Today we’d like to introduce you to Dr. Cheryl Young Hamilton.
Hi Dr. Hamilton, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
My name is Dr. Cheryl Young Hamilton (as of Saturday, May 15th, 2021). I am the founder of Senior Year Productions and the owner of Hamilton Counseling and Consulting, PLLC. Born to Helen Allen and the Late Joseph Young, I am originally from Savannah, Georgia, but I have lived in Dallas, Texas since I was a little girl. I am married to Christopher Hamilton, and we have three grown children (Jatereus, Key’Aira, Krishaelyn). Growing up in Dallas was not easy and came with some hard-learned lessons. When I was 15 years old, I became a teenage parent, and by the time I was 21, I was a single mother of three. However, my circumstances never allowed me to give up or quit my dreams and goals, nor did my oldest sister and brother-in-law (Anita and Malcolm Coleman). They took my son in and me and were excellent support that helped me graduate on time from Justin F. Kimball.
After high school, I knew that I was destined to do great things, but I was unsure of what I wanted to do. Even though I was clueless, I enrolled in college and that was the beginning of my educational adventures. It took me ten years to graduate with my associate degree, but I never gave up. I surrounded myself with people who believed in education, and I knew that one day I would be able to help others accomplish their goals. Eventually, I went on to graduate from the University of North Texas with my bachelor’s degree in Family Studies and Dallas Baptist University with a master’s degree in Counseling. While doing my practicum at a juvenile youth facility, I developed a college prep program to assist youth with the college process from beginning to end. The program now known as Senior Year Productions, has assisted over 200 youth within the DFW area since 2012. After years of working within the college prep counseling field, I decided to open a private practice to help others within the mental health field. My first company was with a partner from 2014-2020 and then in 2020, right before COVID hit, I started Hamilton Counseling and Consulting, PLLC.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
The road for both companies has definitely been challenging, especially since COVID, but my passion has grown stronger for serving others during the pandemic. One struggle that I have had to endure with Senior Year Production is definitely creating different ways to generate income. Every year we give out scholarships to assist with college expenses to help students lower the cost for their first year. Last year, we were forced to move our main fundraiser from face-to-face to virtual. Even though we were able to give out some monetary gifts, we still fell short of what we usually bring in. In addition, we struggled with getting the college prep programs back up and running for the class of 2021 and are just now able to start back taking applications for the class of 2022.
Another struggle that I have had to endure is starting over during the pandemic. Right before the pandemic, my business partner announced that she was retiring from the company. While preparing to transfer everything over, the pandemic hit. Initially, I struggled with getting assistance from the SBA until mid-June. In addition, moving from face-to-face to virtual was not only a struggle for me and my staff but also for my clients. Some clients were new to the life of zoom, and some clients did not have enough money to purchase laptops or tablets.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
This past weekend I graduated with my doctoral degree in community care and counseling. I am currently a Licensed Professional Counselor Supervisor (LPC-S), one of the only African American Registered Play Therapist Supervisor (RPT-S) in the southern sector, National Certified Counselor (NCC), International Play Therapist-Certified SandTray Specialist (IPT-CST), Certified Anger Management -II Specialists (CAMS) Certified ADHD Specialist and Coach. and Certified Life Coach. I completed my dissertation in researching and understanding the impact of training teachers on ADHD and coping skills within the elementary school setting.
Senior Year Productions is a 501© (3) organization. Our mission is to equip, educate, and support students (ages 16 to 24) to pursue higher education. Senior Year Productions (also known as SYP) is not simply an organization that guides students through the often complex college maze of enrollment through graduation. We strive to impart wisdom and direction on the importance of advocating for themselves and their community. Collectively the SYP staff has nearly 25 years of experience in case management, banking, mentoring, and counseling. Because Senior Year Productions desires to see young people transition successfully into independent adulthood, we are committed to providing educational, career, and other supportive services. Since opening in 2011, we have provided services to students both locally and statewide. In 2019, 9 out of 10 students were accepted to the college of their choice, and we were able to help students win over $145,000 in scholarships and grants. Since opening, we have surpassed that number with a 100% admissions rate and totaled over $292,000 in scholarships and grants to date, bringing us to $475,000.
Our Services Include: College prep from beginning to end, After Care support, Personalized college list, Comprehensive essay assistance, Organizational plan, Interview preparation, Recommendation strategies, High school academic and extracurricular planning, Scholarship search strategy, Tuition payment planning, Financial aid seminar, Award negotiation techniques.
Hamilton Counseling and Consulting, PLLC is a private mental health practice. We are committed to providing individuals, families, parents, children, and couples the professional support and treatment you need to put your life on track. Hamilton Counseling and Consulting was established in 2020 and located in the beautiful City of Duncanville, Texas. Our goal is to provide professional counseling, training, and life development skills to advance individuals, families, marriages, parents, infants, children, youth, and adults in the community. We specialize in ADHD, play therapy, cognitive behavior, mindfulness, emdr, trauma, family, individual therapy, case management, and life coach. I am most proud that in a short period, we have maintained a staff of 4 full-time employees and ten contractors who have various certifications in meeting the needs of our community. Our office offers the Family Tree Program, which our program director Ashley Hamilton runs, which offers ten free sessions to families with children under the age of 18. We are a nontraditional counseling center, and we focus on helping all age groups. In the last year, we have been able to connect with school districts within the southern sector of Dallas to provide free counseling to the community. Last year, we collaborated with other business owners to supply tablets and laptops to students to low-income students within the area for virtual learning.
So maybe we end on discussing what matters most to you and why?
The thing that matters most to me is that I continue to stay humble and complete the purpose that God has called me to do and that is to serve and help others in my community. I feel like God has given me this opportunity to assist people throughout their journey, whether it’s through their academic careers or through their mental health needs.
Contact Info:
- Email: referrals@hamilton-cc.com
- Website: Hamilton-cc.com
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/hamiltoncounselingandconsulting
