The Birth of Hisparadise Therapy: Starting from Nothing in Nigeria

In the landscape of Nigerian entrepreneurship, most success stories begin with substantial capital, family connections, or extensive business experience. The story of Hisparadise Therapy stands in stark contrast to this narrative—a business born not from privilege or financial advantage, but from personal pain transformed into purpose, launched with little more than determination and a clear vision for healing.

The Unlikely Founder: A Finance Graduate Turned Therapist

When Ukeme Johnny Nsekpong (known professionally as Johnnywriter) completed his National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) at the Agricultural Development Programme in Ibusa, Delta State in 2018, the conventional path would have led him to pursue a career in banking or finance, leveraging his degree from Madonna University. Instead, he found himself drawn to a field largely underdeveloped in Nigeria: relationship therapy and emotional wellness.

"I was standing at a crossroads," Johnnywriter recalls. "On one hand was the expected path—seeking employment in the financial sector, which is what my degree prepared me for. On the other was this growing conviction that my true calling lay in helping people heal from the same emotional wounds I had experienced."

This conviction wasn't born from academic theory but from lived experience. Throughout his university years and national service, Johnnywriter had been privately battling depression, relationship challenges, and emotional trauma. His personal healing journey had led him to study psychology, emotional health, and relationship dynamics extensively on his own, developing expertise through a combination of voracious reading, online courses, and practical application.

What began as self-help gradually evolved into informal counseling for friends and acquaintances who recognized his insight and empathy. By the time he completed his NYSC, Johnnywriter was already serving as an unofficial therapist for a growing circle of people seeking guidance with their emotional and relationship challenges.

The most meaningful businesses aren't started because someone sees a market opportunity. They're started because someone experiences a problem so deeply that they become obsessed with creating a solution. Hisparadise was born from my own healing journey.

The Genesis: From Concept to First Client

In 2017, while still completing his NYSC, Johnnywriter made the bold decision to formalize his counseling work by founding Hisparadise Therapy. The timing was counterintuitive—he had no formal therapy credentials, minimal savings, and was living in a region where therapy services were neither widely understood nor sought after.

"I started with literally nothing," he explains. "No office, no business loan, no investors, no family wealth to draw from. What I did have was a laptop, an internet connection, and an unwavering belief that people in Nigeria needed better access to mental and emotional health support."

The initial business model was bare-bones by necessity. Johnnywriter created a simple website using free templates and self-taught web design skills. He established a social media presence focused on providing valuable relationship and emotional health content. For the first six months, all therapy sessions were conducted virtually or in borrowed spaces—coffee shops, church meeting rooms, or clients' homes.

Finding the first paying clients proved to be the most significant challenge. In a culture where seeking therapeutic help often carries stigma, and where personal problems are expected to be handled privately or through family and religious support, the concept of paying for therapy sessions was foreign to many.

"My first three clients came through social media," Johnnywriter recalls. "I had been consistently posting content about relationship dynamics, emotional healing, and mental health awareness. Eventually, people began reaching out privately, first for quick advice, and eventually for formal sessions."

The First Office: A Milestone of Legitimacy

By mid-2018, after six months of virtual and mobile practice, Johnnywriter had saved enough from his initial clients to rent a small office space in Asaba, Delta State. The office was modest—a single room in a commercial building with basic furniture and minimal decor—but it represented a crucial milestone in establishing Hisparadise Therapy as a legitimate business rather than a side project.

"I'll never forget the feeling of unlocking that first office," he shares. "It was barely 250 square feet, with just enough space for a desk, two comfortable chairs, and a small bookshelf. But it was a dedicated healing space—somewhere clients could come knowing it was designed specifically for their emotional wellbeing."

The physical location immediately impacted client perception and willingness to engage in therapy. Having a professional space not only enhanced the therapeutic experience but also served as tangible evidence of commitment and professionalism that helped overcome some of the cultural resistance to seeking therapy.

This first office also became Johnnywriter's home base for continued professional development. Between client sessions, he would pursue online certifications in therapy techniques, study advanced psychological concepts, and develop customized treatment approaches that addressed the specific cultural and social dynamics affecting his Nigerian clients.

Building Credibility: Education and Certification

While Hisparadise Therapy was operational and serving clients, Johnnywriter recognized that long-term success would require formal credentials to complement his practical experience and self-education. Without the financial means to pursue a full graduate degree in psychology or counseling, he instead developed a strategic approach to professional certification.

"I created a professional development roadmap focused on specialized certifications that would directly benefit my clients," he explains. "Rather than spending years and resources on a general psychology degree, I identified the specific therapeutic approaches and knowledge areas most relevant to the issues my clients were facing."

