Meet Elise Banks of Healthy Mind | Successful Life

Today we’d like to introduce you to Elise Banks.

Elise, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
Very early in my life, nine years old to be exact, I knew I wanted to be involved in the mental health world. My grandmother passed away from Alzheimer’s disease and I was passionate to be an advocate for mental health after personally seeing the pain my family had to go through during that time. I never knew it would not only be my career, but it would also be my life’s work. I started “Healthy Mind | Successful Life”, a few years into my work as a clinical psychotherapist. I noticed that many of the patients and clients I saw, could have avoided the crisis they were in had they been given practical tools to implement in their daily lives to maintain a healthy mind. Although therapy offices and psychiatric facilities have their place (as I do work in this field!), I felt it was my responsibility to do more for our community. I wanted to help people release the shame and embarrassment of asking for help. I wanted to help break the stigma surrounding mental health by having people “start the conversation”. I wanted to give people the tools that could mentally help them as they navigate this world. This was my mission and this is what I continue to strive for with “Healthy Mind | Successful Life”.

Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It has definitely not been a smooth road. Mental health is not a topic everyone wants to discuss. There are still many judgements placed on the mental health community – towards the people with the diagnosis and towards the mental health professionals that come to their aid. This made my work harder and I had to put 150% of my effort to get my foot in the door. It has been amazing to see how once people were willing to talk about mental health, they would open about their personal experiences dealing with their own mental health or of someone they knew. Mental health affects everyone in some capacity and this is why, I will never give up on my mission to advocate for this cause.

Please tell us about Healthy Mind | Successful Life.
What sets Healthy Mind | Successful Life apart is the flexibility and adaptability to work with any individual and audience. I work with companies, schools and organizations to make sure the workshop and/or presentation meets the needs of their end goal. It is also important that the topic of mental health been seen in a more positive light. I work hard to make the workshops relatable, inspiring and leaving people feeling empowered to take their mental health more seriously.

Do you look back particularly fondly on any memories from childhood?
Christmas will always be my favorite holiday. This is because of the traditions that have been maintained since I was a little girl. I still remember my grandfather dressing up as Santa Claus and making every grandchild sit on his lap when he gave us our gifts. I remember every Christmas eve morning baking Christmas cookies with my Mom, a tradition we still do today. I remember all the slumber parties I would have my cousins, where we would stay up all night laughing! I hold these memories from my childhood near and dear to my heart!

Contact Info:

• Website: www.EliseNBanks.com
• Email: EliseBanks.Therapy@gmail.com
• Instagram: Instagram Handle: EliseNBanks

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