Meet Genardra Pugh

We were lucky to catch up with Genardra Pugh recently and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Genardra, so happy you were able to devote some time to sharing your thoughts and wisdom with our community. So, we’ve always admired how you have seemingly never let nay-sayers or haters keep you down. Can you talk to us about how to persist despite the negative energy that so often is thrown at folks trying to do something special with their lives?
I am from a small rural town called Emporia, VA. Emporia has a population of approximately 6,000 people and I am grateful to have a family that instilled in me education, faith, respect and knowing who I am, believing in myself, and doing the best that I can. Growing up in Emporia, my family is pretty well known, and I was blessed to not have to deal with a lot of haters and nay-sayers outside of a little teasing or being picked on. Upon leaving home and transitioning from college to the workforce to now owning my business, was when I really had to  learn to deal with specifically nay-sayers. While I understand everyone is entitled to their own opinions and freedom of speech, I’ve had to learn to persist despite being told about my flaws, limitations, and people speaking their own projections over me that may or may not align with what I need or want. Additionally, I had to also learn to manage healthy and unhealthy competition and my own expectations and comparisons. I must admit that the implications of some of this negative commentary has had some implications that have had me questioning my skills and abilities. But the most important thing that I have realized is that persistency is constant and continuous work because as Frederick Douglas once quoted “If there is no struggle, there is no progress.”  I have always been one to march to the beat of my own drums and believe in myself and my goals. I do not mind standing alone if I have to, even if it feels uncomfortable.  Additionally, having a great support system is helpful. In addition to my family, I am grateful to have amazing friends, line and sorority sisters, and people in my communities who are supportive, encouraging and also believe in my goals. My faith and positive religious coping practices (ie. prayer, worship) have grounded and sustained me emotionally and physically. My grandmother would always tell me to “surround myself with people who are going places.” Taking her wisdom, it is important to position myself in places and with people that cultivate, encourage and fortify my personal growth and development in order to achieve my goals and disconnect from people, places and things that are not conducive to my progress and goals. If you are dealing with nay-sayers or haters, implement some of the things that have helped me and continue being and doing the things that you know are right and conducive to your goals and dreams.

Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?
My name is Genardra Pugh and I am a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC) and the owner of Growing New Potential Counseling. Growing New Potential Counseling provides individual telehealth counseling services to adults who present with issues such as depression, anxiety, interpersonal issues, self-esteem and confidence issues, and life transitions. I have been in business for 2 years this year (2024) and I am looking forward to expanding my business through clientele and being able to provide mental health services to more individuals through the upcoming Counseling Compact Act as well as growing my brand.

While in grade school, I was nominated by my peers to become a peer mediator where I learned conflict resolution skills to help my peers resolve problems. This was my first experience working with people and I enjoyed learning about active listening, solving problems, and talking. I have a bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Spelman College and a Master’s degree in Rehabilitation Counseling from The George Washington University. After graduating, I worked for the Division of Rehabilitation Counseling Services (DORS) in Montgomery County, Maryland for 5 1/2 years and then worked as counselor at a non-profit, private practice, and a health clinic for a few years before launching Growing New Potential Counseling.

I love being a business owner, but more importantly, I love listening and talking to clients and helping them to manage their mental health. My biggest strength is building rapport with people and facilitating a safe space for people to grow awareness and grow new potential. Mental health is very prevalent in today’s society and love that I can be a part of people’s growth and healing journeys.

There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
Looking back, I think the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most important impactful for my journey are: 1. Education and Knowledge: I believe education is the key to anything and once you’ve obtained your education, that is something no one can take away from you. Commonly, education is viewed in a formal way such as school and/or college, but I believe education can be obtained through experiences, reading, and podcasts, hands on experiences, internships, etc. Obtaining my education and seeking out other ways to learn and grow has been beneficial in helping me not only graduate from school, but also in the development of my business. I love to read, listen to podcasts, debate and listen to others, and research things for myself on a myriad of topics.
2. Risk Taking: While I am known to be risk-adverse and value safety and stability, I’m a creature of habit. Over the last 3 years or so, I have learned to take some calculated and uncalculated risks. Taking these risks has helped me to not only grow personally, but also professionally. Starting my own private practice was a huge risk because it allowed me to step out of my comfort zone and create my own stability versus depend on an employer to create that for me. Through my journey in taking risks, I’ve learned to bet on myself and that every opportunity, I do not take, I could potentially lose an opportunity. Additionally, it has allowed me to develop strengths that I did not even know I had if I had not placed myself in a position to grow and develop.
3. Creating Health Habits: Looking back over the years, I’ve learned to create healthy habits. To me these habits are as simple as getting at least 7 hours of sleep nightly, exercising daily, and eating whole foods (fruits, vegetables, and protein) and practicing self-care. I love to go to the spa, paint, and music, lift weights, and travel. Creating healthy habits has allowed me to have better control over my life, my mental, physical and emotional health. I’ve learned that I cannot give from an empty cup and that I have to take care of my mind and body in order to function at my optimal capacity on daily.

If I could give advice to people who are early in their journey to incorporate these qualities, skills, and areas of knowledge, I would use the metaphor of being like a sponge. I would encourage people to soak up as much knowledge, education, and experiences as they can so that they can be well versed. Additionally, I would tell people to have an open mind and do not feel guilty about prioritizing their needs physically, mentally, and emotional. I’ve learned that life is not always about balance, but the ability to pivot accordingly. Lastly, I would tell people to make sure they are taking care of themselves and having fun and dream a little bit.

Tell us what your ideal client would be like?
My ideal client is someone who is seeking therapy for the first time or who has had a therapist or two in the past and is open to wanting to experience change their lives. My ideal client is a woman or man who presents with issues such as life transitions, sadness, anxiety, and or interpersonal issues. They may be stuck and do not know what to do or where to start or they may need some initial validation and encouragement to give themselves permission to jumpstart their goals and change their lives. They may look like a young professional just starting in the work world, or the young man who is trying to find himself and  not succumb to his work environment and seeking his identity, or the woman who is working through juggling with taking care of herself and working through cultures views of who and what she should be. My ideal client is willing to implement Elements of Growing New Potential which are time, prioritization, and commitment. They are honest and willing to set goals and work on them no matter how hard it gets.

Contact Info:

Image Credits
James Mason @jsupa,lens Kyrstle Pearson-Oh So Posh Photos

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