We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Shola Toussaint. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Shola below.
Shola, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Let’s go back in time to when you were an intern or apprentice – what’s an interesting story you can share from that stage of your career?
During my grad school internship, I needed to find an internship site that was open late night since I worked full time 8-5p while being a full time grad student. The only location available was a women’s drug rehab facility. At the time, my least preferred population to work with was substance abuse due to lack of knowledge and quite honestly, ignorance. I used to think, if someone truly wanted to stop using, they simply would. My internship was not only humbling but opened my eyes to the complexities of trauma. With every woman I worked with and had the opportunity to get to know, I realized they had some form of trauma that their addiction helped them escape, mask, or hide from. My interest in the mental health field blossomed at that point. Not only did I develop a passion for working in substance abuse, but my internship ironically paved the way for a career in trauma healing.
Shola, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?
I am a creative at heart… full of ideas and dreams, thinking outside the box. If there is music, art and poetry I’m in my element and my heart is full. I have 2 little people that call me mom- an 11yr old girl that will be towering over me soon, and a 5yr old boy that keeps me on my toes. I am the daughter of Haitian and Nigerian parents that met in New York City, looking for a better life for myself and my younger brother. My professional career was cultivated at the Florida State University where I earned a B.S in Psychology with a minor in African American studies. I continued my studies, earning a Master of Social Work degree. From there, going on to gain various experiences in the fields of mental health, community outreach, and substance abuse. I later obtained my license to practice independently as an LCSW, licensed clinical social worker. While most MSW grads begin this 2 year process immediately after grad school, I took a more “scenic” route and sought out licensure after several years into my career.
I am now the proud owner and lead therapist of Pieces to the Puzzle: Therapeutic and Consulting Services. As a psychotherapist licensed in Florida and Colorado, I am focused on helping teens and adults heal from trauma, depression and anxiety with a specialty focus on race based stress and racial trauma. Services offered include individual therapy, family therapy, group therapy, supervision to licensed interns, speaking engagements and consultation.
I am passionate about creating a come back story in all the individuals I work with. Our mind body and spirit connection is truly powerful, and my mission is to help others access their unique healing potential. My goal is to never cease learning from clients in order to foster an environment that truly speaks to their needs, growth, and success.
We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?
People pleasing is not about being unable to say no to others. It’s about wanting others to say yes to us by them accepting us, choosing us, appearing happy with us. People pleasing is chasing an acceptance you rarely felt growing up. The more I helped clients unpack their childhood trauma, this concept became clearer to me and those I work with. Often times, we focus on the power of saying no, when to say no, saying no more than we say yes, etc. Which is great to put into practice, but when we discover the reasons why we rather say yes…that is the lesson and the breakthrough.
If you could go back, would you choose the same profession, specialty, etc.?
Yes! There was a point in my career that I considered other professions but that was because I didn’t really grasp the variety found in the field of social work and how lucrative it could be. In grad school they quite often reminded us there is no money in social work, we are here to serve not get paid; which put limits on what I thought I could do, and how I could make a living for myself. A masters in social work can take you into board rooms, classrooms, hospitals, courtrooms, government agencies, and the list goes on. As a licensed clinical social worker in private practice, social work gives me the flexibility to work with various populations in a variety of environments. I literally just have to choose and go from there. That type of variety can bring in multiple streams of income, all while serving the people you choose to serve.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://pieces2thepuzzl3therapy.com/
- Instagram: Pieces2thepuzzl3lcsw
- Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/pieces2thepuzzl3
- Linkedin: Shola Toussaint, LCSW