Today we’d like to introduce you to Bianca Poindexter.
Thanks for sharing your story with us, Bianca. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
I was born and raised in Atlanta. Attending Anderson Park Elementary School, Jean Childs Young Middle School, and later attending Frederick Douglass High School (Go Astros!). While attending these schools I was given an amazing education, had teachers who went the extra mile for me constantly, and was encouraged to go even higher. I could honestly name all of my teachers from Elementary school especially because every one left a lasting impact. So here goes: Ms. Howard and Ms. Echols (Pre-K), Ms. Durden (rest in heaven) and Ms. Graham (Kindergartern), Ms. Jones and Ms. Wright (1st grade), Ms. Stephens and Ms. Daniels (2nd grade), Ms. Foster (3rd grade, sorry I almost gave you chicken pox), Ms. Alexander (4th grade), and last but not least Ms. Norwood (5th grade). I cannot stress enough how they influenced me and nurtured me.
My journey to counseling started as a Freshmen at Brenau University. I went in with the assumption that I would be a business major and own my own business one day. My father, Brian Johnson, drilled into me to work for myself and to be my own boss. During that same Freshmen year, my father passed away in December of 2009 of a heart attack, right after my first semester. This angered me and made me change my thinking about what I wanted to do. I had fallen out of like with Business by taking one psychology class that year and quickly changed my major. To honor my father, I still maintained the business mindset and made business my minor.
I fell in love with psychology by taking Human Sexuality with Professor Zayas. It was amazing to be in a room with other people who are as passionate as you are about a topic and wanted to help others gain meaning in their lives. but also wanting to find those things in ourselves. I was mesmerized. I found ‘my group’ of other psychology majors ranging in ages, and from single to married with families. I reveled in college life being in at least 4-5 organizations every year. My senior year, I had the privilege of joining the illustrious sisterhood of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated (Centennial duck!). I later graduated from Brenau University in May of 2013. With a very strong and solid foundation for psychology and lovely friendships that would stand the test of time.
From there, I moved to Boston to attend Northeastern University to get my Master’s of Science in Counseling Psychology. It was the single best thing I could have done for myself. When I was in Boston I felt lighter, freer, and felt like I had finally found myself. I created community space with my classmates, the creative community of poets, artists, and ‘do-ers,’ my sorority (Delta Sigma Theta) by becoming an advisor and member of the National Pan-Hellenic counsel and communing with the LGBTQIA++ community. It was two years of freedom and living life on my own terms. Being near the water gave me energy and clarity. I felt inspired and encouraged to be my full self in every space. Boston was my ‘Safe Space.’
In May of 2015, I graduated with a 3.7 GPA (a personal goal I was excited to achieve). After my journey there, I transitioned to Georgia Southern University to start by Doctoral program in Clinical Psychology. My cohort of eight was a fun bunch of bright-eyed future psychologists ready to take on the journey. During the first year, I gained new friendships and a partner along with the living in a small town and the learning curve of a doctoral program. Being there was a constant inner fight of imposter syndrome, and unfortunate slow chipping away at my mental health balance. Doctoral programs are difficult enough on their own but adding mental health concerns on top of that became overwhelming. By the second year of the program, not only do you have your own classes to take, but you are seeing your own clients plus teaching two undergraduate classes! To say, I was in a constant tornado of emotions would be an understatement. Though I enjoyed the program, loved the teaching, and cared deeply for my cohort and professors, in the end, my self-care and self-love propelled me to the decision to leave the program in December of 2016 after the fall semester.
I left the program and felt myself re-learning how to be the lighter, happier, and caring person I had been prior. This was a huge turning point for me. My entire life had been school until age 25. This new stage was refreshing to have some time away from the counseling field to make sure this was my calling. In the 8 months after leaving the program, I got to ‘adult’ for the first time and it was challenging! But in the best ways that taught me to stretch myself even more into an adult who knew herself and what was important. I got to spend time with family and friends I had been neglecting because of all the schooling, and got engaged! Time was speeding by.
