Rodrego Way LPC, LCDC shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.
Rodrego, it’s always a pleasure to learn from you and your journey. Let’s start with a bit of a warmup: What do the first 90 minutes of your day look like?
The first 90 minutes of my day include: prayer, mental preparation, and fasting. Being in this field for over twenty years have taught me some valuable lessons on how to start and finish my day. When I was younger and inexperience in the mental health field, I would get up every day ready to go. I looked forward to the challenges each day would bring. Though I have always prayed daily before I got my day started, I still had a sense of anxiousness about getting things moving. I would jump up shower and do my daily routine of getting dressed and rush out the house to take the long drive to my work location. There was no level of concern for my mental and emotional capacity or wellbeing when I was younger as a mental health professional. I saw each opportunity to deal with clients as a challenge. I wanted to make an impact on someone’s life each day. So, I trained myself almost like a soldier going to battle. Those first 90 minutes of my day was spent desensitizing myself to the obstacles that I may face that day.
Over time and with more experience, my days began to look different. I began to encounter clients with more acute issues than I have witnessed before. There was a population shift that occurred also. I began to work with more adult clients than youth. Which meant there was more to consider in how I approach their situations as a therapist. With these changes the first 90 minutes of my started to look very different. As stated, I have always prayed daily before I get my day started because this was how I was raised. But as I began to grow in my career as a therapist and as an individual, my prayers had to change. What I prayed about had to change and the intent of my prayers had to do the same. I had to take less focus off of me and my needs, wants, and desires, and begin to focus my prayers towards the clients I served and the environment in which I provide services. I no longer needed the warrior or soldier so I didn’t have to focus my prayers on courage and presence. Being older and more experienced requires met to have more of a listening ear, patience and a different level of understanding.
Mental preparation has been something else I have learned to take time out to do within the first 90 minutes of my day. some may equate prayer or praying as mental preparation. However, for me I see a distinct difference. Mental preparation for me is checking to see where I am mentally and emotionally each morning. I never realized how much my mental state impacted the productivity and outcome for each day. So what I have learned to do is take about 10 minutes of the 90 minutes each day to question where I am mentally. Am I capable of giving my clients my best today while having to receive their possible worst? Am I feeling whole, tired, exhausted, focused, distracted or distant today? Have I had personal thoughts and concerns that may interfere with me hearing my clients needs today. I have become less focused on fighting the battle but more on surviving the war.
As for fasting. As part of my spiritual beliefs, fasting has been a part of my regimen for the past eight years or so. I start each week with a fast. I usually stop eating after 10pm Sunday nights (no later than 11pm) and I don’t break my fast until after noon Mondays. Each week I give this sacrifice in order to structure my life the way I desire for it to flow. I fast for my family, my marriage, my career, my finances, wisdom and understanding, and my clients’ and their wellbeing. There are times where I would fast multiple days in a week depending on what I am dealing with internally or externally, Fasting not only allows me to offer up a sacrifice for myself and others. It also gives me a sense of accomplishment when I can feel and see the results of my fast. I know the question asked about the first 90 minutes of my day but I have to include fasting as part of this even thought it takes longer than 90 mins to accomplish.
In summary, I think that how I spend my first 90 minutes of my day may evolve more over time. Especially since my family will be growing, my relationships will require it and the professional goals that I set for myself will definitely need the extra boost of confidence.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I am Rodrego Way, LPC, LCDC. My career began in the field of criminal justice, I was determined to make a difference in my community from within the juvenile justice system. So I became a Juvenile Corrections Officer. I obtained my bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from South Carolina State University in Orangeburg, South Carolina. After being in the criminal justice filed for short period of time. I quickly realized the best way to impact my community was not through criminal justice but through healing in the form of counseling before adolescents and adults reached the criminal justice system.
This required me to go back to school to obtain my master’s degree. I enrolled into Webster University at the Sarasota, FL campus where I majored in counseling. My area of focus school guidance and mental health counseling. Upon completing my degree, I transitioned into being a school guidance counselor. During my years of working in the school system, I held titles of Behavior Specialist, Parent Liaison, and Mental Health Counselor. Prior to working in the school system, I worked in the field of addictions. As an addiction specialist, I had experience working in methadone clinics and inpatient and outpatient treatment facilities as a case manager, assessor, and group therapist. After many years of working in the counseling field, I observed a common theme emerging as it relates to the social and cultural impact of trauma.
Within the communities and various populations, I served. Trauma was the catalyst for many of my client’s inability to maintain daily life functions on a regular basis. Having this knowledge, I utilized this as a base for my therapeutic approach. I decided to build a practice taking a holistic and coaching approach to restoring individuals, families, and communities that have experienced the traumatic effects of our society and its issues.
