We recently connected with Trinetta Powell and have shared our conversation below.
Trinetta, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. 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.
In 2020 I worked as a counselor at a local community college. I loved my job. It was an answer to my prayers to a history of working in environments that were not pleasant or compensated well. At the college, my colleagues were great, the salary and benefits were what I needed, and I had autonomy about how I worked with my clients. However, at home life was hard. My oldest son was diagnosis with a liver disease that had him in and out of the hospital and gave him a life expectancy of 9 years at the age of 19 years old. My husband and I were faced with thoughts of how to care for him, and the financial cost that would be needed to cover medical expenses. So, even though I loved my job, I knew I needed more income. After a long year of hospital visits and specialist appointments, I decided to open a part-time solo mental health counseling practice while I continued to work at the college to supplement my income. At the end of 2020 I took a risk and decided to go into full-time practice. I was making a choice to leave a stable state job to take a risk of uncertainty of steady income flow to be able to care for my child. I had to make some pivots, but it was the best decision I could have made for me and my family. Today my practice has grown to a group practice with 5 clinicians serving residents of Texas.
Trinetta, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?
My name is Trinetta Powell. I am a Motivational Speaker, 2X’s Best Selling Author, Licensed Professional Therapist, and Dr. Brené Brown Certified Daring Way Facilitator™. I am the owner of 2 successful companies that are focused on the mental health wellbeing of people of color. My parent company Reveal and Restore Counseling’s mission is to break the stigma of mental health in marginalized communities. Therapy was not a topic of conversation, or a resource offered when facing life hardships while growing up in the black community. I want to be a part of changing the narrative to believe that therapy is an option. There is a shortage of therapists of color, and research by the American Psychiatric
As a woman of color, I have experienced seasons where it has been difficult to show up as myself, played the comparison game to others in my field, and was striving for perfectionism in reaching my goals. This mindset led to periods of anxiety and depression. I had to make a shift in how I thought about success and what I believed about myself. Making that shift has opened a door to a life filled with joy, purpose, and resilience. I have a passion for helping other women of color experience this same freedom. Out of this passion was the birth of Trinetta Powell Consulting, a consulting firm focused on promoting mental health wellness while pursuing success and balancing life through mindset coaching and wellness retreats. I mentor with care and passion, guiding my clients to effectively cultivate a life of purpose, peace, and happiness.
We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?
A lesson I had to unlearn is that I can please everyone, and my wants, needs, and desire are not important. As a kid growing up, I struggled with feeling like I belonged. I had friends, but somehow always felt different. I would find myself going along with the group wanted and not voice my likes or dislikes for fear of rejection or not being part of the group. This behavior and thought process spilled over into my adulthood. I was feeding myself the lie of if I was my true self, then my friends wouldn’t like me. When the reality was my friends cared about what I wanted. I have now learned that I can’t please everyone and my needs matter. Being able to amplify my voice and advocate for myself has made me feel confident in the moments of uncertainty and cultivated a life of peace.
If you could go back in time, do you think you would have chosen a different profession or specialty?
I grew up in a family of helpers. My mom worked for the department of human resources in the foster care division. We had family values that included helping those who were less fortunate than us. So whatever profession I chose was going to involve service work. I originally wanted to be a nurse when I grew up. I went to nursing school and almost finished but failed a course my senior year of college that required me to sit out a year and reapply to finish my last class to graduate or choose a different major. I chose to pivot and declare a different major. I think I am where I am supposed to be. My life has had some ups and downs, and through counseling as a young adult, I experienced the benefits of it. That experienced influenced me to be a therapist to help other women like me. I want to give hope and create an opportunity for healing for women of color who may be struggling.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://trinettapowellconsulting.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/trinettapowell/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/blackchristiancoach/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/trinettapowell/
Image Credits
Image Credits to Annie Vovan of Annie Vovan Photography