We had the good fortune of connecting with Dr. Jamilah Jones, LAC, NCC Dr. Erika Hill, LPC, NCC and we’ve shared our conversation below.
Hi Dr. Jamilah Jones, LAC, NCC, can you talk to us a bit about the social impact of your business?
S.T.E.P.S. Counseling & Consulting, Inc. consists of two licensed therapists who are also consultants and self-published authors. We use our platforms and products to promote mental health awareness. Our platforms and products include our counseling-based workshops, book, greeting cards, apparel, social media, and individual counseling sessions with our clients. As black women, we grew up observing mental health being looked down upon in our communities. We are both passionate about breaking the stigma and raising awareness so more people will #SayYesToCounseling.
Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
We are Dr. Erika Hill, LPC, NCC, and Dr. Jamilah Jones, LAC, NCC. We met while obtaining our Masters in School Counseling and a Post Baccalaureate Certificate in Contemporary Mental Health Services. After graduating and becoming full-time school counselors for middle and high school children, we wanted to provide Strategic Therapeutic Empowering Principle Skills that would help schools and businesses operate in a capacity that would make a positive impact, build healthy relationships and communities. Putting our minds together, we created S.T.E.P.S. Counseling & Consulting, Inc.
To further our knowledge and skills, we obtained our Ph.D. in Counselor Education and Supervision. As nationally certified counselors, we are licensed in Georgia and New Jersey. Today, we are operating a private practice providing telehealth counseling services, counseling-based workshops for businesses, utilizing our book to connect with our audience (From the Girls Next Door: Taking a STEP in the Right Direction), and selling our apparel promoting mental health awareness.
Running a business has its ups and downs. We are both parents, work full-time as licensed therapists, have other companies and personal obligations to our spouses, family, and friends as well. Balancing personal and professional priorities has challenges, especially when traveling to present at workshops and panels. So we make it a priority to implement self-care as much as possible to help us re-center. In our book, we are transparent and share the personal struggles that we have had to endure during our journey and how we have overcome them as it comes. Even as therapists, we still struggle and bear the same challenges as our clients. We are like them in so many ways and strive to make our clients feel heard and understood. Our journey in the mental health field and passion for counseling have helped us create a positive perspective through STEPS that can help break the stigma that African Americans and counseling cannot coincide.
If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
First, we would stop at Magic Headlight Cleaning Car Spa in Forest Park to get our car cleaned and detailed so our best friend could ride in style. Next, we would take them downtown and to the beltline to show them why Atlanta is the city to be in. From the great weather to good food and high energy from the different cultures, our best friend might not want to leave. We would then end the night at Cru Lounge in Edgewood.
Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
God, family and each other!
Website: www.stepscounselingconsulting.com
Instagram: STEPSCounseingConsulting
Linkedin: STEPS Counseling
Twitter: STEPSCounseling
Facebook: STEPS Counseling and Consulting
Youtube: STEPS Counseling & Consulting
Image Credits
GWC Media & Entertainment, LLC.