Meet Kendra Witherspoon of The Resilience Project LLC Counseling and Wellness in Grant Park

Today we’d like to introduce you to Kendra Witherspoon.

Kendra, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
I have always had to take a step back and ask how did I get to where I am today… I always recall appreciating being a help, support, and care for others. I guess that carried forward into a skill that I have made a profession for myself.

I went through undergrad with NO CLUE of what I was doing. No one in my family had graduated high school before, nevertheless been to college. I was always intrigued to learn and be great at it. I made lots of great grades in school and attending the best magnet schools from 6th grade through high school. I took advanced classes, as well as performing arts areas that enhanced my constructiveness to learning.

In Undergrad school at Auburn University Montgomery, I changed my major at least four times, before I pretty much said, “What credits do I have so far and what can I do with them?”I pretty much CREATED a degree so I could get out of there. It took me seven years to finish in the midst of me working full and part-time, joining the Army, and carrying a full school load at some points.

I graduated with honors with a BLA in Humanities and Social Sciences, minor in Spanish.
And I just continued from there… I loved school (hindsight with these student loans).

I received a Master’s degree in Professional Counseling and then a Master’s in Public Health Promotion… both guided by my interest in people and how they could improve their lives for their own greatness and the greater good of those around them.

I spent almost 10 years in the field of social services working with youth in foster care and towards the end of that time, I started in counseling private practice with a group of Clinicians before needing to move along into my own solo practice.

The Resilience Project started out as an internship project to help communities and individuals heal through depression and anxiety.

From that project, it became the name of my Counseling and Wellness practice.

Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
No. Completing the steps to become a licensed counselor was tedious. From college courses, national exams, paperwork, practicums, internships, supervision hours, learning myself while also learning the skill of counseling was hectic. A lot of times as a counseling student, you begin to face yourself a LOT along the way. Your own habits, the way you grew up, the things you attach yourself to in life, how you handle conflict, and the overall healthiness of your being. We are encouraged to do so, as well as encouraged to see our own counselor in college and ongoing.

All the while, I worked full and part-time and maintained myself in the United States Army Reserves. It was a lot to balance and be responsible for.

Once I began in group private practice, after working in social services for so long, I was taxed with recapturing a skill set that I had not used in a certain way in a while. Working in social services gave me a wider scope of people that has allowed me to be a more well-rounded counselor. My time with the group practice came to a halt suddenly when the practice decided to change their business model and was no longer offering me a contract. I had 2 weeks to say goodbye to my clients who range from age 5 to age 25. This was the hardest part for me. Because this happened abruptly, it left The Resilience Project Counseling and Wellness essentially homeless. I questioned if this was what I was supposed to be doing or if it was even something I wanted to do anymore.

I located a co-working private office space and began marketing my practice again for clients. This time ALL of the administrative sides of operating a practice fell in my lap and I found myself in this all alone. It has been and continues to be a growing process.

Having my own bouts of depression and anxiety, all the while dealing with changes in my professional paths, personal life adjustments, and adjusting to changes in my income when I decided to leave my 9-5 and pursue private practice, there have been struggles.

I persevere. I remind myself of my “why” and the “how” continues to show itself to me.

Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about The Resilience Project LLC Counseling and Wellness – what should we know?
The Resilience Project LLC Counseling and Wellness provides professional medical and non-medical/clinical counseling by a licensed professional counselor. It also provides life coaching and Reiki wellness services. I work with clients from child to young adult focusing on emerging young adults up to age 30. My specialty is working with those who are adjusting through life transitions and the mental and emotional challenges that may come along with it to include anxiety, interpersonal disruptions, and coping.

I focus on helping people use their innate strengths to build or rebuild the lives they love by challenging their mindsets, supporting their growth, and championing them over the hurdles. People can come as they are with the opportunity to vent, process, or just be in a space held for them that is safe and nonjudgmental.

My sessions are 50-60 minutes and I recommend weekly sessions in order to establish consistency and build a routine.

I am also an intuitive life coach so I am able to use innate and honed abilities to guide people through uncertain paths of their lives.

In the Reiki sessions, which are non-medical and non-clinical services, I am attuned to use a person’s energy through my own life force energy to assess, clear, or balance certain mental, emotional, or physical ailments they may be experiencing.

Being able to hold space for others in their more vulnerable times in life, encourage them through, gently confront conflicting actions and desires, and be a change agent along with them is a part of my practice that I appreciate and uphold.

While there are many counselors, coaches, and practitioners, each of us has our own personality, approach, and ability.

I set myself apart from others in this field by being myself authentically.

Any shoutouts? Who else deserves credit in this story – who has played a meaningful role?
Everyone who has crossed my path deserves credit. From those who have been easy for me to know and even for those who have made my life distressful, all have impressed upon me a sense and essence of appreciation and compassion for people in general.

I often tell people “I may not understand, yet that does not keep me from connecting to the emotion, experience, and heart of a person. I have learned that I don’t have to understand everything about someone through my own personal experience to be a decent, caring, empathetic human being.”

My supervisor, Mrs. Vickey, at the non-profit I worked at (2009-2018) from the time I graduated with my undergraduate degree and came to Atlanta gave me a chance to hone, grow, and explore who I was a person and a helping professional. She believed in me and gave me a wide range of opportunities to gain experience all the way up to being the Director of the program.

My clients and those seeking my services often leave me with tidbits or LOTS of bits of their feedback in ways I never expect simply from saying “Thank you for being so thorough.” or “I appreciate you just listening” deserve the credit as well. They keep me going!!

Pricing:

• Individual sessions starting at $55
• Reiki sessions starting at $22

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/therapists/resilience-counseling-and-wellness-atlanta-ga/388677
• Email: contactme@trpllc.net
• Instagram: @resiliencewellness

Image Credit:
Lifto Visuals-Ryan Coleman, Vick Supreme

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