Today we’d like to introduce you to Stacy Teague.
Hi Stacy, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
My story begins with someone believing in me before I believed in myself.
At 17, I was homeless, finishing my senior year of high school, and working two jobs to get by. A friend’s mom, who didn’t know me, gave me a bed and welcomed me into her family. From then on, she counted me as one of her own, saying, “One of my 6 kids,” when introducing me. She gave me more than a place to stay…she showed me unconditional love, with no strings, no judgment, and endless patience. She saw who I was and who I could become. That changed everything for me. I learned that love is a choice, and it can change your life.
She was a force of nature…intelligent, fearless, passionate, and deeply kind.
I saw her live with the assertiveness that an unapologetically passionate woman in a male-dominated industry needed to be seen and heard. She shaped the woman I was going to become. She taught me to work hard, believe in myself, dream big, and go after those dreams, even when they seemed out of reach.
I always knew I wanted to own a business. As a kid, I was full of ideas and always trying them out. My neighbors knew me well because I’d knock on their doors offering to clean, trying to sell them shiny rocks I found, or organizing a circus with the neighborhood kids.
That drive stayed with me into adulthood, but for years, I couldn’t find the right fit. I tried many ideas from creative businesses to beauty, hair, and even bookkeeping, but none felt right or connected to what I truly enjoyed.
In my early 30s, I was married with four boys at home, between jobs, and feeling lost. That’s when she sat me down and asked, “What are you passionate about?”
I thought for a moment and said, “I love people.” I explained that I wanted everyone to know their value and worth. She told me, “Then find a way to make a career out of it.” That was a pivotal moment that changed everything for me.
I began searching for a way to combine my love for people with W-O-R-K. Unsure where to start, I went back to college, even though I had dropped out over a decade earlier and was juggling being a wife, mother, and employee. As I finished my associate’s degree, I discovered social work. I realized I could help people, support them through tough times, and help them see their strengths. Seven years after returning to school, I earned my Master’s in Social Work.
I started working with teens in a high school and quickly advanced. I enjoyed the work, but after COVID-19, with fewer resources for students and families, the job became overwhelming and stressful. At the same time, my mom was diagnosed with lung cancer, and I became her main caretaker. She passed away in May 2023, and losing her shook me deeply. Grief left me exhausted and unable to function. I realized I couldn’t keep doing my job, so I gave my two weeks’ notice and decided to work full-time as a mental health therapist.
Grief made things clearer for me, and I knew I needed to do work that truly fit who I am. At the time, I was a single mom raising my two youngest boys. As their main provider, I was scared to make a big change, but I loved the work. I realized I had found what the philosopher in the book “The Courage to Be Disliked” calls your “LIFE Path.” Within a year, I knew I wanted to start my own practice. I saw my first private client in March 2024 and fully launched my business by June.
By September, my client list was full, and I had a waitlist. I realized I couldn’t do it all alone and needed to grow. I found a great opportunity to lease a counseling suite and invited my best friend to join me in building our private practice.
Looking back, it doesn’t feel like any of this happened by accident. Every setback, every uncertain time, and every person who cared for me brought me here. My work and my business are built on one belief: people matter, and healing is possible when someone truly sees you.
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?
Nope. Not even close.
Before opening my first therapy practice, I did my research, asked questions, and talked to experts, but I still made plenty of mistakes. I set up my business under the wrong structure, hired someone who misrepresented their work, and lost almost $10,000 in my first six months. I think of it as tuition for the kind of education no one tells you about when starting a business.
There were also struggles you can’t measure in numbers. Sometimes I felt like I was letting down my clients, my family, and myself. Balancing grief, motherhood, running a business, and supporting others while learning to care for myself was extremely hard. It quickly became a crash course in setting boundaries, solving problems, and standing up for myself.
But every mistake taught me something I couldn’t have learned otherwise. I learned to ask better questions, set stronger boundaries, trust my instincts, and keep going even when I felt like a failure. When I started Pivotal Moments, I got the chance to do things differently. I decided to slow down and learn the business side myself, so I wouldn’t have to rely on others.
The road hasn’t been easy, but it’s been honest, full of growth, and truly transformational. My biggest lesson? Mistakes and failures don’t keep you from success; they help shape you into a leader who’s ready for it.
As you know, we’re big fans of Pivotal Moments Counseling Center. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
Our mission is to provide trauma-informed therapy that helps clients build resilience, manage their emotions, and develop lasting coping skills. We believe healing happens best in relationships, so we help clients feel safe, seen, and empowered. We also support clinicians through supervision, mentorship, and business advice to ensure high-quality mental health care.
We’re a growing group practice. Right now, it’s just the two of us, and we’re looking for more clinicians to meet the high demand in our community. We offer individual therapy for children, teens, adults, military personnel, and first responders. Our focus is always on people, not profit.
Our warm, interactive approach sets us apart. Therapy with us isn’t passive. We invest in our clients and walk with them as they build skills, grow in self-awareness, and discover their value. Clients often say they leave sessions feeling seen, empowered, and more confident.
In my work, I use several evidence-based methods, including CBT, EMDR, and soon IFS. My main focus is on building strong relationships in therapy. I meet people where they are, help them figure out what they want, give them practical tools, and encourage them to move forward. If I had to name a specialty or a “niche”, it’s helping people see their worth as they learn to live an authentic and fulfilling life.
When it comes to our brand, I’m most proud of the culture we’re building. Even early on, we created a space that feels welcoming, calm, and personal. We’re growing with intention and integrity, and we’re just getting started.
In the next few years, I hope to bring in more clinicians who share our values and to start a mentoring program for unlicensed therapists who want to open their own practices. I’ve received so much support on my journey, and giving that support to others is at the heart of what we do.
What has been the most important lesson you’ve learned along your journey?
Learning to live my best life and giving myself permission to do it.
For most of my adult life, I tried to meet everyone else’s expectations and worried about letting people down. I thought my value depended on how others saw me. I worked hard to be the perfect wife, mom, friend, employee, student, and leader. I always put others first and myself last, just like many people are taught to do.
But that approach doesn’t lead to happiness or fulfillment.
Eventually, it caught up with me. I was tired, unhappy, and felt alone. You can’t always be the strong one, and I knew something had to change.
In the past five years, I’ve learned to live with more freedom, intention, authenticity, and self-compassion. I realized my value doesn’t come from money, skills, or success; it comes from within. Putting others’ needs before my own only led to burnout. I learned I don’t have to prove anything (except for things like taxes and the law). I can say “no” to others, and their reactions are about them, not me. When I stopped putting myself last, I became more grounded and present, not just as a business owner, but as a person. Prioritizing myself didn’t make me selfish; it made me more effective, healthier, happier, and honestly, more fun to be around.
Living my best life isn’t about being perfect. I always remind my clients, “Progress over perfection.” It’s about being honest, setting boundaries, and laughing at myself when I make mistakes. It’s about investing in myself so I can invest in others.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.pivotalmomentscc.com/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/61577626687992/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/pivotal-moments-counseling-center-pllc/
Image Credits
Images containing people are credited to
Macy Alex Photography
https://www.macyalexphotography.com/
