Today we’d like to introduce you to Donna Gibbs.
Hi Donna, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
Hi, I am so grateful and honored to have the opportunity to share my story with your readers. Personally, I am a daughter of two wonderful and dedicated parents, a sister, aunt, and friend who is adventurous and love being connected to nature as it is allows me to feel spiritually centered and mentally free. As I enter my tenth year of being a Licensed Professional Counselor, I have taken the time to reflect on how my journey began. I have always had an interest in observing behaviors; some may say “people watching” and listening to others talk about their walk-through life. As a college student, I had a career in physical therapy in mind however, that quickly changed when taking psychology courses. My interest peaked when taking Abnormal Psychology at Lamar University where I earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in 2007.
God has always guided me in the mental health field; however other fields were hilariously difficult to enter. Yes, I laughed out loud after unsuccessfully attempting to get into another field temporarily until finishing graduate school. All I could say was, “God, I hear you”. I then put all my focus into finishing graduate school and earned my Master of Arts degree in counseling at Prairie View A&M in 2009. My next step was to take the National Counseling Exam. I must admit there was worry, however, with studying, faith, purpose, and support from family and friends, the mission was accomplished. In my ten-year journey of being a therapist, I had the pleasure of working in various settings i.e., county mental health authority, juvenile justice, and school district. Working in these settings allowed me to perfect my therapeutic skills and identify my areas of interest which are adolescents and young adults who are working through depression, anxiety, and challenges with life transitions. Here I am now in my first year operating a full-time private practice, Crossing Jordan Counseling and Consulting (CJCC).
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Crossing Jordan Counseling and Consulting (CJCC) has been in the making for nearly my entire span of being a therapist. I had the idea I would do private practice early on, however; my comfort zone of PTO/retirement made me complacent and put my goal in the back of my mind. My dear friend Jennifer, who also is a therapist, started her practice and consistently encouraged me to do the same. Now what was on the back burner became more frontline. In 2020 I started counseling clients on a part time basis. My passion and joy for counseling increased with not only seeing clients make progress in their lives but knowing they initiated counseling and chose me out of other therapists and counseling services. My biggest obstacle was now confronting my angst regarding leaving a secure job. Seeking therapy for myself was monumental with me mentally preparing to transition to private practice full-time. I developed a plan and can honestly say the company name, Crossing Jordan Counseling and Consulting, was birthed from my own experience of being in the wilderness and crossing over to my own promise land.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next, you can tell us a bit more about your business?
I have enjoyed helping individuals and families for the past ten years through mental health counseling. What I have learned so far about life and being a therapist is even with ups and downs, the journey of life can be a beautiful process when you are mentally and emotionally properly equipped. Crossing Jordan Counseling and Consulting is all about helping adolescents and young adults establish a strong foundation as they build a life of meaning that includes spiritual awareness, mental clarity and stability, healthy interpersonal connections, and positive self-image. Because change is inevitable, we often reshape who we are and evolve at any age in life, and all age groups are welcome. Crossing Jordan Counseling and Consulting strives to help all individuals on their journey of life to obtain peace, joy, and success by providing psychoeducation, coping skills, and a safe place to process thoughts and feelings for clients to confidently face life challenges. As a licensed supervisor, supervision is also offered to LPC-associates to guide them into becoming ethically sound and skilled therapists.
Is there a quality that you most attribute to your success?
Essential qualities I possess that are transferred through my work at CJCC are dependability, experience, honesty, self-awareness, noble, and optimism, and motivation. At CJCC, we offer affordable counseling and supervision services, with face-to-face and online services. I am so grateful and privileged to work with every person and family who have chosen to improve the quality of their lives and I look forward to many more years of serving the community through counseling. CJCC is “Where You Matter”.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://
crossingjordancounseling. clientsecure.me - Instagram: Crossingjordan21
- Other: https://linqapp.com/
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Image Credits
Elle De Photography
