Meet Praysha Spearman

We recently connected with Praysha Spearman and have shared our conversation below.

Praysha, thank you so much for joining us today. Let’s jump right into something we’re really interested in hearing about from you – being the only one in the room. So many of us find ourselves as the only woman in the room, the only immigrant or the only artist in the room, etc. Can you talk to us about how you have learned to be effective and successful in situations where you are the only one in the room like you?

I’ll never forget watching a young woman give her class presentation my junior year of college. She was bold, confident, and had a country twang in her voice that was so strong, it almost distracted me from the presentation itself. I’m not proud of this, but I judged her at first, because of her country accent. I chuckled a little in my head and wondered where she was from. I wasn’t listening to the information she was sharing… but then, somehow she made me listen. She knew her stuff. Sure, she delivered it with a strong accent that sounded very different from most people in the room… maybe even in the region! But that didn’t sway her from delivering all the information she had to share. She had a problem to solve in that moment, and she had the solution in hand… her knowledge. She shared that knowledge and the entire room was held captive. I learned so much in that moment about the topic… although now I don’t remember what the topic was… I only remember the lesson I learned from her: Even if people judge me at first, I can change their minds. Even if I don’t change their minds, we’ll that’s just not my problem.

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?

After more than 12 years practicing therapy, I love it now more than ever. I’ve just become a new mom, and honestly, my husband takes care of our bills, but I chose to continue seeing clients, simply because therapy is my “jam.” What I’m trying to say is, I love being a part of the beautiful change process my clients go through every single week I get the chance to work with them. It never gets old for me. The journey is always fresh and invigorating. My clients inspire me. Not because they are perfect or better than anyone else, but because they are human… and I get to be a part of their story. I’ve just opened a few new spots for clients using insurance, so book a free consultation with me on Headway if you’re interested.

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

One skill that has most impacted my personal and professional journey has been the skill of facilitating Solution-Focused Trauma-Informed Therapy. I know that is a long title for one skill, but that is partially because there are many skills involved in this one area of expertise. One of the main takeaways I have gained is the ability to help my clients identify approach-oriented goals rather than avoidance-oriented goals. For example, if a client’s goal is to “Stop being angry,” I know how to help that person identify what realistic goal they can reach for instead, such as, “I hope to feel more confident in my decisions and improve my marriage.” For therapists who may be interested in learning more, I would recommend trainings in Brief Solution Focused Therapy, Narrative Therapy, Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), Assertiveness Skills, and Eye Movement Desensitization and Regulation (EMDR), just to name a few.

How would you describe your ideal client?

My ideal client is the 25-35 year old male or female who has recently decided their trauma history is not going to define them. They want to improve their relationships and interactions at work, but they feel like all their attempts to change are falling flat. They have felt overwhelmed, but they are strong and resilient. They aren’t the kind of people ever looking for handouts, and it is often hard for them to ask for help. These are my ideal clients, because I love to help them gain a sense of “balance” they never knew was possible for them. I love helping clients “get their voice back” and “feel hopeful for the future again.”

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.renewtherapyga.com/
• Instagram: @RenewTherapyGA
• Other: https://care.headway.co/providers/praysha-spearman