I realized after separating from counseling that I did miss it! It was the thing in life that called to me. It pushes you to do better, be better, and create spaces for others to do the same. I took all the lessons that I learned and found a job in my field after passing the NCE. I have been at my company now since October of 2017. I get to have co-workers who understand my journey, plus helping others on a national level get connected to the services they need to be mixed with crisis counseling over the phone. Adding to the clients I had previously, I started with a group private practice in August 2018, Goal Achievers, LLC under the supervision of Natalie Elliott, LPC, CPCS, LMFT-S, CST. Later, creating my website, Free2BYouCounseling, in April of 2019.
I got married in December of 2017. It was just what our families needed in somber times and after some family losses. Not only the tragedy I mentioned, but my partner also lost some very significant people. By the time we married we shared at least 10 losses between us. We held onto each other tightly in those moments and still do. I am proud of myself for conquering some of my biggest fears, surviving monumental losses, and thriving in my field and life.
My goal is to continue private practice work, but the main aspiration will be to eventually teach. Teaching either high school students or as a professor in college. Students inspire me and challenge me and I cannot wait to jump into those shoes again in the future. I also aspire daily to challenge myself to be different than I was yesterday and to make an impact on this world before I leave it.
Has it been a smooth road?
The path has been a bumpy one but blessed as well. There has been quite a lot of loss in my life with losing someone about every 2-3 years from 2007 to the present. From both grandmothers (2007 and 2012), my father (2009), a great uncle (2015), a cousin (2007), aunt (2015), mother-in-law (2016) and more recently both grandfathers (2013 and 2018). When you add it all up it can equal a lot of pain and sad days, and there have definitely been some ‘stay in bed’ days. But at the same time, all of those people left such an impression on me that will last a lifetime. From my praying Grandmother Mary to my Aunt Sheryl who always brightened every space with her personality and energy, to my Grandfather’s (both named John) who instilled hard work, discipline mixed with sarcasm. They have all given pieces of themselves, and a legacy that I could never forget.
Although tragic and difficult at times, these losses also inspire me to be courageous, to tell the people I love that I love them, to never give up on family, and to go as far as I can even if I fail. Realizing that failure is not the end, it is just one step on the ladder of my life. I watched my father be knocked down as an entrepreneur but he never stopped, gave up, or went the ‘easy way.’ My mother as my primary caretaker fought against sexism, and stereotypes to take care of her only daughter. Were these tough times? Yes. Did they make me stronger? Absolutely. Do I wish I could skip over them to have a ‘perfect’ life? Not hardly. Those bumps, bruises, and scars gave me ‘Beauty Marks,’ in the words of Ciara. I would not change a single one. My toughness and my resilience make me exactly who I was meant to be in this moment.
So, as you know, we’re impressed with Free2byoucounseling.com/ Goal Achiever’s – tell our readers more, for example, what you’re most proud of as a company and what sets you apart from others.
I work in private practice through Goal Achievers and my website, Free2BYouCounseling. I work on weekends and some select weeknights. I also work Monday-Friday at an Employee Assistance Program. I specialize with African-American women struggling with life adjustments, individuals with anxiety concerns, and with the LGBTQIA++ community and the unique or similar concerns that may be weighing them down. My job is to open my ears and hear your concern, validate your experiences, and be with you on the journey to a freer you. I want to understand your history, your present, and your future goals. I assist in getting you the tools you need to manage your life. I am most proud of being able to follow my passion and work with people. My joy is in helping others and watching those individuals make it to a more balanced, healthier versions of themselves. I have the unique perspective of understanding my clients from a multi-level standpoint: as a woman, as a Black individual, as a daughter and sister, and as someone who does not fit into the box of heteronormativity.
Let’s touch on your thoughts about our city – what do you like the most and the least?
Best: Food, food, food, plus all my family is here. Also, you cannot beat the weather (Fall specifically!)
Least: Traffic, traffic, traffic and POLLEN, and just all allergies, in general, get exasperated in the South.
Contact Info:
- Address: 1640 Powers Ferry Rd
Marietta, Ga 30067
Building 27, Suite 300 - Website: free2byoucounseling.com
- Phone: 770-240-1034
- Email: free2byoucounseling@gmail.com
Image Credit:
Photography by Shawnt’e Bryan
Getting in touch: VoyageATL is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
