Meet Danesha Ward

We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Danesha Ward. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Danesha below.

Danesha, we’re thrilled to have you sharing your thoughts and lessons with our community. So, for folks who are at a stage in their life or career where they are trying to be more resilient, can you share where you get your resilience from?

I often ask myself where my will to fight truly comes from. The response to where my resilience comes from continues to shift based on the battle I am facing. To be honest, there have been moments when I felt like giving up—on myself, my business, and even on others. However, it felt as though God simply wouldn’t let me, so my only option was to be resilient in the experiences he kept me in. The thoughts of giving up, the weight of defeat, and the danger in depression that stole my motivation and mental clarity have all been real challenges. Resilience for me hasn’t come from being so strong-minded all the time, but from recognizing the risks of feeling so weak in certain seasons of my life and the will to never return back to those feelings of brokenness again.

Resilience is defined as the ability to withstand or recover quickly from difficult circumstances. Reflecting on my personal journey, I can affirm that my capacity to shift my mindset and adapt has significantly improved over time, allowing me to respond more effectively and pivot when faced with challenges. However, this was not always the case.

As a teenager, I experienced complex grief during my adolescence and was clinically diagnosed with depression. Along with medication management, recovery required me to intentionally change my mindset and develop tools to navigate adversity. These tools were put to the test repeatedly—when I moved away for college, later when I transitioned from Tennessee to Florida, and again when I moved from being a married woman to becoming a single mother. Looking back, the pattern of resilience for me has been birthed in the pattern of grief, depression, acceptance of circumstances, new vision and pivoting into action of my new norm.

Trust me when I say, I’ve tried to run from pain. For instance, during my marital separation with a four-month-old child, I attempted to return to Memphis, TN, seeking solace with my family. However, a series of challenges arose that compelled me to remain in Florida. Reflecting on that experience, I now recognize that enduring it taught me to fully embrace God’s guidance in shedding what was no longer needed and stepping into my roles as a new mother and a new woman. Another pivotal moment came when, following my divorce, I relocated to a new city in Florida with my two-year-old child. My initial financial plan involved securing additional contract work in Tampa to support this significant life transition. However, due to unforeseen circumstances, those opportunities did not succeed. I was forced to withstand, persevere and solely focus on growing Dream Identity Counseling as my main source of income. I needed that experience to focus all of my professional energy into my own business, and it is a testament of the opportunities and connections I have made in Tampa thus far

By reflecting on my experiences, I am reminded that all things work together for the good of those who love God. Through these circumstances, I have learned to endure, and this endurance has empowered me to recover swiftly—both mentally and practically—so that I can continue to move forward with clarity and purpose.

We need to normalize that resilience is not the absence of negative thoughts or emotions, nor is it the constant presence of strength. True resilience includes allowing ourselves to experience vulnerability—to acknowledge weakness, to cry, to express frustration, and to seek support. It means leaning on others, asking for help, receiving encouragement, and recognizing the pain or challenges we may be facing. Only then can we pivot. Sometimes, resilience is found in the journey of processing and navigating these emotions, transforming them into growth and strength.

What I have seen is that new levels bring new giants, and withstanding some uncomfortable levels have built the tools I need to withstand the new giants ahead. I’ve learned to hold space for my strengths and my weaknesses, to leave room for my humanity in resilience and not portray the stereotype that I, the black woman, can exalt my superheroism in all things, because I can not and I will not. I am human first, supernatural second.

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?

Dream Identity Counseling is a wellness agency dedicated to enhancing holistic well-being through virtual and in person services across The USA. Our mission is to empower individuals and families to cultivate their desired lives through comprehensive wellness strategies and resources. Located in Tampa Florida, we offer licensed mental health counseling within the state of Florida. Our traveling services include public speaking, workplace wellness consulting, and our transformative Art-to-Heart art therapy technique and release program for youth and adults.

