Meet Monica Kovach | Founder of Hold Space Creative

We had the good fortune of connecting with Monica Kovach and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Monica, have you ever found yourself in a spot where you had to decide whether to give up or keep going? How did you make the choice?
I still struggle with this sometimes, but I find it helpful to think of everything as an experiment. When I’m working toward a goal (whether personally or professionally) and I’m not getting the results that I want, I look at the situation objectively to see if there’s anything I can do differently. Do I need to change my approach? Do I need to ask for help? Is there anything I’m missing or overlooking?

Not being afraid to change course is really important. I used to get really stuck in situations because I would try to force things, even if it wasn’t working, just because I said I would. I think starting a business taught me that there’s strength in being able to say, “This isn’t working, I need to pivot.”

And sometimes pivoting means giving up on the original goal, but at that point, you’ve probably exhausted all other options and approaches, so moving on is just another form of changing course.

What should our readers know about your business?
I’m the founder of Hold Space Creative, a Squarespace template shop for therapists & coaches. As a former therapist and coach myself, I wanted to help my colleagues and friends build better websites. I see designing these websites as a way to make therapy and mental healthcare more accessible by helping therapists and coaches reach more people and find the right clients, and I’m really proud of the progress we’ve made on this mission thus far.

I found my way into this work by accident. With a BFA and an MA in Counseling and Art Therapy, web design came naturally to me. After I designed my own coaching website, I started to get asked to design websites for my therapist friends who were starting their private practices, and it snowballed from there.

It wasn’t easy, by any means, but starting the business with a passion for the work and a larger vision helped carry me through the difficult and “un-fun” times.

A big lesson for me, throughout the life of my business, has been to ask for help. I think “rugged individualism” can be so alluring, but the truth is we can’t do it alone. Every challenge that I’ve faced has been overcome because I asked for help; whether it’s asking for advice from my peers and mentors, outsourcing aspects of the business, or always being open to client feedback… it takes a village!

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I’m based in Kalamazoo, so Bell’s and One Well are a must. I really love Green Door Distilling; I’m not normally a gin person – but their gin is amazing! My favorite part about living in Kalamazoo is the close access to natural areas, so places like the Kalamazoo Nature Center, Al Sabo Preserve, and the Kal-Haven Trail are at the top of my list. For great food, I’d go to Roca for tacos or Maru for sushi. The Farmer’s Market is a fun time on the weekends, and a few times throughout the summer, we have a vintage market called Vintage in the Zoo which is like a farmer’s market, except every booth has vintage or handmade wares! It’s super cool.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
Shoutout to my Mastermind buds for being my cheerleaders, mentors, coworkers, and friends! I couldn’t have done it without you!

Website: www.holdspacecreative.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/holdspacecreative/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/holdspacecreative/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/holdspacecreative

Youtube: https://youtube.com/@holdspacecreative?si=p3lJmYOi06ARyFJz

Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@holdspacecreative?_t=8g4eCEfd6A3&_r=1

Image Credits
Amanda Yassay Photography