Today we’d like to introduce you to Kiara Williams.
Kiara, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
I started my career in education in 2011 as a teacher. I had a desire to build more of a relationship with my students due to the vast emotional needs that I couldn’t meet in the classroom setting. I began pursuing my Master’s Degree in Counseling at Texas Wesleyan University. Upon graduation, I was able to transition into a school counselor position. I also worked at a psychiatric hospital providing intensive inpatient and family therapy dealing with more severe and persistent mental health disorders.
During my graduate program, I gave birth to my first daughter, and without interruption in my academic pursuits, I finished my remaining courses for graduation. After giving birth, I soon began experiencing common signs and symptoms of “baby blues” which eventually progressed into postpartum depression. Although I felt something was wrong, I was unwilling to admit that I was going through and continued to suppress all of the emotions. Life continued on with my busy schedule as full-time student, mom, wife, and counselor. Along with all of my roles came fatigue, sadness, mood swings, and irritability. Five years later, I gave birth to my second daughter. This time I knew exactly what to do to combat all of the symptoms of postpartum depression if it decided to come my way again, Boy was I wrong! This time, it was much worse than before and didn’t present itself in the same way. However, I was going to do something about it and seek the help that I needed.
During this time, God gave me the vision to open my private practice. Following his lead, I took a leap of faith and left my full-time career of 8 years in education and opened my practice in June of 2019. I now provide individual, couple’s, family, adolescent, and group therapy in the Fort Worth area. I have taken specialized training in perinatal mental health to become certified to work with pregnant and postpartum mothers experiencing symptoms of anxiety, depression, OCD, and PTSD. My goal is to encourage, strengthen, and empower women in this journey through motherhood. You are not alone, and you don’t have to suffer in silence. Not only do I possess the skill set and knowledge to work with this population, but my own experience has helped me to also know what it is like to be on the other side of the couch.
Has it been a smooth road?
This has been a very difficult and redefining moment in my life. I struggled with transitioning from my full-time career with a guaranteed check and benefits to the unknown. Becoming an entrepreneur meant that I am accountable for maintaining my drive and motivation to build my business. I then took the initiative to connect with other mental health professionals through social media platforms to learn how to market and build my practice in the most cost-effective ways. I have had minor setbacks to include extensive waiting periods in becoming credentialed with insurance panels, client cancellations, and waiting for payouts through insurance companies. Although the follow up can become somewhat daunting, it has helped me to learn the ins and outs of private practice to benefit a fellow clinician.
Please tell us about the company.
My specialty in Perinatal Mental Health is what sets me apart in the DFW area alone because there are very few clinicians in the area that do not have the expertise in working with this population. Postpartum depression is a global issue that doesn’t only affect new mothers but also fathers as well. Approximately 70% to 80% of women will experience, at a minimum, the “baby blues,” and many of these women will experience the more severe condition of postpartum depression. I have a weekly support group for mothers on the path to emotional wellness. This is a complete reinvention of yourself as a parent. Moms must properly grieve the loss of “former self” in order to create space to learn new tools to appreciate the light of your afterglow.
I am proud that I have the opportunity to help contribute to removing the stigma of mental health across the community by providing psycho-educational opportunities. I have also seen great work and improvements of so many of my clients, and it makes me feel proud to know that every individual I come in contact with has had the ability to produce change when given the proper guidance and tools.
Let’s touch on your thoughts about our city – what do you like the most and least?
I like that it is centrally located within the metroplex so that certain businesses and services are available to those in surrounding araas. I wouldn’t say I like the traffic in the city.
Pricing:
- Special Offer $55 sessions for weekly session for private pay clients. ONLY 10 slots available
- Individual Counseling $100.00
- Couples Counseling $125.00
- Adolescent Counseling $100.oo
- Perinatal Mental Health Counseling $100.00
- Infinity + One Women’s Support group $30.00
Contact Info:
- Address: 5601 Bridge Street Suite 300
Fort Worth, TX 76112 - Website: www.piecefultherapy.com
- Phone: 817-492-7050
- Email: piecefultherapy@gmail.com
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/piecefultherapy/
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