Meet Javonte’ Bass | Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor

We had the good fortune of connecting with Javonte’ Bass and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Javonte’, we’d love for you to start things off by telling us something about your industry that we and others not in the industry might be unaware of?
That we do more than “listen to people’s problem”. I’ve honestly had people tell me that my job wasn’t a real job or wasn’t tiring because I just “listen to people talk” or “give advice”.

What should our readers know about your business?
I own a group practice in Durham North Carolina called Lets Cope Counseling services. I am EMDR trained which is a type of trauma training. I work primarily with children and adolescents however I do service the adult population. I also host community service events geared towards providing free mental health resources to those in rural areas, primarily my hometown New Bern, NC. If I had to start I would go back to after graduate school I struggled to find employment in my field because I didn’t have my license. I had my son three months before graduation so I was unable to take the licensure exam. I also could not find a job where I was located so that led to me being evicted and I move back home with my mother for a little bit. I knew that I had to do something because I had a child depending on me so I commuted two hours one-way every day to work at a call center from New Bern NC to Raleigh NC for three months. Eventually I was able to save enough money to move to Raleigh so I packed up my son and myself and we moved. Shortly after I was terminated from my job due to layoffs, so this resulted in me working at a warehouse making $9.55 an hour and working 3-11 everyday. Eventually I found a job in my field at a day treatment facility. Although the pay didn’t cover all of my expenses I made it work. With the help of my son’s Godparents I was able to pay for my licensure exam and I passed on the first try! Soon after my father helped pay for my licensure application and I received my credentials!! This allowed me to find my first real “therapy” job! I quickly realized that these agency jobs were not all that they seemed and that helped me make the decision to open my own practice. I always ended up at jobs that although rewarding, I still struggled financially. There were times where I would be a waitress or work at a school and have a full caseload at an agency. Fast forward to 2019 and that’s when I made the decision to open a practice. I was losing time with my son because I was working so much. Unfortunately my vision for my practice didn’t take off like I anticipated so the first year of my practice I only made enough to pay office rent. When the pandemic hit my job took my salary.. which led to huge decrease in finances. I used that as motivated to put more energy into my practice. I got radio ads, started posting on social media more and would pass out my business cards at events. I quit my job May 2020 and had a full caseload by July 2020. The biggest challenge was getting out of my own head. I learned that with faith in myself and God .. I literally can do anything. I want the world to know that I have worked HARD for everything I have. Nothing has ever been easy for me but I didn’t let it stop me. This is just the beginning for Let’s Cope.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I love to eat, so we would visit all of the best southern restaurants. I enjoy Dames Chicken and Waffles and Backyard BBQ Pit. I also LOVE sweets so we would have to go to Guyon’s my Favorite Cheesecakes. For entertainment I prefer a chill vibe with a sprinkle of black magic and there’s always a black farmers market or black block party, or festival going on. I always try to support black businesses.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
To my son Chandler, the moment you was born I knew I had to grind no matter what to give you a life I didn’t have growing up, and I’m doing just that. Mommy loves you.

Website: www.letscopecounseling.com

Instagram: https://instagram.com/letscopecounseling?utm_medium=copy_link

Facebook: letscopecounseling

Image Credits
Anthony Mitchell