Today we’d like to introduce you to Daron Dominguez Elam.
Hi Daron Dominguez, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
From the time I was very young, I knew that I wanted to work in the field of mental health. I have always been curious about the mind-body connection and have always felt a deep reverence for the healing process. I’ve personally benefited from mental health professionals over the course of my own life as I’ve navigated my humanness. As I began to align my profession, my passion and my legacy, I knew I needed to create something that would allow for collective impact that could exist long after I’m gone. Uniquely, I’ve never believed my vision wouldn’t work out. I’ve always been comfortable with the possibility of failure and have always been up for a good challenge. This has been nothing less than that.
I began my career as a Licensed Professional Counselor as a contractor for another private practice which I was privileged to gain after completing my internship there. I had developed the brand, Summit’s Edge and was finally ready to launch into a group practice. I initially asked five brave clinicians if they would take a leap of faith. These five became the original team at Summit’s Edge. Since that time, we have grown to over 20+ employees serving roughly 300 clients per week.
Summit’s Edge is an Anti-Racist, Trans-Inclusive, LGTBTQ+, and Gender, Sexual, and Romantic Minorities-Affirming practice. A critical component of our success, I believe is that my partner, Brett, operate the practice successfully with the accountability and vision and needed perspective of our staff and leaders who offer a variety of perspectives which allow for a truly collaborative operation. Our practice mission, allows us to focus on hiring therapists who look like and relate to our clients in order to foster the best possible clinical outcomes. We offer care for individuals, couples and families offering virtual and in-person services with trauma-informed care that begins with the first phone call.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey have been a fairly smooth road?
No. This is not been a smooth road. But the bumps have come with an incredible reward. I would say that among those rewards is the interactions and deep connections that have built between clients and staff over the years.
It’s a truly remarkable and unmatched experience to sit with someone throughout their personal healing journey. It’s hard to describe the humility that courses through you as being a witness and hold space for your client’s innate capacity to heal.
With regard to running a private practice, I would say the greatest challenge is the level of responsibility. I would say that another tremendous struggle has been refining the hiring process and finding clinicians truly aligned with our mission. In the current climate, and as a group practice, you must be able to offer clinicians more than they can offer themselves. You must also try to find employees who have a deep sense of “why” in their work. We feel fortunate to have found that team and we honor the struggle of getting here. It was well worth it.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I’m a Licensed Professional Counselor, a Nationally Board Certified Counselor, and a Certified Clinical Hypnotherapist. I’m trained in Internal Family Systems, Dialectical Behavioral Therapy, Polyvagal Theory, and Somatic Experiencing. I’m also half a trained and yoga and working towards becoming a 200-hour RYT.
I specialize in the treatment of complex trauma, attachment trauma, emotional regulation, resourcing and containment. I enjoy helping clients identify the mind-body connections, recognize their own power and autonomy, and discover themselves…possibly for the first time.
I would say that I’m most proud of the team of professionals that support and surround me, allowing me to use the most effective treatment interventions available. We have incredible resources within our practice that’s continuously offering a fresh perspectives that clients surely benefit from.
I would say that our emphasis on community outreach and establishing a strong network of trusted professionals is a set of part quality of our practice. We feel strongly that an abundance mindset where it regards referrals and outsourcing care where it’s in the client’s best interest is one of many things that sets us apart.
Last but not least, I would say that our team of Client Experience Coordinators, their care and tact in ensuring smooth scheduling, billing and trauma-informed care are set-part. It should also be noted that we provide free HRT letters and free Coordination of Care Calls assisting clients in finding the right therapist for them when they are not able to find the care they are seeking by one of our Licensed Clinicians.
(Italicize) A note to readers: We are not a crisis center and cannot triage an emergency situations.
What was your favorite childhood memory?
One of my favorite childhood memories was going to see my Cuban grandparents in homestead Florida as a young child. They lived on the nursery that my family owned and operated in South Florida after they immigrated to the United States.
In particular, I have fond memories of gathering around the table with family with loud voices in a mix of English and Spanish. I remember the first time that I had café con leche, made by my Abuela. I remember playing hide and go seek with my cousins and the smell of fresh soil in the greenhouse.
These memories represent an innocence, freedom, and a safety that I have found rare since. These memories are foundational in my own parenting journey as I recall the simple things being the grandest things. Simple and safe.
Pricing:
- Individual Counseling session: $160/hour
- Parent Coaching Sessions: $100/hour
- Group Practice Consulting: $200/hour
- Speaking Engagement/Team Training: $1000/day
Contact Info:
- Website: se.care
- Instagram: @summits_edge
Image Credits
Photographs by Kristen LeighAnn Photos
