Today we’d like to introduce you to Extriara Gates.
Hi Extriara, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
When people ask me about myself, I always start with where I’m from as it tells the story about who I am; with that being said, I am a proud native of Old Atlanta’s historic Fourth Ward neighborhood. I cannot begin to explain what an honor and privilege it was to grow up in a community where every school, church, and business carried the name of a black person or held some historical significance. My community like many other urban communities in Atlanta, had its share of challenges. Despite that fact growing up, I didn’t just see black excellence; I lived it. Many of the people who had the greatest impact on my life will never grace a magazine cover or receive national recognition. Instead, they share a permanent space in my heart. They were grandmothers, mothers, aunts, uncles, fictive kin, and teachers who believed in me enough to require that I not only acknowledge Black Excellence but become it.
For as far back as I can remember, I have always felt responsible for the well-being of others, so much so that my grandmother nicknamed me ” mother” as a kid because I was so nurturing and partially because I was a tad “bossy”. No matter what I was asked or what others needed, I always tried my best to help. My pursuit of a career in clinical social work started well before I stepped foot on a college campus. It started on my grandmother’s porch where I witnessed the effects that trauma and depression had on the women in my family and those in my community. Imagine watching people with the least amount of resources and support being asked to bear the majority of the responsibility for not only their families but the community at large.
I founded Lavender Grove to provide a safe space for Black Women from the holy to the hood to receive the support that the women in my family and my community needed to thrive. Lavender Groves mission is to ensure that Black women who are worried, overwhelmed, sad, and ashamed can be heard and healed.
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?
I was once told if you pursue your passion, you will never work a day in your life, and while I’m passionate about what I do, I can absolutely assure that it is hard work. One of the biggest challenges I experienced when I started my business four years ago was finding the balance between who I wanted to serve and earning enough income to maintain my life. I would take on any client that called looking for support because I was afraid that saying no would mean a deficit income for me. After my first year in private practice, I found myself experiencing burnout. I was seeing clients six days a week and had started to reconsider my choice to go into private practice. Over the past two years, I have taken the time to connect with other professionals who have provided me with a great deal of advice and guidance on how to identify my niche and operate my business in a way that allows me to truly enjoy my work. One of the most valuable lessons I learned as a business owner is that when you operate in your purpose, God will provide the provision needed to sustain you.
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about Lavender Grove Psychotherapy?
Lavender Grove Psychotherapy was founded in 2019 to provide a safe place for black women to be heard and to heal. Lavender Groves mission is to ensure that Black women who are worried, overwhelmed, sad, and ashamed can receive the support they need to manage the debilitating effects of life stressors that exacerbate mental illness. My practice provides individual and family therapy as well as empowerment groups aimed at supporting Black Women beyond the therapeutic setting. Most recently, I have partnered with Jasmine Bradfield and her company Village G.U.R.U to provide monthly yoga therapy classes to support those looking to alleviate the impact of trauma, anxiety, and depression on their bodies. My approach is simple: healing from the inside out.
What are your plans for the future?
So I’m giving yall exclusive information here, so don’t tell anyone, lol. In the next year, I am looking to expand my brand to include wellness classes and products.
Contact Info:
- Website: lavendergrovepsychotherapy.com
- Instagram: lavendergrovepsychotherapy
- Other: linktree @lavendergrovetherapy
Image Credits
Photographer: Shamica Ward
