We recently connected with Kelsey Foss and have shared our conversation below.

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

Five years ago I met my business partner, Donna Washington, LCP during an interview for a counseling position on her team. Luckily, she hired me. At the time, she had more faith in me than I did. She took me under her wing, and allowed me to learn and grow as a therapist under her supervision and guidance.

I believe our paths crossed for and with a purpose. For the last 5 years, Donna has supported and walked alongside me through some of life’s greatest ups and downs. The Counseling Collaborative was born in the midst of our own struggles because we felt the gap in mental health care (personally and professionally), and wanted it to be different for other women.
We knew we were not the only women feeling the gap in the system. Conversations with friends and family with similar experiences only deepened our passion to create a private practice designed specifically for women. In 2020, one phone call from Donna changed everything. The phone was the first step in bringing The Counseling Collaborative to life.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

The Counseling Collaborative is exactly what our name suggests. We want to collaborate with our clients through the counseling experience. We are a private practice specializing in women’s mental health.

Our mission is to empower women to create and maintain their wellness goals by utilizing a variety of evidenced based approaches. We offer individual counseling to help you navigate all areas of your life, including:

Anxiety & Depression

Postpartum Anxiety & Depression

Motherhood & Parenting

Pregnancy loss

Loss & Grief

Life Transitions

Career Challenges

Self-Acceptance

Relationships

Boundaries & Communication

Coping Skills

Our therapists utilize a variety of evidence-based approaches to address treatment goals and progress towards desired change; increased self-confidence; improved ability to communicate needs; and feel more connected to yourself and others.

We are proud and honored to be voted Best Group Therapy Practice by Kansas City Magazine!

Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?

Trying to find balance in the start-up phase was overwhelming and challenging at times. Between working and parenting full-time, Donna and I had to sneak in late night and early morning meetings. We had to be intentional with our time in order for our dream of The Counseling Co to come to life, a space we had only envisioned in our minds.

And what is a new business venture without a few obstacles? The obstacles could have made it easy to lose focus because it was in these moments, the fear and doubt felt bigger than hope. At times, it felt easier and more comfortable to stay in the place we knew. In these moments, I chose to lean in, face the fear, trust our why, our vision and believe in the impact we could have in a community we cared for so much. I am so glad I did not allow fear to keep me from my purpose. One of the biggest lessons I learned during a season full of doubt and unknowns was to be courageous in the presence of fear. Without courage and community, The Counseling Collaborative would not exist.

Can you tell us about what’s worked well for you in terms of growing your clientele?

Our community has always been the foundation to our practice. Before we opened our doors, we connected with established professionals in the area. It was an honor to be welcomed with open arms and share space with like-minded women. Within weeks, we saw our vision and mission come to life. Women were seeking services and seeing change happen. The Counseling Collaborative has become more than we could ever have imagined. It has been incredible to see the shift and feel the impact of women making their mental health a priority.

Since opening in January of 2021, we have added four new therapists to our practice and have plans to expand to meet the need in the community. All of the women on our team, therapists and staff, are just as passionate about our mission to create a space for all women to feel heard, connected and valued.

We take great pride in what we have created here at The Counseling Co, and we know we could not do it without collaborating with our community.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.thecounselingco.com
• Instagram: @thecounselingco https://www.instagram.com/thecounselingco/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheCounselingCo

Image Credits
Ciarra Criddle Photography