Today, we’d like to introduce you to Stephanie Tatum, MA, LPCC, NCC.
Hi Stephanie, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I would love to! I need to speak to where I have come from to share how I got here.
I am a survivor of physical, emotional, and psychological abuse and spent my years in and out of the foster care system. Although these behaviors were primarily directed toward my two older siblings, they still impacted me and influenced my behaviors and negative thinking. I moved around throughout the years until my high school graduation. As I aged, I yearned for acceptance, understanding, and love. Eventually, I realized my mother was the only person who could provide what I was missing. We can save that conversation for another time (ha-ha).
Fast forward, as far as I can remember, I have always had a passion for supporting others in overcoming barriers in their lives. This led to my studies in Human Services and Clinical Mental Health Counseling.
Today, I am the Founder and Primary Therapist of Still I Rise Counseling Services. Maya Angelou’s poem, Still I Rise, inspires the name of my therapy practice. Also, I am a wife, mother, sister, friend, and YaYa (another word for grandma).
As a Black woman, I navigate gender bias, racism, and oppression daily. Yet, Still I Rise!
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?
Ha-ha. Certainly not a smooth road, and I would not change anything.
I was a single parent of two, and I never wanted my children to think that I was not there for them, physically or emotionally. So, I dedicated my focus to them and waited until my late 30s and early 40s to start my journey.
Some additional challenges I have faced while preparing for where I am today are:
- Oppression, gender bias, and trauma, including racial and generational trauma:As I mentioned earlier, these are daily occurrences for me, and I am mindful that I am standing on the shoulders of my ancestors. I vowed to honor my ancestor’s sacrifices, beauty, genius, and resilience within my therapy practice and through my work.
- Grief:I experienced several losses, including my grandmother and father, along the way. The loss of my father impacted me greatly, and my life seemed to spiral out of control after. Due to life circumstances, it was not until years later that I began to grieve his physical absence.
- Perfectionism:I found myself avoiding what was necessary for my dreams to manifest due to fear of failure. I realized this fear when I contemplated applying for my graduate program. I was so afraid that my essay would not be well written that I held off for FOUR YEARS!
Perfectionism was still a daily obstacle when I first opened the therapy practice. I thought that failing was a sign of weakness throughout my lifetime. I now know that striving for perfectionism induces stress, inhibits growth opportunities, and decreases productivity. Moreover, it considerably impacts physical and mental wellness.
- My Circle:Your circle (family, friends, intimate partners, etc.) can either push you forward or hold you back. In recent years, I have become intentional about nurturing relationships with like-minded humans who have similar values and interests. As difficult as it was, I have also grieved the relationships that faded because our values or interests no longer aligned.
Thankfully, besides my husband and children, I am surrounded by well-grounded, close family and friends doing their thang (ha-ha). I am honored to have them in my life.
So, it may go without saying that the journey to becoming a Therapist and Entrepreneur has been challenging yet rewarding. These challenges and losses have given me insight, confidence, and created opportunities for self-discovery. My faith also increased and guided me when my dreams seemed too far to reach.
We’ve been impressed with Still I Rise Counseling Services, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
First, I am a dope Black therapist with several tools in her toolbox.
My clinical experience includes holding space for survivors of trauma and those seeking to address concerns related to relationships, anxiety, depression, grief, and loss (to name a few). I am dedicated to helping diverse populations (e.g., BIPOC, LGBTQIA+, and persons with a disability), along with those desiring to overcome alcohol and substance use dependence.
Additionally, I am an advocate for Black men and women. I do not take for granted being able to assist in bridging the Black mental health gap while creating pathways that influence future generations.
What sets me apart from others? I am unapologetically me (ha-ha)! The days of code-switching are over, and I am not turning back. I also work from a Liberation Psychology framework, and I am not afraid to craft a culturally congruent space to discuss internalized oppression, intergenerational trauma, and ancestral wounds.
Any big plans?
Thank you for asking! I am excited about a new offering of Still I Rise Counseling Services, Hip Hop Heals. This is the intersection where the brain, body, and beats meet to facilitate growth and healing by incorporating Hip Hop Therapy Techniques and EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing) therapy.
Also, I was recently a featured guest on an awesome podcast. Our focused topics were Mental Health & the Benefits of Therapy and Understanding Grief and Loss. Streaming options are available on my website, www.stillirise-counseling.com/podcast.
As for Still I Rise Counseling Services, I am at a place where it is time to sit still, enjoy my progress, and reflect on how far I have come when statistics projected otherwise. One study suggests that youth transitioning from foster care to adulthood experience low levels of support. Leading to an increased risk of social exclusion, homelessness, unemployment, and low education (Häggman-Laitila et al., 2018). Yet, Still I Rise!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://stillirise-counseling.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stillirisecounseling
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/stillirisecounseling
Image Credits
Zsa’nee Gaines
