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

Hi Tonye Denise, thanks for joining us today. It’s always helpful to hear about times when someone’s had to take a risk – how did they think through the decision, why did they take the risk, and what ended up happening. We’d love to hear about a risk you’ve taken.

My whole life has been full of taking risks! BUT I will say my biggest risk was getting my divorce in 2009. I was married for 11 years in total and I will say that there was not a year that I did not contemplate divorce. I met him when I moved to Illinois from Milwaukee when I was 17 years old. Not knowing many people here in Illinois, me and my sister hung out at a pager store in Chicago. From that day forward we kept in touch and quickly became a couple. Unbeknownst to me, he lied about his age and said he was 18 but he really was 16. First red flag! But being young and not having good examples of what love should look like, I continued to be with him. I spent day and night with him, I couldn’t get enough. He was a cutie and I was glad he was mine. Days and months go past and I don’t feel secure but I loved him so I stayed. I had never had a real relationship prior to meeting him so I had nothing to really reference it to. I was shy and quiet, kinda docile while he was domineering, controlling, extroverted, and talkative. I liked that he seem to know something about everything and wasn’t afraid to take chances. Me on the other hand was a little more hesitant and observant. We continued to date and moved in together and soon after I became pregnant. I ended up moving back to Milwaukee for my pregnancy and we didn’t have much contact during that time. Shortly, after our baby was born, I moved back to Illinois and we resumed our relationship. Nothing seemed to have changed. He ran the streets a lot and did not spend much quality time with me and our child. I didn’t want to see the obvious. One day, I caught him the car with a girl and he denied having any dealings with her. This was just one of the many times that he was caught red handed and denied it but I stayed. 1998 I married him! My mind frame was one of love and hopes that he would grow up and change. Well, he didn’t change for the better but changed for the worst. In 1999, we had a baby girl. He barely spent any time with us as a family. Continues to run the streets and our relationship got more distant. I spent most of my time with my daughter because my son spent a lot of time with my sister. Years go by, no change and I constantly threaten with divorce. I even went to the courthouse one day and filed but never pursued the court for divorce. I felt so alone while being married but yet I was afraid to walk away. In my mind, I thought one day he would change. As things progressively got worse, I was in College and running a business full time. I was beginning to get an understanding that it was not going to work and began thinking about how I would make it on my own. The final straw was one day he did not come home until the next day at about 3pm. I had told myself, if he did not come home again that it was my sign to leave and so I filed. 2008 I filed and 2009 it was official! Stayed single 6 years after the divorce (one engagement in between) and currently am happily married to my purpose mate!

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

I am Tonye Denise Lattimore, proud owner of Get Your Mind Right Therapy Services LLC and Motivational Speaker. I help encourage, inspire, and motivate as well as change unhealthy thoughts to positive thoughts through therapy and public speaking. I am fascinated by the mind and how it works and love helping people help themselves. Coming from a dysfunctional family, I desired to helps other individuals, couples, and families heal their childhood wounds. Out motto is “A healed mind lead to a healed life!” With all my heart I believe as you change your negative thoughts to positive one, your whole life begins to heal. I am most proud of the work I have put in on myself. The healthier I become, the better I am able to service my clients and that is of utmost priority for my company!

If you could go back in time, do you think you would have chosen a different profession or specialty?

Absolutely not! Being a therapist is my gift to the world. I am good at many things but being a therapist comes most natural to me. I beyond a shadow of a doubt was created by God to serve in the field of therapy, motivation, and healing.

How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?

March 2020, I left a practice because I was not being treated per practice policy. At the end of March 2020, COVID hit and therapy changed. I started with a new company 4/2020 and things were different. I was used to being in the office doing therapy and therapy had shifted to videos. I was used to being up close and personal with people and the video was not as connected as in person therapy was. I had to pivot because the World pivoted. Today, my practice is almost all videos. I learned change is a GREAT thing and necessary for growth!

Contact Info:

• Website:  www.TonyeDenise.com
• Instagram: Get Your Mind Right Therapy Services
• Facebook: Tonye Denise Lattimore LMFT
• Linkedin: Tonye Denise Lattimore, MS, LMFT
• Youtube:@TonyeTalks