We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Latoya Stewart. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Latoya below.

Latoya, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. We’d love to hear about how you went about setting up your own practice and if you have any advice for professionals who might be considering starting their own?

Finding my niche as a Private Practice Owner and Clinician while helping students with disabilities.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

Hi Readers,

My name is Latoya Stewart. I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and Board Certified Supervisor in the State of Maryland. My background as a Clinician is vast in various underprivileged populations, advocacy and Clinically based care, treatment and modality. I not only meet my client where they are; I help them to feel seen in a world that moves very fast. I send a huge thank you to my Almater, Morgan State University, School of Social Work, run by the beautiful Dr. Anna McPhatter. My HBCU, guided and introduced me to the Amazing World of Person Centered Social Work practice. I am forever grateful for a learning environment that challenged me academically and cultivated growth in my development as a student and young adult.

Clinician by day. Therapist by night. Well not hugely, but I did do a thing that I am extremely proud of. I registered This Goes Out to You LLC as a business in October of 2019 and gradually shifted to developing a small Private Practice. We have been changing lives one person at a time. I have recently been coined the “Mindfulness Guru” due to our impactful work with getting our clients to apply taught Mindfulness based strategies. I find great pleasure in helping others develop a healthier sense of self through active practice of taught skills and strategies. My unique approach allows me to connect, teach, actively listen and reach my client where they are through the Clinically based services we currently offer.

My background is vast in providing person centered strength based treatment however, what sets us apart is our Niche. We support women of color, work towards being their highest self through development of strategies such as a natural joy list, seeing themselves clearly with no judgement and accepting themselves and others as they are with no judgement. Connection and and care is what fuels us. It’s mindful work; you are deserving and worth it! Clinically sound psychotherapy with love, skill and care.Your strengths drive you and we are here to affirm you.

How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?

This is the best question ever. I was just telling my husband the other day that I have been in active practice of having tough conversations in all areas of my life. Which lead to boundary setting and ultimately pivoting. Or at least giving yourself permission to pivot if needed. Pivoting in a Mindful sense gave me permission to check in with self with no judgement. Ask tough questions. Have an internal dialogue and create a safe space to check in with self about what is working for me? While further exploring what I have control of? Lastly, acknowledging how challenging it is to intentionally align your actions with what works for you while clearly defining what doesn’t work.

So, I made the decision to take baby steps towards a goal in October of 2019 and as of June 26, 2023 my Private Practice shifted from part-time to a full-time expanding our hours and reach. This Pivot will allow us to continue to do Powerful work and to further take baby steps towards our mission and purpose.

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

Resilience is something that is developed overtime. You never know how resilient you are until you are in the throes of a challenge. Living and working as a therapist/ mental health case manager for special needs students and their families at a local non-public school in Baltimore modeled for me how unique, creative and resilient people are. While simultaneously, building my private practice it became even more apparent of how deserving underprivileged populations are of clinically based treatment and of how they majorly benefit from safe spaces where they feel seen and heard. Resilience in connection with subjective treatment spaces allows for client and families to grow to be their best selves. When you can clearly see what your needs are, you can implement helpful tools in real time to shape behavior. Life continues to happen as you build. Personally, I also cultivated resilience through becoming a better parent, wife, daughter, etc. But, I also began to hear a subtle voice that said it’s time Latoya. It’s time to get comfortable being uncomfortable. It is time to take a major risk while affirming “I Can do all things”. A lot of life had happened since starting my business and it was now time to take a leap no matter what.

Contact Info:

• Email: [email protected]
• Phone number: (443) 290- 5552
• Website: www.thisgoesouttoyou.net
• IG: @Thisgoesouttoyou_
• Insurances: Medicaid, Optum, JH EHP, Aetna, Cigna, Self pay