Today we’d like to introduce you to Justyn Smith.
Justyn, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
My career in mental health started with education. After graduating from Wright State University in 2012 with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and in 2014 with a Master of Science in Clinical Mental Health Counseling, I moved to Houston at the beginning of 2015. I wanted to move out of Ohio to get away from the cold weather, be closer to my father and start the Counselor Education and Supervision Ph.D. program at Sam Houston State University. For the first 2 years in Houston, I balanced being a full-time Ph.D. student, working as a graduate assistant and working as a therapist in a behavioral hospital as a Licensed Professional Counselor Intern.
At the beginning of 2017, I started working at a group private practice in a northern suburb of Houston (Cypress, Texas). Little did I know, this was the start of my career journey having major changes. My career plan was always focused on becoming a full-time professor to educate and train counseling students. About 4 months into working at the group private practice I started to notice how happy I was and how much joy I had working with clients in private practice. This is when I started to look at my career goals and make shifts to focus on private practice. The biggest lesson I learned in private practice was to identify your specialty and what you wanted to be known for.
The best advice I received on how to do this was to identify which clients gave you energy when working with them and the type of clients you were the most excited to work within counseling. I knew right away I wanted to specialize in working with the LGBTQ+ community. With my own personal identity as a Gay Black Man and knowing the statistics surrounding mental health in this community, I knew how much counseling services could help.
For the remainder of 2017, I sharpened my clinical skills, finished my 3000 clinical hours as an LPC-Intern to become an independent Licensed Professional Counselor and learned about the business side of mental health. In doing so, on 10/11/17 (National Coming Out Day) I launched “Justyn Smith Training.” A business focused on providing continuing education to mental health professionals in working with the LGBTQ+ community. This was taking my passion for education and training into the community to help mental health professionals have better prepared to serve this community. Fast forward to March of 2018, I changed my social media names and launched my website announcing that “Justyn Smith Training” was evolving into “The Queer Center.”
The Queer Center would combine all of my passions and career goals. Also, I chose to name my practice “The Queer Center” because I wanted to be clear of my counseling specialization in working with the specific community and Queer is inclusive of all the different identities in the LGBTQ+ community. This is a private practice specializing in providing counseling services for Gay Men and the Queer Community in Houston, conveniently located in Montrose. Additionally, providing continuing education training to mental health professionals to increase competency in working with the Queer community.
Lastly, providing consulting services to community organizations, companies and schools on how to improve environments and create safe spaces by applying therapeutic principles. Currently, I’m the only therapist seeing clients, but I have the vision to expand by having other therapist and students working at the center providing counseling services to a community I’m so passionate about helping.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
It has definitely been an interesting journey with struggles along the way. The first struggle was the fear I faced in 2015 of coming out as a Gay man as a professional. I had the biggest fear that coming out would somehow ruin my career and people wouldn’t want to work with me as a therapist.
Thankfully, I had an amazing clinical supervisor (Sydney Lucas) to help me along the way and see the value I bring to the community being a Gay Black Man that is a therapist. Looking back, I see the value in that experience to have an understanding of possible career struggles people can face related to coming out in professional settings. Also, seeing my evolution of being scared in the closet to being PROUD of my identity being the driving force behind my passion to help the Queer community.
Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about The Queer Center – what should we know?
The Queer Center a private practice specializing in providing counseling services for Gay Men and the Queer Community in Houston. I am well trained to work with every subgroup within the Queer Community, although, as a Gay man that is a therapist, I have the most experience and insight working with Gay men in therapy. Additionally, The Queer Center provides continuing education training to mental health professionals to increase competency in working with the Queer community.
Lastly, provides consulting services to community organizations, companies and schools on how to improve environments and create safe spaces by applying therapeutic principles. I’m most proud to open a private practice with such a clear mission to help and support the Queer Community. What sets The Queer Center apart from others is my experience as a gay man and as a gay therapist that makes me uniquely aware, insightful and sensitive to the Queer Community.
Also, on The Queer Center’s website, there are “Queer Blogs” to cover all things Queer mental health in and out of counseling. A designated area to start conversations on topics, issues and relevant events related to the Queer community. People can find blogs I have written on topics from a therapist perspective, guest bloggers sharing their stories and even feature interviews where I highlight people in the community doing amazing work, living their truth, and making a difference in the Queer Community.
Any shoutouts? Who else deserves credit in this story – who has played a meaningful role?
I’ve had so many mentors, supporters, cheerleaders and advocates that have played a role in my success. As a previously mentioned my clinical supervisor (Sydney Lucas) as an LPC-Intern not only helped me see my value as a Gay therapist but also taught me so much about business/management.
Other business women in my life have taught me so much about business and private practice (Amy Wine, Eliza Boquin, Eboni Harris and Danielle Bowman) just to name a few that have made the biggest impact on my success.
My biggest supporter is my partner, Daniel. We have been together 3 years, I know his love and support help me to be the best I can be in my mission to help the community. Also, my friends and family give me so much love and acceptance that empowers me to achieve my goals.
Pricing:
- Initial Individual Assessment Session – $150
- Individual 45 Minute Session (Weekly) – $125
- Initial Couples Assessment Session – $175
- Couples 45 Minute Session (Weekly) – $150
Contact Info:
- Address: 1401 Richmond Ave Suite 290 Houston, TX 77006
- Website: thequeercenter.com
- Phone: (713)-868-1232
- Email: justyn@thequeercenter.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thequeercenter/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thequeercenter/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/TheQueerCenter?lang=en
Image Credit:
Sydney Lucas, MA, LPC-S
Getting in touch: VoyageHouston 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.
