Today we’d like to introduce you to Ayesha Lakhani.
Ayesha, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
This is how it started….What a great question because it feels like I blinked and all the pieces came together, at least from the outside looking in! My journey started before I even realized it when I was in high school and a friend shared with me that she spent her weekends volunteering at Texas Children’s Hospital. I immediately wanted to know how I could become a volunteer and this is when my journey began which allowed me to spend many years volunteering at Texas Children’s Hospital. This opportunity in turn became my safe haven for joy because it gave me a chance to help children and families smile and find a small piece of happiness while going through traumatic experiences. I did not have a real understanding of what those children and families were going through and my innocence as a child was very much still present every day.
What I knew is that there was something about the energy that drew me in and I never wanted to leave, even on the toughest days. I found resilience in these hard moments and I wanted to find a way to serve this community, but was not quite sure how to make this happen. As time went on, I went to college and I was completely lost and without a clue as to what I wanted to do for a career. All I knew is that I had a love and compassion for children and wanted to work with them in some capacity. I returned to my safe haven at Texas Children’s Hospital some years later trying to reconnect and find my way again. This is when I was introduced to Dr. Michelle Forrester who took me under her wing and helped to show me my path and guide me in the direction I had been longing. Dr. Forrester was the Director of an intervention program for early childhood education where there were pre-school children struggling to succeed. She allowed me to join her program to learn how they were serving children and I immediately fell in love with play therapy and decided this is what I want to do for work. My fears kicked in because I knew I would have to return to school and I was not a very good student. What I realized is that I had not found my passion until this very moment.
Once I was accepted into graduate school, I knew this was my chance to shine and I took advantage of every opportunity that came my way. During this time I also realized how important it is to have a tribe, which is a support team that will help you get to where you want to go. This is critical because no one can do anything on their own! I eventually ended up in graduate school and I became a licensed therapist. I went on to be trained by some of the best in the field who continually pushed me to be better than I ever thought possible. I worked in the field for several years and went from working with children to stepping outside of my comfort zone and working with adults. I realized I was playing it safe when I worked only with children because that is where I was the most comfortable. Stepping out of my comfort zone was one of the hardest steps I have ever taken, yet the most rewarding. I am so glad that I was willing to step outside of my comfort zone because it gave me more insight and understanding as to how patterns get repeated and cycles continue within families. After working in various places and getting comfortable in my own skin, I ended up starting my own practice. I had to do my own work and go on my own journey along the way but here is where all of my years of experience in different areas, with different populations, and different age groups all come together.
This is how it’s going….
This is my 10th year in private practice. Since being featured, we went through a pandemic, and I had a child of my own, so life has changed quite a bit! My work now is a blend of three things, which I love equally because they all allow me to utilize the skills I’ve acquired over the last 19 years of practice. I currently see clients ranging from 3 years old through adulthood. Each age group offers different perspectives in therapy. I also do clinical supervision for aspiring counselors. I really enjoy the teaching/mentoring aspect of being a supervisor. It is really important to me to support people coming into the field and help mentor them to feel comfortable entering the field without supervision with confidence. The last part of my practice I’ve expanded into is the Collaborative Divorce Process. This is a process for couples choosing to divorce to drive their own outcome for their futures. The team consists of each party having an attorney, a financial professional, and a mental health professional. Together, the team works together to support the couple/family for the best possible outcome. The process is driven by the couple, which is a unique approach to divorce. People ask why I want to do this work, and I respond by saying I’ve worked with so many kids and adults in these situations that I have seen the impact of what it can do to families. I enjoy being part of a team whose main goal is to support what the couple wants and help them arrive there.
We all face challenges, but looking back, would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
I would say the road overall has been smooth, but there have definitely been bumps along the way. Over the years, the clientele has changed as things in my life have changed. Making adjustments and continuing to learn new things keeps things interesting. Being humble and knowing this is a field where constant learning takes place helps, too.
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about Infinite Counseling & Wellness?
I love working with people in all stages of their lives, from children to adults, being challenged with different things. Each stage offers something different. My proud moments are when my clients feel like I’m on their journey with them and share things with me as it happens in real-time. A lot of my teens will reach out to me to let me know their accomplishments or struggles without waiting until their next appointment. I’m proud that I create that space for them because the truth is I am so invested in each one of my clients! I also love when clients return because they get something out of our time together.
As a supervisor, I really enjoy helping associates prepare to be fully licensed. I’m proud that my supervisees recommend me to others, which is a huge compliment. I’m also proud when they come to me after having a negative experience elsewhere, and I can turn that around for them. My job as a supervisor is to put good clinicians out in the world to serve the community and I’m grateful to be able to share in their journeys.
What matters most to you?
Being down to earth and staying humbled. It’s an honor to be chosen to take journeys with my clients and supervisees, and I want them to feel like I’m invested in them. Having gone through my own struggles, I know that things can be difficult to overcome at times, and having the right support in place can make all the difference.
Contact Info:
- Website: Infinitecounseling.com
Image Credits
Katie Kerbow
