We recently connected with Artésia Price and have shared our conversation below.

Artésia , thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today What’s the best advice you ever gave to a client? How did they benefit / what was the result? (Please note this response is for education/entertainment purposes only and shouldn’t be construed as advice for the reader)

Most of the advice that I give to clients comes from my personal life experiences. At this stage in my professional life, it is rare that I am reaching back into a textbook and giving clients theories and frameworks. To be honest, I believe that my lived experiences are what motivate me to be the best therapist I can be. With that, I would have to say that the best advice I’ve ever given to a client is: People do better when they can.

So often, we expect ourselves from others; however, when we truly believe that most people give us what they have to give [not what they want to give], it encourages us to give grace and adjust accordingly. It is not our role to change others or to even expect change from others. Many times, clients who report experiencing anxiety share that their symptoms are triggered by a lack of control. This can be emotional control, mental control, and/or physical control. Utilizing the advice above has helped my clients to relieve themselves of stress and anxiety. Accepting that consistent change is personal and has to be self motivated, helps clients to manage their expectations of others and ultimately live in a more mentally and emotionally peaceful space.

I challenge you to manage your expectations of others and give more grace because “life be life’ing” for us all.
Be kind to yourself and others.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

I am Artésia R. Price, Founder and Lead Therapist at Therapy From The Hart. As a Licensed Mental Health Therapist, I specialize in partnering with clients ages 16-35 (residing in the states of Texas & Tennessee) on their journey towards being better versions of themselves. More specifically, I am someone who prides myself on being the person that we all need at our highest and lowest moments – a listener, an encourager, an advocate, and someone who truly believes that people do better when they can.

During my formative years, adults in my life realized that I was a natural helper. Whether I was helping at home or helping at school, it was something that I enjoyed. As I matured, this skill translated into helping friends and even strangers in their times of need. I was always the person who friends problem solved with or even just vented to about challenging situations. Entering college, I knew that I wanted to gain more educational knowledge on how to continue helping others in their time of need. This desire led me to a career in social work. In my graduating semester, I was offered a social work position with a local school system. I went on to serve as a school social worker in the state of Tennessee for 8 years.

In 2020, I relocated to Texas where I later started my own mental health practice – Therapy From The Hart. I named my practice after my late father, Alvin R. Hart, Sr. who always reminded me how strong and brave a ‘Hart’ is. Since the inception of my practice, I have given my all to showing others just how strong and brave they are, too. Currently, I serve clients experiencing life transitions. We all know how difficult life transitions can be. Leaving home for college/ losing a loved one/ establishing yourself in a new space/ navigating relationships/ setting boundaries as or with an adult child/ starting or leaving a job. Many of these life transitions can be accompanied by symptoms of anxiety, prolonged sadness, isolation, or even inattention. It is our duty at Therapy From The Hart to help clients feel better so that they can take actions to do better and ultimately be better – for themselves, others, and the world around them.

As far as what sets me apart from other therapists, I believe it is my story and how I’ve utilized my story to help others. I once read a quote that stated, “There isn’t anyone you couldn’t love once you’ve heard their story.” I was born in North Memphis, TN to a teen mom. I was the second mom to two siblings by the time I was 5 years old. I received my first school suspension in the 2nd grade due to being aggressive with a classmate. I struggled behaviorally, in school, until I was in the 11th grade. I experienced close loss due to gun violence 3 times in the same year. I am currently experiencing challenges with conception and fertility. Our stories are like our fingerprints, how can they not set us apart? I am always sure not to keep my story, my challenges, to myself because my ability to push forward can always encourage someone else to do the same. Normalizing adversity for my clients brings about true human connection and relationship which lays the foundation for therapeutic security and comfort.

I am most proud of how I have, and continue to, overcome. In doing so, I’ve helped hundreds of clients to do the same. Truly believing that your past does not have to dictate your future transcends any negative or anxious thought that you might have about yourself. If no one else has told you, hear me saying: You’ve got this!

Have you ever had to pivot?

As I shared previously, I moved to Texas in 2020 to start my private practice. I left Tennessee with one goal in mind: I will do things differently in Texas. At the start of the year, I had made so many final decisions (personal and professional) in order to solidify my move to Texas. For example, I sold my home and resigned from my position as a school social worker. Unbeknownst to any of us, 2020 brought a global pandemic which shifted things worldwide.

After acknowledging how difficult things presently were and allowing myself to feel my feelings (sadness, frustration, fear, worry, etc), I was able to accept the current circumstances and pivot. Even though my plan was to move to Texas and start my practice, I had no choice but to start searching for virtual positions in the area. Due to so many unknowns, employment opportunities were scarce. After months in the job search process, I was offered a position as an addiction specialist – an area of mental health I knew little to nothing about. Again, challenging my anxious thoughts I reminded myself, “There isn’t anyone you couldn’t love once you’ve heard their story.” “People do better when they can.” I took my own advice and accepted the role with one focus: Be a supportive human connection.

Accepting this pivot for what it was, helped me to successfully serve a client population that I had never served before and add additional skills to my professional toolkit. “Delayed not denied” was what I constantly reminded myself until I successfully launched my practice over a year later.

We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?

Many of us are taught that hard work warrants success; however, we aren’t educated on the differing definitions and timelines for hard work and success. As a new business owner, it was initially a challenge for me to accept that sometimes, I’ll work hard and success won’t immediately follow. A lot of times, there’s a waiting room and how you wait on your success is just as important as how hard you work. I’ve had to learn to be intentional in my waiting rooms – personally and professionally. Intentional waiting leads to a mindset shift and spirit of gratitude. I hope you, too, will unlearn your “right now” mentality and wait with grace.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.therapyfromthehart.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/therapyfromthehart/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/artesia-price
• Other: Psychology Today: https://www.psychologytoday.com/profile/874185

Image Credits
D Price Photography