Meet Juana Lyles | Licensed Professional Counselor, National Certified Counselor

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

Hi Juana, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
I believe counseling is my true calling and what my purpose is in life. I have worked for community non-profit agencies for my entire career as a mental health therapist. When working for others, you have to do what they want, see the people they want you to see and provide the treatment they want you to provide. Starting my own business allowed me to provide the services that people need without the limitations or restrictions of agency work, Now, I am able to serve the people’s need without the pressure of meeting productivity requirements or just services required according to a grant, I am able to give them the best counseling/therapy experience and provide services for their whole well-being, physically, mentally and spiritually. I also able to reach more people by providing non-traditional hours, group services and corporate trainings. My father was a business owner after he retired from the Army and set a great example for my brother and I, so I want to honor his legacy and do the same.

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?
L.I.T. Wellness Center, LLC is a telemental health counseling service that provides mental health services for individuals and couples dealing with trauma, anxiety, depression and anger issues. Providing telemental health services affords people the opportunity to meet in the comfort of their own home. We also provide non-traditional hours providing opportunites for clients to meet in the evening or some weekends. I have special training in a type of therapy called Brainspotting, which is a relatively new approach founded in 2003 by Dr. David Grand. Brainspotting is particularly effective with trauma-based situations, helping to identify and heal underlying trauma that contributes to anxiety, depression and other behavioral conditions. There are not many trained Brainspotting therapist in my area, or actually in the state of Georgia. Fun Fact, L.I.T. Wellness Center started out as a podcast during the first part of the pandemic, The podcast is called Live Intentionally Today and during the welcome I would always say also known as the LIT podcast. This was birthed out from working with my life coach and mentor Minister Brian Fitzpatrick. During my mentorship coaching, I was working on taking the leap to start my own private practice when I was offered an opportunity to work with Military Veterans, Brian posed the question, “Why can’t you do both?” So, with hard work and the grace of God, we are here. This process was and has been challenging, but very rewarding. There were times I doubted myself and let’s not talk about finances. Although, my practice is completely online, it still costs to provide the best services. I have continued to work full time during the day which has been a blessing to help with finances while I continue building my practice. What I have learned throughout this process is to Trust God, stay the course and get a business coach that can help you get organized and work smarter, not harder. I want the world to know that change is hard, but possible, you don’t have to stay stuck in the past or worry about tomorrow, you can stop surviving and start living, be present with those you love and Live Intentionally Today.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Since I am in the Columbus, Georgia area (Chattahoochee Valley), we have the opportunity to go to several fun and historical places since it is centrally located. I love Black History and Culture, and I enjoy sightseeing and rollercoasters so this would be a visit that included all of that. First, we would go down to Montgomery Alabama and visit the Rosa Parks Museum, The Dexter Avenue King Memorial Baptist Church and the National Memorial for Peace and Justice. We would most likely eat a Jim ‘n Nicks because they have the best cornbread muffins. Day Two, maybe stop at the Tuskegee Airmen Museum, in Tuskegee, AL and definitely eat at the Yellow Store, a local family-owned soul food restaurant and store. In Columbus, we would go down to the Riverwalk and take in all the sites down there and go white water rafting and zip lining. We would drive up to Callaway Gardens and spend a day there, especially visiting the Butterfly Center, (I love butterflies and what they represent). Finally, we would head up to Atlanta – needing two days to hang out and visit everything. I would take my friend to the Atlanta Aquarium, Coca-Cola Museum and do the Atlanta Black History and Civil Rights tour. We would try, try did I say try, to eat at the Slutty Vegan, I know that will take some planning. We would have to go to the Cheesecake Factory, since we don’t have one in Columbus. On the weekend, we could go to Six Flags over Georgia.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
Besides my family for their on-going support, I have to shout out Glendora Dvine. and our Taking Action & Leaving a Legacy Group. Glendora and the ladies in the group have been awesome in helping me with encouragement, feedback and just being authentic to myself and my brand. Glendora has been a true rider and supporter for providing business coaching, mentorship, friendship, and fussing at all of us like she is someone’s mama. Without them, I know I would be good, but they help me be great!

Website: www.litwellnessctr.com

Instagram: juanalyles

Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/juanalyles-lpc-ncc

Facebook: facebook.com/thelitpodcast