Meet Dr. April Givens

We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Dr. April Givens a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Dr. April, we’re so excited for our community to get to know you and learn from your journey and the wisdom you’ve acquired over time. Let’s kick things off with a discussion on self-confidence and self-esteem. How did you develop yours?
If you don’t think highly of yourself no one else will. Confidence and self-esteem go together. I think I developed my confidence at an early age. I modeled when I was a child and competed in pageants while I was in college. I also did fashion shows in multiple states. This definitely has helped me build my confidence because you have to be in front of a lot of people to do this. I have always considered myself to be authentic, what you see is what you get with me. I am a straight shooter and because of this it has helped me to have a high self-esteem. I feel good about myself and my accomplishments. I do this for me, not to be liked by others or for compliments. I have learned to put myself first and focus on my needs before I pour into others. This is essential because you can’t pour from an empty cup. I have also learned to do things scared. Get comfortable being uncomfortable. When you do this it builds confidence.

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?
I am the Founder and Director of Urban Counseling Clique, a 501c3 nonprofit group counseling practice. I provide clinical supervision to new counseling associates and provide individual therapy to teens, adults, and couples. I love my profession because it allows me to meet people from all walks of life and serve as a guide for them to get through some tough times that they are dealing with. I provide trauma therapy, hypnotherapy, cognitive behavioral therapy, and solution-focused therapy. I offer a safe space for people to be their authentic selves. I love seeing the transformation of how clients started with me and how they end. This work is very rewarding. I have recently published a self-help journal titled, Strategies and Tips to Improve Your Overall-Well-being. This journal was designed to help men and women who may not have access to therapy for whatever reason to deal with things in their life. It offers you practical strategies and tips and allows you to freely write about the tools you have learned. It is available on all bookstore platforms. Amazon, Barnes&Nobles, Books-A-Million, Lulu.com

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?
Three most important qualities that helped me on my journey are obtaining as much knowledge as possible to be successful in my field of study. After graduating with my masters in clinical mental health counseling I gained skill by working in several organizations to learn what to do and not to do in my own practice. The second quality is empathetic understanding. Understanding that all people are fighting battles and giving others grace, not holding people’s faults against them but learning to understand their history instead. There is always a reason why people behave the way they do and really try to understand that and not judge anyone. The last quality is establishing firm boundaries and sticking to them. I understand that I have no control over anyone else but me. I control how I act, how I react, and respond to others. Setting boundaries with people in your life can allow you much peace and success. Advice to others is to be true to who you are.

Okay, so before we go, is there anyone you’d like to shoutout for the role they’ve played in helping you develop the essential skills or overcome challenges along the way?
My mother Debra Givens has been the most helpful to me because she has always been my motivator. She has sacrificed a lot in the past so I could succeed, always helping me in any way I needed her to, She is always in my corner and helps with my children when I need her to. It is always great to have support but when you have a supportive parent it is golden. You can’t go to school as much as I have without a support system and especially while being a single parent. I thank her for that.

Contact Info:

Suggest a Story: BoldJourney is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
Productivity
Where do you get your work ethic from?

We’ve all heard the phrase “work hard, play hard,” but where does our work ethic

Productivity
Tactics & Strategies for Keeping Your Creativity Strong

With the rapid improvements in AI, it’s more important than ever to keep your creativity

Productivity
From Burnout to Balance: The Role of Self-Care

Burning out is one of the primary risks you face as you work towards your