Hidden Gems: Meet Onyi Oriji-Dor, LCSW-S of Merite Counseling & Consulting Services PLLC

Today we’d like to introduce you to Onyi Oriji-Dor, LCSW-S

Hi Onyi, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
Hi! I’m the owner of Mérite Counseling and Consulting Services, a therapist, a mother, a wife, a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, and a first-generation Nigerian American. My parents immigrated to the United States from Nigeria in the 1970s. Both of my parents are educators and like many first-generation Nigerian Americans, education was paramount in our household. In college, I told my parents I wanted to be a Social Worker. They were hesitant because it’s not the typical lawyer, doctor, engineer professions that are often encouraged in my culture. However, they trusted me to follow my dreams. After graduating from college, I moved to Houston for a year-long internship. Post internship I moved to Boston for graduate school. While in Boston I received my clinical training hours at Massachusetts General Hospital. In this role, I provided supportive counseling to individuals, couples, and families coping with chronic illness, anticipatory grief, and bereavement. I also interned at Boston Children’s Hospital and obtained a graduate assistantship at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Post-graduation I moved back to Houston and worked as an Oncology Social Worker. In this role, I provided supportive counseling to individuals, couples, families, and groups. After 5 years I decided to leave Oncology Social Work. Not long after I left, I began to miss being in direct care. I missed providing counseling services, interacting with clients, and supporting them through their challenges. I knew I wanted to open my private practice but I didn’t know where to begin. In my schooling and training, there weren’t many students or clinicians that looked like me and those that did were not going into private practice. Not having anyone to look to for guidance made me doubt my ability to be successful in private practice. I’d never started a business, and at that time I didn’t even know how to register an LLC. But I knew for a fact that Black private practice clinicians existed, I just need to be more intentional about finding them. Talking to other Black men and women in Private Practice gave me the push I needed to move forward. But if I’m being honest, I was still so nervous. I prayed about it and told myself I don’t have to have everything figured out, I just need to start, so I did. It took a lot of perseverance, motivation, and patience but today my private practice is thriving. I get so much fulfillment from being able to support my clients and help them through the ups and downs of life. I know and believe this is what I was meant to do, it’s been hard but I’ve loved and continue to love every moment of it.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
I would say it’s been easy, It’s been an experience of growth. I think I entered into entrepreneurship knowing I had a lot to learn about running a business. Since the beginning, I’ve tried to keep that perspective in mind. When you’re first starting things will go wrong, but it’s all about having a recovery strategy and making the most of what you’ve got. For example, opening a private practice is pretty expensive in the beginning. There are several things you have to pay for upfront, liability insurance. LLC registration, advertising- the list goes on. While I do have a full-time job and the support of my husband. I also have student loans, a mortgage, and a sweet baby boy, so I didn’t exactly have all the money I needed to put into my business. To raise the money I started providing therapy via an online therapy platform. Doing this allowed me to get back into providing direct care while simultaneously saving money for my practice. This was the best strategic move I’ve made thus far, as it allowed me the freedom to not have to worry about my household finances while building my business.

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about Mérite Counseling & Consulting Services PLLC?
As the sole therapist at Mérite Counseling and Consulting Services, I specialize in providing culturally competent clinical care. Currently, I see clients virtually. I work with couples and individuals of all races, ethnic and religious backgrounds. Some of the most common concerns I help couples address in therapy are -communication, intimacy, trust, everyday disagreements, parenting, in-law issues, and finances. Some of the most common concerns I assist individual clients with are everyday life stressors, major life transitions, coping, self-esteem, romantic/peer relationships, and women-specific issues. Aside from my education and years of experience, I think my personal lived experiences as a Black/first-generation Nigerian American/married/ millennial therapist allow me to bring a unique perspective to therapy. There is a therapeutic concept called “use of self” which is defined as the thoughtful and deliberate use of one’s personality, opinions, and judgments as a component of the therapeutic process. This “use of self” is one thing that helps clients click with their therapist and I believe it’s what helps my clients feel comfortable with me. When people seek counseling, they are looking for support and guidance but also reassurance that they are not alone. I provide my clients with a safe space to truly be themselves and process their experiences.

In addition to therapy services, I’m also a Board Approved Social Work Supervisor. I provide clinical supervision hours to Licensed Master Social Workers (LMSW) who are working towards their clinical licensure (LCSW). Lastly, I also provide consulting and speaking services. I cover various topics. A few of my most recent speaking topics are “Coping During Covid-19”, “Coping with Micro-aggressions” and “Grief & Bereavement”.

Is there any advice you’d like to share with our readers who might just be starting out?
My advice to those just starting is to network, reach out to a therapist you admire, and ask for an informational interview. Ask them how they got started if they have any advice, suggestions, or recommendations. Secondly, remember that there are things you absolutely have to have (e.g. liability insurance) and things that you really want to have (e.g. high-tech website). If finances are an issue start by only purchasing the things you must have and buy the other items later. The bells and whistles are nice but what really matters is your competency. If you’re an excellent therapist clients will find you. Third, don’t be afraid to outsource. Hire a tax preparer if you’re not sure how to do your taxes. Hire a virtual assistant if you’re not sure how to get credentialed. Those are expenses that are worthwhile and will take a lot of stress off of you so you can focus on your clients. Lastly, just start, don’t let your negative self-talk or doubts get in your way. Believe in yourself and be persistent with your goals.

Pricing:

• Individual Therapy $85/Session
• Couples Therapy $135/Session
• LCSW Supervision $90/Individual Session (1 hour)
• LCSW Supervision $160/Group Supervision (2 Hours)
• Speaking/Consulting Services (pricing varies).

Contact Info:

• Email: MeriteCounseling@gmail.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/meritecounseling/
• Website:  https://meritecounseling.clientsecure.me/