As a Licensed Professional Counselor and Licensed Chemical Dependency Counselor, I have obtained various certifications in the area of trauma and substance abuse, which includes becoming a Certified Clinical Trauma Specialist in Sex Trafficking, Certified Clinical Trauma Professional and International Certified Alcohol and Addictions Counselor. With more than 20years of counseling adults and adolescents within agencies, the court and educational systems, I made it my mission to help restore clients through connection, communication, and counseling. In 2020, I opened my private practice The Mind and Therapy Clinic, PLLC located in Prosper, TX. Where the theme is “Transforming Trauma into Triumph.” I am a husband, father, son, friend, and G Pop to those who know me. Most of all I believe that I am operating in my purpose by being a therapist.
Thanks for sharing that. Would love to go back in time and hear about how your past might have impacted who you are today. Who saw you clearly before you could see yourself?
If there was one person that was able to see me for who I really am early in my life it was my mother. My mother and I have always had a very close connection. Our relationship has always been a parent and child type of relationship. As a young child, she made sure I understood the importance of understanding my responsibilities to family, community, and myself. One of the things she use to tell me growing up is “Rod you’re special. I don’t know what it is about you but God has a special plan for you and your life.” I know this may sound cliché’ or something that parents would normally say to their children. However, what my mother was saying to me felt different. She was not just saying this to encourage me to do right in life or to boost my self esteem. She would point out and share things with me that I did and said as a child that was not considered normal for a child at certain ages.
I remember as a child I would have vivid dreams about people and situations that I would share with her. She would often say ” I don’t know how you would know that or those people” because often times what I dreamed about or the people I saw in the dreams occurred before I was born. At one point she said that I use to scare her with the things I would share with her as a child. I can go on and on about incidents like this over the years but I don’t have the time nor would you have the patience to sit and read about all of them (laughing). One of the other things she would say is that “You must be special because God always reveal to us as your parents what you are doing before you go too far and get into trouble.” This would be followed up with “God is protecting you from things because he doesn’t allow you to get away with doing wrong. So you might want to go ahead and walk in your purpose.” My mother has always been an individual that took pride in doing what is right and speaking the truth.
Recently we had a conversation about where I am today. I was sharing with her some of the struggles I had to overcome to get where I am now. She said ” I know what you went through and I understand how much pain you experienced.” She also said “As your mother, and given the type of relationship we have, I can almost feel all your pain.” The conversation continued with her telling me how she had doubts about how I would handle some of those situations. But she was happy when I found my place in life and began to walk in my gifts. Though we may not see eye to eye on everything all the time, the one thing I can honestly say it that she has always saw greatness in me before I was able to recognize it in myself.
What’s something you changed your mind about after failing hard?
To answer this question I will need to go back to my time in grad school. I have told the story many times as to why I decided to go back and get my degree in counseling. However, I never get the opportunity to talk about the process I had to go through to get where I am today in the area of mental health. When I went to enroll into grad school at Webster University, I sat with the enrollment person and told them I wanted to pursue my master’s degree in counseling. They shared with the course curriculum and the various paths I can take with completing the degree. At this time they only offered the opportunity to pursue a degree path in school counseling and mental health counseling. I was also told since both degree paths required me to take the same core courses I would not have to decide on a major until after my first semester in the program.
So I went on to complete my first semester in the program. Once it was time for me to register for my next set of courses I had spoken to some folks and decided I would take the school guidance route. What convinced me to go this route was the opportunity to work in the school system and the benefits that comes with it. Such as time off in the summers, holiday scheduled time off, and other what I thought were perks of the school system. To me that was a win win situation. I declared my major and didn’t look back.
By the end of my program, I was able to complete the necessary course work, internships and practicum requirements to graduate. I was excited. Not only was I about to get my master’s degree I was about to be the first person to graduate from the school counseling program at the Sarasota Florida campus. Adding icing to the cake, I was not only the first to graduate from the school counseling program, I was the first Black and only Black Male to receive a degree in school counseling from this campus prior to it closing. This made me more motivated to go out and make an impact in the field.
Immediately after graduating I started to apply and interview for school guidance jobs. Being a Black Male in the field I was a commodity. Especially in my local school district since they didn’t have any Black Male guidance counselors at this time. The offers started to come in quickly. I had narrowed my choice down to two schools. After a second interview with those schools I made my choice. However, I didn’t realize the state of Florida had other requirements I needed to meet in order to work in the school system. Those requirements were for me to pass a subject area exam and a general knowledge test. I was told by my hiring principal that I had a year to pass these tests.
I started studying for the general knowledge test first because I was told that if I passed this one I would have extra time to pass the subject area exam. After studying for about three months I scheduled to take the subject area test for the first time. I ended up passing the reading and writing part of the test but not the math portion. I was three points short of passing the math portion of the test. Discouraged but not feeling defeated, I began to put my focus into passing the math portion of the test. There were individuals I knew that I reached out to for tutoring to help me pass this test.
Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to pass the test by the end of the school year. The hiring principal was no longer working at the school where I was hired. She had retired and they were hiring a new principal to take her place. Once the new principal was hired, I was called into her office to discuss me being at the school and my expectations for passing the required tests. I informed her that I was working on passing the math portion of the test and that I feel confident I would pass it the next time I take it. She agreed to keep me on for another year under this agreement. Feeling grateful and recharged, I was ready to prove myself the upcoming school year.
Sadly to say I didn’t pass the test. This time I was two points away from passing. I continued to take this test throughout the school year hoping to pass each time. When it was all said and done I had taken the same test a total of nine times and not passed it. Given the environment of the school and district changes, I was no longer able to maintain my job. I was let go just before the start of the new school year. Now I had to find other employment. I continued to search for ways to remain in the school system by taking other jobs and volunteering at one point. Nothing worked to keep me in the system.
There was a decision to be made at this point. One that I didn’t want to make nor accept. After spending about four years trying to maintain a career in the school system I had to face the truth of me having to walk away. Given that I had the ability to still pursue counseling from the mental health perspective. I made the decision to re-enroll into the counseling program at Webster to complete my practicum and internship requirements to pursue my career in the mental health field. This wasn’t a huge shift for me because of my background with dealing with the criminal population after receiving my bachelor’s degree. So I completed the requirements to become a licensed mental health intern in the state of Florida.
Though I have moved on to focusing on mental health, I have been haunted by this particular failure in my life. Even though I really wanted to work as a school guidance counselor and do great work with children and their families; I wouldn’t trade what I do as mental health therapist for anything else. I have found the prize to one of my biggest failures in life.
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So a lot of these questions go deep, but if you are open to it, we’ve got a few more questions that we’d love to get your take on. What’s a belief or project you’re committed to, no matter how long it takes?
A belief that I am committed to no matter what no matter how long it takes would be the ability to expand my practice into a training ground for future men and women of color to become efficient and effective therapist. It is my belief that we need more individuals such as myself in the field of therapy and counseling that are focused on making significant differences in the Black Community and general society. Following in the footsteps of those before me such as Dr. Solomon Carte Fuller, Dr. Francis Cecil Sumner and Dr. Maxie Clarence Maultsby Jr., I would like to expound on the contributions of Blacks in the mental health field.
Dr. Solomon Carter Fuller was the first Black psychiatrist in the U.S. Born in Monrovia, Liberia, he is known for his pioneering work with Alzheimer’s Disease. He was able to not only translate Dr. Alios Alzheimer’s work into English he also published the first comprehensive review of Alzheimer’s Disease. This was pivotal in a time where Blacks were not receiving recognition for our contributions in the medical field.
Dr. Francis Cecil Sumner is considered the father of Black American psychologist because he was the first Black Man to receive a doctorate degree in psychology in the U.S. His work in equality and racial injustice in education became the platform for his work in other fields such as religion. Dr. Sumner was not able to obtain financial support for broader research due to the color of his skin. Therefore we will never really know the depths of what his contributions could have been.
Last but now least Dr. Maxie Clarence Maultsby Jr. Dr. Maultsby’s work in emotional and behavioral self management led him to develop what is called Rational Behavior Therapy. This type of therapy focused on teaching the client to become their own therapist. This is called Rational Self Counseling. The ideal is when you give the client homework assignments that allows them to process and consider new behaviors, they should eventually find value in them and then begin to demonstrate those behaviors.
There are many more Black therapists and psychologist in the field of mental health and counseling. Some continue to make great strides in the field while others are still struggling to break the color barrier. Despite the contributions Blacks have made in this field, we are still vasty under represented. This is why I am working so diligently to not only add my contributions to this area but increase presence as well. Therefore, I am committed to seeing this career path through to the end. I will not stop until I can assist someone else to become the next Dr. Maultsby, or the next Rodrego Way. So I pride myself on my perseverance and tenacity when it comes to doing my part to spread the wealth of knowledge on how to be a major contributor for other Blacks who want to advance this field.
Okay, so before we go, let’s tackle one more area. Could you give everything your best, even if no one ever praised you for it?
Absolutely. As a mental health therapist with over twenty years in the field, I’ve learned that true fulfillment doesn’t come from praise it comes from purpose. The work I do isn’t about recognition; it’s about impact. I’ve sat with people at their lowest points, walked with them through grief, trauma, and deep emotional pain, and helped them discover strength they didn’t know they had. Most of those moments happen in private, with no audience and no applause and that’s perfectly fine with me.
I give my best because the people I serve deserve it. I give my best because healing is sacred work. And I give my best because I genuinely love what I do. Whether anyone praises me or not doesn’t change my commitment to showing up fully present, compassionate, and skilled. For me, the reward is in the transformation I witness over time the breakthroughs, the resilience, the peace people begin to reclaim. That’s more valuable than any public recognition.
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