We were lucky to catch up with Yezenia Hussey recently and have shared our conversation below.
Yezenia, sincerely appreciate your selflessness in agreeing to discuss your mental health journey and how you overcame and persisted despite the challenges. Please share with our readers how you overcame. For readers, please note this is not medical advice, we are not doctors, you should always consult professionals for advice and that this is merely one person sharing their story and experience.
My mental health journey has been exactly that, a journey.
There have been times when anxiety and depression felt like never ending pursuits, making even the simplest tasks feel heavy. For a while, I thought the only way through the challenges was to keep pushing myself—to “be strong” and not let anyone see the cracks. But that mindset left me exhausted and disconnected from myself and my reality.
What changed everything was learning to be comfortable with sitting with any and all emotions. I started being honest about what I was going through—with myself first, and then with the people I trusted. I learned that vulnerability isn’t weakness; it’s a strength that allows me to live more fully and freely. Slowly, I began building habits that supported me: journaling to quiet the noise in my head, moving my body to release what I couldn’t put into words, and letting myself rest without guilt.
There are still hard days, but I’ve stopped measuring my worth by how “well” I’m doing. Instead, I ask myself: Am I showing up for myself with compassion? Am I allowing myself to be human?
Persisting for me hasn’t been about conquering my mental health challenges once and for all—it’s been about creating space to live fully with them. And that perspective is what ultimately led me into my work as a therapist. My own experiences have given me a deeper empathy for others navigating their own mental health challenges. They remind me every day that healing isn’t linear, that strength and struggle can coexist, and that showing up, even imperfectly, is enough.
Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?
If you had asked me years ago what I’d be doing now, I probably wouldn’t have imagined this exact path. What I did know, though, was that I wanted to create spaces where people could be real—messy, imperfect, human—and still feel deeply supported. That’s what led me to become a licensed mental health counselor and eventually start my own practice.
The people I work with are often in those in-between seasons of life—young adults figuring out who they are, athletes balancing the pressures of performance with their mental health, or people who grew up without a strong safety net and are learning how to build one for themselves. I get to sit with them in the hard stuff, while also celebrate their growth, their breakthroughs, and even the funny, unpolished moments along the way. That balance of real talk and compassion is what makes this work feel so alive for me.
Lately, one of the things I’m most excited about is my podcast, Notes from Session. It’s become a space where I can take the kinds of conversations I have in therapy—about generational trauma, motherhood, identity, and healing—and share them in a way that feels real and relatable. I wanted to create something that feels like sitting down with a friend who gets it: honest, unfiltered, and sometimes even funny, because healing isn’t all heavy. The podcast has been a way for me to reach people who might not be ready for therapy or who just need that reminder in their earbuds that they’re not alone.
At the core of everything I do—whether it’s therapy or my podcast—is the belief that we’re not meant to do life alone. Healing isn’t about “fixing” yourself—it’s about finding connection, building tools, and maybe even laughing a little along the way. That’s the heart of my story, and it’s what keeps me excited to keep creating new ways for people to feel seen and supported.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
When I look back at my journey, there are three qualities that really stand out as being the most impactful: resilience, authenticity, and a commitment to learning.
Resilience has been the thread running through my entire story. There have been plenty of moments where things felt overwhelming or uncertain, but I learned that resilience isn’t about never struggling—it’s about allowing yourself to bend without breaking, and finding the strength to get back up even when it feels messy. That mindset carried me through some of my toughest seasons and reminded me that setbacks don’t define me. For anyone early in their journey, I’d say: expect challenges, and don’t let them convince you that you’re not capable. Every time you get back up, you’re building something stronger in yourself.
Authenticity is another quality I highly value. For a long time, I thought being “professional” meant leaving parts of myself at the door. But the more I leaned into showing up as me—humor, quirks, imperfections and all—the deeper my connections became with the people I serve. It taught me that what people really crave isn’t perfection, it’s realness. If you’re just starting out, practice being yourself in every space you enter. That’s where trust and connection are built.
And then there’s the commitment to learning. My field is always evolving, and honestly, so am I. Staying curious—through books, trainings, conversations, or even my clients’ lived experiences—has kept me growing instead of getting stuck in “I already know enough.” To me, learning isn’t just about gaining knowledge; it’s about staying open and humble. For anyone early on, my advice is to be curious and ask questions, even when you feel like you should already know the answer. Curiosity will carry you further than pretending.
Together, these three qualities—resilience, authenticity, and curiosity—have been like my compass. They guide how I show up today, whether it’s sitting with a client in session, recording a podcast episode, or building community through new projects. They remind me to meet people where they are, to bring my whole self into the work, and to keep growing right alongside the people I support.
Who has been most helpful in helping you overcome challenges or build and develop the essential skills, qualities or knowledge you needed to be successful?
Without a doubt, my husband has been one of the most important people in helping me navigate life’s challenges and grow both personally and professionally.
I’ll never forget the many times that I’ve felt completely overwhelmed and he didn’t try to “fix” anything. He just sat with me, listened, and reminded me I wasn’t alone. Moments like that, repeated over and over, have allowed me to grow, take risks, and keep moving forward even when things feel impossible.
I honestly wouldn’t be where I am today without my husband’s unwavering support. From the very beginning, he believed in my vision for private practice, even when it felt scary or uncertain. He’s been my sounding board, my encourager, and my partner in every sense—helping me weigh decisions, navigate the logistics, and keep perspective when I face any challenges.
His support has also made it possible for me to stay home with our son instead of rushing back to full time work, giving me the space to build both my family life and my career on my own terms. Knowing I have someone who truly has my back makes taking risks feel possible, and his quiet confidence in me has been one of the most powerful motivators on this journey.
Because of him, I’ve learned what it truly means to be seen, held, and supported, and that lesson shapes everything I do. It’s the reason I can show up for my clients not just as a therapist, but as a human who knows what it feels like to struggle, to heal, and to be met with unconditional support and true love. His presence reminds me that no one should have to face life alone—and that’s exactly the space I strive to create in my work.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://yhusseylmhc.clientsecure.me/#home
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thevirgo.therapist/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/yhusseyLMHCD
- Other: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/notes-from-session/id1821472926
Image Credits
Shaquay Ely (Shaquay Raquel Creative)
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