Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to DeAvila Ford. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

DeAvila, 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.

After becoming fully licensed in 2019, I decided I was ready to open my private practice. At this point, I had been working in the field since 2014. I launched my private practice in January 2020. I would have never thought that we would soon enter a global pandemic. My anxiety was through the roof because I had just signed a two-year lease for my office space and could no longer see clients in person. I started second-guessing if I had made a big mistake. However, I decided I was not going to quit. I was not going to give up on my dream. I decided to add teletherapy services and obtained multiple licenses in five states. My practice will turn three years old in January 2023, and I am grateful I took the risk.

DeAvila, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

DeAvila Ford, LCSW, a Memphis native, is a practicing Millennial Mental Health Therapist. She obtained her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from the University of Tennessee in Knoxville and Master of Social Work from the University of Memphis. She will graduate with her Doctorate of Behavioral Health at Freed-Hardeman University in December 2022. Her research and clinical interests involve connecting mental health and the millennial generation. It is her hope that individuals who struggle with abandonment, rejection, depression, anxiety, abuse, etc. will work to become more transparent, vulnerable, and heal from their past. DeAvila has her own private practice where she provides virtual mental health counseling services to residents in Mississippi, Tennessee, Texas, Georgia, and Arkansas. She is also the author of two journals: The Therapeutic Journal and The Therapeutic Journal: Toxic Relationships Edition! Both journals contain 30 prompts to aid in healing, processing traumas, and winning in relationships!

Any stories or insights that might help us understand how you’ve built such a strong reputation?

As much as I hate to admit it, social media helped me. Before I was fully licensed, I created my Youtube Channel, Ask DeAvila Sadé, where I would answer mental health questions sent in from viewers. From there, I began being asked to speak at events as the mental health professional on their panels. I would discuss toxic relationships, burnout, and compassion fatigue from colleges to organizations. Also, I would upload a daily tidbit to aid people in understanding mental health and how to take care of themselves.

Putting training and knowledge aside, what else do you think really matters in terms of succeeding in your field?

Confidence and consistency. I believe social media paints the picture that an individual can post a couple of times, and they should be seen as an influencer or successful. You must constantly promote yourself even when you do not get a single like or recognition. When you fall, you have to learn to get back up. Do not be afraid of failure. It would be best if you learned how to fail and fail fast. There is not one successful business owner out there who has not failed. They just did not let it stop them.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://askdeavilasade.com/
• Instagram: AskDeAvilaSade
• Twitter: AskDeAvilaSade
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8BAYvBQBKVxgCBFinzRgog

Image Credits
Alexis Madden