Today we’d like to introduce you to Deirra Gross.
Hi deirra, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
You know when you have an “A-HA” moment, realizing or figuring out something you’ve been pondering about? That’s how it was for me when I realized how mentally and emotionally traumatized I was during my freshman year of college at Truman State University, studying psychology. Now I don’t want to make it seem as if I had no self-awareness because since a little girl, journaling & being expressive in other creative ways has always been on brand of me to do. I also took 2 psychology classes in high school, but the perspective shifts in the college psychology classes resulted in me self-diagnosing myself because for the first time, I was faced with an outside reality that matched my inner reality. I had subconsciously created this inner reality from becoming so familiar with the feelings of pain, disappointment, shame, burden, worthlessness, anger, fear, depression & anxiety. What made the ultimate shift in me initiating a healing journey was remembering that it wasn’t my fault that I had experienced trauma but it is my responsibility to process & better understand myself, to know & live as my true, authentic self. I began prioritizing my spiritual healing journey & allowing myself to truly feel & just be. Journaling is a major source of self-awareness for me, even since a little girl, from having Lisa Frank notepads & pink locked diaries to having my own journals I use that I created & produced. I graduated from Truman in 2017 with a bachelor’s in psychology then from Webster University in 2020 with a master’s in clinical mental health counseling. Throughout the process of graduating college & graduating graduate school, I remembered who I am on an ancestral level (commonly known as having a spiritual awakening), which resulted in me birthing dee’s vibes llc, a spiritual source of inspiring healing & self-love, through journals, poetry, events, & life coaching with fashion.
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?
I believe it has been a smooth road because experiencing challenges is an inevitable part of not only navigating entrepreneurship but in life in general. An example of an experienced challenge of mine since creating my business would be forgetting that I’m not “bad” at something but “new” to it. The first product I ever created to be part of my business catalog was my 1st edition guided journals. The second product was supposed to be merch, but I couldn’t figure out certain details with the materials I was working with. It wasn’t that I was bad at trying to achieve making a shirt for example, but rather I was new to using the materials & designs I had created. With each & every business growth opportunity, whether that be vendor set-ups, pop-up shops, or this amazing magazine interview, I am able to learn more about how my current services solve problems, how they can continue to serve my community, & which of my noted ideas I should focus on next that will align with benefitting not only my healing but the healing of others.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I am an intake clinician at a St. Louis hospital, conducting & collaboratively completing psychological assessments with patients, their families, & treatment team members. Although I’m not a licensed therapist, I have a master’s degree in clinical mental health counseling, specializing in children, families, & couples counseling & I have worked in the clinical mental health field for almost 10 years now with prior experience working with troubled youth & childcare. I am known for & most proud of being naturally gifted to verbally de-escalate children who are troubled and misguided, and extremely emotionally & mentally unstable. I do this by intentionally building an authentic relationship without involving their traumas to avoid them internalizing their traumas as their identity instead of part of their life journey. What sets me apart from others is my use of critical thinking skills, living in true authenticity, having an optimistic & abundant mindset, & proudly staying connected to my ancestral roots to revolutionize my life & our society, too. Now I don’t want my attention to “my use of critical thinking skills” to be taken out of intended context as my intention is to emphasize the importance of thinking critically & for yourself, while also recognizing the lack of critical thought processing being taught or practiced by what it seems to be a majority of society. I hope this raises awareness to how all individuals are worthy & deserving of practicing self-awareness, knowing themselves, & living and leading a life within their own conditions & boundaries, which can effectively happen when we think critically & for ourselves vs for others &/ or society.
What were you like growing up?
Little girl Deirra was goofy, happy, playful, vibrant, smart, & innovative. She enjoyed art activities such as scrapbooking, painting, writing short stories, drawing & coloring, reading & doing word search. To be younger than 10, I had an old soul that showed in the music I loved & listened to and how I articulated myself or told stories, which continued on & grew into my adolescent years, where I progressively matured into an even smarter, vibrant person but more assertive & more of a self-advocate.
Pricing:
- self-worth digital journal $9.99
- women’s empowerment $20
- 2nd edition guided journal $20
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.deesvibesll.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/deesavage.1/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@deesavage.1
