Today we’d like to introduce you to Catherine Mukes.
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?
I was a junior in high school when I took my first psychology class. I was immediately intrigued and quickly bought it. I knew in those moments that I was meant to be in the psychological space (more specifically, I remember thinking to myself I would be the black female Sigmund Freud – without the strange habits, of course). I didn’t quite understand what that would look like as I didn’t see any mental health professionals in my sphere. When I went away to college, I learned that there were so many ways to stand in the space, and eventually came to land on the desire to be a Professional Counselor. Along the way, I was blessed to have a variety of rich experiences, both clinical and personal. I was able to connect with folks from all walks of life dealing with myriad mental health experiences and journeys. Before taking the leap into private practice, I worked in an agency for 12 years. At that time, we provided direct care services to the most in need, but I began to see a gap. There was a population of people, my people, working-class people of color, who either were not in need enough of ongoing counseling or were priced out of seeking help on their own. To boot, I would hear complaints about not being able to find clinicians of color outside of these type of agencies. In those moments, something began to stir inside of me, and I began to feel a tug to feel that void. To be fair, going into private practice was never in my original plan. Exactly quite the opposite. But in 2018, I took the leap and founded Impact 4 Change, PLLC – Mental Health Counseling for BIPOC-by-BIPOC Therapists. Our mission is to provided counseling services and other programming to communities of color to have accessible and culturally sensitive services. As we continue to grow, we are excited about the upcoming offerings for our community.
We all face challenges, but looking back, would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
No road is completely smooth, but I love the mantra, “You either win, or you learn.” I have learned a lot on this road. As with many mental health providers, I did not have a background in business. However, I have always been inquisitive and had a love for learning and taking on challenging situations. Learning to run a business and work with insurances has had its challenges. COVID forced us to rethink our model and reach; going from a primarily in-person model to a 100% virtual model was indeed an interesting fork in the road. Losing my mother last year while undergoing a number of staffing-related challenges has helped me to understand myself and my priorities even more.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next, you can tell us a bit more about your business.
Impact 4 Change is Mental Health Counseling for BIPOC-by-BIPOC Therapists. We are a safe space for persons of color to invest in, explore, and elevate their mental health. Where you can explore your concerns authentically without fear of judgment or stigma. Our team is made up of 100% of historically underrepresented groups, including those who identify as black, female, first-generation American, veteran, LGBTQ+, and neurodivergent. We currently offer individual and couple counseling, premarital education, and marriage enrichment. We have providers who specialize in EMDR, trauma, substance abuse, grief, anxiety and depression. Part of our mission involves being a part of training and supporting budding mental health clinicians along their journey. We also are proud to provide supervision to budding clinicians of color to further help close the gap in mental health needs for our community. I am a Texas Board Approved Supervisor for LPC Associates working toward full licensure. I love especially supporting clinicians of color because we are so needed in this mental health space.
Is there anything else you’d like to share with our readers?
I am also excited to be launching my Bond Builders program, supporting professional couples on the path to lifelong commitment. I understand that the statistics on marriage and committed relationships seem dire, yet no one steps up to prepare us for what marriage and commitment entails. Along my own road, I had to learn (and unlearn) some things that I absorbed in what I thought I understood about relationships. This program will offer couples considering engagement or marriage the opportunity to blueprint and begin building sustainable relationships with their partner.
I am also the author of two books. My first, “The Talk Before The Walk” is a workbook for couples to have deep and meaningful conversations before heading into marriage. The second is “A Sister-Girl’s Guided Journal Through the Therapeutic Process.” This spiral-bound journal is unique because it walks a person who may never have been in counseling before with tips on how to get started, what to know when reaching out, preparing for sessions, and space to reflect in between. Both books are available at lulu.com.
Pricing:
- Individual sessions (pre-licensed) $25-$60 per
- Individual session (licensed) $100-$130 per
- Couple session (pre-licensed) $60-$120 per
- Couple session (licensed) $125-$150
Contact Info:
- Website: impact4change.org
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/impact4changepllc
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/i4cpllc/
- Other: catherinemukes.com
Image Credits
J. Golden Photography
