Introducing Kayla Luther, PMHNP-BC of Luther Psychiatry - our newest Small Business Connection! 

Kayla reflected on her own struggle to find balance and satisfaction in her work, leading to bringing her wealth of knowledge to a private practice.  Kayla believes in the going beyond medication management that many psychiatric providers offer, and values holistic care, spending quality time with patients to get to know them, and educating and connecting patients based on their needs.  The Luther Psychiatry website states "Beauty is in Becoming", which reflects the partnership that Kayla strives for with patients to transform into their best selves with her care and support.  Read the full conversation below!​

When was your business founded and what inspired its development?
Luther Psychiatry was founded in 2026, though it feels like something that’s been years in the making. My parents had encouraged me to pursue nursing at University of Rochester, and it was there that I discovered psychiatric nursing. I quickly fell in love with psychiatry during my time on an adult inpatient unit under the clinical instruction of Joanne Bartlett, PMHNP. That experience solidified my path, and I was ultimately hired onto that unit at Strong Memorial Hospital before I had even graduated.

I truly learned psychiatry on that inpatient unit, and it was there that my sense of purpose took shape. That drive led me into a nursing leadership role while earning my master’s degree. After graduating, I joined Strong Behavioral Health, where I gained a deeper understanding of the Nurse Practitioner role and valued the strong collaboration with therapists and colleagues. At the same time, I began to feel the limitations of a system that didn’t always allow for the kind of care I wanted to provide.

My experience continued to evolve following a relocation to Florida, where I practiced in both private practice and community mental health settings, gaining further insight into dual diagnosis and substance use treatment. After returning to New York, I transitioned into correctional psychiatry at the Monroe County Jail. That experience broadened my understanding of mental health in a meaningful way, while also highlighting how much I value continuity and the ability to follow patients over time.

I knew I wanted to return to outpatient mental health, but in a way that allowed for presence, depth, and a more intentional approach to care.
This past year became a turning point. I had to slow down and take an honest look at my own balance—and at the kind of work that would feel truly fulfilling. There were moments when I felt lost and disconnected from my sense of purpose, and I came to recognize that I couldn’t keep working within systems while quietly hoping something would change.

At the same time, it became clear that going, going, going and continuing to carry everything the way I had been wasn’t sustainable. At some point, I had to turn toward myself and begin living the same advice I so often offered to others. In seeking my own therapy—an experience that was both eye-opening and deeply grounding—I found myself stepping beyond patterns I had long outgrown.

As difficult as that season was, it offered clarity—allowing me to step more fully into myself, and into who I was becoming.
I see that time now as a gift. It brought me back to what matters most. This work is not just what I do. It is my passion and my purpose.
Luther Psychiatry was built from that place—out of both experience and personal transformation. 
And it’s the same place I now hold for others.

How does your business support mental health and wellness in our local community?
I’m drawn to a holistic model of care because it allows me to truly know the person in front of me. It creates space to ask deeper, more meaningful questions and to understand how all the pieces fit—health, hormones, life stage, relationships, upbringing, and lived experiences. I look beyond symptoms to the full story. There’s something powerful about sitting together and gently piecing that puzzle together—making sense of patterns, gaps, and connections that may not have been fully seen before. That kind of nuanced, whole-person care is what I hope to offer every client.

Mental health doesn’t exist in isolation, and I approach care with that in mind. While I prescribe medication when appropriate, I also emphasize education, lifestyle factors, and other supportive strategies. My philosophy is often “less is more,” but also recognizing when medication can be an important and meaningful part of someone’s healing.

My goal is to help people make sense of their experiences and feel empowered in their care. 

What makes your business different from others that may offer similar service?
 The relationship comes first.
I tell my patients that no question is off limits—I want to meet them exactly where they are. Longer appointment times allow for a deeper understanding and a stronger therapeutic alliance, which I see as the foundation of effective care.
I also offer ADHD assessments that bring together clinical evaluation and objective tools (QBcheck), helping to create a clearer, more complete picture—especially when attention concerns overlap with anxiety, trauma, or hormonal shifts. My additional training as an Evergreen ADHD Clinical Services Provider allows me to approach this work with greater depth and nuance.
Women’s mental health is a particular area of focus for me. I believe my lived experience helps me connect with patients in a way that fosters openness and trust, especially when discussing topics that may be missed or underexplored in other settings. 
My approach goes beyond medication management—I place a strong emphasis on understanding each person’s lived experience as part of their care.

How does your own journey or life experience shape how you show up in your work?
 My professional background has given me a wide lens, but it’s my personal experiences that have deepened how I connect with others.
This past year, especially, taught me the importance of slowing down, reflecting, and caring for myself in a way I hadn’t before. In that space, I found my way back to my purpose and to the love for mental health that first drew me here. It’s a perspective that now guides my work, especially in supporting women who feel stretched thin or disconnected from themselves.

