A Mother-Daughter Business: What it’s taught us about business & relationships…

What building a therapy company as a mum and daughter, taught us about business and connection.
People often ask how we met…
Kitty jokingly answers: “In her womb.”

It’s technically the truth, though she will say it laughing and blushing a little.

Long before Counterpoise existed, before therapy training, before the idea of building something together was even on the table, we were simply mum and daughter navigating life together.

Like many relationships between women, ours has evolved through different roles and chapters over time.

There were the early years of full-time motherhood for Jess.
Then periods where care flowed the other way, when Kitty was unwell and I (Jess) stepped into a caring role again. And now, somewhat unexpectedly, we find ourselves business partners.

It’s safe to say the relationship has had its chapters.

Working together as a mother and daughter brings an interesting dynamic. Firstly, it’s important to note that we are completely different people. Different temperaments, different ways of thinking, different strengths. Which, as it turns out, is exactly why it works. But it hasn’t always been easy for this reason either. 

Where one of us sees risk, the other sees possibility. Where one of us moves fast, the other slows things down. And because of that extra layer of being family, we’re also comfortable calling each other out on blind spots – usually with a bit of humour.

That mix of honesty, trust and difference is something we’ve realised sits at the heart of most meaningful relationships, whether in families, friendships, or partnerships at work.

As a therapist and working in the mental health world, we spend a lot of time helping people understand that good relationships aren’t plain sailing. They’re about repair, perspective, and the ability to stay curious, learning about each other.

In fact, research in relational psychology consistently shows that strong relationships aren’t defined by the absence of conflict, they’re defined by how people move through it.

With that in mind, here are a few therapist-backed ideas we often share with clients when it comes to building stronger connections.

1. Don’t aim for perfect understanding; aim for curiosity

One of the healthiest shifts in any relationship is moving from “Why would you do that?” to “Help me understand how you got there.”
Curiosity lowers defensiveness and opens the door to real conversation.

2. Different strengths are an asset, not a problem

In business and relationships alike, tension often comes from different ways of thinking. But those differences are often exactly what create balance. The key is recognising when contrast is actually complementarity.

3. Call things out, kindly and early

Resentment tends to grow in silence. Addressing small tensions early, with humour and good intent, often prevents much bigger conflicts later.

4. Let relationships evolve

Some of the most meaningful connections in life are the ones that change shape over time. Parent becomes friend. Friend becomes collaborator. Colleague becomes friend. Roles shift, and that’s often where new depth emerges.

Building Counterpoise together has been one of those unexpected evolutions for us. What started as shared conversations about mental health and access to therapy has grown into a company dedicated to making high-quality therapy more accessible for others.

And at the heart of it is still the same thing that makes any relationship work: trust, honesty, and a willingness to keep learning from each other.

Which, we’ve realised, is also what therapy is all about.

Because meaningful connection, with others and with ourselves, is rarely about getting it perfect. It’s about staying open to the conversation.

To chat to a member of our brilliant team or me, you can use our get matched service or book a session!
-Written by Jess, Co-founder.