Today we’d like to introduce you to Devaney Knight.
So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
I am a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist working in full-time private practice in Humble, TX. The road that led me here has been exciting, difficult, rewarding, and unforgettable. I come from a large family where I am the second oldest child, and the love of education and learning were instilled in me as a fundamental value growing up. I am the first of my immediate family to graduate college, and I’ve even had the opportunity to live and study abroad in Spain.
My first exposure to therapy came when I was in college. I was struggling with issues related to adulting, relationships, and identity. I had a therapist who was attentive and talented in her skills of connecting with me. I didn’t know at the time that my interactions with her would later play a role in future career decisions and ultimately lead me to where I am today.
Ultimately, I decided to pursue psychotherapy as a profession. I completed my Master’s degree in Counseling Psychology in 2014 and later became a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist in the state of California. In 2015, I began teaching as an adjunct psychology professor. This experience continues to be incredibly rewarding in that I have the opportunity to teach from a student-centered approach and help students to learn and discover how psychology can apply to their own lives.
I relocated to Houston, Texas in 2017 and secured my license to practice within the state. In 2018, I launched West Lake Houston Counseling, an office-based therapy practice geared to serving the mental health needs of the local community. I dedicated myself to creating a safe space where clients of color could work through various issues and receive support for a supportive, nonjudgmental person. There aren’t many places where black and brown people can safely process their experiences without the fear for what will happen when they do, so this became a primary motivation when deciding to take this step.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
I’ve learned many lessons that have made me stronger over time. I’ve made the mistakes comparing myself to others, entertaining the fear of missing out (FOMO), and overcommitment to things that were outside the scope of my goals. It has taken years to learn that doing more does not equate to being more valuable.
In graduate school, I became intimately familiar with the ways in which people of color are generally underrepresented in my field and the need for more diverse voices to move the profession forward. I learned how systems of oppression plague the field of mental health and the need for innovation through cultural competence in treatment.
In starting a business, I had to learn financial and planning strategies to be successful. I don’t have a background in business or accounting, so this was a major undertaking. There are tons of information in the online world related to owning and running a business, and sifting through it can be overwhelming. Another challenge in this experience has been the feeling of occasional loneliness as a practitioner and practice owner. As a self-employed therapist, it can sometimes feel like working in a vacuum. Creating relationships has become more intentional over time!
And fear. Let’s not forget about fear. I hate feeling too afraid to do something. My relationship with fear has evolved over time, and I’ve learned to become more curious towards it rather than avoidant of it. I find it important to mention this because our relationship with emotions change in great part due to our ability to ask the hard questions that allow us to shift our perspective. When I’m afraid, I become curious as to what is behind it and what is driving it. I experience fear as a signal to take a step back and examine whether there is a bigger question behind the many “what ifs” that fear loves to throw at me. I’ve learned to empower myself in this way when taking calculated risks and putting myself out there.
So let’s switch gears a bit and go into the West Lake Houston Counseling story. Tell us more about the business.
West Lake Houston Counseling is an office-based therapy practice geared to serving the mental health needs of the North Houston, Atascocita, Humble, and Kingwood area. Our passion lies in offering “Therapy for Sustainable Change.” My treatment specialties include people of color (18+) and LGBTQIA clientele. I decided to expand West Lake Houston Counseling into a group practice in late 2019, and in 2020, we hired our second therapist to join our team. I am perhaps most proud of the professionalism we have been able to establish in the local community. We do our best to offer clients with a personalized experience where receiving help is seamless for them. In times when we are not the best fit for potential clients, we help them in getting to the right place to address their needs. I must also say that having team members who have previous experience of their own therapy was important as I intentionally wanted to create an organization that was free of mental health stigma. This is important, especially for a therapy practice! People today still have a difficult time seeking therapy, so we actively do our best to normalize the need for help and create healing relationships with our clients.
Has luck played a meaningful role in your life and business?
I have been quite blessed and fortunate on this journey! I don’t know if I believe in luck per se, but I do believe in God as a higher power. I also believe that there are parts of ourselves that connect to this power (like our instincts, for example). There have been times when the right person does/says the right thing to me, precisely at the right time. Or, a colleague may offer something to me that I don’t need immediately but ultimately guides me in the right direction. As I continue to grow in my understanding of God, I am consciously aware of its power in my life and the countless ways in which I have been so fortunate; so much so, that it is tough to classify it as simple “luck.”
Pricing:
- I offer therapy services at $105 per session for individuals.
- I offer therapy services at $135 per session for couples and families.
- I am enrolled with some insurance panels for clients who prefer to use their employer-issued plan.
Contact Info:
- Address: 8530 FM 1960, Rd E.
Suite 110
Humble, TX 77346 - Website: https://www.westlakehoustoncounseling.com
- Phone: (832) 262-4748
- Email: info@westlakehoustoncounseling.com
- Instagram: @westlakehoustoncounseling
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/westlakehoustoncounseling
- Other: https://www.linkedin.com/company/west-lake-houston-counseling-pllc
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