Today we’d like to introduce you to Stephanie Lett.
Hi Stephanie, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
In February 2019, I decided to open a counseling agency. I began the legal process at that time. I was unsure of what to name the practice. One night, I was laying in bed watching all of the negative news shared on the local news channel. I remember thinking, “There is so much calamity in the world today, people need to show more love.” At that moment, God gave me the name, Love Out Loud Counseling and Consulting Services. We often use the word lightly not realizing that LOVE is an action word. It should be felt even when it’s not stated. These are the principles that my counseling agency would build its foundation. In May of 2019, I open the doors to L.O.L Counseling and saw my very first client.
By November of 2019 (just 6 months after opening the practice) I resigned from my full-time job at a local High School due to the influx of clients I was receiving. I failed to mention that in April 2019, a month before the launch of my business, my husband left. This is where the adversity took place. New to being a single mother of three kids, dealing with the loss of my marriage, I continued to move strategically to God’s plan. I realize that had I moved to my plan, I wouldn’t be where I am today. I can admit that it was a Faith thing. I was getting paid good money at my full-time job with great benefits and paid summers off. I tried to hold on to it but one day while sitting at my desk, I had just turned down a client due to me being overbooked. God spoke to me and said, “I didn’t give you this business to turn people away.” It was at that moment that I fully committed to God’s plan for my life even if it didn’t make sense to me or others. Sure, I was a little nervous about leaving a job where I knew what my income would be each month to now totally trusting God while also providing for my 3 babies. My faith in Him was so much more greater than my fear of making what I thought could be a bad decision. A month after working for myself full time, I hired an office administrator. January of 2020, I hired my first therapist. My business began to grow at a rate I couldn’t believe. A few months later, I opened a second location. God has continued to bless the agency. I often tell my team that God is the visionary for L.O.L. Counseling and I’m just a willing vessel ready to be used by him.
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
L. O.L. Counseling Services specializes in working with children, adults, families, and couples on relationships, anxiety, depression, anger, trauma, infidelity, grief, and much more. We assess the need for each individual client and develop specific goals unique to their need. We also have an Academic Success Program led by certified teachers. This program was implemented to bridge the gap between mental health and education. More often than not, children that struggle mentally or behaviorally also struggle in the school setting. The Academic Success Program allows youth to work one on one with a certified teacher for one hour and also receive counseling services with a licensed clinician for one hour. L.O.L. Counseling and Consulting Services offers training to teachers, staff, churches, and organizations on various topics unique to your agency’s needs. These trainings are designed to aid your staff/personnel in understanding and building rapport with the population served.
Topics addressed are:
Verbal De-escalation
Behavior Management Plans
Understanding and Managing ADHD/ADD
Effective Communication Strategies
Classroom Management
Basic Living Skills
How to write an effective Treatment Plan (That meets Alabama Medicaid Rehab Standards)
Risk taking is a topic that people have widely differing views on – we’d love to hear your thoughts.
The biggest risk I have taken was to start my business full time. However, to expound I will add that I look at risks as challenges. I embrace challenges because it helps us grow. Operating from comfortability often leaves us in stagnant positions. Sometimes moving to the next level requires risk, but I like to look at it as Faith.
Contact Info:
- Website: lolcounselingservices.com
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lolcounselingservices
