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

Hi Kelsey, what’s the most important thing you’ve done for your children?
I am a mother of an almost 2 year old and he is the light of my life. I get to experience so much love on a daily basis and at the same time, I am challenged to learn new things about myself as a parent and as a person. I think the most important thing I’ve done to impact my son is to be kind with myself. Being a mother is both the most amazing and the hardest thing I do every day. Motherhood is messy – some days feel easier and I love it; other days are more challenging. Knowing that both of these are okay, and having compassion for my own feelings, creating space to take care of me; helps me to feel more connected with myself and be a more present mother to my son. I value myself, I value my son, I value our family and I hope to show him that self-love creates more space for loving others.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
I have been in the mental health field for almost eight years now, working as a therapist with a variety of populations and challenges. I always assumed that at some point I would start private practice, though I wasn’t sure when that would happen or what it would look like. This all changed when I became pregnant, then again when my son was born and continues to shift as I move through the ever-changing world of motherhood. Through my own experiences, I have become more aware of the needs of parents and maintaining wellness throughout their journeys; how support and community are lacking; how women are often met with expectation as opposed to connection. So, I decided to do more research, take specialized courses and start the process for certification in perinatal mental health. It felt important to move into a space where I’m passionate about the work I do and where I can provide support to those who need it. I want women, mothers and parents to know that their struggles and experiences are heard, that they deserve acknowledgement.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Things are obviously a little different at the moment, as we are still in COVID times, though for this, I’ll pretend that we are all vaccinated and it is safe to move about freely in the city. My favorite places around Atlanta include coffee, food and beer. We would go from Hodge Podge to Taproom to Joe’s to Dancing Goats to Emerald City Bagels and probably circle back around again. We would do breakfast or brunch at Homegrown and El Myriachi. We would spend afternoons roaming the different breweries on the Beltline, including Orpheus and Monday Night Garage. Top off the afternoons with some ice cream from Jeni’s. Dinner and drinks would be in East Atlanta at Argosy and Banshee. In between all the coffee, eating and beer drinking, I would also take my friend to the different parks around the city and play on the playgrounds with my son at Coan and Bessie Branham Park too. Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I’m dedicating this shoutout to my sister, Brittany Knapik. She is my best friend and my biggest supporter. Brittany has helped with so many of the details in starting a business, from building my website, taking headshots, answering all my questions in the random hours of the day, though she has played a much bigger part than that. As an entrepreneur herself, she has been my inspiration for finding something I’m passionate about and building on it. As a doula and birth photographer, she has been my teacher about women’s needs in conception. birth, motherhood and loss. As my older sister and a mother herself, she has been my model for moving through life itself and most recently, navigating through pregnancy, birth and parenting. Thank you!

Website: www.likeamothercounseling.com

Instagram: @likeamother_atl

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kelsey-mizell-lpc-87438232/

Other: https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/therapists/kelsey-mizell-atlanta-ga/828954

Image Credits
Brittany Knapik Photography

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