Today we’d like to introduce you to Fred Williams.
Hi Fred, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Transitioning from a sales background to becoming a therapist has been exciting and challenging. I’ve always been a people person, so being in sales helped me get my feet wet professionally. After years of being in corporate and waking up to redundant tasks, I started to hunger for more meaning and purpose. My grandmother’s homegoing celebration was the life-turning event that helped me along this journey. After seeing the building filled with so many people whose lives she impacted as a kindergarten teacher, I decided that it was time to carry on her legacy and start holding space for my community. During this time, I sought therapy to help me find my path, manage stress, and form a deeper connection with myself. Finding a therapist that could relate to me was a challenge, but when I found someone that looked like me, shared similar experiences, and understood my culture, my life was changed forever. I was able to step away from using alcohol as a coping mechanism and get to know myself on so many more levels. My grandmother and therapist were instrumental in helping me unfold this “people gift” that I’ve always possessed by helping me find a way to help others along their paths. I began my first step by enrolling in a graduate program at Webster University and am now completing the period of supervised clinical practice. This has been a beautiful journey, and I am so happy to have found the gift I can now share with others.
Alright, let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what challenges have you had to overcome?
Stepping into entrepreneurship is a huge transition from the corporate world. I can’t say it’s been the smoothest road, but that is simply due to my transitioning from a corporate job where I knew that someone else was responsible for paying me consistently and covering my benefits. I am now responsible for my salary, expenses, and overhead. Developing a marketing plan and figuring out how to reach my client base was not challenging but scary. They say fear stands for “false evidence appearing real.” So I have to remind myself daily that as long as I walk in my calling and take action, everything will fall in place and that the fear of failure is false evidence.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
Shockingly, data from the American Psychiatric Association (APA) shows that only 4 percent of psychologists are black men. While I know I can’t save the world. I am starting my practice by providing a space for black men to have a space for navigating and assisting them through their mental health journey by being a person who identifies with their culture and background. It can be hard to have a practitioner who does not understand you and may not be aware of your challenges and life experiences. I am proud to say that I can provide that space for adults and adolescents who need me. I am here to help my clients find the answers that they have within themselves by being a mirror and helping them discover, see, and remember who they are.
Do you have any memories from childhood that you can share with us?
Thinking about morning walks to school with my grandmother makes my heart smile. Everyone in the neighborhood knew and loved her. They would wave and stop for small warm conversations on our route. Her presence made me feel so protected, connected, and loved. I also got to spend extra time with her during my kindergarten year as she was my teacher.
Pricing:
- I offer a free 15-minute phone consultation for anyone seeking my services. This is an opportunity to meet and ensure we are a good fit.
- $130 for a 50-minute session
Contact Info:
- Website: Mentalalchemycounseling.com
- Instagram: Fred_the_Therapist
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mentalalchemycounseling/
Image Credits
Samantha Lecointre MA, PLPC
