Today we’d like to introduce you to Kaylah Hunter.
Kaylah, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
So, when I first got to college, I visioned myself working with children with disabilities, but I wasn’t sure how exactly. Then during my freshman year, I experienced trauma that changed my life completely. I started seeing a therapist who helped me in so many different ways. She gave me emotional support, advocated for me on campus, and encouraged me to keep pushing through. After meeting with her, I decided that I wanted to be that same type of light for others like she was for me. I changed my degree and got my masters in Rehabilitation Counseling in order to be trained on working with people with disabilities and people who experience trauma. Over the past few years, I have worked mainly with survivors of trauma, and it has been such an eye-opening experience. I continue to learn more about my clients and also learn from them as well. I currently have my own business called Dope. Counseling that offers individual and group counseling to clients, and I also see clients through another agency called Ellie mental Health Dallas!
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?
It has definitely not always been a smooth road. The thing about being a therapist is that you’re constantly having to educate yourself and adapt to new concepts. One of the biggest concepts I eventually learned was I needed to continue my own personal work in therapy, especially to process the trauma I mentioned earlier. I learned that in order to be present and the best I could be for my clients, I needed to make sure I was taking care of myself as well. One of my favorite professors in graduate school always would say, the best therapist has a therapist as well.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I specialize in working with survivors of domestic violence and sexual violence. I am trained in a type of therapy called EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing Therapy) that helps survivors of trauma deal with negative emotions, flashbacks, and triggers. As a survivor of trauma, I am most proud of being in the space of healing where I am now able to help others who have been through experiences similar to me.
Any advice for finding a mentor or networking in general?
Networking has been a huge help for starting and continuing my career. I often keep in communication with my professors from college, my cohort members, and old coworkers at previous jobs. As an LPC-A, I often seek guidance from my supervisor Dr. Stacia Alexander, LPC-S. She continues to educate me and give me guidance in the field.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/therapists/kaylah-hunter-dallas-tx/927234
- Instagram: @dope_counseling
