By Boyana Peeva
VALDOSTA — “Small businesses sticking together and looking out for each other is the way to go in these difficult times,” said Judy Martin Trexler, a licensed clinical social worker and hypnotherapist.
Trexler opened a clinic for psychotherapy, hypnotherapy and substance abuse counseling in February this year. Her business was located at Northside Plaza along with five more new businesses. None of them, however, knew the property was for sale. A month ago, all six of them were given 30 days to relocate because the property was sold.
“Can’t tell you what a hardship that was for all our new businesses,” she said. “All of our businesses are totally different, but we pulled together and stuck together and relocated to 3470 North Valdosta Road.”
Judy Martin Trexler, Comfort Keepers, Blue Grace Logistics, and Aaron Rents Administrative Office all moved in a new building at North Valdosta Road a month ago, which turned out to be a better place for them.
While in the process of finding a new location, four of them were communicating and helping each other, and keeping a positive attitude.
“One of the reasons we all wanted to relocate was that we had a great working relationship over there (at Northside Plaza). We supported each other. There was a mutual bond and caring among all of us,” said Connie Ledbetter at Blue Grace Logistics.
The actual moving process was not the biggest issue for the businesses. Since they are all new, they had just gotten done with their advertisements, brochures, and business cards, and people were finally starting to learn about them, and a sudden relocation would mean starting all over again, explained Trexler.
They checked several possible locations before they made the move.
“We all kept a positive attitude about moving that maybe we would find a better place,” Trexler said.
Ledbetter found a building on North Valdosta Road and they figured it would work great for all of them.
The new place allowed them to have bigger offices, to expand, to have better parking and be more visible.
“It worked out wonderfully,” Ledbetter said.
“We are paying a little more rent, but we have bigger offices,” Trexler added. “And I have windows in my office here.”
Scott and Lisa Register at Comfort Keepers were also having a hard time relocating, but in the end, they were thankful for the change. Them said it’s essential for their business to have a correct address and contact information because a lot of their older patients need to know their physical location since they are having difficulties operating the Internet.
“Older generation needs to know where we are located,” Lisa Register said. “We are local, we are here in Valdosta, and we are glad to provide in-home care services to them or their loved ones.”
Trexler already had patients at the new office, and she said they were all impressed.
She has 26 years of experience in the mental health field and has worked with patients with addictive diseases, mental and physical disabilities and more. Since February, after a break of several years, she reopened a solo practice. Her specialty is “depression and anxiety, panic disorders, eating disorders, PTSD, marital issues, relationship issues, anger management, suicide prevention, grief and loss, substance abuse, conduct disorders, Tourette Syndrome, sexual abuse issues, ADHD, school performance, weight management and smoking management,” according to her job description. She has, however, always had a special interest in hypnotherapy and said that she is currently the only certified hypnotherapist in the area.
“Hypnosis is an intense state of relaxation, and it helps people to relax, so they can take in more positive suggestions and block out the negative ones,” she said.
Trexler explained that sometimes people are very skeptical about this type of treatment because of what the media has implied about it. She said the patients have full control over themselves, and it is false that somebody can tell them what to do while they are hypnotized.
“Nobody can take control over your body, but you,” she added. “Hypnotherapy empowers people to take control over their own lives. Don’t let food or weight control your life, for example.”
The most common problems people have when they look for help through hypnotherapy are weight loss, smoking, stress management and sports-fulfillment enhancement.
A unique complement to her practice is also pet therapy. She has three certified pet therapy dogs that she uses to develop client empathy, social skills and better communication skills.
“Each of my dogs has a different personality,” Trexler said. “Depending on the patient and the patient’s needs, I bring them into my therapy sessions, and I take them to schools and use them in presentations and sessions.”
Blue Grace Logistics began operation a year and half ago. They provide shipping assistance to businesses that are relocating.
“They (other businesses) just contact us and we facilitate the move between the transportation companies and our customers. We are the link,“ Ledbetter said. “We have developed wonderful relationships with our transportation companies, and we value and respect each other and work together to provide the best service for the customers.”
She explained that it is extremely important for her to provide excellent service because, by satisfying the customers, Blue Grace will have a more successful business.
“The reason we are able to be successful in a down economy is that we are so diversified. We have courier service, less than truckload, international small package and large international shipments,” Ledbetter added.
In addition, the company provides international and domestic air freight, ocean freight, parcel shipping, service desk support, transportation management and auditing services.
A part of being successful, according to Ledbetter, is working with good professionals, so her business consists of four people — all being very knowledgeable and experienced.
Throughout her career, she has had several jobs that trained her and gave her valuable experience. She has been on both sides — as a customer and as a service provider, so she does understand the customer’s needs.
The main office of the company is located in Apollo Beach, Fla. It has been in service for over 100 years and has experience in freight, logistics, and transportation management.
Blue Grace Logistics is located at 3470 N. Valdosta Road in Suite G2. Business hours are 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. For more information, call (229) 249-0997 or e-mail at cledbetter@mybluegrace.com.
Judy Martin Trexler is located at 3470 N. Valdosta Road in Suite F1. Her business hours are flexible, so call her office (229) 242-8893 for more information or call her cell phone (229) 588-0134.
Comfort Keepers is located at 3470 N. Valdosta Road in Suite F2. Their official business hours are between 9 a.m. and 5:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. However, they are available 24/7 at (229) 241-0002.
