Meet Ola Stokes

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

Hi Ola, 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 let my haters be my motivation. They push me to continue to succeed and show that I can do it even when others feel that I couldn’t. I know how far I have come in life, and I don’t let little things or people stop me. I was in an accident where I broke my hand in three places. Due to the accident I had to get 3 plates and 7 screws in my hand. I was told that I would never have full usage of my hand. After months of occupational therapy, I was able to overcome that and be able to fully use my hand. I don’t let what others say negativity affect me because I know what I’ve been through. I feel that at times hating is a form of jealousy and I let it fuel me. I feel that they may see something in me that they don’t see in themselves.

Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?

I am a native of Orangeburg, SC. I have a B.A. in Communications with a concentration in Media Studies from the College of Charleston and a Master’s degree in Rehabilitation Counseling from South Carolina State University. I am a Licensed Professional Counselor in SC, NC and Fla. I have experience working with individuals diagnosed with Anxiety, Depression, ADHD, Bipolar Disorders and Schizophrenia/ Schizoaffective disorder as well. I have also helped individuals who have experienced physical, emotional and sexual trauma/abuse. I am also an LGBTQIA and Alternative Lifestyle friendly therapist. My focus is to help clients begin the process of moving forward and making positive changes towards a brighter future. I have 10 years of experience as a mental health counselor and have helped my clients build a toolkit to manage their emotions, increase their self-esteem, and develop healthy coping skills that will help them for the rest of their lives. My passion is helping others find the answers they need to feel better about themselves and live the lives they wish to live by reaching their goals through counseling.

As your therapist, my focus is to meet you where you are as my client and to help provide skills to help you meet your goals. I am trained to provide Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT), Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), Assessing and Managing Suicide Risk (AMSR) Training for Inpatient and Outpatient, Certificate Spiritual Competency Training in Mental Health, Motivational Interviewing and other techniques. I am also a designated examiner for the State of South Carolina.

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

My three qualities are that I have integrity, resilience, and drive. As far as integrity goes, I feel that my integrity is one of my strongest qualities. My reputation of being honest and having morals is something that can’t be taken from me. Someone could attack my image, but they can’t say nothing about my character. I have resilience, I never give up and never let things stop me even when it should. My faith is strong and that pushes me to keep going. I have a passion for life, and my drive is fierce. I set goals for myself, and I go hard to reach them. My advice to others is to keep going, never give up and let nothing stop you.

What was the most impactful thing your parents did for you?

The most important thing my parents did for me was let me go to college out of town. All of my siblings went to college in Orangeburg, but I was determined to have something different. They didn’t say no they said the decision was mine. They are always supportive in everything that I do and I know they always have my back no matter what. I can call and talk to my parents about anything, and they will let me know if I’m wrong, but they will give me the support I need.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.Lifewithkb.net
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ola-stokes-ma-lpc-788815149