Today we’d like to introduce you to Toni Busby.
Hi Toni, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I grew up in a broken and dysfunctional home environment where drugs, alcohol, divorce, domestic violence, and child sexual abuse became a “norm”. I often felt unsafe and invisible. Patterns of unhealthy choices, shattered lives and unhealed hearts were handed down from one generation to the next, as if it were a badge of honor or a legacy not worth protecting. As a child, my mother’s smile, gentle, loving and kind eyes, told a story of strength, hard work and determination but they also told the story of fear, trauma and personal struggles. I quickly learned as a child that what happened in our house had to stay in our house. From the outside we appeared happy and healthy but behind closed doors life was far from the portrait we portrayed.
Looking back at my younger self, I was overly observant, extremely introverted, and very sensitive to other people’s pain to a fault (I would even cry during movies/commercials that had a storyline of sadness, struggles or tragedy; lol). Unconsciously, I developed a “savior complex” and a deep desire to protect and “fix” other people’s problems. This mentality traveled with me as a faithful and devoted companion through every stage of development, leading to low self-esteem, poor decision-making skills, maladaptive attention-seeking behaviors, and repeated relationship failures, including the recent demise of a 16-year unhealthy marriage (June 2026). Silent screams for help went unanswered as I consistently hid all the pain behind my “servant’s heart” and beautiful smile. This became my coping mechanism, a state of being as I enable others to keep me in a cycle of emotional and psychological pain.
It has indeed been a long and painful process but through my healing journey of awareness, prayer, the Word of God, faith in the finished work of Jesus Christ and supportive spiritual leaders assigned to my life, I no longer view others or the world through the wounded eyes of my younger self. No more feelings of hopelessness or inadequacy, drowning in shame, guilt-ridden by what happened to me or the choices I made to cope with past trauma. They no longer have the power to define me! My identity has been restored, and I walk with a sense of purpose, self-worth and dignity. I believe my life’s journey has prepared and positioned me to make a difference and bring positive impact in the lives of others, including my children, the youth and families I serve as a Licensed Social Worker and Clinical Director with a foster care and adoption organization (Upbring Foster in Texas), as well as in the lives of the next generation of “world changers” to whom I am given the honor to pass the torch to as they take their own journeys of healing in life. God’s plan for my life is perfect, bringing me full circle and I am committed to continue to pursue his will with a strong resolve. By sharing my story, I am testifying of HIS-tory of love, compassion, dominion and redemption.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
It has not been a smooth road by any means. To become a healthy person, spirit-soul-body, your perception of self must be confronted. Facing myself in the mirror, being honest about what I saw, where I was, who I had become, and taking accountability for my actions was one of the hardest things I have ever had to do. I knew it could disrupt relationships with those who benefitted from my dysfunction and it would dismantle damaging structures set up in my mind and my bloodline. Additionally, sometimes other people’s belief systems can keep you locked into patterns of behaviors that you know are unhealthy, but it can sometimes feel impossible to break away from, especially when those individuals are prominent voices in your life whom you’ve grown to love and respect.
I stood at the crossroad of my life in June 2024 and had to make a difficult choice; continue to wear a mask and remain on the familiar path of brokenness that I had been on for the majority of my life (53 years) or make the brave decision to step off that path and onto the path I had never traveled before which was completely unfamiliar, looked long, isolated, dark and scary. I had to come into agreement that my decision was necessary to stop the merry-go-round, move beyond my past/present circumstances and into my desired outcome which was wholeness. It was the most important and the best decision I have ever made.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I am a licensed master social worker in the state of Texas (since 2018) and I currently serve as the Clinical Director of a Child Placing Agency (CPA), Upbring Foster in Texas program. I’ve been with the organization for 7 1/2 years and am honored to work alongside staff and families who serve children involved in the child welfare system. I received my bachelor’s (2007) and master’s (2008) degree from the University of Texas at Arlington with a focus on children and families. My career path also includes working with victims of domestic violence (The Archway, formerly Safehaven of Tarrant County) and the Department of Family and Protective Services (CPS).
I am most proud of the collaborations I am blessed to have with child advocates across the state of Texas, as we work together to bring healing, wholeness, and hope to children in foster care. I am a protector of children and a beacon of hope, and I wear them with humility and as a badge of honor.
I believe my story of healing to wholeness sets me a part, as it breeds authenticity, genuineness, compassion, a positive outlook, encouragement and hope to others. I believe I blaze a path that presents others with an opportunity to know they are special, unique and worthy of great things. As a professional in the field of social work, I am dedicated to a holistic approach to healing and social justice. I lead others from a healed place to provide clinical support, understanding and kindness. Maya Angelou said it best, “I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel”.
I am a professional and spiritual mentor, conference speaker, podcast host (Show Up and Live the Podcast), and published author (I ‘FINALLY’ Showed Up and Started to Live). I combine my spiritual calling with professional expertise and believe my call to action extends beyond the pulpit to empower listeners and readers to live purposeful, faith-filled lives. I am also an intercessor, prophetic psalmist, worship leader, preacher, ordained minister, elder and soon to be ordained prophet (October 2026).
I am in the process of rebranding and am working with Brishaun Denton of BD Concepts & MGMT and hope to have my website up and going strong by October 2026.
Let’s talk about our city – what do you love? What do you not love?
I have lived in Fort Worth my entire life (55 years), and I don’t see myself living anywhere else. Lol. Fort Worth has such a rich history and is ever growing, but it still has a homegrown feeling of pride and strong sense of community. What I like least about our city is probably the ongoing construction that seems to be never-ending. Rush hour is unavoidable and often leads to disgruntle drivers and fender benders almost daily.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @toniebusby7
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tonielaine.busby
