Today we’d like to introduce you to Danielle M and Simone G.
Hi Danielle and Simone, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself
Hello, my name is Danielle and my business partner is Simone. Danielle and Simone have worked in the mental health field for almost 6 years. They were doing it all, as an Office Manager and Intake Specialist, from front desk, intake, payroll, HR, bill pay, to employee gatherings, organizing community events. You name it they loved it and enjoyed it.
They worked for a midsized organization, in which they absolutely loved. It was the type of job that you didn’t mind stay long hours and coming in on the weekends because it was such a joy and rewarding experience. They thought they would retire from this organization. Then they received the horrible news that the organization we going to be brought out by another larger company. To make a long story short the new organization was not a great place to work, for too many reasons to list.
That’s how Sunflower Counseling Center was born. Danielle jokingly said, let’s start our own counseling center and with a lot of hard work, we made it happen.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It has not been a smooth road but then again it has. This is where having a business partner is one of the best ideas in life ever! (jk)
We know for a fact Sunflower Counseling Center is supposed to be a part of our lives because what we are doing does not feel like work. It’s our passion and we work for hours and hours and hours and don’t even realize it’s time for dinner. Ideas come to us effortlessly as if the plan has been in the atmosphere for years and we are just carrying it out.
But starting a business does not come without its hiccups. For example, funding. As a new business, we have been unable to get a business loan, especially as a non-profit. It has been a journey (for lack of a better word) becoming official with the IRS, and state and business licenses, especially during COVID. Either it’s a lot of confusing paperwork or a lot of waiting months for services that usually take a few days. I could keep talking about the setbacks we have faced but none of them were enough to make us quit. That’s doesn’t mean at least one of us weren’t thinking about throwing in the towel. But the other is always there to breathe us through it.
The change that we are making in our client’s lives keeps us going. They tell us how we make them feel before they meet with their counselor. It is our job, but more importantly our passion to make our clients felt heard, safe and helped when they call or email us. Our calls start with tears and sadness, or fright, or anger, and 99 times out of 100 end with at least a smile.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about Sunflower Counseling Center?
Sunflower Counseling exists so that people seeking the highest quality of mental health services, at an affordable rate, can be counseled by professionals who train and specialize in multiple areas of mental health healing.
Sunflower Counseling is a non-profit organization that is committed to strengthening every individual, couple, child, and family in our community by providing care and therapeutic services to break the chains of mental and behavioral health stigmas.
I think one of the important facts that sets us apart from others are that we are two African American women who took a chance during a pandemic to fulfill dreams they didn’t even know they had. We never have before this interview discussed our race or gender. But, it is important because sometimes society is made to believe women do not get along in the workplace or that black women are unapproachable or angry. We have done something amazing with little help and we are very proud of ourselves. The pandemic tried to make us face the shadows, but it’s not what sunflowers do.
We proud of our aesthetic. We take pride in our business’ appearance. From our website to our actual logo, all is carefully thought out and a lot of man hours are put into making sure our first impression is memorable and represents our company in a professional and inviting manner.
We proud of the work we do in the community. From our coat, turkey, and toy drives to our participation in community festivals and our Sunflower Counseling Grant. There are times clients call and can’t even afford our minimum rate. We do the best we can to make sure each and every client who turns to Sunflower Counseling for help receives it.
Danielle and Simone could never do this alone. We are blessed to have an amazing group of counselors on our team. They are extremely intelligent, caring and the best at making our clients feel safe, heard and healed. The benefit of having multiple counselors is that we can offer help for clients who experience anxiety to trauma and most everything in between. We see clients ages 5 and up.
Clients will be assessed, diagnosed, and treated for common mental health concerns, including anxiety, depression, stress, bipolar disorder, eating disorders, post-traumatic stress disorder, and/or other conditions eligible for outpatient treatment.
Our counseling staff serves individuals, couples, and families across the lifecycle, including children, adolescents, adults, and seniors. Group counseling will also be available to support the needs of special populations, i.e., grief, single parenting, suicide survivors, etc.
In response to the recent COVID-19 pandemic, all counseling services are currently provided via telehealth, and available statewide. We also offer clients the option for in-person sessions.
We are located in Decatur/Stockbridge/Ellenwood/Chamblee/Buckhead
What was your favorite childhood memory?
Danielle – Playing outside. I feel it is a cherished and sacred memory. I say that because I have two children and they do not have the urge to play outside. Sure they play a few sports outdoors but to just go out and play with other children is a bit foreign to them. They rather play video games. I remember getting friends together to play baseball, hide and seek or just sit on the front steps and scream, “Mine!” when our future cars drove by. Our parents were friends and it really was a neighborhood of families who took care of each other. I honestly only know one of my neighbors and never hear children outside playing. Now that the vaccine is more available, I think I will take my children around the neighborhood to introduce ourselves.
Simone – Visiting my grandparents during the summers. My grandmother taught me how to cook and bake. One of my favorites is home-made ice cream and floats. She taught me a lot of life skills that I will never forget. She was a traditional southern lady. She was always put together, even in the home. She loved gardening. My cousins and I still talk about the memories.
Contact Info:
- Email: info@sfcounseling.org
- Website: sfcounseling.org
- Instagram: instagram.com/sunflower_counseling
- Facebook: facebook.com/sunflowercounseling
