Today, we’d like to introduce you to Robyn Minefee.
Hi Robyn, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
As a child, I always knew that I wanted to grow up to become an “important businesswoman”. I had no idea what kind of business. I can remember as early as 7 years old, talking to my cousin after she experienced physical abuse from her mother and trying to make her feel better. Fast forward to high school where I was always the “easy one to talk to.”
My friends would ask me to talk to other friends whenever there was a problem in the friend group. I eventually went to college without a plan. My original major was secondary education. I’ve always loved to teach others. I completed my first year of college and decided that I needed to take a break.
During my break, at age 19, I became pregnant with my son. I was afraid and felt that my life was over. One of the scariest things that I ever had to do in my life was to tell my parents that I was expecting a child. I felt as though I let them down. At the time, I lived in Augusta, GA. I was a daddy’s girl so I started with him. I called my father (even though my mother was only two hours away) who lived in Euclid, OH, and left a message on his voicemail at 3a.
The next day, my father was in Augusta, GA. I will never understand how he made a 14-hour drive in that amount of time!!! He never shamed me or yelled at me. He took me to the store, brought me a robe (I’m not sure why lol), and told me that he would always be there for me. Next was my mother. I called her to tell her and I promise that was the longest, loudest, echoing scream that I’ve ever heard!
My mother and my then-boyfriend’s mom were both very religious. They insisted that we marry immediately. I’m 19 and afraid. I didn’t know what to do, it was all happening so fast. I asked him if that’s what he wanted to do and his answer was, “Yeah, I guess so.” So we got married. He immediately joined the military and I moved back home to Hapeville, GA to have our child. A year later, our divorce was finalized.
During that year, I found myself a single mother of a 2-month-old baby boy with no education, no job, and living at home with my mother. I was embarrassed. I eventually found a job working as a cashier in a cafeteria. Talk about low self-esteem. I knew that this wasn’t supposed to be my life, but here I was. Every day was a chore. The only thing that I had to look forward to was seeing my son when I came home from work. I felt worthless and hopeless.
As time passed on and I began to get to know my coworkers, the cafeteria manager began flirting with me. We began dating. During this time, my cousin asked me if I would be interested in working in a pediatric office. Desperate to get out of my cafeteria job, I happily said yes and with no experience, I was hired! God is good!
It was during this time that I learned about the field of therapy. One day my best friend was talking to me about her problems, I listened and gave her some feedback (No advice because heck, I was trying to get my own life together, who could I advise?!) I remember her saying to me, “You are such a good listener! You should be a psychiatrist!”
I thought, hmmmm, I know that I want to go back to school but still have no idea what I want to major in. So I looked up psychiatrist and it didn’t feel right. I didn’t want to administer medications. I looked up psychologists and thought… BOOORRRINNNG!!! But when I looked up therapist, I felt like I found my calling!!!
My boyfriend and I eventually got married and welcomed our daughter into our lives. At 24, I purchased my first home with my husband as we began to build our lives together. We, along with the rest of America, didn’t expect the housing market to crash in 2008 and so did our lives. I can honestly say that I have lived the phrase, “The struggle is real!”
So now I find myself barely making ends meet, not being able to pay a mortgage, working two jobs, raising children, and trying to hold on to a struggling marriage while trying to get back in school to finish some kind of degree! Something had to give. I chose two things; the house and the marriage and I don’t regret letting either of them go!
Now, I found myself a single mother of 2. An 8-year-old boy and 4-year-old girl. Now this is where life gets good!! With each struggle, tears, sleepless nights, carpools, field trips, extracurricular activities, stomach aches, colds, and let’s not forget homework assignments for myself and both children, we made it!!! I finally completed my Master’s in Professional Counseling and became a fully licensed therapist!
I now own a private practice where I use Somatic Psychotherapy and other modalities to help others work through their traumas, depression, anxiety, and other mental health disorders. I am also a registered yoga instructor. I have three clinicians working under me in my practice and looking to expand my practice soon. I often look at my children with so much appreciation, love, and awe. I am very transparent with them both.
We are all each other’s best friends. (We even all have a matching tattoo that says ‘224’. It stands for Today, Tomorrow, Forever. It was my son’s idea.) I told them that I did my best as a mother to make sure that I was at all of their games and school events. I carried a lot of Mom Guilt because I felt like they both deserved so much more than what I was able to give them.
They really hung in there with me by never getting into trouble, keeping up with their grades, and being pretty darn good kiddos! We had our moments, I don’t believe any child is perfect but mine are close to it! LOL! I wouldn’t trade them for anything! Now, I am doing what I love and watching them navigate adulthood. I have two grandsons and although the struggle WAS real, I wouldn’t change any of it!
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It was not a smooth road at all. In 2008, my home was foreclosed on. I had to scramble to find a place for my family to live. In 2008, I lost my maternal grandmother. In 2oo9, I lost one of my first loves to lung cancer, my father. He was my biggest cheerleader next to my mother. And in 2010, I lost my paternal grandmother. I was OVER IT!! In addition to the aforementioned losses, being a single mother is not a walk in the park! I found myself choosing between my sanity and peace.
We’ve been impressed with Mind and Body Therapy GA, LLC, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
At Mind and Body Therapy GA, we are dedicated to fostering healing, resilience, and empowerment by providing specialized psychotherapy services. Our mission is to create a safe and culturally affirming space where individuals can embark on a transformative journey toward healing. We are committed to employing the principles of somatic psychotherapy while recognizing the interconnectedness of mind, body, and spirit in the healing process.
I realized early on that being a therapist wasn’t just a job for me; it truly is my passion. I have worked in substance abuse facilities, mental health facilities, accountability courts, as well as private practice. With a dedication to holistic well-being, I found that integrating traditional counseling methods with somatic therapy helps to address the mental, emotional, and physical aspects of the well-being of the whole person. Whether in a private practice setting or within institutional contexts, I approach each client with empathy, resilience, and a deep understanding that healing is a unique and ongoing process.
I love working with others to find out how to unload anything that seemingly weighs them down. I also use the following interventions; Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Client-Centered approach, Hypnotherapy, EMDR, and Movement Therapy to work with clients on strategies to overcome obstacles and personal challenges that they are facing, as well as reframing negative thoughts and beliefs.
Are there any books, apps, podcasts, or blogs that help you do your best?
Apps: Insight Timer.
Books: The Four Agreements, All About Love by Bell Hooks, The Yamas & Niyamas, and Year of Yes by Shonda Rhimes.
Resources: Hiking and Yoga.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.mindandbodytherapyga.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/robynminefee_lpc/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mindandbodytherapyga/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/robyn-minefee-lpc-cpcs-ryt-50784b32?utm_source=share&utm_campaign=share_via&utm_content=profile&utm_medium=ios_app
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/@mindandbodytherapyga?si=hh-DOWHv-mAU5Fcx
Image Credits
Jordan Tutt, Loryn Smith, Noah Tutt, and Josiah Tutt
