Today we’d like to introduce you to Lenecia Nickell.
Hi Lenecia, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
After graduating from Texas A&M University and Sam Houston State University, my husband and I relocated to California for a short time. When we got the opportunity to return to Texas, we decided to settle in north east Houston. I gained some experience with non-profit organizations and then moved into developing my small private practice, which I maintained for 13 years. I specialized in working with young children, adolescents, college students, and working professionals. This allowed me to develop my skills as a clinician, a supervisor, and a business owner.
Like many others, the pandemic spurred me to reevaluate my role and professional focus. I made the decision to move my practice to a virtual setting while expanding my education, obtaining my doctorate and further training in mental performance work. I now work full time in Division I athletics while maintaining a small caseload of clients and developing emerging clinicians through mentorship and supervision.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
As with all journeys, there have been large and small bumps. Moving states, navigating licensure processes, developing a business plan, and managing all aspects of a practice are some of the challenges that I encountered when starting my practice. As I continued, the challenge became one that involved exploring my intrinsic motivation. Through a continual self-reflective practice, I worked to continue developing as a therapist so that I could provide the best possible service for my clients. This also led to an exploration of where my skills may align to help different populations. After determining that continuing my education would be the next step, I had to engage with that process fully, identifying my goals and the program that would align best with that. Engaging in a job search after being a business owner introduced new challenges as I worked to reacquaint myself with work in a large department.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about Thriving In Tandem Counseling and Consulting?
I own and operate a small private psychotherapy practice that serves a wide age range. I specialize in play therapy (RPT-S) which focuses on children ages 3-12 where interventions are structured to support individuals at their developmental level. I also hold a certification in mental performance consulting (CMPC) which focuses on helping athletes and performers overcome obstacles and return to high performance levels. I feel that my unique skill set and years of experience are also valuable to the associates that I supervise and individuals looking for mentorship in mental performance work.
Overall, I feel that it is important to find a provider that is open to hearing about your needs and one that will work in a collaborative way to help you meet your goals. One of the things I love the most about my work is helping people navigate transitions. I believe that my passion shows through in my commitment to supporting others and that this has helped me to gain a positive reputation in the various communities that I have worked in.
Risk taking is a topic that people have widely differing views on – we’d love to hear your thoughts.
I don’t consider myself a risk-taker, but when I do make a decision, I act quickly. When counseling, consulting, or coaching, I encourage the intentional consideration of multiple options. Informed decision-making/risk-taking may or may not always result in the best possible scenario, but these are outcomes that have already been considered. With that, the consequences (positive or negative) can be planned for and that can help promote acceptance and assist in refocusing.
Image Credits
Kenyatta Davis – Black Orchid Studio
