We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Charla Adams. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Charla below.
Charla, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. It’s always helpful to hear about times when someone’s had to take a risk – how did they think through the decision, why did they take the risk, and what ended up happening. We’d love to hear about a risk you’ve taken.
I have never been one to shy away from risk. Leaving the South to attend law school in Michigan was one of the biggest leaps of faith I’ve ever taken. It meant stepping into the unknown, facing new challenges, and proving to myself that I was capable of more than I ever imagined. Law school tested me in every way—long nights, moments of doubt, and the constant pressure to succeed. But quitting was never an option.
Becoming an attorney was an incredible achievement, but I wanted more. I wanted to create something of my own, to carve out a space where I could advocate for people in ways that truly mattered. So, I took another risk and started my own law practice. It wasn’t easy, but I was determined to build something meaningful.
As I worked with clients, I started noticing a pattern—so many of their struggles weren’t just legal; they were deeply personal, emotional, and tied to their mental well-being. I couldn’t ignore it. Instead of just recognizing the need, I decided to do something about it. While still practicing law, I went back to school to get my master’s in Counseling. Balancing both careers wasn’t easy, but I knew it was the right path.
That decision led me to create Brugmansia Counseling Group PLLC, a practice built on the belief that healing, clarity, and strength should be accessible to everyone. This wasn’t just another business—it was my mission. A way to bridge the gap between the legal and mental health worlds, offering people the support they needed in a way I had never seen before.
My journey has been one of endurance. Of taking risks, embracing uncertainty, and pushing past fear. If there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s that every challenge holds an opportunity. And I refuse to settle for anything less than the purpose I know I’m meant to fulfill.
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
I’m Charla E. Adams, an attorney, counselor, author, and the founder of Brugmansia Counseling Group PLLC. My journey into both the legal and mental health fields has been one of risk-taking, resilience, and an unwavering commitment to helping others navigate life’s toughest challenges.
How I Got Into This Work
My path started in the legal world. Leaving the South to attend law school in Michigan was a leap of faith, but I knew I was meant to advocate for those who needed a voice. After becoming an attorney, I took another bold step and started my own law practice. While practicing, I noticed how deeply emotional and mental burdens were intertwined with legal struggles. That realization led me back to school—this time, to earn a master’s in Counseling while still actively practicing law.
With a passion for holistic healing, I expanded my expertise beyond traditional counseling. I became a Heart-Centered Hypnotherapist and trained in EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) and EFT (Emotional Freedom Techniques) to help clients process trauma, break free from limiting beliefs, and reclaim their inner strength.
I also launched the Brugmansia Podcast, a platform where I address mental health topics, personal growth, and healing every Wednesday on Spotify, iHeartRadio, Amazon Music, and other platforms. Additionally, I have authored two books, sharing insights and strategies to help people navigate life’s challenges with resilience and self-awareness.
What I Do & What Sets Me Apart
At Brugmansia Counseling Group, we offer integrative counseling services for individuals facing anxiety, trauma, relationship struggles, and life transitions. What makes my work unique is the multi-faceted approach I bring—combining my legal background, counseling expertise, and specialized trauma therapies to provide deep, transformational healing.
Whether through traditional talk therapy, EMDR to reprocess traumatic experiences, EFT to release emotional blockages, or hypnotherapy to access the subconscious mind, I tailor each session to fit my clients’ specific needs. My goal is to help people heal holistically—mind, body, and soul—so they can move forward with clarity and confidence.
What I’m Most Proud Of
I’m incredibly proud of the risks I’ve taken to build a career that merges law, mental health, and holistic healing. Starting not just one but two businesses was no small feat, but the impact I’ve seen makes every challenge worth it. I’m proud of the trust my clients place in me and the space I’ve created where people feel heard, validated, and supported in ways they never have before.
What I Want You to Know
If you’re struggling—whether it’s emotionally, mentally, or in ways that intersect with legal or life challenges—you don’t have to go through it alone. My mission is to provide the tools, support, and clarity you need to move forward.
