticated clinical lens. Internal Family Systems isn’t just a framework I reference, it’s the foundation of how I understand people, and I use it across both practices.
Brand-wise, I’m proud of all of it. The positioning, the aesthetic, the niche I’ve carved out. I built two brands that are visually distinct, professionally credible, and deeply specific about who they’re for. In a saturated wellness space, that specificity is rare. I didn’t try to be everything to everyone. I got clear on exactly who I work best with: high achieving leaders, executives, entrepreneurs, therapists, and creatives, and I built both brands around serving them well.
The clearest way I explain the difference between the two: both are rooted in the same philosophy and serve a similar population, but Thoughtfully Elevating exists because of flexibility, in every direction. KJ Hartwell is a clinical therapy practice, which means it’s powerful and also comes with real parameters; I can only work with clients in Maryland and Virginia, and the work is focused on healing, processing, and mental health treatment. Thoughtfully Elevating removes those walls. As a coaching practice, I can work with anyone, anywhere in the world. I can design retreats, create group experiences, and build offerings in formats that a therapy model simply doesn’t allow.
The question I’d ask someone trying to figure out which is right for them: Where are you in your journey? If you’re in a season of deeper processing, working through something, healing something, therapy is likely the right fit. If you’re ready to build, grow, and lead more intentionally from the inside out, coaching is where we start. And for folks outside of Maryland and Virginia, Thoughtfully Elevating is simply the door that’s open to them.
How can people work with you, collaborate with you or support you?
If you’re in Maryland or Virginia and looking for a therapist, you can learn more about working with me at kjhartwell.com. I specialize in working with high achieving adults and I bring 15 years of clinical experience and IFS trained care to every session.
If you’re a leader, executive, entrepreneur, therapist, or creative who’s ready to stop running on autopilot and start leading from a more grounded place, regardless of where you live, thoughtfullyelevating.com is where to find me. I offer coaching, and I’m building toward retreats and other immersive experiences for people who want to go deeper.
Not sure which is the right fit? Start with my quiz, “What’s Your Nervous System’s Leadership Style?” It’s a great entry point into understanding how your nervous system shows up in your work and life, and it’ll point you in the right direction. It’s located on my website.
For collaborations, speaking engagements, or partnerships, you’re welcome to reach out directly through either website. I’m always open to connecting with aligned brands, organizations, and communities doing meaningful work.
You can also support me on Instagram, @kjhartwell.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.kjhartwell.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kjhartwell
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@kjhartwell
- Other: https://www.thoughtfullyelevating.com
