Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Nkem Chinwah. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Nkem , thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Alright, let’s take a stroll on memory lane, back to when you were an apprentice or intern. What’s a memorable story from that time that you can share with us?

As part of my master’s program, I was to intern for a year at a placement- mine was at a psychiatric hospital. Imagine a studious but scared intern in a sea of people she studied about but had no professional experience with. My orientation went well and we were given keys to let us in and out of the facility. That key was The Key not to lose. At my internship site, the DMS came to life. I gained invaluable experiences about humanity that continues to shape who I am today in my work with clients.

One BIG takeaway for me was, that EVERYONE is going through something we know nothing of! Therefore, kindness and human compassion are integral parts of how I facilitate therapy and run my practice. I speak up to destigmatize mental health issues when people refer to those dealing/living with mental health issues as “crazy.” First of all, we are all human beings and no one is immune from mental health issues. Next, Everyone needs support- some people are braver than others to seek the support that they need to navigate life situations and I applaud them for doing so.

This is a long-winded way of saying, my internship site taught me that we need to return to the fundamentals of what it means to be human beings; we can all do this by treating each other the way we want to be treated simply by being kind.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers

I got into the caring profession because I was curious about why we (human beings) do what we do. In my study of psychology, I learned about different cultures, social norms, mores, and human interactions. The more my studies progressed, the more my intrigue grew about humanity.

After I graduated, the decision to open my private practice was an easy one because my alma mater (OLLU) encourages us to go into private practice. I consulted with colleagues, attended conferences, read books and articles to prepare myself, etc. One thing I’ve learned is that sometimes we are busy “doing” XYZ and forget to “be. present.” I’m talking about being mindful and intentional about everything we do. Mindful living talks about silencing the “outside noises” and focusing on the “here and the now.”

When I work with my clients, my focus is the person right in front of me. Everything else ceases to exist. I’m with you as you explore and process your achievements, day, trauma, goals, anger, weddings divorces, frustrations, etc. I share your emotional pains as well as your triumphs.

One thing I am humbly proud of is when my clients share “sparkling moments” with me or a turning point (good and bad) in their therapeutic journey and I get the honor of supporting them through it or celebrating with them. This is why I do what I do.

What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?

I’ve had to unlearn that societal “do’s”, don’ts” and “should” is not the holy grail. People need to look at their circumstances, support systems, finances, etc, and create their own story instead of subscribing to societies narrative and living up to someone else’s expectations.

For example, society tells men “Real men don’t cry!” Let’s challenge that: then why do men have tears?

The society also tells women, “You should be married and have kids at age 23!” Again, let’s challenge that: what if she is not financially ready or does not want to get married or have children?

Groupthink is not beneficial to individual growth and posterity because it stifles the self and it’s original thought processes.

Can you talk to us about how your funded your business?

I started small. I sublet a room from a colleague and when I saved enough, I moved into my own office space. I believe in living within my means so I apply the same principle in my business.

Contact Info:

• Website: minecounseling.com
• Instagram: minecounselinh_pllc

Image Credits
Photo credit courtesy of Zencare (paid for and owned by me)