Exploring Life & Business with Casondra Burkley of Conquering the Obstacles of Painful Experience2s, PLLC

Today we’d like to introduce you to Casondra Burkley.

Hi Casondra, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I was raised in a single parent home with my older sister. We moved a lot as a child. We experienced poverty and homelessness. I also experienced a rape in high school. After going through such trying times as a child, I always wanted to be able to help others deal with life struggles. I originally went to Baylor University in hopes of becoming a pediatrician, but my path led me to psychology and eventually to social work. While in college I also became very involved in a college women’s bible study, Both my experiences and education have led me to becoming an ordained pastor and Licensed Clinical Social Worker. I launched my non-profit Conquering the Obstacles of Painful Experiences in 2015 and recently launched my clinical private practice conquering the Obstacles of Painful Experiences, PLLC. The motto for C.O.P.E. is to help others use their life obstacles as stepping stones to greatness. Ultimately, I use my story, my life and my education to help others to conquer. I also have a production company in which I used entertainment to help share messages of hope and inspiration. Together my husband and I co-pastor a church to also help to inspire and encourage others.

I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey have been a fairly smooth road?
It has not been a smooth road. After overcoming poverty and homelessness as a child, I re-experienced being on the bottom when going through a divorce and having to start over in every aspect of my life. Life has had some blows, but I have learned not to stay down, but to get back up each time I am knocked down. I am now happily married to David Burkley, and we have a beautiful daughter. I had to learn some tough lessons throughout life; including managing money, living within my means, financial planning for the future and debt reduction. I also had to heal from my past pain in order to truly being able to help others.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
C.O.P.E. PLLC Mission C.O.P.E. PLLC was created to offer guidance, support, teach coping skills, foster emotional development, counsel, empower and encourage children, youth and adults who have experienced obstacles from painful or traumatic life experiences. C.O.P.E. PLLC. Vision C.O.P.E. PLLC exists to help others take what seemed to be a negative obstacle in life, to use it as a stepping stone to greatness. I offer individual, couples and family therapy. I specialize in working with individuals that have experienced trauma. I believe what sets me apart is that I have lived through many of the experiences that I strive to assist others to overcome. I also offer workshops and presentations to schools, churches and businesses to address trauma. I am also a published author, Case Closed, which is a true story, based on the story of my rape kit sitting in the evidence room for over ten years untested and how my rapist was brought to justice. I believe my testimony of being a survivor helps me to empathize and identify with many byproducts of experiencing trauma.

How do you define success?
Success is defined as achieving your dreams and goals, despite hardships and obstacles. Success is using what seemed like an obstacle as a stepping stone to greatness. Success is choosing not to just COPE, but to CONQUER.

Contact Info:

• Email: morethancope@yahoo.com
• Website: www.morethancope.com
• Instagram: @morethancope
• Facebook: @morethancope
• Twitter: @morethancopeinc

Image Credits
Benjamin O’Neal