We were lucky to catch up with Karyssa Hartsell recently and have shared our conversation below.

Karyssa, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today. Was there a defining moment in your professional career? A moment that changed the trajectory of your career?

I graduated from college with a bachelor’s in psychology. Immediately after college, I decided to “take a break”. I started working jobs outside of the behavioral health field for a few years. At that time, I felt like a failure, like I wasn’t living up to my potential. Finally, I was offered a case management position. I thought to myself, I’m finally putting my degree to use! While working in case management, my passion for mental health continued to grow! I wanted to do more though, I wanted to be able to teach and assist clients into becoming the best version of themselves! This sparked my interest in going back to school to get my masters in social work. I applied for the advanced standing path in hopes I would get accepted. A few months later, I received my acceptance letter! I was working and going to school. It was very challenging, but I continued to look at the bigger picture and knew that it would all be worth it in the end! 2 years later, I graduated! I had a job lined up for me as a therapist and the rest is history!!

Karyssa, 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?

My name is Karyssa Hartsell. I am a Licensed Master of Social Worker (LMSW) in Tennessee. I obtained my Master of Social Work from the College of Social Work at the University of Tennessee. I also hold a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Spelman College. I have been in the mental health field for over 5 years and have experience working with adolescents, families, and adults from various backgrounds. I am very skilled in recovery based treatment and trauma informed care. I have experience utilizing several treatment modalities including CBT, DBT, and Motivational Interviewing. I am the founder of Uplifting and Promoting Positivity. This organization’s sole purpose is to help promote self-love and confidence for women. As a black woman in the mental health field, I understand that intersectionality can impact one’s overall well-being. Social categorizations influence our experiences in the world. It is important that we are aware of our realities in order to heal and change our narratives. I am very passionate in uplifting women and instilling self-assurance from within. I am here to help those who are ready to learn and develop the proper tools for growth and self-fulfillment.

I am a published author to “Journey to love: a woman’s guide to healing and discovering self love.” Journey to Love is a workbook guide to discovering self. It provides the tools needed to heal from past traumas and move forward and discover one’s purpose. This book takes the readers on a step by step journey towards loving self. The workbook includes personal testimony/experiences from author’s life. It promotes positive thinking, healthy coping, self awareness, and goal setting.

I am also the program director and primary therapist at Tennessee Valley Recovery, a substance abuse treatment center in Knoxville, Tn.

If you could go back in time, do you think you would have chosen a different profession or specialty?

Therapy is really my passion! It’s more than a career! I am blessed that I get to wake up and do what I love everyday!

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

I think being personable, compassionate, and down to earth are important factors in therapy. The goal is to build rapport and make your clients feel comfortable opening up and sharing their internal issues.

Contact Info:

• Website: Www.karyssamichelle.com
• Instagram: @Karyssamichelle
• Facebook: Karyssa Michelle
• Linkedin: Karyssa Hartsell
• Twitter: @Uppmovement

Image Credits
Photographer: Elijah Lightfoot