I don’t just speak about burnout and compassion fatigue; I understand them on a lived level. That understanding informs how I show up in this work, with intention, curiosity, and care

Business ownership can be stressful - how do you take care of your own mental health and wellness?
Intentionality is key. A few years ago, I might have had a more rehearsed answer to this question. But this past year has taught me that caring for my mental health requires slowing down, being present, and making space to reflect. It’s about honoring my limits and staying connected to what keeps me grounded, so I can continue to show up fully in my work.

I remind myself that it’s about progress, not perfection. My faith plays a meaningful role in helping me stay grounded, along with connection—whether that’s with family, friends, or simply stepping away when needed.

Spending time in nature, especially in the Adirondacks with my family, is something that helps me reset. There’s something about that environment that brings a sense of clarity and calm.

If people were to take away a feeling or message after experiencing your business, what would you want that to be?
 I hope they feel seen, heard, and understood.
And more than anything, I hope they leave feeling grounded, and believing that change is possible.  

Learn more at: lutherpsychiatry.com
Social Media: @Lutherpsychiatry 

​Looking at life with the eye of a photographer and the heart of a social worker.

Meet Meg Tyo, LCSW and owner of Sweet Home Photography - one of our most unique and heartfelt Small Business Connections!

Meg combines the compassion of social work with the personal expression of photography to give older adults a platform to truly be themselves. Whether it is words of wisdom, candid silly moments, or posing with a meaningful object, Meg captures genuine emotion and beautiful stories - not just a posed photo. Kara's takeaway: Meg's passion for this work is palpable, and her pride in the gift she gives her clients is inspiring. She brings two rare skills together in a way that is entirely her own - and the result is something truly special for the people she photographs.

If you have an older adult in your life who deserves to be celebrated and truly seen, Sweet Home Photography is the place. We loved every minute of this conversation with Meg.

When was your business founded and what inspired its development?
Sweet Home Photography was started in 2019, and was inspired by my own personal experiences.  My grandfather passed away in 2009, and I coped with selling his house by photographing all of the unique details of the home, and creating a photo book for my family.  When my husband’s grandparents had to move from the house they built in the 1940’s, I used photography to capture the legacy of their home, rather than focusing on the loss of the home.  These experiences combined with my work as a social worker, inspired me to use photography to help older adults tell their stories. 

How does your business support mental health and wellness in our local community?
Sweet Home Photography supports mental health on many levels.  On the individual level, portrait sessions help promote self-acceptance and pride by making space for people to feel seen and valued–without editing age-related features.  I offer sessions where people bring meaningful objects or photos of loved ones to be photographed with, which creates space for grief processing and legacy sharing.  Another type of session I facilitate starts with a discussion group, during which participants share their thoughts about aging and sense of self, and then are photographed holding hand-written signs featuring their thoughts. This has been transformative.  On a wider community level, candid event photography at senior communities captures evidence that aging is not all negative, and allows family members and community members to see older adults thriving and living authentically happy and connected lives.

What makes your business different from others that may offer similar service?
I provide all edited images to clients as part of the session fee- who am I to determine which photos best capture their true self?  My primary focus is older adults, which is also unique in this area.  I do not edit age-related features like wrinkles, and instead engage in discussion during sessions about the value of finding pride in authentic self expression.  I approach photography like social work, where it’s about human connection and emotional content over technical perfection.  I use the camera as a tool for healing and advocacy, focusing on emotion first, and aesthetics second.

How does your own journey or life experience shape how you show up in your work?
My family experiences with aging and end of life provided valuable insight into what it’s like to struggle with challenges that can arise during the aging process..  More recently, I was faced with needing to make a quick professional decision to resign from a job, and while disruptive, this grounded me in my values and empowered me to be myself.  This only fueled my passion to create safe spaces for others to be themselves as well.

Business ownership can be stressful - how do you take care of your own mental health and wellness?
Self-care is a work in progress.  I see my own therapist, who is very helpful.  Networking with other business owners that understand the unique challenges of what it’s like to own a small business has been so important–finding other humans who get it has been very validating.  A colleague and friend once told me that business should serve my life, and not the other way around, and this helps me remember to keep a balance between work and my personal life, which can be hard when I get so excited about what I do!

If people were to take away a feeling or message after experiencing your business, what would you want that to be?
I want people to feel appreciated and seen for who they are.  I want clients to feel connected and comfortable with me as a person, not just a photographer.  I want people to feel empowered to tell their stories and take up space as themselves.  The same principles apply in my therapy practice - showing up, making space, and letting people feel seen, heard, appreciated, and proud.  

