Today we’d like to introduce you to Nidia Valadez.
Hi Nidia, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for sharing your story with us – to start, maybe you can share some of your backstories with our readers.
I graduated from Our Lady of the Lake University in 2012 with my Master’s in Counseling Psychology. Shortly after, I began working at Baptist Child and Family Services (BCFS), one of the counselors providing mental health services to immigrant children. I have continued to work for this organization for the last 10 years. While working at this agency, ChildSafe, Laurel Ridge Treatment Center, and as a Military Life and Family Counselor, I quickly realized there is a need for mental health services in the community, including services for low-income people. I decided to open my practice in 2020. During that time, I was deployed to New Orleans by BCFS to provide services for people impacted by COVID, which made me realize how much the pandemic had impacted people’s mental health. Upon my return, I began getting constant referrals for counseling. I then realized I needed to hire another person to take on the overload of clients. In two years, I went from being a solo provider to having 9 people servicing the community. We are also a partner of The Madonna Center, providing free webinars to the community and educating them on mental health issues. We are also a partner of BCFS STOP-HTTF, which focuses on servicing victims of human trafficking. Spring Oaks Counseling provides a holistic approach to therapy by incorporating and providing Reiki sessions and meditation classes. We provide free in-person events to further educate the community on mental health matters and invite other community businesses to share their services with our clients and the community.
We all face challenges, but looking back, would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Becoming an entrepreneur has not been easy, especially when our services as mental health providers, in many cases, are not viewed as a medical necessity. Mental health services are usually reimbursed at a very low rate compared to other providers, which strains the provider and the community from receiving these services. My commitment has always been to continue to provide insurance-based services. However, this creates a need to find quality providers and compensate them appropriately for their services. Fortunately, I have been honored to have met the therapist that currently provides services at my practice; they understand the need for people to receive services and are open to helping me identify potential sources of referrals and partnerships to increase our reach.
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about Spring Oaks Counseling?
Spring Oaks Counseling, LLC focuses on empowering women, children, black, indigenous people, and people of color. We offer a holistic approach to counseling by offering Reiki treatments, group and individual meditation classes, and free community events that range from financial wellness to self-care in addition to our counseling and coaching services. We are LGBT, kinky, and polyamory friendly. Every person that schedules an appointment with us will receive assessments to guide their counselors to rule out symptoms of depression, anxiety, or PTSD. All therapists are trained in CPT, a therapeutic modality developed to treat PTSD. We offer individual, couple, and children’s therapy, and some of our counselors provide services in Spanish.
Is there something surprising that you feel even people who know you might not know about?
I am an immigrant from Ciudad Juarez, Mexico. I moved to the U.S. when I was 14 and lived with undiagnosed ADHD and PTSD. I believe not being diagnosed at an earlier age impacted me negatively. I was shy, anxious, and constantly doubted myself and my decisions. When I was diagnosed, I was able to start accepting and reinventing myself. A year after my diagnosis, I could trust myself to open my private practice and trust that it would be successful. I am committed to servicing our community and making mental health services accessible.
Pricing:
- Counseling Services 140.00
- Reiki Sessions 100.00
- Meditation Classes 50.00
Contact Info:
- Website: www.SpringOaksCounseling.com
- Instagram: @springoakscounseling
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/springoakscounseling?mibextid=LQQJ4d
- Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/nidia-valadez
- Other: https://linktr.ee/springoaks
Image Credits
Brittany Paul Photography, Ezequiel De La Fuente III Blue Marie Photography
