Today we’d like to introduce you to Blythe Barnes-Berkhadley.
So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
I am a Licensed Professional Counselor here in Dallas working with children, teens, and adults. My passion is helping people become the best versions of themselves; specifically with women, children, and teens. My goal is to give them the tools to identify and express their emotions while advocating for them when they are unable to speak up for themselves; and help parents walk through the difficulties of parenting.
I am a Louisiana native – born in Baton Rouge and raised in Shreveport (yes, Shreveport is a part of Louisiana, not Texas)!! I was raised by an amazing single mother (Linda Ann Blackmon-Barnes) who taught me how to thrive in the face of adversity, be independent, and believe in myself beyond anything else. I was born three months premature (I guess I have been impatient from the start) and stayed in the hospital for a month. I weighed 3 lbs. I share that story because my family called me the “miracle baby” – I guess in my mind I thought if I could survive that nothing could really stop me! I was raised as an only child in a very large family, my mom is one of 8 girls! So I was used to a very loud and chaotic life to say the least! But what my aunts taught me is to speak up or no-one will listen. I learned how to gauge other’s emotions (I also consider myself an empath) and really honed my people skills as a kid growing up. I always liked to sit back and listen. I would listen to the adults (kids were not my thing – funny huh), I would be in “grown folk’s business! It made me mature quickly and pay attention to context and details which is very useful in my career. I am a country girl at heart. I love being outside, connecting to nature, and quiet.
I graduated from Louisiana Tech University in 2009 with my Bachelor’s of Science in Family Child Studies! Although I was so happy and proud of myself, I was not yet ready to pursue my true passion. After graduating, I had a few friends who already lived in Dallas – they encouraged me to apply at their company and to my surprise I was hired without any experience. I worked for several years in the mortgage industry; while I was thankful to have a job right out of college in such a turbulent financial time in the country, I always knew it was not my calling. I had experienced a death of a friend while in undergrad, it was one of the hardest experiences I had gone through at that time. After much encouragement from my mom, I sought the help of the counselor on campus and to my surprise just talking to someone about all of the emotions I was going through helped me tremendously. Following that experience, I knew that counseling was in my future.
After being fired from my job in the mortgage industry, I knew that I could not continue to work in a job that I was not in love with. So I dove into the mental health field, first I worked in the community mental health sector (Dallas Metrocare Services) – let me tell you it was not always pretty (poop in my car). I basically did case management for criminal offenders who were dually diagnosed with a mental health diagnosis. I drove my clients around in my car and visited their home while preparing them for court and assisting them manage their mental health. Next, I moved on to working for the public defender’s office in Dallas County as a mental health case manager. I learned so much there! I got to really see how the criminal justice system affects client’s mental health and how badly mental health services are needed in low socioeconomic communities. Then I began working for the North Texas Behavioral Health Authority, here I worked as an OSAR Counselor (Outreach, Screening, Assessment, & Referral), here I had the opportunity to actually assist in designing and marketing a program that is still running today which helps connect individuals diagnosed with mental health and substance use to treatment! I got to see the other side of the “business” of mental health, I created memorandums of understanding with agencies and travel providers. All of that being said, I believe that my very diverse background of knowledge helps me to best serve my clients!!
So in 2013, I took the leap and I enrolled at the University of North Texas at Dallas and graduated Summa Cum Laude in 2015 with my Masters of Education in Community Mental Health Counseling. Those were some of the toughest years of my life, attending classes while balancing a new relationship, friendships and family, and working full-time. Looking back on this time, I am so grateful that I had that challenge because I truly had the opportunity to stretch myself and learn how strong and resilient I am!
