Jay Mitchell served as a U.S. Air Force JAG (lawyer) for four years. Over for four years, Mitchell combined his litigation experience and his background in forensic psychology to explore how emotional pain could be diminished and today runs the Greenbrier Academy in West Virginia.
Mitchell has founded and directs two more multi-million-dollar school programs. Today, there are over 10,000 graduates. Mitchell has also helped to develop the concept of “Strong Relationality,” and its application, “Applied Relationality” – to describe how bonds between people can be best achieved. He became a trainer’s trainer in neurolinguistics and is certified in “brain spotting.” In collaboration with clinical psychologists, he completed a three-year intensive study program focused on “relationality.” He trains psychotherapists in critical thinking, strategic language, and neurolinguistic skills.
Mitchell is grateful for what his experiences have taught him about relationships with all sorts of people in all sorts of settings. He wants to keep reaching out to others for the rest of his life.
How did you get started in this business? What inspired you to start this business?
After completing my law degree, a series of unusual circumstances led me to collaborate with forensic psychologists and psychiatrists in building proper legal defenses.
I combined my litigation experience and background in forensic psychology into a partnership with a civilian law firm. While there, I created an informal group of professionals from various disciplines to explore how emotional pain could be diminished. That led him to develop the SUWS Adolescent Program, which spearheaded the acceptance and use of wilderness therapy, now the short-term treatment of choice for troubled teens.
How Do You Make Money?
We have a world renowned academy here in West Virginia called the Greenbrier Academy that has admission requirements and fees. We are not here to make money but to make a difference, educate, and help those in need. I have a personal passion about this due to life experiences in the past. We use the “Strong Relationality” therapeutic model.
How long did it take for you to become profitable?
Thanks to a strong referral basis and being passionate about what we do word has spread about the Greenbrier Academy. We also have a strong readership who has read my books and publications on related matters.
When you were starting out, was there ever a time you doubted it would work? If so, how did you handle that?
From the beginning we knew we were doing something to help heal and help others. When you do things not for your own gain but to help others ensured that I would never have a doubt in my mind.
How did you get your first customer?
Because of our past and history in getting into this field we were known and had a lot of great people that we worked with that recommended us right away.
What is one marketing strategy (other than referrals) that you’re using that works really well to generate new business?
Book writing and publications that have shared our work have led to others coming into Greenbrier. When you do a great job and show that you are knowledgable on the subject others tend to flock towards you.
What is the toughest decision you’ve had to make in the last few months?
We deal with very tough and hard decisions each month. Experience has taught us not to jump to conclusions but to follow the proper procedures that we have developed to handle any issue.
What do you think it is that makes you successful?
My passion and willingness to help others. If I wasn’t here to help others with any of their issues then I would not be doing this. I was the owner of Alldredge Academy and of course the now very successful Greenbrier Academy. We all deal with tragedy as was the case with the Ryan Lewis incident but its our persistence to heal and help those in need that has led to the success of the Academy.
What has been your most satisfying moment in business?
Everyday is a satisfying day. As long as we are helping those in need and making a difference for the better than I am satisfied each and every day we are open for business.
What does the future hold for your business? What are you most excited about?
I am grateful for what experiences has taught me about relationships with all sorts of people in all sorts of settings. I want to keep reaching out to others for the rest of his life.
What business books have inspired you?
I am a little biased on the book front. I welcome all readers here to check out my books that I have written and those on my personal website: www.ljaymitchell.com/book.html