Today we’d like to introduce you to Roxanne Deams.
Hi Roxanne, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I have been working in the mental health field for over 10 years. After working in various settings: office, facility, and clinics, I came to a point in my life when I wanted something different. While I enjoyed the agencies I worked for in the past and learned a lot from them, I realized that working for someone would never give me the freedom and flexibility that I needed to make the type of difference that I wanted to make.
Therapy is a uniquely personal experience for clients as well as therapists. Over the years, I noticed that some clients felt they had to show up for therapy in a certain way that was not always comfortable for them because of the setting they were walking into. Oftentimes, it wasn’t comfortable for me either. Imagine doing play therapy with a small child wearing a pair of pumps (which were promptly shifted to ballet flats when they came on the scene), slacks, and a button-up blouse. While I did it, I can’t say that it allowed for a lot of movement.
Creating Serene Counseling and Wellness gave me the opportunity to create an environment for my clients and providers that allows us to be more authentic and show up for sessions in a different way; a more comfortable way. Our team works to provide a safe, comfortable space for our clients to share as we go on a journey of healing. While we aren’t showing up for sessions in sweats, we can often be found wearing jeans. On occasion, I do still pull out my ballet flats but I usually go for a pair of Sperry’s or Rothy sneakers.
Something as simple as a change in attire allows us to provide services to our clients in a different way. We have been able to incorporate more wellness activities like yoga and movement into our practice without having to worry about the restrictiveness of our clothing. This has given us the ability to add a different level of mindfulness to the way we do therapy.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
I must say, this has been quite the learning experience. It’s been a situation of “you don’t know what you don’t know until you find out that you don’t know it.” I started with an idea and a supportive family that encouraged me to go for it. While I have a lot of knowledge and skills when it comes to being a Therapist, I knew very little about running a business. I have learned a lot over the last couple of years and work to learn more every day to better my skills as a business owner. This experience has taught me the importance of asking for help, which as a helping professional, I don’t usually do.
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about Serene Counseling and Wellness, PLLC?
Sometimes life throws a lot at us and we don’t always ask for help when we need it. Stress can come from various places, often hiding which makes it difficult to see what’s coming until it’s right on top of us. This can lead to emotional challenges which can cause a feeling of instability and a sense of being lost. At Serene Counseling and Wellness, together we work to create a safe space for individuals and families to support and establish skills needed to bring stability and balance back into lives.
We strive to provide the best therapeutic approaches and techniques to aid in recovering and healing to achieve overall wellness and to create peace within. For some, we incorporate movement, mindfulness, and meditation. For others, we utilize more traditional approaches. Each client receives their own unique approach to meeting their needs.
In addition to working with clients, I also provide supervision to up-and-coming therapists as they are on their journey to licensure. Some have the opportunity to work directly with me at Serene while I coach others as they obtain their hours at different sites throughout the city. This allows for additional ways for me to reach a larger audience by sharing my knowledge with others that are working to better our city.
At Serene Counseling and Wellness, we work with the following:
Depression
Anxiety
Anger Management
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
Adoption
Foster Care
Difficulties with Self-Esteem
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
Stress Management
Sexual Abuse
Grief, Loss, or Bereavement
Relationship Difficulties
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
Chronic Pain
Stress management
Weight loss/Food challenges
Self-Injury
Women’s issues
LGBTQ+
Self-harm
Parenting
Mood Disorders
Let’s talk about our city – what do you love? What do you not love?
I grew up in Arizona, just outside of Phoenix. Being in Houston has been quite a change. What I love most about the city is the level of diversity. There are so many different people and cultures that offer the opportunity to constantly learn and grow from their experiences. I also don’t mind the variety of food that comes along with having a mixed population. Houston has some fantastic restaurants. I also love that there are a lot of parks and outdoor spaces that encourage spending more time with nature. My least favorite things would have to be the size of the city, the traffic, and the humidity. After being here for over 15 years, I still have yet to get used to the idea of driving for almost an hour and still being in the same city. As a curly girl, my hair really misses the dryness of Arizona. But the city has been great to me and my family so I’m happy to call it home.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.serenecounselingsvc.com
Image Credits
A.deams
