Today we’d like to introduce you to Stacey Gooden.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
My journey into starting a private therapy practice was an unexpected one with a lot of resistance on my end, but I’m so glad I did it! Looking back, I’ve always been a listener and enjoyed the privilege of holding space for people going through the stuff of life, so when I learned about the field of psychology in college, something clicked and I knew this career path was the right fit.
Throughout my career, I’ve had the opportunity to work for a couple of different community mental health agencies with a variety of populations and roles, but always with the awareness that I DID NOT have a desire to have my own private practice. It was way too risky for someone like me who tends to play it safe, and is not naturally business-minded at all. Occasionally, people would ask me if I had considered branching out on my own, and I always responded with an emphatic “NO”, and I meant it with every fiber of my being… until things unexpectedly shifted.
In 2018 I attended a training for EMDR therapy, and a colleague was sharing her positive experiences with having her own private therapy practice. She encouraged me to consider it, and instead of my typical response, something was different this time. Driving home, I was still pretty resistant to the idea, but began thinking about possible business names, one of which was “Beauty for Ashes”. Two days later, as I got into my car to drive to the last day of training, I turned on the radio and the very first words I heard was the Bible verse that included the phrase “Beauty for Ashes”. I remember being completely stunned in that moment, and very aware that God was calling me to something new and scary. That night when I got home, I registered my business (“Beauty for Ashes Healing Center”), and since then it has been a long journey of working through faith, fear, and logistics before now finally taking the big leap and launching in 2022.
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?
Internally is definitely where the majority of the struggle has been with working through fear and doubt about whether or not this could be a sustainable business, and navigating all of the uncertainties of getting outside of my comfort zone. One of the things I’ve been reminded of in this process though is that everyone’s journey has a different time frame, so it’s okay that it has taken me 4 years to work through those internal challenges. I’d love to say that I’m completely over my fear, and 100% confident, but that’s not the case, and I think maybe that’s okay too! There are days when I still struggle with doubt, but I go back to that day in my car, and other moments when I know that God spoke clearly to me about my business, and that helps me to keep taking small brave steps. My faith and relationship with Jesus have been a huge piece of this journey, and I’ve been so thankful that He has kindly and gently led me little by little along the way, even though I’ve wanted to resist and run the other way at times.
As you know, we’re big fans of Beauty for Ashes Healing Center. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
We all go through struggles and need help at times, so as a therapist, I enjoy supporting people as they heal from different life experiences. I’m certified in EMDR therapy, which is used to treat a variety of challenges including trauma, anxiety, depression, distressing life events, and even chronic pain. I also specialize in treatment for OCD, provide Christian Counseling, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, and enjoy integrating new therapeutic approaches that I learn about along the way. I especially have a soft spot for supporting those in helper roles, such as first responders, teachers, fellow therapists, missionaries, pastors, etc., and believe it’s extremely important to care for the mental and emotional health of those who so selflessly serve their communities.
Any big plans?
Since I’ve just launched my business this year, the main goal, for now, is to grow in a way that stays true to my values as a therapist and that honors my strengths and interests. I also like to be open-minded about different ways to provide support aside from the traditional therapy route. One possibility that I’m excited about is starting a non-profit or bro bono sector of my business that offers free or low-cost group EMDR therapy to low-income communities, missionaries, and others in helper roles. There are a lot of details to iron out, and that will be later on down the road, but I’m excited about it! I’ve done a few mental health presentations for church events, so I’d like to do more of that in the future as well.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.b4ahealingcenter.com