Brugmansia Counseling Group is more than a counseling practice—it’s a place for healing, transformation, and growth. Whether you’re navigating stress, trauma, anxiety, or life transitions, I’m here to help you reclaim your peace and power.
We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.
One of the most defining moments of my journey—the moment that tested my resilience the most—was when I decided to go back to school for my master’s in Counseling while actively practicing law, all while being married and pregnant. Balancing law school had already been a battle; in my very first semester, I became a patient at the Sparrow Cancer Center, facing a health scare that could have completely derailed my future. But I refused to let it. I pushed forward, determined to finish what I had started.
Years later, I found myself taking another massive leap—this time, back into school while running my law practice and preparing for motherhood. When I gave birth, I barely had time to recover before jumping right back into my studies—I returned to school just two weeks after having my baby. It wasn’t easy. The exhaustion was real, and there were times when I questioned if I could keep up with everything. But I knew I was building something greater than myself. I wanted to create a space where people could heal—not just legally, but emotionally and mentally as well.
That drive led to Brugmansia Counseling Group PLLC, where I now combine my backgrounds in law, counseling, and holistic healing to help people navigate their own challenges. That experience—facing illness while chasing my law degree, balancing motherhood while earning my Counseling degree, and refusing to let anything stop me—taught me what true resilience looks like. It’s about pushing forward even when every obstacle says you should stop. It’s about trusting that struggle has a purpose.
That’s the message I carry into my work today. Whether I’m guiding clients through EMDR, EFT, hypnotherapy, or traditional counseling, I understand firsthand what it means to feel stretched beyond your limits. But I also know that resilience is built in those moments. My journey has been full of risks, but each one has led me exactly where I need to be—helping others find their own strength, no matter what they’re facing.
We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?
For most of my life, I believed that strength meant pushing through on my own. I thought that if I just worked hard enough, endured enough, and kept everything together, I would prove my worth—to myself, to others, to the world. That mindset got me far, but it also left me exhausted, overwhelmed, and at times, completely depleted.
The Backstory: Carrying It All
When I left the South for law school in Michigan, I was determined to make it on my own. My very first semester, I became a patient at the Sparrow Cancer Center, facing a medical crisis while trying to keep up with the grueling demands of law school. But I didn’t let anyone see my struggle. I refused to slow down, convinced that asking for help or admitting I was struggling would be a sign of weakness.
Years later, as a practicing attorney, I made another bold move—I went back to school for my master’s in Counseling while running my law firm. If that wasn’t enough, I was also married and pregnant, determined to juggle it all. And I did—until my body reminded me that I wasn’t invincible. Two weeks after giving birth, I was back in class, pushing through exhaustion, sleepless nights, and the weight of everything I had taken on.
I had built a life that looked strong on the outside—high-achieving, resilient, always moving forward. But inside, I was running on fumes. I didn’t know how to slow down, how to lean on others, or how to give myself permission to rest.
The Turning Point: Redefining Strength
It wasn’t until I stepped into the world of mental health—both in my education and in my own healing—that I realized true strength isn’t about how much you can endure alone. It’s about knowing when to ask for support, when to pause, and when to allow yourself the same grace you give to others.
That was the hardest lesson I had to unlearn: that I didn’t have to carry it all by myself. Strength isn’t found in suffering in silence; it’s found in being vulnerable enough to seek help, to set boundaries, and to say, “I can’t do this alone.”
That realization shaped not only my personal journey but also my work. At Brugmansia Counseling Group PLLC, my mission is to help others unlearn the same harmful belief—that they have to carry everything alone. Through EMDR, EFT, hypnotherapy, and traditional counseling, I help clients release the patterns that keep them stuck in survival mode and step into a life of healing, self-compassion, and true resilience.
Now, I live by a different definition of strength—one that includes rest, community, and the courage to ask for help when needed. It took me years to learn that lesson, but now that I have, I’m dedicated to helping others do the same.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://Www.brugmansiacounseling.com
- Instagram: @brugmansiacounselinggroup
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/16LjVwmXf5/
- Other: Email: [email protected]
Image Credits
Charla Adams