We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Tatiana Grant, LPC, NCC. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Tatiana below.
Tatiana, appreciate you joining us today. We’d love to hear the backstory behind a risk you’ve taken – whether big or small, walk us through what it was like and how it ultimately turned out.
A risk I took that was life changing was going into private practice. I had left my non-profit community mental health job and decided I was going to go into private practice without truly understanding what it meant. I just knew I needed a break from Corporate America and wanted to give back to my local community. I saw an ad in the local paper advertising the group private practice I eventually would join. Mind you, this was an advertisement, not a job posting. I emailed the owner and asked her to consider me for future job opportunities….she wasn’t hiring by the way. I decided to build a door since doors weren’t opening up quick enough for me. The owner was so impressed with my gusto she scheduled me for an interview and I got the job! This was way back in 2018 and I have been in private practice ever since. This leap of faith literally changed my professional career. Since being in private practice I have been able to present mental health presentations to various communities such as the African American, Hispanic and religious communities who often under utilize mental health services. I was also given the opportunity to write mental health articles in magazines and blogs. Private practice has given me the freedom to provide mental health services and psychoeducation in a way that is fulfilling to my soul. The best part is I did it my way!
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 professional counselor in New Jersey and a nationally board certified multiculturally competent therapist. I received my Master of Science in Mental Health Counseling with a specialization in children and adolescents from Monmouth University in 2015. I have experience working with children, adolescents, families and the military community. While children and adolescents are my passion, I also have experience working with adults. I have experience in providing in-home services, community supports, outpatient, school based services and intensive outpatient services. I also have experience presenting mental health materials to the community. I am proficient in Spanish. I enjoy working with diverse populations, I am most passionate and proud about serving the African American and Hispanic/Latino communities who often under utilize mental health services due to stigma. My goal is to serve all, help all. As of 2022, I am also providing non-medical counseling services to military children and families. As an Army Brat I am extremely proud to be able to give back to the military community!
What I want potential clients to know about me is that therapy with me is the first step to self improvement. I take my time to get to know each client and make them feel comfortable by providing a safe and non-judgmental atmosphere. For my children and adolescents clients I provide them with a safe and fun space to express and process who they are and any difficult emotions they maybe experiencing. I also teach parents/guardians coping skills and equip them with tools to help them with their child/ren. My goal is to always empower my client. My brand of therapy is de-stigmatizing therapy for all. I teach that therapy is a form of self care and self care is self love.
Training and knowledge matter of course, but beyond that what do you think matters most in terms of succeeding in your field?
Other than training/knowledge what I think is most helpful in succeeding in the counseling field is to remember that for each client that I see I may be the only person in their life who is capable of both healing and holding their pain. The bond between myself and the client is sacred and I am always humbled by my clients resiliency.
What do you think helped you build your reputation within your market?
What helped me build my reputation in my Counseling/Mental Health market is my passion, my empathy, my cultural competency, my ethical integrity and my commitment to continuous learning (forever a student!) I don’t sell gimmicks, I don’t sell anything. I promote self improvement. My passion shines through with each client and with each session I am always enthusiastic to help them along their healing journey. Empathy is important for creating a safe space for my clients to be their most vulnerable and authentic self to work towards their healing goals. Most of my clients are Black and they’re excited to work with someone who authentically understands them. Being a multiculturally competent therapist means oftentimes my clients do not have to spend their entire session explaining their existence to me. I truly enjoy learning and I am committed to keeping up with my continuing education by reading mental health materials and attending several mental health/counseling trainings throughout the year. I deeply enjoy working in the mental health field and working with children and their families. It is an honor to help guide future generations who prioritize and normalize their mental health just as much as they do their physical health.
Contact Info:
Image Credits
Photo credits go to my amazing and supportive boyfriend, Brandon Cox who patiently took all of these photos of me!