Today we’d like to introduce you to Buddy Clay.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
Tasha and I started to go on consistent date nights since we got engaged back in 2015. This carried over to us being newly-weds and wanting to try a new place each week. Living in Southern California at the time, we had so many options for amazing places to dine. I have a background in social media, and photography so after we had brunch on Sunday at a place that served and amazing cinnamon bun, brunch burger, that was topped with a scoop of ice cream, we decided to document that meal and start an Instagram page called @foodieoc.
This was the beginning of what has now taken us all over the world trying amazing meals and staying at some beautiful hotels where we partner with many large and small businesses to offer them photography for their marketing needs, and exposure on our social media platforms. Along the way, we have done consulting, and full brand management for various brands and countless photoshoots to meet the needs of clients in this competitive age of digital media.
Today, I am just a few weeks away from opening my first business in Knoxville. Over the last few years, I have been able to learn the ins and outs of many different industries and have always had a passion to help people struggling with mental illness and addictions. My background in school was psychology and I have wanted to find a way to use that, while also doing something I am passionate about. I am excited to share that this October, I will be opening up an outpatient treatment center that will serve the Knoxville/Farragut community by offering Mental Health and Addiction Counseling Services.
My company, New Hope Healthcare Institute will begin taking clients the first week of October and will be a safe place for people to seek help from various issues they may be facing. These last 2 years have been very tough for a lot of people, and it can be intimidating to go out and seek help. Unfortunately, struggling with mental health issues continues to be a taboo topic. My goal is to have New Hope Healthcare Institute be a place that allows people from all walks of life to get the help they need, and never feel shame about it.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
If it was smooth, I think everyone would do it! However the last 2 years have proven to be some of the toughest times for our family, however, it has shaped and strengthened us in many ways. Not going into all the details, we as a family had struggled with fertility and experienced the loss of two pregnancies before we had our beautiful baby girl, Isabella Grace last month.
I was diagnosed with stage 3 cancer last year and had successful surgery to remove it, and now have been undergoing immunotherapy treatment for the last six months. On top of that, we decided to pack up and move across the country to put down roots here in Knoxville to pursue our dream of opening a business of our own. Besides those unforeseeable challenges, there are obviously lots of obstacles in starting a new business. From the miscarriages, cancer, covid, moving our family, the hurdles that came with the actual business didn’t seem too bad.
Now we are learning to balance both businesses and continuing to pursue the things we are passionate about while not losing sight of the things that brought us joy.
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about New Hope Healthcare Institute and Foodie OC?
“Renewing the lives of those struggling with mental health and addiction while bringing hope back to their families.”
Thats the mission statement and that will always be the goal. We specialize in individualized care for young adults and teens struggling with mental health and addiction. We are different from other programs in our approach to treating both addiction and underlying mental health issues. We are solely an out-patient service and we will be working with everyday people who have lost their way at some point, and are now looking for help.
I am very proud that we will be able to serve the community in an amazing way that will positively affect the trajectory of many lives. We will be working with all major insurance providers and also will be accepting cash pay options. Our program will offer group therapy, experiential groups, adventure therapy (like hikes, paddle boarding, bike rides, etc), and one on one weekly therapy with an assigned licensed therapist.
Foodie OC is excited to get roots in East TN and start discovering everything it has to offer. We have been selected to be ‘Dollywood Insiders’ for the next year, so expect a lot of content from their park especially all the yummy food they offer. We plan to travel a lot and cover more if that on our food blog
How do you define success?
Faithful service. Success to me is doing my best at what I feel called to do and allowing God to do the rest.
Contact Info:
- Email: buddy@newhopehealthtn.com
- Website: https://newhopehealthtn.com
- Instagram: @newhope.institute and @foodieoc
