Today we’d like to introduce you to Femi Olukoya.
Femi, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
I joined the military right out of high school. The tragedy of 9/11 happened the morning I graduated out of Bootcamp. and I was sent straight to Iraq. While I was in the navy, I went to BUDS training to become a search and rescue swimmer. For five years, I was rescuing shipmates in the ocean the jumped off our aircraft carrier USS Nimitz due to suicidal ideation. I dealt with so many of my friends trying to kill themselves due to depression and PTSD that I decided to go into the mental health field when I was discharged. I became a Psychotherapist to help people like my friends and advocate for mental health in my community. As someone that suffers from a major aggressive disorder.
I have learned through my journey that there should not be any shame in Mental health and I will continue to fight for it for all walks of my community. I have been in mental health for ten years as a Psychiatric assistant and Psychotherapist in Hospital facilities and residential treatment centers. Now I own a private practice that covers all sorts of mental disorders, behaviors, and anxiety. My goal is to partner up with VA facilities and Governments to widen the help I have to offer with my practice.
My wife has been a major inspiration for my journey. I am also a part of her dental practice and she has a similar goal to help people in areas that can not afford dental care. We have four amazing children under five and we have been through things most couples can not bear. We are supposed to have five children and we lost our 4-month-old daughter to SIDS. It was therapy and a lot of support for each other that pushes us to be the best we can be and help as much as we can. I want people to remember how they feel when they meet us not what we talk about.
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?
It hasn’t been as smooth. Then again which journey worth having is. Losing One of our children really affected us. Going through depression and being angry at the world. We went into hiding and isolated ourselves for a bit. We focused on our family and our work. We came out of it stronger and it really molded us to who we are today.
I personally did not grow up with a father figure. My grandfather stepped up and excelled in raising me with his old school ideals. Some people say I am an old soul because of the skipped generation.
My father is here in Houston but we still don’t speak. I am still working on bringing myself to let him in. There is a lot of raw anger there and feelings of abandonment. Then again that’s my journey not his.
So let’s switch gears a bit and go into the SandCastle Psych LLC. and Smile Bright Dental Studio story. Tell us more about the business.
Sandcastle Psych LLC. is a private practice the sees patients for Mood and anxiety. We provide Psychotherapy sessions and we also work with corporations to help increase the productivity of their employees. which is called Industry organization
We specialize in: Schizophrenia, Bipolar, Grief, Anger management, Depression, Anxiety, PTSD.
Has luck played a meaningful role in your life and business?
I feel I was lucky to have some role players in my life to motivate me to be as ambitious as I am today.
My wife. As great as she is in her field as a Dentist pushed me and inspired me to be my best self for her and our children. My Friends also give me that type of inspiration. Most of them are Physicians and the rest are in high professional fields.
Most of all. My Military benefits made my educational and life journey a lot smoother.
Pricing:
- Individual Session-$140. w/o Insurance
- $20/$30 copay Depending on insurance
Contact Info:
- Website: www.sandcastlepsych.com
- Email: info@sandcastlepsych.com
- Instagram: @sandcastle_psych
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