We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Takira Victorin. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Takira below.
Takira , thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Do you think your parents have had a meaningful impact on you and your journey?
One of the most profound influences my mom had on my life and career was her unwavering work ethic and the way she taught me to persevere, even when faced with failure. I was raised in a middle-class family, where the emphasis on hard work and determination was central to everything we did. My mom worked tirelessly to ensure that I had opportunities she didn’t have growing up. She made sure I had access to educational opportunities that weren’t available to previous generations in our family. Education was always a top priority in our home, and I have vivid memories of my mom stressing the importance of pursuing a career, not just a job. Even as a child, her words opened my mind to a world of possibilities and shaped the future I envisioned for myself.
Growing up, I watched my mom juggle multiple roles—working, managing the household, and supporting my sister and me. No task ever seemed too big for her, and even when it felt overwhelming, she lived by the motto, “If at first you don’t succeed, dust yourself off and try again.” That simple but powerful message became the foundation for how I approach challenges in my own life and career.
One particular moment stands out to me. I had always been someone who wanted to excel at everything I was passionate about, and I found myself pulled in several directions. There was this one internship that I had been praying for—a position I believed would be career-defining. I spent months preparing for it, putting in long hours, and sacrificing weekends. I thought I had everything figured out. Surely, after all that effort, it would pay off, right? But when I actually started the internship, it wasn’t at all what I had hoped for. I felt crushed. All that work, all that time spent preparing, and yet it didn’t match my expectations. I remember sitting on the edge of my bed, feeling lost and unsure of what to do next. I felt like I had wasted so much time, and I couldn’t see a clear path forward.
That’s when my mom came to sit with me. She didn’t try to fix things immediately or offer a quick solution. Instead, she listened to my frustration and then said something I’ll never forget: “This is just one step on your journey. There are so many more opportunities ahead. Don’t settle too early out of fear that this one moment is all there is. Follow where your heart leads you.”
Her words completely shifted my mindset. It wasn’t about perfect results or being the best at everything. It was about the process—the learning and the growth that comes with every experience, even the ones that don’t go according to plan. My mom’s reminder helped me realize that I didn’t need to have everything figured out right away. It was okay to stumble along the way, and I didn’t have to excel at everything immediately.
As I moved forward in my career, I often reflected on that conversation. When things didn’t go as planned, I stopped fearing the time I thought I had “lost,” because I understood that every step—whether successful or not—was taking me where I was meant to be. That mindset empowered me to take risks, embrace new opportunities, and, eventually, discover my true passion.
As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?
I am a Licensed Mental Health Counselor and Licensed Professional Counselor, with a decade of experience, who empowers clients to enhance, enrich, and fortify their communication skills, nurture emotional intimacy within themselves and in their relationships, regain control over their own emotional states, and address and break free from repetitive relational patterns that may seem challenging to overcome.
In individual therapy, I specialize in working with women from diverse backgrounds who face challenges related to navigating both their romantic and platonic relationships, maintaining a healthy work-life balance, managing high-functioning anxiety and depression, enhancing their productivity, and overcoming the impact of past traumas.
I also offer support to couples, whether they are embarking on the exciting journey of a new relationship, (such as premarital counseling), or navigating challenging times marked by relational distress, (such as infidelity, shattered trust, family conflicts, unresolved issues, and communication challenges).
I am very invested in every client and couple I work with. I take my clients time and progress very seriously because I know the ripple effect that our work can have in their lives. At the same time I’m realistic, I know therapy can be daunting, change is hard and being vulnerable can be tough. So I’m patient and welcoming. I do my best to provide a space where clients can feel seen, understood, safe, and supported.
What makes therapy especially meaningful to me is that it’s a collaborative process. It’s not about just offering advice or “fixing” problems; it’s about empowering my clients to take ownership of their own healing and growth. My style tends to be interactive which allows me to cultivate a bond with my clients. The result is that I develop a deep understanding of their needs and the respective tools that will empower them to live their best lives.I see myself as a guide, helping them connect with their inner strength and resilience. Whether it’s managing stress, improving communication, or working through past trauma, therapy provides a safe space where people can learn, grow, and transform.
We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.
One of the themes of my practice is “Resilience Redefined: Bending Without Breaking”. One of the most defining moments of my resilience came after losing my mom. We were incredibly close—she wasn’t just my mother, she was my best friend. Though, I’m married she was still my first call in the morning and last at night. We shared everything, from outfit picks and jokes to everyday struggles and dreams I held for my future. When I lost her, I felt like I had lost a part of myself, and the grief felt overwhelming.
There was one particular day shortly after her passing when I found myself sitting alone, feeling completely lost. I didn’t know how to move forward. It wasn’t just the pain of losing her—it was also the weight of the responsibility I felt to honor everything she had taught me. She had always been my rock, my guide, and now I had to learn how to navigate life without her.
I remember thinking, “How do I do this without her?” But I also remembered a sentiment we often shared “These are the cards I’ve been dealt, all I can do is play the hand”. Its a simple statement, but in that moment, it became my lifeline. I realized that even though I couldn’t turn to her for advice, I still carried her wisdom with me. The resilience she instilled in me, the way she taught me to face challenges head-on, became my strength. I began to understand that grief is a part of the journey, but it doesn’t define you.
Slowly, I started to move forward, honoring her memory by living the way she taught me—by showing up for myself, being kind to myself, and keeping my heart open, even through the pain. It wasn’t easy, and it still isn’t, but that experience has shaped my resilience in ways I never could have imagined. Through the hardest time in my life, I learned that resilience doesn’t mean never breaking down—it means continuing to rebuild, even when it feels impossible.
If you could go back in time, do you think you would have chosen a different profession or specialty?
As a mental health therapist, if I could go back, I would absolutely choose this path again. In fact, I feel more rooted in my purpose than ever, especially after the life experiences I’ve gone through. They’ve shaped my understanding of people in a way that allows me to connect with them on a deeper, more authentic level. I truly believe that our experiences, both the joyful and the painful, are what make us whole and able to connect with others in meaningful ways.
There were times in my journey when I wasn’t sure if I was on the right path—moments of doubt, struggle, or wondering if I could truly make an impact. But looking back, everything I’ve been through has prepared me for the work I do now. I’m able to bring a level of empathy, understanding, and resilience into my practice that I never imagined possible when I first started. Now, I see how each experience has enriched my ability to relate to others and help them navigate their own journeys.
The work I do today—helping people heal, grow, and find strength—feels like exactly what I was meant to do. It’s not always easy, but it is incredibly rewarding. Connecting with clients in real, impactful ways, and seeing them evolve, has reaffirmed for me that this is my calling. So, yes, I would absolutely choose this profession again. If anything, I’m even more passionate about it now than I was when I first began.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.therapywithkira.com
- Instagram: kiramonique_