When you hear the word risk, hesitancy, worry, and fear may dance throughout your mind, making your heart flutter. I have been looking risk in the eye for as long as I can remember. From being a little girl with pigtails at four years old swinging high in a swing and jumping out to being a minority woman with locs taking the leap of faith to be a full-time entrepreneur. Risk is like faith’s nickname. You trust the invisible roadmap to your appointed destination, believing you can reach it even if the vehicle breaks down. Whether intrinsically motivated or divinely guided, risks have not caused fear but fueled my desire to trust God and believe in my abilities to take the road less traveled. A few years after graduating college, my job at a nonprofit agency was ending due to funding. As a mother of one with one on the way, I knew I had to find a more secure income. I took all the necessary steps to become a special education teacher with the end goal of becoming a school counselor. Between living life and holding on to my purpose as a change agent, I completed my checklist for becoming a licensed professional counselor (LPC). After completing my internship as a school counselor and a contract therapist, I contemplated the decision to take the leap of faith of leaving a secure job as a school counselor to become a full-time independent contractor therapist. I have not turned back since 2018. Fast forward to opening my office in Garland, TX, during a trying economic time in 2022. My upcoming risks are implementing workshops, being a supervisor to LPC- Associates, becoming a group practice, and partnering with organizations with similar missions of empowering others by destigmatizing mental health care and improving emotional intelligence.

LaKisha Tolbert owns WATER The Heart and founded Way to Water. She is the author of an inspirational book about her journey, “Flawed but Fabulous: A Seed of Hope.” She also wrote “Heart Decisions Workbook” and “Heart Core Poetry”. She created a 3-in-1 journal, planner, and coloring book with her daughter, “Getting Back to The Basics: Taking Care of Me is as easy as 1,2,3”. Tolbert is a Licensed Professional Counselor and experienced educator with over 15 years of experience in a Title I school. She is certified in EC-4, ELR 4-8, EC-12 Special Education, and School Counseling. She has worked for the following non-profit agencies: Project SAVE, Adult Literacy, and Even Start, where she received mentor and WAIT “relationship training. Her personal and professional journey has given her experiences, understanding, and skills to assist others on their journey of success with mental and emotional strength. I utilized a down-to-earth approach and innovative ways to educate others on mental health and personal development. I can relate because of my understanding of cultural dynamics and nuances. This significantly affects forming rapport because communication is the bridge to breaking barriers and building trust. We have been accredited to provide Drug Education Courses. We are in the process of adding other court-mandated and personal development courses. Adding these services takes money, time, and a team. We have mindful moment activities and empowerment workshops to practice self-care and improve emotional intelligence. Clients can practice self-care, healthy coping, and calming skills through painting, planting, coloring, creating terrariums, spoken word, yoga, aerobics, and support circles. Eventually, we would like to have a small business center area to help with goal-setting and interviewing skills and have co-working opportunities.

I became a single mom at the tender age of 14. My entire life has been wrapped in resiliency. When I was told I could not because of statistics, biased opinions, or even my own self-doubt, I rose to every occasion and overcame what was meant to bury me by growing from the lessons into a servant leader. My desire to help others, intertwined with my work ethic, wisdom, and faith, has helped me rise like a phoenix. I have received beauty for the ashes.

My profession chose me. I empower, motivate, inspire, and pour into others naturally. My career path has divinely worked together. My profession is a part of my purpose that I passionately do without thought. My gifts have allowed me to live joyfully while lifting as I climb.