We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Mikayla Williams a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Mikayla, thanks for joining us today. We’d love to hear about the best boss, mentor, or leader you’ve ever worked with.

I somewhat briefly worked at an afterschool program in College Station. Here, I found the most amazing boss I ever had the pleasure of working for – Travis. This was at a pretty pivotal time in my life in college as I was going through a breakup and figuring out who and what I wanted to be as a person. Work was a huge positive influence in my life when I needed it the most, and that was very largely thanks to our boss. Travis, probably unknowingly, provided such a healthy, fun, and encouraging environment for the whole team. It was a perfect balance of professionalism and friendliness.

Travis provided feedback in an appropriately humorous and positive way. We all want to learn and grow, and for the first time, I actually liked feedback. It helped me gain awareness of things I couldn’t see and clearly came from a place of care. I still hear his words today when I’m in similar situations, and use it as a tool to grow and face things that make me nervous.
Multiple moments here became core memories for me, two being the strongest. It’s probably a worst fear scenario for most people to cry in front of their boss – Travis greeted me with a smile on his face as usual, and going through a terrible break up, I absolutely burst into tears. That could have been such an embarrassing moment for me that I look back on with shame. I don’t remember what Travis said, but I will always remember feeling accepted in that moment. Now I can look back at that moment fondly, so thankful of how far I’ve come from that day, and with the perspective that it’s okay to be human. It was such a small moment with a big impact.

Secondly, there was an incident that made me feel uncomfortable at work, and I silently kept it to myself until after I was no longer working there. I think we’re sort of programmed to avoid making waves. When I eventually casually mentioned the incident to Travis, he seemed appalled that I didn’t tell him – that he would have done something and that we should always speak up. It’s sad to me now that I felt shocked that my boss would care that much – that’s how it should be. I felt seen, and I now advocate for myself and know where my boundaries are.

Now as an business owner, I strive to be like him. I want my team to feel like a team, that they can speak up and be human, and that feedback comes from a caring place. Travis somehow did that for us – we were quite the pack. Work should be a positive place to be – we spend so much time here. There’s no reason we should take life too seriously. Travis had high expectations in the best way – he took pride in his job, and we did too as a result. He was always moving, always going – there was nothing above his pay grade. Now, I care about how we’re doing as a practice, and I lead by example, just like Travis did. That time in my life that I worked with Travis and the team was shorter than I would’ve liked for it to be, but I’m so grateful for that experience he provided.

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

I opened Mindful Movements Counseling Center when my son was four months old. I had been a counselor for several years, and after becoming a mom, I wanted to create a private practice that provided flexibility, stability, and that aligned with my values and vision. My husband is our Director of Operations, and our son occasionally attends our events when appropriate.

That family business feel extends to our team as well. It’s such a warm environment, and at our foundation, we genuinely care about every client that walks through our door. It’s important to me that I have people on the team that have done their own work – that have been on that side of the couch before. We know what it’s like to attend counseling, and have so much respect for everyone we work with. There’s no shame here. We’ve heard it all, and this is a space that provides unconditional positive regard.

We now have 12 counselors on our team and are still growing – our goal is to have a counselor for essentially anyone. We all have different styles, focuses, trainings, and approaches. This is a big thing that sets us apart from other practices. We ask for our paperwork to be completed upfront, and can pair each person with the counselor that is the absolute best fit for them and their specific concerns. We’re not afraid to go to the darkest depths of life – we work largely with trauma (PTSD and complex trauma including first responders, sexual assault, etc.) and grief for all ages 2+, as well as eating disorders, chronic pain, life transitions, attachment, post-partum women, depression, anxiety, OCD, autism, couples and families, athletes, and more. From play therapy to EMDR to faith-based counseling to expressive arts therapy and beyond, we’re here to work with you through life’s greatest struggles.

Putting training and knowledge aside, what else do you think really matters in terms of succeeding in your field?

If I were asked two years ago what would be the most important tool for success other than training or knowledge, I would’ve said flexibility. One year ago I may have said boundaries. Now, I think a combination of the two is key – flexible boundaries. I’ve struggled with this balance in my life a bit. I think when we’re scared in some sense, we can swing from one of these extremes to another. Both extremes are problematic. There have been many times along this journey that I have felt absolutely walked all over and taken advantage of. I used the word “flexibility” as a way to justify my complete lack of boundaries, and that’s my fault. Other times, I have clung to my boundaries for dear life, not letting that line get crossed and picking battles that weren’t worth the fight. When starting a business, you sometimes learn as you go – you aren’t supposed to have all the answers all of the time. That’s life.
A big lesson is knowing where your lines are – it’s a range. As a business owner, you have to protect your business in a way that honors everyone involved – including you. It’s sometimes a tough balance to strike, and we won’t always be liked when we have to be firm. That’s okay.

Do you think you’d choose a different profession or specialty if you were starting now?

I was really interested in marine biology or oceanography. The ocean fascinates me. More importantly, though, one of my professors in college had a last minute job assignment in Hawaii, and video called us from the beach for our lecture that day. What a life! I think about that sometimes – how I didn’t give that path much thought. I think there’s a huge difference in a “like” and a “passion.” I like sea turtles, but I’m endlessly passionate for resilience and post-traumatic growth. It’s an honor to help people along the way on their healing journey. I believe this was my path – that this was set in my lap. I was very led to this profession, and my own experiences in life make me a stronger counselor.
On hot or extra humid days here in The Woodlands, I look out of my big window in my office and think about what it might be like to be on a boat in the ocean, but I wouldn’t change a thing. I’d rather read “Understanding Human Nature” by Alfred Adler on the beach during vacation and see my sea turtles that way, instead, and come back to my counseling office to work with my people.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://mindfulmovementscounseling.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mindfulmovementscounseling/?hl=en
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mindfulmovementscounseling
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/mindful-movements-counseling-center
• Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@mindfulmovements?_t=8gP2xGD0nS2&_r=1

Image Credits
Zayne Simmons