Inspiring Conversations with Britney Ledford of The Mind Laboratory

Today we’d like to introduce you to Britney Ledford.

Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
In 2012 I graduated from the University of Alabama at Birmingham with a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology and moved to Atlanta to begin the Marriage and Family Therapy program at Mercer University. Through my internship starting in 2013 and later being hired and working full time at an inpatient mental health facility up until 2020 I learned about the different challenges people with mental health issues face in receiving services. After graduating from the program in 2014, becoming fully licensed in 2016, and gaining experience across multiple levels of care—from intensive inpatient treatment to day programs and later telehealth outpatient services—I realized I could expand my reach and provide care to individuals throughout the state of Georgia. My business is based in Atlanta, but I am able to work with people outside the metro area who may not have easy access to services or are a part of a population that is underserved. Through all of the changes created because of the pandemic along with the stressors of lockdown people needed access to mental health services more than ever, but were limited in being able to meet for in person session. I realized that I could still be of service to people in a very real way even if we were not in the same room. I believe that people are able to be vulnerable and present in session in their own spaces that they may not otherwise be able to in an office. When they are at home in their safe spaces or with their pets they are able to be more at ease than they would be otherwise. I created The Mind Laboratory with the hope that it would grow to bring access to mental health services to anyone who would need it and to empower people to create change they want to see in their own lives regardless of their circumstances. At the core of The Mind Laboratory is hope, and the belief that individuals, couples, and families can create the change they want to see in their lives even when life is most difficult. Since forming in 2022, The Mind Laboratory has grown to 3 clinicians and now serves Georgia, Florida. Connecticut, and New York. I and my colleagues operate from a place of authenticity that resonates with our clients and allows them to show up as their most authentic selves in treatment. We meet with children as young as 7, as well as adolescents and adults who deal with a variety of different issues and life stressors. We meet our clients where they are and work to support their goals. I believe that it is refreshing for our clients to work with clinicians who not only have incredible expertise, but that can meet them with honesty and compassion.

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Working in mental health has allowed me to see people at some of the most difficult places in their lives, and their stories are ones that would break your heart. The stigma around people asking for and receiving mental health treatment is still pervasive and keeps some of the people who need it the most from receiving services. One of the most difficult parts of working in the mental health system was trying to help people who were doing everything they possibly could to improve their lives, but there were little or no resources to meet their needs. Parents especially have a difficult time finding support for themselves or their children because their services are covered by insurance or there is a gap in support because of the child’s age.

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about The Mind Laboratory?
We are a fully telehealth psychotherapy practice. All three of our clinicians have experience at the highest levels of care and have all worked with children, adolescents, families, and adults with mental illness or a mental health crisis. Each clinician has their own unique style of therapy that allows the client to be their most authentic self and set their own goals. Our clinicians work to help clients remove the blocks that would otherwise keep them feeling “stuck” or keep them from making progress. We are in network with several different insurance providers. Our clinicians are different because they have experience from the highest levels of mental health care which allows them to assess and appropriately treat a variety of issues even if the client has multiple mental health diagnoses. I am proud of our clinician’s authenticity and integrity that they bring to their clients as well as empowering them to be the truest version of themselves.

Is there something surprising that you feel even people who know you might not know about?
I have two cats, Houdini and Hoax, who will make cameo appearances in my sessions from time to time.

Pricing:

• Self Pay sessions $125.00

Contact Info:

• Website: https://themindlaboratory.com

Image Credits
Zachary Gardner