Check out Megan's website & socials here:
http://www.sweethomephotoroc.com
Instagram @sweethomephotoroc
Facebook @sweethomephotorochester

What does a tattoo shop have in common with a mental health practice? More than you might think.
Meet Adrien Clark, owner of Axe of Kindness Tattoo! Adrien built AOK around three things: connection, giving, and kindness. It is not just a tattoo shop - it is a space where people feel genuinely welcomed and honored for whatever story brought them there. Adrien's commitment to community and his acknowledgment of human challenges attracts thoughtful artists and customers who are seeking meaning through body art.

Kara's takeaway: Adrien founded Axe of Kindness with a public declaration - combining community kindness, personal meaning and purpose, and human connection. That intentionality is what makes AOK different from other local shops, and it is exactly why this connection with Tree of Hope Counseling just makes sense.

If you have ever wondered about the healing power of meaningful body art and community, Adrien and the AOK team are living proof. 

Read the full conversation below!
​
When was your business founded and what inspired its development?
I have been tattooing for 22 years now, and opened Axe of Kindness in April of 2022, so we are four years old now officially.  It was kind of inspired by Covid. I've kind of always seen the inequity in the world, and just kind of felt powerless, because I'm not one of the billionaires out there who very easily could do things to help. Covid shifted my focus a little bit from worrying about what others have, who are more capable, and what I seemingly lack.  I stopped focusing on that versus what I do have, because I do have excess, even if it's not grand - it's more than I need.  So I figured out how to spread that out, tie it into the work that I already love to do, and cross my fingers that other people are into it as well.

Was Axe of Kindness always the name you had in mind?
I had a lot of names that I was kind of toying around with and when the idea of opening my own shop kind of hit me, and then the thought that I wanted to give back, I thought I should put kindness in the name.  I wanted to make people aware that there are acts of kindness tied to the work. And I enjoy word play, and puns and such - so then I was just thinking -  what about Axe of Kindness?  Because an axe is a weapon - a weapon against cruelties of the world - we want to fight for the kindness that we have to give.  And also tattooing kind of hurts so, you know, it also makes sense to have that edge in the name. And then, kind of what really sealed it, was just the thought that all the tattoos that I do are “AOK”. And I ask my clients all the time, “How you holding up? Still AOK?” And so I was like, oh yeah, that's the name!

How does your business support mental health and wellness in our local community?
One of the organizations that we donate to regularly is NAMI (National Alliance of Mental Illness). That's one of the ways which I feel is kind of more overt, if you will.  And then I do feel like the space that we have created, not just the physical building itself or the space, but also the personalities of the people that we have at the shop helps to foster a warm, welcoming, comfortable vibe for anyone who comes in. And we do have people who are getting tattooed as sort of a means of therapy - some of the stories that we get from our clients are so heartbreaking.  Some of them you really do feel for what people are going through, and it's kind of nice to be that safe space, if you will, for those people who are kind of using it as a bit of therapy. 

What makes your business different from others that may offer similar service?
I think it’s just the focus on the kindness side of things.  I have plenty of experience in other shops where, you know, that's not really a focus, and there's nothing wrong with that. But I just feel for me, that's got to be kind of the central part.  There are five [tattoo artists], including myself currently. And then we have guests that come in every once in a while as well.  Each of them have kind of joined this mission and everything that it's about.  They're very much all talented enough to do the art side of the work at any shop, but chose to work with my shop because of the mission

How does your own journey or life experience shape how you show up in your work?
I would say, my childhood wasn't the worst, but it wasn't the greatest and so I definitely have scars that I wear.  I think just being cognizant of that and knowing that other people also wear scars that we can't necessarily see, kind of helps to guide where I would like to go with everything.

Business ownership can be stressful - how do you take care of your own mental health and wellness?
As a business owner, I find it very important to get out of the shop and stay active physically.  So basketball is a big part of my life, and I try to, as much as I can, try to play at least once a week.  It's sometimes a little bit difficult, because I have a son who is playing basketball as well, and right now, it's AAU season - a lot of tournaments, oftentimes games on Sunday, which is the day I typically like to play, but watching him can be just as fun and good for me mentally. Beyond that, I do try to find just quiet time for myself… put down the phone and slow down.

If people were to take away a feeling or message after experiencing your business, what would you want that to be?
Hopefully they can take a little bit of kindness with them and spread it on their way. I just feel like even a simple hello to somebody you're passing by on the street sometimes is enough to change somebody's day.

​*Adrien added that walk ins are welcome, and if they cannot accommodate an appointment at that time, they will schedule a time to have the person come back, and welcome anyone to stop by and check out the shop any time.

Learn more at: axeofkindnessroc.com