Today we’d like to introduce you to Linton Hester.
Hi Linton, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
My story begins as a kid raised in Ocala, Florida. The Hester family consisted of 11 boys (4 sets of twins, no girls), and yes, I am a twin! My late father, MSG Leroy Hester, Sr. also known as “Sweet Poppa”, was a veteran of the US Armed Forces. My mother, the late Gladys Marie Hester, was an educator. We had a few memorable traditions that centered around barbequing at the lake after church on Sundays, gathering with extended family to stay connected, and checking in with neighbors to maintain that sense of community. We were known as the breakdancing family on the block that blasted music throughout the neighborhood. My father would make sure that he tasked us with being the household that helped other families. My mother was the nucleus and bedrock to keeping us all balanced, with an appreciation for people and handling others with care. In essence, both served our country and our community and nurtured us with the values of God, Family, Community, Discipline, and Unconditional Love.
During my childhood, I discovered that I was hearing impaired (completely deaf in my right ear), which led to feeling inadequate, and struggles with self-esteem that also negatively impacted my performance and acceptance of myself. I also grappled with being accepted through the eyes of others. During my teenage years, I experienced heartbreak, temptations to mischievousness, identity crises, and the wonder of what life would be like once I was on my own. There were highlights of my athletics and some upsides as well. My greatest struggles came when my undergraduate years tested my mental fortitude, resiliency, and whether I surely carved my path to begin to lead my own life. I say that because, I became homeless, I was nearly drugged, I had a gun drawn on me at one point, and experienced the loss of my mother just before I crossed the finish line at an HBCU as a first-generation college graduate of my Alma Mater, Florida Memorial University. During that tumultuous time, I struggled with depression, I went through the darkest times of grieving and finding assurance again after such a devastating loss.
Shortly after graduating, I was uncertain of my vein of passion and what came naturally to me. After exploring a variety of fieldwork, from substitute teaching to working as a probation officer, and then transitioning into the field of education, I discovered part of my passion was seeing people live well. I’ve always been altruistic, and that approach led to greater curiosity and effort to help improve the lives of those around me. There were multiple layers of issues that were impediments to students, yet families, through a larger lens resulting in my desire to do more in a greater capacity. This served me in a way that gave depth to my drive by lending myself to group homes, mentoring, linking youth and families to neighboring resources, and many other efforts. After working for an HBCU, I decided to follow the path of pursuing my master’s in professional counseling. This only came after deliberating with my wife the things she observed about me, how I moved about the world with people, and what was intuitive – and that was counseling.
After going through the proverbial washer of my first professional degree, (Human Service Executive Leadership), I continued and finished with my second degree in professional counseling. Throughout that journey, I discovered my life’s passion which is to serve the underserved population WELL. I attended a PWI where I discovered independently that the BIPOC community and contributors to the field of psychology have always been underappreciated, underserved, and ignored. Thus, my passion to serve all but my concentration is the melanin community. Little did I know, while pursuing my degree, completing my practicum and internship, obtaining my license, and working in various sectors within the field from psychiatric acute care, community-based therapy, and military population, that I would establish my very own practice and actuate my life passion and purpose.
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?
Throughout establishing myself within this industry, it has not been all set to cruise control. Some of the challenges affected me personally, and some professionally. There were moments where I wanted to relinquish it all because of certain misgivings, and at other times, I wish there were cheat codes to help slingshot me through some of the most difficult levels along the ride. I can’t top one obstacle over the other, as they were all significant in their respects which ultimately led me to who I am and where I am, and the lessons learned from those events. If I had to recall it was having to leave my wife for intensives at weeks-on-end, drive to and through snowy Virginia for intermittent intensives and find a way to keep life flowing, bills paid, and family in good standing while pursuing this passion. Another opposition is navigating the private practice world and having a village, someone smarter than yourself to mentor you, and establishing systems to help automate your life. Lastly, ensure that you take time for yourself, addressing your personal quirks, idiosyncrasies and being honest with your reality.
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about Live.Better.Now!, LLC Counseling Service?
Live.Better. Now!, LLC is a counseling service that promotes and engages in holistic care practices. I am a solo practitioner who specializes in Men’s issues, Couples (Relationship Counseling), Anger, and Depression, just to name a few. I am known for relationship reparation with couples, helping men to self-actualize by gaining awareness of self, emotions, and language with semblance.
These services include, but are not limited to EMDR, CBT, SFBT, Reality, Psycho-Educational, and Mindfulness through an integrative approach based on bringing health and recovery to the MIND & BODY by addressing the WHOLE person for OPTIMAL living. As a Licensed Clinician, Certified Professional Counselor Supervisor, and EMDR Therapist, my goal and purpose of this amalgamation is to provide you with practical, therapeutic tools to Live – Live Better – and Live.Better.Now!
What sets me apart in my area is that I am a Black male Psychotherapist, there are less than 4% of African Americans in this industry, and as a male, I am a part of the 1% of that. My locale presents a dire need for more black male representation in this field as my practice is highly sought by those seeking what is recently known as the unicorn – Afrocentric Male Therapist.
I am most proud of the recognition for my work as ‘Best Psychotherapist Finalist’ through Best of Savannah 2023. I am doubly proud of my visual podcast, “Counseling for the Culture” where I host Black professionals, i.e., practitioners, clinicians, and doctors as guests to share valuable information from their field to viewers by providing solution-focused methods. Also, mentoring and supervising aspiring students, clinical peers, and those endeavoring to serve in similar capacities. Most paramount of them all, I am proud of the invaluable life I have with my wife, Chantelle of 25 years and my twin sons, Langston & Landon who are my joy and peace and reason.
I would like readers to know that therapy comes in all forms, and as a licensed psychotherapist, I consider myself a lifeguard. I appreciate the authenticity of my clients, being who they are and how they are as I provide a safe, judgment-free, and relatable experience while partnering with them through whatever their journey may entail. Just as there are professional cleaning services, professional plumbers, electricians, and servicers – counselors, therapists, social workers, psychologists, psychiatrists, and others alike, are professional helpers. In this case, I am trained, educated, and field-tested to partner with you to help you to live better now.
Any advice for finding a mentor or networking in general?
Yes. I would have to advocate for anyone seeking mentorship or networking to get involved with an association, attend a local networking event, lend your time to volunteer at places you aspire to venture into or excel in. What I found to be useful is just that following those steps and reaching out to individuals you feel adds value to you and not only that but having something you also can offer to the requested mentor, i.e., being an assistant, bartering or compensation.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.livebetternow.net/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/livebetternow/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LiveBetterNowTherapy
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/livebetternow/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@livebetternowtherapy
- Other: https://beacons.ai/livebetternow
Image Credits
Shawn Bullock Aspect 4:32, LLC
