Today we’d like to introduce you to Kaye Henry

Kaye, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?

Well I was born on October 1st…nah. I’m Kaye Henry, NYS Licensed Mental Health Counselor; CT, Licensed Professional Counselor and podcast host of Black Therapy Uncensored. My goal was to always be a doctor. Up until Senior year of high school that is what my mind was focused on, medical school. I knew about therapy, but I wasn’t desiring to be a therapist. It wasn’t till I took my first psychology class at the S.T.E.P program at Fordham University and the instructor was a young black woman. She taught us the basics, you know your Psychology 101. It wasn’t till we did personality tests, that I was like, “this is what I want to do”. Remember I was going to be a doctor. In true Kaye fashion, I decided I was going to do both. College comes around and I’m pre-med, with a minor in psychology at Manhattan College (Go Jaspers!). I switched gears in my 2nd year when I realized the dream would be harder to obtain and I was struggling real bad in my science and math classes. So I made a decision, that shocked my mom and focused on psychology. I just couldn’t see myself as a doctor anymore but I saw the potential in becoming a therapist.

Fast forward. I graduated with a B.S. in Psycology, went on and got my Masters in Counseling. I was a school counselor in NYC for 14 years before moving to CT and providing telehealth services to a broad clientele to now back in school providing therapy to adolescents.

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?

It has not always been a smooth road. On the outside looking in, it can seem that way but it is not. Some of my struggles include switching my major along the way in college after declaring medicine as my major. I struggled in some of my Graduate classes, even failing my child psych class due to not completing an assignment in a timely fashion. No one knows that but I did fail a class. My first class ever, and I paid for it when I had to take an extra class to make up credits. I struggled to believe I could be a great clinician. I had to think outside of the box and realize my gift for laughter and producing results with clients. I also had to overcome the judgment from peers who often put me down due to not understanding my use of humor with clients and not going by the book.

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?

I love what I do. I have a reputation as a no-nonsense clinician. I am also a fun therapist. I love to laugh with my clients. I am a trauma-focused clinician and provide EMDR and TFCBT to clients needing more than traditional talk therapy. In my private practice (Positive Minds Mental Health Counseling, Psychotherapy), I provide workshops on-demand focused on helping people get out of survival mode and learn how to thrive in their daily lives through individual and group therapy.

What makes me different than all the other therapists? I meet clients where they are, and I get results. I do not see the point in being in therapy and working on the same goals from day 1. No problem is too big for me. I work with the client, and we figure it out together. I tell my clients upfront: fire me if I’m not helping you. And then go and get the help you need. This encourages clients to speak up, and we overcome those barriers of communication when advocating for ourselves. A client can be like, “I don’t like what you said to me last session”. I’m like, “Tell me more about what I said that upset you.” Another clinician would get upset and personalize it, but I’ve learned in the 18 years of providing therapy services to a wide range of clients not to take it personally unless they make it personal. They are human, and their feelings are valid. A lot of clients will reenact life scenarios with their therapist to see how the therapist will respond to them. That’s why skill-building in therapy is so important. If all you are doing as a therapist is talking and not teaching and demonstrating a skill, then you are doing a disservice to your clients.

I’m proud of how I’m always willing to learn, no matter how long I’ve been in the field of mental health. I was recently trained in EMDR, and that changed how I was working with clients. Up until that point, I was talking a lot, and that was exhausting. EMDR gives the clients a “safe” space to talk about their triggers and go deeper. It’s such a great modality to use.

As an experienced therapist, I decided in 2020 to launch Black Therapy Uncensored, a podcast focused on providing listeners who maybe can’t afford therapy or in between therapists with mental health information they can apply to their everyday lives. 4 years going strong. Currently on Season 4. This season focuses on all my group work and puts them into episodes easy for listeners to digest. So listen, learn, apply! lol. I want clients to know that when they work with me, they will be motivated to become the best versions of themselves. I’m good at what I do, but I realize I’m not everyone’s therapist, I am honestly okay with that.

Can you talk to us a bit about the role of luck?

Oooh, I don’t believe in luck. I believe in faith. I believe in the power of the Holy Spirit. I am a follower of Jesus. So the question is, what role has my faith played in my life? My life encompasses everything, including my business. If not for Jesus, I would not have my podcast or have opened my practice. The enemy talked me out of greatness many times, but Jesus told me He had more for me. You only need faith as big as a mustard seed. If you have seen a mustard seed, you would know it’s not that big, but when you sow seeds, your dreams grow.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/blkthrpyuncnsrd/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BlackTherapyUncensored

Image Credits

All images belong to and are property of Kaye Henry, LMHC, LPC