Today we’d like to introduce you to Kristen Diou.
Kristen, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
After graduating with my master’s in Children’s Counseling, I began working at a domestic violence agency in Fort Worth. I worked as a play therapist both at the women’s shelter and the outreach center, and grew in experience with domestic violence. While I loved my job, I was really missing being outside and connecting with nature. So an opportunity arrived to start my own counseling business on a small farm in Denton, Texas. I feel so fortunate to be able to continue my work with children and adults in a totally different environment. My clients and I can go for long walks to meet the horses or play with kittens and bunnies in my office. It seems so much easier to connect with oneself when we are free from the distractions of city life.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
It’s been a long road. Four years of undergrad, three years of graduate school and three years of post-graduate internship have gotten me to where I am today! It’s been a lot of hard and emotionally intense work, but I am very grateful for where I am now.
So let’s switch gears a bit and go into the Kristen Diou Counseling story. Tell us more about the business.
I am a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC). I typically work with children doing play therapy, but also see teens and adults. I specialize in trauma counseling, including domestic violence and chronic illness. I also specialize in working with ADD and ADHD in children and teens. I offer an alternative to traditional counseling with nature therapy and equine counseling. Opposed to being stuck in an office, we can go for a walk through the pasture or work with different animals on the farm. There is a lot of freedom on the farm and my clients can make the choice of how they want to use their time in therapy.
Has luck played a meaningful role in your life and business?
It doesn’t seem like luck (good or bad) has anything to do with it. It mostly seems like a lot of hard work. There was so much I did not know about starting a business, but my mantra this year has been, “I don’t know how to do that, but I can learn.” And I have learned! Nothing about it has been easy, but I’m a stronger person because of it.
Pricing:
- $110/session. Sliding scale is available.
Contact Info:
- Address: 3900 Roselawn Dr, Denton, TX 76207
- Website: www.kristendiou.com
- Phone: 940-242-1816
- Email: kristendiou@gmail.com
- Facebook: facebook.com/kristendioucounseling
Getting in touch: VoyageDallas is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
