Meet Danyale Weems of Waves Counseling Services LLC

Today we’d like to introduce you to Danyale Weems.

Hi Danyale, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
In terms of where I am today, it has been a journey beginning from 2002 when I initially began my career in Social Services as Child Protection Worker. I began my career towards social work when I was hired as a Mental Health Clinician in a Juvenile Justice level 10 female program due to being a Certified Facilitator for Thinking for a Change. In 2008 I graduated from Florida State University with a Masters in Social Work. My family and I relocated to CO where I worked with co-occurring (substance abuse and mental health adolescents) and foster parents. We relocated approximately 5 years to later to Florida where I worked as a Supervisor at a Methadone Center.. A year later, we relocated to Texas where I provided social work in Hospice. Then, we relocated for the last time thus far, to GA where I created and developed a School Based Mental Health Program through GA Apex with a small community based services agency. I decided it was time to start my own practice and reached out to a lovely lady Dr. Mary Dean who offered me to share her office part time. This was in October 2017. I was able to afford my own office by April of 2018. I reached out to our local Child Advocacy program in an effort to provide services. At this time, I was continuing to work towards being a Registered Play Therapist Supervisor. By September 2018 I was renting a small house with 5 offices. I obtained my Registered Play Therapist Supervisor credential and hired an office manager. I was able to hire my first clinician in January of 2019. I found my way to play therapy when I was in Colorado and someone referred a 5 yr old for therapy. My agency believed I could see the child. This started the journey towards learning and becoming a Registered Play Therapist. My practice grew and at one time we had 2 locations ad 9 therapists, however, as life would have it, we downsized and have maintained the one location. I was able to purchase the building and property in 2022. Our building is located on approximately 14 acres outside of Carrollton, GA. We offer nature play therapy, EMDR therapy, therapy for eating disorders, sand tray therapy, expressive arts, addictions and a variety of other mental health services to families, and children as young as 2 and adults as old as 99. We are a teaching practice and provide placement option for student interns. We accept almost all insurances. Waves Counseling Services, LLC aims to provide evidenced based and quality mental health services which support the entire system a child grows up in. Danyale Weems, LCSW, RPTS now provides trainings, presentations, workshops through the country on a variety of topics. Something I don’t often share connected to my journey is my childhood. I never wanted to be a case worker or a therapist; as I had been a child in the system. I was adopted at 15 which in and of itself is no small feat. As I look back now, it makes sense that I would find myself along this path. This journey is not one I planned out. When I graduated with my Bachelors in Criminal Justice in 2002, I was a single mom. I purchased a house by age 24 and was well on my way to breaking generational patterns. Heck, I won a small town pageant-who knew this small town girl would eventually own a group practice and have a passion for treating children, teens, and adults with complex trauma. I am an EMDRIA approved Consultant, Certified in Childhood Dissociation, AutPlay Provider, and certified in litigation of maltreatment and abuse.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
As noted previously, I was a single mother. Relocation due to former husbands job. Hiring and maintaining employees in a small practice is challenging as I cannot compete with larger e.g. Tanner/Willowbrook, Pathways, Pheonix Resource Center agencies. I am currently a single mother once again and have been since COVID. COVID has been an obstacle,. Licensing and credentialing with insurances was an obstacle. Another challenge with hiring is insurance and licenses.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
Waves Counseling Services, LLC is a small group practice located on approximately 14 acres outside of Carrollton, GA. We offer nature play therapy, EMDR therapy, therapy for eating disorders, sand tray therapy, expressive arts, addictions and a variety of other mental health services to families, and children as young as 2 and adults as old as 99. We are a teaching practice and provide placement option for student interns. We accept almost all insurances. Waves Counseling Services, LLC aims to provide evidenced based and quality mental health services which support the entire system a child grows up in. Danyale Weems, LCSW, RPTS now provides trainings, presentations, workshops through the country on a variety of topics. I am an EMDRIA approved Consultant, Certified in Childhood Dissociation, AutPlay Provider, and certified in litigation of maltreatment and abuse. I am the only RPTS (TM) in the area and EMDRIA approved Consultant in Carroll County. We are the only practice in the area which will seen children under age 5. We treat Complex Trauma, Veterans, and First Responders. We love to be involved in our community and to give back

How do you think about luck?
Opportunity has been the luck that has led me down the path I am on. I was fortunate to advocate for myself at 14 when I found a forever supportive adoptive family. I was fortunate when a caseworker believed a 10 yr old little girl about not wanting to return to her childhood home. My sister sits in prison and I am here successful. My sister aged out of the system. My brother grew up with his father and he has struggled. My biological family continues to struggle. I have been lucky to have people mentor me, willing to help me, and guide me. I’ve been lucky to have people provide me with opportunities I may not have had otherwise and continue to do so.

Shortly after purchasing the building, I had to replace the airconditioner unit and the crawl space flooded as the sump pump which was not installed correctly went out. I am now putting $11,000 into stabilizing the foundation. I lost majority of my employees and my second location (which took a financial hit as a result) within a short time frame (6months).

I was fortunate to have parents who understood money and business. They were business owners themselves owning a million dollar catering company and a renovation company.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://wavescounselingservices.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/waves_counseling/
• Facebook: waves counseling services

Image Credits
All pictures but one are taken by me. The one with the little girl and quote has the credit it on i think, otherwise, i can resubmit something different or just remove it
i’d love to do a team pic but we don’t have any current pics