Between 2018 and 2020, while simultaneously running Hisparadise Therapy, Johnnywriter obtained certifications in:

• Anxiety Management
• Understanding Mental Health
• Emotional Intelligence & Relationship Therapy
• Trauma-Informed Counseling
• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
• Couples Therapy & Conflict Resolution

Each certification was selected based on the recurring issues he observed among his clientele, creating a highly customized professional development path that directly enhanced his therapeutic effectiveness.

This period also involved intensive self-directed study, with Johnnywriter dedicating early mornings and late evenings to reading clinical research, case studies, and therapeutic methodologies. He established relationships with more experienced therapists who served as informal mentors, providing guidance and perspective as he developed his practice.

Building a therapy practice without traditional credentials taught me to value results over reputation. I couldn't rely on impressive degrees to attract clients—I had to create such profound transformation in each person that they couldn't help but tell others about their experience.

Early Marketing: The Power of Content and Authenticity

Without a marketing budget, Johnnywriter relied entirely on content creation and word-of-mouth to grow Hisparadise Therapy during its first two years. His approach centered on transparency about his own healing journey and consistent delivery of value through social media, blog posts, and community workshops.

"I made the decision to be open about my own struggles and recovery," Johnnywriter explains. "In Nigerian culture, there's often pressure for professionals to project perfect lives. By sharing my experiences with depression, relationship challenges, and addiction recovery, I created permission for others to acknowledge their struggles."

His content strategy focused on addressing the questions and challenges he repeatedly encountered in client sessions, translated into accessible social media posts, articles, and eventually video content. Rather than generic mental health information, he created culturally specific content that addressed the unique pressures and dynamics faced by Nigerians in their relationships and emotional lives.

This approach proved remarkably effective in a market where mental health services were largely unfamiliar. By educating potential clients about the benefits of therapy and normalizing emotional struggles, Johnnywriter was simultaneously creating demand for his services and positioning Hisparadise Therapy as the solution.

Free community workshops became another cornerstone of his early marketing strategy. By offering introductory sessions on topics like "Understanding Emotional Intelligence" or "Healing from Relationship Trauma," he provided tangible value while showcasing his expertise and approach. These workshops, often held in church halls or community centers, frequently converted attendees into one-on-one clients.

Evolution and Expansion: From Solo Practice to Institution

By 2020, three years after its humble beginnings, Hisparadise Therapy had evolved from a one-man operation into a growing practice with a reputation for effective, compassionate care. This growth allowed for expansion into a larger office space with dedicated areas for individual therapy, couples counseling, and group sessions.

The practice's service offerings had also evolved based on client needs. What began primarily as relationship counseling expanded to include structured programs for:

• Depression and anxiety management
• Addiction recovery support
• Trauma healing
• Family therapy
• Self-worth development
• Grief counseling

This period also marked Johnnywriter's first hire—an administrative assistant who managed scheduling, client communications, and office operations. This seemingly small step represented a significant milestone in the business's maturation, freeing Johnnywriter to focus more fully on client care and service development.

"Adding that first team member changed everything," he notes. "It was the moment Hisparadise truly began to transform from 'my practice' to 'our organization.' It created space for me to think beyond the day-to-day and envision what Hisparadise could become."

That vision continued to expand as Johnnywriter recognized that emotional healing often intersected with other areas of wellbeing and opportunity. In 2020, he established Jocintech, a tech and digital solutions company, as a complementary venture addressing the digital wellness aspects of mental health.

By 2022, these growing enterprises were formally organized under Hisparadise Multilink Resources Limited (Hisparadise Group), with Hisparadise Therapy serving as the foundational business in a multi-industry approach to human transformation.

The Business Model Evolution

Throughout its growth, Hisparadise Therapy's business model has continuously evolved to balance accessibility with sustainability. The initial pricing structure was deliberately modest, reflecting both market realities in Nigeria and Johnnywriter's commitment to making mental health support accessible.

"I started with rates well below market average," Johnnywriter explains. "This wasn't just about client acquisition—it reflected my belief that therapy shouldn't be a luxury service available only to the wealthy. At the same time, I had to charge enough to sustain and grow the practice."

As the practice established its reputation and expanded its service offerings, a more sophisticated pricing model emerged. This included:

• Tiered pricing based on service complexity and therapist experience
• Package options for clients requiring ongoing support
• A limited number of subsidized spots for clients in financial hardship
• Group therapy options as a more affordable entry point
• Corporate wellness packages for organizations

This evolution allowed Hisparadise Therapy to maintain its commitment to accessibility while generating the revenue needed for continued growth and quality improvement. Rather than maximizing profit per session, the business model focused on serving more clients effectively and building long-term relationships that naturally led to referrals.