When I think about “how I got to where am I am today” I guess I’d have to say I got here with faith and a strong internal belief in myself that I could do anything that I put my mind to, no matter how humble of a beginning I had.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
I do not think that anyone’s road is ever “smooth”, at least none of the people that I have ever met. Mine certainly has been riddled with bumps, curves, dips, stop signs, and “return to go moments. Some of the hardest struggles I faced would be while in graduate school, finding a balance in time with working full time, relationships, and school. I think one of the things that I had to constantly remind myself was how strong I am and how far I had already come to stop! Self-doubt is inevitable and especially with social media we can compare ourselves into depression and anxiety. One of my major turns was when I stopped watching what everyone else was doing and I decided to have tunnel vision for my own goals. Growing up in a large extended family and being the smallest I had learned how to speak up and not allow others to walk over me. My mother always told me I was going to college and that I would not be a statistic that always stuck with me. Anytime I would face a challenge, I could hear my mom’s voice telling me I could do anything I wanted to. I think as a woman period, you struggle with so many pressures and exceptions from the world, but especially as a black woman in mental health working with children its an added pressure that I place on myself to “be the best”! What I am learning is I can only be my best! So far that’s been enough!
My most recent struggle was my mother passing away in October 2018 due to complications with lupus, this was only a few months before I began working in private practice. I contacted Lifeologie and informed them that I would be unable to move forward with the second interview due to personal issues. I really wanted to focus on myself and family and allow some time to heal. At the beginning of the next year, I began seeing my own counselor which really helped propel me forward to a place where I felt I had something to give my own clients. So in April 2019, I followed up with the staff at Lifeologie and I came back for my second interview and its been an amazing journey ever since. I think because my mother and I were so close (and still are) its been especially difficult during this period of growth. At times it can feel like I am leaving her behind, but I remind myself all of the time that she is right here with me. Watching over me, guiding my steps and cheering me on all the way!
Please tell us about Lifeologie Institute.
I work for Lifeologie Institute in Uptown Dallas as a Licensed Professional Counselor. I specialize in working with children in Play Therapy, teens, millennial men and woman, and the Muslim community. I am known as the person who works with the little ones at our office! I love working with all clients, but young children (4-12) are one of my passions! I love giving children their voice and helping them sort through trauma and difficult times they are experiencing. I am also seeing my practice grow in the millennial department! I love working with young women and men who are struggling to “find themselves” during one of the most pivotal times in their lives. Specifically, I work with: anxiety, depression, trauma, life transitions, ADHD, and cultural and religious identity (which is huge in the Muslim community).
As a company, I am most proud of our diverse backgrounds personally and professionally. When Melanie Wells founded Lifeologie Institute, one of her goals was to be sure that we had a clinical to cover every issue imaginable. I love that we all collaborate weekly and support one another – our clients benefit from this as well because its basically like you have a whole team of clinicians working on your case.
I think what sets Lifeologie apart is our team, atmosphere, and diverse clinical background. Our team is amazing! We have locations all over the DFW: Dallas, Ft. Worth, Richardson, Plano, and Frisco! If your needs cannot be addressed at the Dallas office, more likely than not, we can find an amazing match for you at one of our other locations. The atmosphere is different as well! All of my clients tell me that they have never been to a counseling office like ours. Mel has really done a great job at creating a warm, creative, and personal environment.
If you had to go back in time and start over, would you have done anything differently?
I have learned how to trust my inner voice or intuition! She never fails me! I know what I need and I know how to get there and when I don’t, I lean on my tribe that I have cultivated. I have learned that if you want to accomplish something the only thing in your way is your mindset. I have learned that while I am in the room with my clients, they are teaching me just as much as I hopefully help them! They give me joy seeing my client’s progression and how they work through some of the hardest times of their lives. I am honored to hold that space with them!
Pricing:
- $140.00 per session but I offer sliding scale fees
Contact Info:
- Address: 3303 Lee Pkwy #102, Dallas, TX 75219
- Website: wefixbrains.com
- Phone: 214-357-4001
- Email: bberkhadley@wefixbrains.com
- Instagram: busybeeLPC
- Facebook: busybeeLPC
- Other: hello@wefixbrains.com
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