Today we’d like to introduce you to Kenyatta Black.
Hi Kenyatta, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start, maybe you can share some of your backstories with our readers.
I spent the first 8 years of my career in Corporate America, working in accounts payable at a telecommunications company. I was the youngest person on my team and I was promoted to a management position. At that time, all I knew is that I wanted to obtain a Master’s Degree because my maternal grandmother had a Master’s Degree. There were things about working in Corporate America that did not align with my belief system, so I started to plan an exit strategy. I’ve always been an entrepreneur at heart. Had a snow cone stand during the summer as a young girl. Taking the candy to school to sell to my friends.
My husband shared with me that Prairie View A&M had a distance learning program in Dallas and that I could earn a Master’s Degree in counseling. As I pondered over this idea, I noticed that most of my team members would talk to me about things they were dealing with, and it appeared that being a good listener was something that I had a natural gift for. I decided to apply for the program with the desire to have my own private practice.
After obtaining my provisional license, I worked at mental health hospital in a trauma unit under the supervision of the internationally known clinician, researcher, author, and lecturer Dr. Colin Ross. I received extensive training working with clients who suffered from trauma and abuse. Once I completed my internship, I started my own private practice in Arlington, Texas in 2012, and I have now been practicing for over 10 years. I currently have a group practice, and we offer services to a wide demographic of clients.
We all face challenges, but looking back, would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It has not been a smooth road. One of my biggest fears was taking the leap from working for someone where I was guaranteed a consistent paycheck and benefits to depending solely on myself. I was hesitant to leave because I knew I would not have healthcare insurance. I decided to step out on faith and bet on myself. Two months after leaving the hospital, I found myself in ICU for two weeks with no healthcare. I was diagnosed with mycoplasma pneumonia. I spent 1 month in the hospital, I was discharged home with oxygen, and I was out of work for almost 1 year. There were so many lessons in this. I had been running on fumes. Working in a trauma unit had its own challenges. I had two toddlers at that time, and I was working evenings and weekends trying to build my clientele so I could leave the hospital. The biggest lesson I learned was to listen to your body. My body was trying to communicate that I was doing “team too much,” but I did not listen. This was a very difficult time for me, but after having my biggest fear come true, I decided it was nowhere to go but up. I had nothing else to fear. It shifted my mindset.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
We are a group practice that offers therapeutic services to adolescents, individuals, couples, and families. We help clients work through several issues, including but not limited to grief, depression, and anxiety. We have a diverse group of clinicians that have different levels of experience. It is important that we provide exceptional services to the working class as well as clients who receive Medicaid. I believe mental health care should be available to anyone who has the courage to ask for help. As a supervisor, I am able to employ a therapist that is still in school, which allows me to offer a sliding-scale (reduced rate) for those clients who may not have the means to pay our full out-of-pocket costs.
Networking and finding a mentor can have such a positive impact on one’s life and career. Any advice?
I think finding a mentor is extremely important in any field. What has worked well for me is staying connected to colleagues that I have connected with along my journey. It takes work to keep any relationship going. That means initiating phone calls and inviting colleagues out for coffee or lunch. I encouraged my interns and associates to build relationships with each other outside of supervision.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.KenyattaBlackLPC.com