We've never taken outside investment for Hisparadise Therapy. Every expansion, every new hire, every improvement has been funded by the practice itself. This has kept us focused on creating genuine value for clients rather than satisfying external stakeholders.

Challenges and Adaptations

The growth of Hisparadise Therapy has not been without significant challenges, each requiring strategic adaptation and resilience. Among the most notable obstacles were:

Cultural Stigma and Education Gaps

Perhaps the most persistent challenge has been the cultural stigma surrounding mental health services in Nigeria. Many potential clients were hesitant to seek therapy due to concerns about being perceived as weak or spiritually deficient.

To address this, Hisparadise developed a robust educational component, creating content that framed therapy as a complement to spiritual and community support rather than a replacement. Johnnywriter also strategically incorporated culturally familiar language and concepts, making therapy feel less foreign and more accessible to Nigerian clients.

Infrastructure and Operational Challenges

Basic operational realities in Nigeria presented ongoing challenges, from unreliable electricity that disrupted sessions to internet connectivity issues that complicated virtual therapy offerings.

"We had to invest in backup power systems and multiple internet providers," Johnnywriter notes. "These operational investments were as crucial as our therapeutic training. You can't help someone process trauma if you're constantly losing power in the middle of sessions."

Talent Development and Retention

As the practice grew, finding qualified staff with both the technical skills and the emotional intelligence needed for effective therapy work proved challenging. With a limited pool of trained therapists in Nigeria, Hisparadise eventually developed its own training program for promising candidates.

"We created what we couldn't find," Johnnywriter explains. "Rather than waiting for the perfect therapists to appear, we identified people with the right fundamental qualities and created a structured development path to build their therapeutic skills."

Economic Pressures and Accessibility

Economic volatility in Nigeria created ongoing tension between maintaining affordable services and ensuring business sustainability. During periods of inflation or currency devaluation, maintaining accessible pricing while covering rising costs required creative approaches.

Solutions included the introduction of group programs, development of self-guided resources, and the creation of tiered service options that allowed clients to choose the level of support that fit both their needs and their budget.

Impact and Community Transformation

Beyond its business success, Hisparadise Therapy has created ripple effects of transformation throughout the communities it serves. By making therapy more accessible and culturally relevant, it has contributed to changing perceptions about mental health and emotional wellbeing in Nigeria.

"What makes me most proud isn't the growth of the business but the transformation we've witnessed in clients' lives," Johnnywriter reflects. "People who came to us in crisis now leading healthy, purposeful lives. Couples who were on the brink of separation now building strong families. Individuals trapped in addiction now experiencing freedom and restoration."

This impact extends beyond individual clients to community-level change. Through workshops, speaking engagements, and media appearances, Johnnywriter and the Hisparadise team have contributed to broader mental health awareness and reduced stigma surrounding therapy in Nigeria.

The practice has also created economic opportunity, both directly through employment and indirectly by helping clients overcome emotional barriers to their own professional success. As clients heal from depression, anxiety, relationship dysfunction, and other challenges, many find themselves more capable of pursuing education, career advancement, and entrepreneurial goals.

Future Vision: From Local Practice to National Movement

As Hisparadise Therapy approaches its tenth anniversary, Johnnywriter's vision for its future has expanded from growing a successful practice to catalyzing a national movement for emotional and relational wellness in Nigeria.

Central to this vision is geographical expansion, with plans to establish Hisparadise Therapy centers in 30+ major Nigerian cities over the next decade. Each center will maintain the core therapeutic approach while adapting to local cultural nuances and specific community needs.

Complementing this physical expansion is the development of digital therapy offerings that can reach Nigerians regardless of location. This includes a therapy app, online support groups, and self-guided healing programs that make emotional support accessible even to those without a physical Hisparadise center nearby.

Perhaps most ambitious is the plan to establish a fully accredited therapy school through Hisparadise Institute. This institution will train the next generation of Nigerian therapists, addressing the critical shortage of mental health professionals while ensuring culturally appropriate therapeutic approaches.

"What began as a personal healing journey has grown into something far beyond what I initially imagined," Johnnywriter reflects. "Hisparadise Therapy's story demonstrates that when you start with authentic purpose and persistent action, even the most modest beginnings can evolve into profound impact."

From a virtual practice with no office to a growing institution poised for national expansion, Hisparadise Therapy stands as testimony to the potential of purpose-driven entrepreneurship in Nigeria. Its founding and growth offer a blueprint for aspiring entrepreneurs, particularly those seeking to create businesses that address critical social and emotional needs rather than merely maximizing profit.

As Johnnywriter often tells the young entrepreneurs he mentors: "The size of your starting capital matters far less than the depth of your commitment to solving a real problem. Start where you are, with what you have, and let purpose fuel your persistence."