Today we’d like to introduce you to Misty Hodge.
Hi Misty, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start, maybe you can share some of your backstories with our readers.
I always knew that I wanted to be in the helping field, and went to Prairie View A&M University, my major was biology. I have always been curious about how the mind works and ended up taking a psychology class; this is when my major changed to psychology. I started working in protective service for adults 2 years after getting my bachelor’s degree and was there for 8 1/2 years, where I worked with the elderly, disabled, and adults with mental illness. I moved on to working with children with mental illness, which is my current position. After being encouraged by family and childhood friends to go get my master’s degree in human science and continue to pursue my LPC 12 years after getting my bachelor’s degree. During my journey, I had several close family members, as well as my husband, faced serious medical emergencies that have changed my course of action. This meant that I had to take on a caregiver role for him, as well as continue to raise our children. Having my LPCA is allowing me to continue to provide for my family while helping my clients manage and cope with their mental health situations.
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?
No, it has not been a smooth ride. After graduating with my Masters’s Degree in Human Science in 2020, I had to go back to school to get a class that was needed as a requirement to get my license. I started the class right after my husband’s brain injury, being a wife, caregiver, mother, working full time, as well as a student, but I was able to push though.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I am currently an LPC Associate with Kendred Wellness Center. The company is owned by my childhood friend, Kimberly Hopkins, that pushed me, along with my family, to continue my career within the mental health field. My current goal is to continue to help her grow Kendred Wellness Center and to provide mental health therapy to our community. The importance of lifting the stigma of mental health within the African American Community and other minorities. Currently, I am working mostly with adolescent children to learn coping skills for their mental health diagnosis. I am proud that my current clients feel that I am easygoing, easy to talk to and provide a non-judgmental, safe environment to work through their problems. I feel that my many years within the mental health field have set me aside from others because I have experience with many avenues of finding resources and avenues for the mental health community while providing autonomy, self-worth, and hope to my clients.
Networking and finding a mentor can have such a positive impact on one’s life and career. Any advice?
The advice that I give to anyone that I come in contact with is it is ok to ask for help, ask questions, and do not be afraid to learn something new, and admit that you are not always right. I find that talking to anyone I come in contact with about self-care opens up the conversation to give knowledge about mental health, the importance of taking care of one’s mental health, and not caring what others think about one’s choices.
Pricing:
- Individual Sessions-80.00 to 100.00
- Family Sessions- 100.00
- Group Sessions-30.00 per session
Contact Info:
- Website: www.kendredwellnesscenter.org
- Instagram: mh.lpca
- Facebook: Misty Hodge
Image Credits
Kimberly Hopkins
