Today we’d like to introduce you to Michael DeVoll.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Michael. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
I received a Master of Education in Educational Psychology/Counseling from the University of Houston in 2002. I then became licensed as a professional counselor in the state of Texas. A couple of years later, while working at a private high school doing academic counseling, I started my private practice in an office by myself, where I mostly see young men (13-30-ish) and the LGBTQ+ community. When I left the school job, I expanded my business to include a couple of other therapists. During this time, I became an LPC supervisor, meaning I supervise LPC-interns as they work to complete the hours necessary to obtain their full LPC license. It was also during this time that I, with 1 social worker and two LPC-Interns, started This Side of the Rainbow, as week-long summer day-camp for LGBTQ+ high school students. Then, after three years, I took on a business partner and we opened The Wellness Collective, a diverse group of 14 mental health professionals providing holistic mental health services to the inner loop Houston area. I also now have one of my interns working with me on Pathfinders Retreats, a business organizing a range of retreat opportunities for young men and mental health professionals. I will also organize retreats for other agencies or businesses. I regularly organize workshops on legal and ethical issues, or LGBTQ+ issues, or supervision training for other mental health professionals. I also try to give back to my profession by serving in leadership roles in professional organizations. I’ve held leadership/board positions for the Association for LGBT Issues in Counseling (a division of the American Counseling Association) and the Texas chapter fo this division. I have also served as a Regional Director for the Texas Counseling Association, where I currently serve as President-Elect. This is a 6800-member professional association that leads, educates and advocates to advance the counseling profession, to increase access to professional counselors, and to promote wellness.
Has it been a smooth road?
The biggest struggle has been sorting through the business part of running a private practice. My grad school program did a great job of preparing me for the clinical side of the job but never spoke about the business part of the job. I’ve found resources and a range of folks who have been great advocates and mentors, but sometimes it has felt like hit-or-miss efforts. This includes the marketing aspect of the work. When offering programs that you know people will benefit from (educational programs, retreats, the summer camp for teens), you want as many people to know about those as possible to do the most good, but that takes so much time, money, and effort… it can feel daunting.
Please tell us more about what you do, what you are currently focused on and most proud of.
I provide solution-focused, culturally-sensitive counseling for young men and the LGBTQ+ community. In my private practice, I really enjoy the work I do with men in their 20’s. It seems too many guys in that age group struggle with feeling connected to others–either at work or in their personal lives. I give them a place to work on how they connect so they can satisfy those innate needs for connection. I think the other area that sets me apart is the specialization in working with the LGBTQ+ community, especially the teens we work with on our week-long summer day camp. We provide a space for these youth to feel like they really belong, and to know that there are others like them out there in the world. They get to start to form a sense of community of like-minded teens. But we do it in a therapeutic environment where they can grow emotionally and personally.
Is our city a good place to do what you do?
I see so many young men who are brought to Houston because of the job market and the standard of living. There’s a dynamic community with opportunities for a range of interests–the arts (both visual and performing), a great place to get fantastic food, wide breadth and richness of cultural influences, a dynamic faith community, and so many other opportunities. I think we need to do a better job of helping young adults have opportunities to access those offerings. Too many folks in their mid- to late-20s seem to only think of going out drinking as the only option for socializing. I do so much coaching on “other things you can do to have shared experiences with others your age.”
But Houston, and Texas, in general, has a great need to have more mental health resources accessible to the public. It takes weeks or months to get appointments with some providers, and who your insurance provider is can make this even more difficult. Part of why I do the work I do with my professional organization is because it’s a way for me to encourage younger counselors to take on the difficult work of private practice. They need to know that they can fill a much-needed niche for so many folks who are struggling to understand themselves and their own emotions.
Contact Info:
- Address: The Wellness Collective
5900 Memorial Dr. Suite 218
Houston, TX 77007 - Website: https://devollcounseling.com, http://www.thissideoftherainbow.org, http://pathfindersretreat.com
- Phone: 832-221-9298
- Email: michael@devollcounseling.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pathfinders_mens_alliance/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/devollcounseling/, https://www.facebook.com/thissideoftherainbow/, https://www.facebook.com/pathfindersretreat/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/DeVoMiG
Image Credit:
Michael DeVoll
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