Meet Tiffany Poke

We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Tiffany Poke a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Tiffany, so excited to have you with us today. So much we can chat about, but one of the questions we are most interested in is how you have managed to keep your creativity alive.

I keep my creativity alive by drawing inspiration from both nature and the arts, which I also incorporate into my work with clients. Spending time in nature helps me stay grounded and sparks new perspectives, which I bring into sessions, especially when working with clients who benefit from mindfulness or expressive arts. I find that engaging in my own creative pursuits, whether it’s through painting, writing, or even taking mindful walks, keeps me connected to the creative process. This helps me stay adaptable and open-minded, which is essential for tailoring therapeutic approaches to each client’s unique needs.

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?

I am a licensed clinical social worker and the owner of The Grace Center which is a private clinical therapy practice. In short, I provide therapy to people in need of support for their mental health, however I like to think that I go much deeper than this.
I love helping people navigate their various journeys. What I find most exciting about what I do is how I incorporate art, nature, fitness, nutrition, and spirituality into mental health care. As people, we’re not just one thing with just one part. I love looking at the whole person and all the components that make up that person. When I do this, I can help people identify what is lacking in their life, and work with them to find balance so that they can find a path to feeling better physically, emotionally, and mentally.

I love helping people on their wellness journeys. I have a podcast @awakenedandevolving where we talk about all things wellness and how to incorporate these things into your life so that they can be sustainable. I also coordinate wellness retreats that incorporate everything I love; art, nature, fitness, plant based whole food, all of it! The next one will be this March and is called the Serenity Retreat. Registration is open on my website gracecentertherapy.com.

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?

Looking back on my journey to becoming a licensed clinical social worker with a focus on wellness, I’d say three qualities or skills that were particularly impactful for me were empathy, adaptability, and a commitment to ongoing learning.

Empathy has always been at the heart of my work. Empathy allows me to truly connect with clients and understand their experiences on a deeper level, which is essential for building trust. I make it a priority to practice active listening and remain fully present with clients. It’s important to treat empathy as a skill that can grow over time, by continually reflecting on your interactions and striving to meet clients where they are.

With adaptability, I remember that every client is unique, and being flexible has been crucial to meeting diverse needs. Developing this skill means being willing to modify approaches and try new techniques when something isn’t resonating with a client. Also, it’s ok to experiment with a variety of therapeutic approaches to find what resonates with you.

A commitment to ongoing learning has always been important to me. I understand that mental health is a dynamic field, and staying current with new research, modalities, and perspectives has been invaluable. This commitment helps keep me informed and responsive to new challenges that clients face. I prioritize and enjoy actively seeking out professional development opportunities—whether it’s workshops, certifications, or simply reading—and focusing on cultivating curiosity and a growth mindset.

Developing empathy, adaptability, and a love of learning can be transformative in this profession. It helps you grow not only as a practitioner but as an individual capable of making a real impact in others’ lives.

One of our goals is to help like-minded folks with similar goals connect and so before we go we want to ask if you are looking to partner or collab with others – and if so, what would make the ideal collaborator or partner?

I thrive on collaboration, and I am always looking for people who are passionate about what they do and are open to collaborating with me. I love offering programs to the community so people offering any type of goods or services that support and help others on their wellness journey is grounds for a beautiful collaboration.

From a wellness perspective, I’d love to work with folks who serve as trainers, nutritionists, chiropractors, massage therapists, nature enthusiasts, coaches, artists, chefs, or who work with functional medicine. With the wellness retreats that I offer, we can do some great work together to make optimal and whole-body wellness accessible and sustainable for more people. If you want to collaborate, please reach out to me at www.gracecentertherapy.com or on my social media handles @the_grace_center and @awakenedandevolving.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://gracecentertherapy.com/
• Instagram: @the_grace_center

Image Credits

Ariane Reina Photography
https://areinaphotography.com/
@ariane_reina_boudoir