We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Tiffany Lindley. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Tiffany below.

Tiffany, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Can you share a story with us from back when you were an intern or apprentice? Maybe it’s a story that illustrates an important lesson you learned or maybe it’s a just a story that makes you laugh (or cry)?

I completed my internship and domestic violence agency in the suburbs of Dallas One client’s’ story that stands out to me is my very first individual client. She was young woman in her early thirties and she had been with her abusive partner for going on four years. What stood out about this session was not that was my first and I was pretty nervous, it was what my client disclosed after only a few minutes of the intake session. I asked what types of abuse had she experienced starting with physical. She stated that on her first date with her current partner he asked her to meet at his house so they could ride in his car to their date. She stated he had been asking her out for weeks and she finally said yes. She stated that after she stepped into the threshold of his apartment, he immediately pulled out a large gun, pushed her to the ground and put it in her face. He told her “if you ever leave me, I will kill you.” I was stunned but somehow I managed to ask “This is on your first date? You mam, are a survivor.” She actually smiled and said yes and “I’m ready to leave. and I came here because I hear this place gets women out. “The seriousness of the kind of work that I was signing myself up for hit me like a ton of bricks. Oddly, I didn’t get scared. I was empowered. I was confused. I was angry for her. I knew that I wanted to do everything in my power to help her. It led to me working at that agency four years as a therapist for survivors of domestic violence, children and perpetrators of domestic violence. That reality check sparked a passion for helping others create healthier relationships.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

1. On Epiphany Lane, LLC reflects who I am. I know my work in the community mental health has me uniquely equipped to address mental health, personal development, relationships , and advocacy. My intersecting identities as a Black Woman, person with chronic illness and person with ADHD connects to and attracts those that feel alone in their mental health journey. Epiphany Lane Counseling works with BIPOC clients, LGBTQ+ clients, interracial couples and gifted youth address major mental health conditions, histories of personal and collective trauma and give them tools to create their own path in life. On Epiphany Lane Journeys is the online home of individual and group coaching courses for both clinicians in practice and individuals. Our courses encourage healthier romantic relationships, purpose discovery and the reduction racism, sexism, and other forms of discrimination in those that seek to change. I seek to use my platform to advocate for better mental health access, improved training and better compensation for mental health professionals and to advocate for youth, survivors of violence and more equity and equality in human interactions. My online retail store SHOP On Epiphany Lane displays themed collections of custom products and apparel designed to encourage, self-expression, self-care, self-esteem, and self-confidence in BIPOC and neurodivergent adults.

Putting training and knowledge aside, what else do you think really matters in terms of succeeding in your field?

To be a successful or effective mental health provider you need to be non-judgmental and actively work towards minimizing prejudice in your own life. It doesn’t mean that you don’t continue to have your own preferences and likes but it does mean that you approach people and situations with curiosity and no expectations of who they are supposed to be when feasible. This will keep you existing more peacefully and better able to serve yourself and others.

Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?

In 2020,I had been taking a business planning course to help improve my business plan for my practice and growth my entrepreneurial skills. I planned to continue practicing part time and eventually go full time in a few years. I was in my second year as manager at a mental health non-profit. The pandemic had started and I learned was not getting the raise negotiated for upon hiring. I refused to do the same job for the same pay when I know my work had brought exponential growth to the company. Once I found several companies that could help get credentialed with insurance and did the math, I saw that I could sustain my finances working for myself and decided to leave my job to work full-time as an entrepreneur. At the same time I was dealing with legal proceedings for my Mother’s estate and helping my Father manage his ailing health. I had to pivot to be available for my family and protect my purpose from being squandered in an environment that didn’t value me.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.onepiphanylane.com
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/onepiphanylane
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/EpiphanyLaneDallas
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tiffany-lindleylpcs
• Twitter: www.twitter.com/EpiphanyLaneDTX
• Youtube: www.youtube.com/onepiphanylane

Image Credits
Photo: Montez Gardner