By providing holistic wellness strategies through application of behavioral and mental wellness tools, we are committed to destigmatizing mental health and supporting individuals as they navigate past and current life challenges, belief systems and behaviors, while fostering a journey from surviving to thriving identities. Our belief is, “If we are all individually accountable for how we are cultivating our best self, we create a greater community.”

Our latest initiative integrates expressive art modalities with workplace wellness consulting to support both employee well-being and environmental wellness within organizations. Through our workplace wellness consulting services, we work closely with companies to educate teams on enhancing work-life balance, preventing and recovering from burnout, and fostering overall employee wellness. We collaborate with each organization to understand its mission, objectives, and areas for growth. Based on this insight, we develop a tailored curriculum that combines psycho-education, workplace policies, and individual wellness strategies. This comprehensive approach results in a customized wellness plan designed to achieve sustainable and actionable results.

Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?

Three qualities that have significantly shaped my journey are determination, which fostered a strong sense of leadership; creativity, which cultivated an innovative mindset; and optimism, which instilled the courage to face challenges with bravery. These qualities were nurtured from an early age by my parents, who imparted them both through direct teaching and by modeling them in their own actions.

As a child, I witnessed my father achieve his Bachelor’s degree, marking the start of a journey defined by determination and resilience. As a pre-teen, I watched him return to school, persistently pursuing his teaching license while navigating the challenges of exams. Over the years, I observed his passion extend beyond the classroom as he dedicated himself to training and mentoring educators through school board programs. Most recently, as an adult, I proudly watched him earn his Master’s in Higher Education, culminating in his role as a principal. These three decades of observing his unwavering commitment and passion have exemplified the true essence of leadership and perseverance.

My parents exemplified a remarkable balance in our household between cultivating intellectual learning and creative release. I often accompanied my parents through experiences such my father teaching private piano lessons or playing the piano and singing alongside my mother at events, weddings, and in our church choir. As the minister of music, my father showcased leadership and dedication, while my mother inspired others with her role as a vocalist on the praise and worship team. Together, their demonstration of passion, creativity, and leadership profoundly influenced me, teaching me to embrace and lead with my gifts, allowing others to experience the essence of my purpose in action.

My mother has been the cornerstone of my optimism. She has always created a safe space for me to express my fears while gently guiding me to prioritize faith over fear. Her demonstration of making faith moves taught me that all you need is one person to believe in yourself, and that is truly yourself! When I approached her with my anxieties about leaving my group practice to start my own solo private practice—while only two months pregnant—she helped me redirect my focus toward God’s guidance instead of my uncertainties. Her ability to instill in me the enduring quality of optimism has given me the courage to take bold leaps of faith in life. At the same time, my father’s unwavering determination and practical mindset have has taught me to prep for the safety plan for those moments when the leap feels overwhelming. Together, their influence has shaped my resilience and bravery.

My advice to anyone embarking on the journey of creating something new is to focus on strengthening your support system. This process of growth and transformation is not meant to be undertaken alone. However, it’s important to understand that not everyone in your circle will agree with or support every decision you make—especially if your path, like mine, involves taking bold risks to bet on yourself. What truly matters is having people who will stand by you through the inevitable learning experiences. Their support may not always look like agreement; sometimes, it might take the form of urging you to pause, reassess, or consider an alternative approach. Each of their perspectives are helpful, but your belief in you is your final say so.

How can folks who want to work with you connect?

Collaboration and purposeful partnerships are fundamental to the success of my business model. Dream Identity seeks to engage with business owners, human resource professionals, and organizational leadership who are interested in securing speaking engagements focused on personal and professional wellness, aimed at enhancing occupational success. For organizations that require more tailored support, we offer specialized workshops designed to address specific goals and objectives, with a focus on aligning with the company’s mission, values, and organizational structure over an extended period. Our approach ensures a structured and measurable pathway to sustained growth and development for companies and business leaders who are seeking a holistic approach of wellness.

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Image Credits

Photos by: C. Isabel Photography

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