Today we’d like to introduce you to Ciera Avery
Hi Ciera, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I would always say to myself (and maybe out loud from time to time) “one day I’m going to have my own mental health private practice.” Now I’m sure that I had no idea what that would actually entail. While working towards becoming fully licensed as a Licensed Professional Counselor, I worked in the community providing care for individuals in crisis and in a private practice setting. During one session with a client at the private practice, I began building an analogy about how our minds are like flowers. During therapy sessions, I often use analogies to help clients gain insight using a concept that they may already be familiar with. I started saying something like “our minds are like flowers. Sometimes a seed is planted then something else comes along and waters it, and eventually our minds grow and flower.” Then right there in the session, my mind flowered and I finally had a name for the private practice that was once a seed. Flowering Minds Therapy, LLC.
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?
The process of creating a private practice has been very challenging yet rewarding. I always say, “in this, you really don’t know what you don’t know.” There have been many bumps in the road. Long wait times with insurance companies or your software provider just to find out that you’ve called the wrong department, times when nothing seems to be connecting the way you need it to, rejected claims due to a small piece of missing information, etc. There have also been times when something very complex comes together so seamlessly that you almost can’t believe it. Some days I spend the entire day working to rectify one part of the process and that’s all the energy that I have to give. I’m always reminding myself that I am not only the administrator, biller, troubleshooter etc., but the therapist to my clients who are depending on me to show up as just that. It’s challenging and truly the greatest honor to be all of the above.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
Flowering Minds Therapy, LLC is a private practice providing individual, couples, and family mental health therapy to residents of Texas. We currently operate as a fully virtual practice and will soon be expanding to offer in-person therapy services to the city of Dallas and surrounding areas. This is a safe place that has already been prepared for clients who need a soft place to land as our worlds can feel very heavy at times. I believe in unconditional positive regard for every single client. As an Integrative Psychotherapist, I use a holistic approach that combines techniques from various therapy schools, including Person-Centered Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Internal Family Systems (IFS), and Behavioral Therapy. I’m most proud that my practice has been curated with the client in mind. From finding Flowering Minds to attending your first session, the process is not complicated or overwhelming and that is intentional. I believe that clients seeking therapy don’t need another hard thing to figure out alone or another person judging them for one reason or another. Flowering Minds therapy, LLC was created to be that place for every client who seeks it.
If we knew you growing up, how would we have described you?
You know, growing up I was kind of a little therapist even though I didn’t have one credential to my name. I would talk to my friends for hours to help them solve girl fights and differences in opinions. I was usually appointed (sometimes by myself, lol) to be the mediator. My parents always described me as a natural born leader. I was an athlete. I ran track, played shortstop in softball, professional dance, and cheerleading. I loved to explore and be outside with my friends, pets and older sister. I loved to try new things and my personality was feisty and loving all wrapped in one little mighty package.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.floweringmindstherapy.com
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/floweringmindstherapy
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ciera-m-avery-m-a-lpc-b7a13b137
Image Credits
am2pm images houston
