Today we’d like to introduce you to Layla Z. Scott.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Layla. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
I am originally from Wichita, Kansas and completed my undergraduate degree at Kansas State University. K-S-U Wildcats! My first major was Secondary Education, and at the time I was crazy enough to believe I wanted to teach high school physics. I came to my senses after taking a class titled “Family Relationships and Gender Roles.” I was intrigued by the complexity of family dynamics and quickly changed my major to Family Life & Community Services with a secondary focus on American Ethnic Studies. I have always had a heart for helping people and a passion for working with ethnic minorities due to my own heritage.
I studied Marriage & Family Therapy at Friends University, and my earliest clinical experience was working with vulnerable populations at a local homeless shelter. I had no idea that my career path was leading me to relocate to Dallas, Texas to develop the clinical component of the Domestic Violence Program at The Salvation Army. It was such a privilege to be the program’s first therapist and to have the responsibility of building the curriculum and clinical programming from scratch! I spent five years in this position before transitioning into a management role as the Substance Abuse and Intimacy Disorders Program Coordinator at The Right Step.
During this journey, I have been blessed with an amazing mentor who urged me to develop a private practice outside of my agency employment. I was always a bit fearful to transition into full-time private practice – owning my own business was intimidating in many different ways. It took the birth of my son to give me the courage to take a leap of faith into self-employment. It has been life-changing to be my own boss and to be able to better balance the roles of wife, mother, student, and professional. I truly believe that with a lot of hard work and the best support system I could ask for, I can and WILL accomplish my dream of completing my Ph.D. in Marriage & Family Therapy in 2018!
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
I am a very ambitious person, so I always knew that I had what it takes to be successful in higher education. The biggest obstacle I faced was overcoming my fears about running a business. I was so concerned about the details – how do I market myself and get clients? How do I learn accounting and do my taxes correctly? What if my clients cancel or no-show? How will that affect my income? As you can see, I had a LOT of worries and very little perspective about the benefits of private practice. I’m still not an expert in business, but I have a lot more confidence that I can ask for help (or hire people to do it for me!) and enjoy being in control of my own schedule. I have a lot more freedom to give back through volunteering and public speaking. And most importantly, I am able to spend more time with my husband and son who are my biggest supporters as I am completing my doctorate.
We’d love to hear more about your business.
I am passionate about helping people and relationships heal, grow, and transform. I believe that all humans seek to find purpose in their lives and make meaning of hardships. I provide therapeutic services for individual, couples, and families in all stages of life dealing with a variety of stressors. My specialties include trauma, addiction recovery, depression and anxiety disorders, women’s issues, and distressed couples.
Therapy involves an open exploration of one’s emotional, physical, relational, and spiritual sense of self. I engage clients from a trauma-informed approach by recognizing the impact of traumatic experiences on one’s sense of self and trust in relationships. I have completed advanced training in Emotion Focused Therapy for use with couples, and I also integrate Narrative Therapy through an appreciation for the stories we tell ourselves about our identities and capabilities.
I am most proud of my dedication to deliver culturally competent services through ongoing training as a 2016-2017 AAMFT Minority Fellowship Program Doctoral Fellow. I have specialized training and love working with culturally diverse clients including ethnic, spiritual, and sexual minorities. I believe it is critical for underserved populations to know they have an ally and a safe place to receive mental health services without fear of judgment or misunderstanding.
I also give back to the profession through service in local and state professional organizations. I enjoy public speaking and delivering workshops in both agency and church settings. I enjoy clinical consultation with colleagues and look forward to becoming a board-approved supervisor in the near future!
What were you like growing up?
As a child, my favorite thing to do was bury myself in a book. I recall crying in kindergarten because I forgot my library books at home and could not check out new ones! I continue to be an avid reader, and I consider myself a life-long learner!
Other interests include music, singing, and spending time with family. As a transplant to Texas, I miss them dearly and continually try to talk them into moving here!
Contact Info:
- Address: 3000 Keller Springs Blvd., Suite 102, Carrollton, TX
3550 Parkwood Blvd., G-706, Frisco, TX 75034 - Website: www.laylazscott.com
- Phone: 214-997-3173
- Email: [email protected]
Getting in touch: VoyageDallas is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
