Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Sumayah Luxton. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Alright, Sumayah thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. What do you think it takes to be successful?
To be successful, you need to set boundaries and market yourself. Setting boundaries so you don’t burn out and continue doing this career for as long as you’d like. This means deciding how many days a week you want to work, deciding what hours of the day you can see clients, and how many clients you’d like to see a week. Also not checking your email or work phone on your days off, so you are able to stabilize your work and life balance. Setting boundaries help so you are able to SHOW UP for your clients every week and be fully present for them. I’m also constantly marketing myself and meeting other counselors and professionals in the area of my practice. I meet up with other counselors for coffee, bring lunch to school counselors, and drop off goodies to doctors and occupational therapists offices. The more people I meet, the more my business grows. Also just doing amazing work with your own clients allows them to want to spread your name to their family and friends. This job is so rewarding.
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
I started my private practice, located in Austin, Texas, called Sumayah Luxton Counseling in May 2022. The journey to get here was not easy. I never actually thought I’d create a private practice with how intimating it is. After graduating with my masters in counseling, I was first working at a nonprofit, where the counseling work was challenging. I was near burnout and knew I needed a change. I switched over to a group practice where they supported my boundaries and assisted in teaching how to start a private practice. This whole time I was under a supervisor, and once I completed my 3,000 hours, I was able to transition to my own practice. I can’t quite explain how it happened, but in the beginning of 2022, it just hit me that I was ready to start my own business.
I am a Licensed Professional Counselor and Registered Play Therapist. I provide counseling services for kiddos as young as 3, teenagers, and young adults. I work a lot with anxiety, depression, self esteem, stress, life transitions, grief, and relational issues. With children, I provide play therapy, meaning my room is filled with toys, art supplies, and games. Adults’ brains are fully develop and we are able to use our words to process. Children’s’ brains are not fully develop yet and use toys as their words and play as their language to process what is going on in their lives. I allow my clients to lead the sessions so I am able to meet them where they are at, while also building self esteem. With teens, I use a lot of art, music, sand tray, and mindfulness techniques to help them feel more comfortable in sessions.
Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?
When I started my college career at Texas A&M University (whoop!), I started as a nursing major. I knew I wanted to help children, but didn’t quite know what exactly that career would be. In my first semester, I was thinking to myself that blood makes me faint, what was I doing? My family had always told me that people trusted me with their deepest, darkest secrets. As early as middle school, students would come to me for support and advice. I knew I had to switch my major to psychology. With that, I graduated in honors and Summa Cum Laude and immediately went to graduate school and Texas State University. After three years, I graduated with a 4.0 and began my journey as a counselor.
Are there any books, videos, essays or other resources that have significantly impacted your management and entrepreneurial thinking and philosophy?
As a psychology and counseling major, I had zero background in business. How was I supposed to start my own? I leaned on my friends and colleagues in my field THE MOST. I had seen so many of my counseling peers go and start their own private practice. I knew it had to be possible. I met with multiple counselors in the Austin area and asked for guidance and just straight up how they did it. I actually had a few friends who were ready to start their practice around the same time as me, so we worked together to hold each other accountable to our timelines. And here we are now! I did it! I’ve had my own business for longer than 6 months, but let me tell you, it feels like 6 years. My business has been booming thank goodness to all my supporters.
Contact Info:
- Website: sumayahluxtoncounseling.com