Today we’d like to introduce you to Laporshe Smith.
Hi Laporshe, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I grew up in a small town, Whiteville, North Carolina. I attended Whiteville High School. After High School, I attended North Carolina A&T State University and graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology. After graduating, I decided to take a leap of faith and moved to Atlanta, GA to pursue my Master’s Degree. After receiving my Master, it was required to complete three years of supervision to become an LPC in the state of GA. I am now a National Board Certified Counselor and Certified Professional Counselor Supervisor.
Growing up in a small town taught me that you always have to have a clear vision for self, never determine my value and self-worth based on external validation from others, before I make any decision, always sit with myself first and ask myself what it is that I want and need before seeking the advice of others (the way others perceive you is important, but not as important as the way you perceive yourself.) There are so many reasons to quit, but there are also so many reasons to keep going, so keep going. Regardless of where you’re from, you matter. When I inspire and encourage others to reach their highest potential, the highest level of functioning, or to simply meet themselves where they are currently, it leaves me no choice but to continue to grow as a person and as a professional.
My entrepreneurial spirit came from watching my grandfather closely as a little girl (he never knew I was paying attention, lol). My grandfather had a farm, every summer he would have family come work on his tobacco farm. There were a few times he took me with him to “town” to convert the tobacco into cash; I was always inspired; I could tell he put his heart and love into everything while also keeping family first.
I’ve also had the pleasure of working alongside three awesome entrepreneurs in the East Point, GA. I mentored boys and girls and lead social and emotional learning groups in six Fulton County Schools. I also contract with a psychiatric clinic located in East Point, GA.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
I believe whatever path you choose to take in life will not be a smooth road. Once you learn this, you adjust your mindset to manage whatever life brings your way. It’s always important to remember your foundation and learn as much about yourself as possible. For me, it’s been a journey, but what road doesn’t have a few bumps? My biggest challenges were trusting the process, setting healthy boundaries, learning to let go of the urge to please people, and losing close family members.
At the age of 13, I lost my brother, my best friend (Don Smith). That was an extremely difficult loss. That’s what taught me about grief and probably one of the reasons I am a therapist. Through that experience, I learned that having a great support system and effective coping skills are important. It also taught me that God is always present in every situation and that you do eventually make it on the other side of grief. I turned my pain into wisdom.
As far as people-pleasing, if you have to abandon yourself to maintain a relationship, you are people-pleasing. I learned to align myself with people who respect my boundaries.
I had to learn to choose progress over perfection, meaning instead of always focusing on the end result, take time to appreciate the small wins and show myself compassion along the way. I feel obstacles and challenges are what help build character. If you’re always focusing and dwelling on the past, you feel stuck…if you are always thinking about the future, you become anxious. I always have to remind myself to enjoy the moment. Also, practicing gratitude in the moment is important, so thank you to my parents and my family!
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about Prodigy Therapeutic Solutions, LLC?
I founded Prodigy Therapeutic Solutions, LLC to not only help others through individual therapy but to help educate them on their diagnosis and help them develop effective ways to cope. I remind my clients that they are not their diagnoses. The thing I love most about being a psychotherapist is being on a journey with my clients and watching them progress. I think the takeaway from most of my sessions is gaining greater knowledge of self and that anything that happens in life can be managed and controlled, and what we can’t control, we have to learn how to let go and ride the waves of our own emotions. It may be scary, but we got this! I build a unique rapport with each client individually. Brand wise, I am most proud of the mission which is to educate and raise awareness about mental health and the importance of dealing with the stigma of mental illness. I help my clients become vocal about their mental health and find comfort in knowing they have support and they are not in this alone.
At Prodigy Therapeutic Solutions, we provide the care you deserve. Whether you are wanting to learn more about your behaviors, or wanting to process life events or relationships, feeling overwhelmed, dealing with cycles of depression and anxiety, or just generally feeling stuck, I am here to help. Through individual therapy, you will learn more about your feelings, thoughts, and behaviors. I also specialize in treating Bipolar disorder, grief, and psychosis.
We empathize with the fact that seeking mental health can be difficult, and we want your experience to not only be a success but to feel warm, respectful, and safe. We are committed to helping you on your journey towards a more plentiful life. We offer in-person and virtual appointments to Georgia residents.
No matter your location within Georgia, we can help you!
Can you talk to us about how you think about risk?
I believe that risk-taking is necessary on the path to success. When I take risks, I am well aware that I’m stepping outside of my comfort zone. Taking risks doesn’t have to be reckless; you can take risks and also remember your values, what’s important, and prioritize that.
Also, remember that everything is not going to go as planned. You have to have the ability to work through setbacks. Use every experience as a lesson, and never feel like you know everything; there’s always room to grow. Always have a mentor or someone who has also taken risks and succeeded to help guide your path.
Contact Info:
- Website: prodigytherapeutics.org
Image Credits
Donna Graves
