Today we’d like to introduce you to Camecia Clark.
Hi Camecia, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
When I was younger, I witnessed a lot of dysfunction from my distant family that my parents tried to keep us sheltered from but being that they wanted us to know our family, somethings I witnessed firsthand. When we would go visit family or attend family functions, I witnessed my uncles abusing their girlfriends, family members abusing drugs and alcohol. Worst of all, my parents allowed family members to stay with us and they violated my parents trust. I had a female cousin who fondled me and a uncle who molested my sister.
When my sister was molested, it open up pandora’s box and it was revealed that some many women on my mother’s side had encounter sexual molestation through family members but it was swept under the rug or dismissed because it was family and it should be keep in house never to be dealt with. This made me want to go to school for psychology to understand why my family was so messed up, but upon going to school, I discovered that so many black families encountered this behavior and that it wasn’t just exclusive to just my family. So I attend The Texas Southern University and obtained a B.A in Psychology, then in a M.A from University of Houston Clear-Lake and my continued hours in Clinical Mental Health from University of Houston Victoria. With that being said it still took some time for me to really accept that becoming a therapist and helping people heal from the pain they had endured was a gift from God. I ran from this calling for years but no matter what God would order my steps and put me right where he wanted me to be.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It hasn’t been a smooth road but it was a road worth taking. On my journey to obtaining my license I passed the NCE exam on my first try but six weeks after taking the test and the day my scores arrived. I was kicked out of school because of allegations of cheating on the NCE exam from other students at the testing site. I’m going to keep my comments to myself in regards to the race of these other students as well as the teachers who kicked me out of school with no evidence just hearsay. It took me a year to take the test again and during this year, I was very depressed even considered giving up on therapy all together. But reading Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace and not evil, to give you an expected end. I went and took my test again and BOOM I passed it again! Once that happen it was all up hill from that point.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I currently own my Private Practice called Serenity Counseling services which I started last year prior to COVID. I opened my doors March 2019 in the 2600 S Loop W Building but amid COVID, I was forced to work Telehealth which was a huge adjustment. But it worked I currently have a steady caseload of 40ppl and that is with me working part-time. I choose to stay in the inner city and work with people of color who are in need of therapy vs going to the outskirts of Houston. We know those ppl have access to adequate mental health services but what about those who don’t.
So I chose to provide affordable, quality mental health services to African American clients who fear going to therapy out of being stigmatized and made to feel weak for doing so. I provide a therapeutic, relaxed, humorous, non-judgmental and confidential atmosphere that allows my clients to explore their feelings, belief s and behaviors. What I am most proud of is that I recently published a children’s book called “Am I Next.” I noticed that not only were our kids dealing with COVID but also the killing of unarmed black men. So I decided to the unthinkable and touch on a topic everyone else was scared to touch on. I wanted Black children to see a representation of them in books as well as acknowledge their pain and frustration with the current client of America. The book is about a young boy who is struggling to express his feelings in regards to the recent events in the news. His mom notices the change in him and sets out to provide him with the necessary tools to he needs to process and understand the events in the world.
What are your plans for the future?
My plans for the future are to continue to provide mental heath/psychoeducation services to the black community and be a best selling author. To let them know that there is nothing wrong with seeking therapy, you can pray and go to therapy. My plan is to educate more black people on the importance of going to therapy. I plan to open a group practice in the next few years and train up more black therapist due to there being such a high demand for black male and female therapist.
Pricing:
- Am I Next is 15.99
Contact Info:
- Email: serenitycounseling79@icloud.com
- Website: www.aminextbook.com
- Instagram: serenity_counseling_services
- Other: https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/therapists/serenity-counseling-services-houston-tx/731120
Image Credits
Marcus Jones photography
