Today we’d like to introduce you to Kimberly Davis.
Hi Kimberly, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
Hi, I’m Kimberly S. Davis, a psychotherapist in the Cypress area. I started my business in June of 2020. Many people thought it was a risk during the pandemic, but I had been thinking about doing this for a while. I decided to take the plunge and go work for myself. After all, there has been a need for more counselors during a pandemic.
I started my journey in college when after Hurricane Katrina, I spent a semester at the University of St. Thomas, where I persevered and made the Dean’s List. I had thought about taking a semester off because I didn’t feel motivated. I had a therapist who helped me to stay motivated and not in my thoughts at the time. I decided to go back to my hometown of New Orleans to finish my college career at Loyola University New Orleans. While there, I decided to pursue psychology to help people. I wanted to help people that had experienced adversity and needed support just as I did. It was hard for me to be in a city that had changed drastically from what I had known. I just remember feeling lonely in a place that should have brought me comfort. I had some family there which helped me. I later pursued my Masters in Clinical-Counseling Psychology at La Salle University in Philadelphia.
From there, I returned to Texas to pursue my internship in counseling. I decided to work in the school system because I had thought about counseling in the school system, which requires teaching experience. I later decided not to pursue counseling in the school system, but I had gained valuable experience seeing what students struggle within the school system academically and behaviorally. I went on to work with children, teens, and adults in a behavioral health hospital. I then worked with female adolescents in a residential treatment center. Both of these mental health jobs allowed me to learn about trauma and other mental health issues. I decided that trauma was what I wanted to be my main focus.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Being your own boss is not as easy as people think. You have to wear many different hats. I have to do marketing, proper documentation, office management, and bookkeeping (great help from my CPA), etc. They do not teach you many of these skills in graduate school besides documentation requirements which can differ for many reasons. You have to know that financially you will have some ups and downs and that patience is key. Patience and perseverance are necessary qualities for any new business. Self-care is also important when dealing with the anxiety, you may have from having a new business. I will say that I have been able to speak with some people who are happy to help mentor others. If anyone is starting a business, a mentor or several mentors is extremely helpful.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
Currently, I am seeing adults individually that deal with issues such as trauma, anxiety, and depression. I am trained in EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) therapy. EMDR therapy is known to help people heal from traumatic events and other events that distress them. I also use Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) to help clients change negative thinking that has affected their lives. I provide a safe place to help clients relax and work toward healing. It is a joy to see people become more focused, less anxious, and more engaged in their lives. It’s amazing what can happen when people can sleep better after learning better routines for sleep or after processing past trauma. Insomnia has been a big issue during the pandemic, but insomnia also happens after people experience trauma or are anxious.
People may work on issues in therapy such as unresolved past conflict, family issues, stress, work issues, self-esteem, communication issues, connecting with others, and other areas that may affect them. I am most proud of being able to help people from all walks of life. I am also proud of being present as people tell their truth. The past does not have to dictate what someone’s future can or will be.
The crisis has affected us all in different ways. How has it affected you and any important lessons or epiphanies you can share with us?
It has been challenging during this crisis. Whatever issues existed for people before the pandemic have been magnified. It’s as though people had to sit with themselves and look into a mirror. A mirror that suddenly revealed all the issues that had been ignored. New issues also occurred due to increased stress, such as finances and lack of support. The increased isolation has affected everyone, including therapists. I have to take time for myself for self-care as well. People truly need that human connection, even if it’s through video only. Sometimes when we reflect on ourselves, we can take steps toward healing that we never thought were possible before.
Contact Info:
- Email: couragetotalkcounseling@protonmail.com
- Website: https://www.couragetotalkcounseling.org/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/couragetotalkcounseling/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/couragetotalkcounseling
Image Credits
Erica Hernandez Media
