Today we’d like to introduce you to Tiffany Wicks.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
In December of 2015, I had my first child, my daughter. Pregnancy was beautiful, birth was hard, and postpartum was excruciating. I was depressed from day 2. Not only did I struggle with breastfeeding, but I live far away from my friends and my family. No one knew what to do even though my husband really tried to help as much as possible thinking things would get better for me. My mother, kind and gracious, was the first to normalize it was okay if I didn’t continue to breastfeed. She spent time with me and time with the baby and helped as much as she could to keep me from being alone.
Unfortunately, nothing was enough. At seven months postpartum, my daughter started foods and she abruptly stopped breastfeeding. I went into a post weaning depression and crash. I intended and attempted suicide in August of 2016. That moment was a pivot point for me. I knew I needed help in a way I couldn’t do myself. I started therapy, but it wasn’t for postpartum issues and I never mentioned to my therapist the intensity of my postpartum depression. I was grateful I got mental health help, but I wished that I had someone who knew about perinatal health and could teach me and support me in that nuanced way.
Looking back now, I realize my life purpose is to create access where there is no access. Over that next year and a half, I pursued figuring out what that access could look like within the scope of my time and talents. My wonderful friend and boss Courtney then encouraged me to start a therapy practice. She made it seem much simpler than it was, but she pointed out how few therapists in Dallas were specialized in this issue. I started the practice in February 2018. My three missions were to create 1) accessible services (in person, online, bring the babies, breastfeed in session, etc), 2) affordable services (insurance, sliding scale, pro bono options), and 3) inclusive (all people, races, gender, affinities, etc).
I wanted to make sure at least a few less people went through or got to the point that I got to in 2016, and I’m proud to say we’ve done that and more.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Nothing about building an equity based practice is simple or smooth. It is also not easy to be a voice in the community about topics that are often hidden away or watered down. We talk about systemic racism and injustice with out platform. We also talk about inclusivity and supporting trans and queer folks. In the birth world, there are many who don’t want anything to do with us because of what we stand for. I’ve come to the conclusion that I’d rather stand for what’s right and lose connection than be silent and not be a beacon for marginalized folks who need solidarity in their mental health support.
In 2020, Covid rocked our practice for better and worse. We saw an incredible spike in need, and yet, the volume with which we grew was exhausting for all of us. To have so many clients and us as individuals navigating the unknown was a test in learning how to take care of our personal mental health.
In 2021, Senate Bill 8 came out, which criminalized people who were even considering abortion and put providers in a position to be sued if they provided any explicit support.
In 2022, Roe v Wade was overturned. This personally rocked me as I read article after article about pregnant people who were going into sepsis while doctors were on the phone with lawyers about how they could intervene in pregnancy crisis and miscarriage. This also came with the knowledge that the Supreme Court decision harmed Black and Brown communities more than any other population in this country.
The happenings in the state and the country, along with manage my own pregnancies and needs always pose a difficulty. But every year I look back and know that it has been worth every struggle and every uphill battle to continue this work and to support hurting people who are living in a hurting world.
As you know, we’re big fans of The Liv Center. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
The Liv Center started as Push Counseling and Coaching in 2018. Originally, it was a therapy practice to support prenatal and postpartum people with the vision of accessibility, affordability, and inclusivity. We wanted to start a larger conversation about perinatal issues that included more than just people who could afford therapy or access to mental health. Over the years, the issues of prenatal and postpartum mental health expanded into other reproductive issues. We began to see people with relationship issues in parenting, toddler parents, empty nesters, and people struggling with infertility. It then emerged into folks who had miscarriages, abortions, stillbirths, and birth trauma. The breadth and depth of the issues expanded, and so did the need for a bigger team. In December of 2023, we became The Liv Center, named after my daughter and the reason I started this practice, Livi. Our goal is to become a 501c3 one day and create wider change beyond Dallas, beyond Texas, and advance the conversation of reproductive mental health as a whole.
What makes us unique is our team. They are phenomenal. We currently have a team of 10 licensed clinicians and 2 graduate interns. Our graduate interns are Masters students in their final semesters of getting their degree and serve our Medicaid and uninsured clients on a low/no cost basis. We don’t turn anyone away if they need support. The most beautiful part about our team is that we represent the communities we serve. Our team, including myself represents the BIPOC and queer community. We have team members who are Christian, Muslim, Jewish, and non-religious. We openly use and honor the pronouns our clients indicate, we affirm and stand by queer and trans folks, and we without apology support immigrants whether documented or undocumented. We support reproductive rights and gender-affirming care.
Therapy is political. And we are proud to be on the right side of history.
How do you think about happiness?
First and foremost, my children make me happy. With all that’s going on in this world, the innocence and curiosity of a child is something so pure that should not be tainted. When life seems so heavy, I try to see everything through their eyes and engage in play.
My community and my relationships make me happy. I’m grateful for the community I have cultivated. I’m blessed to have people that I can call when I need support and call when I’m experiencing joy. I have friends that celebrate my success as if it’s theirs. My happiness comes from climbing, fighting, and making change together.
Happiness for me comes from love and solidarity. I’m grateful for a co-parent who has been cheering me on since day one. My partner consistently tells me he’s proud of me and listens to my wild next steps with radical support. What makes me truly happy comes from the people around me who I couldn’t be happier to know.
Pricing:
- Accepts Major Insurances
- Private Pay $90-120
- Medicaid/Uninsured-pay what you can
Contact Info:
- Website: https://thelivcenter.org
- Instagram: @thelivcenter
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pushpostpartum
Image Credits
Brixton Coppola-Miller
Jacques Dupre
