Today we’d like to introduce you to Aunya McElroy.
Thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, how did you get started?
As I prepare to speak to students or clients about my career journey, I reflect on my various jobs. All my roles from high school to now have helped me identify my core mission and purpose. As a child, I loved my pediatrician and wanted to follow in his footsteps. He would come into the room with different cartoon character ties and high energy, and I would forget anything was wrong with me because, at that time, he was the most incredible doctor I had known. Due to life challenges, I was in counseling, and that was the next practitioner that left an imprint on me. As a teen, I created a business brand and plans of what I wanted to highlight when I became a therapist, such as journaling and serving as a mental health advocate. I received confirmation that counseling was on my path after taking my first psychology class in high school. I saw counseling as a way for me to work with children, teens, and adults, helping them take care of their mental health. I was excited and put in my college application for schools with psychology and counseling graduate programs. In the second semester of my senior year, I met with someone from Express Scripts who told me how much I could make as a Pharmacist. Since I was great at science, I decided to apply to SIUe and major in Pre-Pharm. That fall, I entered SIUe, and by that Spring, I knew it was not for me– my purpose was to be a school counselor and therapist. I changed my major to Psychology, and in hindsight, I am glad that I did (although, I know I would be making way more money now if I stayed in pre-pharm, lol). I graduated from SIUe with a Psychology degree, and once again, I was hit with the challenge of do I go straight into grad school or do I get a job and possibly explore the HR route instead of counseling.
I tried that out for a few months and then transitioned into Pre-K teaching because students are my heart. I applied to the UMSL counseling grad program and attended the following year. Life was challenging at this point due to personal relationships. However, I knew this was my purpose, so I continued. Upon graduation, I was hired as a High School Home School Communicator and a year later was hired as an Elementary School Counselor. I enjoyed the students so much, but when COVID incited, my job became more challenging than it had been. There were skills I needed to be using, and I knew I could thrive in a different capacity. Fall of 2020, I finally applied for my provisional counseling license to begin seeing adult and teen clients. This proved to be what was missing for me. I looked forward to my one on one therapy sessions and groups.
Fast forward to 5 years later, I left K-12, started as a Life Coach at Maryville, and launched my business, Ms. Mac Consulting, LLC. My tagline for MMC, LLC. is “It’s the growth for me!” Personal and professional growth is one of my top values; while not always easy, it is truly worth it when you can see the effects. I recently published my first journal, now available on Amazon, to promote checking in with yourself and jotting your thoughts down to decrease anxiety. Look for other journals, which will be released later in the year! I also started a business with my counseling partner, Khalia Benson, called Wellness Sista STL. It is a wellness group for women 18-35 years of age. This service provides women a safe space to process life and promote healing and wellness. We offer individual therapy, coaching, workshops, and more. We are halfway through our Tea Therapy series, which focuses on healthy relationships with self, friends, family, and intimate partners.
Can you talk to us about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned? Looking back, has it been easy or smooth in retrospect?
I have faced a few obstacles or challenges, mainly concerning my mental health and personal life. I went a long time without identifying that I had a high level of anxiety. I was moving through life, experiencing mini panic attacks, and then moving on as if it had never happened, which is not okay. Pushing through cognitive distortions, trauma responses, and just life has been a challenge as I was on the journey to building my confidence in my purpose. I live by the quote, “Success means having the courage, determination, and the will to become the person you believe you were meant to be.” Despite going through relationship challenges with friends and partners, defining myself and my journey, and combating the old-school stigma around switching careers early on, I am confident that everything has brought me to the point I am now and will help me to continue to move me to where I am destined to be.
Thanks – so, what else should our readers know about Ms. Mac Consulting, LLC.?
Aunya McElroy, M.Ed., LPC., NCC (ahn-YAY mack-L-Roy) is a Therapist at Imani Therapy and Wellness Center in St. Louis, MO, where she works with women and teen girls. She is also a certified Life Coach at Maryville University, assisting students academically, personally, and professionally. Aunya is passionate about normalizing therapy and advocating mental health awareness in minority communities. Her community involvement and passion are shown in her experience. Aunya co-facilitates for SistaKeeper Empowerment Center’s community circles for middle and high school girls. She is also a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. – Omicron Theta Omega chapter, where she serves as the Empower our Families Co-Chairman, which focuses on youth leadership, childhood hunger, mental health awareness, and engaging our seniors. Her sole reason for choosing this career is to help students and clients to elevate to their greatest potential.
As a trauma-informed Cognitive Behavioral Therapist, she focuses on empowering women and teen girls to take control of their thoughts, which will positively impact their feelings and behavior. By infusing Life Coaching, she walks alongside women on a journey of self-love, self-care, and healing. She is also the Co-Founder of Wellness Sista STL, a mental health service for women 18-35. This service provides women a safe space to process life and promote healing and wellness. We offer individual therapy, coaching, workshops, and more.
Ms. Mac Consulting, LLC. was created in February 2022 and was officially launched in February 2023. “Ms. Mac” is a term of endearment my students gave me during my first year in a counseling role. I decided to name my business after the name they gave me as a nod to them. I love my students and always want to keep them close to me. I facilitate workshops on wellness, mental health, and self-care, coach students through post-secondary transitions, facilitate mental health groups and provide consulting services for career and mental health project development.
“I believe everyone has a story, and my priority is assisting clients with finding meaning, understanding, and opportunities for growth – It’s the Growth for Me!” – Aunya.
Before we let you go, we’ve got to ask if you have any advice for those just starting.
JUST DO IT! Go for it! Do it, scared! Your anxiety is 9/10x lying to you! And that’s what it’s supposed to do. It’s the big sister that’s like, “Hey, are you sure you want to do this?” Because they ultimately do not want you to be hurt. If it was placed in you to do it, it’s purposed for you to facilitate it. Set goals for things you will research or do each month, and slowly, it will all come together. Give yourself grace and time. What’s meant for you won’t miss you. Take up space, Embrace your full being, celebrate yourself walk into those rooms as though they need your thoughts, presence, and energy because they do!
Contact Info:
- Website: www.MMC-LLC.org
- Instagram: @itsthegrowthforme_
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aunyamcelroy/
- Other: https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/therapists/aunya-mcelroy-florissant-mo/803810
