Today we’d like to introduce you to Kamilah Thomas.
So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
During my 14 year career, I have held several positions such as Juvenile Probation Officer, Foster Care Coordinator, Program Specialist, Case Manager, and Outpatient Clinic Manager. These experiences allowed me the opportunity to enhance my various skill sets and work with diverse clients in a variety of settings. After feeling a little stuck in my career and even considering changing fields to create other options, I began exploring private practice in 2018.
I began working part-time for a group practice in an affluent suburb outside the greater Houston area, where I was the only clinician of color. I noticed that there were few minority clients who were being served and barriers of financial challenges prevented these clients from being able to initiate and/or remain in treatment long-term. As someone who wasn’t taught about entrepreneurship, I was nervous about working for myself, doubted myself at times, and questioned whether or not I would be successful against the other established clinicians in the field. However, after much prayer and support from my family and colleagues, I made a leap of faith and established KBT Counseling and Consulting, PLLC to provide quality, affordable, and culturally competent mental health services for minority populations!
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?
Overall, there have been much more successes during this first year in private practice. However, I haven’t been shielded from typical challenges such as understanding the business side of running a private practice. Unfortunately, graduate school didn’t prepare me for this, and it took researching, networking, and asking for help to gain the knowledge I needed. I also had to realize that it is difficult and time-consuming for one person to manage and be great at all aspects of running a business, and am currently focused on building a team to help delegate administrative tasks and accommodate the steady flow of clients.
I also learned that entrepreneurship can definitely affect a business owner’s mental health. Having a strong support system, engaging in consistent self-care, and creating a realistic work/life balance helps ensure that I am at my best to continue providing quality care to my clients.
So, as you know, we’re impressed with KBT Counseling and Consulting, PLLC – tell our readers more, for example what you’re most proud of as a company and what sets you apart from others.
KBT Counseling and Consulting, PLLC is a private practice in the Bellaire area of Houston that specializes in helping women of color heal from mental health and/or life challenges that are impacting her ability to be the happy, successful, and healthy woman she deserves to be. Common challenges my clients face are depression, anxiety, perfectionism, “The Strong Black Woman Syndrome”, unresolved childhood trauma, difficulty setting boundaries, and low self-esteem.
I am proud that minority millennial women have trusted me to help them work through their most vulnerable and traumatic experiences, and that through their positive healing process, they have become mental health advocates. What helps set me apart is my down to earth personality, use of humor and cultural relatability in sessions, honest feedback, and realistic coping skills. Clients have raved about how they are grateful that they found my services, and refer me to friends, family members, and co-workers.
In addition to providing counseling services, I am a speaker who is very passionate about helping to destigmatize mental health in the African American community. I have been sought out for speaking engagements on a variety of mental health topics such as emotional baggage, mental health 101, stress management, holistic healing, generational trauma, and cultural awareness.
So, what’s next? Any big plans?
I’m excited to continue growing my brand, start the process to expand from a solo practitioner to a group practice, and provide clinical supervision for social workers in 2020!
Contact Info:
- Address: 5909 West Loop South
Suite 670
Bellaire, TX 77401 - Website: www.kbtcounseling.com
- Phone: 346-800-7543
- Email: kamilah @kbtcounseling.com
- Instagram: kbt_counseling
- Facebook: kbtcounseling
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