Today we’d like to introduce you to Rodrego Way
Rodrego, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
Beginning a career in criminal justice, I was determined to make a difference in my community from within the juvenile justice system as a Juvenile Corrections Officer. I obtained my bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from South Carolina State University. After being in the criminal justice filed for a short period of time. I quickly realized the best way to impact my community was not through criminal justice but through healing in the form of counseling before adolescence and adults reached the criminal justice system.
I went back to school to obtain my master’s degree from Webster University in counseling, focusing on school guidance and mental health. Upon completing my degree, I transitioned into being a school guidance counselor. During my years of working in the school system, I held titles of Behavior Specialist, Parent Liaison, and Mental Health Counselor. Prior to working in the school system and while pursuing my Masters Degree, I worked in the field of addictions. As an addiction specialist, I have experienced working in methadone clinics and inpatient and outpatient treatment facilities as a case manager, assessor, and group therapist. After many years of working in the counseling field, I observed a common theme emerging as it relates to the social and cultural impact of trauma. Trauma was the catalyst for many of my client’s inability to maintain daily life functions on a regular basis. Having this knowledge as a base for a therapeutic approach, I decided to build a practice taking a holistic and coaching approach to restoring individuals, families, and communities that have experienced the traumatic effects of our society and its issues.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
The journey to becoming a licensed professional counselor and opening my practice was filled with obstacles. My initial struggle came in the form of completing the licensure process. After completing my masters degree in 2004, I decided to pursue a career in school guidance. Being a Black Male with a dual degree in school guidance and mental health it wasn’t difficult for me to secure my first job in the school system. I was hired as a high school guidance counselor immediately after graduation. I was excited about this opportunity and wanted to make a difference in the school environment.
Even though I was a sought after individual in the field there were additional criteria that I had to meet. The school district and state required that all employees pass a subject area and basic knowledge exam to obtain their certification. Which I didn’t think would have been a problem. I was given a year to have this completed. I immediately began to research both tests and the study materials. There were teachers that I reached out to for assistance in studying for the tests. The basic knowledge test was the one that I was told to focus on the most.
The basic knowledge exam consisted of three parts reading, writing, and math. Within the first few months of employment I had scheduled and passed at least the reading and writing parts of the test. I still had the math portion to go. Knowing that I was not strong in math, I intentionally waited to take this section of the test last. With high hopes and expectations, I was assured that I was going to pass this test as well. Things that didn’t go as planned. I didn’t pass the test. I was a little disappointed but assured that I was going the past it the second time.
Unfortunately, after numerous attempts, I was not able to pass the math portion of the test. Which meant that I had to re-group and figure out what I needed to do. So I decided to go back and complete the additional practicum and internship hours to qualify me to get my mental health intern license. Doing this gave me another avenue to continue to pursue a career in the counseling field. For the next three to four years I worked on completing the required supervised training to get fully licensed.
Prior to completing the mental health licensure process with the state of Florida to test and I went through a very emotional divorce that resulted in me eventually relocating to the state of Texas. After arriving in Texas, I attempted to complete the licensure process in Florida. This did not go well. I was denied the opportunity to complete the licensure process. After about a year of back and forth with the state of Florida I had to make a very though decision. The decision was to either give up on my goal to become licensed or start over here in Texas with supervision and supervision hours. With a new perspective on life, I made the decision to apply for the licensed internship status here in Texas. This meant I would have to complete an additional two years of supervised hours with another supervisor.
At this point I was feeling defeated and angry with myself and the process. I didn’t want to start over. But this was not the case for me. I found a new supervisor and began the new journey. I was able to complete my hours within the designated time frame of two years. Not only was I able to complete the requirements to be licensed in the state of Texas for mental health I was able to obtain my chemical dependency license within those two years as well. Within a year of obtaining my license in Texas I was able to obtain my license in the states of Georgia and South Carolina as well.
Would I consider this journey smooth? Not at all. This was a very discouraging experience for me, However, the lessons learned through this process were worth every moment . Though I may have wanted this process to be more simple, I am glad that things occurred the way they did. I really appreciate what I do as a mental health professional because of what I went through to be able to do it.
We’ve been impressed with The Mind and Therapy Clinic, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
The concept for The Mind and Therapy Clinic, PLLC was birthed in November of 2020. We opened our first private practice location in June of 2021. We specialize in working with BIPOC (Black Indigenous Other People of Color) Trauma. However, we do provide general therapy for clients who are dealing with anxiety. depression, substance abuse, and etc…We currently have one office which located in Prosper, TX to date. Our goal is to expand by opening private practices in other locations and states. Current we are licensed to see clients in the following states: Texas, Georgia, and South Carolina and we do accept most major insurances. The Mind and Therapy Clinic is a registered Historically Under Utilized Business in the state of Texas.
Let’s talk about our city – what do you love? What do you not love?
What I really enjoy about being in the DFW area is that I am able to have my piece of the pie. I don’t have to struggle with obtaining clients to see. I also enjoy the opportunities that the city provides to engage with others in my profession. I have been able to find some unique connections that allows me to do what I do as a mental health professional. If there is something to dislike about the city it would be the distance to travel to participate in some of the professional activities.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.mindandtherapyclinic.com
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/therapycoach1
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thetherapycoach/
- Twitter: https://x.com/TheTherapyCoach
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@Thetherapycoach
