Today we’d like to introduce you to Porcha Williams.
Hi Porcha, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
Have you ever played the game Monopoly? If so, then you would probably understand what I’m conveying when I say that my story has been similar to that game.
I can think of three different occasions where I rolled the dice of deciding on a career field. Coincidentally, in all three instances after rolling the dice, I ended up pulling a “community service” type card. The first card was Nursing, the second card was Military, and the final card was Psychology. Now you probably find that interesting considering that I’m a Licensed Professional Counselor and not a Psychologist. Just keep in mind that in the game of Monopoly, things just seem to happen by chance.
Upon completing several hours of nursing prerequisites, clinicals, and fundamental classes, I somehow ended up switching to a Psychology major, ultimately finishing with an undergraduate degree in Psychology. As much as I enjoyed my learning experiences in my Psychology courses, I had no plans of continuing as a Psychologist.
Upon earning my undergraduate degree, I was super excited to enter into a career as an entry-level professional. That career didn’t have to be in the field of Psychology, I just wanted to start a career as a college graduate. However, the area in which I was residing didn’t allow for many career opportunities for entry-level professionals. After months of searching, I found myself discouraged, still working a low-wage job, and unable to secure my place in a new career.
Unlike previous times where I rolled dice to see what my next step could be, I utilized my resources for self- progression in lieu of relying on the workforce to progress me. I decided to continue my education and pursue a graduate degree in Clinical Counseling. I knew that with this degree, I would be able to earn a professional licensure… Not only would a professional licensure secure my spot as a professional, but it would secure my spot a Licensed Professional.
Just like in the game of Monopoly where a player collects what is due to them from other players who land on their property, this was the part where I was finally able to collect what was due to me from my hard work. I earned a Master’s in Clinical Mental Health Counseling and have now been practicing as a Licensed Professional Counselor for over six years.
I am currently licensed in the states of North Carolina and Texas, where I own and operate a Private Practice.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
It definitely has not been a smooth road, with several struggles along the way. To name a few, there has been struggles of not having a clear path, not knowing how and where to start with finding my niche, struggles of having to navigate through certain demographic obstacles in healthcare, personal struggles with nurturing my mental health while also helping others to nurture theirs, and the obvious struggle of providing mental health services during a pandemic.
There continues to be struggle, and I believe that there will always be some sort of struggle in life. However, with hard work, perseverance, dedication, support, and positive mental well-being, I am confident that anything can not only be achieved but maintained.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
IFEEL Couples & Family Counseling Services was started in 2018. Recently, we relocated to Pflugerville, TX from Round Rock, TX. Currently, we offer in-person and virtual outpatient therapy services. We specialize in working with clients with anxiety, depression, trauma, and faith-based related issues. One of our current projects entails incorporating wellness and holistic healing into sessions.
Some of the modalities used by our clinicians include Cognitive- Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Eye- Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), Brainspotting, Solution-Focused, Person Centered, Trauma-Focused and Play Therapy.
One of the things that we are most excited about is the many opportunities to give back to our community. From offering probono and reduced rate services to holding food and clothing drives to taking on volunteer opportunities in the community; we hold true to our commitment to making people FEEL’ better.
Contact Info:
- Email: mytherapy@ifeelcounselingservices.com
- Website: www.ifeelcounselingservices.com
Image Credits:
Eric Coleman Photography Marcus Watlington Photography Monte Lamar (Cool Cannon) Videography
