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

Erica M., thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Was there a defining moment in your professional career? A moment that changed the trajectory of your career?

The defining moment in my professional career came when I was emotionally at the lowest point in my adult life. For the first time ever, I sat across from another Social Worker, crying. I explained that I felt weak sitting in front of her, but I was finally ready to put those thoughts aside and ask for help. Everyday I encouraged and guided others in how to take care of themselves, but I was not doing it for myself. I felt stuck in my current job, leading me to feel unfulfilled, unhappy, anxious, and eventually, clinically depressed. Sitting on the other side of that Social Worker as she made sense of my chaos, I realized I was not stuck and I knew exactly what I wanted to do. I wanted to create my own role, make my own schedule, and define my own work tasks. I decided I was going to start practicing better self-care that day while also creating my own private practice. I was going to take care of me, first, and then teach others how to do the same.

Erica M., 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?

I’m the Owner & Mental Health Counselor at Bankston Counseling Services. I provide individual and group counseling for teens and adults. My specializations are in helping those who struggle with mood and trauma-related conditions including Anxiety, Depression, and PTSD.  I am also so proud to organize self-care events and retreats for our community throughout the year with the help of my amazing support team. Though it’s been great having a solo practice, I’m looking forward to growing into a group practice in the coming years to increase our impact and continue to serve our community well.

Other than training/knowledge, what do you think is most helpful for succeeding in your field?

Other than training and knowledge, I feel the way to succeed in your field is to work hard, but also to rest well. The time will pass anyway. I want to spend that time trying to continue to grow in my field and business, while practicing regular self-care along the way.

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

I feel that community support has helped build our reputation in the market. Through relationship-building not only in our personal circles, but also within community schools, churches, and organizations, we have been able to grow our clientele and referral list consistently. We all have a role in modeling and encouraging better health and self-care practices in our homes and communities. I love that we get the opportunity to do our part in the mental health & wellness market.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.bankstoncounseling.com
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/bankstoncounseling
• Other: https://linktr.ee/ericambankstonlisw

Image Credits
Em Christine Photos