Story & Lesson Highlights with Hannah Rose of Asheville, NC

We recently had the chance to connect with Hannah Rose and have shared our conversation below.

Good morning Hannah, we’re so happy to have you here with us and we’d love to explore your story and how you think about life and legacy and so much more. So let’s start with a question we often ask: What are you being called to do now, that you may have been afraid of before?
What I am being called to do now, that I may have been afraid of before, is to step into visibility as both an educator and a guide for other therapists. For years I poured my energy into direct clinical work and behind-the-scenes leadership. Launching The Thriving Practice Academy has required me to move beyond that comfort zone and speak publicly about what I know, share my frameworks, and trust that my voice matters in this field.

In the past, I was hesitant to take up space or to claim authority, even though I had the experience to back it up. Now I feel called to create a community where therapists at every stage of their career can find clarity, structure, and support. I am embracing the fact that my work can ripple out far beyond my own caseload. Instead of being afraid of visibility, I am choosing it as a way to serve more therapists and ultimately more clients.

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I’m Hannah Rose, a licensed clinical professional counselor, clinical supervisor, and the founder of Rose Wellness Counseling and The Thriving Practice Academy. Rose Wellness is a fully virtual group practice based in Maryland that provides trauma informed therapy with over 30 therapists, and The Thriving Practice Academy is my newest venture created to support therapists in building sustainable, values-driven careers.

What makes the Academy special is that it’s therapist-centered at every stage. We guide people from the very beginning of exploring the path to becoming a therapist, through launching a private practice, and into scaling a group practice. The work is not just about business strategy, but about building careers in a way that prevents burnout and allows therapists to feel aligned and abundant in their lives.

What excites me most right now is seeing how the Academy is becoming a place where therapists feel seen and supported. There has always been a gap between what we learn in school and what we actually need to know to build a fulfilling career. I created this platform to fill that gap with practical tools, mentorship, and a community that encourages growth with clarity and confidence.

Great, so let’s dive into your journey a bit more. What breaks the bonds between people—and what restores them?
What I see most often breaking the bonds between people is disconnection. That disconnection can come from many places: Fear, shame, unspoken expectations, or the belief that we have to show up as someone we are not in order to be accepted. When people stop feeling safe enough to be their authentic selves, the trust in the relationship begins to fray.

What restores those bonds is presence, honesty, and repair. When we slow down and really listen, when we name what is hard instead of avoiding it, and when we take responsibility for our impact, relationships have the chance to heal. Repair does not erase what happened, but it communicates that the relationship matters more than being right. That process of turning toward one another, instead of away, is what brings connection back.

Was there ever a time you almost gave up?
When I was on Survivor Season 45 in 2023, quitting was one of the hardest decisions I’ve ever made. I knew what the blowback from the fans was going to be, and I wasn’t wrong. I felt an intense wave of shame afterward. It’s a show that celebrates endurance and grit, and stepping away felt like I had failed at both. When I got home, that shame spilled over into my life. I wanted to quit everything – my work, my projects, my sense of forward motion.

But with time and support, I came to see that my decision to quit wasn’t weakness, it was alignment. I left because I was listening to myself, and that’s part of who I am and what I teach now. Honoring your limits, making choices that protect your well-being, and saying no even when the world expects you to say yes! Those are powerful acts.

I don’t regret my decision. It taught me that listening to my inner voice, even when it’s uncomfortable, is essential. And it also showed me that coming home and not quitting everything else mattered too. That resilience, the decision to keep showing up for my life and my work after such a public, vulnerable moment, became proof to myself that my strength isn’t about never stopping, it’s about knowing when to pause and when to keep going.

Alright, so if you are open to it, let’s explore some philosophical questions that touch on your values and worldview. Is the public version of you the real you?
Yes. Whether it was on Survivor, in my therapy work at Rose Wellness, or in The Thriving Practice Academy, what you see publicly is who I really am. Authenticity is everything to me. I don’t believe in creating a polished version of myself that hides the hard parts or only shows the wins.

On Survivor people saw me wrestle with my limits and make a hard decision. In my therapy practice and in the Academy, people see me build, lead, and sometimes stumble as I go. All of that is me. I know that the work I do (helping therapists build careers that are sustainable and values-driven) only resonates if I am living those values myself. Showing up as my full self, even when it’s vulnerable, is the most important way I can model what I teach.

Thank you so much for all of your openness so far. Maybe we can close with a future oriented question. What will you regret not doing? 
I don’t believe I’ll regret not doing anything, because I put myself out there again and again. For me, the real risk isn’t in trying and failing, it’s in holding myself back. The worst part about rejection or failure is never the outcome itself, it’s the story we tell ourselves about what it means. I have full control over that story. I choose to see every step, even the messy ones, as part of the process of growth. That mindset frees me from regret and keeps me moving forward. I will continue stepping into that arena again and again.

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