Today we’d like to introduce you to Kimberly Huff.
Hi Kimberly, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I graduated from Abilene Christian University in 1988 and received a teaching certificate and began my career as a teacher. Having taught K-12th graders in both public and private education has helped shape my background and views of counseling children, teens, and adults. My background in teaching has served me well as a supervisor helping to train new counselors on counseling methods for trauma, victimization, and other counseling needs.
In 2003, after the deaths of my husband and my grandfather, I decided to return to school to become a counselor with an interest in grief counseling. I completed my master’s degree in 2007 from SHSU and began my counseling career. My first position was as a school counselor for Northland Christian School where I worked mainly with elementary students but also worked with secondary students. After that I worked as a counselor in Magnolia ISD and Klein ISD at the secondary level. While most of my experience has been working with adolescents, I also enjoy my work with elementary aged children, and adults.
I went back to school to get my LPC certification and learned that I had a heart for helping people who have suffered from trauma. I suffered from trauma as a child which inspired great empathy for others who have experienced the same. In 2018, I started my company Counseling Creations and left education to work full time as an LPC.
When I learned about counseling methods that did not require re-exposure to the trauma, it changed my life. I decided that I needed to specialize in helping people with this area. I then got approved to be a supervisor for other counselors and began training practicum students, interns, and associates of counseling.
In 2023, I started Counseling Creations Charities to help people with trauma receive funding for their counseling. We take donations online from individuals and companies to help support counseling. This year, we have been invited to enter Tomball ISD to provide trauma counseling for students and staff. Of course, funding is always needed and can limit our outreach, but we are looking for ways to increase our outreach ability financially.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
I believe my path was directed by God. It has never been easy, but I know it is my purpose. I have experienced so many life situations that have revealed how to help others. These lessons are never easy. For examples, having been molested as a child, and loosing my husband at age 36 were both huge challenges. Currently, my biggest struggle is funding the free counseling through Counseling Creations Charities.
We’ve been impressed with Counseling Creations, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
Counseling Creations sees many different clients for many different reasons. We see clients that are 4 years and older as individuals, families, groups, or couples. As a group, our counselors have different therapies that they use to taylor their service to client needs. Some may have expertise in grief counseling, couples preparation for marriage, conflict resolution, disordered eating, ADHD, Autism, teen issues, suicidal ideation, Personality and Mood disorders, physical or mental disabilities, anger issues or other emotional dysregulation. But, all of us are trauma informed therapists. With our non profit Counseling Creations Charities, it is our goal to remove the financial obstacles that sometimes prevent people from getting help. We focus on Victims of Crime, First Responders and their families, Veterans and their families, Homeless and Low Income, and Jurrors who have wittness traumatic criminal trials.
We have physical offices in Tomball and Magnolia and we also can provide therapy from the comfort of the client’s home through telehealth.
We also have a homeless ministry in Houston that provides counseling for those living on the streets. Magnolia First Church supports this mission by providing free hot meals, clothing, showers, hair cuts, and encouraging messages, while Counseling Creations provides two different group sessions every third Sunday. In the past, we have also paired with the Renewal Cafe in Tomball on mainstreet to provide free counseling for the homeless and low income in that area.
Any big plans?
Counseling Creations Charities is supporting the development of an up and coming human trafficking facility for boys ages 8-17. The facility is located in our area and plans to open next year. It will be a large home on over 200 acres which will provide full time homes for boys that includes education, drug rehabilitation, and trauma counseling to help integrate these valuable boys back into society and develop moral and productive citizens. We are currently accepting donations for this effort as well. Our contributions will focus on the trauma-informed counseling for which we are uniquely prepared.
We plan to grow our connections with local churches like that of Woodland Oaks Church of Christ and Magnolia First. Our church families are not immune from the harsh events of life, Not only do we provide professional counseling, we can also allow those who desire to seek their spiritual connections. We find that many of our clients like the fact that we can assist with the whole person aspects of emotional, intellectual, physical, social and spiritual development. When churches are involved in connecting their members to counseling, many more people get help. This outreach is growing daily.
Pricing:
- Free counseling for those that qualify
- Sliding Scale for those with financial need
- counseling fees usually range from 80-200 an hour but can be lower in some cases
Contact Info:
- Website: https://CounselingCreations.org
