We were lucky to catch up with Dr. Kizzy Pittrell recently and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Dr. Kizzy, thanks for joining us today. What do you think matters most in terms of achieving success?

Success can be defined differently depending on who you ask. Personally, when I think of success, I am reminded of this quote by Booker T. Washington “Success is not measured by the position one has reached in life, rather by the obstacles one overcomes while trying to succeed”.

Success is something that most people aim to achieve in life. However, while on the road to success there are pitstops, obstacles and barriers. For some, those obstacles can hinder one’s vision and insight, causing them to fall off course and eventually become unmotivated. However, for others, these obstacles can be the motivation for them to continue.
However, no matter the path one takes on this journey to success, there are ingredients that one will need.

1) Support- Support is the main ingredient for success. Success without support means nothing. We all have people in our lives who can motivate and encourage, and on those days when we aren’t feeling our best, support is what keeps us going.

2) Consistency- Consistency is the ability to follow the plan, even if it becomes altered a bit. It is the thing that we use to remain focused on our goals and it is also the ability to remain stable even in the face of uncertainty.

3) Dedication- We remain dedicated to our goals when we do not give up not matter how many times we may hear the word “no”,

4) Having a positive attitude- This ingredient can be challenging for some people to grasp, but it is important to remember that keeping a positive attitude and remaining optimistic is important for growth and it speaks to how we handle challenges and adversities when faced with it. I am also a firm believer that you never know who is watching your reaction to something. Keeping a positive attitude even when it is difficult, speaks volumes to one’s character as well as how they can regulate their emotions.

These are just some ingredients in my life that has made me successful and opened the door to many great opportunities.

Dr. Kizzy, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

Dr. Kizzy Pittrell, Ed.D. is a graduate of Argosy University, Washington DC from the Counseling Psychology program. Dr. Pittrell received her Masters of Counseling from Towson University and Bachelor of Science in Psychology from Bowie State University. Dr. Pittrell is a Licensed Professional Counselor, an Approved Drug and Alcohol counselor, a Master Addiction Counselor, and an Approved Clinical Supervisor in Maryland. Dr. Pittrell has worked in the community sector providing mental health and addiction counseling and treatment to adults and adolescents for 18 years. Currently, Dr. Pittrell is owner of Ross Counseling, a private practice providing therapy to individuals, families and couples and manages a community mental health facility in Baltimore. More recently, Dr. Pittrell along with her husband opened a psychiatric rehabilitation program in Baltimore County called Strengthening Families Building Communities. In addition, Dr. Pittrell has conducted several discussions and trainings related to grief, trauma, COVID, and effective ways to cope with mental illness. Dr. Pittrell is passionate about educating the community about mental health and reducing the stigma of mental health. In her spare time Dr. Pittrell loves blogging, spending time with family, reading and she is certified Zumba instructor. She is also an author of a children’s book about maternal depression. She is past President of the Maryland Counselors Association Social Justice committee and Member-at-Large for the Licensed Professional Counselors of Maryland.

How’d you build such a strong reputation within your market?

Much of my reputation in working within the mental health industry comes from mental health directories, insurance panels, internet search, speaking at a workshop or even by word-of-mouth from former clients. However, I believe that what had sustained my reputation has been my personality, my expertise and customer service skills. Customers appreciate someone who can communicate with them and even follow-up. I have always found that it to be important to follow up with all potential and non-potential clients. I also think that my easy, open and genuine personality helps people to feel safe, especially for those who are entering therapy for the first time.

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

As a clinician, in college, we are not taught how to run a successful business. We are taught how to counsel clients. Operating and managing a business is a different skill set, like any skill that requires time, effort and funding. I have been running my private practice since 2014. Within that time I have made many mistakes, in addition to having many wins. However, the lesson for me was learning how to separate my therapist role from the role of a business owner. One story that stands out is that while learning how to navigate accepting and billing a clients health insurance, I made the mistake of not checking the client’s health insurance benefits for mental health services. This was a new client, and I figured I would see her and check the insurance later. Four or five sessions later, I checked the client’s insurance and realized that she had a substantial deductible to meet. Once I informed the client that she had not only this deductible, but also needed to pay the $200 or so towards it, she stopped attending therapy. Should I have checked the insurance at the start of therapy “yes”, could I have worked out a payment plan with the client “yes”. Needless to say I lost money and a client but I gained a valuable lesson and even more lessons in business since that day. My advice, no matter what industry you are in, remember that it’s a business first, and treat it as such.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.thedocscorner.com
• Facebook: Ross Counseling LLC
• Linkedin: Dr. Kizzy Pittrell